Ald. Scott Waguespack July 2, 2020 Update
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Greetings!
This weekend is Independence Day, a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence and America's freedom. With COVID-19, there are extra steps you must take while celebrating:
- Gatherings should be small, family-oriented and outdoors
- Wear a mask when social distancing is not possible
- Set up chairs and tables to accommodate for social distancing
- Fireworks are illegal in Chicago & can affect everyone's health in a negative way, especially former combat veterans. The Mayor outlined some steps that the City is taking for the 4th of July. Air travelers from certain states with increasing rates or spikes in COVID will need to quarantine. Emergency preparedness information and tips are available on OEMC’s website: www.cityofchicago.org/oemc. Sign up for free emergency alerts at www.NotifyChicago.org.
- The Independence Day celebration at the Chicago History Museum will include a virtual event featuring Mayor Lightfoot, Ebo Patel, Jamal Cole, Laura Washington, and other events. Join the Chicago History Museum and Chicago civic leaders for their reflections on this history and its undeniable impact on the current social climate and the continued struggles for equality and inclusion. This virtual event is organized into two sections: “We the People: Chicago Responds” and “Fwd: Arts in Action.” Watch the livestream here.
- Let us not forget that while we're celebrating America's freedom, Juneteenth is still not a federal holiday and should be; read more here.
Please also note that City of Chicago offices will be closed on July 3rd and garbage/recycling pickup will begin again on Monday.
So far, 15,372 households in the 32nd Ward have responded to the 2020
Census
. It takes about 5 minutes to complete the form. The census helps determine federal funding for states and municipalities, and is a big part of the ward redistricting process. Take the census at
https://2020census.gov!
Have a good weekend,
Scott Waguespack, Alderman
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32nd Ward Office Reopen Notes
Starting, Monday, July 6th, our office will be re-opening. There are new rules in place that follow city guidance and will help protect you and our staff from COVID-19.
Here's what you need to know:
- Hours will be Monday - Friday from 9 am - 6 pm (limited staff).
- Masks will be required for entry - no mask, no service.
- Social distance markers have been placed, please follow this request
- No more than 3 people in our reception area; this may require you to wait outside, so consider calling ahead.
- Please buy your residential parking stickers online; if you need them from our office, please call ahead to purchase on the phone so that we can have them waiting for you (requires additional steps)
- Meeting requests will be handled via zoom or phone call.
- If necessary, in person meetings will be by appointment only.
- For land use, zoning, and infrastructure issues, contact Paul Sajovec, paul@ward32.org
- For public way, business, special events, and family support issues, contact Elizabeth@ward32.org
- For water, streets and sanitation, police, and parking passes - contact Kerri Stojack, kstojack@cityofchicago.org
- For specific appointments with the Alderman, contact Elizabeth, elizabeth@ward32.org
- We have to make sure all constituents adhere to the CDC guidelines to protect everyone including wearing a mask, social distancing, limiting the number of people in the office, and limiting how long someone is in the office. The safety of our residents is my first priority.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Vote By Mail
Any Chicago voter may
apply online now to Vote By Mail
or apply with a
Mail-in application form
ahead of the Nov. 3, 2020 Election. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail. Chicago voters who apply online between now and Sept. 24 will be among the first to receive ballots. Ballot mailings will begin Sept. 24-Oct. 5.
- In the days that follow their online application, to confirm that the online application has been received and processed;
- When the ballot is being mailed to the voter -- with a unique link to a system to track the ballot through the US Postal Service;
- When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" is received by the Election Board; and,
- When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" has been approved for counting -- or if there is a question or problem with your Ballot Return Envelope.
If you are unable to apply online, the Election Board also will be sending Vote By Mail applications and postage-paid return envelopes in late July to all voters who have voted in any election(s) since Nov. 2018 and to any voters who have registered for the first time or updated their registrations since March 18, 2020.
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SAVE A LIFE. DONATE BLOOD!
Did you know?
- Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood; more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day.
- More than 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer last year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.
- Although an estimated 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, less than 10% actually do each year. This is why shortages occur.
The 32nd Ward office will be hosting a blood drive this summer on July 17th, from 11:00 am- 3:00 pm. The blood that is collected during our blood drive will be used for patients in Chicago area hospitals.
Click here
to learn what Versiti is doing to keep donors and donor-facing staff healthy during this time.
