Dear Neighbors,
On April 5th, my Director of Public Safety and I attended the Northside Public Safety Meeting hosted by the Mayor's Office. During the meeting the Mayor, several City department commissioners, and Northside police district commanders shared the work they are doing to combat rising violence levels across Chicago.
Much of the meeting was devoted to detailing what investments the City has made in violence prevention. The City of Chicago recently received approximately $1.9 billion in federal COVID relief funds. The City created the Chicago Recovery Plan, which I voted for, to determine how we invest that money. The Chicago Recovery Plan includes $135 million allocated to violence prevention programs (violence disrupters, police cameras, etc.). Millions more will be invested into other areas that are known to decrease violence, such as youth jobs, homelessness, and mental health. You can see the two documents on these investments by visiting my website by clicking here.
The Mayor's team also discussed how each City department is required to bring a "violence prevention first" framework to their work. Every department is tasked with asking how the work they do can be used as a tool to decrease violence. For example, Business Affairs is doing more random checks of businesses that have a certain number of safety complaints, and Streets & Sanitation is prioritizing requests to repair streetlights in high crime neighborhoods. It was comforting to know that crime is the top priority for every City department and I look forward to continuing to work closely with CPD to address crime in the neighborhood.
State Funding For More Cameras
Thank you to our Lakeview area State-level elected officials Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, Rep. Ann Williams, and Rep. Margaret Croke for championing legislation to bring $1.4M for red light cameras and license plate readers to the 18th and 19th Police Districts. Additionally, due to their work in Springfield, license plate readers will soon be permitted on Lake Shore Drive, which will be a significant help to CPD's efforts to track stolen cars in real time. My office works closely with all three of our state electeds' offices to address crime in the neighborhood.
Street Sweeping Continues
Thank you to my staff who were out yesterday clearing gutter drains in the rain! If your block needs some attention please reach out to my ward office by calling (773) 525-6034 or emailing ward44@cityofchicago.org.
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Below are the upcoming sweeping zones for the next week, please keep a lookout for signage and move your vehicles accordingly:
- The Blue Zone, which covers Byron to Addison, from Ashland to Southport, will be swept on April 15th and 18th;
- The Dark Orange Zone, which covers Byron to Addison, from Southport to Racine, will be swept on April 19th and 20th;
- The Red Zone, which covers Addison to Ashland, from Racine to Roscoe, will be swept on April 21st and 22nd.
To find your zone and the street sweeping schedule you can go to my website by clicking here. To find a full schedule click here.
Local School Council Elections Next Week
Next week are elections for the Local School Councils for our CPS schools. Voting for elementary schools will be on Wednesday, April 20th and for high schools voting is on Thursday, April 21st. Polls will be open from 6am-7pm both days. Voting is only allowed in person. Parents and community members can vote for up to five candidates in any combination.
To which schools you can vote at, and a list of candidates, please click here.
Earth Month Electronic Recycling, Paper Shredding, and Drug Takeback Event
In celebration of Earth Month my office is co-hosting an event to make it easy to safely recycle your electronics, paper documents, and prescription drugs in an environmentally-friendly way. Join us on April 24th, from 10am-1pm, at the Peggy Notebaert Museum, 2430 N Cannon Dr. For more details or to ask questions please reach out to Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnan's Office at district12@cookcountyil.gov or call (773) 283-7873.
Passover
Chag Sameach to everyone celebrating Passover this weekend! If you are looking for a seder to join please look into the East Lakeview Chabad's community seder. To learn more and to get your tickets please visit the Chabad's website by clicking here.
Easter Egg Hunt This Weekend
Continue reading for information on Chicago Park District hiring events, Ring camera registration with CPD, and more.
Enjoy the Passover and Easter weekend,
Tom Tunney
44th Ward Alderman
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44th Ward Service Office
3223 N. Sheffield Ave., Suite A
Chicago, IL 60657
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Contact Us:
Phone: 773-525-6034
Fax: 773-525-5058
Email: Ward44@cityofchicago.org
Website: 44thward.org
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Public Safety Updates
Camera Registration Program
The Chicago Police Department is asking residents, and businesses, who have cameras that face the public way to register their cameras to help with investigations. Registering does not allow CPD to automatically access your camera. Registering simply allows CPD to know which homes or businesses may have footage if a crime occurs. If CPD needs camera footage following a crime a detective will reach out to request access to the camera using the contact information shared during registration. To learn more and to register click here.
Crime Statistics
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Construction Updates
NetSync Fiber Installation Projects
Type of Construction: Concrete restoration of the sidewalks where fiber optic cables were installed last summer will continue to take place over the coming weeks. If pedestrian or vehicle traffic needs to be altered to accommodate construction activities, barriers and signage will be utilized to ensure the safety of all in the area.
Concrete restoration has begun and will continue until the end of April at the below locations, if the weather permits. Permitted work hours are 7am - 3pm, Monday - Friday. Any location impacted by this work will be restored to its previous condition.
