After carefully considering our community’s needs, I decided to accept the aldermanic salary increase and use the money for critical work in our ward around restorative justice and addressing violence.

As I explained before, the members of the city council receive salary increases based on inflation – a policy put in place by one of my predecessors. While I do not agree that I need a 10% salary increase this year, I do believe that our community and neighborhoods desperately need more resources after years of disinvestment.

That is why I have decided to take the $12,542 increase and use the funds for the following programs:

*45% will go to Roosevelt High School’s Restorative Justice Program. This program has resulted in an over 60% decrease in school suspensions and disciplinary actions. It provides support to young people who are having behavioral issues and creates spaces for youth to develop leadership and conflict resolution skills.

*45% will go to Israel’s Gifts of Hope to continue their urgent work supporting survivor families and individuals who have experienced gun violence.

*10% will be used for community events and meetings hosted by the office, such as Participatory Budgeting and senior meetings.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out via email at info@33rdward.org and I’ll be happy to have a conversation about the use of this money.

In This Week’s Newsletter

Quick Links 

*Want more information on community opportunities and job postings? Check out our Community Bulletin!

*Block party applications are open! Read more under “Form” on the Neighborhood Services page, and apply here! 

*Please consider donating to Jackson, Mississippi to help their residents gain access to clean drinking water as the water crisis still remains indefinite! 

These organizations are currently collecting funds to purchase and distribute clean drinking water: Mississippi’s Rapid Response Coalition, Cooperation Jackson, The Mississippi Food Network, and Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity.

Construction Notice for Addison St, Happening Now

IDOT recently began resurfacing Addison St and repairing the sidewalks to make them more accessible for everyone. This construction will cause lane lane closures and will prevent street parking from 8:30 am to 4:30pm. Please allow for additional time on commutes for potential traffic delays. For any questions, please email info@33rdward.org.

CityKey Event, October 5th

On Wednesday, October 5th Our Lady of Mercy Church will host a CityKey event in our ward. The CityKey is a free and optional government issued to Chicagoans. This event is open to the public and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. No RSVP required. 

Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, Applications Open October 6th

Cook County’s Promise Pilot is a $42 million funded program that will provide $500 monthly payments to 3,250 Cook County families for two years to improve the economic stability, health, and independence of our residents and communities. Participants are free to spend the money however they see fit to meet their needs, within the bounds of the law. 

The application will be open from October 6 to October 21. Applicants must provide an email address or a mobile phone number and will also be prompted to upload a government-issued photo ID or selfie (a picture of yourself that clearly shows your face). At a later date, applicants may be asked to provide documents that verify their identity, residence, and household income.

You are eligible to apply if:

• You are aged 18 or older;
• A resident of Cook County;
• Your household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level or less; and
• Neither you nor anyone else in your household are receiving funds from another guaranteed income pilot. This includes the City of Chicago’s Resilient Communities pilot.

Cook County residents who are eligible can learn how to prepare their applications and sign up for updates.

Virtual Public Community Meeting, October 12th

A Virtual Public Community Meeting has been scheduled for the proposal located at 3219 N Elston St. The meeting will be held Wednesday, October 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Neighbors can register to attend this virtual meeting at this link and they can register a question or comment by clicking here.

Please contact our office with any further questions at 773.840.7880 or at info@33rdward.org. Background on the proposal can be found here. Community feedback for the proposal can be submitted here. 

Earlier this month, the 33rd Ward recommended a proposed zoning change for the property generally located at 3448-60 W. Lawrence. The zoning applicant proposed to rehab and convert long vacant second-floor commercial units into five residential units, including two family sized units. No other changes to the building were proposed.  

Sage Brigade Meetup, October 20th

The Sage Brigade is having a meeting for seniors in the ward on October 20th at 2714 N Montrose on the second floor. No RSVP required

Community Wealth Building Initiative

As a part of the Chicago Recovery Plan, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has partnered with The Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ), to design the Community Wealth Ecosystem Building (Community WEB) Program. The Community WEB program will allow the city to invest in the organizations that start, sustain, and scale CWB models.

