1st Ward Report

I was proud to be voted Best Alderman and selected as Best Alderman to turn up at a rock show in last week’s Chicago Reader. I am even prouder of our institutions and neighborhoods of the 1st Ward that dominated the Readers’ Best Of Issue! 

- Best Neighborhood for Nightlife: Wicker Park

- Best Overall Neighborhood: Logan Square

- Best Neighborhood for Affordability: Logan Square

- Best Street: Milwaukee Avenue

- Best Park for Pickup Basketball Games: Wicker Park

- Best Bowling Alley: Diversey River Bowl

- Best Place to Get Rare Vinyl and a High Score on Burgertime: Logan Hardware

- Best Bike Shop: The Bike Lane

- Best Bookstore: Myopic

- Best Garden Store: Sprout Home

- Best Bang For Your Buck (food)- Big Star

- Best Cocktail List: Violet Hour

- Best Cocktail: Juliet and Romeo (Violet Hour)

- Best Farmer’s Market: Logan Square Farmers Market (winter location)

- Best Restaurant for a Cheap Date: Big Star

- Best Coffee Ship that is nothing like a Coffee Shop: Caffe Streets

- Best Falafel: Sultan’s Market

- Best Pierogi: Kasia’s Deli

- Best Middle Eastern Restaurant: Sultan’s Market

- Best Sandwich: Jerry’s

- Best Taqueria: Big Star

- Best Burlesque Troupe: Gorilla Tango

- Best Art Sale: Renegade Craft Fair

- Best Literary Event: Myopic Poetry Series

- Best Rock Club: Empty Bottle

- Best Nightlife Blogger: Do312

Recycle your broken and unwanted lights.

This event is simply a must for all 1st Ward Fashionistas.

I’m organizing a Halloween Farmers Market @ Wicker Park, this Sunday. Come dressed, bring your kids, it’ll be fun. Prizes for best costume will be announced around noon.

Taggers Arrested:  14th District Police officers arrested Peter Morocco & Matthew Ledajaks “BigL” (legs) and “KWT” (kids with talent) on 20 Aug 2010, for tagging buildings at Armitage and Damen.

Their graffiti has appeared throughout Bucktown and Wicker Park in the 32nd Ward. Court date is set for 16 Sep 2010, at 1:30 P.M.  5555 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL. Homeowners and business owners who have been tagged with KWT or Big L are strongly encouraged to attend the proceedings.

RUN THE WARD with Me on 8.19.2010 - I’m very excited about this event and I hope you runners out there will join me.

Here’s my e-Newsletter for this week. I’m excited about our Run the Ward event and pleased about the recent decline in graffiti.

CAPS MEETINGS SCHEDULE

Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) is a partnership between the police and community members who participate in community policing efforts in the area by engaging in neighborhood problem-solving to reduce crime. A neighborhood area is grouped to form a CAPS Beat.  Beat meetings offer the opportunity for residents to meet their local police officers and for the officers to address concerns directly from community members.  

Find your district and beat here.

Beat meetings start at 7:00 p.m. and every month I will be updating this list with the date of your next meeting. Your involvement is critical to make our community safe. 

13TH DISTRICT (312) 746-8350
BEAT                                                                                                      
1311 – Norwegian Hospital, 1044 N. Francisco – 4th Tuesday 5.25
1312 – St. Helens Church, 2301 W. Augusta – 2nd Tuesday 6.8
1313 – Smith Park, 2526 W. Grand – 1st Thursday 6.3 
1322 – 13th District Station – 937 N. Wood – 1st Wednesday 6.2
1323 – Norwest Settlement, 1012 N. Noble 2nd Floor – 3rd Wednesday 6.16
1324 – Goldblatt’s Building, 1615 W. Chicago – 2nd Thursday 6.10

14TH DISTRICT (312) 744-8290
BEAT
1411 – Resurrection Church, 3045 N. Francisco – 3rd Monday 6.21
1421 – Salem Good News Bible, 2038 N. California – 4th Wednesday 6.26
1423 – Casa Central, 1343 N. California – 3rd Wednesday 7.21
1424 – Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen – 2nd Wednesday 7.14
1431 – Chase School, 2021 N. Point - 1st Thursday 6.3
1432 – Holstein Park, 2200 N. Oakley – 3rd Thursday 7.15
1433 – Pulaski Park, 1419 W. Blackhawk – 2nd Thursday Even Months 6.10
1434 – Chicago Public Library, 1701 N. Milwaukee - 2nd Monday 6.14

19TH DISTRICT (312) 744-5983
BEAT
1913 – 19th District Station, 2452 W. Belmont – 1st Tuesday, Odd Months 7.6

Any questions don’t hesitate to contact my office at (773) 278-0101.

As some of you may have seen in the news, there was an attack on two women at the intersection of Damen and Bloomingdale Avenues, at about 3:30 a.m. this morning.

While this did not happen in the 1st Ward, I want to alert our residents about this attack and remind you to please stay vigilant.

If you have any information that may be helpful to Police, please call Area 5 detectives at 312-746-8282 or the 14th District station at 312-744-8290.

“The Chicago Police have reported that two women suffered serious injuries when they were attacked and robbed by a man with a baseball bat early this morning, Friday, April 23rd on North Damen in Bucktown.

The attack occurred around 3:30am on the 1800 block of North Damen.  Police believe the two women were walking home when the assailant came up behind them and attacked them with a baseball bat.

Knocked unconscious was a 23 year old woman who sources say is a University of Illinois graduate student from Ireland.  She is listed in critical condition at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital. 

The other 24 year old victim, who lives in the area, told police that the man hit them and stole their purses.  She was able to give the police a description of the attack before falling unconscious. She is listed as in serious condition.

The suspect is described as an African American male between the ages of 27 and 34.  He is between 5’7” and 5’9” having a medium complexion and wearing a tan or light colored hooded sweater. 

The 14th District Chicago Police are encouraging anyone with any information related to this incident to call 911 or the 14th District station at 312-744-8290.”