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Bucktown Neighborhood & Garden Walk
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The Bucktown Garden Walk & Block Party is now the Bucktown Neighborhood & Garden Walk, brought to you by
Jeff Lowe of Compass Realty
. Join them on July 11 & 12 (and any time afterwards) for a self-guided, COVID-19 socially responsible tour and celebration of all things Bucktown. They will provide an online map and downloadable guide of public art, landmarks, schools, churches, parks, and other notable places. They have over 50 gardens signed up which will highlight parkways and anything seen from the sidewalk. Also check out their “Garden Happenings” which will be musicians playing porch concerts throughout the weekend. Masks and social distancing required; donation for participation is encouraged. A special thanks goes to Kim Kozimor, Sam Marts, Aaron Blanke, Jennifer Ackerman, and Steve Jensen; these incredible volunteers made this event happen in the toughest of times. Go to
Bucktown.org
for more information. For any general questions regarding the event, please contact
Darien.Hallagan@bucktown.org
.
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Bucktown/Wicker Park Library Mural
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Be a part of beautifying Bucktown by supporting the
Bucktown Community Organization
and their fundraising efforts for
Illinois Landscape
by Sam Marts on the back of the Bucktown/Wicker Park Library wall. This enormous mural will enhance the Bucktown Green all year round. They are half way though their goal and need your help! Check out the
gofundme page
.
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North Milwaukee - From Logan Square to Belmont Project Study Group Meeting
The Chicago Department of Transportation invites you to participate in the fourth project study group meeting to review the recommended improvement for North Milwaukee Avenue from Logan Square to Belmont Avenue.
VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING
Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Meeting ID: 951 9580 3398 Password: 894921
Meeting Purpose
- Update the PSG on the study's progress
- Present the recommended improvements for Milwaukee Ave.
- Present the recommended designs for Logan Square
- Obtain PSG input to finalize plans
A live discussion will be available at the end of the presentation.
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Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin on July 6, 2020, pending clearance from and coordination with existing utilities, and weather permitting. The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, bus pad construction, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.
During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed August 31, 2020.
If you have concerns or questions, please reach out to Paul Sajovec in our office at paul
@ward32.org.
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Ticketing Enforcement Has Begun
This week, the City started a staggered approach to phase in ticketing enforcement and the collection of taxes and other payments that were previously deferred due to COVID-19.
- Ticket enforcement activities will increase citywide on July 1st, including street sweeping violations (map below).
- Late payment penalties will be assessed on past due utility balances.
- Past due payment plans will be defaulted.
- Residential and municipal utility customers with payment due dates prior to June 30 will not be assessed additional penalties until July 1.
- Collection and enforcement activities, including booting, will continue.
- The City will resume ticketing for residential parking violations, expired City Stickers, and expired license plates on July 16. Motorists will receive a grace period through Monday, July 15 to purchase residential parking permits and city stickers, and renew their license plates.
During the grace period, ticketing will continue for public safety violations and for unpaid parking meters.
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Pulaski International School is Now Registering Students
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Pulaski International School of Chicago is now registering NEW neighborhood kindergarten-8th grade students for the 2020-21 school year. If you live within the Pulaski boundaries and would like to register please contact Michelle Sherman,
msherman2@cps.edu
. Registering early helps Pulaski to better prepare for the school year and to try and keep classroom sizes small.
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From the Desk of Chicago Public Schools: Please
Take This Survey
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As Chicago prepares for next school year, Chicago Public Schools is asking families to reflect on the unprecedented challenges that we have faced together. In addition to the ongoing public health crisis, our nation is confronted with the loss of Black lives due to racial injustice and the resulting civil unrest. Recent events have made the inequities that our high-need families experience all too evident and it calls for the district to redouble our efforts to support families who need us most.
That is why we’ve partnered with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Lurie Children's Hospital to conduct a family survey that will help us understand the physical, mental, and emotional impact of COVID-19.
Your voice is so important during this time. As our district plans for the resumption of school in the fall, your perspective on the current state of our city and schooling will help influence our policies and decisions.
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A medida que nos preparemos para el próximo año escolar, les pedimos a las familias que reflexionen sobre las dificultades sin precedentes que hemos enfrentado juntos. Además de la actual crisis de salud pública, nuestro país se enfrenta a la pérdida de vidas negras debido a la injusticia racial y a los disturbios civiles. Los eventos recientes han hecho que las inequidades que nuestras familias más necesitadas experimentan sean aún más evidentes, y han alentado al distrito a redoblar sus esfuerzos para apoyarlas.
