Rep. Adam Niemerg (R-Dietrich) tweeted, “-Booming Inflation -Soaring Gas Prices -High Unemployment -Rampant Crime -Open Boarders -Record Budgets -Schools Closed -Kids Masked -Economy in Shambles -Men in Girls Bathrooms & Sports. Delusions of Grandeur!”  

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted, “Enjoyed kicking off the #RenewingIllinois summit hosted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Southern Illinois University Carbondale. I also had a chance to sit and chat with the students from the University of Illinois Springfield PAR program while on campus.”  

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted, “For all the Statehouse folks who may not have been in Springfield since the end of session, here is your Capitol North Wing renovation update as of this afternoon. Bye bye Circle Drive. #RebuildIllinois at work.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “The IL Jewish Legislative Caucus wishes you L’Shana Tovah from the @WhiteHouse with @POTUS @VP @SecondGentleman.”  

Rep. Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) tweeted, “This week I cosponsored 4 bills calling for the repeal of Safe-T Act & restoration of monetary bail. States Attys in 100 of 102 IL counties oppose this law. It's the “Criminals Priority Act” b/c it puts the public’s safety at greater risk. Support lawmakers who protect families.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 493,000 Illinois residents have received the latest COVID-19 booster shot that was approved in early September. Over 130,000 received the shot in the last week. Daily vaccination numbers continue to be at the highest levels since February. No Illinois counties were considered high risk for COVID-19 as of Friday for the first time since May.

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted “Easy like Sunday morning!! At the 3rd Annual Bronzeville 5K Run/Walk. Family friendly and community building event in full effect. With State Rep. Lamont Robinson and Park District Manager Maceo Johnson.”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “On Sunday, October 2nd, the 19th Ward will host a community blood drive at St. Christina School, 8:00am-12:30pm. Please consider making a lifesaving blood donation.”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “I was on @bennyjshow talking about my race, City Council business and Chicago politics. Thank you for having me Ben!” Rodriguez-Sanchez shared a link to the show.  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted “Nothing epitomizes Avondale more than the drawing of La Virgen de Guadalupe caressing Pope John Paul II that hangs behind the cash register at Mazamitla. It's pretty awesome.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Chicago’s first ECPS Commission convened for their very first meeting last night. This is the most progressive civilian oversight board in the Nation. So many groups organized on the ground to make this a reality. Truly historic and powerful.”  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted “Safer communities involve the work of CPD, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the 46th Ward Office, and MOST IMPORTANTLY.... the community. Our work together is the solution to making our community safer and better.”  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “We’ve had five very strong petition weeks, and this mornings successful petitioning was no different. We couldn’t have gotten through the last five weeks without all of our volunteers. We are so lucky and very grateful!”

Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection at 3 p.m. Wednesday will host a webinar to detail how to “operate a compliant business in the City of Chicago,” according to the department’s website. Webinar topics are set to include inspection preparations, building permits and sign display requirements, zoning review procedures and a food inspection overview. Additional information and registration is available online. 

Rep. Edgar Gonzalez (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I would have never known I shouldn't identify as "Latinx" had the authority on Latin@/e/x self-expression not made this tweet. Thank you @DarrenBaileyIL!”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “We can start respecting immigrants from Mexico when we have real leaders who don’t diminish their culture with made up words like “Latinx”. We must make Chicago and all of Illinois safer and more affordable. It’s time to get our economy growing again and create jobs.”  

Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) tweeted, “Did you catch that Forty-two separate projects across the district, with costs ranging from $12,000 up to $22.3 million, will be completed from now until 2028?”  

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted, “I’ve been ghosted by buses and trains 5 or 6 times in the last couple weeks commuting to meetings, but just now a bus showed up and it was a fantastic commute. I was sure to thank my driver on the #81 Lawrence.” 

Gov. JB Pritzker appointed Nora Daley as chair of the Illinois Arts Council. She replaces interim chair Rhoda Pierce who will remain on the board as vice chair. Daley is the daughter of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.   

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced the Federal Highway Administration approved IDOT’s plan to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. The state will receive $148 million over the next five years to build charging stations every 50 miles along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. The project is designed to help bring Illinois’ vehicle fleet to include a million electric vehicles by 2030.

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “The City Treasurer of Chicago - Melissa Conyears-Ervin will be hosting the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow (BWTT) Financial Empowerment Weekend starting this Friday, September 30, at 10 AM at the UIC Forum. Please visit and register for free at https://chicagocitytreasurer.com/bwtt/.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “When @chicagosmayor says she found ‘efficiencies in the budget,’ what she really meant to say is all unfilled, bloated jobs she promised to fill in order to deliver city services & never did allow her to avoid asking for more money. Same dog-and-pony show three years running!”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted “Here for Chicago history: the first meeting of the ECPS Commission, the most progressive civilian oversight board in the Nation. It is transformational to see this and understand it’s potential. Thank you to all of the grassroots groups who organized to make this possible.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) shared a link on Facebook to a survey for constituents to provide feedback on proposed projects in Warren Park and said “Vote now and help improve Warren Park! Fill out the survey to help the Warren Park Advisory Council spend $1.5 million in grant money and create spaces in the park that foster intergenerational interactions. The deadline to take the survey is Friday, September 30.”  

