Phase 4 Reopening Update
43rd Ward Public Safety Forum - Tonight
Census Extention
43rd Ward Public Safety Forum
TONIGHT Wednesday, September 30
6:00 p.m.

Join us TONIGHT for an important public safety forum with Command staff from the 18th and 19th District, Mayoral Public Safety staff, State's Attorney's Office, and the 911 center.

Sign up here. After registering for the webinar, you will receive an email about an hour before the start of the meeting with the link for and instructions how to access the Zoom meeting.  Please plan to log into Zoom and access the meeting 10-15 minutes before the official start time, so that there is enough time to troubleshoot any technical problems and familiarize yourself with its features.

Please email questions to yourvoice@ward43.org. We would like to collect as many questions as possible in advance to make sure we have answers at the meeting.
City Announces New Steps to Re-Open Restaurants,
Bars, Health and Beauty Facilities
Mask Wearing Critical To Keep Our Businesses Open

The following changes will take effect Thursday, October 1 as we transition into phase 4 reopening:

  • Restaurants, health and fitness centers, and all other establishments that have been limited to 25% indoor capacity will now be able to increase their maximum indoor capacity to 40%
  • The limit remains 50 total individuals within one room or space.

  • Bars, taverns, brewers and other establishments that serve alcohol for on-site consumption without a retail food license may reopen indoor seating at 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer
  • Service remains limited to no more than two hours per party, and customers must be seated when eating, drinking or ordering – patrons cannot walk up to the bar to order
  • The establishment must partner with a food provider so that food is always available to patrons (e.g., making menus available and allowing delivery, allowing patrons to order from third-party delivery services)
  • Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns, breweries and event venues will remain at six people (indoor or outdoor)
  • Additional food service and bar updates include:
  • When dining out at a food service establishment or bar, customers must wear face coverings while seated at all times (including when interacting with staff), except when actively eating or drinking
  • When taking reservations and seating walk-in customers, restaurants and bars should retain an email and/or phone number for possible contact tracing
  • Bars, restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol will now be able to sell alcohol for on-site or off-site consumption until 1:00 a.m. and may remain open until 1:30 a.m. (liquor stores, grocery stores and other establishments that sell alcohol to-go through a Package Goods license must continue to cease alcohol sales at 9:00 p.m.)

  • Maximum group size for health and fitness classes, and after-school- programs increased from 10 to 15 people
  • Personal services that require the removal of face coverings permitted to reopen (e.g., facials, beard trims)
  • Services are recommended to be kept under 15 minutes and the employee conducting the service must always wear a face covering
  • All places of business should provide hand sanitizer for patrons and employees to use upon entry

  • Residential property managers are asked to continue limiting guest entry to five additional people for single-member households such that total indoor gatherings and parties do not exceed six people.

These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. You can also visit the city's Covid-19 website for updates here.
Seminars for Businesses


For a full overview of the phase four requirements, visit chicago.gov/reopening.

To help businesses prepare for the new guidelines, BACP will be holding a series of webinars today. To register and learn more, visit chicago.gov/businesseducation:

  • Food Service and Bars: September 30, 1:00 p.m.
  • Event and Performance Venues: September 30, 2:30 p.m.
  • Retail: September 30, 3:30 p.m.
CDPH Flu Clinic Schedule

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is launching its annual Flu Vaccination Campaign to raise awareness and to ensure that Chicagoans are aware of the importance of receiving their flu shot. CDPH recommends everyone six months and older receive a yearly flu vaccine as the first, and most important step, in protecting against the flu. To ensure that every resident can access vaccines, regardless of their immigration status and ability to pay, CDPH has scheduled more than 50 community flu clinics over the next two months where residents can get their flu shot for no out-of-pocket cost.

Walgreen's and CVS are also offering flu shots at low cost as well.
Census Extended
Make Sure You Are Counted

The federal courts have enjoined the Trump administration from stopping the census on September 30. This means there is one more month for us to ensure that every Chicagoan is counted. 

Our ward response rate sits at 66%. In the Gold Coast, we are at 62%. In the 2010 census we were at 85%. We must get this done or risk losing billions in federal financial aid and reducing our representation in Congress.

Please ask your friends whether they have completed the census and get it done here

Please also answer the door for US census workers and allow them access to your building to knock on doors. A census worker will always have proper identification.
Still Time to Take CPD Policing Policy Surveys

The Chicago Police Department is asking for your input for a series of surveys on several important policing policies, and will begin conducting discussions with community members and individuals with first-hand experience in order to improve and create new policies.
Members of the community have until October 15, 2020 to complete the surveys. Click the links below to take each survey:

News for Businesses
Business Interruption Grants

Applications for the second round of Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program funding are now open. This program is aimed to help Illinois small businesses suffering losses due to COVID-19 and recent civil unrest. This second wave aims to provide relief for all types of small businesses, particularly in the arts, restaurants and hospitality. Find out more here..
You can find Eligibility Criteria and fill out this application. You may submit questions or requests for application assistance here.
Flavored Liquid Nicotine Ordinance

On September 9, 2020, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance which prohibits the sale or display of any flavored liquid nicotine products in Chicago. This ordinance is targeting at "vaping" or "e-cigarettes," which are targeted at youth and young adults. This bars the sale of vaping liquid that is flavored such as menthol, mint, wintergreen. chocolate, vanilla, honey, cocoa, any candy. any dessert, any alcoholic beverage, any fruit, any herb, or any spice, other than tobacco.

The ban is effective on December 1, 2020. To download the Industry Notice, click here.
To read the Ordinance, click here.

Community News
Redefine the Drive

Last week I told you about the planning process to improve Lake Shore Drive from Grand Avenue to Hollywood called "Redefine the Drive." The Chicago Department of Transportation has unveiled design concepts for the improvement of the Lakefront Trail and Park. This week, “Define the Drive” highlights two more critical topics: Transit Improvements and Climate Change & Environment.

Transit Improvements
The study’s Purpose and Need calls for improving safety and mobility for all users, improving infrastructure deficiencies, and improving access and circulation throughout the project corridor. To accomplish these goals, targeted transit improvements are a key component of the project scope. Review the transit improvements common to all alternatives in this Study Spotlight.

Click here to read the Transit Improvements Study Spotlight
 
Climate Change & Environment
As the North Lake Shore Drive corridor continues to experience flooding due to the effects of climate change, the NLSD Phase I Study project team remains committed to developing designs and improvements to mitigate and adapt to these impacts. Review these proposed designs and improvements in this Study Spotlight.
 
Click here to read the Climate Change & Environment Study Spotlight

You can share your input here.
Outdoor Children's Classes at Lincoln Common
Continue This Month
Help Our Independent Music Venues

The arts are the lifeblood and economic engine of the 43rd Ward. Our Ward has 34 independent venues for the arts, and all are very hard hit by the pandemic.

Especially hard hit are the independent music venues - think of Park West, Lincoln Hall, the Tonic Room, Kingston Mines, and Blues among many others. Without help, we may lose many of these venues - permanently. Watch this video and help support the #SaveOurStages campaign.

With the move to Phase 4, please stay vigilant, wear your masks and socially distance,






43rd Ward Virtual Office Hours: M - F 9 AM - 5 PM 
 2523 N Halsted | 773-348-9500 yourvoice@ward43.org www.ward43.org