Ward Reports

• Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1) is "not having" graffiti in the ward. "If you see any more of this garbage please contact Orlando at my office or CPD, especially if you see it happening in progress." On Friday, he challenged those who criticized a gentrification dinner he attended: "If you don't think there are affordable apartments left in the 1st Ward, come to my office tomorrow at 10AM to hear about some."


• Ald. Brian Hopkins (2) has info on the next meeting to discuss the Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative in the North Branch Industrial Corridor: it's tonight from 6pm to 8pm on at UI Labs.


• Ald. Sophia King (4) shared a press release from Dick Simpson's UIC study of her voting record. 


• Ald. George Cardenas (12) hosted a clean and green event this weekend, and "collected over 100 bags of garbage and leaves from around the south satellite campus located in Little Village."


• Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) is going hard recruiting for the Polar Plunge. 


• Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24) attended North Lawndale Employment Network's 12th Annual Sweet Beginnings Tea, posing with Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp and Comm. Robert Steele (D-2). 


• Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26) joined the Logan Square Neighborhood Association Friday "to declare schools in the 26th Ward "Sanctuary Zones"... We want to let our immigrant families know that they are safe and not alone. Next week, I will be introducing a resolution to City Council calling on Chicago Public Schools to pass an official policy on Sanctuary Schools."


• Ald. Jason Ervin's (28) baby Jeneva is nine months old (and sporting some amazing footwear). Both of them, with his wife State Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin, went out to support Congressman Danny Davis "in his efforts to save Obamacare." 


• Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) is holding a public safety community meeting with Cmdr. Buslik March 1. 


• Ald. Deb Mell (33) made the rounds to neighborhood groups to talk menu funds. 


• 39th Ward Committeeman Robert Murphy, the 39th Ward Democratic Organization, Ald. John Arena (45), and 33rd Ward Committeeman Aaron Goldstein are hosting an event on Thursday called "Immigration, Refugees and the State of our Union." Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) Human Services Commissioner Mona Noriega, and several others will attend. 


• Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) called out to ward HS seniors and college students. "The Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation is offering a $5,000 scholarship. Please apply asap."


• Ald. Pat O'Connor (40) is ready for compromise on a possible ACA repeal: "We should be prepared to make the case for those provisions of the Affordable Care Act that are critical to various city and county residents and hospitals, to their health needs, and to the jobs that have been created by the Act as well."


• Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) is a St. Baldrick's participant for the 7th time, "raising money and shaving my head for childhood cancer research. Cancer has personally affected my immediate family as well as the families of my friends and loved ones."


• Ald. Brendan Reilly's (42) new Twitter avatar is a crying George Washington. He spent the weekend tweeting about President Trump but took a break to say "150 N. Riverside is one of the best results" of his 10 years of negotiating zoning deals. The site will soon be home to a Small Cheval. 


• Ald. Tom Tunney (44) says the annual Wrigley Field Community Meeting is March 20. 


• Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) plans to introduce an abortion sanctuary ordinance at the next City Council meeting, similar to one recently passed in St. Louis. 


• Ald. Harry Osterman (48) hosted a community meeting about a pilot dog park in the ward, and laid out his priorities for spending property tax rebate money: "for after school, youth mentoring, and public safety programs, in an effort to address and prevent the violence that is plaguing our city. Locally, I am working with community partners to create a teen center in the Broadway Armory, in order to provide a safe and productive space for our youth to spend time. I will share more information about this project as it develops."


• City Treasurer Kurt Summers had an "amazing time at ABC 7 Chicago's Black Table event... in celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth!"

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• Comm. Richard Boykin (D-1) wrote "4 dead and 25 shot in Chicago since Friday-- the crisis continues to rage while the silence of leaders is deafening. We need federal action to help secure endangered communities."


• Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) talked "politics, life & Chicago" on Becky Carroll's podcast, #TheBroadCast "w @annavalenciaIL @toiHutchinson@cstrategiesllc."


• Comm. John Fritchey (D-12) has info on "bills filed in Springfield HB2824 (Costello) + SB1822 (Hastings) that would preclude home rule municipalities like Cook County from regulating where pet stores get their animals from. In other words, these bills would not allow ANY government in Illinois to ban puppy mill puppies. If you care about animal welfare, call your legislators and urge them to vote NO on these bills."


• Comm. Sean Morrison (R-17) tweeted a pic from President Trump's rally this weekend: "Perspective; so the rest of the country seems more than few presidential supporters do exist despite the media narrative. Can this be ????"

A $75 million contract for Midway Airport advances out of Council Committee. But if you look at the small print, it appears to be a sweet deal for one Mayoral ally. The City’s Transportation Department cracks down the number of honorary street signs for each ward. Downtown residents bemoan the “maddening” noise by the “bucket boys” of Michigan Avenue and State Street. And we preview a key showdown vote expected for next week.

