Effective August 20, 2021, masks are required in all indoor public settings. Similar to previous mask mandates, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating/drinking while stationary. Masks can also be removed for certain activities that require their removal, such as beard shaves or facials. Additionally, masks can be removed by employees in settings that are not open to the public, if employees are static and maintaining at least six feet from all other individuals (for example, in office cubicles).

Bars, restaurants and other establishments with a Tavern or Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity license can resume normal hours of operation.

For public gatherings and events, it is recommended that event organizers require attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to attending. To create a safer event, CDPH recommends checking documentation of vaccination or negative test status, if feasible. If vaccination or negative test status cannot be checked, CDPH recommends that all attendees, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.

The Chicago Department of Public Health announced that its in-home vaccination program, Protect Chicago At Home, is now open to all Chicago residents age 12 and up. To encourage Chicago residents to take advantage of the program, Chicago-based company Grubhub will donate gift cards valued at $50 to every household that chooses in-home vaccination. Sign-up here.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced that, effective October 15, 2021, the City of Chicago will require all City employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, joining many other major municipalities and government agencies in taking this important preventive step. While masking and social distancing requirements in the workplace remain, the best protection against COVID-19 is vaccination.

This policy applies to all City employees and volunteers. Employees can apply for medical or religious exemption from this policy. Such requests will be reviewed by the Department of Human Resources on a case-by-case basis.

With the most recent property tax assessments scheduled to arrive in the mail shortly, or having already been delivered, Alderman Dowell's office has received many questions regarding the appeal process. The appeals process is explained in detail at the Cook County Assessor's Office here. Appeals can be made online here. There is also a process by which to appeal your property tax appeal decision with the Board of Review. Information on that process can be found here.

Property tax assessments and the collection of property taxes is handled by Cook County, NOT the City of Chicago. The City sets the base tax rate for properties, while it is the County's responsibility for determining property values and ultimately the collection of property taxes. Questions on the assessment process can be directed to the Cook County Assessor's Office at (312) 443-7550.

Live Nation contacted Alderman Dowell's office related to the Kanye West event that they promoted at Soldier Field on August 26, 2021 and to apologize for the curfew violation that occurred that evening.

Live Nation expressed their appreciation for being able to use a facility like Soldier Field to present their events and take great pride in abiding by the rules that are laid out. With the many events Live Nation have presented at Soldier Field over the years, they say this is the first time they have ever found themselves in this position…and it is not one that they want to find themselves in again.

Live Nation will continue to monitor these situations closely and they are confident in their ability to avoid this situation again in the future.

Alderman Dowell was thankful to once again be able to participate in the historic Bud Billiken Day Parade, which runs right through the heart of Bronzeville in the 3rd Ward along majestic King Drive. Though it was a shorter route, and COVID-19 mitigations were in place, the parade still served as a welcome reminder of the strong, vibrant community that makes up the South Side of Chicago, which for generations has encouraged education, public service and togetherness. Thank you to Myiti Sengstacke-Rice the President/CEO and Parade Chair, basketball legend Candace Parker who served as the Grand Marshall of the parade, and the countless public officials, nonprofits, companies and organizations that made this day so special.

As Chairman of the City Council Committee on the Budget and Government Operations, Alderman Dowell had the pleasure of speaking at the 2022 City of Chicago Budget Engagement Forums. There she discussed the City Council's role in the budget process, and what Chicago residents can expect from her as Chairman of the Committee. Alderman Dowell also had the opportunity to speak directly with members of the community on their budget priorities, which centered on after school programming, food insecurity, affordable housing, eradicating violence, mental health services, jobs, and increased funding for workforce training. These priorities will be discussed as a part of the upcoming 2022 budget, which begins with the Mayor's Budget Address currently scheduled for Friday, September 17th.

Complete information about the City's 2022 Budget can be found here. Alderman Dowell's Committee on the Budget also keeps additional budget-related records here.

