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It’s been a busy “break” week and now we head back to Springfield for the home stretch. Between now and the end of May, we’ll be doing full week (and at least one weekend) sessions as we complete legislative work and shift our focus to budget negotiations. Next week’s session runs from Tuesday to Friday with a deadline to move all of the Senate bills that were sent over out of substantive committees by Friday.
The week wasn’t all work though, I was excited to once again participate in the Illinois Environmental Council’s annual Earth Month Celebrity Bartender event at the iconic Nisei Lounge in Lakeview. This year I was joined behind the bar by my colleague Rep. Kam Buckner and had the pleasure of teaching him how to pull his first draft beer. It was a fun and successful night, proving that work and play can sometimes mix well!
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Rep. Kam Buckner and I having a great time. | |
I have three Senate bills I’m working on this session, two of which had House companion bills that are no longer moving.
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SB2740 was sponsored by Sen. Dan McConchie. It seeks to provide remedies for people with disabilities who live in condominium buildings and need accessible parking. Currently, there are no regulations on the sale of accessible parking spaces, which often creates a situation where a new unit owner in need of an accessible space can’t purchase a space when it’s been sold to a person who is not in need of the accessible space. The bill would create procedures for condominium boards to be able to make the necessary adjustments to space ownership in these circumstances and would place limits on the ability of developers to sell accessible spaces.
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SB3285 is the Senate version (sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters) of the bill to address an Illinois Supreme Court decision that limited the applicability of the Gender-Based Violence Resentencing Act. The House version was HB5646
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SB3648 is the Senate version (sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters) of the trailer bill addressing implementation issues for CESSA, the Community Emergency Supportive Services Act. The House version was HB5377.
This week brought a renewed push by Bears ownership to replace their stadium on the lakefront with a multi-use facility. While they have at least acknowledged they need to pay for some of the costs, it feels as if none of these team owners are hearing the very loud and clear messages from the public and legislators that there simply is no appetite to publicly subsidize another stadium owned by billionaires.
I was contacted by a reporter this week who was familiar with my public pushback when Jerry Reinsdorf came to the capitol seeking funding for a new stadium for the White Sox. We spoke after a little bit of phone tag and I explained that I missed her first call because I was meeting with a social service provider who was making an incredibly compelling case for the need to adequately fund case management services for people with disabilities who wish to remain in the community, but require support and assistance to maintain their independence. The ask was somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million, a far cry from the billions being demanded by wealthy successful business owners. I was giving an answer I’ve shared too many times this year with social service providers who have been long underfunded and protect the people who need us most - that this is going to be a tight budget year and they need to temper their expectations. When I see the stories of these shameless demands to subsidize successful businesses, I can’t help but add up all of these relatively small asks (even though $20 million is by no means a small amount) and think of the people who could be helped with those dollars. Whether that’s funding social services, addressing the long-deferred maintenance issues in schools and other facilities, providing housing and medical care, or really any of a myriad of priorities more pressing than subsidizing folks who can easily afford to provide facilities for their successful businesses.
I’m off to pick up one of the boys from college this weekend, so I am sad to miss what promises to be a fun event on Howard Saturday at 11 am. The Howard Street Carnaval: An African and Caribbean Diaspora Celebration will feature great food, music, and dancing, and kicks off with a parade featuring amazing floats, costumes, and performances.
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A Just Harvest: African Caribbean Diaspora Howard Street Carnaval | |
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A Just Harvest is hosting its Inaugural African Caribbean Street Carnaval on Howard St from 11am-5pm on Saturday, April 27th.
Featuring a Parade that will kick off at Triangle Park (1750 W Juneway Ter) at 11am, the festival seeks to celebrate the local Caribbean and African diaspora that call Rogers Park and Chicago home. After the parade, there will be dancing, spoken word and musical performances, plus local vendors serving jerk chicken, goat curry, jollof rice and sweet plantain dishes.
To learn more about this event, visit the following LINK.
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Theater Above the Law: Prelude to a Kiss | |
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Rogers Park's "Theater Above the Law" is showing a new production starting May 3 Titled Prelude to a Kiss.
At Peter and Rita’s wedding, a mysterious old man insists on kissing the bride. While honeymooning, Peter gradually realizes that the woman by his side is not his wife. The wedding kiss caused Rita’s soul and the old man’s to change places. Peter must track down the old man and free his young love’s spirit trapped in an aging and diseased body before it’s too late.
To purchase tickets, visit the following LINK.
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Join the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce at the Chicago Waldorf School (5200 N Ashland) April 30th from 5PM-8PM as they host Valborg, a Swedish tradition that marks the arrival of spring and is often seen as an opportunity to bid farewell to the winter months. One of the central elements of Valborg celebrations in Sweden is the lighting of large bonfires. These bonfires are typically lit in public spaces, such as parks or community squares, and people gather around them to socialize, sing songs, and enjoy the warmth of the fire. In addition to bonfires, other common activities during Valborg include singing traditional songs, particularly ones associated with spring and nature.
