18th District CPD Community Relations Office provides Cell Phone Precautions

In the interest of Public Safety, the 18th District Community Relations Office has provided instructions on how to track your Apple and Android devices in the event they are taken or misplaced.

 

GOLD COAST INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT: Replacement of Unsightly “Dog House” Covers at Michigan and Oak

Alderman Reilly is extremely pleased to announce that work has commenced on an infrastructure improvement project at the northwest and southeast corners of Michigan and Oak.

In response to the numerous complaints received over the years about the dilapidated condition of the wooden “dog house” covers at the highly traveled intersection of Michigan and Oak, Alderman Reilly worked with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to find an innovative and aesthetically pleasing way to cover the inactive pedestrian tunnel entrances.

Alderman Reilly allocated a portion of the Aldermanic Menu funds to remove the wooden “dog house” cover at the northwest corner of Michigan and Oak and to replace it with a slab of concrete. This solution will increase the available sidewalk width for pedestrians and improve the aesthetics at this high visibility corner on the Magnificent Mile.

Additionally, Alderman Hopkins has committed Menu funds to remove the cover at the southeast corner of Oak and Michigan and replace it with a sidewalk slab.

CDOT is beginning work on the installation of concrete covers in the 2nd Ward at the southeast corner of Oak and Michigan, and, upon completion, will move to the northwest corner located in the 42nd Ward. Work is expected to take several weeks.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 10-4-17

CTA – How Hiring Bus Operators

Potential employees can visit transitchicago.com/careers to see all open career opportunities and to submit an application.

Chicago Smart Lighting (Streelight Modernization Program) Activated!

270,000 Upgraded Lights to be Installed Citywide Over Next Four Years

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently launched the historic modernization of Chicago’s streetlight system by flipping the switch to activate the first four-block stretch to receive the new lights on South Chicago Avenue from 79th to 83rd Streets. The ambitious Chicago Smart Lighting Program will replace 270,000 of Chicago’s public lights with high-quality LED fixtures over the next four years and add a management system that will give the city a state-of-the-art smart lighting grid.

In 2017, streetlight fixture replacement will be focused in neighborhoods with heightened public safety concerns on the west and south sides. In addition, during the first twelve months of work, new lights will be installed along key arterial streets in every ward of Chicago, to ensure neighborhoods throughout the City benefit from the improved lighting. The project will also include targeted repairs to poles and wiring to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

The program website, www.chicagosmartlighting.org, provides the ability to track the progress of the program as new high quality LED streetlights are installed across the City over the next four years.

The new lights, which will be owned and operated by the City, will consume 50-75 percent less electricity than existing high pressure sodium (HPS) lights, generating significant electricity cost savings that will offset the cost of the modernization. LED fixtures also last two-to-three times longer than HPS lights. In addition, ComEd has committed to providing $6.2 million in rebate funding for the program in 2017 as part of the company’s energy efficiency incentive efforts.
The program was procured by the Chicago Infrastructure Trust in close coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Innovation and Technology. This is the largest project to date from a rebooted CIT, which is dedicated to assisting the City with executing large-scale and complex public projects.
The project is expected to be completed in four years and cost up to $160 million. The City of Chicago has contracted with a team led by Ameresco Inc., a national leader in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, to implement the program.

The program includes three components:

  • Replacement of approximately 270,000 existing street, alley and viaduct light fixtures with modern, more reliable, energy-efficient LED lights that deliver higher quality lighting.
  • Installation of a state-of-the-art lighting management system that will enable remote monitoring and control of the City’s outdoor lighting. It will greatly improve the city’s responsiveness to service requests by providing real-time updates when outages occur. It will also allow lighting levels to be controlled remotely. The system will be phased into operation during the project and the first portion of the system is expected to be operational by spring of 2018.
  • Targeted stabilization and repair of light poles and wiring on an as-needed basis and subject to available funding in order to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

For more information, click on the following links to read the full press release or fact sheet.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/22/17

Hurricane and Earthquake Disaster Relief

In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and recent earthquakes in Mexico City, our thoughts are with the victims and families affected by natural disasters. Residents are encouraged to consider supporting organizations assisting with relief efforts and the long recovery ahead in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other affected areas.

The City has created a website cityofchicago.org/disasterrelief that includes a list of verified charities and organizations assisting with these efforts. Please help us spread the word!

Local Efforts:

Friday, September 22nd 7-11PM

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave.

Event Hosted by The Puerto Rican Agenda

Paypal donations to support local community relief efforts to PRHurricaneRelief@boricuahumanrights.org

The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance and National Museum of Mexican Art Relief Fund is also accepting donations for emergencies in Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Tuesday, September 26th 6-Midnight

Mi Tierra Restaurant, 2528 S. Kedzie Ave.

