Ald. Pat Dowell (3) tweeted, “Kudos to Illinois Congressional delegation & ⁦@NALC_National⁩ for holding hearing Friday on USPS’ poor mail service in Chicago. Residents have been dealing with inconsistent/no delivery & late mail for years. Support the workers! Hire more carriers!” 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted, “Check out the newly added Alfresco benches on Commercial Avenue in South Chicago! These streetscape amenities are part of the City's Invest Southwest Initiative.” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted of city vaccination rules, “Lightfoot has a track record of not knowing what her negotiation teams do. I’m certain this is no exception.” 

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted, “Glad we passed the e-scooter program with increased oversight. This will reduce last mile care usage.” 

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted a thread about mental health investments, writing, “We need to make massive investments in the structures of care that will keep us safe. We need to invest and reopened our Public mental health clinics. We need field positions that are out in our communities connecting and providing access to our neighbors who need it the most.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) tweeted, “Glad to work with @40thforward to allow bars/taverns and hotels/motels the opportunity to apply for grants for building repairs. A conversation with a tavern in Andersonville about the impact of covid-19 on their industry prompted my work on this.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “The pandemic has presented us with unimaginable challenges. It has also provided us with a chance to do better and try new things. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the federal aid we received to do as much as possible to help struggling Chicagoans.”

Gil C. Quiniones will become the next CEO of Commonwealth Edison on Nov. 15, the energy mega-firm announced Thursday. Quinones comes from the New York Power Authority, which he has led as CEO for 10 years. He is a “proven industry executive with more than 30 years of relevant leadership and operational experience extending across regulated utility markets, the public and private sectors, and state and local governments,” according to a news release from ComEd. Quinones will succeed CEO Joe Dominguez, who has led the company since 2018. 

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted “My heart goes out to the family of Timuel Black. His impact on the Black community in Chicago cannot be overstated. He was an activist and a storyteller. His life and legacy will forever serve as inspiration to all who seek to fight for justice and preserve their history. 

Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) tweeted “Today our office joined @RefugeeOne for their winter coat distribution. I was proud to partner with RefugeeOne, Rep. @DenyseStoneback and State Rep John D'Amico to collect winter coats for refugees in our community. 

Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) tweeted “After hearing from constituents about late mail delivery, I was happy to join a postcard writing event. Residents wrote to @USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calling for dependable mail service. Thanks to Debra Silverstein @50thWardChicago and Congresswoman @janschakowsky  

Rep. Nick Smith (D-Chicago) tweeted “.@ICJIA_Illinois announced a $3.8M grant opportunity to support Community Violence Prevention across Illinois. Applications are due 11/1. Please visit https://icjia.illinois.gov/gata/funding/2021-cbvip-sfy22for… for more information!

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) tweeted “It was great to meet with constituents at last night’s Regional Listening Tour Town Hall in Oswego. Thank you to @SenDeWitte33 for joining me and @NorthforkF for hosting it. Definitely one of the best venues I’ve ever had a town hall at! 

Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued a statement after she was recently appointed to the Course Materials Equitable Access and Affordability Study Task Force.

Officials from the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board on Wednesday announced the recipients of the 2021 Nurse Educator Fellow. Recipients, who will receive $10,000 to help promote excellence in nursing education, include Alisha Betka from the University of Illinois Chicago, Tamara Boll from Trinity Christian College, Sheri Compton-McBride from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Jorgia B. Connor from Loyola University of Chicago, Therese Gallagher from Rush University, Angela Gilbreth from Southwestern Illinois College, Teresa Gulley from Millikin University, Monica E. Hall from Illinois Wesleyan University, Sara McPherson from University of Illinois Chicago in Springfield, Salimah Muhammad from Chamberlain University-Chicago, Lynnann B. Murphy from University of Saint Francis, Kara Richardson from Heartland Community College, Cristan Sabio from Northern Illinois University, Michele Shropshire from Illinois State University, Lindsay A. White from Western Illinois University and Cynthia D. Young from Morton College.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “I continue to work on the proposed 2022 Budget, and there is a City Council meeting regarding the 2022 Budget tomorrow (October 14, 2021) at 10am.” He also posted links to watch the council meeting and a “Weekly Budget recap on Friday.” 

Ald. Pat Dowell (3) posted notice in her latest newsletter of a series of park nature walk events hosted by the group Equiticity.  

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) tweeted a screenshot of a report issued by Inspector General Joseph Ferguson and wrote, “$5.2 Million spent on committees. Time to trim the fat!”  

