Dear Neighbors,
As the City Council wraps up departmental hearings as a part of the 2025 Budget (where we meet with and question each department related to their specific piece of the budget), there is still a ways to go until we reach a holistic budget proposal that I can support. Two weeks ago the City Council voted 50-0 to deny the Mayor’s $300million property tax increase. This came after advocacy by myself and several colleagues. In response, earlier this week the Mayor proposed a $150million property tax increase. This proposed amount is still not productive or acceptable.
As we all know, when taxes are set too high, the related asset can be devalued. For many in our community, the asset of their home is their nest egg. In addition, when taxes are set too high, potential participants (e.g., those we want to continue investing in the city and those we want to move to the city) are pushed out of the market. Finally, increased property taxes also impact renters, as the burden is almost always passed on through increased rents. Although the City has not raised property taxes in several years, residents have experienced higher property tax bills due to reassessments done by Cook County - something I am urging all of my colleagues to keep top of mind.
While negotiating aggressively to reduce the property tax proposal, I am also doing so to ensure Chicago continues to make its full advanced pension payment. If we fail to do so, it is likely that the credit rating upgrades we received over the past couple of years will be wiped, and hundreds of millions of dollars will be added to future budgets.
That takes us to the next question - how do we balance this difficult budget, while making pension payments and maintaining police funding, if not with a large property tax increase? Simply, the only way is through aggressive cuts along with additional revenue sources. I have presented a version of a balanced budget to the Mayoral administration that does so through (i) cuts to consistent departmental ‘funded vacancies’ (e.g., roles that the city has budgeted for in past budgets, that have gone unfilled), (ii) cuts to programs not yet funded through remaining dollars received by the America Rescue Plan (ARPA), and (iii) revenues where Chicago is currently at a discounted rate (for example, a slight increase to the Garbage Fee, which is currently $9.50/cart in Chicago compared to $30-35/cart in most major cities). Let me be clear, none of these cuts or revenue increases give me any pleasure; however, they are a superior way to balance the budget than would be a large property tax increase or cut to our City’s advanced pension payment. It is essential that we get our City back on track financially - and we need to start making challenging decisions to do so.
Chicago saw its first snow fall yesterday and the Department of Streets and Sanitation was ready to act quickly and effectively to ensure our streets were safe and dry. Due to the weather, Thursday’s street sweeping will be made up for this upcoming week. The last day of scheduled sweeping was originally scheduled for today, November 22nd, but will be extended an additional week due to ongoing advocacy for adjusted sweeping schedules due to climate change. Additionally, December 1st marks the beginning of the City’s Winter Overnight Parking Ban on certain arterial streets (that are marked with signage) from 3 am to 7 am between December 1st and April 1st, regardless of snow.
We are grateful to the Department of Streets and Sanitation crews for all their hard work in keeping our streets, alleys, parkways and sidewalks clean and safe. Our biggest thanks goes to 43rd Ward Superintendent Marty Casey. Many of you know Marty personally, and often reach out to us to express appreciation for the care Marty puts into our Ward. This week we presented a formal letter of appreciation for Marty to Commissioner Cole Stallard, which I thought some of you may find worth a read here.
Recently, as Vice Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection, I joined Chicago’s Department of Environment downstate for an on-site informational tour of the Double Black Diamond Solar Farm. As the largest US Solar farm east of the Mississippi, Black Diamond’s main tenant is Chicago through ongoing investment. Through offsets, the renewable energy cultivated at Black Diamond will power facilities such as O’Hare, Midway, Jardine, and Sawyer Water plants. This is equivalent to enough power for more than 100,000 homes each year.
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Alderman Knudsen with Angela Tovar, Chief Sustainability Officer for The Department of Environment in front of miles of solar panels at Black Diamond.
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It is a major feat that Chicago municipal operations will be transitioned to 100% renewable electricity by 2025. To achieve that goal, the power generated at Black Diamond will offset 70% of the City's energy use alone. On top of that, this project helped create more than 500 hundred union jobs in central Illinois. The Chicago Climate Action Plan has a goal to reduce Chicago carbon emissions by 62% by 2040. Through projects like Black Diamond, which are becoming cheaper to achieve, we can achieve these goals while boosting our regional economy.
