RNRA Annual Meeting 11/9/2021 Photo Gallery

On November 9 the RNRA Annual Meeting was hosted by generous RNRA sponsor Tao Chicago. Our guests heard updates from Alderman Brendan Reilly, Commander Jon Hein, and RNRA leaders on public safety, neighborhood development, and other key issues for River North. All proceeds will support the charitable and resident advocacy activities of RNRA. Thank you to our generous hosts at Tao! Check out the photo gallery here.
Tao Special Offer
We hope you will dine with our generous host!
Tao is offering 20% off your dine-in meal Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. To take advantage of this discount, download the FREE My River North mobile app at the App Store or Google Play.
A special thank you to Matthew Reeves Photography, an RNRA Sponsor!

Winners of the RNRA Halloween Costume Photo Contest!

Thank you to all of the families who submitted entries to RNRA’s Halloween Costume Photo Contest. Finalists were selected from each category of competition, an online ballot was distributed and people had one week to vote for their favorites. And the winners are…
  • Kids Ages 0 – 6 years: Abu (with Princess Jasmine)
  • Kids Ages 7 – 12 years: Your Fortune Is…..
  • Family/Group: The Incredibles
Congratulations Winners!
Winners were awarded $25.00 Target gift cards.
Kids Ages 0 – 6 years: Abu (with Princess Jasmine)
Kids Ages 7 – 12 years: Your Fortune Is…..
Family/Group: The Incredibles

Larabee DFA October Power Wash – Thank you Dog.Hotel | Daycare

Thank you Dog.Hotel | Daycare for sponsoring our October 2021 power wash at the Larrabee Dog Park and for donating the doggie waste bags for both our Larrabee and Ohio Place dog parks. Check out RNRA’s  My River North mobile app for a special discount from Dog.Hotel \ Daycare.  You can download the app Free from the App Store or Google Play.  

Consider Dog.Hotel |Daycare as you make your holiday plans!

Thank You “Pitch in for the Parks” Volunteers!

Thank you to our Volunteers who came out to clean-up Ward Park on October 23rd for “Pitch in for the Parks”.
The Chicago Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Chicago Park District and local communities, led this citywide volunteer initiative to help keep our parks clean.  This has been a successful community wide effort.
Stay tuned for more of “Pitch in for the Parks” in 2022!

Message from Alderman Reilly – Public Safety Update

Excerpt from Reilly Reports 10/22/2021

We understand that recent crime and personal safety continue to be top-of-mind for many Chicago residents. Residents often ask what they can do to help the Chicago Police Department (CPD) improve public safety and for updates regarding Alderman Reilly’s efforts to reduce criminal activity.

Community Engagement Opportunities – Residents can assist CPD and their community improve public safety by doing the following:

  • Joining the Court Advocacy program. Court Advocates are volunteers who track court cases and attend judicial hearings for crimes that have occurred within their neighborhoods. Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and solidarity against crime in your community. Please click here for information about Court Advocacy.
  • Participate in your local CAPS meetings. CAPS meetings offer residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat cops who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which helps the police to monitor crime issues. Please make sure to confirm the details for upcoming meetings with your Police District’s CAPS office. To find your district and beat, please click here, and please review CAPS Personal Safety Tips to protect yourself.
  • Most importantly, if you see something, say something. Calling 9-1-1 in real-time when criminal activity occurs is the most important thing anyone can do. Please click here for tips about calling 9-1-1.

Alderman Reilly’s Efforts to Improve Public Safety – Although Alderman Reilly does not have the authority to direct the CPD, his top priority is to leverage all available City resources to enhance public safety throughout the Downtown neighborhoods.  Alderman Reilly consistently collaborates with CPD to identify and address hot-spot crime locations.