Por lo tanto, hemos colaborado con la Escuela de Medicina Feinberg de la Universidad de Northwestern y el Hospital de Niños Lurie para llevar a cabo una encuesta familiar, que nos ayudará a comprender el impacto físico, mental y emocional a causa del COVID-19.
Sus comentarios son tan importantes durante este tiempo. A medida que nuestro distrito planifique reanudar las clases en otoño, sus opiniones sobre el estado actual de nuestra ciudad y de educación ayudarán a modificar nuestras políticas y decisiones.
-Escuelas Públicas de Chicago
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City Awards $56 Million Grant for Contact Tracing Efforts
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The Partnership was chosen by a panel of community and city experts from a field of almost two dozen applications. This grant will fund the creation of the COVID Contact Tracing Corps and the COVID Resource Coordination Hub, which together will hire 600 people to provide contact tracing services to all of Chicago. As part of the grant, The Partnership will be conducting a second competitive bidding process to award the majority of the funding to at least 30 community based organizations that will recruit and hire the contact tracers and resource coordinators under this grant.
In an effort to provide equitable opportunities to neighborhood organizations, the
Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance will be working with
AMPT, a capacity- building provider for non-profits, to provide technical assistance to organizations applying for this second round grant. Community-based organizations that are interested in applying for this second-round grant can visit
Chicago.gov/ContactTracing to sign up for one-on-one technical assistance for
this application.
The Request for Proposals (RFP), in which the City has allocated $56 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public
Health, mandates that the lead agency will be required to sub-grant 85% of contact tracing funding to at least 30 neighborhood-based organizations located within, or primarily serving residents of, communities of high economic hardship. Many of these same communities have been the most adversely impacted by COVID-19. These neighborhood-based organizations will be responsible for recruiting, hiring and supporting a workforce of 600 contact tracers, supervisors, and referral coordinators.
Employees hired through this program will be supported by an “Earn-and-Learn” program that helps them pursue higher education and credentialing, which will
give contact tracers the ability to pursue stable, middle-income jobs that can support their livelihoods beyond the height of the pandemic. Contact tracers will earn $20 per hour with supervisors earning $24 per hour. CDPH will also require that applicants meet these minimum salary requirements and provide full health
benefits. Organizations who are not able to meet these criteria will be able to submit a written statement to provide an explanation.
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Property Tax Update
You will receive your 2019 final installment tax bill in the mail this week. For many, the bill will be a tax increase from your 2018 bill. Remember Cook County collects 2019 taxes a year later in 2020.
Your payment is due by August 3rd, but if you pay by October 1 there will be no interest or penalties added to the tax amount. After October 1, your taxes are subject to interests and penalties and your property could be sold at the tax sale. For this reason it is important to pay prior to October 1.
At this time you can't appeal your assessment. You can only review the bill for correctness and then pay the amount owed. Correctness means you got the proper exemptions and your bill is reflective of your fair share of taxes.
The first thing you should do is check to ensure your entitled exemptions are properly credited to you. Exemptions are at the bottom left part of the second installment tax bill.
The key exemptions are:
1. Homeowner: you own the property and live there;
2. Senior Homeowner: you own the property, live there and one of the owners is 65 years or older; and
3. Senior Freeze: you own the property, live there, one of the owners was born in 1954 or before, your 2018 household income was $65,000 or less and you have filed a verified Senior Freeze application.
Options to Correct Tax Bill
Payment Options
Once you are satisfied that your exemptions are correct, you can safely pay your bill to the Cook County Treasurer in one of the following ways:
1. Mail a check using the envelope provided
3. Pay at any Chase Bank location
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With Chicago venturing into Phase IV, more Lincoln Park businesses are reopening and ready to safely serve you. Support your local businesses who contribute to the quality of life in our neighborhood. To find out what businesses you can support, go to
lincolnparkchamber.com.
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Business Safety & Code Compliance Webinar
Business Safety & Code Compliance Webinar
When: Wednesday, July 8,12-1 PM
Please join the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce for a business safety and compliance webinar. This is a 60 minute presentation will feature speakers from the Police Department and Building Department on the best practices and recommendations to reduce criminal activity as well as the best practices to avoid code infractions by city agencies.
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Business Interruption Grants
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The
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
(DCEO) is launching the first round of Business Interruption Grants (BIG) by providing $60 million to businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of COVID-19 related closures. The BIG Program is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. DCEO will begin distributing funds to qualifying businesses in early July. The total program funding will amount to at least $540 million in grants for small businesses, $270 million of which has been set aside for childcare providers and is funded by the CARES Act.
