RNRA “I Love River North” Happy Hour at Electric Shuffle – Sept 3rd

Join RNRA for our September “I Love River North” Happy Hour at Electric Shuffle, a bar, restaurant, and game experience like nothing else! Electric Shuffle took a classic game, gave it a high-tech twist, added craft cocktails, incredible food and turned it into a full-blown social event.
Its just pure fun! Whether you’re coming in to play or just want to hang out and enjoy friends and neighbors, this place was built with vibes for everyone to have fun! Join us to experience this new unique addition to our neighborhood!
All proceeds support RNRA Advocacy work thanks to our generous host Electric Shuffle providing the venue, beverages and food. Space is Limited so get your tickets now! We sold out of our June event early on and we don’t want you to miss this one!
When: September 3 (Wednesday) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where:  Electric Shuffle – 448 N. LaSalle Drive
$40.00 in Advance
$50.00 at the Door (If available)
Raffle Tickets will be available at the door! 
$10/each or 3/$20
Raffle Prizes Below
  • Value $400  – Gift Certificate to Godfrey Hotel for a one night stay for 2 in a deluxe room and  voucher for food and beverage at the I | O Rooftop  Lounge
  • Value $250 – Gift Certificate to Dvida Spa for a Tshape2 Face Treatment
  • Value $200 – Gift Certificate to La Grande Boucherie
  • Value $25 – Gift Certificate to Electric Shuffle

Chicago Police Department Launches New Podcast Series “Roll Call”

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is proud to announce the launch of its new podcast series, “Roll Call,” produced by the Bureau of Patrol. The series offers candid, unfiltered conversations with members of CPD, residents, and others who work closely with law enforcement.

The premiere episode features an intimate conversation with CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. Listeners will hear Superintendent Snelling reflect on pivotal moments in his career as well as the personal toll of policing and what it means to serve the city where he grew up.

You can listen to “Roll Call” wherever you get your Podcasts. For more information, CLICK HERE.

State’s Attorney’s Office Renewing Focus on Chronic Retail Theft

Update from Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins – Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety for the 2023-2027 term.

Dear Neighbors,

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke and her office are spearheading a renewed focus on mitigating chronic retail theft after years of leniency from the previous administration. 

In the spirit of that renewed focus, I had the honor of joining the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) along with other officials this week to hear from a group of retailers hardest hit by chronic retail theft and criminal recidivists in the downtown and near north communities. 

It was clear from their urgent accounts that retail theft is not only not “harmless” or “victimless” — but, in fact, one of the most serious classifications of crime in our city right now. In most cases, chronic retail theft leads to violence against vulnerable employees, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in lost merchandise per incident, faltering confidence on the part of investors to do business in Chicago, and additional cascading negative effects. 

Retailers shared how employees refuse to take certain shifts out of fear for their safety, with one retailer describing an incident that led to their hospitalization and subsequent surgeries after being battered by a recidivist…simply for asking the individual to leave their store. 

I commend State’s Attorney O’Neill Burke on her efforts to prosecute these crimes, but her office alone cannot address the issue entirely. I am calling on the state legislature to make the relevant amendments to the SAFE-T act to address chronic retail theft as the serious issue it is. We cannot allow chronic recidivists to keep being released to commit repeat crimes almost daily. 

I will be communicating updates on this matter in this newsletter in the near future. 

 Sincerely, 

Brian Hopkins

Alderman, 2nd Ward

 

Update from the Cabrini NOW Team – August 29, 2025

As August comes to a close, we would like to provide you with a quick update on our work to finalize the Cabrini NOW framework plan.
We are so grateful to the hundreds of community members who have engaged with us during this process, including the 44 individuals who shared feedback with us during the most recent comment period.
When the public comment period closed in mid-June, we expected to have the report finalized by end of July. The final report is nearly complete, and we now anticipate sharing it with you and publicly in September.
The final report will include edits to the draft based on feedback, updated appendix information, a summary report of the comments we received during the final public comment period, and a summary table outlining the main changes that have been made between the draft and the final document.
Transparency and accessibility will continue to be important to us. When we share the final version with you, it will be posted on our website. We will also leave the draft report and all the materials from the community engagement process including presentation materials, meeting recordings and engagement summaries on our website.
We are looking forward to sharing the final materials with you soon. Your input has helped shaped the plan, and the future of redevelopment in the Cabrini community.
Thank you,

One Minute Survey – Proposed Prohibitions on CPD Traffic Stop

One Minute Survey: Should the Chicago Police Department be PROHIBITED from Conducting Certain Traffic Stops?

Please complete the one-minute survey below.

WE WANT YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! 

Background – On July 31, 2025, a majority of the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability (the Commission) voted to support new PROHIBITIONS on CPD’s ability to conduct certain traffic stops. This is NOT the final vote and the Commission has requested additional public input.

Proposed Prohibition: “The Chicago Police Department shall be PROHIBITED from conducting a traffic stop or temporarily detaining a driver of a vehicle that is not a commercial, livery or chauffeured vehicle where the primary basis for the stop is any of the following violations:

• A missing or improperly displayed front license plate, so long as the vehicle has a properly displayed rear license plate;
• A displayed registration sticker that has expired within one year;
• Improper license plate fastening or positioning where the license plate is otherwise clearly displayed;
• Improper rear license plate illumination;
• One non-functioning headlight, taillight, or brake light during daylight if the vehicle has at least one functioning headlight, taillight, and brake light; and
• Operating a vehicle with a loud sound system.”

THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY WILL BE ACCUMULATED, PRESENTED TO DECISION-MAKERS, AND SHARED WITH ALL THOSE RESPONDING.

Click on the box below to complete the One Minute Survey and VOICE YOUR OPINION.

Bally Chicago Casino Construction – panorama progress photos

Latest photos on top – click image to open full-screen view

10142025 panoramic south

10142025 panoramic north

10042025 panoramic south

10042025 panoramic north

09112025 panoramic north

09112025 panoramic south

 

8/26/2025

8/26/2025

 

Coffee & Conversation with the 18th District Commander – August 21st 10:00 am

Air Quality Sensor Installation in the 42nd Ward

The Chicago Department of Public Health installed air quality sensors on several light poles throughout the 42nd Ward the weekend of August 15. These sensors are part of the Chicago Air Sensor Network, which aims to help residents understand the air conditions in their area.

These sensors only record air quality and are not equipped to record audio or video. The program’s results will be shared with the public. Installation of these sensors will continue through the end of the summer.

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER – RNRA Back-to-School Bash

The Bash has been CANCELLED due to weather conditions.

MOANA 2! – CANCELLED

Bally’s Casino – August 4, 2025 Meeting of the Mayor’s Casino Community Advisory Council

On August 4th, the Mayor’s Casino Advisory Council met.  RNRA has had a representative on this committee since the disucssions on the casino began.

This council is made up of:

  • Neighborhood Representatives
  • Issue Experts

Other participants in the CAC meetings include:

  • Aldermanic Offices
  • City Staff including Department of Planning members
  • Bally’s and Development Partners

 

Please CLICK HERE to see the August 4th presentation with the most current information.

RNRA has and will continue to post updates on our website RNRAChicago.org under the menu item Chicago Casino.  You will find history and current information at this link.