Join RNRA for a Ward Park Clean-up on October 17th – PITCH IN FOR THE PARKS

Volunteer to Pitch in for Ward Park!

This summer, the Chicago Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Chicago Park District and local communities, is leading a citywide volunteer initiative to help keep our parks clean.

Over the past few months, park budgets have been stretched and there are fewer seasonal employees.  If we provide the volunteers, the Chicago Parks Foundation will provide clean-up supplies and safety guidelines to help support our park’s ongoing maintenance.

Join the RNRA in Ward Park on Saturday, October 17th from 9:00 am – 11:00 am and help us “Pitch in for the Parks.”

Protective gloves, trash bags and tools will be provided.  Volunteers will work in groups of ten or less and physical distancing guidelines will be enforced.  Face masks/coverings must be worn at all times.  Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Registration is required.

Can we count on you to “Pitch in for the Parks?”

Registration cannot be accepted until review of the Volunteer Safety Guidelines and completion of the Participant Release Waiver Form.

018th District 2021 Virtual District Strategic Planning Community Conversation – Everyone is invited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To print a copy, CLICK HERE.

New 42nd Ward Development Proposal – 50 East Huron Street  


The Restorative Care Institute (“RCI”) plans to develop a Class A, post-acute rehabilitation center with advanced infection controls at 50 East Huron (previously occupied by the American Library Association “ALA”).

The existing ALA building is a vacant, five-story, brick structure fronting Huron Street. Surrounded by retail, hospitals, surgical centers and a large, residential high-rise population, the site is well-located to capture the demand of this programming, unique to Chicago.

The proposal involves deconstruction of the existing building: re-use of the structural steel, a three-story addition and re-cladding in glass and white steel with some exterior expression of the bracing.

Although doctors and nurses will be on-site, this is not a hospital. RCI is a class A, rehab and recovery center with advanced infection controls to protect post-surgical patients during recovery. The building’s environmental systems will include the highest infection prevention standards, unlike anything in Chicago: negative pressure rooms, HEPA filtration, ultraviolet germicidal particle elimination, voice-activated elevators, state-of-the-art safety systems and staffing protocols designed around healthcare related infection prevention throughout the entire interior.

Furthermore, patients arrive and depart via pedestrian vehicles, not in ambulances. The building will contain indoor parking located in the basement (below-grade) for staff and some visitor parking. All loading will occur off-street in the existing alley.

The project development team will be required to present their plans for approval to the Chicago Plan Commission, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and City Council to gain approval for this proposed amendment to Residential Business Planned Development No. 173. The use and required FAR are already in place; the sole purpose of the amendment is to clarify the language in the use provision statement to include the words “skilled nursing” as “medical use” is already included. RCI hopes to open by August 2022, with a project schedule of approximately 12 months.

As part of Alderman Reilly’s transparent community process for new developments, your comments and observations are welcome for this project. Please forward any feedback to development@ward42chicago.com.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 8/28/2020

Chicago Remembers September 11, 2001

Nineteen years ago today, we remember the 2,977 men, women, and children that died in terrorist attacks against our nation. Dedicated first responders and brave citizens put their lives on the line to save the thousands of others who were injured in the attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

This morning, Alderman Reilly joined the brave men and women of the Chicago Fire Department, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and other City officials for a moment of silence. All U.S. flags will remain at half-staff in Chicago for Patriot Day, in remembrance of the lives we lost.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/11/2020

42nd Ward Community Shred Day – Sunday, September 13th

Be a Beacon of Hope – 42nd Ward Blood Drive – Saturday, September 12th

Alderman Reilly is hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at 455 North McClurg Court.

The Alderman’s goal is to collect 30 pints of blood at the event. All of the donations will go to local hospitals to help Chicagoans in need. Although walk-ins are welcome, we encourage you setup an appointment by calling 1-800-7TO-GIVE (1-800-786-4483).

A representative from Alderman Reilly’s Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.

RNRA & 18th District CPD – Coffee with a Cop – Meet and Greet – Sept 1st 9:30 a.m.

Stop by and have a cup of coffee with your Beat Officers.    In light of COVID-19, masks are required and physical distancing will be practiced.

We will be meeting “outside” at the Merchandise Mart in the new deck area on the South side of the building (facing the river)

We look forward to seeing you there!

WHEN:  September 1st: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m

WHERE:  Merchandise Mart – 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

The City of Chicago Budget Week Virtual Town Hall


Dear Neighbor,

As the City faces unprecedented fiscal challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing civil unrest, citizen participation in the budget process is more important than ever. Elected officials need to hear from you to make sure that the City maintains the services that you rely on, provides robust funding for programs that lift up the most vulnerable Chicagoans, and supports the small businesses and institutions that define our neighborhoods.