In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic. Additional
priority
will be given to businesses located in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), or low-income areas that have had high rates of COVID-19 cases. Bars and restaurants, barbershops and salons, and fitness centers that are not located in DIAs are also eligible. Businesses eligible for the program must have experienced extreme hardship, demonstrated by experiencing eligible costs or losses in excess of the grant amount since March.
Specifically, the program includes support for:
- Businesses located in DIAs Where There Was Recent Property Damage from Civil Unrest - $20 million for businesses that are located in a subset of DIAs that have recently experienced significant property damage, providing 1,000 grants of $20,000 each
- Bars and Restaurants - $20 million for bars and restaurants unable to offer outside service, providing 1,000 grants of up to $20,000*
- Barbershops and Salons - $10 million for barbershops and salons, providing 1,000 grants of $10,000 each*
- Gyms and Fitness Centers - $10 million for gyms and fitness centers that have lost significant revenue due to COVID-19, providing 500 grants of $20,000 each*
Businesses must have been in operation for at least three months prior to March 2020 and must meet specific annual revenue criteria outlined in document below.
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Business Affairs & Consumer Protection (BACP) Resources
BACP is holding three upcoming educational webinars over the next two weeks. Please note that the times are subject to change as situations change. For more information please check out the
BACP Website
.
What You Need to Know About Your Business & Taxes
Wednesday, 7/8 at 3:00 P.M. Webinar
Presented by the IRS and Ladder Up
This workshop will answer important tax questions for your business including: Are you required to file a tax return? Is your worker an independent contractor or an employee? What will the IRS request during an audit? Are you required to make estimated tax payments? What resources does the IRS have for small business owners?
Click here
to register for the Wednesday, July 8th 3:00 P.M. Webinar
Fund Your Startup into a Real Business
Friday, 7/10 at 9:30 A.M. Webinar
Presented by SCORE Chicago
Learn how to navigate through the process of financing your business. The webinar will go through real sources of capital, describe why banks will not likely be helpful, and provide valuable financial projection tools.
Topics Covered: Start-up Costs, Micro Lenders, Family and Friends, Donation Funding, and Angel Investing
Click here
to register for the Friday, 7/10 4:00 PM Webinar.
OTHER RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES:
- BACP Podcast - The Smart Business Chicago podcast features Chicago's entrepreneurs who share their business stories and provide advice to help you navigate the road to business success. Past podcast guests have included Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart of Koval Distilling, Joe Basilone of Perkolator Coffeehouse, Trevor Heffernan of the Chicago Helicopter Experience, and Anupy Singla of Indian as Apple Pie, just to name a few! Listen to Smart Business Chicago to hear how these entrepreneurs were able to make their business dreams a reality with some perseverance and the support of City programs and services.
- CHI 311 System - The new CHI 311 system brings unprecedented levels of openness, innovation and accountability to the delivery of City services. With the new CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can create new service requests; check the status of existing requests and the time it will take to resolve; snap a photo and submit it with a request to improve accuracy; map requests to help pinpoint a location; create an account to track service requests and get local, relevant information; provide feedback upon completion; and search and see helpful knowledge articles and search other requests in your neighborhood.
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Chicago Connected Family Broadband Initiative
The City of Chicago has started the $50,000,000
Chicago Connected/Free Internet for Chicago Families in Need
initiative in conjunction with the West Side’s first Regional Gifted Center being developed at Morton School of Excellence. The first meeting was held on the southside. The ARA sessions featured data on enrollment, student demographics, school choice, and programming quality designed to foster productive conversations about opportunities for improvement throughout the CPS district. Stakeholders can register for the following meetings with the links below, or by visiting
cps.edu/ara
.
Central/West Regions
(Greater Milwaukee Avenue, West Side, Near West Side, Central Area): Wednesday, July 8, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
North/Northwest Regions
(North Lakefront, Northwest Side, Far Northwest Side, Greater Lincoln Park): Thursday, July 9, 2020 from 5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
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Elder Abuse Seminar - Recognize, Prevent, and Protect
July 23, 2020
1:00 p.m.
Online presentation by Adam Busch, Owner of Amada Senior Care of Chicago
This presentation is designed to help families recognize, report, and document the various types of elder abuse.
It is critical to be aware of the different scams and schemes that are perpetrated on seniors so that we can create a blanket of protection for one of our most vulnerable populations.
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Latest Public Health Guidance Links
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Additional Links with COVID Related Information
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Continue to Wear Masks, Social Distance, and
Wash Your Hands!
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Alderman Scott Waguespack
2657 North Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1330
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