July 19, 2024

Dear Neighbors, 

At this week’s meeting of the Chicago City Council, the “Stop Hate Littering” ordinance was passed by unanimous vote. As reported in our newsletter, I introduced this ordinance as a response to the antisemitic flyering of vehicles (including a substance with the appearance of rat poison) that occurred in our community earlier this year.  For the past few months, my team has worked hand in hand with the City’s lawyers, law enforcement, and Alderpeople to craft language that will penalize and deter this kind of hate speech in Chicago for years to come. 

For text of my City Council floor speech on the “Stop Hate Littering” ordinance click here, or to watch click on the following image:

I feel immense gratitude to my 43rd Ward staff, our fabulous summer interns, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, the Chicago Police Department, and the many community members who helped us get this policy passed. 

On Monday, our office joined Lincoln Central Neighborhood Association for an Infrastructure Ward Walk. These Ward Walks are a helpful way for us to talk directly with neighbors about constituent service requests, upcoming projects, and to assess potential projects we can use our infrastructure menu dollars to fund. 

Lincoln Central also celebrated another successful annual block party in partnership with Carnival Foods. It was great to see so many neighbors out, even on such a hot day. 

Sheffield Garden Walk: This weekend welcomes the return of the Sheffield Garden Walk. Please join the Sheffield Neighbors Association for a self-guided walking tour of 50+ beautiful gardens with live musical performances, interactive installations, wine tastings, and more. The event features a “Family Fest” on Saturday from 10am to 1pm with games, cotton candy and music by “Tunes with Tim” at 2250 N Clifton Ave. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.

Oz Park Playground Ribbon-Cutting: The wait for the highly anticipated Oz Park Playground is over! Please join us at the playground this upcoming Monday, July 22nd, at 10:30am for a ribbon-cutting including State Representative Margaret Croke, Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareno, Oz Park Advisory Council Vice President Stephanie Munger, Chicago Parks Foundation President Willa Lang, and myself. In “cutting the ribbon”, we look forward to thanking all who contributed generously on this project which will be a community asset for years to come.  

Finally, the 43rd Ward business corridors thrive more each day. This week we had two new businesses open at Lincoln & Belden that I hope you will try:

• “The Bad Apple” opened in the historic site of John Barleycorn at 658 W Belden Ave. With a tree-filled patio, poutine, and as the former recipient of “Chicago’s Best Burger”, The Bad Apple is sure to become a staple in our community. 

• “Lunch Heroes” opened at 2273 N Lincoln Ave. Owned by two local residents, Lunch Heroes is a sub sandwich shop proudly serving subs called “heroes”. In doing so, for each “hero” a customer purchases, they will then serve a meal to hungry kids in need. Our community understands giving back - and with the motto “Eat a Hero. Be a Hero”, we are so happy to have Lunch Heroes join us.

Sincerely,

Ald. Timmy Knudsen

P.S. The other week, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs and I met in the ward. We brainstormed ways for offices to partner – and I shared my personal experience with the Treasurer's office’s “Brightstart” college savings program. To highlight the impact of the program, this Treasurer’s newsletter told the story that when my nieces and nephew (Claire, Julia & Archie) were born, I set them up each up with “529 Accounts” under the program. The accounts are simple to create, contributions are tax-deductible, and it is a gift for the future you can give to any child in your life! 

P.S.S. Special thanks to the Department of Streets and Sanitation and Department of Forestry  for their hard work cleaning up after Chicago's extreme weather, heavy rainfall, and a reported 25 tornadoes. The City had over 6000 emergency calls, and crews were working around the clock to clear streets and sidewalks, pick up debris, and rescue hanging limbs. We could not be more grateful to the crews for keeping our community safe.

On Thursday, July 25th, please join our office on a Ward Infrastructure Walk with the Old Town Neighborhood Association. This year we have increased our Ward Walks to monthly, and they have become an essential way for us to talk directly with neighbors about service requests, upcoming projects, and to assess potential projects we can use our infrastructure menu dollars to fund. These Walks also feature an “educational” moment on how to use the CHI311 app, a great tool for any resident to submit a city request directly. I am a great believer of the importance of innovation in all aspects of government, and am introducing legislation next month to improve and expand the CHI311 app. For Thursday’s walk, please meet us at 6:00pm at 1763 N North Park Ave. 