The Community WEB program will fund an interconnected network of advisors to provide high-quality, specialized, and culturally-relevant technical services for free to eligible non-profit and for-profit start-ups and operating businesses, such as worker cooperatives, limited-equity housing cooperatives, community land trusts, and community investment vehicles.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 1st. Click here for more information.

Neighborhood Events

1. Albany Park Lot Jams Concerts, Present-Oct 8th

 

2.Roe Rage Theme Fest Benefit for Women’s Health, September 30th

3. World Fashion Festival & Latina Expo, September 30th-October 2nd

4. Irving Park Bar Crawl, October 13th

5. Queen of Angels Children’s Resale, October 15th

Youth Opportunities

1. CPS Families Child Tax Credit

Chicago Public Schools families may be eligible for up to $3,600 per child through the expanded federal Child Tax Credit program.

To find out if you’re eligible, and to apply for this credit, visit GetCTC.org/chicagops, a simplified tax filing tool that takes just a few minutes to complete and does not require any tax documents. Some families may also be eligible for an additional $1,400 stimulus payment. Families have until mid-November to claim this money. More information can be found on this flier.

2. Little Explorers, October 3rd – November 21st

The Kedzie Center is hosting another cycle of their parent-child play group called Little Explorers/Pequenos Exploradores for parents and young children (0-5) in our community. The program is bilingual and offered at no cost to community residents. Call them at (773)-754-0577 to reserve your spot. Masks and proof of vaccination required for adults. 

3. Department of Water Management (DWM) Art Contest, Entry Deadline October 7th

The Department of Water Management (DWM) is holding an art contest for their Imagine A Day Without Water campaign. They are looking for art entries from children in grades 3-12. 

Click here to learn more about the Imagine A Day Without Water campaign.  

4. ComEd High School Career Day, October 18th

ComEd is hosting a Career Day for high school students on Tuesday, October 18th from 9am- 2pm at the United Center. 

The career day will include a 45-minute session with a ComEd executive, learning about career paths within ComEd (Construction, Engineering, IT, HR, Finance, etc.), and other fun activities, such as touring fleet vehicles, watching drones in action, touring the United Center’s athlete locker rooms and the Michael Jordan statue, and take pictures in our photo booth.

In order to attend, please RSVP by September 30th. Lunch will be provided to all students.

5. Skating, Hockey and Figure Skating Workshops, Sundays from October 2nd- December 18th

Chicago Youth Foundation is a proud women-led initiative that brings the joy of ice sports to Chicago youth to improve their social and academic well-being and empowering them to find success through sportsmanship and teamwork. Below are the 3 FREE classes children can choose from.

Learn to Skate Workshop (for children that do not know how to skate)

• Students will learn the proper skating techniques needed to participate in our hockey or figure skating programs.
• Ice skates will be provided; Students must bring their own helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and warm gloves
• Students should wear layers; including long sleeve shirt, light jacket, sweatshirt, with leggings, sweatpants, or jeans.

Hockey on your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn how to play hockey)

• Students will learn the proper techniques of advanced skating, stickhandling, passing, shooting, and playmaking.
• Hockey skates will be provided
• Students must bring their own hockey equipment and stick

Figure Skating on Your Block (for children that already know how to skate and would like to learn figure skating)

• Provides a safe and fun environment with group skating instruction that follows the framework of United States Figure Skating (USFS) to serve the needs of both recreational and competitive skaters.
• Figure skates can be provided 
• Helmets are optional.

Class size is limited to only the first 40 students who register online. If your children would like to participate in our 2022 fall workshops click this link.

6. Treatment Not Trauma Youth Summit, October 15th

The Treatment Not Trauma Youth Summit will be held on Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 6 pm. Youth, ages 13-20, are invited to attend. In order to attend, RSVP is required. Click here to register. Lunch will be provided.

