December 13, 2024

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Alderman Reilly Reports

Budget Update

In a major victory for Chicago taxpayers and an embarrassing legislative defeat for Mayor Johnson - the Administration was forced to delay today’s scheduled final vote on Chicago's revised 2025 budget, a $17.3 billion spending plan that would include $234 million in taxes, fines & fee increases.


Recently passed by the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Budget, the Mayor’s proposal also included a $68.5 million property tax increase, as well as higher taxes on parking, ride-share services, streaming platforms, cloud computing and grocery bags.


Alderman Reilly, who has consistently criticized the budget for relying on tax hikes instead of meaningful cuts to bloated departmental budgets, voted "No" on the plan in both Committees. To hear Alderman Reilly’s remarks during this budget process, please see the recordings of department and committee meetings as well as recent media, linked below:


City Council Committees:


Department Hearings:



Recent press:


The budget now requires a full vote by the City Council, with the final decision expected next week.

Cold Weather Precautions

The City of Chicago encourages residents to be prepared for cold temperatures over the weekend. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will work closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) to monitor weather conditions 24/7 and alert the public to any changes in the severity of the expected drop in temperatures.

 

Residents are reminded to make your family, home and vehicles prepared for winter conditions. Severe cold temperatures, strong winds and snow can cause additional hazards, whether home or traveling, so it’s important to stay informed. OEMC issues several alerts and notifications to keep people up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.


  • Notify Chicago: Sign up for emergency alerts at http://www.notifychicago.org/
  • CHILAKE: For lakefront notices including flooding, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
  • CHIBIZ: Business updates, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3

 

Warming Centers

When temperatures are at 32ºF or below, DFSS activates warming areas at our six community service centers. These warming centers operate Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  


Chicago Parks District facilities and Chicago Public Libraries also provide spaces available to the public during their typical business hours. Click here to view a map of more than 190 public facilities serving as warm indoor spaces citywide, and find the location nearest you, or contact 3-1-1 via phone or online at 311.chicago.gov.

 

Cold-Weather Tips:

  • Motorists should take extra precautions to winterize vehicles and have necessary supplies on-the-go. Keep in mind, disabled vehicles or distracted driving can cause accidents, impact traffic and others requiring emergency services.
  • Residents should know the signs and care of frostbite and hypothermia. For Winter preparation information visit, gov/OEMC for details and links to other local, state, and federal resources.
  • Avoid unnecessary trips outside. If you must go out, limit the time you stay outside.
  • Wear several layers of loose, warm cloth.
  • Keep your head, hands and feet covered when outdoor.
  • Stay dry because moisture can damage the insulation effectiveness of clothing.
  • Don’t forget your pets, bring them inside during bitter cold and numbing wetness, to stay safe and warm.


Winter Parking Restrictions

Beginning December 1, 2022, if you see a posted sign that says "No Parking’ between 3:00 am and 7:00 am" that means that the winter overnight parking ban is in effect on this street, whether it snows or not.


Do not park at this location between 3:00 am and 7:00 am from December 1, 2022 - April 1, 2023 or you will be ticketed or towed. 


Visit the City of Chicago's winter snow parking restrictions page to learn more. Chicagoans can visit chicagoshovels.org or a map of streets impacted by the ban and to view the City’s snow plows in real-time during a storm.

Chicago's Christkindlmarket is OPEN!

The annual Christkindlmarket is open now through Saturday, December 24 on Daley Plaza located at 50 West Washington Street. For weekend programming, there will be a full closure of W. Washington Street, including the CTA bus lane, between Clark Street and Dearborn Street starting at 5 a.m. each Saturday morning and ending at 11 p.m. Sunday night on the following dates: November 19–20, 26–27, December 3–4, 10–11 and 17–18. Hours are Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. –8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. –9 p.m. with special hours on holidays. For complete details, visit Christkindlmarket.com/.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS018District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for this district for the month of December.


Click here for 18th District meeting locations.


1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS001District@chicagopolice.org)

  • There are no CAPS meetings scheduled for this district for the month of December.


To RSVP to attend in person, click here. To register for the Zoom meeting, please click here.

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects


Residential Lighting Project Notice: Huron, from Michigan to Fairbanks


The Chicago Department of Transportation began installation of new street lights on East Huron Street, between North Michigan Avenue and North Fairbanks Court. John Burns Construction is the contractor for this project and Stanley Consultants is providing resident engineering services for the Chicago Department of Transportation.


The work will include the installation of foundations, boring of underground conduits, cable pulling, the installation of new residential lighting poles with piggyback lights, LED Smart Lighting luminaires, and the restoration of concrete sidewalks and parkways disturbed by the construction. The existing light poles will be removed once the new lighting system is functioning properly.


During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above so that work may be performed safely. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, and residents can park normally after the posted hours and overnight, and usually all day on weekends.


The project is expected to be completed by December 2024.


Filming


9 W Hubbard

On Monday, December 23rd, a film will be filming interior scenes at 9 W Hubbard St. During filming, parking will be prohibited at the following locations: 


  • Monday, December 23rd at 8:00 AM through 11:30 PM
  • South Side of Hubbard St from 9 to 25 W Hubbard.


