Dear Neighbors,
For the last six weeks, this newsletter has included updates related to the Chicago 2025 Budget proposal including summaries, opinions, and candid status of my vote and areas of negotiation that were my focus. Last Friday, the Budget was called for a full City Council vote as Mayor Johnson thought he had the requisite majority; however, when it became clear that was not the case, the vote was extended into this week.
Preparing for a final vote last Friday, I voted 'No' on the budget proposal in the Budget Committee, and was on record as a ‘No’ vote had we cast votes at the scheduled Chicago City Council Meeting. My consistent ‘No’ vote to date stems from the reasons stated in this letter. To summarize, in last week’s proposal, we had not exhausted the potential cuts and efficiencies that would structurally allow for a budget with a lower tax burden on Chicagoans.This week's proposal shows progress from last week's, yet there is still work to be done.
Chicago needs a budget to maintain essential services, boost projects, and improve stability in the eyes of our creditors. Although I have not been able to support any proposal that has been introduced, along with several colleagues, I have continued to show up to the negotiation table in good faith to re-direct from the original proposal. Through this commitment, we have achieved gradual progress such as millions of dollars of cuts and efficiencies, a complete removal of the property tax increase, and making our full advance pension payment.
As we approach what could be the final days of this budget season, I am continuing to advocate for a proposal that balances a reduced burden on Chicagoans while setting us up for a more fiscally stable future. It’s the same simple strategy held since Day 1 - and is honest about both our city’s difficult challenges and positive potential.
Last week, 43rd Ward Superintendent Marty Casey and I brought holiday trees to our ward’s first responders - including 18th and 19th District Police Officers, and our Firefighters. Together, we helped deliver 50 trees which were generously donated by Ivy’s Christmas Trees at 1013 W. Roscoe. It was wonderful to share the holidays with our Ward’s first responders who remain the backbone of our neighborhoods.
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This past year was the busiest Farmer’s Market year (by revenue and foot-traffic) to date in Lincoln Park. We are proud of this community-driven success and grateful for the regional vendors who bring truly organic and farm-to-table products directly to our urban ward. A personal favorite of mine is the Lincoln Park Farmer’s Market’s “Broken K Ranch”, which sources chicken, beef, and eggs from a farm owned and run by Al and Lindee.
Recently, Al suffered a blood cut during surgery which resulted in a stroke impacting his left side. As Al goes through rehabilitation, it has become a challenge for Al & Lindee to keep up with the amount of daily work that the Ranch requires. To assist, a few generous 43rd Ward neighbors have started a GoFundMe for the Broken K Ranch with the goal of giving Al & Lindee some “breathing room” and allowing them to hire some help for the next couple of months of Al’s rehabilitation. Via the link above, please consider donating to help two great people and a business that is in the fabric of our community.
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Finally, last Friday, my office hosted our annual “Senior Luncheon” for residents of our CHA senior homes across the Ward to partake in fellowship and fun. Nearly 100 seniors joined at St. George’s Greek Church for lunch, dessert, many rounds of bingo and prizes, and the participation of 14 fellow elected officials. This event provides a unique opportunity for our seniors to talk directly to the folks who represent them - such as Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, Congressman Mike Quigley, and others! I love spending time with our Ward’s engaged seniors year-round, and this annual event is a reminder of everything the holiday season represents. A special thanks to our hosts at St George’s, Big Apple Finer Foods for their delicious sweet treats, Sam Sanchez, and Third Coast Hospitality Group for lunch, and, of course, to the awesome seniors who shared the day with me and my team.
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P.S. Once again, I am completely last minute on my holiday shopping. If you are too, don’t stress, the 43rd Ward has a strong variety of local stores that can help! Here is a list of a few local favorites I am visiting for gifts this year (this list is just the beginning, and more shopping options can be found here through the Lincoln Park Chamber):
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Pyar & Co. - hand-picked home accents and children’s clothing, Pyar & Co. is 43rd Ward female-owned and my go-to for my nieces and mom.
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Art Effect - eclectic fashion, jewelry & a curated selection of gifts, Art Effect is the perfect place for a host/hostess gift that they will hand wrap beautifully.
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Ford General - boutique shop with handpicked European menswear, Ford General is my favorite hidden gem for my gift to myself.