Since 2019, the Alderman has allocated portions of the Aldermanic Menu to fund the installation of the following:

  • $657,000 to fund the installation of Police Observation Cameras (PODs) and License Plate Readers (LPRs) in various locations throughout the 42nd Ward. These cameras have been instrumental in assisting CPD identify and arrest criminals.
  • $1.7 million to fund lighting enhancements in the 42nd Ward.

The week of 10/18/22, Alderman Reilly convened a site survey with staff of relevant City Departments to review 15 potential locations for new cameras to be installed. He is committed to spending a large portion of the 2022 Aldermanic Menu Fund to install additional PODs and LPRs in the Downtown neighborhoods.

In addition to the Aldermanic Menu, Alderman Reilly uses his legislative powers to provide law enforcement with more tools to address crime and safety issues.

While CPD is on pace to take over 12,000 guns off the City’s streets this year, in many cases, guns involved in shootings around the City are legally purchased before illegally changing hands to be used for illicit activities and terrorizing the City’s communities.

Effective crime reduction strategies require an aligned system of justice – federal, state, and local agencies  must develop a collaborative, cross-government approach to public safety to ensure the well-being of the City’s residents remains at the forefront of any and all public safety.

Alderman Reilly is pleased to report that he recently co-sponsored a City Council Resolution calling for a hearing to investigate how best to combat gun violence in the City and how to foster cooperation among agencies responsible for the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders (R2021-1128).

Again, please remember to call 9-1-1 in real-time if you witness criminal activity. 

SPEAK UP CHICAGO – Participate with 18th District CPD in creating 2022 Policing Strategy

CLICK HERE to register.  CLICK HERE to print a copy.

 

Community Alert – 18th District Armed Robberies

To print a copy, CLICK HERE.

9/21/21 Public Safety Webinar Recording – Event Co-Hosted by RNRA and Alderman Reilly 42nd Ward

On Tuesday September 21, 2021, RNRA and Alderman Brendan Reilly co-hosted a webinar so that public safety officials could address residents and business owners about incidents of disruptive and unlawful activity in our community in recent months.

This public event featured the 18th District’s new Commander, Jon Hein, and Deputy Chief, Michael Barz. They responded to a series of summarized questions posed by RNRA Public Safety Committee Chair Joe Vietri on behalf of the more than 750 individuals who registered to participate in the webinar.

Please click on the link below to access a video recording of the webinar.

                          9-21-21 Public Safety Webinar Recording

The RNRA wishes to thank Alderman Reilly, Commander Hein and Deputy Chief Barz, as well as everyone who registered for the event and took the time to submit questions in advance. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will schedule future webinars as required to keep the neighborhood informed. In the meantime, please be aware of your surroundings, don’t hesitate to call 911, and attend your local Beat Meetings.

Stay safe and well,

River North Residents Association
info@rnrachicago.org

Smart 911 – A new FREE service

 

 

Community Alert Form Alderman Brian Hopkins – Ward 02: Large Gatherings of Vehicles & Downtown Traffic Concerns

September 17, 2021

Dear Neighbors,

Throughout the day I have been discussing last night’s surge of car caravans with local police commanders and Superintendent David Brown. The 2nd Ward office has received a large number of concerns about the lack of police control over the roadways last night.

The danger of roadways being closed by celebratory traffic, and the impact that has for emergency vehicles, cannot be overstated. It was very difficult for police and emergency resources to move throughout the city last night. Due to major roadways an intersections being blocked, many emergency vehicles were not able to travel through neighborhood zones. This unplanned and unpermitted activity endangers residents experiencing health or safety emergencies.

I ask the greater Chicago community to refrain from joining any large car caravans in the downtown area and along major roadways this evening and this weekend. Please celebrate responsibly, and with respect for your fellow Chicago neighbors.

I will continue to share concerns, reports, and video submitted by 2nd Ward residents with the police command structure as they work to coordinate a city-wide crime and safety strategy, and will remain an advocate for consistent and adequate police coverage in our 2nd Ward neighborhoods.
Sincerely,

Alderman Brian Hopkins
2nd Ward