Last week (7/30/18) , Alderman Reilly and the River North Residents Association (RNRA) co-hosted a second community presentation for a new commercial development proposal at 444 North Dearborn Street.The proposal includes plans to construct a new firehouse for City of Chicago Engine Co. 42, funded completely by the developer, which would save Chicago taxpayers over $15,000,000. Subsequently, the developer proposes to demolish the existing firehouse and construct a new 455 foot tall (614,648 SF) commercial tower at the southwest corner of North Dearborn Street and West Illinois Street.

All loading for the new tower would occur through the alley to the south of the site, which will be managed by a dockmaster. Ambulances and smaller Chicago Fire Department (CFD) vehicles would be able to access the new Fire Station through the alley, something that is not possible today. CFD would also have the ability to control the traffic lights at both the Clark & Illinois and Dearborn & Illinois intersections, allowing them to flush traffic from the block before exiting for a service call. This modern technology will better control traffic for the safety of residents, as well as allow the CFD to limit use of their sirens to clear the street.

This proposal includes the creation of a Planned Development, incorporating the properties on the block bounded by Clark, Illinois, Dearborn, and Hubbard Streets. The Planned Development would transfer the development rights for the properties in the PD to the office tower, ensuring that no other property on the block will ever be developed past its current height.

Alderman Reilly works hard to provide an open and transparent community review of all local development proposals. Please click on the following links to download the presentation and traffic study, and submit your feedback to development@ward42chicago.com.

Alderman Reilly Reports 8/3/18

The Chicago Help Initiative is honored to be the charity benefiting from Run Mag Mile.  All donation proceeds will benefit the year-round weekly meals and programs of The Chicago Help Initiative for people in need and experiencing homelessness in downtown Chicago.

Rally your family and friends, neighbors co-workers, build a team and sign up for RUN MAG  MILE to build a better Chicago for everyone.  For more information and to register, click HERE.

CHI is also in need of volunteers to help with the race.  Interested?  Click HERE.

Have you heard of The Chicago Help Initiative?  It is one of six charitable organizations that RNRA supports each year as part of our philanthropic community efforts.  Every Wednesday evening, The Chicago Help Initiative (CHI) gathers at the dining hall of 721 N. LaSalle Street to serve a warm meal on white-clothed tables to 130 guests in a safe and dignified setting.  An additional 70 individuals receive a bag meal to go.  The nutritious and delicious food is provided by local restaurants and hotels from Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and River North areas.

CHI offers more than just food. It’s mission is to assist guests in bettering their lives and becoming contributing members of the community again, offering medical assistance, mental health services, adult learning classes, employment resources and more.  To learn more, click HERE.

Launch event for Car2Go on Michigan Avenue

On Wednesday, Alderman Brian Hopkins was joined by Secretary of State Jesse White and 27th Ward Alderman Walter Burnett in welcoming Car2Go to Chicago, as this new free-float carshare program will bring numerous economic and quality of life benefits to the city.

In 2016, the University of California Berkeley released a study proving that Car2Go’s model cuts traffic congestion, reduces air pollution and integrates with other transit and transportation options, thereby helping to move more people, more efficiently while reducing air pollution and overall vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

Specifically, the study showed that each Car2Go vehicle removed as many as 11 personal cars from the road, which otherwise sit unused 95 percent of the time, and each Car2Go vehicle prevented up to 14 metric tons of greenhouse gas from polluting city air.

This program will complement existing public transportation by bridging the gaps between the “first and last mile” of a member’s commute. Early testing has shown that members walk, bike or ride public transit even more so in conjunction with access to free-floating carshare.

Their service has proven to be a tremendous success in major cities all over North America – such as New York, Montreal, D.C., Denver, and Vancouver – in improving mobility, air quality, and alleviating road congestion.
Source:  Alderman Brian Hopkin’s 2nd Ward Newsletter 7/27/18

018th District National Night Out:  August 7, 2018  4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  

The 018th District is hosting the “35th Annual National Night Out”.   National Night Out is a nationwide event designed to build strong community partnerships and promote safe neighborhoods.  Come out and join your neighbors to help build a stronger, safer community, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnership.

Family Style Barbeque, Kids activities, games, bouncy-house, face-painting, give-aways, Chicago Police S.W.A.T., Mounted, Canine, Chicago Fire Department Engine and more!  Information Tables:  Catholic Charities, Chicago Public Library, Near North Unity Program, Cook County Treasurer’s Office, Healthcare Consortium, Citizen Utility Board, Illinois Secretary of State.

Where:  018th District Chicago Police Department, 1160 N. Larrabee, South parking lot

Print copies of both flyers:   National Night Out,  RNRA Community Walks

Both WALKS will be organized and lead by RNRA Volunteers along the North Branch RIVER WALK.  For additional information contact Karl Costello, RNRA Public Safety Chair, at KCostello@RNRAChicago.org.

WALK PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER BELOW – It’s not too late to register!  

Alderman Reilly and State Representative Stratton are cohosting a Community Shred Day on Monday, August 6 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Ohio Place Dog Park located at 360 West Oho Street.

Households are limited to two boxes and shredding materials will be accepted until the shred trucks are full. The flyer below provides further information about the event.

A representative from Alderman Reilly’s Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.

We look forward to seeing you at the Community Shred Day!

Experience the parks like never before next weekend (Friday 8/10 and Saturday 8/11) at this annual one-of-a-kind camp out on Northerly Island.

Gotta keep  campers well fed! Enjoy an appetizer hour by Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, a camp-themed dinner feat. Luella’s Southern Kitchen & Vincent Chicago, and sweets by Eli’s Cheesecake, Edge of Sweetness, and Lifeway Kefir. Special s’mores station feat. homemade fixings by Katherine Anne Confections and Amy’s Candy Bar!

Also available Goose Island’s Brewer’s Basecamp, CH Distillery, Rhine Hall Distillery, Social Sparkling Wine, Brew Dr. Kombucha, and Fruit Belt Sparkling Fruit Tonic. Plus, Goose’s Sofie-mosas to accompany your morning brunch!

Relax and explore with  camp activities including DIY flower crowns, glow-in-the-dark bocce, prairie walks, twilight and sunrise yoga, lawn games, hammocking, custom souvenirs, a raffle drawing, and so much more from  incredible local partners!

The splendor of Northerly Island awaits you.  For tickets, click HERE.

Save the date for our next 2nd Ward Paper Shredding, Electronics Recycling, and Medication Takeback Event on September 22nd, located behind the 2nd Ward Service Office at 1400 N. Ashland Avenue.

Mayor Emanuel and City Clerk Anna Valencia recently announced that Coast2Coast Rx has been selected as the vendor to provide discounts on name brand and generic prescription drugs at no direct cost to the City or participating Chicago residents.

Residents will be able to take advantage of the free benefit by using a discount card available at www.ChicagoRxCard.com, public library branches or many aldermanic offices. Additionally, CityKey cards that are issued going forward will include a discount number so that the CityKey can also be used as a resident’s prescription benefit card.

The Chicago Rx Card allows residents to locate participating pharmacies and search for the price of prescription drugs, medical equipment, and even medication for their pets.

Residents will also be able to read more about the program and download a discount card if they don’t have the discount number printed on their CityKey.

The Chicago Rx Card will be accepted at all major chain pharmacies in addition to many independent ones. Over 60,000 drugs are included as part of the program with savings of up to 80% on both name brand and generic prescriptions. One card can be used for dependents for an entire family and is good for pet prescriptions as well when they are filled at a pharmacy. There are no limits to the number of times the card can be used.

Pharmaceutical benefit managers often place contractual limitations on pharmacists that prevent them from disclosing if and when a customer’s prescription would cost less if purchased outside their insurer or pharmacy plan, as well as what the true price of a prescription would be without these benefits.

These provisions, often referred to as “gag clauses,” also limit pharmacists from providing consumers with information about the cheapest way to pay for their prescriptions. This deceptive practice often causes consumers to pay more than is necessary for prescriptions, which is why Mayor Emanuel announced the City of Chicago would end this practice in May. As a result, Chicago’s discount prescription drug program is the first municipal prescription benefit program to be free of a gag clause.

To learn more, click here to read the full press release or visit  www.ChicagoRxCard.com for more information.

Alderman Reilly Reports:  7/27/18

Mayor Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson announced 97 new probationary police officers have been sent to neighborhood police districts on July 22nd for their first assignment, including 30 officers who have been deployed to the 1st, 12th, and 18th Districts – police districts with boundaries within the 42nd Ward.

Since the start of 2017, more than 1,800 new recruits have entered the Police Academy to train to become police officers. This year alone, 654 new officers have deployed to their district assignments to support public safety and engage community members in effective problem solving through community policing.

These new officers are being deployed after successfully completing their training at the Academy and initial field training. The new officers benefited from CPD’s enhanced training curriculum which includes scenario based instruction and renewed focus on de-escalation and force mitigation. During the six-month 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, critical thinking, scenario-based training in crisis intervention and de-escalation, use of force, and community building.

This was followed by three months of field training, during which officers are paired with Field Training Officers for hands-on guidance during their first in-the-field months.

These new officers have joined as part of CPD’s ongoing “Be the Change” recruitment campaign which reflects the belief that this new generation of police officers will lay the groundwork for a more diverse department and be future leaders who define how police support, protect and work together with Chicago’s communities.

The breakdown of the city-wide deployment is below:District 1 (Central) 10
District 2 (Wentworth)  10
District 6 (Gresham) 10
District 7 (Englewood) 10
District 8 (Chicago Lawn) 10
District 11 (Harrison) 10
District 12 (Near West)  10
District 15 (Austin)  10
District 18 (Near North) 10
District 19 (Town Hall)    7

Alderman Reilly Reports:  7/27/18