Alderman Reilly joined Nick Blumberg on WTTW to discuss the City’s LaSalle Street Reimagined initiative. This Invitation for Proposal was announced to Developers and Building owners along the LaSalle Street corridor in the Loop to convert underutilized office space to create a more mixed-use, neighborhood-oriented environment. Click here to listen to the interview.

Gubernatorial General Election on

November 8, 2022

The Gubernatorial General Election on November 8 is quickly approaching. Voting precinct boundaries were redrawn due to the new ward boundaries. Visit the Board of Elections website to find your new precinct and polling place. Please click here to learn which offices are on the ballot.

Alderman Reilly encourages voters to cast their ballot early or Vote by Mail to avoid long lines and wait times on Election Day. Early voting is available at the Loop Supersite located at 191 North Clark Street and the Board of Elections at 69 West Washington Street, 6th Floor. Hours of operation for both sites are as follows:

• October 7 - October 30: Monday-Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturdays from 9am-5pm, and Sundays from 10am-4pm.
• October 31 - November 7: Monday-Friday from 9am to 7pm, Saturdays from 9am to 5pm, and Sundays from 10am to 4pm

Starting on Monday, October 24, voters will be able to cast their ballots at any of the 50 ward early voting sites. These sites will be open weekdays from 9:00am to 6:00pm; Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm; and on Election Day (Nov. 8) from 6:00am to 7:00pm.

The 42nd Ward early voting polling place will be at Maggie Daley Park located at 337 East Randolph Street. Click here to view a list of all 50 ward early voting sites. 

Voters can apply to vote-by-mail for the November 8, 2022 General Election by visiting the Board of Elections’ website. All Vote By Mail ballots come with postage-paid Ballot Return Envelopes. 

All early voting sites will have secure drop boxes for voters to return their vote-by-mail ballot. Any vote-by-mail ballot Return Envelope that is mailed, postmarked or certified on or before Election Day may be counted if it arrives within 14 days of Election Day.

Additionally, the Board of Elections is looking for qualified applicants to serve as Election Judges for the General Election on November 8. Election Judges are responsible for ensuring polling places open and close on time, and that voting operations run smoothly.

Election judges who complete the online training and successfully service on Election Day will earn $230. Returning Judges who complete the online training will earn $255. Each Judge who serves successfully on Election Day without completing the online training will receive $170. 

To apply online to become an Election Judge with the Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners, visit www.chipollworker.com. A paper main-in application is also available for download here.

Chicago Halloweek Activities

‘Halloweek’ brings together City departments, corporations, and community-based organizations to plan Halloween-related activations for Chicago residents of all ages. Events and activities will be hosted from October 22 through October 31, and all activities can be found at ChicagoHalloweek.org. 

Halloweek activities will begin October 22 with the UPSIDE DOWN Parade from 12 to 3 p.m. in Washington Park, presented by LUMA8 and the City of Chicago and sponsored by Blommer Chocolate Company. This event turns the traditional parade upside down because attending families will BE the parade as they walk in costume through the park to view entertainment all around them. The street will come alive with dancers, acrobats, puppetry, and sports mascots — and kids will receive a complimentary goody bag as they exit the route. Blommer Chocolate Company will be giving away thousands of children’s costumes at the entrance to the event and will host a job fair area for those interested in working in their Chicago factory.  

Halloweek will continue from October 24 to 28 with ten community ‘Halloweek On the Block’ events and additional trick-or-treating and Halloween- themed programs across the city. The Chicago Park District, with support from sponsors Mars Wrigley and Xfinity, the Chicago Public Library, and other City departments and community partners, host these festivities. 

In the 42nd Ward, the Arts in the Dark Parade will return to State Street, between Lake Street and Van Buren Street, for its 8th year. Arts in the Dark is an evening parade celebrating Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” and drawing together world-renowned institutions, celebrated Chicago cultural organizations, important youth programs, and aspiring artists in every field. This is a free event and open to anyone who would like to attend. Please click here to learn more about the parade. For a complete list of street closures, please click here. 

Halloweek will also promote celebrating Halloween safely amidst COVID-19. The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) encourages youth 5 months and older to get the vaccine in advance of Halloweek for additional protection against COVID-19 and its sub-variants  

CDPH is offering guidance on how to celebrate and trick-or-treat safely, including the following: 

• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including all primary series doses and boosters for your age group. 
• Do not hand out candy or participate in Halloween events if you are having symptoms of COVID-19 or feel sick, even if you have been fully vaccinated. 
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after trick-or-treating and use hand sanitizer. Eat candy at home, or after washing or sanitizing your hands. 
• Masks are recommended when trick-or-treating in indoor public settings, particularly if you are at risk of getting very sick. A costume mask is not a substitute for a high-quality mask or respirator 
• Outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities  