A Message Related to Cook County’s Recent Property Re-Assessments: Recently, the Cook County Assessor’s Office re-assessed properties in the City of Chicago. When a property is reassessed, the property owner is mailed a Reassessment Notice. The Reassessment Notice reflects the estimated Fair Market Value based on sales of similar properties. The notice also contains important information such as the property’s characteristics, neighborhood code, and past assessments. An increase in a property’s assessment does not cause the same increase in the property owner’s taxes. Learn more about a reassessment notice vs property tax bill.

Property owners are given an opportunity to appeal their assessment if the property characteristics listed on an assessment notice are incorrect, or if the estimated market value of a property is significantly more than what it could sell for in the current real estate market. Learn about assessment appeals here.

As this is a county process (and not one that our Aldermanic office has any say on), if you have any further questions, please reach out to your Cook County Commissioner's office. Most of the 43rd Ward is represented by Bridget Degnen in the 12th District, but a few blocks are in the 10th (Bridget Gainer) or 3rd (Bill Lowry). If you are unsure, enter your address here. 

Join the Assessor's office and the 10th District Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer's office on Monday, July 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Truman College for a Property Tax Reassessment Workshop. You will have the opportunity to hear from the Assessor's Office to help understand your reassessment notice & ask questions. Staff will be onsite for 1:1 assistance after the presentation. 

This event is open to the public and there is no need to RSVP. 

If you can't make it to this event, the Cook County Assessor’s Office will holding other events virtually and in-person so you can have an opportunity to ask questions. To view all upcoming events click here. 

Bookmark the Assessor’s Office Assessment and Appeal Calendar for information on Township opening and closing here. 

The 10th District is available to assist with property tax questions, or connect you with the Assessor's Office. Please reach out to the 10th District at (312) 603-4210 or at district10@cookcountyil.gov for questions, concerns, or requests. 

Street Sweeping season is here! Click here for the Street Sweeping Schedule.

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, Click Here

For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Compstat, Click Here

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): September 3, November 5.

Beats 1811 and 1813 meet at St. James Lutheran Church located at 2050 N Fremont St. They are in the basement of the Church and you should enter through the northernmost door on Fremont St. There is residential parking on the street with applicable zone parking restrictions.

Beat 1812 (5 PM) & 1814 (6 PM): September 5, November 7.

Beat 1812 and 1814 are hosted at Wintrust Bank located at 100 W. North Ave. There is very little parking on site but it is near the North and Clybourn Red Line stop and the Sedgwick Brown Line. It is also en route to the Clark St Bus. The meetings are hosted on the 2nd Floor of the bank. Elevators are on site.

Beat 1824 (6 PM): July 18, September 12, November 14.

Beat 1824 meets at 1201 N Clark St in the Clark St Apartments. It is very close to the Clark and Division Red Line Stop.

Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): August 8, October 1, December 3.

Beat 1932 is hosted in the sanctuary at New Life Church located at 1110 W Lill Ave. There is street parking with applicable zone parking restrictions. New Life Church is within walking distance of the Fullerton Red and Brown Line and the Diversey Brown Line.

Beat 1935 (6:30 PM): August 28, October 16, December 18.

Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.

Please note that there are two Community Safety Walks with separate dates, times, and meeting locations. 

Below is a list of Mental Health resources that are available locally here in the City of Chicago.

• City of Chicago Mental Health Centers 
• NAMI Helpline
• Illinois Department of Human Services
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call 988
• Mental Health America (MHA)

The 40th Anniversary of The Taste of Lincoln Ave is for everyone, especially the kids! Once again, the Kids Carnival provides an incredible place to play and experience the best our community has to offer. 

Fri, July 26, 2024 | 3pm to 10pm

Sat, July 27, 2024 | 12pm to 10pm

Sun, July 28, 2024 | 12pm to 10pm

2500 N Lincoln Ave.

The 53rd Annual Sheffield Garden Walk will take place on July 20th & 21st from 12pm-5pm. This free community event will feature:
-A self-guided walking tour of 40+ beautiful gardens
-Live music
-Interactive installations
-Architecture walks
& much more!