Ward Reports

• Ald. Leslie Hairston (5) shared her open letter on the Obama Presidential Library.


• Ald. Greg Mitchell (7) collaborated with the young people from the Rebecca K. Crown Youth Center, Powell Elementary School, and Olive-Harvey College make hundreds of Valentine's Day cards for the senior citizens at Symphony of South Shore and Villa at Windsor Park. 


• Ald. Patrick D. Thompson's (11) next quarterly meeting is March 7.


• Ald. George Cardenas (12) says the mayor's reported use of the f word in a discussion with Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) is "not appreciated". He says he'll urge the Latino Caucus to vote no to the mayor's proposed property tax rebate money plans.  


• Ald. Ed Burke (14) will join Mayor Emanuel "and members of the O’Hare family to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Lt. Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare’s heroic WWII Mission."


• Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) spoke to the Chicago Bar Association "about the importance of 'No Kill' policies in Chicago."


• Ald. Danny Solis (25) participated in #DayWithoutImmigrants, standing in solidarity with organizations in Pilsen. 


• Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26) says he's "proud of the 26th Ward businesses closed in solidarity for today's #DayWithoutImmigrants protest. You make Chgo stronger."


• Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) issued some warnings to his friend Ald. John Arena (45) about his line of questioning on the Midway contract. Waguespack has a fundraiser on March 30. 


• Ald. Deb Mell (33) will participate in this year's Polar Plunge. 


• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) tweeted from yesterday's Health Committee hearing on the Dakota Access Pipeline. 


• Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36) recognized the "Love Ambassadors" at Reinberg School.


• Ald. Anthony Napolitano's (41) participatory budgeting program starts today. 


• Ald. Michele Smith (43) says she'll be hosting public safety meetings throughout March. We'd like to extend our well wishes to the alderman, who we've learned recently got engaged. Congratulations, Ald. Smith! 


• Ald. John Arena (45) tweeted about a plan that passed the Plan Commission yesterday. "This is the first piece of the plan to revitalize the Jefferson Park gateway, and the entire neighborhood."


• Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) says "Immigrants make Illinois and our country great. I am the son of immigrants and I will always stand #InSolidarity with our immigrant neighbors. No human being is illegal and we will never be Trump's America.#WeMustResist #DayWithoutImmigrants


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  Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) gave a "Shout out to @rlopez15thward for standing up to the acts of violence in our city and proposing solutions. #StopTheViolence" She also shared stats from a recent hearing on the ACA. 

After more than a year of negotiations, a handful of private briefings, and close to three hours of debate, aldermen on the Aviation Committee signed off on a 15 year, $75 million concession redevelopment and management lease agreement at Midway Airport with Midway Partnership, LLC. The concessions RFP was first issued in September of 2015, and negotiations with the respondents went on for ten months. The deal will move to the full City Council for approval next Wednesday. If approved, construction would begin in May.

After CDOT officials testified they were inundated with unfunded requests for honorary street signs to the point that it was stalling important safety installations, aldermen agreed to limit themselves to two honorary signs per year. “The priority should be for public safety and traffic” signs, CDOT officials told aldermen during yesterday’s Transportation Committee meeting. They estimated installation of traffic and safety signs were put on hold about once every week and a half because of honorary sign requests from aldermen, and the extra work of dealing with families of honorees.

The Chicago Plan Commission deferred a proposal to build a new $44 million elementary school in the 23rd Ward–a project included in Chicago Public Schools’ Capital Budget for 2017. It was the only item on Thursday’s agenda not to go before the commission. All other items received unanimous approval and will advance to the City Council’s Zoning Committee scheduled to meet next week.

Ward Reports

• Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1) tweeted assurances: "There have been rumors about ICE checkpoints at CTA locations: IT IS NOT TRUE. CTA and CPD won't ask u 2 prove u are in the US legally."


• Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) has two words after a 12 year old succumbed to her shooting injury: "WTF Chicago?"


• Ald. David Moore (17) says "As legislatures have the discussion around "Truth In Sentencing", it is important that we include wrap around services. We just can't say longer sentencing for repeat offenders without wrap around services for the entire family."


• Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) is recruiting for his polar plunge team (Ald. Pat Dowell (3) says it's not her cup of tea, but she'll contribute). 


• Ald. Deb Mell (33) snapped a pic of an unsuspecting Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41) on her morning train ride. 


• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) shared info on todays' health committee meeting, which will include "a subject matter hearing on my resolution expressing support for the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Tribe and their fight to protect the sacred and halt the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline."


• Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) retweeted a picture of his "packed" fundraiser. 


• City Clerk Anna Valencia launched her listening tour with Ald. Anthony Beale (9) and Ald. Michelle Harris (8) "Over the next several weeks, our goal is to bring together Chicago residents from all 50 wards to solicit input on how to make our office an example of what government can do to improve the day-to-day lives of people across the City."


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  Comm. Richard Boykin (D-1) continued his Black History Month series on his Facebook. Yesterday's entry: James Armistead Lafayette. 


