Dear Neighbors,
With just three weeks left in 2024, City Council is continuing to negotiate with the Mayor’s administration for a 2025 Budget that better directs our city into the future. There has been some gradual progress; for example, through our diligent negotiation towards zero, today the $300million property tax levy originally proposed by the Mayor was lowered to a $68million levy (such number tied to the consumer price index/inflation) while maintaining payment of pension obligations. For context, such a levy would increase taxes on a house valued $450k by ~$136 per year and one valued $1million by ~$464 per year.
Continuing what I have written in this newsletter over the past month, I am not ready to support this budget without additional structural reductions and efficiencies that set us up better to address future budgets. In that light, yesterday 27 colleagues and I sent a letter to the Mayor addressing our remaining budget concerns. This group consists of different ideologies and caucuses; however, has collaborated in this budget process to push towards a budget that we can pass, and that is much more sound than the one originally presented. In the letter, we noted specific areas where more information is needed to make a determination, specific reductions that should be made, and we gave notice of our intention to legislate a reformed budget process for years to come.
The Mayor intends to call the budget for a vote next week. Over the weekend, and until a vote is made, I will continue to work with all parties to negotiate terms to better direct Chicago towards a more fiscally stable future.
Last week, our office sent a Special Alert regarding a shooting that took place on Clark Street near Fullerton Ave. For more information on this particular incident, click here. The victim of the shooting, Alexander Nesteruk, has since passed due to injuries sustained from the gunshot wounds, and the offender, John Conway, turned himself into the police. The police issued a press release identifying the shooter and other details of the arrest which you can view here. John will be arraigned on 1 felony count of first-degree murder today. This horrific crime marks the only homicide in our community this year, and I hope you will join our office in sending Alexander’s family sympathy as they mourn. I thank the Chicago Police Department for their swift response, investigation, and arrest.
Please join our 18th District Council at The Moody Church (1635 N. LaSalle) on Tuesday, December 17th at 6p.m. for a meeting featuring our new Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke. An early RSVP is encouraged as this event may reach capacity. You can include questions for State's Attorney Burke in your RSVP.
This week, Superintendent Marty Casey and I brought holiday trees to our CHA senior buildings around the ward. This has become a favorite holiday tradition of mine, which is generously supported by Ivy’s Christmas Trees at 1013 W. Roscoe. It is wonderful to share the holidays with our Ward’s vibrant senior community!
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Finally, this Saturday, December 7th, I will help the Lincoln Central Association and the Oz Park Advisory Council host their 8th Annual Tree Lighting. Bundle up and join at 5 p.m. just south of the Tin Man statue in Oz Park. Along with great neighbors and holiday music provided by the Lincoln Park High School choir, I hope to see you there!
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P.S. Lincoln Elementary’s PTA is having a poinsettia fundraiser this season. You can purchase poinsettias here for easy pickup after school on Monday, December 16. I purchased a few large ones for the 43rd Ward Office, and hope you join me in supporting one of our great neighborhood schools!
P.P.S. For anyone looking at holiday gift ideas that promote culture in our city, Gertie, a Chicago agency that helps to connect Chicagoans with art and culture, recently launched a membership program called EarlyWork. This membership connects you with things like discounted tickets to museums and theaters, exhibition previews and walkthroughs, exclusive collection visits, and more. As a Chicagoan always looking to learn and dive into culture, I recently gave myself the gift of EarlyWork and can’t wait to begin attending events.
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As our city government and safety leadership transition into the next Administration, crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. In an effort to keep residents informed on these trends, we will publish those weekly updates in the newsletter’s public safety section. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th and 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Compstat,
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Compstat,
We encourage residents to check out the Chicago Police Department's citywide September year-to-date recap, which outlines their key initiatives and statistical trends on high-priority violent crimes. You can view the full report here.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts.
Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number.
2024 43rd Ward CAPS Meetings
Beat 1811 (5 PM) & 1813 (6 PM): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1811 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
Beat 1812 (5 PM) & 1814 (6 PM): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1812 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
Beat 1824 (6 PM): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1824 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1932 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
Beat 1935 (6:30 PM): December 18.
Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.
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18th District Council Meeting
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19th District Council Meetings
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19th District Council Community Gathering
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The State of Illinois recently sent checks to nearly 140,000 Illinois residents that may have unclaimed money from forgotten bank accounts and other sources, as part of State Treasurer Michael Frerichs's I-CASH program. If you received a check about a month ago from this program, be sure to cash or deposit it—it is legitimate and belongs to you. Read more about the program here and visit their website here to find if you have additional unclaimed property.
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Alongside local faith communities, neighbors have been organizing support for migrants. If you are able to volunteer or contribute to this effort, please consider one or more of the following:
- Monetary Donations: Donations are being collected to purchase immediate needs, including prescription medicine. If you are able to contribute, do so here.
- Volunteer Support: The 19th District Mutual Aid Network is looking for those who are able to volunteer in any capacity. You sign up here.
- Physical Donations: We are looking for targeted donations, especially small, umbrella-type strollers or that fold down. You can find the full list of items & location drop-off here.
Please consider donating to our organizations that are still currently in need:
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The Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) announces the launch of its newest data dashboard, City Services by Address. This dashboard is a one-stop shop to see City services and service area designations as they apply to any Chicago address, and the dashboard retrieves valuable information related to that location, including ward, community area, zoning information, schedules for City services, police district and beat in which a specified address falls, trash and recycling pick-up days for that address, voting precinct, and whether a specified address is part of an Industrial Corridor or historic district, among other data points.
