Ald. Sophia King (4) will host a virtual town hall meeting at 5 p.m. Monday to “review the four Request For Proposals from the finalist teams for the C40 Reinventing Cities Competition site at the northeast corner of Plymouth Court and Van Buren Street.”  Online registration is required. 

Ald. Anthony Beale (9) held a “community picnic” with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Comm. Bridget Gainer (10), Chicago Department of Housing Comm. Marisa Novara and others to celebrate the rehabilitation of 35 vacant rowhomes in North Pullman. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a photo of himself marching with hospitality workers in Unite Here Local 1 and tweeted, “As Chicago’s economy opens up, workers deserve a right to return! #HappyMayDay” 

Ald. Walter Burnett (27) will co-host a virtual community meeting with the West Loop Community Organization at 6 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a proposal for a new 320-unit at 160 N. Morgan St. Online registration is required. 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted remarks from Chicago Federation of Labor president Bob Reiter at the site of the Haymarket riots for May Day on Saturday.  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) included details in his latest newsletter on the Expanded Outdoor Dining program, which blocked off part of Rush Street in the Gold Cost to traffic starting this weekend. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in his latest newsletter that he met last week with ComEd officials to “discuss their efforts to improve electricity service in our Ward, and to underscore the need to craft a new franchise agreement that will help support broader usage of solar panels and electric vehicle charging.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) included photos in her latest newsletter of a vaccination event she co-hosted on Friday along with Heartland Health, the Chicago Covid Response Team, the Chicago Vaccine Brigade, Centro Romero and others.

Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) knocked Gov. J.B. Pritzker's walkback of his campaign promise for an independent remapping process. In. press release, Fowler said, "Senate Republicans have sent multiple official requests to the Governor to ask that he, or a senior member of his staff, testify at one of many virtual or in-person redistricting hearings to explain how he intends to keep his promise to voters on independent maps. To date, his office has declined or not responded to all requests."   

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted a WBEZ investigation about the LaSalle Veteran's home, ‘Nobody Seemed To Know What To Do’: Blistering Report Outlines Illinois’ Failure To Protect Vets From Deadly COVID Outbreak.” 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted, "workers need a living wage with dignified working conditions, which is why I am sponsoring the #FutureOfWork Act (HB 645). 

Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago) tweeted images from a parade in Lansing.  

• The Next Steps Collaborative will host the first part of a three-part webinar series at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday titled “Exploring Progressive Women & Political Values.” The panel will include Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), WVON host Kimberley Egonmwan and Kennedy-King College professor Jennifer Watson. Online registration is required. 

• Former Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez starts this month as chief legal counsel for Maryville Academy, according to her LinkedIn page. Alvarez previously spent two years as a management consultant with the firm Alvarez & Marsal.

City health officials will update aldermen on city’s pandemic response as COVID-19 case numbers decline. Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined other Great Lakes mayors in calling for federal dollars to help replace lead water pipes. And Senate President Don Harmon weighed in on elected school board negotiations.

Chicago health officials released more details of a city reopening plan. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability wraps its investigation of the Anjanette Young police raid. And Cook County Health officials detail plans to get food service workers vaccinated.

Minority Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) retweeted a reporter who quoted his description of Gov. J.B. Pritzker as "simply running away into the darkness of partisan politics." The statement came in response to Pritzker signaling he'd backtrack on campaign statements about redistricting. 

Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) announced she would sponsor legislation (SB 672) preventing prohibits third-party delivery services from posting or advertising restaurant or bar menus without express permission from the businesses. In a press release, Bush said, "it’s simply not fair for other people to receive profits from a business without permission to deliver its items.” 

Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) congratulated 400 high schoolers from the south suburbs for outstanding academic successes. In a press release, Hastings added, "these remarkable young people always deserve recognition for their hard work – but even more so as they persevered to emerge from a global pandemic as one of our state’s brightest.” 

Sen. Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is sponsoring SB 701, which would expand the Adult Protective Services Act to cover abandonment reports and extend the statute of limitations from three years to seven years for cases of theft by deception for adults 60 and older. 

Sen. Karina Villa (D-Chicago) has advanced a proposal urging the federal government to "grant residency to all farm, agricultural and manufacturing workers who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic and to grant their employers and agents immunity against any adverse action," per a press release. 

Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) lauded the Food and Drug Administration ban on menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars in a press release, but called for further action. "We must work to ban flavored vaping products that lure children into deadly addiction," she said.  

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted her support for making sure "convention centers are on a steady path to re-opening, while also ensuring the safety of visitors and employees returning to work." 

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Centrevile) tweeted about his initiative to pay all Illinois construction workers a "prevailing wage," writing "The government shouldn’t be involved in underpaying construction workers." 

Rep. Martin McGlaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted about shortcomings in the state’s unemployment system, writing “Illinois Department of Employment Security is still failing us. Read about our constituent who we've helped w/ IDES & who we've also provided resources for rental and utility assistance. When is the Governor going to fix this broken department?”