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) tweeted “Professionally, Having provided emergency resources response to several hurricanes over the years, I can tell you initial reports seem that Ian is amongst the worst. Pray for the people of Florida and the greater region.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday announced she will not propose a property tax increase tied to inflation as part of her 2023 budget. The mayor’s announcement comes just four days before she is scheduled to introduce her budget proposal to aldermen. Lightfoot had previously said she would ask for a $42.7 million property tax hike as part of next year’s budget but on Thursday said “improving revenues” helped close a $128 million budget gap. Lightfoot is scheduled to introduce her budget proposal at 10 a.m. Monday.

Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) tweeted, “@GovPritzker has zero respect for the voters. What a coward.”  

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted, “Congratulations, @Lucy_Westlake! Your dedication and determination are an inspiration to us all, and your passion is changing the world. Keep doing big things!”  

Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) tweeted, “If anyone ever questioned the fight to teach accurate history in America, check out the Top of the Republicans ticket in Illinois.”  

Sen. Patrick Joyce (D-Reddick) tweeted, “Yesterday I joined the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, Crete Chamber of Commerce, Peotone Chamber of Commerce and the Monee Chamber for a business after hours at the planned site of the South Suburban Airport.” 

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has added Jeff Ahrstrom from Ingersoll Machine Tools and Matt DiGeronimo from International Paper to its board of directors. Gabriela Garza has also been hired by the manufacturers’ association director of government affairs. Garza is an Illinois Army National Guard veteran who was previously a policy analyst for the state Senate.

The Chicago Board of Elections on Wednesday published a list titled 2023 Alderperson Candidate Eligibility detailing which wards aldermanic candidates can run in next year under the new ward map based on which ward they currently live in. Under state law, in the election after a ward remap, “a candidate for alderperson may be elected from any ward containing a part of the ward in which he or she resided for at least one year next preceding the election that follows the redistricting, and, if elected, that person may be reelected from the new ward he or she represents if he or she resides in that ward for at least one year next preceding the reelection.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a Sun-Times article reporting that the mayor’s allies want her to abandon a pre-election property tax increase and said “What a load of pandering bullsh*t! Even if @chicagosmayor refuses to raises taxes in the budget, she can (and will) seek an adjustment to the property tax levy next year to cover any faux concession she makes in her budget. Don’t fall for the financial rope-a-dope Chicago!”  

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared a Crain’s Chicago Business article on Twitter headlined “Ahead of Hurricane Ian, private jets whisk wealthy from Florida to Chicago.”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) shared a Block Club Chicago piece about a proposal to close a portion of Catalpa Avenue and make it a public plaza and said “What began as a vision for a public space during COVID is now becoming a permanent space?” The article reports Vasquez has previously shown support for the proposal.  

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Please keep the people of Florida in your thoughts as they prepare for the impact of Hurricane Ian.”   

Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) shared a tweet from U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery which talks about a case in which alleged traffickers were using candy packaging to smuggle fentanyl into Connecticut and said “Parents be aware! This is extremely unsettling! We must address our border Crisis. The Biden Administrations securing our border has proven to be an abject Failure.” 

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) tweeted, “I was honored to accept an Honorary President award from @ILPharmacists at their annual conference over the weekend. I'm always proud to work alongside them to advance the standards of pharmacy practice across Illinois.”  

Sen. Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) tweeted, “We had the pleasure of welcoming Mexican Senator Israel Zamora Guzmán to Little Village, Chicago. In gathering with officials of the Mexican Congress and the Illinois General Assembly we were able to discuss the importance of supporting the Mexican Communities in the U.S.”  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted, “While it is always good for the state of Illinois to make down payments on its outstanding debt, today’s announcement comes on the verge of the largest tax increase on businesses in Illinois history and does little to nothing to prevent it.” 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Airport of the Year awards Tuesday. Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington was named primary airport of the year, DuPage Airport in West Chicago was named reliever airport of the year, and Greater Kankakee Airport and Dixon Municipal Airport were named airport of the year in their respective runway length categories. 

