Recreation, Education & Job Readiness – Saturday 1-27 at Maclolm X Community College Conference Center – Free for Ages 13-19 – From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Interested, REGISTER at:  www.ChicagoParkDistrict.com.  Be sure to reference Malcolm X Activity Code 229020

NEED TRANSPORTATION?   Jesse White Community Center will provide transportation at 9:00 a.m.  They will also provide the transporation back to Jesse White Community Center from Malcolm-X.

If you are interested in transporatoin, please call the Jesse White Community Center ahead of time at 312-742-2410.

Red Light Cameras Installed at Strategic Michigan Avenue Intersections to Deter Light Running and Improve Safety

Alderman Reilly is pleased to announce that Automated Red Light Camera Enforcement (RLC) Cameras at the intersections of Michigan Avenue and Ontario Street, and Michigan Avenue and Jackson Boulevard will be activated on Monday, January 22.  Violations will not be issued for the first two weeks, until February 5.

Alderman Reilly negotiated with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to have RLCs installed at the intersection of Michigan and Ontario based on residents’ feedback about safety concerns. This intersection also has one of the largest pedestrian volumes in the City.

The RLCs replace cameras that were removed from other locations last year.  The two new locations that were chosen have consistently scored high for potential red-light camera placement due to the high number of crashes and the unique characteristics of the intersections. Both intersections have large number of pedestrians and heavy vehicular movements which make pedestrians particularly vulnerable.

CDOT has posted new signage on the approach to the affected intersections to alert motorists that the cameras have been installed. Failure to stop at red lights at these intersections will result in a $100 fine starting February 5.

The placement of these cameras follows the release of a Northwestern University Transportation Center study on the effectiveness of Chicago’s RLC program.  One of the key findings was that the program’s safety benefits can be enhanced if a small number of existing cameras be relocated to more effective intersections.  Based on recommendation in the Northwestern study, in March the City proposed that four cameras be removed and placed in new locations.

To learn more, click on the following links for more information about the City’s Red Light Camera Enforcement Program and the Northwestern University Transportation Center study.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 1/19/18

January 18-26

For nine days in January, the city’s top museums are joining together to celebrate Museum Week. Take advantage of discounted admissions, special exhibits, giveaways and more at each of the participating museums. Illinois residents will receive up to 25% off admissions at all museums. From culture to constellations, art to animals, this is your chance to experience Chicago’s most beloved institutions in a whole new way!

For more information, click here.

Mayor Emanuel and Choose Chicago recently announced that visitors to the city in 2017 reached 55.2 million – a new record and 2.5 percent increase over the previous year.

Chicago’s tourism industry supported an estimated 146,500 jobs in 2017, a 17 percent increase since Mayor Emanuel took office. Prior to 2011, there were an estimated 124,400 tourism-related positions. The projected 55.2 million visitors to Chicago in 2017 generated an estimated additional 22,000 jobs. In 2010, Chicago saw about 39.25 million visitors. 2017’s performance is an approximately 40 percent increase.

2017 marked another major increase in leisure visitors to the city, as Chicago hotels reported an overall annual increase of 6.3 percent. This increase of the leisure segment was particularly strong in the key summer months as hotels reported an increase of 7.4 percent during the four-month period June through September – more than double the growth of the previous summer. Overall, Chicago hotel demand in terms of rooms occupied grew 3.3 percent in 2017.

Another key segment generating overnight visitors is the important convention and meetings industry convening at McCormick Place. Of the largest 40 conventions held, 21 achieved increased attendance over their prior year event including 10 that experienced all time attendance records. Seven of the 40 largest conventions broke previous records in terms of the sale of exhibit space – another encouraging industry trend.

The positive momentum being generated is also helping fuel industry growth as Chicago opened five new hotels in 2017 with another eight new hotels currently scheduled to open in 2018.

To read the full press release, click here.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 1/19/18

2401 N Lake Shore Drive
Various Times

Theater, music, comedy and variety is now at the beautiful new Theater on the Lake.  Here’s a quick rundown:

Friday, January 19, 8:30 p.m.  In Spite of Ourselves
Wednesday, January 24, 8:30 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Wednesday (comedy/variety)
Friday, February 2, 9:00 p.m. The O’My’s and Drama Duo
Saturday, February 2, 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Collaboration Theater

Chicago Animal Care and Control
2741 S. Western Ave.
Now through February 18

CACC is excited to announce a new program to assist adopters and their dogs with a rebate of up to $100 for completing a training course. This initiative is sponsored by Pets and Vets USA. For more info, click here.

Please be advised that on Saturday, January 20, 2018 the Women’s March on Chicago will be taking place. Street closures go into effect Friday night, and additional street closures implemented for the event on Saturday will impact downtown, Grant Park area.

Location of Events:
Rally: Grant Park, at Jackson and Columbus
Main Entrance for the Rally: Congress Parkway and Columbus
Stage Location: Facing south at the intersection of Jackson and Columbus
March: Begin at Jackson and Columbus, proceed west on Jackson until Clark, proceed north on Clark to Federal Plaza. The march will terminate in Federal Plaza.

Schedule of Events:
9:00am Site opens with videos and music
11:00am Rally
12:30pm March

Street Closures:
Beginning at 10pm on Friday, January 19, until approximately 6pm on Saturday, January 20, the following streets will be closed:

Beginning at approximately 12:30pm:

• Michigan from Randolph to Harrison will be closed, but will open immediately after the march concludes

The Chicago Police Department also reserves the right to implement additional street closures as needed, to ensure public safety without the prior notification or authorization of Alderman Reilly’s office.