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) shared a WTTW article on Inspector General Joseph Ferguson’s report on City Council committees and tweeted “The way City Council committees currently work makes it really hard to do good government work. I look forward to hearings on this report and to continue to push to reform our council and make it independent from the Mayor.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) tweeted, “So far we have 36 Alders (so far) in support of the resolution I am introducing with@RossanaFor33 and @AldMattMartin this Thursday calling for investment in Ash Tree inoculations to #SaveYourAsh! Many thanks to the neighbor groups doing the work to uplift this! #Supermajority”  

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42) tweeted that the death of former Chicago Fraternal Order of Police president Dean Angelo is “Very sad news. We didn’t always agree, but Dean sure did love & respect his brothers & sisters in Blue. Rest In Peace and thank you for your service to Chicago.” 

Ald. James Cappleman (46) shared a Streetsblog column linking high rents in Chicago to restrictive zoning and a dearth of new construction and tweeted, “A more in depth article about the causes of higher rents. Another reason includes the Life Safety Ordinance that required building owners to meet an unfunded mandate, so they passed the costs onto their renters.” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) shared Ferguson’s report and tweeted, “Reform is needed in all parts of our City government. @ChicagoOIG Joe Ferguson opted to not seek another term because the good government, ethically based recommendations from his office are usually ignored or rebuffed by the City Council. Chicago deserves better.”  

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted, “Dozens of you joined me yesterday to write postcards to USPS demanding better mail service. Thank you to everyone who came! A special thank you to Congresswoman @janschakowsky, Representative @DenyseStoneback, and @ChiAlderwoman Maria Hadden for lending your voice to our demands.”

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners appointed Rosa Escareño as the Interim General Superintendent and CEO of the park district, concurring with Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recommendation for the post. Escareño takes the helm of the park district following CEO Michael Kelly’s resignation amid a sex abuse scandal involving park district lifeguards at Chicago pools and beaches. Escareño previously served as commissioner of the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection before stepping back in July. “Having served three mayors and with more than three decades of public service experience, Rosa has proven leadership skills and a breadth of experience that will inform her efforts to lead our Park District and maintain our beautiful public spaces and facilities during this interim period,” Lightfoot wrote in a news release.  

Chicago’s COVID-19 Travel Advisory remains unchanged at 47 states and three territories, the Department of Public Health announced on Wednesday. However, the following states and territories are on track to be removed from the list next week if they can keep average new daily case counts below 15 per 100,000 residents: Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

The City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus will join members of the Chicago chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America to host a virtual town hall event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss the city’s 2022 budget. Caucus members will join “grassroots community organizations and the public to advance a socialist analysis of the budget and build support for the coalition’s budget demands,” according to an announcement. Attendees can register to participate via Zoom or watch the event live on Facebook. 

 Sen. Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) issued a statement after Gov. JB Pritzker recently certified the omnibus ethics law that she sponsored.  

Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) wrote on Facebook “HAPPENING TOMORROW: My office will be partnering with Meridian Healthcare, the Boys and Girls Club of Decatur and GANT Senior Ministries to provide frozen meals to the community, TOMORROW, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army in Springfield, located at 1600 E. Clearlake. 

Rep. Suzanne Ness (D-Crystal Lake) tweeted images after she toured the Crystal Lake Public Library. 

Rep. Eva Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) tweeted a link to a news story, adding, “As the vice-chair of the Public Utilities Committee, I am looking forward to seeing the data and continuing to work on equity and access to broadband across the state of Illinois. 

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) tweeted an image of a blocked road, adding, “Today's odyssey on redistricting ridiculousness: the address originally listed for today's Joliet House Redistricting Committee hearing took folks down a dead-end, gated frontage road to supposedly get to the location.”\\ 

Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) wrote on Facebook “My intern Trey and I went out to the first ward to do a bit of door knocking to invite constituents to our Fall Festival event in Sat, Oct 23 from 11am-2pm at Prisco Community center!” 

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) tweeted, “masks. ventilation. masks. filtration. masks. open windows. masks. outdoors. masks. masks. MASKS!” 

Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) shared a Tribune article about racism in the issuance of cycling tickets and tweeted, “I would be happy if they ticketed everyone parked in the alleys or fire hydrants.”  

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) wrote in his latest newsletter that the Mount Greenwood Community & Business Association and Terraco Real Estate Development are “hosting a rededication ceremony for the Mount Greenwood Memorial Plaza located at 111th and Kedzie at 1:00pm. The dedication will be in memory of all fallen first responders." 

Ald. Rossana Rodrigurez-Sanchez (33) tweeted, “I’m working with @Andrefor40th @AldMattMartin & other colleagues to ensure that we keep our canopy by treating the Ash trees. Ask your Alder to support our Resolution to create a managed Ash Tree program for Chicago. Thank you @Openlands for the advocacy!” 

Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted, “The Thompson Center should be preserved. And the next Mayor of Chicago should be required to hold monthly open office hours at the people's Atrium food court.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) shared a Crain’s article about the resignation of Chicago Park District Supt. Michael Kelly and tweeted, “Now is the time to reimagine the Park Districts programming and hours of operation especially in areas where there is high crime. Parks play a crucial role and there is no reason why parks should be closed in the evening for kids.” 

Ald. Matt Martin (47) wrote in a statement that his office “continues to receive interest” in the Fifth Third Bank properties at the intersection of Damen Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and Irving Park Road, and that Martin “believes that any commercial space built on these two parcels should be designed for entities that are not big box stores, so as to enhance the bike and pedestrian friendliness in the immediate area.” 

Cook County Comm. Dennis Deer (D-2) acknowledged in his latest newsletter that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and wrote, “The COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying lock-downs, social distancing, and other mitigation measures have only exacerbated domestic violence.” 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday formally announced the appointment of Debra Shore, currently a member of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Board of Commissioners, as the agency’s regional administrator for Region 5. The region includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and 35 Native American tribes. A spokesperson for the EPA wrote that Shore “is a strong advocate for cleaning up the Chicago waterways and for resource recovery, including the reuse of treated water and the generation of renewable energy.” 

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office on Wednesday announced the return of “Halloweek,” an initiative the city launched last year to connect young people to “safe and engaging opportunities during out-of-school time” as part of the city’s “My Chi My Future” youth program. Events will include “residential pop-ups" hosted by the Chicago Park District and movie screenings held in person and virtually. The full schedule of events is listed online. 

Ald. Sophia King (4) tweeted “Happy Indigenous People’s Day from the 4th Ward!”

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19) tweeted photos of himself at Sunday’s White Sox game and wrote “We had a great time at the game last night. 40,000 strong cheering on our White Sox. Sox in 5!”

Ald. Michael Rodriguez (22) tweeted “We honor and celebrate Native American people today. Their history and culture should be respected and uplifted.”

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25) in a thread tweeted “Happy #IndigenousPeoplesDay. Today is a day to seek truth in our own history and to bring that truth to our institutions. Indigenous People of the Americas have sustainably stewarded this land for tens of thousands of years, have migrated freely across it for tens of thousands of years, and today, lead in the fight for all of humanity's survival against the criminal planetary destruction of the oligarchs of the fossil fuel industry and war industries.”

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) tweeted that he “Celebrated the traditions and living culture of Native communities from across the country this weekend at [American Indian Center] 68th annual Chicago Powwow.”

Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33) tweeted “Today we uplift the history, the struggle, the resilience, the wisdom and resistance of First Nations. We continue to fight to make this day the official holiday in our city and removing Columbus from the calendar forever.”

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) shared an article from Better Government Association about City Hall’s unsafe building list and wrote, “Unfortunately it will take a devastating incident to occur before they act. My call for hearing has been delayed just like my 10year smoke detector ordinance had been delayed. We will get it done though.”

Aldermen including Ald. Howard Brookins (21), who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Public War, are scheduled to join representatives from scooter companies Spin, Lime and Bird at a rally outside City Hall at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday supporting an ordinance proposed by Brookins that would establish a permanent e-scooter program in Chicago. Ald. Walter Burnett (27), Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), Ald. Matt Martin (47) and Ald. Emma Mitts (37) are also scheduled to attend the rally.

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Happy National Coming Out Day! I am so honored to be celebrating today as Illinois’ first openly gay State Senator! The LGBTQ+ community is Born to Shine! If you are not ready to come out yet, that is okay too. Just know that I and your community are here for you.”

Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor) tweeted “Indigenous communities are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. This #IndigenousPeoplesDay, do what you can to support families struggling to access food and other resources, and continue to #WearAMask and social distance to prevent the spread of the virus.”

Rep. Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) tweeted “Happy Columbus Day!”

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “Throughout this pandemic, Illinois farmers have continued to put food on our tables despite risks to their health and safety. This #NationalFarmersDay, tell a farmer how much you appreciate their hard work and sacrifice to keep our families fed.”

Rep. Eva Delgado (D-Chicago) tweeted “As the chair of the Public Utilities Committee, I am looking forward to seeing the data and continuing to work on equity and access to broadband across the state of Illinois.”

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) is scheduled on Tuesday to host what his office has billed as “the first ever Open House Job Fair at the Illinois State Capitol.” The job fair is set to run from 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to online event information. The in-person job fair will be held in the Capitol building in Room 114, and a virtual event is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registration for both the in-person and virtual events is available online.

Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) tweeted “Lead a bike & scooter parade with the neighbors on Fairfield Ave in the Arcadia Terrace neighborhood! We met with residents who have lived on this block for four generations & folks selling homegrown jams. A great day spent connecting with constituents! #arcadiaterracechicago” 

 Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) wrote on Facebook about her new district office chief of staff, Kate Peterson.  