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PLAY - all the toys a kid could dream of.
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Leonidas - in a community of amazing cafes, Leonidas has become a new favorite on Halsted. Their holiday decor is worth a visit to see and it is the perfect place to pick-up a chocolate stocking stuffer and host/hostess gift.
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Lost Soul Found - with women’s and men’s clothing and decor sourced around the world, and a cafe in the shop, Lost Soul Found is a great stop for those with style.
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Lori’s Shoes - shoes and more, Lori’s has been a fixture of the Armitage corridor for years.
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Giving the gift of French-inspired pastries and sweets? Don’t forget that the 43rd Ward is home to two of the Midwest’s best patisseries - Vanille and Verzenay.
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P.P.S. In the midst of the budget process and the preparation for our annual Senior Luncheon, our team still took a little time to celebrate the holiday season together at Happy Lamb Hot Pot on Clark Street. This evening was a great time for us to reflect on all we have accomplished this year, what we plan to do next year, and, of course, share a laugh, a drink, and some delicious “hot pot”.
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The full 43rd Ward Team, including Ward Superintendent Marty Casey
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The 43rd Ward Office will have amended hours during the Holiday season. Please see below:
Monday, December 23rd: 10am-2pm
Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th: Closed
Thursday, December 26th: 10am-2pm
Friday, December 27th: 10am-2pm
Monday, December 30th: 10am-2pm
Tuesday, December 31st: Closed
Wednesday, January 1st: Closed
The 43rd Ward Office will reopen with normal business hours of 9am-5pm on Thursday, January 2nd.
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Holiday Garbage and Recycling
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There will be no collection on Holidays this year. All city- collected refuse will be serviced on non Holiday days. Residents should ensure all black refuse carts are accessible throughout the week of collection, not solely on their regular day of collection. Similarly, residents should ensure all Blue Recycling Carts are accessible throughout the week of collection.
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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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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 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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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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Lincoln Park ZooLights is back, lighting up the zoo with more than three million lights and family-friendly activities through January 5th. In addition to seeing the lights, there will be a 65-foot Ferris wheel with grand views of the Chicago skyline and Lincoln Park. Learn more, grab tickets, and see a full list of attractions and events through the hyperlinks.
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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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Free Admission for Illinois Residents at the Chicago History Museum - Dec. 18
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Don't miss out on a fantastic opportunity to explore the rich history of Chicago at the Chicago History Museum with free admission for Illinois residents.
December 18, 2024
9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
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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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Nature Museum Winter Camp
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Have you ever seen a turtle wearing a scarf? Or a deer wearing mittens? Or a bird sipping hot chocolate? If not, then how do these amazing animals survive through the cold, cold Chicago winter? Join the Nature Museum at winter camp this year to investigate all the wild ways these critters and more adapt to the cold and snow. You’ll explore the living nature of the museum grounds, the curated collections of the exhibits, and get up close and personal with some sub-zero science!
December 30, 2024-January 3, 2025
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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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St. James Winter Weekends & Basketball Camp
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St. James Winter Weekends & Basketball Camp - January 11th and 25th - Free!
Winter blues getting to you and the kids? Want to check out our school for future enrollment? Come to St. James School for Winter Weekends - an open house with lots of fun activities. Kids can participate in arts, crafts, and story time or join in basketball camp for grades Early Childhood through 2nd Grade.
January 11th and 25th, 9-11am
2101 N Fremont Street
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Apply for CCPSA’s Non-Citizen Advisory Council
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is currently accepting applications to fill multiple vacancies for two-year terms on the Noncitizen Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC is a volunteer group of Chicago residents who advise Commissioners on the public safety-related perspectives and experiences of non-citizens and new Chicagoans. Applications will be accepted through December 16th, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the CCPSA’s website here.
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Park West Applications Due January 31, 2025
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Do you have a child who is currently 1-4 years old? Now is the time to apply for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year! Park West Cooperative Nursery School, a Lincoln Park preschool for more than 50 years, is now accepting applications. Learn more at a tour or open house and apply by the deadline to be considered in the admissions lottery.
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Park West Winter Programming
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Opportunities for play and learning at Park West this winter! At Park West we know that kids learn through play, so we’re providing lots of opportunities for kids to play with us and our enrichment partners this winter! Check out all the options in our newsletter.
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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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