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September 3, 2023
Hello Neighbors,
Happy Labor Day! Summer is officially over and on this day of cookouts, taking advantage of Labor Day sales and squeezing out the last of summertime fun, let’s not forget what Labor Day honors and the role our city played and continues to lead. The 11th Ward has a piece of this history in the Stockyards - where the labor movement gave us wins in fair wages and safe working conditions. Chicago is considered the birthplace of the modern labor movement – learn more about the Haymarket Riots, Pullman strike and more by clicking here.
Our thoughts are with the family of Chicago Fire Department Lt. Kevin Ward who passed away earlier this week from injuries he suffered battling a house fire. After nearly 30 years on the force, Lt. Ward will be remembered for his service to the Department, his Far Northwest Side community and the City of Chicago. We're keeping his CFD Truck #9 family and all of the department’s firefighters close to our hearts during this difficult time.
I hope everyone is staying healthy as COVID cases are on the rise. I am on the mend after testing positive last week, and I encourage everyone to take all necessary precautions to avoid getting sick. Vaccinations and boosters are widely available at sites throughout the city; to find a location near you, visit the Chicago Department of Public Health. With Summer coming to an end soon, flu season is also just around the corner. With students at school and more time spent indoors as temperatures drop, be sure to book your flu shot today at chicago.gov/city/en/sites/flu/home/vaccine.html.
After a successful career fair earlier this year, Commissioner Daley and I are organizing another professional networking event to help support hardworking families here in the 11th Ward. Job seekers interested in a new career path and job employers looking to make new hires can get connected at the Bridgeport Art Center on Tuesday, September 26 from 12-4PM. Get more details on how you can sign up below and share with friends and family who may be interested.
As summer winds down, the 11th Ward Office will resume to regular hours starting on Tuesday September 5th. My team is happy to assist residents: Monday 10AM - 7:30PM; Tuesday - Friday 8:30AM - 5PM; and the First Saturday of the month 9AM - 12PM. If you have a question or concern outside of office hours, you can always leave a voicemail at 773-254-6677 or [email protected], and we will get back to you as soon as we can! One more note for this week on hours – due to the Labor Day Holiday, we will have Saturday hours on September 9th.
And finally, it will be a hot week ahead with temperatures reaching over 90 degrees. Please take necessary precautions to stay safe and cool during periods of extreme temperatures. Be aware of any Residential Cooling Rights, and if needed, find a cooling center near you by calling 311 or checking the City of Chicago website for more resources.
Wishing you all a happy and safe Labor Day!
Nicole
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Congratulations to Dawn Ramos!
Congratulations to Tilden’s High School's (and the 11th Ward's) very own, Dawn Ramos, who was recently awarded the CPS 2023 Principal Game Changer award. CPS defines the Game Changer as "an individual who, through their personality, attitude, and influence, truly stands out from the crowd. They are visionaries, constantly looking beyond conventional methods, conceiving new strategies, and working diligently to transform their school.
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It was a great day on Saturday for the Chicago Chinese Cultural and Arts Society's Moon Festival Celebration at Ping Tom Park. | |
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Construction Update: Green Alley 33rd/35th/Lowe/Wallace
Neighbors,
If you live in this area, you know that the work on the green alley is not yet complete as the previous update from CDOT stated (it was supposed to be done this week). I appreciate everyone's patience with the delays in this project -- I think everyone will be happy with the finished product or at least just happy to have access to your garages again.
Here's the latest from CDOT:
-8/31 Complete subbase stone work
-9/1 -9/5 Install form work for concrete pour
-9/6 - 9/15 Concrete pour
-Week of 9/18 Restoration/clean up
Parking in the lots on 35th & Lowe and 35th & Wallace: Parking enforcement has been notified and confirmed that they will not issue tickets to any car parked in either of these lots that has a placard (you can still pick these up at the ward office if needed) until the project is completed.
Street Cleaning and Tree Trimming will not happen on Wallace or Lowe between 33rd and 35th during construction. If you received a ticket previously for street cleaning, please contact the ward office.
