New CHI 311 System Launched!

The new, modernized Chicago 311 City Services makes it even easier for residents to access city services with an updated system that’s more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly.

311 City Services is a great tool that allows residents to interact with City departments, and request services. With the new system, in addition to calling 311, residents can request city services and track progress from the beginning to resolution online via the CHI 311 web portal, by downloading the new CHI 311 mobile app, or through multiple media channels and then provide feedback on the service delivery.

The new system will:

• Improve resident experience by making it easier to find information, submit requests and track status of requests.
• Give residents the ability to find information or submit requests through multiple media channels, including City of Chicago’s first ever mobile app.
• Make it easier to identify opportunities for improvement with continuous monitoring and performance measurements.
• Optimize service delivery to decrease time to complete a service request.
• Enable departments to better manage and track their work.
• Enable residents to stay up to date each step of the way and track requests as they move through the process.
• Better allow 311 operators to access the information needed to assist residents.
• Allow callers to avoid waiting on hold by giving them the choice of having a 311 operator call them back in the order they called to assist with city service requests, information inquiries or address concerns.

CHI 311 will completely transform the resident experience for city services. Once a resident submits a request, they can see the estimated completion date and get automatic updates when work is completed.

The new system will improve City departments’ efficiency and streamline the service delivery processes-eliminating paper-based dispatch and scheduling, introducing the ability to close out requests in the field in real-time, and providing customized dashboards to measure performance. This means services will be delivered to residents in a more efficient manner.

With the new CHI 311 mobile app, residents are able to create new service requests; check the status of existing requests and the time it will take to resolve; snap a photo and submit it with a request; map requests to help pinpoint a location; create an account to track service requests and get local, relevant information; provide feedback upon completion of the service request; search and see helpful knowledge articles; and view other service requests in their neighborhood and throughout the city. Residents will benefit from enhanced communication that fits both new and old ways in which residents are able to connect with the City.

The previous 311 system was decades old and focused on phone communication. While this mode of communication will still be fully available, the new system provides options that fit the way that many of our residents communicate today.

Residents who would like to request a city service can download the free CHI 311 mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play, visit 311.Chicago.gov to begin to use this new and improved channel for available city services, or call 311.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Report 12/28/18

Maria Pappas Cook County Treasurer: Find out if your tax bills have been returned!

Find out if your tax bills have been returned at cookcountytreasurer.com 

To help homeowners who have mail-delivery problems, cookcountytreasurer.com now shows when tax bills have been returned by the U.S. Postal Service, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

“Property owners who don’t receive their tax bills often face interest charges for late payments and even see their properties go up for sale for delinquent taxes,” Pappas said. “It’s an unnecessary waste of time and money, and it’s unfair.”

A team in the Treasurer’s Office has reduced the number of properties with incorrect mailing addresses to 63,500, down from 86,200 two years ago.

To see if your tax bills have been returned, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and:
• Select the purple box, “Your Property Tax Overview”
• Enter your address or Property Index Number (PIN)
• Look for a red warning box that pops up if your bills have been returned
• Update your mailing information if it is incorrect
• Choose “eBilling” if you wish to receive your bill by email

Source:  Walter Burnett’s 27th Ward Newsletter 12/28/18

Merry Christmas from RNRA!

Merry Christmas, neighbors! We hope you enjoy a great day filled with love from family and friends.

Photo: Obscura Digital

Art on theMart – Seasonal Imagery and holiday tunes!

Looking to really get in the holiday spirit? Art on theMART is partnering with WFMT to provide a curated selection of classic holiday tunes to go along with the winter seasonal projections! Grab your headphones, and head over to artonthemart.com to listen along! #artontheMART

Seasonal imagery started on November 17th, and will culminate in a special New Year’s Eve viewing. Bring your hot chocolate, and check out Chicago’s latest holiday destination!

TheMART has a new look! Wednesday – Sunday, now through December 31 from 7:00  – 9:00 p.m., theMART transforms into Art on theMART, the newest addition to Chicago’s vibrant public art scene and the largest digital art projection in the world! For more information, visit artonthemart.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Obscura Digital

Community Alert – 18th District – Residential Burglaries

To print, click HERE.

 

 

Community Alert – 18th District (Near North) – Robbery/Thefts

 

 

 

 

To print, click HERE.

The Allstate CTA Holiday Train & Bus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Allstate CTA Holiday Train is a holiday tradition unique to Chicago, which, due to popular demand, is now accompanied by the Elves’ Workshop Train. The Elves’ Workshop Train follows the Holiday Train on Saturdays to help ensure everyone has an opportunity to experience this one-of-kind tradition.

Complementing these two CTA trains is the Allstate CTA Holiday Bus, which brings the same holiday spirit and joy to bus riders as it travels throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.

