Dear 33rd Ward Community,  For the past two years, two of the most respected affordable housing developers in the city – Full Circle Communities and Visionary Ventures – have been working with the Department of Planning and Development and the Department of Housing to develop a 100% affordable housing proposal that is responsive to the increasing housing pressures that are facing Chicago’s Native community, Irving Park and the 33rd Ward. I’ve made the decision to recommend the zoning change that would make it possible to build 45 units of 100% affordable housing on Irving Park Road because of the overwhelmingContinue

On In This Week's Newsletter Quick Links  Request services33rd Ward CalendarChiStreetWork construction portalSenior ServicesReview Zoning ProposalsResources for Renters I wanted to start off this week’s newsletter by providing a reminder about weighing in the Irving Park affordable housing proposal and an update about the ways you can support new arrivals in Chicago.  Submit feedback and comments on Irving Park affordable housing through Thursday, August 17. First, my office continues to accept feedback from community members on the proposed 100% affordable housing proposal for 2907-2917 W Irving Park Road through Thursday, August 17th. The public community meeting on Thursday, August 4thContinue

On Thursday evening, our office hosted a public community meeting to discuss the proposal for 45 units of 100% affordable housing at 2907-2917 W Irving Park Road. This was one of the most attended, if not the most attended zoning meeting our office has ever held.  Our office is accepting questions and comments for the next two weeks. You can come to our office to fill out a paper feedback form, fill out the form online, or by visiting our website. If this is the first that you’re hearing of this proposal, you can visit our website to learn more. AsContinue

As we head towards August, I’m pleased to see three critical measures – Treatment Not Trauma, Bring Chicago Home, and Plow the Sidewalks – are beginning to move forward.  Earlier this week, the Council Committee I chair, Health and Human Relations, held a subject matter hearing on Treatment Not Trauma. The committee also unanimously passed a resolution on Treatment Not Trauma that will go to the full City Council meeting on September 13. The first draft of Treatment Not Trauma was written in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and amid the racial reckoning that pushed us to imagine humaneContinue

This past Wednesday, I introduced a resolution calling for a subject matter hearing on Treatment Not Trauma. After three years of waiting for a hearing on reopening the city’s mental health clinics and piloting a non-police mental health crisis response, I’m excited to announce that Treatment Not Trauma will have a subject matter hearing this Monday at 10 AM as I preside over the Committee on Health and Human Relations for the first time. You watch the meeting live on the Chicago City Clerk’s website.  I cannot express how excited I am that this hearing is happening. If we’re goingContinue

This summer has seen multiple thunderstorms across the city and our community, including historic rainfalls that have resulted in many reports of flooding. Flooding is an unfortunate citywide issue that has not historically seen a citywide program to deal with it. However, Alderwoman Rodriguez-Sanchez, along with Mayor Johnson and many members of city council, has been advocating for the re-establishing the Department of Environment, which would finally establish a city office to handle the issue of flooding head on and dedicate the appropriate resources to it. As climate change continues, it brings the increased likelihood and intensity of thunderstorms. ThisContinue

Earlier this week, a proposal to remediate the land at the First Nations Garden passed the City Council’s Finance Committee. It’s expected that the full City Council will vote on this next week. This is the first of its kind effort to use Tax Increment Financing funds to rehabilitate and remediate open space. I’m incredibly proud to see that this unique proposal is happening in the 33rd Ward and it’s for community members and stewards of and a space so dynamic as First Nations Garden. One need only look at Ben Joravsky’s extensive reporting on TIFs over the years toContinue

Earlier this week, Chicago experienced some of the poorest air quality in the entire world for several days as a result of smoke and debris from Canadian wildfires. Since Canadian wildfires are expected to get worse in the immediate future, not better, Chicago could face a similar situation again in the coming weeks. Please consider using this time to get prepared and to educate yourself, loved ones, elders, neighbors, and community members about air quality risks. It’s recommended that you keep your doors and windows shut as much as possible on bad air days and use air purifiers, fans, and air cleaners.Continue

In the 33rd Ward, our office uses a practice that we call Community Driven Zoning and Development (CDZD) to collect questions, comments, and feedback regarding zoning and land use decisions. As part of our process, our office gives a number of neighbor-led organizations and community groups the opportunity to take a “first look” at zoning change applications. This zoning process originated with the 35th Ward and our office adopted the process shortly after I took office.  Several weeks ago, Full Circle Communities and Visionary Ventures, an affordable housing developer, submitted an application for a zoning change to our office whichContinue

This Monday is Juneteenth, which recognizes the day in which Union troops reached one of the most remote places in the South – Galveston, Texas – and word first reached enslaved Black Americans there that slavery was dead and they were free citizens. At its core, Juneteenth is a holiday about emancipation, freedom, and liberation. Last year was the very first year that the city of Chicago officially recognized Juneteenth as a full holiday. City offices including ours will be closed. There are a significant number of Juneteenth celebrations happening throughout the city of Chicago. Block Club Chicago compiled aContinue