Event Hosted by The Little Village Chamber of Commerce

October 11th 5:30-7PM

Old Crow, 149 W. Kinzie St.

Event Hosted by The Latino Caucus

According to FEMA, cash donations are preferred to allow organizations the most flexibility to address needs on the ground. Please do not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine, or perishable foodstuffs at this time. If you choose to donate, be sure to contribute funds through a trusted, legitimate organization and website. Check Charity Navigator to determine the best organizations to donate to.

Volunteers should not self-deploy at this time as this will create an additional burden for first responders. To ensure volunteer safety and the safety of disaster survivors, volunteers should only go to affected areas with a specific volunteer assignment, proper safety gear, and valid identification.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has a safe and well website where people can check for their loved ones and people in affected areas can also register themselves as safe and well.  Residents can also follow @ChicagoOEMC on twitter for continued updates.

Lastly, Puerto Rico Emergency Management officials suggest the following:

  • Contact the island’s disaster relief team by e-mailing maria1@prfaa.pr.gov –  Because of high volume, leaders are asking that you only send one email – no follow-ups – unless the status of your loved one has changed.  Include your contact information and as many details about your family or friend as possible.
  • Call the Puerto Rico Washington D.C. office at 202-800-3133 or 202-778-0710 – Staffers are taking names and numbers and developing plans to check the welfare of people who remain unreachable or missing as the island begins to recover. Officials say getting through to someone over the phone has been difficult because of backed-up phone lines.
  • For other helpful links with information to assist with efforts in Puerto Rico, visit http://unidosporpuertorico.com/en/

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/22/17

Community Presentation for Proposed Development at 365 West Huron Street

Alderman Reilly invites you to join him at an informational presentation regarding a new development proposal at 365 West Huron Street.  Representatives of Morningside Huron, LLC will present their plans and answer any questions you may have about this proposal.

Morningside Huron LLC has submitted a proposal to construct a 10-story, 138-foot tall building containing 45 residential condominium units. The building will provide 51 parking spaces with a majority of the spaces below grade. The site is currently a surface parking lot.

WHAT:      New Condominium Development located at 365 W. Huron Street

WHO:        Hosted by Alderman Brendan Reilly and the River North Residents Association

WHEN:      Monday, October 2, 2017 at 6:00 P.M.

WHERE:    Godfrey Hotel – Truss Room (4th Floor) – 127 W. Huron Street

Alderman Reilly works hard to provide an open and transparent community review of all local development proposals. We hope you can join the Alderman and RNRA to engage in a direct dialogue with the development team to gain a better understanding of their proposal and receive answers to any questions you may have.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/22/17

CTA to Provide Extra Service for Blackhawks, Bears Games

Full travel details are available at transitchicago.com/alerts. CTA recommends allowing plenty of travel time and purchasing fares and unlimited-ride passes ahead of time. More information about purchasing fares is below.

Event service/extra service

United Center
Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Thurs. 9/21 at 7:30 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Sat. 9/23 at 7:30 p.m.

  • Rail: Green, Pink and Blue lines
  • Bus: #19 United Center Express, #20 Madison and #50 Damen

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears at Soldier Field – Sunday 9/24 at 12 p.m.

  • Rail: Red, Orange, Green lines
  • Bus: #128 Soldier Field Express (from Ogilvie, Union stations) #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express

Buy your unlimited ride passes and fares in advance
Avoid long lines to buy fares! Customers can add  unlimited ride passes (1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day) or add money to pay per-ride to their Ventra cards ahead of time via the free Ventra app, at rail station Ventra vending machines, online or at more than 1,000 local retailers (for locations visit ventrachicago.com or the Ventra app).

Customers can also purchase from Ventra vending machines 1-day unlimited ride tickets ($10) or single-ride tickets ($3) that include up to two transfers in two hours. Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards.

Stay in the Loop on CTA Service
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.

Neighborhood Notice: Construction near Clark and Huron – From Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Alderman

Construction on the new 17-story development project at 100 W. Huron is expected to begin next week. The sidewalk of Huron Street (north side of the street) will be closed for the duration of the project while pedestrian canopies will be in place along the curb-lanes of Huron Street and Clark Street. There will be no driving lane reductions as a result of this project.   

Foundation and caisson work is expected to be completed by December 2017, at which point construction will start to build vertically.

If you have any additional questions please email Alderman Hopkins at Ward02@cityofchicago.org, or call the 2nd Ward Service Office at (312) 643-2299.

Be the Change – Become a Chicago Police Officer – Apply by 10-16-17

Chicago Police Open House at the Education & Training Division