AI Police Reports; Student Art Show

Hi neighbors,

There are few tools more important for City government than 311—it’s a core way for residents to flag service needs ranging from potholes and streetlight outages to rodent abatement. But the tool has serious flaws that the City’s Inspector General highlighted in a recent audit, ranging from inaccurate estimates for completion, hard to understand updates, and erroneous closeouts of complaints. Not good! 

On Monday, I chaired a hearing of the City Council’s Ethics Committee to spotlight the audit and opportunities for various City departments to improve 311. The Ethics Committee also confirmed two appointments to Chicago’s Board of Ethics. And not a moment too soon. 

This is the third year in a row with at least an eight-month gap in between the end of a Board member’s term and the appointment of their successor. This has created serious problems for the Board of Ethics: two out of the past five Board meetings have been cancelled for lack of quorum, which has prevented several important ethics investigations from moving forward. As Ethics Committee chairman, I’ll continue pushing the Mayor’s Office to move more quickly to fill vacancies not only with the Board of Ethics, but also with the Inspector General (who will be stepping down from her post at the end of April).

In recent months, we’ve learned that ICE agents have used artificial intelligence to write official reports. It’s a practice that’s begun to spread to law enforcement agencies across the country.  But AI is prone to errors, hallucinations, and bias that can undermine the accuracy and credibility of law enforcement reports. Cities including Seattle and San Francisco have already added critical guardrails to this use of AI, and it’s time for Chicago to follow suit. That’s why, at Wednesday’s meeting of the full City Council, I introduced an ordinance to ban the Chicago Police Department from using AI to generate police reports. 

Thank you to all of the neighbors who swing by our Ward Night Out at AJ Hudson’s to pick up LV permits, watch March Madness games, and chat about issues on their block. I particularly appreciated chatting with several neighbors who just moved to our community and had great questions about what a ward office does and our near-term priorities including housing and City finances. 

Finally, on a more somber note, I extend my heartfelt condolences to loved ones and colleagues of Firefighter Michael Altman, who tragically lost his life while combating a fire in our city’s Rogers Park neighborhood. Visitation and funeral services will be held next Thursday and Friday, respectively at St. Rita of Cascia Parish.

Yours in service,

Alderman Matt Martin

Western Brown Line Construction

Progress on the Western Brown Line work continues. Workers are currently installing light poles and rebuilding curbs. Next week, the Loop-bound elevator in the Western Station is expected to open, and parking meters are expected to be reinstalled in the Farmer's Market parking lot.

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Restrict AI Police Reports

Alderman Martin proposed restrictions on police's use of artificial intelligence to write official police reports.

Across the country, officers are already using AI to write official reports often without any guardrails, raising concerns about accuracy, privacy, and potential bias.

If there's something incorrect in a report, for example, it's difficult to know if that officer lied or if AI introduced false information. We need to our official police reports to be accurate and credible all of the time.

Learn more

Student Art Showcase

Monday, April 20th

Join us at the 47th Ward Office for a Student Art Showcase at 6 PM featuring work from McPherson 7th graders and Coonley 3rd–5th graders. We’re excited to debut these vibrant paintings and collages, which will remain on display in the office for several months following the event.

More details announced soon. If your local student wants to display their art in our gallery this spring, please feel free to reach out.

Learn more

Hop N Stop

Saturday, April 4th

Hop into spring with the Northcenter Chamber’s Hop ‘N’ Stop celebration! This event invites families to the neighborhood for a morning of delightful activities, including goodie bags, prize hunts, spring family portraits, and of course, a bunny.

Learn more

Earth Day Park Clean Ups

Saturday, April 18th

Help make a difference this Earth Day by pitching in at a cleanup event taking place at more than 160 parks across the city including Welles and Revere Parks. Activities will vary by park, but typically include things like raking and mulching trees. Materials will be provided, and all ages are welcome. All you have to do is register, show up, and dress for the weather. Spread the word to friends and neighbors.

Learn more

Appointments: Property Tax Exemptions

Friday, March 27th

Meet one-on-one with a representative from the Cook County Assessor's Office to find out if you have all of your property tax saving exemptions, and to get assistance filing your exemptions.

Appointments will be at Commissioner Degnen's office at 4347 N Milwaukee Ave.

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Community Health Donation Drive

Until April 20th

The 47th Ward Youth Council is collecting infant essentials, hygiene, and community health items to donate to families in-need. They're accepting:

• Diapers (sizes 4-6 most needed)
• Pull-ups and training pants
• Baby wipes
• Unopened formula
• New bottles and sippy cups
• New children's clothing (0-5T)
• Toothbrushes & toothpaste
• Shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant
• Feminine hygiene products

Learn more

Apply: Youth Summer Jobs

Chicago Youth Works is your gateway to youth employment opportunities across the city. The program proudly brings together government institutions, companies, and community-based organizations to offer employment and internship opportunities to youth and young adults ages 14 to 24.

Learn more

Nominate: Crossing Guard of the Year

This year, Chicago will select FOUR Crossing Guards (one from each region) to be recognized for the Crossing Guard of the Year award. Nominations are due by 5 pm on Friday, April 17. Nominate a dedicated crossing guard near you!

Learn more

New Businesses on Lincoln Ave

Block Club Chicago recently featured new and upcoming restaurants coming to Lincoln Ave, including a Michelin Star restaurant and a live jazz bar.