If you have any questions, concerns or special needs, PLEASE CONTACT: Nathan Szynal, 708.738.4032


180 N Stetson

Chicago PD is returning for one more day of filming. All advanced notification, coordination, and building contact distribution that happened previously, will occur again and is being handled by both PD and Fire teams. Essentially, the area buildings (including consulate parking and Giordano's) that were previously notified and worked with, will once again be handled by the same team members to the same advanced extent with agreements in place.  


Much less visuals than last week: No fire or pyro effects, minimal smoke effects.  


Parking Restrictions: 

Thursday, December 19th at 4:00AM – Friday, December 20th at 10:00AM:

  • Both sides of Lake from Michigan to Stetson
  • Both sides of Beaubien Court from Lake to Randolph
  • Both sides of Stetson from East South Water to Randolph
  • South side of East South Water from Stetson to Columbus Drive
  • Both sides of Garland Court from Lake to Haddock Place


TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

Thursday, December 19th at 6:00AM – Friday, December 20th at 3:00AM

  • FULL STREET CLOSURE on Lake from Beaubien Court to Stetson
  • FULL STREET CLOSURE on Stetson from East South Water to Randolph
  • INTERMITTENT TRAFFIC CONTROL on Garland Court from Lake to Haddock Place


Thursday, December 19th at 11:00PM – Friday, December 20th at 3:00AM

  • FULL STREET CLOSURE on Lake from Michigan to Stetson


Film contacts: Location Manager: Jim Turner, 312-420-6413 & On-site contact: Phil Merker: 478-227-2727



Crane Lift



157 w Grand Ave

On Saturday, January 11, 2025 a crane lift will take place to replace two units on the rooftop of 157 W Grand, resulting in a partial street closure from 8am - 5pm. One lane will remain open on Grand Ave during the lift. A backup day will be scheduled for Sunday, January 12, 2025.



758 N Larrabee Street


Stevenson Crane was hired to remove a statue from the roof of 758 N Larrabee Street. The lift will occur on Saturday, December 14, between 9am and 4pm. 


During the lift, Larrabee, from Superior to Chicago will be closed to vehicular traffic.



Pin & Link Project on Randolph and Columbus


CDOT crews are scheduled to perform steel work and bridge expansion joint rehab along Randolph Street, Columbus Drive, and Stetson Avenue. Please see details below:


General Construction Schedule:

7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday - Friday; with the occasional extension to 5:30 pm as needed. 

 

Scope of Work and Access Impacts During Construction:

In general, one lane of travel will be open at all times along each roadway, level, and direction. Access along sidewalks will remain open with detours around the work areas.  

 

Week of 11/18 thru 11/22:

  • This upcoming week crews are to wrap up work for this construction season, contract work is to be suspended until 2025. They will be demobilizing along Randolph Street, Columbus Drive, and Stetson Avenue and will be off site by 11/22.



River North Lighting Program


Below is a lookahead for the River North Lighting Program:


12/9/2024-12/27/2024


Crew #1 

Continue to break out concrete for bore pits and utilities, focus will be Erie and Orleans, boring the south side of Erie this week. Following week will be on Orleans boring and installing conduit. If completed will fish and pull cable on this same job and build foundation for new streetlight controller.


Crew #2

Continue to pull cable on Huron, Erie, and Superior. When complete will continue to install 7' helixes on Kingsbury from Chicago Ave to Erie, east and west sides of the street.  


Crew #3

Break out and install pipe and helixes on Erie and Larrabee, install all of the new streetlight controls on all the jobs. Assist with the installation of helixes where needed. 


Crew #4

When available the crew will be building the new streetlights and installing them. Once a circuit is complete, they will start the breakdown of all old streetlights and controllers. This should help us stay in front of the restoration crew onsite. 



Casino Demolition Update


The demolition team will begin site concrete crushing operations over the next eight weeks. The operation with run from 8 AM until 5 PM. The crusher will be placed in between the Ontario feeder ramp and the southern edge of the current building.



State & Lake Utility Relocations


Utility companies began relocating utilities in advance of the State and Lake CTA project. Train services will not be disrupted during utility relocations. 

 

At least 1 lane of traffic will remain open (1 lane each direction on State St) at all times, but other driving and parking lanes may be closed. 


Construction equipment and materials will be stored on the street, including during time periods between active work. Work will primarily occur 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturdays, but there will be limited work during nights. Utility companies are aware of and required to abide by the Chicago noise ordinance, which limits noisy work during overnight hours.



Kennedy Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation


In 2023, IDOT began rehabilitating the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94), from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street.


The estimated $150 million project consists of rehabilitating 36 bridges and the Reversible Lane Access Control system, replacing overhead sign structures, installing new signage and modernized LED lights, pavement patching, and structural painting. Additionally, Hubbard’s Cave, from Grand Avenue to Wayman Street, will be painted and new LED lighting installed.


The work will take place over three consecutive construction seasons, broken down into the following stages:

  • 2023 – Inbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 1 fact sheet.
  • 2024 – Reversible Express Lanes: Click here for stage 2 fact sheet.
  • 2025 – Outbound Kennedy: Click here for stage 3 fact sheet.


The Kennedy Expressway officially opened in November 1960, with the last major rehabilitation completed in 1994. The project will improve safety, traffic flow and reliability for the more than 275,000 motorists who use the expressway each day.


Click here for a project overview.

Click here for a FAQ

Click here to see photos and videos of the project.