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted, “Happy to co-sponsor this effort with my colleague Ald. David Moore @c4m17ward Thanks for your leadership!” following the City Council Transportation Committee’s endorsement of the ordinance to rename Lake Shore Drive for Jean Baptiste DuSable. 

Ald. George Cardenas (12) tweeted about a Target coming to Little Village that expects to hire 2,000 people.  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) weighed in on the debate over renaming Lake Shore Drive. He tweeted, "I'm voting YES for Du Sable Drive because it's time we recognize our Black Haitian founder." 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted  in response to President Biden's congressional address Wednesday: "Thank you @POTUS for pushing for funding for lead service line replacement. We need to ensure that every American has clean drinking water. #PresidentialAddress," he wrote. 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted in support of the Empowering Communities For Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance: "Talks of reform appear more disingenuous when our Mayor obstructs the ONLY Police Accountability legislation by cancelling a chance to vote on it to “introduce” a piece of legislation that has yet to exist. It’s been months. #ECPSNow," he wrote. 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted about follow-through on reported cases of sexual assault, writing "in the past decade, 80-90% of sexual assault and abuse claims made to the Chicago Police Department have not resulted in an arrest. As we close out Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Chicago must ensure our institutions work for survivors."

• Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday announced a new funding opportunity and unveiled an updated plan to spend the state's share of a federal settlement with Volkswagen. The state is seeking applicants for $9 million in funding to electrify school buses in Chicagoland and Metro East. The state is also proposing to revamp its Volkswagen Beneficiary Mitigation Plan to award money to replace old diesel engines with electric school bus, public transit and infrastructure projects to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.  

• Jordan Troy will depart her role as Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s press secretary after less than five months in the role, she told reporters on Thursday. She has been part of Lightfoot's press team since 2019 but became press secretary following Anel Ruiz's departure last December. Friday is Troy's last day as the mayor’s top spokesperson. 

• Chicago State University’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic is now offering drive-thru vaccinations using Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. every weekday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, per a press release from the mayor’s office. Vaccinations will be given on a walk-in basis. 

• City officials including Department of Planning and Development Comm. Maurice Cox and the city’s Chief Equity Officer Candace Moore will participate in a panel discussion on “We Will Chicago,” the city’s first citywide planning initiative in 65 years, beginning at noon Thursday. Attendees will “hear first-hand about the power of joining together to collectively identify, address, and plan for current and future challenges and opportunities,” according to a description of the event on the city’s website. The webinar is “at capacity,” but those interested can stream the discussion on YouTube.

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, "There are no words. This state-sanctioned violence must stop" alongside a South Side Weekly Investigation of the Anthony Alvarez police killing. 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) was skeptical of the recently floated vaccine passport concept, tweeting "Chicago can’t manage giving away its FREE Municipal ID card to everyone - how are we going to give them Vaxx Passports?" 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted: "I don’t understand why the mayor wants to keep oversight of the police so bad. She doesn’t seem to believe she’s responsible for anything at all."

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted: "Talks of reform appear more disingenuous when our Mayor obstructs the ONLY Police Accountability legislation by cancelling a chance to vote on it to “introduce” a piece of legislation that has yet to exist. It’s been months. #ECPSNow"

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted, "Thank you @UptownUnited for the very informative webinar on affordable housing last night. This is a must see for anyone interested in affordable housing!" 

Comm. Kevin Morrison (D-15) tweeted about his town hall covering sexual assault prevention from earlier this month. 

• The Illinois Department of Public Health will host a virtual discussion on Thursday at 2 p.m. as part of an effort to promote health equity to combat COVID-19. Participants in the event include agency director Ngozi Ezike. Registration is required.  

• Gov. JB Pritzker announced a $15 million investment to build two manufacturing training academies in Southern Illinois funded by the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The new facilities will be located at Heartland Community College in Normal and Southwestern Illinois College in Metro East. Heartland will receive a $7.5 million grant to develop an electric vehicle energy storage manufacturing training academy. Southwestern Illinois College will receive a $7.5 million grant to create the Advanced Manufacturing Center, a 31,100 square foot lab space, in Belleville.

Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted a statement about the “Anthony Alvarez tragedy.” 

Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) tweeted about Senate Republicans’ efforts to request Gov. JB Pritzker or someone in his office testify at a redistricting hearing, saying, “To date, his office has declined or not responded to all requests.”  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted an image and said “in a meeting with the governor’s administration to listen to their proposed energy legislation.” 

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) thanked Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) on Twitter for holding a hearing on his bill to make daylight savings time permanent.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted about the shutdown of Chicago conventions over the last year, writing, We cannot underestimate the importance of our tourism and hospitality industries to our overall economic picture. We must prioritize this as we consider Covid recovery measures. 

Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) tweeted a thread of bills he passed in Springfield, including HB 118, which "increases the interest rate from 2% to 5% on unpaid wages that employees can recover in a wage claim or lawsuit under the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act."  

Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted about his environmental agenda, writing "Illinois residents deserve a brighter, greener future. I'm fighting to pass legislation to electrify our transportation industry, decarbonize our power grid, and make equitable investments in green technologies in communities of color." 