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted “On 9/27/82 Martin E. Darcy, Jr. was shot & killed while in pursuit of an armed assailant who shot and wounded three people in Beverly. Officer Darcy will always be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather.  @ChicagoCAPS22 @Chicago_Police @cpdmemorial @BevRevNews”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez (33) tweeted a short thread criticizing Mayor Lori Lightfoot for remarks she made regarding the selection of committee chairs and assignments. “I’m ready to legislate and I know many of my colleagues are too. I’m tired of MLL blocking everything she doesn’t want. She told Chicago she was about ‘good governance’ and here we are getting to the end of this term and this is what she’s saying about our broken system: ‘There’s a process by which we do that, and the process is the mayor makes the final picks,’ Lightfoot said... ‘I don’t see any reason to break from that longstanding precedent’ … Weren’t we trying to transform the way we govern?” Rodriguez shared a Sun-Times editorial which favored the city council deciding on committee assignments and chairs.  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted an article from Block Club Chicago which details salaries for each elected city council member, plus who will see a pay raise this January. Villegas shared the article and added “I made a conscious decision to not take any pay raises until we recovered from this pandemic. The community I represent is home to 1000’s of essential workers that didn’t have the privilege of working from home. #sharedsacrifice #truerepresentationmatters”  

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) shared a tweet from Streetsblog Chicago, which noted CTA Pres. Dorval Carter Jr. appeared to skip a City Hall hearing to instead speak on an infrastructure panel broadcast by The Hill. Vasquez said “Getting paid $360,000 a yr to not show up to a hearing so he could be on TV. That’s a lack of respect for the council, for the taxpayers, and for the city. Unless they needed an expert on *ghosting*, I don’t see it.”  

Cook County Comm. Bridget Degnen (D-12) tweeted out a link for constituents to get information about applying to a basic income pilot program. “Cook County believes in initiatives like its Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot. Providing a guaranteed income reduces stress, helps people find new jobs and gives some much-needed relief in paying monthly bills. Visit http://engagecookcounty.com/promise to see if you are eligible.” 

Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will hold its first-ever meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Malcolm X College, Conference Hall A. The City Council last summer approved an ordinance creating the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability as a new form of police oversight. An agenda for Thursday’s meeting is posted online.   

The Chicago Mobility Collaborative will hold its second meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday. The public forum, including residents, community organizations and the Chicago Department of Transportation, meets quarterly to discuss topics related to walking, biking, transit, public space, mobility justice and accessibility. Those interested can RSVP online. An agenda for the meeting is not yet posted. 

Sen. Robert Peters (D-Chicago) tweeted, “Illinois is poised to lead the way for offshore wind in the Great Lakes. If passed, this legislation would bring hundreds of good-paying clean jobs to Illinois through an offshore wind pilot project.”  

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted, “HBD to my intern, Mac Johnston! You've been an excellent addition to our team! We hope you have a fantastic week filled with fun, laughter, and friends!”  

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) tweeted, “Cindy and I joined in the pregame tailgates at Soldier Field! What an awesome crowd of Bears fans and Illinoisans who were excited to communicate their needs and issues with state government. We especially loved the Stadium Monument to our Defenders of Liberty.”  

Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) tweeted, “As people become more frightened about the economy, they are vulnerable to other frightening political messages, and this can devolve into widespread fear of others, distrust of government, and diving for cover under a right-wing government. We see it happening around the world.” 

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation announced multiple Illinois news organizations will receive $7.5 million of grants. Block Club Chicago will receive grants to build an investigative team and expand coverage on Chicago’s South and West sides. Injustice Watch will receive grants to add reporters, editors, and staff to build the publication’s audience and fundraising efforts. Capitol News Illinois will also receive grants to add print and broadcast reporters. Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism will also receive grants.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) asked residents to fill out a survey to gather feedback on a zoning proposal in his ward. He tweeted “The 1st Ward Office is collecting zoning feedback for additional dwelling unit zoning change concepts at 1746 North California. This zoning proposal will include a rehab of the existing multi-unit residence.”  

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Happy Rosh HaShanah, Jewish New Year, to those celebrating. We are wishing you a year filled with prosperity, happiness, and excellent health.”  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted “My colleagues @aldnapolitano41 @AldermanTabares @mattoshea19 and I want answers regarding the SAFE-T Act. If City Council won’t hold hearings, we will hold them ourselves inviting its sponsors to explain its potential impact on Chicago.”  

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) invited constituents to a Sept. 27 event on the intersection of local government and cryptocurrency and tweeted “Join me tomorrow as we discuss Cryptocurrency with subject matter experts and the role that local government plays in incorporating this form of currency. Chicago is home to over 70 firms associated with this industry.” 

Ald. Harry Osterman (48) tweeted “Catalpa Community Plaza Update - I firmly believe that a community plaza on Catalpa will be a positive benefit to our community and that it needs to be designed as a welcoming place with the safety of all in mind,” and included a link to the update.  

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) shared a Chicago Tribune article on a Chicago Coalition for the Homeless report which estimated 65,611 people in Chicago experienced homelessness in 2020 and tweeted “We need real solutions now which is why I'm a proud sponsor of the #BringChicagoHome Ordinance, along with @MattMartinChi.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday named Jaye Stapleton as the City of Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Education and Human Services. Prior to being named to her new role, Stapleton worked as Senior Director of Social Service Policy and Director of Social Services Policy in the mayor’s administration   

Lightfoot on Monday also named Nubia Willman as the city’s Chief Engagement Officer for Community Engagement. Willman has also served as Director of the Office of New Americans and as First Deputy of the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement.