1st Ward Report

TIF ACCOUNTABILITY O R D I N A N C E

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:50:00 -0400

TIF ACCOUNTABILITY O R D I N A N C E

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago has created Tax Increment Financing (T.I.F.) districts in various communities to finance economic development projects with the intent to improve the local economy, create jobs, and spur property value growth across Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made government transparency a priority of his administration and as a result, T.I.F. eligibility studies, redevelopment plans, maps, and other documents related to T.I.F. districts are available on the City of Chicago’s website and data portal; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Emanuel’s T.I.F. Reform report outlines specific steps to increase transparency by making data and project performance data available; and

WHEREAS, the public benefit of T.I.F dollars for a public infrastructure project is much easier to assess than T.I.F expenditures for private entities; and

WHEREAS, while the Chicago Data Portal lists expenditures by T.I.F. district, the City must do more to make project performance data related to private projects available in order to weigh the T.I.F. outlay against the public benefit; and

WHEREAS, information about the total dollar amount of the T.I.F. subsidy, jobs promised, jobs delivered, and other performance metrics are currently available online in various documents but this information should be aggregated into a single centralized and searchable database on the City of Chicago Data Portal; and now, therefore,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHICAGO:

Section 1. Chapter 2-45-155 of the Chicago Municipal Code be amended by adding the new language below:

2-45-155 Tax increment financing (T.I.F.) Sunshine ordinance.

The following T.I.F.-related documents for each active T.I.F. district shall be made publicly available on the City of Chicago, Department of Housing and Economic Development website:

1. The ordinances establishing each T.I.F. district, including all attachments, and any amendments thereto;

2. The ordinances authorizing each T.I.F. redevelopment agreement, including any attachments, any amendments thereto and accompanying Economic Disclosure Statements;

3. Written staff reports presented to the Community Development Commission related to T.I.F.- funded projects;

4. T.I.F. overviews prepared by the Department of Housing and Economic Development and annual reports prepared pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-74.4-5(d);

5. City-issued Certificates of Completion and any required annual employment certifications prepared pursuant to T.I.F. redevelopment agreements.

All such ordinances as described in (1) and (2) above shall be made available on the City of Chicago, Department of Housing and Economic Development website within seven business days

of their passage and publication in the Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago. All such documents as described in (3), (4) and (5) above shall be made available on the City of Chicago, Department of Housing and Economic Development website within fourteen business days of their completion in final form. The Department of Housing and Economic Development shall create and maintain an online and searchable database for public consumption on the City of Chicago Data Portal for every private project funded by any active T.I.F. district starting with fiscal year 2004 in the City of Chicago within one year of project completion. The database shall be made available by July 1, 2014. The database shall include the following information:

1. Project location by address and ward

2. Total budget of project

3. Total T.I.F. subsidy

4. Total T.I.F. subsidy as a percentage of project budget

5. Project start date

6. Project completion date

7. Total jobs agreed to in redevelopment agreement

8. Total jobs created

9. Public capital improvements completed as part of project

10. MBE/WBE and job/community hiring commitments met - if applicable

11. Total sales tax creation - if applicable

12. Pre-development property tax generated

13. Post development property tax generated

The T.I.F. documents described above for T.I.F. districts established from and after July 30,2004 will similarly be made available by July 30, 2009.

Sponsors:

Ald. Ameya Pawar

Ald. Joe Moore

Ald. James Cappleman

Ald. Pat Dowell

Ald. Will Burns

Ald. Michele Smith

Ald. Joe Moreno

Ald. Harry Osterman

Ald. Brendan Reilly

Ald. Rey Colon

The 19 year old son of Nancy Arroyo, one of our CAPS organizers,...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:07:33 -0400

The 19 year old son of Nancy Arroyo, one of our CAPS organizers, was tragically injured in a car accident… Please consider purchasing tickets to this event.

I bought ten tickets and will give them to 1st Warders, first come first served. Just come to my office and ask for Jerry.

O'Hare Job Fair (Tomorrow and Friday)

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:20:29 -0500

O’Hare Terminal 5 Concession

Job Interview Event

Thursday, March 7 - Friday, March 8
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Candidates with previous experience in food/beverage and retail. Must be able to pass federal background check to work inside the airport.

