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Dear 43rd Ward Neighbors,
Thank you to all of the residents and officers who came out to this week’s 43rd Ward “Conversations with the Commanders.” Our 43rd Ward is made safer through the strong leadership of CAPS Commanders Jon Hein (18th District) and Amin Jessani (19th District). Over coffee, cookies and conversation, this night was a great opportunity to go “behind the uniform” to learn more about our commanders and how every member of the community can have a positive impact in boosting public safety.
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A few months ago when I became your alderman, I heard from you that improving the responsiveness of our office was a big priority. That’s why I took quick action to prioritize innovation in constituent services. As someone whose previous career was in the private sector working with innovative startup companies, I strongly believe that government services could use a process overhaul so that hardworking staff aren’t relying on outdated systems to get things done for you. (Pen and paper should be for journaling, not constituent service requests!) The pace of human life has evolved, and as Crain’s recently wrote, our government service offices need to be set up for success to communicate quicker and smarter.
We’ve made good progress toward this goal. Today, I am excited to announce that the 43rd Ward has brought on IndiGov, a government technology firm, to overhaul our constituent services system and provide faster, smarter and more communicative responses to your requests. This platform works like a “Customer Relationship Management” software (similar to Salesforce) to centralize incoming requests and manage ward services to ensure consistent follow-up, high-quality outcomes, and clear accountability.
Below in this newsletter we highlight a few of this platform’s features so you know how we will start to better serve your needs. During the implementation process of a couple of months, there will be no interruption on regular ward constituent services. On behalf of the whole ward office, we look forward to leading the City as a tech-forward office to better serve all of you!
On a final note, as we look toward Earth Month 2023, this week I started home composting to evolve my ‘recycling game’ and do my small part in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. As someone who lives in a multi-unit building, I was surprised to see just how simple and affordable the process is made by Chicago start-ups. Consider a home composting habit as a part of your spring cleaning - collectively, we can make a difference for our planet!
Sunny day, sunny disposition,
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43rd Ward Constituent Services Update | |
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Over the past 30 years, technology has radically changed the way that constituents engage with government. However, the ways of managing this shift haven't kept up, leading to long turnaround times. For that reason, we are innovating our tech platform that helps the ward manage the requests coming in. In doing so, we are using the same platform utilized by US Congress and are excited that the 43rd Ward will be one of the first forward-thinking wards in Chicago to adapt this technology to better serve the residents of our community.
The platform has many tools that we will continue to share from this newsletter. Here’s a preview of what you can expect moving forward:
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Quicker Response Times: The platform has reduced the average turnaround time in the U.S. Congress from 45 Days to 8 Hours.
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A Streamlined CHI 311 Experience: The platform allows the ward office to see all 311 requests made in the ward ‘live’ (instead of us manually pulling such requests from the system). This capability will allow us to advocate proactive for our constituents to city departments, even before you call our office. Keep making those CHI 311 requests!
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Tracking of Constituent Requests: The platform includes increased tracking capabilities so that your requests will never get lost in the shuffle.
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Centralized Communication: The platform ensures that whenever you reach out to our office — be it from our website, email, phone call, etc — that we will be able to see your communication in one place. Additionally, there are “quality of life tools” for the office that will allow us to proactively check in on your requests, reducing the need for you to take time out of your day to keep following up.
The best part? You don't have to change how you interact with our office or adapt to a new gimmick. You can keep reaching out to us like normal, but should notice a large improvement in our ability to respond to your issues.
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Early Voting in Downtown Chicago for the February 28, 2023 Municipal Election starts Thursday, January 26.
Click here for the Chicago Board of Elections Website.
Early Voting in all 50 Wards of Chicago will begin Monday, February 13 and run through February 28, 2023 (Election Day). All 50 Ward Early Voting sites and the Board Supersite (191 N. Clark) will be open as vote centers on Election Day.
The location for early voting in the 43rd Ward is:
Lincoln Park Branch Library, 1150 W. Fullerton Ave.
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Landmark Designation of the Netsch House | |
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This week the Commission on Chicago Landmarks met to vote upon the final recommendation of approval of the individual landmark designation of the “Netsch House” at 1700 N. Hudson within the Old Town Triangle Landmark District. The Commission found that the Netsch House met five landmark designation criteria (a minimum of two of the possible seven are required to move forward in the landmarking process). The Netsch House is not only unique architecturally, but also historically. The original owners of the house were Dawn Clark, a trailblazer in public service for women and the LGBTQ+ community, and Walter Netsch, an internationally renowned architect.
