• Tragically, we lost our 18th District Commander Paul Bauer earlier in the year. Our new 18th District Chicago Police Commander, Dan O'Shea, has filled those big shoes and has continued progress.

• In the wake of a spate of crimes early in the year, we sought increased patrols - but also produced in-depth research on why the increase seemed to be happening. We concluded, and the Sun-Times reported, that changes to the juvenile justice system are now resulting in almost all juveniles being released within 24 hours and a shocking number of juveniles re-offending within a year of arrest for gun involved crimes.

• As a result, we strongly advocated for new laws to curb guns and to require evaluation for detention for juveniles who commit carjackings. Some of these laws passed and others were watered down after opposition from Cook County officials. City Council passed laws banning body armor and bump stocks.

• A car-jacking task force was created, bringing federal resources to help solve and prosecute these cases. The first federal carjacking case was brought in reaction to a carjacking on Lake Shore Drive.

• We advocated for and gained 136 new Police Officers in 18th and 19th District(s). I want to thank the Chicago Police Department for their commitment and service to our community.

• We obtained new hi-tech crime fighting tools including Strategic Decision Support Centers, which allow real time tracking of crime. Our ward will also be receiving additional cameras for street surveillance and new license plate readers.

• OEMC Private Sector Camera Initiative - We encouraged private homeowners, condominium associations, rental buildings, and local businesses to participate in the Private Sector Camera Initiative to allow local cameras to link up with 911.

• Our Safety Forum, held on May 17th included our District Commanders Dan O'Shea (18th) and Mark Buslik (19th) the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) that went over their latest 911 protocols and the the use of private security cameras. At the meeting we called on our State's Attorney and Springfield to balance victims' rights with juvenile rights.

• We distributed tools and tips on fighting crime to residents through our Safety Forum, a panel of burglars on parole, and several neighborhood safety walks.

• We "Marched for Our Lives" on March 24th with thousands of Chicagoans, and many 43rd Warders, to protest gun violence and demand federal action. I participated in a shareholder action against Smith & Wesson to demand gun manufacturer accountability.

• Smart 911 launched, allowing you to create a Safety Profile that can include as much information as needed about yourself and your family members in case of an emergency.

• Significant arrests were made in cases in our Ward, including thefts, armed robberies, a sexual assault offender. Our court advocacy program successfully monitored cases and stood up for our residents, resulting in sentences for a sexual assault offender.

• In 2018 the North Branch Park Coalition was built from the ground up by our Community Groups, various non-profit organizations, and the support of individual community members. We held several community meetings to introduce the park concept and organize.

• Aldermen Scott Waguespack, Alderman Brian Hopkins, and myself had the opportunity to discuss the impact of the Lincoln Yards development in the North Branch corridor, and the potential for contiguous park space on WTTW Chicago Tonight .

• The North Branch Park gained critical endorsements from the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

• We called for greater enforcement of violations at General Iron - and are urging the City to acquire its land to create the North Branch Park Preserve.

• Residents turned out in droves to express their concerns about potentially massive, out of scale development without adequate transportation infrastructure and public open space to buffer our community.

• None of these accomplishments could have occurred without the overwhelming support our community provided the North Branch Park on social media. Thank you for sharing comments, pictures, and posts on your personal Facebook pages.

• Hundreds of neighbors celebrated the grand re-opening of Adams Water Park with new water features funded by the Park District, generous community contributions, and my office.

• We worked with the Park District to have Trebes Park fitted with new technology to reduce flooding.

• The Lincoln Central Association, 43rd Ward, and the Chicago Park District joined forces to bring new picnic tables to Bauler Park.

• Our local park advisory groups participated in four Chicago Earth Day cleanups.

• A new speed table at the intersection of Belden and Sheffield to protect motorists and DePaul students.

• "Bump outs" at Webster and Clifton to help parents and children cross on their way to Oscar Mayer School.

• New crosswalk at Clark and Schubert to help parents and children walk to Alcott Elementary.