Available positions include:

Sales Associate
Bartender
Busperson
Cook
Host/Hostess
Server
Supervisor
Dishwasher

Where:

Hilton Chicago O’Hare - International Ballroom
10000 West O’Hare Avenue
Chicago, IL 60666

OR APPLY ON-LINE: http://www.chicagot5.com/main/2013/02/27/march-7-8-or-apply-online-ohare-terminal-5-concession-job-interview-event/

Pritzker Elementary School is looking for 20 volunteers to help...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:35:52 -0500

Pritzker Elementary School is looking for 20 volunteers to help judge student history projects during their annual History Fair.

Last year (pictured) 6 students were chosen to go to the city level and 2 to the State Fair with their projects.

This year the Fair is on Monday, March 18 from 8:45am until Noon.

If you want to volunteer please email Mr. Weissbuch at Jweissbuch@cps.edu. There will be a short training at the beginning of the fair on Monday morning.

We have 2 SSA’s in our ward and they do exceptional work...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:20:15 -0500

We have 2 SSA’s in our ward and they do exceptional work to improve the areas they represent…

SSAs, often known as Business Improvement Districts in other cities, provide a fair and transparent way to finance and manage programs to create, maintain and manage clean, attractive and competitive commercial districts.

They supplement city services and I fully support their work.

Tomorrow, the leaders of the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA will present on their achievements and challenges, during its first five years (it was established in 2005).

If you want to learn more about SSA’s; how they work and what they do, attend this discussion at the Bucktown Library, 1701 N. Milwaukee Avenue tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Saturday, November 17 - Fountain Decorating Social and Family...

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:36:47 -0500

Saturday, November 17 - Fountain Decorating Social and Family Fun Fest Fundraiser in Wicker Park

COST: Fountain Decorating Social - No Charge Kid’s Fun Fest - $45 PER Family Tickets at http://wpfunfest.eventbrite.com and at door.
RSVP FOR FOUNTAIN DECORATING TO: wpgarden@aol.com

FOUNTAIN
DECORATING SOCIAL &
FAMILY FUN FEST
A FUNDRAISER

Saturday, November 17
at 10am – 4pm
Wicker Park – 1425 N. Damen

Bring Holiday Food to Share!
Bring to INside Warm Room
RSVP FOR Fountain Decorating
dougrwood@aol.com

Sponsored by
Wicker Park Garden Club, Wicker Park Advisory Council, The Chicago Park District,
The Care of Trees

We invite you to our Annual Fountain Decorating Social combined with a Fundraiser for Maternal Child Health Advocacy Council (MCHAC) and Wicker Park Advisory Council (WPAC).

Guests will decorate the historic Gurgoyle fountain with lights and garland and the 12 urns with greens, dry flowers, and ornamental grasses.

10-12 Cut Up 30 Trees for Greens
BRING LOPPERS if you have them.
10-12 Prepare Grasses and Ornaments
12-4 Decorate Urns, Fountain Base, and Field House Entrances

Inside the gym and in the east meeting room, children will be able to do crafts, play games, enjoy a bounce house, get their face painted, hear storytellers, and listen to music from local children’s performers.

The day will end with the lighting of the fountain at 4pm. The LED lights are donated by The Care of Trees.

CCCLC Press Conference Tomorrow.

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 13:12:38 -0400

ADVISORY: PRESS CONFERENCE: Aldermen Announcing the Formal Incorporation of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus (“CCCLC”) Media Contact: Matt Bailey- 773.331.3516

CHICAGO - The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus (“CCCLC”) will announce its formal incorporation to maximize the effectiveness of the Caucus on matters of importance to Chicago’s Latino community, such as education, immigration, business development, and crime reduction. Along with the official formation of the CCCLC, it also established a Foundation. The Foundation will focus on scholarships and community building.

WHAT: Latino Aldermen formally organize Chicago City Council Latino Caucus

WHEN: Monday, October 29, 2012 at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Chicago City Hall, Room 201 A, 121 North La Salle Street

INVITED/ ATTENDEES:

Ald. Danny Solis, 25th Ward, Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Chairman

Ald. Joe Moreno, 1st Ward, Founding Member

Ald. George Cardenas, 12th Ward, Founding Member

Ald. Ricardo Munoz, 22nd Ward, Founding Member

Ald. Roberto Maldonado, 26th Ward, Founding Member

Ald. Ariel Reboyras, 30th Ward, Founding Member

Ald. Ray Suarez, 31st Ward, Founding Member

Ald. Rey Colon, 35th Ward, Founding Member

Ald. John Pope, 10th Ward, Invited Member 

Ald. Marty Quinn, 13th Ward, Invited Member 

Ald. Ed Burke, 14th Ward, Invited Member

Ald. Toni Foulkes, 15th Ward, Invited Member 

Ald. Michael Zalewski, 23rd Ward, Invited Member 

Ald. Richard Mell, 33rd Ward, Invited Member 

Ald. Nicholas Sposato, 36th Ward, Invited Member

TONIGHT, at The Bedford, 1612 W. Division at 6 p.m.—...