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Norfolk Southern Viaduct Work | |
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Have you noticed the work going on in the viaduct at 37th and Shields? Norfolk Southern continues to make repairs to the viaducts replacing aging columns. Here's an update on the work scheduled:
- 32nd St and Stewart
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Seven (7) columns are to be replaced over approximately 5 weeks following the conclusion of 37th and Shields work (this includes us opening the street & sidewalks for White Sox home games).
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33rd St and Stewart
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Six (6) columns are to be replaced for approximately 6 weeks following the conclusion of 32nd and Stewart work (this includes us opening the street & sidewalks for White Sox home games).
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35th and Shields
- Two center-bent columns were replaced from March 13 through March 18.
- The remaining four (4) columns are to be replaced after White Sox Season in October
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Save the Date!
11th Ward Career and Resource Fair
Are you interested in a new career path or looking for new hires? Save the date for the 11th Ward Career and Resource Fair! On September 26, have the chance to get connected with opportunities with city departments and local businesses.
➡️If you are an employer interested in reserving a table, use this link: https://forms.gle/GhQ4gWC2uPaXowRF6
➡️If you are a job applicant interested in attending the event, register here: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/eleventhwardjobfair
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IIT Community Farmers Market | |
Parish & School Announcements | |
Bridgeport Catholic Academy | |
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11th Ward Community Meetings for
Zoning Change Requests
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Please see attached letters below for 11th Ward Community Meetings for Zoning Requests. Community Meetings are hosted on Zoom, Zoom information and instructions are provided in the letters below. Meetings last approximately thirty (30) minutes. Please test your computer connections in advance. If you are attending in person please call ahead and arrive five minutes early.
Recordings of past meetings are available on our YouTube Channel
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Results of 11th Ward Community Meetings for Zoning Change Requests | |
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2928 S Archer
September 9 and 10, 2023
3124 S Parnell Ave
September 9, 2023
3337 S Morgan St
September 2, 3, and 4, 2023
Looking to have a Garage Sale?
Garage Sale Permits are available by walk-in
at the 11th Ward Office.
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The migrant crisis in Chicago continues to grow and the crisis is putting an incredible amount of pressure on not only Police Districts across the city while city officials work to get more respite centers and shelters open. The city has now opened 15 shelters, currently housing approximately 6,527 people. The city continues to evaluat additional locations for shelters.
I continue to field questions and requests from residents about how we can help to find proper shelter for the migrants here in the 11th Ward while others have expressed their concerns and objections to any of our programs being displaced. Please know that if or when the time comes for a shelter or respite center in the 11th Ward, there will be an opportunity for the community to weigh in. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts and or concerns at our email address: [email protected].
What's happening in the ward
1st District (State &18th)
Together with the help of the Ping Tom Park Advisory Council and the Chicago Park District, we are operating a program to allow migrants at the 1st District Police Station to use the showers at the Fieldhouse.
9th District (31st & Halsted)
This week, the 9th District has had on average 100 people, including many children, sleeping in the station.
We continue to operate the shower program at Wilson Community Center for migrants. We are continuing to evaluate and make adjustments as needed as the numbers of migrants at the 9th district changes.
The 11th Ward Office continues to collaborate with other area elected officials and a mutual aid group started by neighbors to support migrant families with meals and basic needs items for those at the 9th District. We have established a distribution center for donated items on Halsted near the 9th District that serves migrants at Police Districts in the surrounding area. The response to our drive has been overwhelming -- many thanks to those who have dropped off clothes and supplies. We now have more womens clothing than we can store at the moment so we're asking that donors prioritize mens clothing (size M/L), gently used gym shoes of all sizes and baggage (suitcases with wheels, backpacks, duffle bags.
How you can help
If you’re interested in helping, click here for the 11th Ward Migrant Support Group and learn how you can get involved. You can also help by donating basic needs items to migrant families from the list below.
Many thanks to all of our neighbors who have organized themselves and coordinated volunteers, and donated supplies and meals.
