RNRA encourages all residents to attend their CAPS Beat Meetings.  

At its August Board Meeting, RNRA welcomed three new Directors: Michele Berman, Eileen Murray, and Debra Schalk. Each brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and imagination, along with the requisite love of River North. Their ideas and passion will be welcome additions to the leadership team.

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) held a hearing on August 19th to review the Special Use applications for a proposed Cannabis Dispensary at 605 North Clark Street.

At the meeting, ZBA voted to continue the matter proposed at 605 North Clark Street. It is now scheduled to be reviewed on October 21, 2022.  Stay tuned to the ZBA website for more information and for the link to the October 21st meeting.

January will mark the second anniversary of the legalization of recreational adult use cannabis in Illinois. So far, a total of 17 dispensaries have opened around the city of Chicago, including 3 in River North. For more information on the licensing process, please click here.

Alderman Brendan Reilly on Lolla, NASCAR, and Chicago Bureaucracy
Pete McMurray, in for John Howell, speaks with Alderman Brendan Reilly live in-studio. They recap this year’s Lollapalooza, the police stats afterwards, and the renewal of the Lolla contract. Alderman Reilly also gives his thoughts on the NASCAR deal, the mayor’s budget proposal, and more. CLICK HERE to listen.

For Immediate Release
August 10, 2022

CTA Renews Agreement with CPD for Additional Police Resources
New agreement offers increased pay for off-duty officers who volunteer to patrol CTA

As part of its ongoing commitment to making Chicago’s public transportation system even safer for both customers and employees, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) today announced the renewal of an ongoing agreement with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) for volunteer, off-duty officers to patrol CTA properties.

Earlier today, the Chicago Transit Board authorized an intergovernmental agreement between the CTA and the City of Chicago for additional police security services on CTA property through CPD’s Voluntary Special Employment Program (VSEP).

“The extension and enhancement of this invaluable program for volunteer officers to patrol the CTA is the latest in a series of steps taken by both CTA and CPD in recent months to provide everyone with a safer transit riding experience,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “We remain steadfast in our commitment in ensuring customer and employee safety is our No. 1 priority, and we will continue to work with CPD to identify new ways to boost crime deterrence.”

Under this three-year agreement, covering 2022-2025, CTA will be provided additional sworn police officers who volunteer to police the CTA system on their days off and who will be supervised by full-time, dedicated CPD supervisors.

Among the improvements made to the longstanding program was an increase in pay for volunteer officers. CTA will now reimburse CPD for services provided by off-duty officers at one-and-a-half times the particular officer’s regular straight time rate, including premium pay when applicable.

The use of VSEP officers is in addition to plans recently announced by CPD to assign additional police officers to CTA trains and platforms. The CTA and CPD continue to build upon their decades’ long partnership and leverage a number of tools and measures to deter crime.

Each day, officers from CPD and its dedicated Public Transportation Section are strategically deployed across our system, complemented by CTA’s teams of unarmed guards. Unarmed guards are deployed seven days a week to help educate and inform riders of rules for traveling CTA; and also patrol the system to keep an eye out for and report any suspicious activity or acts of crime.

On Monday, August 1st, Alderman Reilly joined Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand on WGN’s Chicago’s Afternoon News Radio. They discussed the extension of the City’s contract with Lollapalooza, NASCAR, violence in the City, and new pedicab restrictions that Alderman Reilly proposed to City Council last month.  Please click here to listen to the radio interview.

On Sunday, July 17th, Alderman Reilly discussed numerous hot topics on WGN Political Report with Paul Lisnek. Click here to watch the interview. The interview includes Alderman Reilly’s reaction to the recent announcement about Bally’s ability to raise necessary financing, safety regulations around Late Hour liquor establishments, Alderman Beale’s proposed amendment to speed cameras, Alderman Reilly’s proposed Bike Lane enforcement ordinance, and Mayor Lightfoot’s recent announcement to bring NASCAR to Chicago streets in 2023.

On Tuesday, July 19th, Alderman Reilly joined Steve Cochran on WLS Radio to discuss his recent Drag Racing and Drifting ordinance. Please click here to listen to the interview

On Friday, July 15, Alderman Reilly joined the Steve Cochran show with Pete McMurray and Andrea Darlas on WLS Radio. They discussed recent incidents Downtown, police resources and policing policies, and the casino. Please click here to listen to the interview.