The City has additional planned events and activities for Halloweek:  

• The Chicago Park District, with support from the Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC), Mars Wrigley, Xfinity, the Chicago Police Department, The Chicago Public Library, and others, will help residents celebrate ‘Halloweek on the Block’ with ten pop-ups on residential streets throughout Halloweek. In addition to treats, Mars Wrigley will be providing costume kits at each of these pop-up events. 
• The Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library will host virtual and in-person programming throughout the week (Oct. 22 through 31) 
• Blommer Chocolate Company is providing 10,000 Halloween bags to be filled with candy and other goodies from Halloweek supporters, which will be distributed at Halloweek activities and events.  
• Chicago organizations, businesses, and community leaders are asked to visit ChicagoHalloweek.org to register their Halloween activities. Starting in early October, the website will feature a searchable list of all Halloweek programming happening across the city and will continue to be updated throughout October. 

Additional Halloweek details will be announced in the coming weeks — visit ChicagoHalloweek.org to stay updated.

Alderman Reilly Hosts Community Shred Day

for 42nd Ward Residents

Alderman Reilly is hosting a Community Shred Day on Saturday, October 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Ohio Place Dog Park located at 360 West Ohio Street. Households are limited to two boxes and shredding materials will be accepted until the shred truck is full. Please remember to remove all paper clips, staples, and other bindings.

A representative from Alderman Reilly’s Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.

We look forward to seeing you at the Community Shred Day!

Public Safety Survey

Crime and public safety are front of mind for all Chicagoans. The River North Residents Association (RNRA) is conducting an online Public Safety Survey.

Aldermen do not have the authority to direct Chicago Police Department (CPD) resources or dispatch police. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPD Superintendent David Brown are solely responsible for CPD personnel strategies, policies, and deployment.

Since crime and public safety are citywide issues, the survey is not River North specific. Alderman Reilly encourages all 42nd Ward residents to take the survey. Please click here to be directed to the survey. 

Survey results will be sent to Mayor Lightfoot, Superintendent Brown, and their partners with the Cook County Criminal Justice System.

The Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) began installation of 1,408 feet of new 8-inch water main on North St Clair Street, between East Superior Street to East Illinois Street. The current water main dates back to 1886 and needs to be replaced to create a more reliable and efficient system.

DWM will be closing individual blocks of North St. Clair Street. Work will start at North St. Clair Street and East Superior Street. Work hours will be Monday-Friday from 8am-8pm. There will be some non-invasive work that occurs during the overnight hours. 

This project is expected to be finished at the beginning of November (weather dependent). Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for future updates regarding this project. 

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is looking for residents to join the Citizens Academy. This is a 10-week immersive program that gives residents a snapshot of what CPD recruits learn at the Police Academy. 

For more information, please contact your local police district. Click here for the Citizens Academy application. 

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is resurfacing North Michigan Avenue, from East Oak Street to East Ohio Street. CDOT is working 6 days a week (mostly 8am-5pm), with limited overnight work. 

The project includes the installation of concrete bus pads and ADA ramp replacements.

All work is expected to be finished at the beginning of November. 

As part of ongoing CDOT repairs at Randolph Street Viaduct (East bound lanes only) between North Columbus Drive and Field Boulevard, an overnight concrete pour is scheduled for Friday, October 21 at 7pm to Saturday, October 22 at 7am. 

Residents should expect to hear moderate construction noise during the overnight pour. 

CDOT needs to schedule one additional overnight pour for this project. 

Grand Avenue Bascule Bridge Repair Project

The Grand Avenue Bridge Project is behind schedule due to material procurement and design constraints.

In order to complete the project on time, the Chicago Department of Transportation will prohibit vehicular traffic in both directions on the Grand Avenue Bridge starting Saturday, October 10. The sidewalk on the northside of the bridge will remain open to pedestrian traffic. 

The full closure is expected to last two months. 

18th District Pet Vaccination Clinic: Saturday, October 22 

Join the 18th District for a free microchip and vaccination clinic on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at the 18th District, located at 1160 N Larrabee St. The first 100 pets will be microchipped and vaccinated. 

Contact the 18th District Community Policing office at 312-742-5778 for more details.

CTA Safety Webinar

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) manages Chicago City Markets and is excited to bring back the Daley Plaza Farmers Market located at 50 West Washington Street. 

The Farmers Market is held on Thursdays from 7am to 2pm. Please click here to learn more about Chicago City Markets and other farmers markets throughout the City of Chicago.

• 18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS018District@chicagopolice.org)
• There are no remaining CAPS meetings scheduled for the month of October.
• 1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS001District@chicagopolice.org)
• There are no remaining CAPS meetings scheduled for the month of October.
• 12th District: (312-746-8306 / CAPS012District@chicagopolice.org)
• Beat 1224 Meeting scheduled on October 26th at 6 PM