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City Budget Hearings Continue
Halloween Events
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Dear Neighbor,
As I wrote in our first budget update - 80% of our municipal expenses are related to city workers. Better management can do much to improve our fiscal standing.
But that alone is not enough.
While the city today sets $46.7 million in reserve for certain claims and judgments, like slip and fall cases, it is far less than what is actually spent. During the budget hearings this week, the city admitted it paid over $100 million in settlements thus far this year and another $150 million in settlements last year. The
multi-year $588 million
property tax increase we are enduring is almost equal to the amount of judgments we have had to pay for police violence.
Moreover, the city has historically borrowed money to pay for judgments, which dramatically increases the cost of these settlements. Just recently, the city obtained authorization to use $225 million of its January 2017 General Obligation Bonds to use for judgments, but according to the Chief Financial Officer, Carole Brown, it has not been drawn as of yet. CFO Brown admitted that to stabilize our city's finances, "we should start reserving for settlements and judgments."'
One of the best ways to reduce judgments is to have a well-trained police force. The amounts we are spending this year to achieve better training and enacting reforms in the CPD are sound investments in our city's future.
But city employees need to partner with us to control employee expenses going forward. This begins with the collective bargaining agreements that are now being negotiated.
I will keep you updated on the information that emerges during the on-going budget hearings.
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TODAY - Fire Prevention Workshop at Halsted Firehouse
Wrightwood Neighbors Association and the
Chicago Fire Department hosts a Fire Prevention Workshop at
5:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 25 at 2714 N. Halsted Street.
This event is free and open to the public! Bring your family and learn safety and fire prevention basics. And kids, see the fire trucks!
Click here for more details.
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Halloween Happenings
As Halloween approaches, here are some Halloween safety tips we encourage you to follow and a list of some great events in the Ward for you to enjoy.
While the City of Chicago does not designate an official day for Trick or Treating, many residents trick or treat on Halloween evening after schools let out, until roughly 8:00 p.m.
Fall Fest and Spooky Zoo
2001 N. Clark Street
Friday, October 27 - Sunday, October 29
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Join Lincoln Park Zoo for their 3rd Annual Fall Fest - a free, family-friendly celebration with a Ferris wheel, corn maze, inflatable obstacle course and more.
Click
here
for a schedule of this weekend's activities. And come in costume from Saturday from
10:00 a.m. - 1 p.m. to trick or treat for Spooky Zoo!
1817 N. Clark
Saturday, October 28
7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Kids in costume
will get to paint pumpkins at Club Sprouts and some treats at Abby's Crepes.
Howler at Bauler
Saturday, October 28
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Enjoy games, treats, and family-fun activities with neighbors on
Saturday, October 28
from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Lincoln Central Association's 10th Annual Howler at Bauler.
Click
here for more details.
Clark Street Spooktacular
Participating businesses from Armitage to Diversey, and south side of Diversey from Orchard to Lakeview.
Sunday, October 29
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce proudly hosts the 9th Annual Spooktacular, a Lincoln Park Halloween extravaganza, this
Sunday, October 29.
Click
here for more details.
Trick or Treat on Armitage Street
1970 N. Halsted Street
Sunday, October 29
11:00 a.m.
Kids Costume Contest 11:30 a.m.
Pet Costume Contest 12:30 p.m.
Join Bridgeview Bank and the RANCH Triangle Association for Tric
k or Treating and Costume Contest
on Armitage Street
Sunday, October 29 in the
Bridgeview Bank
parking lot,
1970 N. Halsted
.
Click
here for more details.
Scarecrows on Parade
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Clark Street businesses have hand-crafted scarecrows displayed in their windows. celebration of Fall. Customers, pedestrians, and attendees of the upcoming
Spooktacular event are urged to pick the best scarecrow!
Click
here
to place your vote!
Tuesday, October 31
12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Gold Coast Neighbors Association transforms Goudy Park into "Ghou
l
y Park" on
Tuesday, October 31
.
Click here for more details.
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LPHS vs. Alton in 2017 IHSA 7A Playoff Game
This
Friday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m.
Lincoln Park
will host
Alton High School
at the Lane Tech Stadium, located at 2501 W. Addison Street, for the 2017 IHSA 7A Playoff Game.
Come to the game and support to LPHS in their first ever IHSA playoff victory. Go Lions!
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Safety Alert - ATM Skimming Devices
The
Bureau of Detectives
issued an alert regarding skimming devices on ATM machines city-wide. Reported here are 13 locations, all outside of our ward, that have experienced a skimming device scam since late September 2017.
No description of the offender has been supplied at this time. In these incidents, unknown offender(s) attach information capturing devices over or inside of the card slots of ATM machines. The offender(s) also placed a camera device that records PIN numbers as they were entered, in some instances.
What you can do:
- Inspect the ATM before use, look for any irregularities or loose parts;
- Check the card slot, it should not be loose;
- Check for any parts that look irregular or loose;
- Report suspicious activity or tampering on an ATM machine;
- Cover your hand when entering your PIN number.
If you have any information about these incidences, please call the Financial Crimes Unit at (312) 746-9661.
Click here for more information.
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Residential High Rise Fire Safety Seminar
In observation of Fire Prevention Month, Wintrust Bank Old Town hosts a "
Residential
High
Rise
Fire Safety" seminar on Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m.
The Chicago Fire Department will be available to provide important information specific to
high
rise fire safety,
response strategies, and prevention behaviors.
RSVP by
today, October 25 to Amy Lemar at
alemar@wintrust.com or by calling 312-291-2918. Click
here for more details.
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Impact 100 Chicago Grant Opportunties
In support of organizations that are doing important work improving the lives of individuals and communities in the Chicagoland area, Impact 100 annually awards $100,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations, focusing in areas such as
Family, Education, Health, Sustainability and Culture.
Click here for more information about grant opportunities and the application process.
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Have a fun and safe Halloween,
Michele Smith
Alderman, 43rd Ward
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43rd Ward Office Hours: M 9 AM - 7 PM, T-F 9 AM - 6 PM
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