I invite you to join me in watching the Budget Week Virtual Town Hall series. This week-long series will be streamed online nightly via Facebook Live:

Budget Week Virtual Town Halls
Monday, August 31 – Friday, September 4
Streaming nightly from 6:00 pm to 7:00pm
Watch: Facebook.com/chicagomayorsoffice

The Budget Week Town Halls are an opportunity to learn about the critical functions of each City department, receive updates on issues that impact the City’s finances, and most importantly, provide feedback on how the City should allocate funding in the 2021 budget.

In order to make sure that your voice is heard during the budgeting process, I invite you to take these three action steps:

Watch the “State of the Budget” Town Hall
Visit facebook.com/chicagomayorsoffice on Monday, August 31 at 6:00 pm for an overview of the City’s current finances.

Tune in to at least one additional Budget Week Topic
You can pick topic you are already interested in, or a topic you would like to learn more about! You may also submit a question for each topic by filling out this online formClick here for a full schedule of topics.

Take the Budget Week Survey
Submit feedback on your priorities for the 2021 budget by taking the Budget Week Survey. The survey will be open from August 31 to September 13.
These important discussions help me advocate for the best use of limited financial resources in order to promote safety, prosperity, and equity for all Chicagoans. I will be listening closely to the Budget Week Town Halls, and I hope you will join me.

For more information on the Budget Week Virtual Town Hall series, please visit the 2021 budget website.
Sincerely,

Alderman Brian Hopkins
2nd Ward

Budget Week Virtual Town Hall Schedule

Monday, August 31: State of the Budget
Featuring Susie Park, Budget Director; Jennie Huang Bennett, Chief Financial Officer; and Alderman Pat Dowell, Chairman of the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations

Tuesday, September 1: Public Safety
Featuring Susan Lee, Deputy Mayor of Public Safety

Wednesday, September 2: Human Services
Featuring Commissioner Lisa Morrison Butler, Department of Family and Support Services; Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, Department of Public Health; and Commissioner Rachel Arfa, Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

Thursday, September 3: Infrastructure
Featuring Commissioner Randy Conner, Department of Water Management; Commissioner John Tully, Department of Streets and Sanitation; and Commissioner Gia Biagi, Department of Transportation

Friday, September 4: Neighborhood and Economic Development
Featuring Commissioner Maurice Cox, Department of Planning and Development; Commissioner Marisa Novara, Department of Housing; and Commissioner Rosa Escareno, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

Source:  8/31/2020 Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Alderman

Neighborhood Advisory: Protest Activity Downtown This Weekend  

Alderman Reilly Reports – August 28, 2020

Saturday, August 29, ‘Shutdown the Magnificent Mile – Black Lives Matter,’ is a planned protest set to occur at 5:00pm. While this protest is scheduled to occur in the 42nd Ward, Aldermanic approval is not required for these types of demonstrations, as the right to peaceful protests is protected by the First Amendment.

Based on intel collected so far, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has indicated they are not expecting a large gathering and they continue to monitor open source social media.

In an abundance of caution, City agencies and the CPD will be relying upon its all-hands-on-deck neighborhood protection plan. CPD will be implementing other strategies to protect the area as needed and plan to have high visibility with hundreds of officers downtown this weekend.

In the event it is needed, the Department will deploy officers from the impacted District, the Critical Incident Response Team, and the Community Safety team to the affected location. Each officer will be given a specific block to protect.

Additionally, City resources – including Streets and Sanitation vehicles – will be mobilized to assist CPD in maintaining control of the area through tactics such as traffic control. These resource deployments will ensure CPD has adequate coverage to protect businesses and residents.

CPD is actively partnering with city agencies to deploy new and enhanced ways to shut down geographies—including parts of the downtown core—in the event of another looting incident. These tactics include blocking and disabling vehicles as well as creating new hardened cityscapes (such as bollards and improved concrete structures) to limit movement.

CPD’s Crime Prevention and Information Center (CPIC) has formed a specialized twenty person team to focus on around-the-clock robust review of open source social media activity that could indicate plans for looting. This will include ongoing key term searches as well as review of relevant pages or accounts that have been used to organize such activity previously.

This proactive monitoring will provide crucial intel so that CPD is aware of planned activity at the earliest time possible and can appropriately respond and shut it down.

Alderman Reilly encourages residents to plan ahead if you will be traveling in the area on Saturday and carry a photo ID at all times. Property Managers are asked to remind door staff to keep eyes open and call the police to report unusual events.

To receive emergency alerts for updates on street closures and public transportation, subscribe to Chicago’s text or email alert system at NotifyChicago.org or follow OEMC on Facebook and Twitter. Please visit transitchicago.com for real-time updates regarding CTA service.

Chicago Police Department Community Alerts & News Releases

 

SEE NEW COMMUNITY ALERTS POSTED ON 8/27/2020

RNRA has posted CPD’s Community Alerts and News Releases under Public Safey on our website.  New information will be posted as received.

Community Alerts

News Releases