Newsletter – January 19, 2024

Posted on January 19, 2024January 19, 2024 by 33rd Ward Staff

Dear 33rd Ward Community,

It’s time to submit your vote for our 2024 Participatory Budgeting ballot! Voting is open to all residents of the Ward ages 13 and up, and/or to parents who have a child who attends school in the ward. 33rd Ward community members are all encouraged to take part in PB regardless of their citizenship status, race, gender, sexuality, language, etc.

This week our office had a surprise visit from students of Roosevelt High School as they hosted a March to the Polls for their class to come learn about Participatory Budgeting and to fill out their ballots. We are so happy to be able to provide this opportunity to our young neighbors to practice civic engagement and to see the democratic process at work to change their communities. One of our staff members, a alumni of Roosevelt school, had the opportunity to work with the students during their visit.

We are accepting votes for a period of one month, with February 16 being the last day to submit your votes. You can vote in two ways, either online or at an in-person ballot box. You can register to receive an online ballot by visiting our website by clicking here. Our website lists our three regular in-person voting locations, but stay tuned on social media through Facebook or Instagram for other in-person voting opportunities that may be available. Our three in-person voting sites this year are:

33rd Ward Office, 4747 N Sawyer on Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 9am-4pm.
Roosevelt High School, 3436 w. Wilson, on Monday- Friday 8am-4pm
Patrick Henry Elementary School, 4250 N St Louis Ave on Monday – Friday 8am-4pm, Saturday 10am-2pm

There are two local events I would like to highlight this week. Tomorrow, Saturday January 20, join Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for a Citizenship Workshop at the HANA Center located at 4300 N California Ave. Appointments are available between 9am and 3pm. Please call ahead of time to reserve an appointment and to review the documents required to successfully complete your application.

Also on Saturday, The Chicago Park District will host a town hall at Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave. from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm to gather input as they draft their 2024 Strategic Plan. Thisin-person town hall provides a space for residents to play a vital role in that future vision. You do not need to register in advance, and you can learn more at https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/strategic-plan There will also be virtual townhall meetings held on Tuesday, January 23 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and Thursday, January 25 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.

As always, please reach out to my office if you have any questions. We are here to help.

– Rossana, 33rd Ward Alderwoman

Trash pickup: Trash collection was interrupted today due to the heavy snow. Collection will resume through Saturday (tomorrow). Please leave out trash bins to accommodate the shifted schedule.

Catholic Charities is seeking landlords to house asylum seekers. You can learn more and apply to provide housing by clicking here.

Snow Removal Volunteer and Request form You can fill out the form by clicking here. You can also reach out to our office during business hours at 773-840-7880 of by email at info@33rdward.org

Rincon Family Services Mental Health Crisis Line: (773) 640-9803

Make an appointment for your free Covid or flu vaccine from a city clinic: Location information can be found by clicking this link. You can see a list of flu clinics by clicking here.

33RD WARD OFFICE INFORMATION

Address: 4747 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 10am – 5pm; Friday 9am – 4pm
Phone: 773-840-7880
Connect with us and access resources by clicking here.

WARD OFFICE EVENTS

Ward Night
Next: Monday, January 22, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at 4747 N Sawyer Ave
Upcoming: February 5, 2024

Ward Night is an opportunity to bring your questions or concerns to the Alderwoman in a one-on-one meeting. Each Ward Night is first come, first serve. Walk-ins will be taken until 5:45 pm. For more information, please contact our office at info@33rdward.org or 773-840-7880.

Participatory Budgeting
Voting will be open for the 2024 Participatory Budgeting (PB) ballot on Tuesday, January 16 until February 16, 2024. You can learn more about PB, register to receive an online ballot, review project proposals, and learn where to vote in-person at our website: www.33rdward.org/participatory-budgeting

Voting is open to all residents of the Ward ages 13 and up, and/or to parents who have a child who attends school in the ward. 33rd Ward community members are all encouraged to take part in PB regardless of their citizenship status, race, gender, sexuality, language, etc.

SAGE Brigade
Sage brigade is a group of volunteers along with Councilwoman Rossana Rodriguez’s office, to help seniors with benefit information and fill out some applications in case they need help. Anyone can attend, but we focus on providing information regarding benefits or programs for seniors. Please reach out to our office at info@33rdward.org if you would like to join! Stay tuned for future events.

Snow Removal Volunteer and Request form
The 33rd Ward Alderman’s office helps coordinate support efforts with our neighbors to keep our Ward safe and walkable for our community after heavy snowfalls. We invite you to let us know if you are in need of help with shoveling your snow OR if you are someone who is able to help your neighbor with shoveling their snow. Our office will reach out to match volunteers with an individual in their area, who is in need of support. You can fill out the form by clicking here. You can also reach out to our office during business hours at 773-840-7880 of by email at info@33rdward.org

COUNCIL CORNER

We will use this space to share updates on legislation coming through the Committee on Health and Human Relations and City Council. City Council will meet again on January 24, 2024. Please stay tuned for future updates.