Belmont and Clark NetSync
Impacted Areas: Aldine at Halsted going west to Dayton, south on Dayton to Belmont then west through the intersection of Clark and Belmont to the alley on the north side of Belmont, west of Clark.
No Parking: signage has been posted along the following sections and will be in affect during construction hours:
- South side of Aldine from Halsted to Dayton
- East side on Dayton from Aldine to Belmont
- North side on Belmont from Dayton to first alley West of Clark
Sheffield from Wolfram to Barry NetSync
Impacted Areas: Alley between Sheffield and Kenmore, starting at Barry and going south to Wolfram.
People's Gas
Peoples Gas will begin installation of a gas main along Diversey from Pine Grove to the alley east of Clark, on Lehman, from Diversey to Drummond, and on Drummond from Clark to Lehman. This project is expected to begin April 18th and continue until mid May.
Peoples Gas Utility Relief
Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $150 million in utility bill assistance through the Help Illinois Families Program.
Customers who receive utility bill assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) will automatically receive additional benefits. Assistance will be applied once funds are received from the program
If you have not applied for LIHEAP or PIPP, but qualify (see below chart), you have until May 31, 2022, to apply. Customers should go to helpillinoisfamilies.com or call 833-711-0374 for more information or to apply.
Reconnection fees waived
Reconnection fees for qualifying low-income customers will be waived through June 30, 2022. However, any balance due must be repaid before reconnection.
Extended deferred payment arrangements
For low-income households that participate in LIHEAP, PIPP or have applied for assistance, deferred payment arrangements are available for 18 months with a 0% down payment.
For all other residential customers, deferred payment arrangements are available for 18 months with a 25% down payment. Customers can apply online, with the Peoples Gas app, or by calling 866-556-6001, through July 31, 2022.
Energy-saving programs
Peoples Gas offers energy-saving tips and free programs that will help you reduce your energy use. For more information, go to peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings/
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Any additional questions or concerns about this project please contact my office at (773) 525-6034 or ward44@cityofchicago.org.
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Garbage and Recycling
The next recycling pickup in the 44th ward will begin next week on April 18th. Please be sure to make your recycling and garbage carts accessible throughout the week for pickup.
For a full list of recycling weeks click here. The 44th Ward is in Zone 2 for recycling.
Car Sticker Ticket Relief
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Monthly Fundraiser for Nettlehorst Elementary
Place your order now for deilvery between 4-8pm, on the second Thursday of every month, and 20% of your sale will go to support Nettlehorst Elementary.
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Fundraiser for Tubman Elementary
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Earth Day Park Clean Up
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Central Lakeview Neighbors 2022 Spring Plant Sale
Every spring, CLVN sells flowers and plants to raise funds for their beautification work around the ward. Orders must be submitted by May 12th. Flowers and plants will be available for pickup at Harriet Tubman Elementary, 2851 N Seminary, on Saturday, May 21st, from 9-10:30am. Take advantage of CLVN's affordable plant sales to both beautify your property and to help fund landscaping throughout the ward. To make you online order today, click here.
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Annual Anti-Cruelty Society Fundraiser
BARK is back, and in the park and we are asking for your help in letting your constituents know about this great event! Dogs are leading their humans to The Anti-Cruelty Society’s BARK event on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stadium Green at Soldier Field. This is the 28th year for BARK, making this the oldest dog party in Chicago! Rain or shine, thousands of animal-lovers and their dogs will spend a fun morning raising funds and awareness for The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago’s oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization.
This year’s event is dedicated to the memory of the late Chicago Police Officer Ella Grace French who lost her life in the line of duty in August of 2021. Officer French was a lifelong animal lover and was known for her commitment to care for homeless animals. We are encouraging people to walk in Officer French’s memory for her dedication to the Chicago community and animals in need. To learn more visit anticruelty.org/bark.
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Become A Chicago Park District Lifeguard
As the Park District gears up for this summer, they are looking for qualified candidates to join the aquatics team. The Chicago Park District employs 300 lifeguards yearly to offer aquatics programming, and hires an additional 500 lifeguards to safeguard beaches and pools during our busiest season, the summer. The benefits of becoming a Chicago lifeguard are bountiful. Lifeguards are part of a talented workforce that is essential in providing vital services to Chicago’s residents and visitors. Candidates for Seasonal Lifeguard positions must be 16 years old and over, a resident of Chicago and fully vaccinated. Future lifeguards must also pass the swim skills test and become American Red Cross certified. Pay for entry level lifeguards starts at $15.88. To apply today, to learn more and to apply click here.
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DCASE Grants for Summer Festivals
Applications are open for Chicago Presents: Summer Festivals & Outdoor Events. Emerging and established organizations are invited to submit proposals for free, live, in-person, outdoor events, including music and dance festivals, block parties and parades. Through Chicago Presents, DCASE will provide 10 – 15 grants ranging from $25,000 - $75,000. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis while funding is available. The final deadline to submit an application is April 22, 2022 at 5:00pm CST. To learn more and apply, visit chicagoculturalgrants.org.
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Free Tax Prep
To make an appointment and to see all the documents you should bring with you to your appointment click here.
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