Alderman Dowell was proud to host new 1st District Police Commander Patricia Zuber and the development team for a proposed building at 1400 S. Wabash Ave. at her most recent Town Hall meeting. At the meeting Commander Zuber discussed the police's plans to improve public safety in the South Loop, as well as the Citywide plan to address noisy and dangerous motorcycle riders. The development team for 1400 S. Wabash Ave. presented a plan for a new 299-unit, 30-story residential tower in the South Loop. Thank you to Commander Zuber and Colin Kihnke from CMK Companies for presenting at the meeting, and to all the residents who came to meet virtually to discuss these important neighborhood issues.

For the first time in well over a year, Chicago Public Schools welcomed students for in-person learning! Alderman Dowell was on hand at multiple Back to School events she co-sponsored across the ward, including events with the Chicago Urban League and CPS. Thank you to the many sponsors including James Miller, City Sports, Walgreens, ComEd and IIT!!

At these events, families received book bags filled with school supplies, PPE, access to reduced price broadband, food, fun, music and games. Most of the children were very excited to get back to the classroom, but of course everyone always wants the summer fun to last forever!

On August 30th Alderman Dowell was joined by Chicago Park District staff and DePaul University officials for a ground breaking ceremony to refurbish Lin Park (1735 S. State St.). Lin Park is a well-known neighborhood hot-spot for pick-up basketball, and the renovation project will create all-new, safe courts for residents to play on.

In addition, the renovation will include a new half court facility, new bleachers, benches, lighting and a drinking fountain. Updated landscape and ADA accessibility improvements will also be part of the overall renovation. Located adjacent to the Orange Line CTA ‘L’ Train, the park is expected to be completed in Spring 2022 and will be a destination for future generations of athletes to gather and play.

XS Tennis (5336 S. State St.) hosted the 2021 Chicago Tennis Festival where international and American tennis players, including women's tennis legend Venus Williams, competed in a show-stopping tournament. Alderman Dowell and numerous spectators got the opportunity to enjoy some great tennis under a warm Chicago sun. Kudos to XS Tennis CEO Kamau Murrary and the sponsors - PNC Bank, BMW, Magellan, IMC and many others - for putting on such a wonderful event. This event really showcased the beauty and potential for the South Side of Chicago!

Alderman Dowell partnered with neighboring Bronzeville Alderman Sophia King (4th), and the Chicago Department of Transportation to host a community meeting regarding streetscape projects planned for many of Bronzeville's commercial corridors. The scope of this project includes streetscape improvements on 43rd Street, Prairie Avenue to Cottage Grove; Cottage Grove, Bowen Avenue to 49th Street; 47th Street, Prairie Avenue to Cottage Grove. The project will provide safe, walkable, and attractive streets that will foster community and economic growth. This effort will support the INVEST South/West initiative to re-activate neighborhood cores that serve as focal points for pedestrian activity, shopping, services, transportation, public spaces and quality-of life amenities for local residents.

To see the presentation given at the community meeting and to take the survey on the proposed improvements, please click here.

Alderman Dowell has made it a point of pride to shepherd the creation of new market-rate, affordable, and commercial development throughout the 3rd Ward. That commitment has been evident in Bronzeville, where Crain's Chicago Business has featured a look at this fast growing neighborhood. From single-family homes being built on former City property through the Parade of Homes project, the redevelopment of the vacant historic Rosenwald Apartments, or the new proposed 43 Green mixed-use transit oriented development, there is a lot happening in Bronzeville! Check it out at https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicagos-bronzeville-neighborhood-new-lincoln-park

Alderman Dowell stopped by National Night Out events across the ward to visit with residents and to meet with the local police officers who keep our community safe. Thanks to all the police who serve the neighborhood and to the community members who put such a fun and festive event together.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement by offering a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Local events include prizes, food, and entertainment for all ages!

The 3rd Annual Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project (CRR19) rode through Bronzeville on Saturday, July 24th to remember the victims of the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. Thank you to the 488 people that registered for the event and contributed over $3,400 in donations toward the goal of installing historical markers in the 38 locations that individuals were killed during the riots.