WARD OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Catholic Charities is seeking landlords to house asylum seekers. You can learn more and apply to provide housing by clicking here.

Traffic Notice:

Ongoing: Please reduce your speeds and stay patient during periods of heavy traffic during school drop-off traffic at Hibbard, Edison, and Albany Park Multicultural Academy schools. This area is a safety zone for our young neighbors and pedestrians. Please consider alternate routes for your commute if school drop off traffic is challenging for your schedule.

Infrastructure Improvement Projects:

Upcoming: Road Closure Monday-Friday 7am-3pm, December-March – Peoples Gas will be performing maintenance work on Sacramento, north and south sides of the intersection at Montrose. Road closure of 4300 and 4400 Sacramento during weekdays from 7am-3pm. The road will be open outside of those posted times. Work will begin mid-December and is expected to be complete by mid-March of 2024.
Current: Road Closure – Department of Water Management private contractor will begin installing an underground sewer structure at the intersection of N Albany Ave and W School St. Due to the nature of the work, this intersection will be closed to traffic for the duration of construction. Work at this location is expected to last approximately 4-6 weeks. Upon completion by the contractor, a City of Chicago In-House sewer crew is expected to continue installation of sewer pipe along W School St between N Albany Ave and N Elston Ave.

The Department of Family and Support Services has launched their new Rental Assistance Program. You can learn more and apply by clicking here.

The Department of Family and Support Services has launched their 2023 Winter Senior Connected Program.
DFSS provides programs and supports to older adults aged 60 and better to keep them healthy, active and engaged. You can see their full program list and learn more by clicking here. Some of the key events featured in the brochure include:

Brain Health Series 1-6 provides techniques to support healthy cognitive development and possibly reduce the risk of dementia.
Passport to the World Congregate Dining Program features culturally diverse meals to seniors, representing the rich cultural and ethnic diversity found across the city. Menus and the site listing are included in the Winter Brochure. To date, 10,000 meals have been provided through this program.
What’s in Your Closet? An outreach program to discuss services and strategies to help organize items and discard clutter within homes. This feeds into our virtual winter sessions of Buried In Treasures providing facilitated peer discussions on clearing and cleaning spaces to support the ability for seniors to age safely within their homes and communities.
Programmatic opportunities available both virtually and in-person including fitness, recreational classes and health and wellness sessions (e.g., dietitian presentations such as Healthy New Year, Healthy New You on dietary changes and improved health as well as pharmacist presentations on stroke awareness and controlling diabetes).

Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) New Re-entry Programs
You can locate a list of all Chicago’s Reentry Support Centers by visiting Chicago’s Resources for Returning Residents website, or by calling 2-1-1/3-1-1 for additional resources and support.

Emergency Heating Repair Program is now Open
The Department of Housing’s Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open from Nov. 1, 2023 to April 1, 2024. The process for submitting a service request is outlined in the attached letter, as well as other general information about the program. You will also be able to find the same information on the webpage chicago.gov/ehrp.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
CEDA’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides heat and electricity assistance, offering support for natural gas, electricity, oil, or propane, with cash aid available for renters and qualified homeowners eligible for vouchers for heating system repairs. Find a partner organization to enroll here.

Winter Overnight Parking Ban is now in effect
The overnight parking ban which is now in effect. The ban is enforced on 107 miles of arterial streets throughout the city from 3am-7am regardless of if snow is falling or on the ground. You can visit the website of the Department of Streets and Sanitation for more information and a map of streets that are included in the ban.

Chicago Launches Composting Pilot Program
The City of Chicago is launching its first-ever citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, and all Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at one of 15 locations across the city– for FREE! Composting keeps food scraps out of landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and recycles nutrients that enrich soil. You can learn more here. See this article by The Triibe for information as well.

Our ward has two nearby sites: the Irving Park location at 4605 W Lawrence Ave, and the Avondale location at 3143 N Rockwell St. Images showing the cart locations can be found on the website.

Use this Food Scrap Drop-Off Form to sign up for one of the drop-off sites.

Grid-Based Tree Trimming
The Bureau of Forestry is no longer receiving individual tree trimming requests and has shifted to a grid-based maintenance schedule similar to the street sweeping schedule. You can view the map here.

Current grid section: N044, W036: Montrose to Leeland, Central Park to Harding

Each grid segment can take between three weeks and two months to complete. Tree trimming personnel will be in the ward weekly, weather permitting. Similar to street sweeping notifications, trees will be posted with signage in advance of tree trimming. Upon the completion of each grid segment, we will make an announcement about which grid will be completed next. If you’re worried about the immediate safety of the area around a given tree due to its conditions, you can reach out to 311 or our office so the appropriate service request can be made.