There will also be a Family Fest at Oscar Mayer school to kickoff the garden walk July 20th from 10am to 1pm! You can learn more here. 

Get ready to shop ’til you drop at one of the most exciting events of the summer! Enjoy open air shopping, one-of-a-kind merchandise, and amazing specials along Armitage, from Racine to Halsted, and on Halsted, from just south of Armitage to Webster. While you’re there, explore the amazing restaurants on Armitage and Halsted. Don’t miss out on an incredible brunch or a quick, delicious bite!

Art on Clark returns with live chalk drawings by Chicago artists and led by the talented artist Cheri Lee Charlton. There will be interactive opportunities available for all ages. Listed below is this summer’s schedule:

• Saturday, July 20, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in front of Target (2650 N. Clark)
• Sunday, July 21, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in front of Dad’s Park (2224 N. Clark)
• Saturday, August 17, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in front of Target (2650 N. Clark)
• Sunday, August 18, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in front of Dad’s Park (2224 N. Clark)

The Office of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago's Office of Budget and Management invite you to help shape Chicago's 2024 Budget through a series of community engagement roundtables scheduled during July. You will be joined by representatives from the City's departments and sister agencies who are excited to hear directly from you and your priorities for making a Better, Stronger, Safer Chicago in a series of small group roundtable discussion. You can also leave public comment at any time here. 

We Are One SEC, The Elizabeth Wood Senior Garden Family, and LAC are proud to share the wonderful hobby of our vibrant seniors, who contribute to beautification and healthy food for invigorating minds and bodies. It is an honor to share the wisdom of our elders with the youth. Our mission and dedication to intergenerational sharing of knowledge foster universal growth for humanity.

Chicago Public Schools will be holding three virtual Public Hearings to discuss the draft Capital Improvement Plan. The public will have access to the meeting via live stream at youtube.com/chipubschools, and the public participation will be held via Zoom. Members of the public may submit written comments related to the FY25 Tentative Capital Plan via cps.edu/capitalplan2025 until 7:30pm on July 18, 2024.

Join the 19th Police District Council for a two part mini series on race and policing with Romeo Jackson. Registration is recommended here, and you can learn more about the 19th District Council here. 

SING, DANCE, & PLAY! Enjoy a live performance with our friends from Stages Chicago every Saturday morning. 

JULY:
July 13 - Frozen, July 20 - Tarzan, July 27 - Rent

AUGUST:
August 3 - Cinderella, August 10 - Wizard of Oz, August 17 - Moana, August 24 - Grease

REGISTER HERE.

The big screen in your backyard, Movies in the Parks returns this summer, bringing Hollywood movies and local films to local parks for the twenty-first season. Join us in the parks for classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood, retro childhood favorites, and the best family-friendly box office hits.

Check out the schedule below or download our summer schedule as an Excel spreadsheet or a PDF or add events to your own calendar from our Google Calendar.

Join Lincoln Common for a night of comedy on The Plaza! Free and open to everyone, join them from 6-8pm. 

The Chicago Department of Planning and Development is accepting applications for Community Development Grants for more than $250,000 until August 9th, 2024. Community Development Grants support small businesses, nonprofits and property owners for local commercial, mixed-use and light manufacturing development.   

These grant programs are open to businesses, nonprofits, community developers and property owners.   

If you or your organization is interested in applying, you can find more information at bit.ly/chicagocdg. Please reach out to fid_intake@cityofchicago.org with any questions. 

If your child wants to play high school basketball, is preparing for tryouts for a team in the fall, or just wants to play the game, this is a great opportunity to learn from one of the best coaching staffs in the Chicago! Each session will be limited to 60 players. All proceeds go to fund the basketball program! Learn more & register here. 

Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street.

Recycle By City is a great resource where residents can look up their garbage and recycling pickup day here.

Here is your reminder on the City's Blue Cart Basics.

For more info on recycling in Chicago, visit recyclebycity.com/chicago

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.

43rd Ward Office Hours: M-T 9am-5pm & F 9am-2pm & Sat 10am-12pm

 773-348-9500 | yourvoice@ward43.org | 2523 N. Halsted

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