The City of Chicago is accepting donations through an Amazon Wishlist set up in partnership with Instituto del Progreso Latino. To donate, please click here.
If you are a landlord looking to aid the migrant mission with apartments for rent, Catholic Charities will conduct a vetting process to confirm eligibility, send us an email so we can connect you to the right team.
Chicago Furniture Bank In partnership with New Life Centers, the Chicago Furniture Bank is providing furniture to new arrivals resettling into permanent housing. Chicago Furniture Bank is also the largest provider of free furniture to Chicago’s unhoused population. To donate extra furniture to our unhoused neighbors, including new arrivals, go to: https://www.chicagofurniturebank.org/
a. Schedule Furniture Pick-Up here: https://www.chicagofurniturebank.org/pickups
b. Donation Drop-offs: 4801 S Whipple St, Chicago, IL, 60632 [Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm]
Due to the overwhelming response by donors, we are not accepting any more donations of clothing unless you are bringing boys/mens shorts, blue jeans or athletic pants (no dress pants or khakis) for at least one week due to space constraints at our shop.
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Announcements & Information | |
Secretary of State DMV Information | |
Become an Election Judge! | |
Healy School Ambassador Program | |
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Are you a retired first responder living in the ward? Would you like to help make sure kids are getting to school safely? We're piloting the 11th Ward Safety Ambassador program at Healy School this fall. Safety Ambassadors will assist the school staff during drop-off and pick-up.
If you're interested please sign-up using the QR Code below or clicking here.
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Community Navigator Program | |
Cook County Starting Block Grants | |
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Now that summer is hear, many people are out and about in our beautiful parks. While we are working on getting a dog park for the ward, please remember that all dogs should be leashed on the public way. Dogs are not allowed in Chicago Park District Parks that are not designated dog friendly areas. For the safety of park goers, especially children and seniors, please remember to leash and control your pet.
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Leash and control your pet. It's against the law for you to allow your pet to be off leash on the public way in Chicago, except for in official dog friendly areas. A list of dog friendly areas can be found at http:// www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/facilities/dog-friendly-areas/. Make sure that your animal is under control when on a leash. If your animal has issues with biting or aggression, ensure the animal wears a muzzle or head harness when encountering new animals, people and situations.
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Treat your animal appropriately and with care. Ensure your pet has a proper diet, fresh water, shelter from the elements, and socialization. Do not leave your animal alone for long periods of time, especially in cars, or in your hard, and especially in extreme elements. Hot and cold weather pet care tips can be found on CAGG's website at www.adoptchicago.org
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Spay and Neuter your pet. Do not contribute to pet overpopulation. GAGG impounds 20,000 4 stray, lost, unwanted and injured animals each year. Spaying and neutering your pet is a critical ibp component to limiting the number of homeless and unwanted animals in Chicago. Various community organizations offer free, and low-cost spay/neuter services. These services can also be rendered by your pet's veterinarian.
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Leash and control your pet. It's against the law for you to allow your pet to be off leash on the public way in Chicago, except for in official dog friendly areas. A list of dog friendly areas can be found at http:// www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/facilities/dog-friendly-areas/. Make sure that your animal is under control when on a leash. If your animal has issues with biting or aggression, ensure the animal wears a muzzle or head harness when encountering new animals, people and situations.
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Be a considerate pet owner. It is against the law for your animal to make continuous excessive noise in your home. If your pet is very vocal, and it is bothering your neighbors consider working with a trainer to minimize the issue.
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Provide appropriate veterinary care for your animal. This includes preventive treatments such as vaccinations, routine checkups, and resources and a plan in the event emergency treatment is needed for your pet. It is the law that all cats, dogs and ferrets over four months old have a current rabies vaccine. But several other vaccines are critical, especially if your animal encounters other animals frequently, including dog friendly areas and boarding facilities. Consult your veterinarian for more details.
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Identify your Pet. Ensure you have proper licensure for your pet. In Chicago, all dogs over four months must have a City dog license which can be obtained at http://chicityclerk.com/dog-registration/. To use dog friendly areas, you must also have a separate license. Micro chipping your pet is also a great option, so that your pet can still be identified even if his/her leash falls off or is removed.