Having trouble filling a vacant apartment? Chicago Rents can help:
Ariel Parrella-Aureli reported on the Chicago Rents program for Block Club. Chicago Rents is a program that offers guaranteed rents and additional incentives for landlords interested in providing affordable housing for tenants.The program has already housed more than 2000 Chicagoans. Chicago Rents provides support to both the tenant and the landlord throughout the duration of the lease. If you’re a landlord who’s interested in learning more, click here. Landlords can also fill out a survey by clicking here and Chicago Rents staff will reach out to you.

Sign up to volunteer professional services to neighbors in need
Our office is putting out a call to local professionals, businesses, and consultants that would like to be on a list of resources for neighbors in need. Our office regularly needs advice regarding architecture, building construction, and many other areas of professional expertise. This will not be a business directory. We are specifically seeking members of the community that are willing to provide professional advice to our team and members of our community in times of extreme need. We will not be connecting our constituents to these professionals for the purpose of providing contracts or expanding their business. If you would like to help, you can fill out this contact form and our team will be in touch before adding you to our directory.

Local School Playground Improvements
There are several active school playground improvements in the ward.

Cleveland’s new playgrounds and outdoor classroom have funds from the state. Those funds were just approved a couple of weeks ago as noted in our newsletter. Construction is expected to be complete by the new school year. We will share updates in our newsletter as the project advances.

Bateman has funds from our Participatory Budgeting program and additional grant funding to come from CPS and the state. The applications are being processed and we will share updates in our newsletter as the project advances.

Von Linne has funds from our Participatory Budgeting program and additional grant funding from CPS and the state. The playground is in its design phase and we expect construction to begin in the summer.

The Roosevelt High School turf field is under construction and received funding from a variety of sources including the Kedzie/Lawrence TIF.

It is very challenging to secure funds for our school improvements, and we are very proud of the organizing work everyone at the schools has done to make these projects happen. We understand this process has taken a long time, but we are very close to celebrating all of these new projects together.

ZONING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current Zoning Proposals Under Review:
Please follow our Facebook and other social media accounts for the most up to date notices on public meetings and input surveys regarding zoning changes in the ward. You can also regularly check our Zoning page on our website by clicking here.

3448-62 W. Lawrence Ave
Neighborhood: Albany Park
For full details on this project, click here. To submit feedback, click here.

3316-28 W. Montrose Ave
Neighborhood: Albany Park
For full details on this project, click here. To submit feedback, click here.

3331 – 3325 N Whipple St.
Neighborhood: Avondale
For full details on this project, click here. To submit feedback, click here.

SUPPORTING NEW CHICAGOANS

Volunteer Opportunities
Members of our community have formed the Community Care Collective to direct mutual aid efforts in the 33rd Ward. You can learn about volunteer opportunities by following this link.

Chicago announces new timeline for migrant resettlement in partnership with the state. You can learn more by reading this press release.

Migrant Mission Website
Chicago has added an official Frequently Asked Questions page to their website dedicated to the Migrant Mission. This FAQ details the process for welcoming migrants and responds to many of the questions that have been asked by the public. Check this page for information.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Citizenship Workshop with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Saturday, January 20 from 9am – 3pm
HANA Center, 4300 N California Ave

Join Congresswoman Delia Ramirez for a Citizenship Workshop at the HANA Center located at 4300 N California Ave. Please call ahead of time to reserve an appointment and to review the documents required to successfully complete your application.

Chicago Parks District Townhalls
The Chicago Park District will host a series of seven town halls to gather input as they draft their 2024 Strategic Plan. These in-person and virtual town halls provide a space for residents to play a vital role in that future vision. The town halls do not require advance registration. Learn more at https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/strategic-plan They will be held on:

Saturday, January 20 – Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tuesday, January 23 – Virtual from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday, January 25 – Virtual from 12:00 – 2:00 pm

North River Commission “Friends of the Community”
February 3 from 12-3pm
American Indian Center, 3401 W Ainslie

Join us in this youth-led event as we gather in community to access resources for mental health, well-being, housing, and more! We will enjoy FREE entertainment, games and prizes, arts and crafts, music, and local food. We will hand out goodie bags for kids and youth! Bring your friends and family and let’s build community & create memories together.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Fall Registration
Are you intellectually curious? Or looking for engagement and social connection? OLLI invites you to join this vibrant learning community at Northwestern University, specially designed for adults age 50+. In stimulating discussions, you’ll explore a wide range of your favorite subjects, including history, literature, creative arts, contemporary issues, science, technology, and more–with no tests or grades. Registration is Feb 5 through Feb 19 for 14-week study groups that begin March 4th in Evanston, downtown Chicago, or online. To view our fall catalog of 100 study groups, email olli@northwestern.edu. And join us for “A Taste of OLLI,” our free online information session on Jan 30 at 11a Central via Zoom (Register here ).