• Refreshed bike lanes along Armitage, Halsted, and Clark streets.

• Installed and often re-installed, pedestrian in-road stop signs at dozens of locations throughout the ward.

• Together with neighbor contributions, a new paver alley was installed between Hudson, Cleveland, Menonomee and Wisconsin.

• Thanks to an innovative program with the Old Town Triangle Association, we preserved thousands of vintage brick pavers for reuse in parkway projects.

• In response to repeated sewer issues over the past 3 years, the entire sewer of Maud from Racine to Kenmore was replaced. As the sewer ran under the pedestrian island, it was rebuilt as part of this project.

• We visited the Jardine Water Plant and reported on concerns about lead.

• Astor Street from Burton to North Avenue
• Belden from Cleveland to Geneva Terrace
• Burling Street from Armitage to Dickens
• Cambridge from Belden to Fullerton
• Clark from Armitage to Diversey (after water main replacement)
• Dayton from 1850 to Wisconsin
• Dickens from Halsted to Burling (after water main replacement)
• Dickens from Howe to Lincoln Avenue (after water main replacement)
• Geneva Terrace from Webster to Grant
• Halsted from North Avenue to Dickens (after water main replacement)
• Hudson from Menonomee to Armitage (after water main replacement)
• Lincoln Park West from Clark to Dickens
• Schiller from Astor to State Parkway
• Sheffield from 2700 to Diversey
• Willow from Racine to Larrabee (after water main replacement)
• Wrightwood from Racine to Halsted (after water main replacement)

• Behind Clark Street and Hampden Ct.
• Between Diversey/Schubert/Halsted/Orchard
• Between Sheffield/Kenmore/Poe/Armitage
• Between the corner of Lincoln and Fullerton, for our new alley activation program
• North of Montana Street east of Sheffield
• Between Goethe/Astor/Scott/Stone

• Working with the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, we unveiled the New Lincoln Avenue Plan, to improve Lincoln Avenue to include an activated alley, performances, way finding signage and much more.

• Armitage Avenue has been declared the leading street in the City for "Clicks to Bricks" retail.

• 69 new businesses opened up in the ward during 2018, bringing us to the lowest vacancy rates in our Ward since 2011.

• Elevate Lincoln Park - completed.
• Duet at Lincoln and Montana - completed.
• Lincoln Common - close to completion: two apartment buildings as well as several commercial spaces to be opened in Spring 2019. 
• Belmont Village Senior Housing - close to completion.
• 65 East Banks - close to completion.
• We turned down a development at Lincoln and Seminary that the community wholly opposed.
• We rezoned the former Second Church of Christ Scientist in Park West to give the community more control of development.

• The Gus Giordano Dance Company moved into the former Hermon Baptist Church at 1754 N. Clark Street bringing another important cultural institution to Lincoln Park and is planning its re-imagination into a magnificent new facility.

• Mayor Emanuel unveiled new ideas for pension funding, and I sought your input. Hundreds of you responded, calling for further pension reform, and use of tax proceeds from the legalization of cannabis and a casino to fund pensions.

• I supported the 2019 budget, which called for increased funding for police reform, increases for LED lights, rodent abatement and garbage carts, but no new taxes or fees.

• Ride Share: Several colleagues and I sponsored legislation to increase penalties on criminals who impersonate ride share operators in order to lure victims.

• I co-sponsored and passed a new Condominium Privacy Ordinance to preserve owners' privacy over their email addresses.

• I voted against a "pilot" program allowing a "free-floating" car rental program called Car2Go, which would allow those vehicles on any city street at any time - including residential permit parking streets.

• I supported an ordinance increasing the powers of the Council Office of Financial Analysis, an important tool for growing City Council independence.

43rd Ward Office Hours: M 9 AM - 7 PM, T - F 9 AM - 6 PM 

  2523 N Halsted  |  773-348-9500 |  [email protected] |  www.ward43.org

Text Us for Constituent Services: 773-906-4333