Dowell Calls for Hearing on Navy Pier TIF Money, CPS jobs, Big 10K race and more!

July 21, 2017

In This Issue

Dowell Calls for Public Hearings on Diversion of TIF Money to Navy Pier
BTN 10K
CPS Hiring
Hyde Park/Kenwood Summer Block Party
LSD Temporary Closures
Hunting Ground at Old St. Mary's
The Chicago Football Classic
Acts of Kindness Raffle
Adopt-a-Landmark Program

Alderman Pat Dowell Calls for Public Hearings on Diversion of TIF Money to Navy Pier

"TIF money from the 3rd Ward is designed to create jobs and provide economic opportunity for the people of the South Loop, Bronzeville, and Motor Row. Today, we learned from the Better Government Association and Crain's Chicago Business that TIF money was used for renovations at Navy Pier. I am furious that $55 million was diverted from our communities. With such scarce resources in our City, it is our responsibility to distribute those resources appropriately within the statute. I have acted in good faith throughout the process to use TIF money to promote economic development in the 3rd Ward. I have been blindsided by this administration and the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority and its outrageous actions. I am demanding that the City Council conduct public hearings to reveal the real story behind this misuse of our residents' tax dollars. The Administration and the MPEA must be held accountable."

At the next City Council meeting, Alderman Pat Dowell will present a resolution calling for public hearings before the Finance Committee of the City Council.

For more information on this story, please click here.

BTN 10K Race

The Big Ten 10K is this weekend! Below find a course map and associated street closures. For more information about the race please click here .

Temporary Overnight Closures of Lake Shore Drive Ramps

Starting next week, there will be a final traffic stage change on outbound I-55/Lake Shore Drive which will require a overnight lane and ramp closures. Also, starting next week, the inbound I-55/Lake Shored Drive project will commence their final stage of bridge demolition. The contractor will be performing overnight deck demolition for the existing Northbound Lake Shore Drive to SB Stevenson ramp for the next few weeks. During the first week of bridge demolition, there will be noise producing activities. We expect that the noise production will be at its heaviest during the concrete chipping from 7/24-7/28.

In order to complete the outbound project's final traffic stage change, the following overnight closures will be necessary.

· Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, the ramp that carries traffic from southbound Lake Shore Drive to the outbound Stevenson Expressway will be closed until 5 a.m. A posted detour will direct southbound Lake Shore Drive traffic to exit at 31st Street, re-enter northbound Lake Shore Drive and take the ramp to the outbound Stevenson.

· Starting at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the ramp that carries traffic from northbound Lake Shore Drive to the outbound Stevenson Expressway will be closed until 5 a.m. A posted detour will direct northbound Lake Shore Drive traffic to exit at 18th Street, re-enter southbound Lake Shore Drive and take the ramp to the outbound Stevenson. Starting at approximately 3:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. there will be 15 minute full stops on the SB Stevenson mainline in order to install a permanent overhead sign truss.

In the new traffic pattern, both northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive to outbound Stevenson ramps will carry (2) 12' wide lanes each.