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:11:47 -0400

TONIGHT, at The Bedford, 1612 W. Division at 6 p.m.— Community meeting about the possibility of lifting the liquor license moratorium between Augusta and Division.

FREE Training for jobs in the food service industry.

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:26:16 -0400

FREE Training for jobs in the food service industry.

Goethe's Annual Fall Festival

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:00:58 -0400

Goethe’s Annual Fall Festival this Saturday Rain or Shine

October 13th
noon to 4pm

Fun for kids Prek to 8th grade
Face painting, bouncy houses, ring toss, music and food.

It’s good old-fashioned Fall fun.
Come enjoy the day. Funds support materials needed for the school.

Goethe Elementary School
2236 N. Rockwell St.
One block south of Fullerton between California and Western ave.

http://friendsofgoetheschool.org/aboutgoethe
For more information

A response to Cathy and Huckabee

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:36:40 -0400

Dan Cathy decided to make a PUBLIC statement to Mike Huckabee that, at the least, muddied the progress we had made with Chick-fil-A and, at the worst, contradicted the documents and promises Chick-fil-A made to me and the community earlier this month. Since Mr.Cathy made a PUBLIC statement, I am PUBLICLY asking him to confirm and support what I was told and shown by his company representatives.

1. For the FIRST TIME in the company’s history the company wrote and distributed a document to all of its employees titled, “Chick-fil-A: Who We Are” that guarantees that the company and its employees will “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect- regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.”

2. I am asking him to PUBLICLY confirm and support a letter that was voluntarily given to me by his company executives earlier this year that states the future behavior of Chick-fil-A’s not for profit arm, The WinShape Foundation. The letter states that, “The WinShape Foundation is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.” We were told that these organizations included groups that politically work against the rights of gay and lesbian people.

3. I am also asking him to PUBLICLY confirm and support what Chick-fil-A executives voluntarily told and confirmed to me earlier this month— that Chick-fil-A, and its not for profit arm WinShape, in 2012 has not and will not donate to entities with political agendas, including organizations that politically work against the rights of gay and lesbian people.

Mr Cathy continues to not confirm to the press what his company executives have told and showed me. This is disturbing. Since Mr. Cathy wants to confuse people, he needs to publicly confirm the three components described above, which allowed us to move forward. I am simply asking Mr. Cathy to confirm statements and documents that HIS company exectuives provided to me. It is pretty simple, Mr. Cathy. Do you acknowledge and support the policies that your exectuives outlined to me in writing or do you not? Yes or no? If not, Chick Fil A is a business that practices irresponsible, and potentially illegal, business standards.

Perhaps Mr. Cathy felt that he could make these public statements to Mike Huckabee because I had provided a letter of support for his restaurant to the City of Chicago earlier this week. I provided this letter based on the progress we had made with Chick-fil-A. I still need to introduce legislation to make the Chick-fil-A in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago a reality. I will wait to see what Mr. Cathy’s next PUBLIC statement is, and reflect on that statement before moving forward with appropriate legislation.

13th Police District -- Community Alert

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:54:07 -0400

Bureau of Detectives – Area Central

Community Alert

Armed Robberies

013th District (Wood)

About the Crime:

This alert gives notice to residents of the 013th District (Wood) of robbery-related incidents that have occurred. In each of these incidents, the offender approached the victims, took their property by force and then shot the victims before fleeing the scene. Incident times and locations are listed below:

1000 Block of N. Damen Ave. on September 14, 2012 at approximately 1:25am

2100 Block of W. Thomas St. on September 14, 2012 at approximately 1:30am

About the Offenders:

Offender descriptions vary, but are generally described as:

Male black, age 20-35, 5’07-6’00, 150-180lbs, wearing dark clothing

What you can do:

• Always be aware of your surroundings

• Report suspicious activity immediately

• If you are confronted by an assailant remain calm

• Remember any unique physical characteristics (scars, limp, acne, teeth,

etc…)

• Never pursue a fleeing assailant, provide the information to the police

• If approached by a witness to the incident, request contact information

• Dial 9-1-1 immediately and remain on scene when possible

If you have any information regarding this incident,

Contact the Bureau of Detectives – Area Central

(312) 747-8380

We go to grid garbage collection on Monday. The new pick-up days...