• Comm. John Fritchey (D-12) issued a strong endorsement for Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) for governor. "I know that there are naysayers who say that this is a fight that can’t be won. But it is often the hardest battles that most need to be fought and there are messages that the public deserves and needs to hear. Ameya will bring fresh ideas and a fresh face to a public who is yearning for just those things. He has the desire, talent, vision and drive to work to put our state back on the right path by being a Governor for all of Illinois not just a chosen few. I hope that you will join me in supporting Ameya Pawar for Governor."

 

A joint City Council and Cook County Board subject matter hearing on the local impact of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act drew concern and stark statistics from stakeholders Wednesday, but few concrete next steps. Workforce Chairman Pat O’Connor (40) put it most succinctly: “What are we gonna do besides say, ‘Don’t’?”

The Council’s License Committee approved modifications to the city’s Airbnb rules, a ban on street performers along two arterial downtown streets, and a new commissioner for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Only Samantha Fields’ BACP appointment, as well as several routine items, passed without dissent.

A 15-year contract that would renovate and expand the number of shops, restaurants, specialty retail and other concessions at Midway Airport is up for consideration today by the Council’s Aviation Committee.

A proposal to cap the number of honorary street signs and have the local aldermen foot the bill is getting another hearing and vote today in City Council’s Transportation Committee after several aldermen raised a fuss over the rules in December and demanded clarity.

(Podcast: Hear highlights of the testimony from that Transportation Meeting)

Subscribe Today on iTUNES 

As Chicago Public Schools continues its fight with the governor over a lack of state aid, the Chicago Plan Commission will consider zoning plans for three CPS-led construction projects totaling upwards of $70 million.

Ward Reports

• Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1) put together a Q&A on ward public safety questions from recent town hall meetings.


• Ald. Pat Dowell's (3) next town hall is Thursday. It includes discussion of COPA and CPD's Use of Force. 


• Ald. Sophia King (4) will host one of her "On the Block" events today at the Eleven City Diner. 


• Ald. Raymond Lopez (15) broke a lot of hearts yesterday. So did Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24). 


• Ald. Matt O'Shea (19) says the February issue of the 19th Ward Quarterly will be in every mailbox in Beverly, Morgan Park, and Mount Greenwood this week.


• Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26) tweeted "#ToImmigrantsWithLove, your presence makes our community strong. You make Chicago & the nation better! Join us and share your letter."


• Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30) is fundraising for this year's Polar Plunge. 


• Ald. Deb Mell (33) tweeted another "#ToImmigrantsWithLove, as Americans we believe that we are better because you are here. Join us and share your letter."


• Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35) has a valentine. For Comm. Chuy Garcia. 


• Ald. Marge Laurino (39) says thoughts and prayers are with the family of Konrad Tucharski, a Department of Water Management employee who died when a trench collapsed at the construction project at Sauganash and Peterson. "The project where this occurred is currently on hold while officials investigate the collapse. We will provide further updates on this project as they become available." Committeeman Robert Murphy shared some ways to help. 


• Ald. John Arena (45) has an immigrant resources site. 


• Ald. Ameya Pawar (47) tweeted in response to the news of the CPS lawsuit. "We need funding equity,progressive revenue,more resources for poorer districts,& less wealthy people with myopic views on public education."


• Ald. Harry Osterman (48) cut the ribbon at The Growling Rabbit in Edgewater. "If you haven't been in for coffee, baked goods, or delicious food yet, you are missing out!"


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  Comm. Richard Boykin (D-1) sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking "for more federal agents to fight this crime!" He was referring to the six children killed in Chicago so far in 2017. "We must act!"


• Comm. Stanley Moore (D-4), Ald. Howard Brookins (21), and State Rep. Justin Slaughter are hosting a night at the Oscars on February 26.


• Comm. Bridget Gainer (D-10) is "co-hosting 1st City-County hearing with @Alderman_Pawar & @40thWard on the need of #ACA to protect our residents & workforce" this morning. 


• Comm. John Fritchey (D-12) is kicking off his for re-election campaign next month. "One of the realities of politics is that campaigning costs money. That's why most elected officials have several fundraisers every year. On the other hand, I haven't had a fundraiser in over a year and a half and I need your help now!"

The years-long conflict between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool went to the courts yesterday, as the district and five parents of CPS students filed a two count complaint in Cook County Chancery Court against the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the Comptroller, alleging racial discrimination. It’s the latest in a series of attempts to help get Chicago Public Schools on sound financial footing. The announcement came one day before the governor’s budget address and the district’s deadline to pay $563 million in debt service.  

Cook County Commissioners and aldermen will gather in the Council Chamber this morning to hear testimony from experts on the potential local impact of a federal repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The meeting, organized by Comm. Bridget Gainer, will consist of a joint meeting of the city and county’s Workforce committees.