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Oz Park’s 8th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is on Saturday, December 7 at 5 p.m. in Oz Park (just south of the Tin Man).
Join the Oz Park Advisory Council and Lincoln Central Association as we light up the neighborhood at the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony in Oz Park. Surrounded by the sounds of the holidays provided by the Lincoln Park High School choir.
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Wrightwood Neighbors Holiday Train
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Meet Santa and enjoy crafts and a holiday movie and treats! Hosted by Wrightwood Neighbors on Sunday, December 15th from 4-6pm.
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18th Police District Toy Drive
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Please help the 18th Police District collect new toys for our neighborhood youth. They are also accepting coats, hats, gloves, scarves, socks, thermos, and school supplies. You can drop these off at the 18th District Station's Lobby at 1160 N Larrabee
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Nourishing Hope Turkey Fund & Other Donations
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Nourishing Hope provides nutritious food with respect and dignity, along with resources and connection our neighbors need to thrive.
With the support of our annual Turkey Fund, our neighbors receive at least 60 lbs of food in their monthly pickup in November and December, with a focus on holiday meals. This assortment of food includes a turkey, ham, or chicken, along with holiday sides and fresh produce.
We plan to distribute almost 14,000 holiday meats this season, a need that's almost 1,000 more meats than last year! We've been able to distribute a little over 7,000 so far, but community support is key to our ability to provide almost 7,000 more.
Also – consider hosting a food or hygiene drive. You can find a list on our website of our most needed hygiene and non-perishable food items, and drop-off locations.
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St. James ChristmasFest | Saturday, Dec 7th 10am-2pm | 2050 N Fremont St. | Community Center. Join us for music, treats, activities, and gift making at ChristmasFest!
- Elves can visit Santa's workshop to make surprise Christmas gifts for their loved ones.
- Each craft is $1. Limit 2 per person
- Santa’s visit 12-2pm
- concessions
- Carol singing all day.
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Clark Street Cookie Crawl
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Kick off the holidays on December 8th, at the Clark Street Cookie Crawl in Lincoln Park! Put on your coziest holiday pajamas or favorite holiday sweater and get set for a day filled with festive fun. Visit businesses along Clark Street to collect a variety of delicious holiday cookies. Enjoy surprises along the way including carolers, hot chocolate, and the chance to snap photos with Santa.
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Lincoln Common Yuletide Stampede!
Hold on for deer life and get stamping!
Thursday, December 5th – Tuesday, December 24th. Enter to win up to a $500 Lincoln Common Experience!
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Focus on Physical Knowledge
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“Focus on Physical Knowledge” at the Sunday Family Day on Sunday, December 8, from 9:00-11:00 am. Come explore STEAM activities with your child in our award-winning classrooms and indoor gym. Let your child investigate a variety of materials, discover their properties, and observe how their actions can affect outcomes. From pulleys to pendulums, ramps to rollers and a variety of painting tools, these activities hit the sweet spot combining Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. This event is for kids aged 2 - 5 years old and their families (siblings welcome!) Allergy-friendly snacks provided.
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Lincoln Park Co-Op Applications Are Now Open
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For 75 years, LPCNS has provided exceptional part-time preschool programs for children aged 18 months to 5 years in Old Town. Our research-driven, play-based curriculum fosters young children's social-emotional and early academic growth. With indoor and outdoor classrooms, highly qualified teachers, and a nurturing environment, we inspire a love of learning. LPCNS also offers need-based financial aid to support families in our community. Join us on a tour today!
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She Became - Holiday Toy Drive
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A neighbor and member helped found She Became. She Became is hosting a toy drive just in time for the holiday season. All gifts will benefit the students of Ruben Salazar Bilingual Center [grades K-8] and will be given out before the winter break! Want to know how you can help? Head to our Amazon Wishlist and check out some of our favorite gift recs! We’ll collect toys until December 10, giving you plenty of time to share this message with family and friends!
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Cradles to Crayons - Children’s Clothing Drive
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A sophomore at Walter Payton College Prep and a resident of Old Town is leading a volunteer project with Cradles to Crayons, an organization dedicated to ending clothing insecurity. As part of this effort, he is coordinating a clothing collection drive.
Review the standards below for more details on what we distribute to deserving children, and check our Amazon Wishlist here.
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2101 N Fremont St.
The St. James Mavericks invite you to bring your children to make new friends & develop social skills with interactive toys, simple crafts, and storytime. Open to children ages birth - 4. Caregivers must accompany child. FREE for all families, friends, and neighbors.
December 6th, 13th, 20th
8:45am-9:15am - Playground
Gross Motor Skills Open Play
9:15am-10:15am - Library
Seasonal Art Project and Storytime
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Scooter and E-Bike 311 Removal
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Our office has noticed many scooters and bikes scattered throughout the neighborhood. By contract, these shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request. Please click here to submit a scooter removal request and here for Divvy bike removal. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations:
- Bus Lane Parking
- Commercial Loading Zone
- Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street
- Disabled Parking
- Fire Hydrant Parking
- Residential Parking
- Rush Hour Zones
- School Safety Zones
- Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane
- Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.)
Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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