Sen. Donald DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is sponsoring a card drive for police officers during National Police Appreciation Week. In a statement, DeWitte added, "I would encourage people to display blue outdoor lights on their front porches during the week of May 9-15, and to personally thank members of law enforcement they encounter when out and about in town." 

Rep. Dave Vella (D-Rockford) tweeted about Workers' Memorial Week: "Not only do we have to pay our workers, we have to make sure they are safe," he wrote. 

Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) tweeted her support for paid sick leave, writing "we continue to face an unprecedented health crisis...More than ever, families in Illinois deserve paid sick leave." 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted about her op-ed in The Chicago Sun-Times in support of stronger gun regulation. 

Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) passed SB 1892, which strengthens child pornography laws by increasing penalties for offenders who exploit children in their household or family.

• Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) tweeted about the River Port Project, writing "we could not move forward with this project without the incredible local labor workforce of Southern Illinois spearheading its development."  

• Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) tweeted about recent legislation protecting foster children: "Last week, I passed SB2323 which bans DCFS from using restraints when transporting youth. This puts the safety of our kids first, and requires DCFS to develop individualized, trauma-sensitive transportation plans for youth." 

• Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) celebrated the signing of HB 158, the final pillar of the Black Legislative Caucus' plan to lessen the impact of systemic racism. In a statement, Hunter said, “the systems that bind and neglect people of color must be addressed, and grasped at the root, creating equity through investment.”  

• Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted about Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, writing "road builders keep commuters and our economy moving, so please give them the space they need as you drive through work zones."  

• Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted about honoring 959 Naperville high schoolers: "It’s no secret the last two school years have been tough," she wrote. "That is why I’m so proud of these students for earning this award. Not only did the students perform admirably, but they did it during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic."

• Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted about wrapping up his first 100 days as speaker, emphasizing legislation in criminal justice, term limits and the ongoing discussion over an elected school board in Chicago. "I'm proud of the work we have done to restore trust and confidence in Springfield, but we're not stopping here," he wrote. 

• Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-?) tweeted about legislation to prevent water contamination, writing “@chicagotribune revealed that more than 8 of every 10 Illinoisans live in a community where lead was found in the tap water of at least one home during the past six years. With HB3739, we have the opportunity to change that.”

• Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) tweeted about a hearing for utility companies, which one company did not attend. “Unfortunately, Ameren’s refusal to participate today has left us - and its downstate customers - in the dark as to their position on these critical issues. It’s time to have these conversations openly and transparently, and that’s what I’m hoping we can do today,” she wrote.

• The Democratic Party of Illinois on Tuesday announced Abby Witt will serve as its new executive director. Witt replaces Mary Morrissey, who has served as the party’s executive director since February 2019. 

• Illinois will begin partnering with community health organizations and other local bodies to administer COVID-19 vaccinations in all 102 counties through state-sponsored mobile clinics, Gov. JB Pritzker's office announced Tuesday. Clinics will use any of the three approved vaccines, although only the Pfizer vaccine is available for use in 16- and 17-year-olds. Any community able to provide space, parking, and 200 people who wish to be vaccinated will be eligible for a clinic. The opportunity to host a clinic comes as the number of vaccines given each day starts to level off. Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said, “we are starting to see a slowdown in the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered each day." Fifty-three percent of eligible Illinois adults have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, officials said.

• Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted about a forum he sponsored alongside other progressive alders discussing the Additional Dwelling Unit pilot program. 

• Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted about the Chicago Works Capital Plan with the hashtag #letsgettowork. 

• Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted about a community meeting for a developer to “solicit community feedback” from neighbors around a potential housing development in the ward.  

• Comm. Scott Britton (D-14) tweeted, “Join President @ToniPreckwinkle, @KBMorrison15 and me for a discussion about the Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance.”

• Chicago Public Schools is scheduled May 4 to hold the first of five virtual citywide community meetings to discuss and collect input on its “capital priorities” as the district develops its capital plan for fiscal year 2022, according to a CPS news release. All five of the meetings will be held next week with meetings in English set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 4 and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. May 6. A Spanish-language meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 7. Those interested in participating can register to attend online. The meetings will be livestreamed on the CPS YouTube channel.

No announcements to report today.

Know something we ought to?  Share an update, announcement, or upcoming event with us through our submit a tip form.

Have a newsletter?  Add [email protected] to your distribution lists.

• Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the Pandemic Health Navigator Program Monday, which connects Illinois residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 with basic resources and services. The program, which the governor called “a crucial part of keeping our most vulnerable residents safe,” is already operating every Illinois region outside Cook County. The initiative partners with community health centers and civic organizations with the goal of drawing on preexisting connections to help vulnerable residents weather a COVID-19 diagnosis or extended isolation. Now that 56.8 percent of Illinois residents over the age of 18 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Pritzker said Pandemic Health Navigators could also work to reduce vaccine hesitancy and help the state get closer to “herd immunity,” when 70 to 80 percent of the population is vaccinated.