• Et Chi, 4701 N Lincoln, Turkish fusion
• Goosefoot, 4520 N Lincoln, Fine Dining
• Ador by Chance, 4624 N Lincoln, Live Jazz & Bar

Learn more

Workshop: Car Repair with Mechanista

Saturday, April 4th

Roll up your sleeves for an intimate, hands-on workshop on general maintenance led by Ray Chafin, Mechanista's lead automotive technician. Everyone is welcome to bring their own car to work on (but this is not required.) This four-hour class will teach participants to:

• Change wiper blades
• Check oil level
• Fill washer fluid
• Check & fill tire pressure (+ spare)
• Remove & replace cabin air filter
• Remove & replace engine air filter

The class will include gloves, snacks and a custom tire gauge. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to bend and lift items, use hand tools, and get dirty.

Learn more

Resources

Business



• Ravenswood Neighborhood Banner Program Open, Learn more
• CPS Safe Passage RFP, Learn more
• Doing Business with City Public Safety Departments, March 31, Learn more
• Square Roots Vendor Applications, Learn more

Workforce

• Chicago Transit Hiring Fair, April 22nd, Learn more
• Chicago Public Health Jobs, Learn more
• Color Me Mine Hiring, Learn more
• Greater West Town Woodworking Training, Learn more
• Greater West Town Shipping & Receiving Training, Learn more

Northside Environmental Mixer

Tuesday, March 24th

Join Northside neighbors to discuss how we can work together to make Chicago a more sustainable city! Local advocates will be meeting at Hopleaf in Andersonville at 5148 N Clark.

If you'd like to get more involved in local environmental activism, this is the perfect opportunity to meet like minded people.

Welles Park Spring Bird Walks

Discover and learn about our fine feathered friends who share Welles Park. Sigrid Schmidt, member and past president of the Chicago Ornithological Society, hosts weekly bird walks in the spring and fall. Next dates:

• April 19th
• April 26th
• May 3rd

Bring your own binoculars, mask and comfy shoes. Walks are extremely casual, so if you are running late or need to leave early, that’s fine. Please dress for the weather. Welles Park can be muddy after a rainfall so leave your good shoes at home.

Email Sigrid with questions: [email protected].

Take Action: Peoples Gas Hike Town Hall

Thursday, March 26th

Gas bills are rising across Chicago — but why, and what can we do about it? This January, Peoples Gas proposed raising rates once again, this time by an average of $10.60 per month. If approved in full, Peoples Gas rates will have increased by 71% in just 4 years.

Join your neighbors on March 26th at 6:30 PM at Spiteful Brewing for an informative and action-focused evening on the subject, in collaboration with Illinois PIRG, Edgewater Environmental Coalition, and local neighborhood groups. All are welcome!

RSVP

Survey: Statewide Housing Plan

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is leading a statewide housing planning effort this year.

They need your help to make this planning process successful. Let them know about the housing needs and goals of your community.

Take the Survey

New Home Buying Assistance Program

TaxSmart is a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program administered by the Chicago Department of Housing that provides a federal income tax credit to qualified homebuyers. To qualify, homebuyers must purchase their first home or buy a home in a target area. Additionally, homebuyers must meet certain income limits and purchase price limits.

Learn more

Western Brown Line Construction

Progress on the Western Brown Line work continues. Workers are currently installing light poles and rebuilding curbs. Next week, the Loop-bound elevator in the Western Station is expected to open, and parking meters are expected to be reinstalled in the Farmer's Market parking lot.

Sign up for Updates

Ashland Resurfacing

CDOT is pausing work on Ashland while they wait for plan revisions for unanticipated sewer work on Ashland from Montrose to Foster. We are working with CDOT to expedite the review of the revised plans and will share timeline updates as we receive them. The revisions do not impact the work on bus pads on Ashland from School to Montrose, which will continue on Monday.

CDOT has shared that the future No Parking signs on Ashland from Montrose to Foster will only restrict parking on Weekdays from 7 AM - 4:30 PM. The vast majority of these signs will not go up until May or June. No Parking signs be posted sooner for 1 - 2 parking spaces near new bump outs or for sewer work, like on Sunnyside near Ashland.

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Greenview Sewer Work

Sewer work is beginning on the east side of the street from 3439 - 3600 N Greenview. Expect No Parking signs to be posted on Monday for weekdays from 7 AM - 3:30 PM, although some work may continue after 3:30 PM. The work will bring private drains into compliance before a sewer lining project later this year. 

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This Year: Upcoming Projects

• Water Main Replacement near Leavitt and Lawrence
• ComEd Projects on Greenview from Roscoe to Grace

This Week

• Lakeview Coffee Stroll, March 22nd, Learn more
• Mahjong at Dovetail, March 25th, Learn more
• KOVAL Game Nights, March 25th, Learn more
• Bunny Bonanza at Welles Park, March 25th, Learn more

Later Weeks



• No Kings Sign Making, March 27th, Learn more
• Lincoln Square No Kings March Send Off, March 28th, Learn more
• Ravenswood 5K, March 30th, Learn more
• Hop Butcher Brewery Tour, March 28th, Learn more
• Hop N Stop, April 4th, Learn more
• Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club Easter Egg Hunt, April 4th, Learn more
• Menopause Workshop, April 4th, Learn more
• Asexual Visibility Day, April 6th, Learn more

Community Job Boards

Looking to work locally? Many of our local chambers of commerce offer job boards to help highlight openings at local businesses. Find more information at the following links:

• Andersonville
• Lakeview/Roscoe Village
• Lincoln Square/Ravenswood
• Northcenter
• Greater Ravenswood