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Finally, this week, I joined Wrightwood Neighbors Association (WNA) and Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) for a meeting on a proposal to expand its boundaries. The goal of the neighborhood association’s westward expansion to Ashland Ave is to extend its presence to 32nd Ward constituents who are not covered by a neighborhood association. It was great to see so many engaged neighbors for a project that has strong community support.
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P.S. We still have CFD fire alarms at our office! These smoke alarms come equipped with a 10-year battery and can be installed easily in your home. Please keep in mind that there is a limit of one alarm per household that will be given out on a first-come-first-served basis.
P.P.S. Thursday, November 21st marked Transgender Day of Remembrance, a solemn day remembering the lives lost to transphobia and violence. Together, we can continue the work of ensuring a future free from hate, bigotry, and violence. Please see here for support organizations, and here for a variety of helplines serving the LGBTQ+ community, including Trans Lifeline at (877) 565-8860.
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Thanksgiving Office Closure
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The 43rd Ward Office will be closing early at 2pm on Wednesday, November 27th, and will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. Our Saturday Office Hours will also be closed on November 30th. The office will reopen on Monday, December 2nd at 9am.
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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.
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): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1812 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
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): Meetings have concluded for the year. Beat 1824 looks forward to working with residents in 2025.
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): 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): December 18.
Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.
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18th Police District Council Meeting
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19th District Council Meetings
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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 continue to purchase immediate needs for our new neighbors, including prescription medicine. If you are able to contribute, please do so here.
- Volunteer Support: The 19th District Mutual Aid Network is looking for those who are able to volunteer in any capacity. If you are able to do so, please sign up here.
- Physical Donations: We are still looking for targeted donations for our new neighbors, especially small, umbrella-type strollers or any that fold down small. No large jogging strollers please. You can find the full list of items and location for 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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Below is a list of Mental Health resources that are available locally here in the City of Chicago.
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South Lincoln Park Improvements Feedback
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Gold Coast Neighbors Association, along with the Lincoln Park Conservancy and the Chicago Park District, are requesting public input to the project. The attached slide will be converted to signs to be posted around the park. This link connects to a questionnaire for participants who wish to offer their ideas and provides a description of the project.
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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. The event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!
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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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Light Up The Night
Sparkle, Shine, Shop!
Thursday, December 5th
5:30pm Lincoln Common Plaza
Special Appearances by Santa and 43rd Alderman Timmy Knudsen
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Clark Street Cookie Crawl
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Kick off the holidays 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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Community Connections team is excited about welcoming volunteers into our work.
To learn more about all of the volunteer opportunities currently available, including ways for organization to support our through their work places or civic groups, please visit our website: Marillac St. Vincent Volunteer Action. There is a Volunteer Inquiry Form, which serves as an official application for anyone who is interested in getting involved.
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Volunteering at the Art Institute of Chicago.
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The Ryan Learning Center is currently accepting applications for our winter training cohort. Volunteers should be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, or weekends to greet student groups and assist visitors in the Art Exchange. We are especially seeking volunteers available during the day on Wednesdays. Please keep in mind that all volunteers must attend two onsite, half-day training sessions and one onsite, role-specific session. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at museum-volunteers@artic.edu.
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Chamber group Picosa has another concert coming up on November 18 at DePaul (2330 North Halsted St) and is a beautiful program that might make people in our ward feel better. Engaging music. Encouraging Community. Enriching Lives. As always, students are free! Additionally for 43rd ward residents we are also offering a discount code. The code is LiveMusic and is $5 off a regular ticket. Get tickets here.
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On Thursday, November 28th - join neighbors for a turkey trot! Check-in is at 1950 N Kenmore Ave.
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Join Immaculate Conception St. Joseph School with your little ones for a weekly music and movement class with guitar-led song and dance. They meet every Thursday morning when school is in session. You may sign up for the next 5-week session for $100 or do one-off classes for $25 each. The next session begins on November 7! Please visit our website to register here.
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Come see our classrooms in action and learn how our child-led, play-based curriculum helps create a solid foundation for children’s future education! Can’t make it on November 19? We’re offering Pop-In tours and evening Open Houses over the next several months!
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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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