For a full list of 2nd Ward opportunities to view the trains and bus, please click here. The remaining times are also listed below.

CTA HOLIDAY TRAIN SCHEDULE:

• Blue Line on Dec. 6
• Blue Line on Dec. 7
• Blue & Pink Lines (Photos with Santa; Elves’ Workshop Train in service and directly following the main holiday train only on Pink Line) on Dec. 8
• Red Line on Dec. 11
• Red Line on Dec. 13
• Red & Purple Lines (Photos with Santa; Elves’ Workshop Train in service and directly following the main holiday train) on Dec. 15

CTA HOLIDAY BUS SCHEDULE:

• #66 Chicago on Dec. 4 (Photo session with Santa at Navy Pier between 4:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.) & Dec. 5
• #29 State on Dec. 12 (Photo session with Santa at Navy Pier between 5:25 p.m. and 6:25 p.m.) & Dec. 13
• #49 Western/#X49 Western Exp. on Dec. 19 (Photo session with Santa at 79th and Western between 4:25 p.m. and 5:25 p.m.)
Source:  Alderman Brian Hopkins -2nd Ward Newsletter 12/4/18

Ohio Place Dog Park – Thank you Tails Up for the new message board!

Thank you to Tails-Up for donating this new message board!  Tails-up is a local River North business that provides daily dog walks, dog and cat sitting, and other pet services .

Check out their deal on My River North mobile app.   Haven’t downloaded the app yet?  Go to the App Store or Google Play to download our FREE app to keep up to date on River North News, Events and deals from local businesses who support our neighborhood.

Who’s that handsome fella posing with Liz from Tails-up? Why its Gus Falada, a local resident who frequents both the Ohio Place and Larrabee Street DFA’s!

 

 

 

River North Tulip Planting Event with Alderman Reilly – Over 1300 Tulips in the Spring!

On Saturday, November 10, Alderman Reilly hosted a Tulip Bulb Planting Event in River North.  Thank you to all the RNRA volunteers who came out in the cold to plant, Peet’s Coffee and Tea for donating hot coffee and Alderman Reilly who personally purchased the tulip bulbs which will blossom into beautiful purple, yellow and red tulips in the Spring

Over 100 Jumbo Darwin Mix tulip bulbs were planted in each new curb extension that is part of Alderman Reilly’s new traffic calming improvement project recently installed in River North.  Vital infrastructre improvements were installed in response to reports of speeding cars and pedestrian safety concerns along Erie Street, between Kingsbury and Sedgwick. Alderman Reilly allocated a portion of his Aldermanic Menu to fund the installation of these important River North safety improvements.

River North is home to a large (and growing) number of families, as well as several daycares and a popular park with robust children’s and dog amenities. All of these factors contribute to significant pedestrian traffic along Erie Street in River North.

Alderman Reilly asked the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to survey West Erie Street, from N. Kingsbury Street to N. Sedgwick Street. CDOT traffic engineers developed a comprehensive traffic calming design intended to slow vehicular traffic and improve pedestrian safety along West Erie Street.

Concrete curb extensions have been installed on Erie Street, at the intersections with Kingsbury, Hudson, and Sedgwick Streets. Curb extensions narrow the roadway and help slow vehicular traffic, and bring stop signs closer to the driver. Curb extensions also reduce the pedestrian crossing distance and improve visibility between drivers and pedestrians.

For additional traffic calming, CDOT installed a speed hump and curb extensions mid-block on Erie Street between Kingsbury and Hudson, and another mid-block between Hudson and Sedgwick. Mid-block speed humps were installed on Superior, between Larrabee and Orleans, and will be installed on Huron, between Larrabee and Orleans.
Speed humps are self-enforcing traffic calming tools that reduce travel speeds as drivers are forced to slow down in order to traverse the humps.  The new speed humps will reduce overall vehicular and pedestrian crashes within this corridor.

City of Chicago Using Smart 911 Software

The City of Chicago is beginning to utilize Smart911 software – an important new way to help keep your family safe.

Approximately 75 percent of 911 calls are made using cellular phones, which often lack detailed location information. Smart911 allows you to register your family’s cell phone numbers, so first responders can know how best to help you in an emergency.

The Smart911 program allows you to provide customized information to emergency personnel before they arrive at the scene. You can add as much or as little to your profile as you want, and your information will only be seen if you ever have to call 911.

Smart911 allows you to add key information about members of your household such as medical info, physical descriptions, address and location info, and much more. You can also add information about your vehicles, pets and other details that will allow first responders to help you as fast as possible in the event of an emergency. The information is accessible whether you call 911 from your home phone or cell phone.

Seconds can count in an emergency. Sign up at Smart911.com and help keep your family safe.

Source:  Alderman Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Newsletter 12/04/18