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

Today I met with the Mayor and collaborated for community wellness which started a conversation on how to deliver Treatment Not Trauma for our communities. We are excited about this partnership and the willingness of Mayor Brandon Johnson and his administration to engage in a collaborative process to make it happen! **** Summer is here and that means it’s time to make the most of Chicago summer. Get outdoors and visit the riverwalk, Horner Park, and Drake Gardens to name just a few of the incredible places in our ward! Chicago summer also means it's patio season. The 33rd WardContinue

Earlier this week, I was proud to help pass two urgent and critical ordinances that were before the City Council. The first was $51 million in emergency funding to provide the logistical support to temporarily housing the arrived asylum seekers. The second was the permanent expansion of the city’s pandemic-era outdoor dining program. **** Although it was incredibly disappointing to see this much needed funding delayed by a handful of City Council colleagues, I was hearted to see the overwhelming response of support in authorizing the use of emergency funding this past Wednesday. This funding will enable the Office ofContinue

Earlier this week at the first meeting of the new City Council, I was elected as the the new Chair of the city’s Health and Human Relations Committee. This committee is particularly close to my heart because all the work I’ve been doing alongside community to have robust mental health and community care structures to serve everyone. I’m looking forward to using this powerful platform to hear and pass critical legislation on issues such as mental healthcare, bodily autonomy and gender affirming care, public bathrooms, and truly building a city that is a sanctuary for all.  I will also beContinue

Dear 33rd Ward neighbors,  In the midst of the asylum seekers' arrival, our community has rallied again to support these new arrivals. Please read Mina Bloom and Alex Hernandez’s piece in Block Club Chicago earlier this week on our collective efforts to truly build communities of care. It’s beautiful, inspiring, and empowering to see this work happening throughout the 33rd Ward. During the darkest days of the pandemic, our community rallied together by building mutual aid efforts to secure and deliver masks to neighbors, support the unhoused, and those who couldn’t access food and much needed supplies. Re-engaging and reactivatingContinue

Dear 33rd Ward community, As you may know, there has been an influx of asylum seekers into the city over the last few weeks. Many new arrivals, including pregnant mothers and young children, have been sleeping at police stations – going for days without showers and basic necessities. Across the city, mutual aid networks, individual volunteers, churches, and elected officials to name just a few have rallied together to support and respond to those arriving in this crisis. In the last few days, some of the newly arrived families in our ward have moved to Brands Park.   Together, we’re workingContinue

As some of you may be aware, beginning last year, the Governor of Texas began sending buses with asylum seekers from various parts of Latin America to Chicago. Many of you brought donations and supplies to my Aldermanic office which was vital for assisting the earliest arriving asylum seekers in our city.  In the past month, there’s been another increase in the number of people arriving – so many that individuals have been sleeping at police stations throughout the city without proper access to basic hygiene facilities, medication, and even food. So far, I’ve seen lactating mothers not being ableContinue

I want to wish you a happy International Workers Day. May 1st, also known as May Day, commemorates the struggles and gains made by workers and the labor rights movements around the world. This holiday, which originated in Chicago during the fight for the eight hour work day, is now celebrated by millions of people around the world. Tomorrow, Saturday at 1pm in Union Park (1501 W Randolph St), there will be a May Day rally and march. This annual event brings together a diverse group of working people and organizations committed to continuing the fight for social justice for all. Continue

This Saturday is Earth Day and I’m looking forward to celebrating our bright blue, life sustaining planet in a number of different ways. We’ll be kicking off our first Clean and Green events of the year. One will be at Bateman Elementary (4220 N Richmond) and another will be at the Concordia Place Annex (3300 N Whipple). The Concordia Place Annex event is a collaboration with the Avondale Gardening Alliance, the Friends of Von Linne and the Von Linne Green Team, and Concordia Place. Both events run from 9 am to 12 noon.  Read on to learn more about requestingContinue