Free Winter Weekdays at the Art Institute
This holiday season, we are happy to announce the return of Free Winter Weekdays from November 27 to December 22, 2023. Illinois residents can enjoy free admission on Mondays (11:00–5:00), Thursdays (11:00–8:00), and Fridays (11:00–5:00). Their new gallery tour is available in Spanish and American Sign Language.

YOUTH RESOURCES

Amtrak Scholarship Program
Amtrak is providing (11) eleven scholarship opportunities for next year. Applications are due by January 31, 2024 at 10:59pm Central Standard Time. You can learn more and apply by clicking here.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

CPS Hiring
Monthly CPS Job Paraprofessional Fair in the community for positions with Chicago Public Schools.

They will continue to host these community job fairs monthly throughout the city at various locations on the second Thursday of every month. They want to encourage members of the community to apply for positions within CPS in the area in which they live at www.cps.edu/careers.

COMMUNITY HEALTH

Below is a list of Mental Health resources that are available locally here in the City of Chicago.

CDPH Resources
City of Chicago STI Specialty Clinics
City of Chicago Mental Health Centers
Illinois Department of Human Services
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988
Rincon Family Services Mental Health Crisis Line: (773) 640-9803

Make an appointment for your free Covid or flu vaccine from a city clinic
Location information can be found by clicking this link. You can see a list of flu clinics by clicking here.

Safer Use Society
Weekly on Wednesdays at 5:30pm. RSVP for location.

Thrive for Change is providing a weekly event as social support for individuals actively using drugs, on MAT, those seeking an alternative to a 12-step program & everything in between. No abstinence required, no expectations, no judgment, just compassionate understanding & support. This is a hybrid style meeting, meaning that you can show up in person or online via zoom.

We fully embrace harm reduction based programming and activities, we will host monthly skill shares, peer-peer community-based development, & culturally competent facilitation. This is not a 12-step group. More details can be found in the RSVP form or at social media @thrive_4change

Narcan and Fentanyl Test Strips Available at Our Ward Office
Our office has been certified to distribute Narcan and Fentanyl testing resources to our community. You can stop by during our open hours or reach out to info@33rdward.org for more information.

Free Asthma Services from American Lung Association
Do you know a child, adult or family member that has uncontrolled asthma? The American Lung Association in Greater Chicago has a program where a skilled healthcare professional will visit your home and provide an asthma assessment. The healthcare professional will provide health education and any materials and products needed to mitigate your asthma symptoms. Products include, but are not limited to, green cleaners, HEPA vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, beds, bed and pillow covers. More information by clicking here.

COMMUNITY SAFETY

My office believes that the best approach to community safety requires us all to participate in conversation together, to learn about each others’ needs and find ways to support each person. We encourage everyone to participate in the CCPSA, attend your regular beat meetings (CAPS), and your local CCPSA District Council local meetings.

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability
Last year, Chicagoans elected their first ever Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). The CCPSA is a city-wide elected body of three representatives from each police district. These representatives have a wide range of responsibilities that you can learn more about by clicking here.

CCPSA Announced Meeting Schedule for 2023.

17th District CAPS Meetings:
17th District CAPS Webpage with schedule.
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

Click here for information about beat meetings.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Block Party Applications
Request Ward Services
CDOT Infrastructure Improvement Map
33rd Ward Community Driven Zoning
33rd Ward Safety and Wellness
Find your CAPS Beat
Recycling and garbage schedule
2023 Street Sweeping schedule and interactive map
COVID-19 Resources
Resources for Seniors
Resources for Renters
Chicago Clerk’s Office

33RD WARD OFFICE INFORMATION
Address: 4747 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 10am – 5pm; Friday 9am – 4pm
Phone: 773-840-7880
Email: info@33rdward.org
Website: www.33rdward.org
Follow up on Facebook
**Follow our social media and connect with resources: linktree

33RD WARD STAFF
Veronica Tirado-Mercado, Chief of Staff
Stacy Erenberg, Deputy Chief of Staff
Jonathan Nagy, Director of Communications and Engagement
Rebecca Rios, Director of Infrastructure and Zoning
Abraham Espino, Neighborhood and Business Services Coordinator
Eric Ramos, Ward Superintendent
Elizabeth Espino, Neighborhood Services Representative
Ariana Aguilar, Neighborhood Services Representative
Charlie Billingsley III, Neighborhood Services Intern

Do you have news to share?
We are always trying to improve our communication! If you have information to share with the community, we would like to know! To submit an item for our weekly newsletter, please send an email with the event details including date, time, and location, and a brief written description. Any photos should be submitted in .JPEG format. Please submit by 5pm on Thursday.