In the interest of Public Safety, the 18th District Community Relations Office has provided instructions on how to track your Apple and Android devices in the event they are taken or misplaced.

270,000 Upgraded Lights to be Installed Citywide Over Next Four Years

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently launched the historic modernization of Chicago’s streetlight system by flipping the switch to activate the first four-block stretch to receive the new lights on South Chicago Avenue from 79th to 83rd Streets. The ambitious Chicago Smart Lighting Program will replace 270,000 of Chicago’s public lights with high-quality LED fixtures over the next four years and add a management system that will give the city a state-of-the-art smart lighting grid.

In 2017, streetlight fixture replacement will be focused in neighborhoods with heightened public safety concerns on the west and south sides. In addition, during the first twelve months of work, new lights will be installed along key arterial streets in every ward of Chicago, to ensure neighborhoods throughout the City benefit from the improved lighting. The project will also include targeted repairs to poles and wiring to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

The program website, www.chicagosmartlighting.org, provides the ability to track the progress of the program as new high quality LED streetlights are installed across the City over the next four years.

The new lights, which will be owned and operated by the City, will consume 50-75 percent less electricity than existing high pressure sodium (HPS) lights, generating significant electricity cost savings that will offset the cost of the modernization. LED fixtures also last two-to-three times longer than HPS lights. In addition, ComEd has committed to providing $6.2 million in rebate funding for the program in 2017 as part of the company’s energy efficiency incentive efforts.
The program was procured by the Chicago Infrastructure Trust in close coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Innovation and Technology. This is the largest project to date from a rebooted CIT, which is dedicated to assisting the City with executing large-scale and complex public projects.
The project is expected to be completed in four years and cost up to $160 million. The City of Chicago has contracted with a team led by Ameresco Inc., a national leader in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, to implement the program.

The program includes three components:

• Replacement of approximately 270,000 existing street, alley and viaduct light fixtures with modern, more reliable, energy-efficient LED lights that deliver higher quality lighting.

• Installation of a state-of-the-art lighting management system that will enable remote monitoring and control of the City’s outdoor lighting. It will greatly improve the city’s responsiveness to service requests by providing real-time updates when outages occur. It will also allow lighting levels to be controlled remotely. The system will be phased into operation during the project and the first portion of the system is expected to be operational by spring of 2018.

• Targeted stabilization and repair of light poles and wiring on an as-needed basis and subject to available funding in order to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

For more information, click on the following links to read the full press release or fact sheet.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/22/17

In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and recent earthquakes in Mexico City, our thoughts are with the victims and families affected by natural disasters. Residents are encouraged to consider supporting organizations assisting with relief efforts and the long recovery ahead in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other affected areas.

The City has created a website cityofchicago.org/disasterrelief that includes a list of verified charities and organizations assisting with these efforts. Please help us spread the word!

Local Efforts:

Friday, September 22nd 7-11PM

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Center, 4046 W. Armitage Ave.

Event Hosted by The Puerto Rican Agenda

Paypal donations to support local community relief efforts to PRHurricaneRelief@boricuahumanrights.org

The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance and National Museum of Mexican Art Relief Fund is also accepting donations for emergencies in Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Tuesday, September 26th 6-Midnight

Mi Tierra Restaurant, 2528 S. Kedzie Ave.

Event Hosted by The Little Village Chamber of Commerce

October 11th 5:30-7PM

Old Crow, 149 W. Kinzie St.

Event Hosted by The Latino Caucus

According to FEMA, cash donations are preferred to allow organizations the most flexibility to address needs on the ground. Please do not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine, or perishable foodstuffs at this time. If you choose to donate, be sure to contribute funds through a trusted, legitimate organization and website. Check Charity Navigator to determine the best organizations to donate to.

Volunteers should not self-deploy at this time as this will create an additional burden for first responders. To ensure volunteer safety and the safety of disaster survivors, volunteers should only go to affected areas with a specific volunteer assignment, proper safety gear, and valid identification.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has a safe and well website where people can check for their loved ones and people in affected areas can also register themselves as safe and well.  Residents can also follow @ChicagoOEMC on twitter for continued updates.

Lastly, Puerto Rico Emergency Management officials suggest the following:

• Contact the island’s disaster relief team by e-mailing maria1@prfaa.pr.gov –  Because of high volume, leaders are asking that you only send one email – no follow-ups – unless the status of your loved one has changed.  Include your contact information and as many details about your family or friend as possible.
• Call the Puerto Rico Washington D.C. office at 202-800-3133 or 202-778-0710 – Staffers are taking names and numbers and developing plans to check the welfare of people who remain unreachable or missing as the island begins to recover. Officials say getting through to someone over the phone has been difficult because of backed-up phone lines.
• For other helpful links with information to assist with efforts in Puerto Rico, visit http://unidosporpuertorico.com/en/

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 9/22/17

Construction on the new 17-story development project at 100 W. Huron is expected to begin next week. The sidewalk of Huron Street (north side of the street) will be closed for the duration of the project while pedestrian canopies will be in place along the curb-lanes of Huron Street and Clark Street. There will be no driving lane reductions as a result of this project.   

Foundation and caisson work is expected to be completed by December 2017, at which point construction will start to build vertically.

If you have any additional questions please email Alderman Hopkins at Ward02@cityofchicago.org, or call the 2nd Ward Service Office at (312) 643-2299.