The Edgewater Environmental Coalition will also be there embracing the spirit of spring with native plants and sustainable gardening practices. They are giving away free native seed packets to kickstart your garden, ensuring a colorful and thriving landscape for seasons to come. Dive into the season with a mobile free seed library, where you can share, swap, and donate seeds with neighbors, fostering a community of green-thumb camaraderie.
To learn more about this event visit the following LINK.
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Independent Bookstore Day at Women & Children First | |
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Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party celebrating indie bookstores on Saturday, April 27 . This year, more than two dozen independent bookstores in the greater Chicago area are collaborating on a third annual #ChiLoveBooks Challenge, which encourages book lovers to indulge in bookstore tourism by visiting 10 or more stores in a single day. To begin their trip, readers can pick up a #ChiLoveBooks passport and their first stamp with an initial purchase of $25 or more from the store of their choice.
Additional bookstore visits throughout the day (no purchase required) enable them to collect an additional stamp at each subsequent bookstore. The payoff comes for visits at the following levels:
Visit TEN stores and get 10% off at all participating bookstores for an entire year!
Visit FIFTEEN stores and get 15% off at all participating bookstores for an entire year!
Women & Children First will have complimentary refreshments from The Coffee Studio and giveaways galore, plus exclusive IBD merch, while supplies last. Customers who spend $100 or more will get a free IBD or W&CF tote bag until they run out! Support them as they recently have experienced damage to their property.
To learn more about this event, visit the following LINK.
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Pottawattomie Park Spring Plant Sale | |
The Spring Plant sale is back at Pottawattomie Park 7340 N. Rogers Ave. The plant sale will be the Saturday before Mother’s Day Weekend Saturday May 4th from 11:00a - 2:00p. There will be annuals, perennials and houseplants available. Proceeds will benefit landscape improvements at Pottawattomie Park and youth programming. Please bring cash and if you have plant cuttings or divisions to share bring those too. | |
The Chicago Mosaic School's Mosaic Fest | |
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The Chicago Mosaic School is hosting its 2024 Mosaic Fest on Sunday, May 19th from 11am-6pm at 1127 W. Granville.
This event is a perfect way to experience all The Chicago Mosaic School has to offer while connecting with the community! Try your hand at creating a variety of mosaic projects, listen to live music, meet your neighbors, and enjoy food and beverages from several featured vendors.
To learn more about this event, visit the following LINK.
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Jarvis Square Artisan Market | |
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The Jarvis Square Artisan Market returns to Jarvis Square (Greenview and Jarvis) for another season! The market brings local arts and craft vendors to the Jarvis Square Alfresco area where they can showcase and sell their creations. The market also has live music and food for patrons to enjoy. From 10am-2pm.
Vendors who are interested in participating in this or future monthly markets should email charmersartisans@gmail.com.
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The Andersonville Farmers Market | |
The Andersonville Farmers Market, celebrating its 15th anniversary season, returns on Wednesdays from 3 – 7 pm from May 15 – October 23, 2024 on Catalpa Ave. between Clark St. and Ashland Ave. Featuring more than 40 vendors, everything sold at the Andersonville Farmers Market is grown or produced within a 200-mile radius, offering the community access to fresh, local food. The 24-week market will continue to feature weekly entertainment and expanded kids’ programming including Cruelty Free You + Me every week, and sustainability-themed activities on select dates. This year there will be special Makers Markets on May 15, 22 and 29, 2024, spotlighting local makers and their goods. Presented in partnership with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, the Makers Market will be held on the west end of Catalpa, adjacent to the Farmers Market. | |
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Check Eligibility for License Plate and
Transportation Discounts
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The Illinois Department of Aging offers discounts to Illinois residents which include license plate & public transportation discounts. To check if you're eligible click here. Our office is able to assist with any questions regarding the process of applying or what information is needed. Please reach out to us at 773-784-2002 or email Wade at Wade@repcassidy.com | |
ICJIA R3 Program Fact Sheet | |
Andersonville Wine Walk Tickets on Sale | |
Our office (1507 W. Morse) will serve as a drop off location for The Diaper and Menstrual Care Drive that will support Care for Real. We are accepting drop offs Monday - Friday from 9am-5pm. Please call 773-784-2002 to make sure we will be in the office. | |
One Summer Chicago Now Accepting Applications | |
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Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) have launched the One Summer Chicago (OSC) application portal. OSC aims to connect an additional 4,000 young people to jobs this summer.
Access the portal at OneSummerChicago.org
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One Summer Chicago Now Accepting Applications | |
Chicago Park District Summer Jobs | |
Join the 48th ward team this summer - apply to our Summer Events Internship. The Summer Events Intern will be responsible for coordinating the ward booth at events, ensuring that our office is visible and accessible to the community. Responsibilities will include recruiting volunteers, speaking with neighbors at events, and using the city's 311 service to report and follow up on service requests. Learn more about responsibilities and requirements for the role here. Submit a cover letter and resume to apply@the48thward.org by Friday, May 1. | |
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
1507 W. Morse Ave
Chicago IL 60626
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773-784-2002 (phone)
Info@repcassidy.com
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