Vaccination is key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Northwestern Medicine has developed a COVID-19 vaccination plan following public health guidelines, which continue to evolve.

Northwestern Medicine is now sending invitations to eligible patients to schedule vaccines. Invitations are being sent in phases to ensure they can accommodate all patients in a timely and efficient manner. At this time, they are focused on vaccinating established Northwestern Medicine patients who are 65 and older. A patient is considered established if they have a Northwestern Medicine primary care physician or regularly see a Northwestern Medicine specialist.

Only Northwestern Medicine hospitals will administer vaccines. Physician offices are not able to administer vaccines at this time.

You will be notified thru the MyNM account site when you are eligible for your vaccination. For additional information please CLICK HERE.

Please note the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will be performing maintenance on the Brown Line Elevated Track over North Franklin Street, between Hubbard Street and Grand Avenue. Work will occur from 8am-3:30pm during the weekdays and from 8am-7pm on the weekends, starting tomorrow.

North Franklin, between Grand Avenue and Hubbard Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the following dates:

·       Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17
·       Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24
·       Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31

Throughout the project, the following will be closed intermittently:
·       Curb lanes and parking
·       Alley access
·       Sidewalks

All work is expected to be completed at the end of March 2021 (weather dependent).

ALDERMAN REILLY REPORTS 1/8/2021

The City of Chicago wants to remind residents, workers and businesses of new local laws, regulations and deadlines that they should be aware of in 2021. These new laws include: the implementation of important protections for Chicago’s workers; regulations to reform the shared housing industry to ensure safe and responsible operation; the extension of relief measures for businesses; the legalization of Accessory Dwelling Units in pilot areas; the implementation of new revenue sources and policy changes to Automatic Speed Enforcement to enhance public safety.

Minimum Wage

• On July 1, 2021, as a fulfillment of an ordinance passed in 2019, hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans will get a raise. On that day, Chicago’s minimum wage will increase to $15 an hour at large businesses and $14.50 an hour for workers at businesses with 20 or fewer employees.
• Also on July 1, the minimum wage for tipped workers will increase to $9.00 an hour, with employers required to make up the difference if base wage plus tips do not equal $15.00 an hour.

Shared Housing Reforms

• In September, 2020, the City Council passed an ordinance that reforms the regulation of the Shared Housing industry in Chicago. As part of this landmark ordinance, a series of new regulatory measures will come into effect on April 1, 2021 that will ensure public safety and accountability within the industry.
• As part of this new regulatory structure, Chicagoans that use platforms like Airbnb or HomeAway among others to rent their residential units will now need to apply directly with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and pay a new $125 registration fee. This will improve the City’s ability to ensure regulations are being met and take enforcement when necessary against problem locations.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legalization  

• North zone covering parts of the West Ridge, Edgewater, Uptown, Lake View, North Center, and Lincoln Square community areas;
• Northwest zone covering parts of the Albany Park, Irving Park, Avondale, Hermosa, Logan Square, West Town, Near West Side, and East Garfield Park community areas;
• West zone covering parts of the East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, and South Lawndale (Little Village) community areas;
• South zone covering parts of the Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, West Lawn, Chicago Lawn, Washington Heights, Roseland, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Englewood, West Englewood, Washington Park, and Woodlawn community areas; and,
• Southeast zone covering parts of the South Chicago, East Side, South Deering, and Hegewisch community areas.

Extension of Business Relief  

• As thousands of Chicago businesses continue to deal with the significant impact of the COVID-19 crisis, the City has moved to give further relief to businesses by extending critical relief efforts and renewal dates into 2021. As a part of these measures, all existing Sidewalk Cafes will be now be able to operate until May 1, 2021 without needing to renew or pay a renewal fee.
• Additionally, all business and public vehicle licenses with an expiration date between March 15, 2020 and June 15, 2021 will be considered active and will not need to pay a renewal fee until July 15, 2021. Licensees will have until July 15, 2021 to renew without paying a late fee.

Vehicle Fuel Tax and Cloud Tax 

• There will be a series of modest increases in taxes and fees that come into effect on January 1, 2021. This includes an increase in the Vehicle Fuel Tax by $0.03 per gallon on non-aviation purchases. To fill up a 12-gallon gas tank, motorists will see an increase of approximately $0.36.
• Additionally, there will be a 1.75 percentage point increase to the cloud tax which is applied to computer leases of cloud software and cloud infrastructure. This tax aligns with the tax imposed on all other lease, rental or use of rented, personal property currently taxed at 9 percent.

Parking Meter Rates 

• Consistent with legislation passed last year, and in accordance with the calculation therein, the parking meter rates for the $2-per-hour zone increased by a quarter to $2.25 per hour on January 2. Rates in the $4.50 and $7.00 zone remain unchanged.

New Threshold for Automated Speed Enforcement 

• In response to an alarming increase in vehicle speeding and traffic fatalities, the City will enforce the legal limit for issuing speeding violations in Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Children’s Safety Zones, such as schools when they are in session and children are present, and in parks during hours when they are open. Starting on January 15, a 44-day warning period will begin where owners of cars caught speeding between 6-10 mph over the speed limit will receive a warning by mail.
• The issuing of tickets to vehicles driving 6-10 MPH over the speed limit in ASE zones during hours of enforcement will start March 1. Fines are $35 for vehicles traveling 6-10 MPH over the speed limit and will remain $100 for vehicles driving at 11 miles or more over the speed limit.
• A map of the City’s speed cameras and Children’s Safety Zones can be found HERE.

First Place Winner – River North Beach House

Second Place Winner – UPS Pug

Third Place Winner – Guinea Pig Razzle Dazzle

Thank you to everyone who submitted entries to RNRA’s Virtual Holiday Decoration Contest. Eight finalists were selected and a week-long online ballot was conducted. The community voted for their favorites –  and the winners are……..

First Place: River North Beach House
Second Place: UPS Pug
Third Place: Guinea Pig Razzle Dazzle

Winners were awarded Lettuce Entertain You gift cards in the amounts of $75.00, $50.00 and $25.00 respectively.

Congratulations winners!

In April 2021, the Law Department filed a public nuisance case against the Eurostar Hotel. The case was resolved via the Mayor’s License Discipline Commission, resulting in Eurostar paying a $10,000 fine and agreeing to a Plan of Operation. 

Earlier this month, shots were fired inside a guest room at the hotel. This incident confirms that the business has not made necessary steps to abate the nuisance and safety issues previously identified, and is not adhering to the agreed upon Plan of Operation.

As a result, the Law Department has filed a second disciplinary case. Please click here to review the list of charges.

The first status hearing will take place on January 12th at 9:30 a.m.

• Attend the hearing virtually via the Cisco Webex platform or by phone
  • Join By Video –    Webex Meeting Link:   https://chicagogov.webex.com/chicagogov/j.php?MTID=me54bbd736d691847af3f9093e62b763a
  • Meeting #:   2480 465 1063
  • Password: 1234 

Chicago’s Tree Recycling Program runs from January 8 through January 22 at 26 parks across the City. Trees can be dropped off anytime during normal business hours.

Only live/natural trees without flocking are accepted (no garland or wreaths). Because the trees are mulched, all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and stands must be removed. Plastic bags used for transport should also be removed before putting trees in the stalls.

Six locations will also provide free mulch on a first-come, first-served basis, starting January 10. The closest location in our area is in Lincoln Park Cannon Drive at Fullerton Ave (East side of Cannon Drive).  For more info, CLICK HERE.