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:28:28 -0400

We go to grid garbage collection on Monday. The new pick-up days are detailed in this map. They’ll also post a note on your cans.

Grid Garbage Collection -- Frequently Asked Questions

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:39:04 -0400

Q1: How will grid refuse collection work?

A1: Currently, refuse services are ward-based, meaning routes are designed around the ward boundaries, and personnel and vehicles are assigned to specific wards.

The grid system will change collection operations from non-linear ward geography to a grid system comprised of main streets and natural boundaries. The grid model will concentrate sanitation workers in targeted areas of the city each day and create balanced service regions with standard numbers of collection crews to improve daily collection performance.

Q2: What are the benefits?

A2: A grid strategy, used universally by municipalities and private haulers, will allow crews to use the most efficient routes possible, reducing lost time and enabling Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation crews to service more households with fewer resources.

Q3: How will the implementation of grid garbage collection impact me?

A3: It is our priority to minimize any impact on residents resulting from the implementation of the grid garbage system. All residents will continue to receive weekly refuse collection services, though some may see a change in their day of service. Service maps, indicating service days, can be found on the City’s website www.cityofchicago.org/dss, by contacting 311, or the local ward office.

Q4: How will this affect my recycling service?

A4: If your household receives curbside blue cart collection, your recycling day will also change to the same day as your refuse collection, though your week of service will remain the same. If your household receives alley blue cart recycling services, your week of service will remain the same, but the day may change. Please leave your blue cart in the alley during your entire collection week to ensure collection.

Q5: When will grid garbage begin in my area?

A5: The third phase of grid garbage implementation will begin the week of September 17, 2012 will take place in wards 1, 26, 27, 32, 35, 42, 43 and 44 as well as small portions of wards 2, 33, and 47.

Q6: My street is not on the map, but my ward is included in the third phase of grid garbage. Is the map wrong?

A6: No, if your street does not fall within the boundaries of the map, your household will not be included in this roll out, and your collection services will remain the same for the time being. Future roll outs will be announced in the coming weeks.

Q7: Will I receive a notification informing me of my new day of service?

A7: Yes, the Department of Streets and Sanitation will post a notice on top of each household’s garbage cart the week before the roll out to inform residents of their new day of service.

CTA Decrowding Initiative

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:46:32 -0400

Below is information that my office received from CTA about its plans for Decrowding:

· The CTA is updating its bus and rail service to improve efficiency, reduce bus and rail crowding, and meet increasing ridership demand by focusing on improving overcrowded routes and providing more service to underserved areas

· The changes to several bus routes and rail lines will increase service at high-demand times and discontinue thinly used routes that are inefficient and costly to the overall CTA system by reallocating resources to match demand. These changes will ease overcrowding and improve reliability and on-time performance at no additional cost.

· It makes good fiscal sense to redeploy CTA resources to best meet rising passenger demand at no additional cost to anyone, especially in tight economic times. CTA ridership has risen for 16 straight months and between June 2011 and June 2012 posted its biggest increase in four years. We need to meet that growing demand in a cost-effective manner and we can do so by re-investing cost savings back into the system providing additional service in areas of the city with increasing demand for service

· This route restructuring, based on comprehensive review of the entire transit system, was long overdue: It’s the first system-wide, holistic review of CTA’s bus and rail service that has been undertaken in 15 years.

· CTA worked with the Northwestern University Transportation Center, a nationally recognized education and research institution, to review the CTA’s restructuring plan. The Center’s analysis confirmed the conclusions that were reached by the CTA.

· If approved by the CTA Board, the service changes will go into effect December 16, 2012.

Bus service overview

· Improving routes, including the busiest and most crowded bus and rail routes in the city, by adding service during peak times on congested routes and extending other routes

· Increasing service on 40 routes

· Discontinuing 14 duplicative and low-ridership routes, including four routes that have duplicative Pace service.

· An additional 13 routes will have service frequency or span of service reduced.

· Owl service or a portion of owl service on three routes will be discontinued because of low ridership.

· In nearly every case where service is proposed for discontinuation, there is duplicate CTA bus or rail service, or overlapping bus service by Pace.

· Of the bus network’s 140 routes, 14 – 10 percent — will be discontinued including four routes that have overlapping service with Pace. .