Residents and motorists are advised to allow extra time if traveling near the rally and march site, and to be aware of traffic impacts and increased parking restrictions.

Public Transit:
Metra and Chicago Transit Authority are planning additional service for this event.

Metra will be adding trains Saturday on the BNSF and Union Pacific North, Northwest and West lines.

CTA will provide extra bus and rail service for customers attending the march on Saturday, including increased service on the Blue, Brown, Purple, Green and Orange lines from 5am to 3pm and on the #147 Outer Drive Express bus between 8am and 10am.

The following bus routes will be rerouted from 8am until 4pm: #3 King, # 4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #J14 Jeffery Jump, #20 Madison, #22 Clark, #29 State, #36 Broadway, #56 Milwaukee, #60 Blue Island/26 St., #62 Archer, #124 Navy Pier, #126 Jackson, #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express, #147 Outer Drive Express and #151 Sheridan.

Check metrarail.com and transitchicago.com for details.

Security Information:
With thousands of marchers expected for the Women’s March in Chicago on Saturday, January 20, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is advising residents and motorists to be aware of the traffic impacts as participants gather in support of women’s rights and civil liberties.

OEMC urges everyone to be vigilant and aware of surroundings and report suspicious activity. If any suspicious criminal activity or suspicious objects are noticed, call 9-1-1 or notify on-site law enforcement personnel immediately. Some of these activities could be innocent; however, it’s up to law enforcement to determine whether the behavior warrants investigations so, If You See Something, Say Something.

OEMC will be monitoring the event accordingly. For emergency alert notifications, subscribe at www.NotifyChicago.org.

To view the OEMC Release, please click here.

For more information about the Women’s March on Chicago, please click here.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 1/19/18

The annual Point-In-Time Homeless Count provides the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) with a “snapshot” of Chicago’s homeless population. The data gathered serves as a basis for federal funding, for service and resource planning, and to raise public awareness about homelessness.

Volunteer for the Chicago Point-in-Time Homeless Count
Thursday, January 25th, 2018
8 pm to 2 am – Citywide

Volunteers are instrumental in this effort, working in teams, they canvass the entire city in a span of a few hours over the evening. To register as a volunteer, click here.

Source:  Alderman Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Newsletter 1/16/18

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) Superintendent Eddie Johnson today welcomed 114 new police recruits to the Department’s Training Academy, the first class of 2018 and another step in the city’s plan to grow CPD by nearly 1,000 officers.
“Chicago’s greatest asset is our diversity, and with each class of recruits CPD reflects that and uses it to serve our city,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Officers are not just here to police, patrol and protect residents, but to be part of those communities. Investments in officer training and technology today complement the City’s efforts for a better tomorrow – with more after school programs, summer jobs, and mentorship opportunities.”

The Police Department is not only growing in total size, but is also more diverse today than ever before and has the most diverse leadership in CPD history. This new class builds on the progress that has been made, as 68% of the January class of recruits are minority. This group of new recruits is also 23 percent female and includes 55 CPS graduates, 17 military veterans and 14 with CPD family members.

The ongoing hiring plan is part of Mayor Emanuel’s comprehensive public safety strategy – including investing in proactive intervention strategies in historically divested communities, expanding youth support services like mentoring for more at risk youth and stimulating neighborhood economic development with programs like the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund. While more work certainly remains, initiatives in 2018 will build on the reductions in gun violence seen in 2017, which were down 22% compared to last year. Since the beginning of 2017, more than 1,200 new recruits, 52 Lieutenants, 142 Sergeants, 270 Detectives and 119 Field Training Officers have entered the Academy.

“The first class of recruits for 2018 into the Training Academy is part of keeping our promise to make CPD a better agency and make Chicago safer through strengthened community policing,” said CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson. “These new recruits will join the dedicated and brave officers that are working every day to reduce gun violence and build partnerships with the communities we serve.  I am confident that as we continue our investments, including our hiring plan, we will see even further progress in ridding our streets from violence.”
During six months of training at Police Academy, recruits learn all applicable laws and protocols for being a Chicago Police Officer. In addition to physical training, they receive instruction in procedural justice, mental health awareness, crisis intervention and de-escalation, use of force, community building and critical thinking.

“Our city’s investment in public safety is seen in the dedicated faces of the over 100 recruits joining the Department today,” said Alderman Reboyras. “As the Department continues to strengthen in numbers, it also strengthens in diversity, training provided to new recruits and the tools they will have at their fingertips when they graduate, from body worn cameras to mobile technology honing them in on crime hotspots.”

When these officers graduate they will have access to new tools, technology and resources to partner with the community and fight violent crime. This includes last week’s announcement of the completion of strategic nerve centers in the 3rd (Grand Crossing) and 4th (South Chicago) Districts. In those districts, station-based Strategic Decision Support Centers, district-wide gunshot detection systems, POD crime cameras and mobile phone technology have been installed to support police in preventing, combating and responding to violent crime in the south and west sides.

Source: Alderman Walter Burnette-27th Ward Newsletter 1/16/18

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2018 as the “Year of Creative Youth.”

The $2 million investment by the City of Chicago will include a Creative Youth Festival across the Millennium Park Campus, performance opportunities for teens at city festivals and partner events, cultural grants, and events for youth arts organizations. For more information and updates on events planned for the Year of Creative Youth, visit cityofchicago.org/yocy.

Source:  Adlerman Reilly Reports 1/13/18