14th District Domestic Violence Rally, October 1st

Connections for Abused Women and Children and the 14th District Domestic Violence Subcommittee are hosting a Domestic Violence Rally on October 1st from 10am-1pm. Please wear purple for the victims and survivors.

New CTA Security Cameras

As part of its continued efforts to enhance the security of riders and its employees, CTA announced the completion of work to install new security camera monitors in every Customer Assistant (CA) booth across the system.  

Work is currently being planned for the second phase of project work, which will include the installation of a new communications console inside the CA booths, featuring a touchscreen monitor that will allow personnel to switch camera views, plus have quick, convenient access to other station communications tools and functions. That work is expected to begin next year.  

Details regarding the next phase of project work are still being finalized and will be announced at a future date. Funding for this initiative is part of CTA’s annual operating budget, and will be approximately $2 Million.

For more information on our “Meeting the Moment” Action Plan and the various measures launched to in support its five guiding pillars, please click here.

Landlord Workshop, October 3rd

Join North River Commission on Monday, October 3rd at 3 pm virtually or in person as they partner with the Department Housing and the Center for Housing & Health for a workshop focused on rental subsidy programs that landlords can participate in to provide housing to individuals experiencing homelessness and more.

Landlords will get a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and learn about all the benefits, including being compensated at market rates when participating in these programs. 

You can attend this event in person at 3403 W Lawrence Ave or you may request to join via Zoom. RSVP by text at 872-257-8773 or via email at erika@northrivercommission.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month Business Highlight

During the Hispanic Heritage Month, the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce will be highlighting local businesses owned by Hispanic entrepreneurs. If you would like your business to be highlighted on their social media platforms, reach out to Marisabel via email at marisabel@northrivercommission.org or call/text 312-860-9294.

Love Fridge

Love Fridge is a mutual aid network that sets up community-run fridges all across Chicago to provide access to free food and help fight food insecurity. The fridge provides free food to anyone on a take-what-you-need, leave-what-you-can basis, stocked by us and awesome neighbors like ours! The Love Fridge is currently accepting donations, and they are looking for volunteers to support the maintenance and cleaning of the fridge. Click here to sign up as a Love Fridge Volunteer!

Friendship Center Food Pantry & Benefits Assistance

The Friendship Center fosters hope and dignity in Chicago’s northwest side communities through access to food and vital resources. The Friendship Center offers a food assistance at the following times: 

Food Pantry

• Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 12pm-4pm
• Tuesdays from 3pm- 7pm

Hot Meals To Go

• Thursdays from 6pm-8pm

Pet Food Pantry

• Third Saturday of every month from 9am-11am

In order to receive food pantry services, you must bring a valid ID and proof of address on your first visit.

Benefits Assistance

Interested in applying for SNAP, Medicaid, or Cash Assistance benefits? Have Questions about public benefits and other community resources?

The Friendship Center offers benefits assistance at the first two hours of food distribution: 

• Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 12pm-2pm
• Tuesdays: 3pm-5pm

Business Resources

1. Marketing for Restaurants, October 3rd

On Monday, October 3 at 11 AM join Albany Park Chamber of Commerce and Rene’ Velazquez, President of the Southwest Business Network, for this special marketing webinar dedicated to restaurants. Master restaurant marketing and learn how to build a customer base, how to get FREE advertising, make compelling videos from your phone, and more!

RSVP via email to cgeorge@northrivercommission.org or text/call 312-344-0333.

Small Business Spotlight: Shampoodles Dog Grooming Salon

Shampoodles Dog Grooming Salon is a local, Latina owned business in our ward! They offer friendly service and will make sure your pet leaves looking amazing. Give you pooch the spa day they deserve soon at 2942 W Montrose.