Check out the beautiful video of the event created by Globetown Media. And please see some wonderful photos from the event as well as recent media about the CRR19 project: WBEZ, ABC 7 Chicago, DuSable Museum's Code Black, and Block Club Chicago.

CPS has been anticipating and planning for bus driver shortages that have been unfortunately impacting school districts across the country. The district developed solutions and was able to secure staffing and assign routes to all eligible families, which was communicated to families the week of August 23.

During the week of August 23, approximately 10 percent of bus drivers resigned. As a result, the district went from being able to provide all eligible students a bus route, to being unable to accommodate transportation for approximately 2,100 students within a matter of days.

While CPS understands it will not completely alleviate the predicament for families, they are offering transportation stipends of $1,000 for the first 2 weeks, and $500 the following months for the 2,100 students without transportation, as well as students who are impacted by longer route times. CPS is committed to ongoing engagement and dialogue with families and will be working diligently with them to solve this problem moving forward.

If you have been affected by the bus driver shortage, or need more information on transportation options provided by CPS, please call 773-553-2850.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, building construction permits have slowed slightly in both 2020 and 2021. In 2020 there were 745 building permits issued, while 515 permits were issued in 2021. That compares to a ten year high of 1,060 permits issued in 2018. The majority of the permits issued in 2020 and 2021 were through the easy permit process, which allows for small rehabilitation projects in existing buildings. 79 permits were issued for new construction projects over the two years, while 242 permits were for substantial renovations of existing structures. Recently, the City has seen a slight uptick in permit applications, and full data on year end trends should be available shortly after the end of the year.

Through the Building a New Chicago infrastructure improvement program, Alderman Dowell and DWM are pleased to inform you that the installation of the new sewer on Michigan Ave. from 47th St. to 49th St. is now completed, including the final restoration of the street. This is project number 7442.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation through this important infrastructure project, as well as your participation in our project notifications initiative.

Through the Building a New Chicago infrastructure improvement program, the Department of Water Management (DWM) is in the midst of a 10-year capital program that includes:

Before any project, the Department of Water Management (DWM) takes photographs of the street and surrounding properties. These photographs help us to restore the area to its preconstruction state. However, DWM does not assume responsibility for damage to privately installed parkway improvements, including sprinkling systems, fences, flower beds and shrubbery. New sewer construction is not complete until damaged sidewalks, parkways and streets have been repaired.

Netsync is providing notification for a proposed fiber optic installation construction project at Cullerton Ave. and Prairie Ave. Work consists of the installation of (1) 4’x4’ communications manholes. This project comes as an effort by Netsync to build up their infrastructure in order to bring advanced fiber optic connectivity within the Chicago Public Schools system. This build is scheduled for Q4 2021.

On August 18, 2021, Hafi Foods (215 E. Garfield Blvd.) agreed to the voluntary revocation of their license. Previously, Hafi Foods was issued violations for operating without a Tobacco License, no city or county tax emblems on tobacco, concealment of tobacco, operating after a Cease and Desist order, and smoking violations. Questions regarding this case can be directed to the 3rd Ward Public Service Office at 773-373-9273.

To further combat the issue of dangerous and loud motorcycles that frequently disturb residents citywide - and in the 3rd Ward especially - Alderman Dowell has co-sponsored a resolution that calls on the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department and representatives from the Illinois State Police to testify at a hearing on drag racing and drifting. Already, Alderman Dowell has authored new laws in Chicago to combat the modified noisemaking motorcycles that race across the City. This new has only recently began to be implemented by CPD. But Alderman Dowell understands that more needs to be done to combat this public safety and quality of life issue. A public conversation and better coordination between all the departments responsible for fighting this nuisance must occur immediately.

For a complete list of Soldier Field events, please visit www.SoldierField.net/event. The 3rd Ward is providing the list below as a courtesy to residents and visitors and does not assume liability for the accuracy of the monthly list of South Loop events. All Soldier Field events are subject to change, including cancellation or the scheduling of additional events. It is your responsibility to adhere to the parking restrictions in place. 

Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations/staff/overhead costs; up to $250,000 for hotels.

Businesses with revenues of $20 million or less in 2019 and a reduction in revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19 ($35 million or less for hotels).

To assist small businesses with the B2B application process, DCEO has partnered with Community Navigator organizations in every region of the state. These navigators stand ready to help with technical assistance and application preparation, including multilingual support, assistance with bank and tax documents, and more. The Navigators will work in tandem with our state team and our network of 42 Small Business Development Centers to ensure business have the help they need.

Find your community outreach partner including navigators, SBDCs, as well as DCEO Support Teams with the B2B search tool (scroll to bottom), or view the list by name, county, or language service.

Kennedy-King College has full-tuition scholarships for students seeking to enroll, whether full- or part-time. They are making it easier for students to afford college with the Statesmen Scholarship. Through the award, eligible students can receive up to the total cost of tuition for the semester. For more information, click this link.

The new Senior Club at Williams Park is free for ages 60 and up on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 pm to 2:15 pm starting Sept. 7th. Ideas include bingo, watering the garden (and giving out fruits & vegetables with 2 more garden boxes next year!), games, cards, walking club and or talks. The Park can make it whatever the seniors want! This is new club, so let's make it special!

DITI has extended the deadline for the survey of immigrants with disabilities who live in Illinois. While there is information available about immigrant groups and disability groups, it’s very hard to find data about immigrants who are also people with disabilities. The survey covers topics of concern such as housing, personal assistant needs, difficulties with immigration status, and more. The information collected will ONLY be utilized by DITI to determine the needs of immigrants with disabilities and their support persons.

The survey is available in five languages and can be found here.

The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor will roll out the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program for applications in the following TIF districts in October:

Applications open: 9 a.m. Friday, October 1st. Applications close: 5 p.m. Monday, November 1st. Learn more and apply at www.chicago.gov/sbif.

The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own. Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply.

Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City's behalf and do not have to be repaid.

Learn about the home buying process such as the basics of budgeting, improving credit, understanding

the closing process and down payment assistance programs. This is an eight-hour course delivered in four

2-hour sessions.

When: Wednesday, September 1st at 6:00 pm (link to register), Saturday, September 11th at 9:00 am (link to register)

Please join the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge and the Proud Scottish Rite members for a Chicago Police Department Recruitment Event. Come out and learn more about CPD's hiring process, and meet officers from across the department to learn more about what it's really like to be an officer. Open for residents 18-39 years old.

Where: Prince Hall Masonic Temple (809 E. 42nd Pl.)

When: Wednesday, September 8th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Whether you are planning to purchase a home or simply need to improve your finances, this webinar will

prepare you for financial security. Learn How To: develop a spending plan, reduce your debt, and

increase your credit score.

When: Tuesday, September 14th at 6:00 pm (link to register), Thursday, September 28th at 6:00 pm (link to

register)

Alderman Dowell, the Heartland Animal Shelter and Paws Salvation are teaming up to offer a free dog vaccine clinic. Pets will be able to get free core vaccines, microchips and food. Dogs must be on a secure leash and puppies must be at least 6 weeks old. Visit bit.ly/hlclinic for details.

Where: 3rd Ward Public Service Office (5046 S. State St.)

When: Sunday, September 12th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Whether you are a brick and mortar business or a local brand looking to grow sales, you must create an e-commerce strategy to be competitive. Join this workshop to have the right strategy in time for the holidays.

Where: Virtual - Register Here

When: Monday, September 13th from 9:30 am to 11:00 am

ComEd is hosting virtual learning sessions for 11th and 12th grade students to learn how to power sustainability through hands-on sessions with ComEd engineers. To register click here (11th grade) or here (12th grade). Questions can be directed to zoe.pidgeon@comed.com.

When: September 18th (11th grade), October 16th (12th grade)