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In Observance of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Presidents Day the 43rd Ward office will be closed:
- Monday, February 13th
- Monday, February 20th
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CPD Business Alert- Burglaries | |
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In these incidents, the offender(s) gain entry into the business by breaking the front door and taking property from therein. This incident occurred during the early morning hours in the general location listed below:
Incident time and location:
- 1000 block W Fullerton on February 7, 2023, at 01:58 AM.
Description of Offender:
- 3-4 Males, wearing all dark clothing including black ski masks and hooded sweatshirts.
What you can do:
- Keep the perimeter of your property well lit
- Report suspicious activity immediately
- Keep doors and windows secured
- Immediately repair any broken windows, doors or locks
- If video surveillance is available, save and make a copy of the incident for investigating detectives.
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Upcoming Police District Council Candidate Forums | |
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What is this position?: In July 2021, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance creating a new model for police oversight, accountability, and public safety. The ordinance creates two bodies: a citywide Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, with the power to advance systemic reform, and District Councils, which will be directly elected in each police district and work to improve policing and public safety in the district.
District Councils will be created in the City’s 22 police districts. They will be made up of three people elected in regular municipal elections every four years.
These forums will give neighbors the opportunity to learn more about these District Councils and feature robust discussions led by their neighborhood organizations on safety.
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18th District
Join the 43rd Ward Alliance on Friday, February 10, 2023, at the Triangle Center (1763 N North Park Avenue, corner of Menomonee & North Park Avenues) at 6 PM.
Register Here.
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19th District
Join Wrightwood Neighbors and Park West Community Association Thursday, February 16th for the Police District Council Forum at New Life Community Church.
Submit questions in advance Here.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts.
Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number.
2023 43rd Ward CAPS Meetings
Beat 1811 (5 PM) & 1813 (6 PM): March 7, May 9, July 11, September 5, November 7
Beats 1811 and 1813 meet at St. James Lutheran Church located at 2050 N Fremont St. They are in the basement of the Church and you should enter through the northernmost door on Fremont St. There is residential parking on the street with applicable zone parking restrictions.
Beat 1812 (5 PM) & 1814 (6 PM): March 9, May 11, July 13, September 7, November 9
Beat 1812 and 1814 are hosted at Wintrust Bank located at 100 W. North Ave. There is very little parking on site but it is near the North and Clybourn Red Line stop and the Sedgwick Brown Line. It is also en route to the Clark St Bus. The meetings are hosted on the 2nd Floor of the bank. Elevators are on site.
Beat 1824 (6 PM): March 16, May 18, July 20, September 14, November 16
Beat 1824 meets at 1201 N Clark St in the Clark St Apartments. It is very close to the Clark and Division Red Line Stop.
Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): April 4th, June 6th, August 1st, October 3rd, December 5th
Beat 1932 is hosted in the sanctuary at New Life Church located at 1110 W Lill Ave. There is street parking with applicable zone parking restrictions. New Life Church is within walking distance of the Fullerton Red and Brown Line and the Diversey Brown Line.
Beat 1935 (6:30 PM): February 15, April 19, June 21, August 16, October 18, December 20
Beat 1935 is hosted at the Shrine of Cabrini at 2520 N Lakeview Ave. There is street parking with applicable zone parking restrictions. The Shrine is within walking distance of the Stockton bus.
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Below is a list of Mental Health resources that are available locally here in the City of Chicago.
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Bingo Night at Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
February 11
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Join Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church for Bingo and Game night. Help raise funds for their front lawn renovation.
Visit their website here.
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GCNA Membership Night
February 20
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Stroll through the Gold Coast, past the attention-grabbing boutiques, the trendy restaurants, and the historically-significant buildings until you reach the corner of Rush and Bellevue, home of the Thompson Chicago Hotel—and the location of a good time on February 20.
Join GCNA at our Winter Gold Coast Neighbors’ Membership Event. Delight in socializing with old friends, meeting new ones, and learning what’s happening in our Gold Coast neighborhood. Enjoy beer, wine, and delicious appetizers, courtesy of this elegant, sophisticated hotel.
If you’re already a member of GCNA, come and have an enjoyable evening. If you are not a member, come and join us and have fun meeting new friends. If you want to become a member, enjoy a $25 credit toward your new membership when you join GCNA at the event.
Register here.
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Frequently Asked Questions | |
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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