CTA Bus Operator and Bus Mechanic Career Fair, October 1st

CTA and ATU Local 241 are hosting a Bus Operator & Bus Mechanic In-Person Career Fair on Saturday, October 1st from 9:00AM – 12:30 PM. During this event, you will learn about both positions, how to apply, and hear from CTA team members and union representatives.

Registration is required so follow this link and register today! CTA JOB FAIR

Serve as a Poll Worker on November 8th

Chicago needs poll workers more than ever! Help defend democracy and apply today to work the November 8, 2022 General Election. Apply today to become an Election Judge or Election Coordinator! 

Ask CTA Event, Now- October 6th

CTA is hosting “Ask CTA” events at key rail stops now through the first week in October (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week). At each event, CTA will have at least two CTA Senior Staff Members available to address customers’ comments and feedback.

The Ask CTA events will be held in the mornings from 7:30-9:30am and in the evenings from 4:30-6:30pm. Locations of event will be posted on CTA’s social media accounts each week.

Volunteer with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

CERT is a national community-based opportunity for citizens to learn basic hands-on disaster response techniques that can be applied to daily lives. Over the years, Chicago CERT members have supported many special events, disaster preparedness drills and emergency exercises alongside the City of Chicago’s public safety team.

The next 30-hour CERT training course will be held every Tuesday and Thursday between September 6th and October 6th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Chicago State University. The course covers topics such as disaster preparedness, fire safety, hazmat, search and rescue, and more.

To sign up for this training course, you can register/sign-up by emailing chicagocitizencorps@cityofchicago.org or by using this registration link.

MeterSave Program with DWM

The Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) has announced that they are installing free water meters after approval by the City Council, which allowed for some additions to the program. The voluntary MeterSave Program, which has provided over 130,000 meters to
homeowners since 2009, has saved residents up to 50% on their water bills.

Those on the MeterSave waiting list will be prioritized when the program begins in September, but anyone interested in receiving a meter can join the list by registering at: www.MeterSave.org

The program in its current form will end in January of 2023 when the state law changes to require lead service line replacement as part of any meter installation.

Job Resources

1. NAMI Chicago

NAMI Chicago has positions open in Mental Health Services and they are looking for outstanding and dedicated people to join their growing team. Interested candidates can apply online by selecting any of the available positions below:

• Helpline Peer Support Specialist
• Helpline Specialist
• Controller

Public Health Updates

MonkeyPox Resources

The monkeypox virus is spread through close contact with body fluids, sores, shared bedding or clothing, or respiratory droplets (kissing, coughing, sneezing, etc.). This week, there were 43 documented cases in Chicago. 

Vaccinations for MPV are currently available in Chicago for adults 18 and up. Because of the limited availability of vaccines, you must meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH).

COVID-19 Resources

1. You are now eligible for 8 MORE free at-home COVID rapid tests!

Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for 8 free at-home tests on USPS.com.  

2. At-Home Vaccinations: Get your whole family vaccinated at home! CDPH is offering vaccination appointments at home for up to 10 family members. Click here to set up your appointment!

3. Updated COVID-19 Vaccines

4. At-Home Vaccinations Incentive

Through August 30, any Chicagoan age 5 and up is now eligible to receive a $50 gift card for booster COVID vaccine doses (regardless of zip code) via the City’s At-Home vaccination program. 

Per CDC rules, this bonus is only being offered to individuals that have not received more than $100 in COVID vaccine incentives from the City. Incentives will be provided while supplies last.

Click here to schedule your appointment

5. Vaccinations

CPS Students: 

– Permanent sites
– Mobile Events
– School-Based Health Centers
–  Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS

33rd Ward Vaccination Events

1. Theodore Roosevelt High School

2. Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome

* More information on City testing sites here!

Community Safety Updates

1. 17th District CAPS Meetings

The 17th District has resumed beat meetings in-person. 

Information about Beat Meetings here.

Please contact the 17th District Community Policing Office / CAPS, if there are any questions or concerns.

Email: caps.017district@chicagopolice.org

Telephone: 312-742-4588