House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) tweeted “I've struggled with mental illness/addiction lots of my life like lots of people. COVID made things worse. I try to remember that people around me are going through the same or worse, and to be a little more kind and extend some grace. You're never alone. #WorldMentalHealthDay  

Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) tweeted a link to a guest commentary about the state’s finances posted on the News-Gazette, adding, “This is unbelievably off the mark, even for the News-Gazette. Unfounded liabilities don’t have to be paid at once. They’re the amount the systems are responsible for for every member of the system. That bill never comes due all at once.

Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) will participate in a virtual discussion with Vote Run Lead, a nonprofit focused on appealing to women voters, on Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. Attendees can watch the conversation on Facebook and YouTube. 

Ald. Ed Burke (14) posted on Facebook, “Today marks the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. Let us pause for a moment and remember the 150th Anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire.” 

Ald. Scott Waguespak (32) tweeted, “The tip of the iceberg breaking loose at Parks. Sexual abuse is endemic, it has to be fully removed.” 

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) tweeted, “Great turnout to celebrate the 90thAnniversary of the Schorsch Village Improvement Association (SVIA).SVIA has been the anchor for the Dunning community and I look forward to continuing to work with this great organization.” 

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40) in his latest newsletter thanked “Save Your Ash volunteers and 40th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Maggie O'Keefe for their hard work (and several in-person appearances!) urging the Department of Streets and Sanitation to protect our tree canopy with simple, cost-effective ash tree inoculations.” 

Ald. Michele Smith (43) wrote in a statement that Chicago Park District Supt. Michael Kelly’s resignation “is a welcome first step; but truly only a first step.  We have not heard from every victim, and we have not yet discovered how deep this unacceptable culture ran throughout the entire Park District...All accountable parties should resign.”  

Ald. James Cappleman (46) tweeted, “Yesterday afternoon at Leland/Racine, an ambulance arrived to transport a man who was passed out on the sidewalk. This morning at the same intersection, the same exact scenario with the same man was repeated. #TreatAddictions #MoreCoResponderTeamsNeeded” 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted, “A graduated Real Estate Transfer Tax would help create a long-term revenue stream for affordable housing. This revenue stream could ensure we’ve got more dedicated, long-term sustainable funds for housing initiatives.”

House Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside) tweeted about the “first-ever Open House Job Fair” hosted by the Illinois House of Representatives, which will take place on Oct. 12.  

Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) tweeted “The @ChicagoBears really should play football in Chicago. Always. And I wouldn’t be opposed to them moving their practice facilities to the city like @chicagobulls did. And why not summer training camp at @ChicagoState, while we’re at it. Plenty of space.” 

Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) tweeted “I am partnering with Metropolitan Family Services DuPage to hold a #LovePurse donation drive. #LovePurse collects new purses that are filled with personal care items to distribute to women in need & survivors of domestic violence.”

Sen. Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) issued a statement after she attended a new cancer screening program in her district.  

Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) posted a link on Facebook to court documents about three school districts that filed a restraining order against the Illinois State Board of Education.

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), Chicago Ald. Matt Martin (47) and Chicago CAPS will hold a virtual meeting to discuss recent gun violence in Chicago on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required.  

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1) tweeted “I support, and urge Mayor Lightfoot to support, the  [Bring Chicago Home] Resolution to create a dedicated revenue stream to provide more affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.” 

Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10) tweeted “CDOT crews are currently performing repairs at 100th St. Bridge. Crews had to address field identified conditions. They anticipate the repairs to be completed on 10/15/21.” 

Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25) in a thread tweeted Mark Kelly and every [Chicago Park District] employee who knowingly allowed sexual abuse and rape to continue under their watch violated the trust of our communities, ruined the lives of the youth entrusted to them, and do not belong anywhere near our parks or our children. 

Ald. Maria Hadden (49) tweeted “With the eviction moratorium now having expired, we need to create a dedicated revenue stream to provide more affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness. That's why I introduced the [Bring Chicago Home] resolution in July.” 

Ald. Debra Silverstein (50) tweeted a photo of herself getting a flu shot and wrote, “I got my flu shot; now it is your turn! Dozens of people came out to get vaccinated yesterday at the 50th Ward clinic.” 

Chicago Riverwalk Community Marketplace Applications for the 2022 season will be available beginning 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Business Affairs and Consumer Protection website. The procurement is “specifically looking to provide opportunities to businesses offering concession services reflective of the cultural diversity and neighborhoods of the City of Chicago on the Chicago Riverwalk,” according to the website. Registration is available online for a webinar set for 10 a.m. Tuesday.