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

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios’ Office recently mailed nearly 300,000 Senior and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal applications for Tax Year 2017 to seniors who received the exemptions last year. The application deadline is Wednesday, February 7, and state law requires annual renewal in order to continue to receive exemption savings.

The Senior Exemption application is part of a booklet sent to eligible seniors. The booklet also contains the separate, income-based Senior Freeze Exemption application.

To qualify for the Senior Citizen Exemption for Tax Year 2017, a taxpayer must have:
• been born prior to or in the year 1952
• owned the property during 2017 or have a lease or contract for 2017 which makes them responsible for the real estate taxes
• used the property as his or her principal place of residence in 2017

To qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption for Tax Year 2017, a taxpayer must have:
• been born prior to or in the year 1952
• a total household income of $65,000 or less for [income] Tax Year 2016
• owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017
• used the property as his or her principal place of residence as of January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017
• been liable for payment of 2016 and 2017 property taxes

Seniors receiving the Senior Citizen Exemption automatically receive the Homeowner Exemption. Seniors receiving the Senior Freeze Exemption automatically receive both the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions.

Eligible seniors who have never applied for the Senior and/or Senior Freeze Exemptions in the past may visit the Assessor’s web site at www.cookcountyassessor.com and download an application or contact the Assessor’s Office at 312-443-7550 and request a form be mailed to them. Applications for the Homeowner Exemption are also available online.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 1/13/18

Rail: Green, Pink and Blue lines

Bus: #19 United Center Express, #20 Madison and #50 Damen

Concerts
Lana Del Rey – Thurs.1/11 at 8 p.m.
The Killers – Tues. 1/16 at 7:30 p.m.

Games
Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Fri. 1/12 at 7:30 p.m.
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls – Sat. 1/13 at 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks – Sun. 1/14 at 11:30 a.m.
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls – Mon. 1/15 at 2:30 p.m.
Golden State Warriors vs. Chicago Bulls – Wed. 1/17 at 7 p.m.

Buy your unlimited ride passes and fares in advance
Avoid long lines to buy fares! Customers can add  unlimited ride passes (1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day) or add money to pay per-ride to their Ventra cards ahead of time via the free Ventra app, at rail station Ventra vending machines, online or at more than 1,000 local retailers (for locations visit ventrachicago.com or the Ventra app).
Customers can also purchase from Ventra vending machines 1-day unlimited ride tickets ($10) or single-ride tickets ($3) that include up to two transfers in two hours. Customers can also pay their fares with their personal contactless debit or credit cards.

Stay in the Loop on CTA Service
Plan your trip using the Google Transit Trip Planner. Be sure to also check out CTA on Facebook or Twitter (@CTA) for system travel updates and alerts. For details about all CTA service, call 312-836-7000 or visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com.

Source:  Alderman Walter Burnett – 27th Ward Newsletter 1/11/18

The 2018 Shared Sidewalk Program Opens on January 9th

The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is a voluntary program in which property owners share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. Thousands of Chicagoans have been a part of this program, taking advantage of the low cost, exceptional value, and ease of participation. The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program cost per square foot charged to property owners is well below what a private contractor would charge. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities may qualify for a further discounted rate.

Applications will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The number of participants is based on availability of funds. The program typically reaches capacity quickly, so you are encouraged to apply early. Please note that if you applied for the program in previous years, you must apply again in 2018 if you wish to be considered for the 2018 program. Applications will only be accepted through the City’s 311 system by calling 311 or through the City’s service request website www.cityofchicago.org/311. The property owner’s contact information and the property address are required at the time of request. For more information, please click here.

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