· Renegotiate or discontinue 11 contracted bus routes that CTA subsidizes.

Rail service overview

· During weekday peak travel times, 17 rail trips will be added to six lines, mostly on the Blue, Red and Brown lines, the CTA’s busiest train routes.

· During weekday off-peak times, the frequency of the Red, Brown and Orange lines will increase by as much as 2 ½ minutes between trains.

· Weekend service frequency will also increase substantially on the Red, Brown and Blue lines, the CTA’s busiest rail lines.

The CTA’s Decrowding Initiative Enhances Service to our Customers

· The proposed recommendations represent the better allocation of resources to match demand and address crowding on bus and rail services, in a cost-neutral manner.

· Route changes are across the network, not just concentrated in certain areas.

· Through the rail and bus route updates, $15.9 million of savings annually can be achieved. Every penny of that goes back into rail and bus frequency improvements for high-demand routes.

· Rail service is enhanced with additional trips during peak weekday times and increased frequency and extended hours at other times.

How it was done

· In 2011, CTA engaged the services of the Northwestern University Transportation Center, a nationally recognized research and education center. The Center analyzed CTA’s plan, using CTA data on ridership numbers, ridership patterns and route configurations, as well as the availability of other transit options.

· The Center’s analysis confirmed the conclusions that were reached by the CTA.

By the numbers

$15.9 million The amount of savings from the Decrowding Initiative that will be re-invested into the CTA bus and rail network

Bus

40 The number of bus routes that will have frequency increased

14 The number of bus routes that will be discontinued

4 Of the discontinued routes, four routes are covered by Pace

13 The number of bus routes that will have bus frequency or span of service [hours of operation] reduced

Rail

17 The number of rail trips that will be added to six train lines, mostly on the Blue, Red and Brown lines, the CTA’s busiest train routes – 10 morning peak trips and 7 evening peak trips

7 ½ The number of minutes between Brown Line trains weekday off-peak and on Saturdays from current frequency of every 10 minutes

8 ½ The frequency between Orange Line trains weekday off-peak from current frequency of 10 minutes

5-7 ½ The number of minutes between Red Line and Blue Line trains on Saturdays under the Decrowding Initiative, from current Saturday frequency of 7 ½ to 10 minutes

HELP “Chicago Welcomes Home The Heroes” in its...

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:44:45 -0400

HELP “Chicago Welcomes Home The Heroes” in its effort to hold a parade in honor of post-9/11 veterans.
They have a tentative permit date of December 15th (at noon) on Columbus Drive between Balbo and Monroe, and now their main focus is raising enough money to actually fund the event.

Please help this GREAT cause:
- www.chicagowelcomeshometheheroes.org

Property Tax Appeal Workshop — TONIGHT

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:10:02 -0400

Property Tax Appeal Workshop — TONIGHT

Beneful Competition: Logan square Dog Park

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:37:32 -0400

Calling all Logan Square dog owners.

We have a fantastic opportunity to build the dog park of our dreams in the dog friendly area located between Western Blvd and Artesian Street. But, we can’t do it without you.

Beneful®, the maker of premium dog food and snacks is sponsoring 2012 Beneful® Dream Dog Park Contest. The winner will receive a $500,000 Dream Dog Park make over!

Write a 250 word or less essay that answers the question: “if you had $500,000 to create a Dream Dog Park where you and your best buddy can play together, what would you do?”

Please see www.beneful.com for the official rules and guidelines.

Entries must be received by 11:59:59 am ET on August 22, 2012.

The deadline is only days away! Get your creative juices flowing and show your community support by entering the contest today!

Also, feel free to reach out to LoganSquareDogPark@gmail.com

13th District National Night Out flyer.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:56:40 -0400

13th District National Night Out flyer.

CHICAGO POLICE - NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS The 14th & 13th...

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:21:50 -0400

CHICAGO POLICE - NATIONAL NIGHT OUT EVENTS

The 14th & 13th Districts are participating in America’s 29th Annual National Night Out.

I encourage you to attend these evenings of free food, fun, and entertainment.

National Night out is designed to:

—Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;

—Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;

—Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and

—Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The 13th district (south of Division street)

Institute of Puerto Rican Art & Culture,

3015 W. Division Street

The 14th district (north of Division street) (see flyer)

Station Parking Lot,

2150 N. California

Both events are tomorrow night, Tues. August 7th from 5:30 to 8 p.m.