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Have a plan for your pet. A plan in the event of a natural disaster is key. But a life plan is equally important. Research your pet to get an estimate of life expectancy and ensure you have a plan for the full life of your pet. Consider your pet when making important decisions, including relocating your home, and travel plans.
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11th Ward
2023 Constituent Education Resource Card
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The 11th Ward office is happy to announce has a free ‘Constituent Education Resource Card’ available to residents wishing to visit select museums and zoos in the Chicagoland area. Constituents can reserve our Constituent Education Resource Card on a first come first serve basis (more instructions below), to visit any of the following museums in 2023:
- Adler Planetarium
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Brookfield Zoo
- Chicago Botanic Garden
- Chicago Children’s Museum
- Chicago History Museum
- Dusable Museum of African American History
- The Field Museum
- Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Science and Industry
- National Museum of Mexican Art
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- John G. Shedd Aquarium
Only one group of up to four (4) can reserve the pass at a time. The pass must be picked up and brought back to the 11th Ward Office. Constituents need to call for an appointment to come to the office to pick up the pass before visiting the museums. We recommend calling two business days before your scheduled visit.
It is strongly recommended that families utilizing the card contact the museum they plan to visit to learn if pre-registration is required to visit.
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Landscaping and Parkway Guidelines
Understanding your responsibilities as property owners
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As the summer months approach, it is important to review and make plans to maintain the parkways and landscaping for your residential and/or commercial properties.
Maintenance for landscaping in the parkway area and, private lawns include the continuous removal of weeds, mowing, trimming, edging, cultivation, reseeding, control of pests, watering, and other operations to assure normal plant growth.
Any permanent structure installed in the parkway requires a Public Way Permit issued by the Department of Business Affairs and Licensing. Applications are available at our office or online at cityofchicago.org/businessaffairs.
Infrastructure maintenance may require city crews to dig up your parkway. Though crews working in the parkway should be able to replace any permanent structures to their original position, the city does not take any responsibility for damages to plants and flowers. We will try to forward any notification of work in your parkway to you, but this may not be possible during emergency situations.
Landscape Ordinance: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/landscape_ordinance.html
Care of the Chicago Public Way:
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/streets/provdrs/forestry/svcs/care_of_the_chicagopublicway.html
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Chicago Resident Opportunities | |
Taste of Chicago Grant Park
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Wateriders Chicago Kayak Tours and Rentals
Water Riders is located right in Bridgeport at Bubbly Creek! See details in the link below: https://wateriders.com/
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Free Museum Days In Chicago
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Chicago White Sox Zone Stickers and Passes | |
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The Chicago White Sox Stickers will be mailed to residents within the Sox Boundaries Zone who have a vehicle registered to the City of Chicago. Stickers and guest passes will be available in our Ward office for residents who:
- Did not receive their sticker in the mail
- Do not have a vehicle registered to the City of Chicago
To obtain a sticker and or guest passes, residents must present proof of address (ID, utility bill, lease). Stickers will be given with proof of vehicle registration (city sticker receipt, car insurance showing address car is registered to). Stickers may only be used for vehicles with city stickers.
Area businesses within the zone will be given parking passes for customers. Residents of the 11th Ward and all residents of Canaryville who do not live within the zone may receive stickers only, no guest passes.
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9th District Police
Beat Meeting Schedules
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Recordings of Beat meetings can be found on our Youtube channel here. | |
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Are you a business in the ward that's hiring?
Send us your job opportunities and we'll share them.
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The office has extended hours on Monday nights until 7:30 p.m. is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00am - 12:00 pm, if it's a holiday weekend, the office will
be open the following Saturday and/or Monday.
Alderwoman Lee will be happy to see residents on Monday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. If you'd like to make an appointment, please call the ward office at 773.254.6677.
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11th Ward Office| 3659 South Halsted Chicago, IL 60609 |
773-254-6677
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