Short Term Rentals Hearing
Ward Night Tonight
Early Voting Underway
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Dear Neighbors,
Last week we held a hearing on the need to update the current ordinance regulating short-term rentals.
The difficulties with the ordinance led to the over-three year battle to revoke the listing of a "party house" rental in Old Town, among other examples discussed at the meeting. A video of the party and police incidents at the address is below.
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In another example, CPD seized 24 illegal guns, including an automatic weapon and extended magazines at an
Airbnb party in Wicker Park
. That one incident consumed at least $50,000 in police resources.
Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) testified that the current ordinance needs to be modernized because "other cities have gone beyond Chicago." BACP stated that their most important priorities for change are:
- the City must approve a unit for registration before it can be listed on any platform
- the City must have more data and have immediate availability of data
- the platforms and hosts must respond directly and immediately to safety concerns.
Today, BACP does not even have full access to the identities of hosts, making it difficult to verify ownership, and making it impossible for the police to respond effectively to incidents. Unlike cities all over the world, BACP today must subpoena short term rental platforms for information about hosts and rental information, a time-consuming process.
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The market today is dominated by investors
, not by individual homeowners, in direct violation of our ordinance. Of
the 8500 short-term rental listings in Chicago, 72% of the listings are from hosts with more than one listing, and almost 60% are listed as corporate owners.
Short-term rental listings grew by 12% last year alone. Only 5300 are actually registered with the city, and the city cannot prove ownership. Certainly many of us have had good experiences with short-term rentals in our travels. But as a business, it should be regulated, with transparency of data and safety for the community.
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March Ward Night
Tonight, Monday, March 9
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Ward Office
2523 N. Halsted Ave
Please sign up using the
Calendly link; however, walk-in's are always welcome.
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Condo Seminar
with Attorney Sima Kirsch
Wednesday, March 11
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
St. Paul's Church
2335 N. Orchard St.
Our office, along with local community groups, will be sponsoring a condo seminar with attorney Sima Kirsch. The focus will be on your rights as individual condo owners. If you have any questions, please email us at
[email protected], or call us at 773-348-9500.
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Election Day and Early Voting
Early Voting March 2 - 16
Election Day March 17
Early voting for the March Presidential Primary begins Monday, March 2 through March 16. The Lincoln Park Library Branch (1150 W. Fullerton) is the closest location in our area.
Please note: There are new election machines this year at polling sites. Watch
this video
to show you how they work. For more information, please visit the
Board of Elections
website.
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LSC Elections Deadline Extended
Candidates Through Friday, March 13 at 3 p.m.
CPS has extended the application deadline due to record high interests in becoming an LSC member. Serving on a Local School Council (LSC) provides a unique opportunity to become engaged in your school community and play an active role in making policy decisions affecting your school. LSCs are critical to ensuring positive student outcomes and a dynamic school environment.
To apply, candidates must download and fill out the
application forms
and return them with two forms of identification to the Office of Local School Council Relations at the Garfield Park Office on the third floor of 2651 W. Washington Blvd.
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Gold Coast Neighbors
Spring Membership Event
Tonight, Monday, March 9
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Maple & Ash
8 W. Maple St.
Enjoy beer, wine, and appetizers courtesy of Maple & Ash while talking with your neighbors and learning about your Gold Coast community.
Admission is $20 per person for a GCNA member, $25 for a nonmember.
To reserve your place
click here
to register. Please register in advance as walk-in's are not permitted.
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March Meeting and CAPs Meeting
Wrightwood Neighbors
Tonight, Monday, March 9
7:00 p.m.
New Life Church
1101 W. Lill St.
Join the
Wrightwood Neighbors for their monthly meeting and stay for the CAPS meeting. CAPS meetings are a great way to stay informed and meet the officers that patrol your beat everyday.
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Mayer Charity Drive Week
March 9 -13
Oscar Mayer Magnet School
2150 N. Clifton Ave
MYP students and Bulldog Heroes (FOM's public-service committee) are collecting various items during the week of March 9-11th to be donated to those in need. Please
click here
to see a list of items. Drop-off items to bins which will be located throughout Mayer.
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Sharing Success: Women in Business 2020
Wednesday, March 11
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
The Greenhouse Theater
2257 N. Lincoln Ave
From owning your own business to climbing the corporate ladder, find inspiration and practical professional advice at this panel and networking event. This interactive panel moderated by Sophie Evanoff, President of Vanille Patisserie, will feature: Melissa Flynn, Executive Director, Green City Market Agnieszka Rapacz, President, TeaGschwendner, Julie Rodrigues Widholm, Director and Chief Curator, DePaul Art Museum.
RSVP
and pay before March 10: $20 members, $30 guests, or pay at the door: $25 members, $35 guests.
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Elder Justice Center: Medicare Fraud and
Genetic Testing Senior Medicare Patrol
Thursday, March 12
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Richard J. Daley Center
50 W. Washington St.
Learn about genetic testing fraud scams, durable medical equipment phone scams, protecting yourself from Medicare fraud, and how to read your Medicare summary notice.
To register contact: The Circuit Court of Cook County Elder Justice Center at
(312) 603-9233.
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Belmont Village Presents: How to Manage Parkinson's So It Doesn't Manage You
Thursday, March 12
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Belmont Village Senior Living
700 W. Fullerton Ave
Join Belmont Village for a presentation on Parkinson's disease and the value of exercise. Learn the links between exercise and socialization. Learn how to incorporate Parkinson's-specific exercises to assist with people who are living with Parkinson's disease.
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Real ID Information Session and
Mobile ID Event
Saturday, March 14
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Center on Halsted
3656 N Halsted
The Secretary of State's office will create mobile ID's from 10-2 p.m. Real ID's will not be available at the mobile site.
If you have any questions please contact the office of Senator Sara Feigenholtz at 773-296-4141.
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March Music at the
DePaul School of Music
Throughout March
The new Holtschneider Center and new Opera House provide beautiful venues to experience music at the highly rated DePaul School of Music. Experience free or inexpensive concerts right here in the neighborhood! Highlights for March include the DePaul Opera Theatre's production of The Marriage of Figaro, ensemble and chamber music performances, and concerts from area groups.
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Did you check all your clocks to Spring forward?
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