Dear Neighbors,

This week City Council passed a new short term rental ordinance that I believe fails to address the needs of the 43rd Ward.  Council rejected my appeal to include our residents living in low-rise residential areas in a new neighborhood Opt-out provision. In debate before the full Council, I likened the STR industry to a " runaway train." (My city council remarks are at here at 2:52.)

Media coverage has been extensive.  You can see some of the coverage here and here. 

This regulation problem is not limited to Chicago. Mayors of several European and US cities are creating a joint strategy to oversee this $25B industry.

While I have many disagreements about this legislation, our ordinance is the first to require Airbnb and other listing services to provide a full list of the units on their sites which will allow the City to track whether their units are licensed.  

Our main concern has been commercially-owned investor units. As a result of the negotiations for this ordinance, licensing standards were tightened, enforcement substantially improved, and some community involved is required.  

Additionally, if a homeowner's association or landlord notifies City Hall that its property prohibits short term rentals, that property goes on a "prohibited buildings" list. The type of properties eligible for the prohibited buildings list were greatly expanded due to my input. The City will deny a license to anyone seeking a short term rental license at that address.  However, denials will be subject to an appeals process, during which time the property can continue to be listed and rented.

You can read the entire Ordinance here.

It will be months before this law goes into effect and we intend to use the time to education you how to utilize the ordinance to excercise your rights.  If you would like to host a Vacation Rental Ordinance Workshop for your block, neighborhood or homeowner's association, please call us at  773-348-9500 or email us.

A sincere thank you to everyone who wrote, emailed, and came to meetings. Your input and support resulted in an improved ordinance. 

Come join me at the  Chicago Sculpture Exhibit opening to meet this year's artists and sponsors at 1544 N. Sedgwick tonight , June 24th from 6 PM to 9 PM. For more info call (312) 772-2872. 

Join my office, the Wrightwood Neighbors Association and the WNA/Wiggly Field Advisory Committee in celebrating Wiggly Field's 20th Anniversary Celebration. Come to Wiggly Field on  Saturday, June 25th from 10 AM to 1 PM.  Enjoy all the fun and don't forget to bring your dogs!

The 47th Annual Chicago Pride Parade  kicks off at noon on Sunday, June 26, 2016, at Montrose Avenue and Broadway in Uptown and ends near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.  We'll be marching, so come on out and watch.

There will be NO PARKING on Diversey from Broadway to Cannon Drive and on Cannon Drive from Fullerton to Diversey.  Tow trucks will be out at 5 am on Sunday, so move your car.

Come to Fire Station Park on Larrabee south of Armitage this  Sunday, June 26th from 5 PM to 7 PM to enjoy the Sunday Summer Sipper with the Lincoln Central Association. This wonderful free event will feature hors d'oeuvres, beverages, magic, music and more.  Stroll on by!

All community members are invited to the "Keeping it Real" Burglary Workshop hosted by the 19th District Community Policing Office for an in depth discussion on burglary awareness and prevention from a panel of convicted burglars. Join the 19th District on Wednesday, June 29th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Olson Auditorium, 836 W. Wellington.  

Please join my office and the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce in providing your input on what businesses you would like to see on Lincoln Avenue and what improvements could be made to the streetscape. Share your opinions by taking the Lincoln Avenue Corridor Plan Community Survey.  Everyone who completes the survey by Friday, June 30th and provides their email address will be entered to win a pair of tickets to 2016 Lincoln Park Uncorked: a Lincoln Avenue Win Stroll and a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant. To learn more about the Lincoln Avenue Corridor Plan read this letter.