The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is proud to announce the launch of its new podcast series, “Roll Call,” produced by the Bureau of Patrol. The series offers candid, unfiltered conversations with members of CPD, residents, and others who work closely with law enforcement.

The premiere episode features an intimate conversation with CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling. Listeners will hear Superintendent Snelling reflect on pivotal moments in his career as well as the personal toll of policing and what it means to serve the city where he grew up.

You can listen to “Roll Call” wherever you get your Podcasts. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Update from Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins – Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety for the 2023-2027 term.

Dear Neighbors,

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke and her office are spearheading a renewed focus on mitigating chronic retail theft after years of leniency from the previous administration. 

In the spirit of that renewed focus, I had the honor of joining the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) along with other officials this week to hear from a group of retailers hardest hit by chronic retail theft and criminal recidivists in the downtown and near north communities. 

It was clear from their urgent accounts that retail theft is not only not “harmless” or “victimless” — but, in fact, one of the most serious classifications of crime in our city right now. In most cases, chronic retail theft leads to violence against vulnerable employees, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars in lost merchandise per incident, faltering confidence on the part of investors to do business in Chicago, and additional cascading negative effects. 

Retailers shared how employees refuse to take certain shifts out of fear for their safety, with one retailer describing an incident that led to their hospitalization and subsequent surgeries after being battered by a recidivist…simply for asking the individual to leave their store. 

I commend State’s Attorney O’Neill Burke on her efforts to prosecute these crimes, but her office alone cannot address the issue entirely. I am calling on the state legislature to make the relevant amendments to the SAFE-T act to address chronic retail theft as the serious issue it is. We cannot allow chronic recidivists to keep being released to commit repeat crimes almost daily. 

I will be communicating updates on this matter in this newsletter in the near future. 

 Sincerely, 

Brian Hopkins

Alderman, 2^nd Ward

One Minute Survey: Should the Chicago Police Department be PROHIBITED from Conducting Certain Traffic Stops?

Please complete the one-minute survey below.

WE WANT YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! 

Background – On July 31, 2025, a majority of the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability (the Commission) voted to support new PROHIBITIONS on CPD’s ability to conduct certain traffic stops. This is NOT the final vote and the Commission has requested additional public input.

Proposed Prohibition: “The Chicago Police Department shall be PROHIBITED from conducting a traffic stop or temporarily detaining a driver of a vehicle that is not a commercial, livery or chauffeured vehicle where the primary basis for the stop is any of the following violations:

THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY WILL BE ACCUMULATED, PRESENTED TO DECISION-MAKERS, AND SHARED WITH ALL THOSE RESPONDING.

Click on the box below to complete the One Minute Survey and VOICE YOUR OPINION.

The Chicago Department of Public Health installed air quality sensors on several light poles throughout the 42nd Ward the weekend of August 15. These sensors are part of the Chicago Air Sensor Network, which aims to help residents understand the air conditions in their area.

These sensors only record air quality and are not equipped to record audio or video. The program’s results will be shared with the public. Installation of these sensors will continue through the end of the summer.

On August 4th, the Mayor’s Casino Advisory Council met.  RNRA has had a representative on this committee since the disucssions on the casino began.

This council is made up of:

• Neighborhood Representatives
• Issue Experts

Other participants in the CAC meetings include:

• Aldermanic Offices
• City Staff including Department of Planning members
• Bally’s and Development Partners

Please CLICK HERE to see the August 4th presentation with the most current information.

RNRA has and will continue to post updates on our website RNRAChicago.org under the menu item Chicago Casino.  You will find history and current information at this link.  

On August 4th,CDOT began a major reconstruction project on Halsted St and the Chicago Ave River Bridge. The Chicago Ave Bridge will be replaced, and contractors will install a new riverwalk connection, protected bike lanes, landscaping, CTA bus lanes, street lighting, and new traffic signals.

Starting August 4, Halsted St will be closed in both directions from the river’s north branch to Ancona St, and Chicago Ave traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction from Peoria St to Kingsbury St. These changes will remain in effect until October 2025, after which a full closure of Chicago Ave will be implemented. Work will begin at 7am and conclude at 3:30pm on weekdays, with the possibility for work on Saturdays during the same hours. During construction, the following detours will be implemented: northbound detour via Grand Ave, Orleans St, and Division St to continue on Halsted St; southbound detour via Division St, LaSalle Dr, and Grand Ave to continue on Halsted St.

Click here for a map of the proposed project area. The work on Halsted Avenue is expected to be completed by the end of Summer 2026, and work on the Chicago Avenue Bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2026.

• Halsted Street fully closed in both directions between Grand and Division.
  • Northbound CTA bus route #8 detour: Eastbound on Grand Ave, Northbound on Orleans St, Westbound on Division St, back to Halsted St
  • Southbound CTA bus route #8 detour: Eastbound on Division St, Southbound on LaSalle Dr,  Westbound on Grand Ave, back to Halsted St
  • #8 Halsted Street CTA Bus reroute details
• Chicago Avenue reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. This traffic pattern will remain in place through October 2025, after which a full closure of Chicago Avenue will be implemented.
  • #66 Chicago Avenue CTA Bus stop closure details At present #66 bus is not being rerouted, only certain stops have been changed/discontinued