Dear Neighbors,
As we finish a busy week in City Council, today’s newsletter provides updates on several important items moving through Council and across the 43rd Ward. We also hope to see many of you tomorrow at the Diversey Community Coalition’s family-friendly neighborhood rally opposing ComEd’s proposed substation at 1111 W. Diversey. Our office has stood with neighbors for the past year in pushing for a more appropriate location, and tomorrow is another important opportunity to make our community’s voice heard. We will kick things off at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Seminary & Diversey. See you there!
Update on Last Week’s Robberies in the 43rd Ward
As reported in this Monday’s Special Newsletter, our office was notified of three daytime armed robberies against women, as well as a separate home burglary, that occurred in the community over the last week and a half. Since then, I have been in continuous contact with Chicago Police Department leadership to advocate for increased patrol in our community, which they are providing in addition to active robbery missions. Area Three Detectives are continuing to investigate these incidents, and thanks to evidence provided by the community, I am hopeful that arrests will be made.
These incidents are unacceptable and underscore why I continuously push the City for the resources, staffing, patrols, and enforcement our neighborhoods need. Although these brazen daytime robberies are uncommon in the 43rd Ward, they are a clear example that more needs to be done. To any residents who may be feeling unsafe, I’d like to assure you that public safety remains my number one priority. All Chicagoans should feel safe where they live and while we push for more to be done, my office will continue to communicate any updates. In the meantime, let’s keep looking out for one another and doing our part to keep our community safe.
43rd Ward Zoning Approvals at City Council
This week, we advanced three important zoning measures at City Council, addressing neighborhood development, affordable housing, and support for our faith communities. First, we secured final City Council approval for a 100% affordable and accessible housing development for people with disabilities at 754 W. Belden, which will bring 30 new homes to Lincoln Park. This project advances our commitment to making the 43rd Ward more inclusive and accessible to people of all abilities and incomes. The project also serves as a model for bringing more affordable and accessible housing across Chicago. Click here for another overview of 754 W. Belden.
Second, City Council approved the Francis W. Parker School expansion and field lighting project, following an extensive community review and negotiation process that we have covered in our newsletter. Click here for another overview of that process and the community benefits we secured, such as $500,000 to our local public schools, 7 new affordable housing units on Clark, and a covenant to keep Parker’s second building on Belden as housing.
Finally, City Council approved my ordinance allowing religious institutions to rent out their unused parking spaces during off-hours. This ordinance helps faith communities raise modest, but much-needed revenue, from parking without requiring a costly and time-consuming zoning relief process. A special thanks to our partner in this work, Church of Our Saviour. We hope that you will help us share this new opportunity with your local religious institutions.
City Council Advances Changes to Chicago's Parking Meter Deal
Today, following approval by the Committee on Finance, City Council met again to consider an amended Chicago parking meter deal, allowing Stonepeak Partners to acquire Chicago's parking meter concession. The goal of this amendment is to recover additional revenue for and reduce the costs imposed by the original 2008 lease - which was a bad deal for Chicagoans. Today at City Council, final consideration was deferred until next week; however, under the revised agreement, the City would receive:
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$75 million upfront to help address Chicago's pension obligations.
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5% of annual net operating income, projected to generate approximately $376 million over the remaining 57 years of the lease.
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A 2% transfer fee if Stonepeak sells the parking meter concession to another company.
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Commitments requiring Stonepeak to divest Omni Air International, which has provided federal deportation flights, plus restrictions on sharing user information with federal immigration authorities.
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Requirement that at least half of the parking meter workforce reside in Chicago.
I want to recognize my colleague, Finance Committee Chairwoman Pat Dowell, for her leadership throughout these negotiations. This is not a perfect agreement. It does not return ownership of our parking meters to the City or undo the original 75-year lease. But it is a significant improvement, establishing new financial benefits for Chicago and changing several provisions that have cost taxpayers money for nearly two decades.
These changes give us an opportunity to recover some of the revenue lost under the existing contract while reducing its ongoing costs. I am hopeful the revised agreement will pass City Council next week.
Powering Hope with Care for Friends
Finally, last night I was honored to receive the Power Hope Award from Care for Friends, an incredible 43rd Ward nonprofit serving Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. From their Lincoln Park home at 530 W. Fullerton, they provide hot meals and groceries, clothing and hygiene supplies, basic healthcare, connections to housing, employment, and other critical resources, all through a welcoming, no-questions-asked approach.
Care for Friends has become especially meaningful to me during my time as alderman. We've held food drives, raised funds, and celebrated the opening of their new home together. As demand for their services continues to grow, I'm grateful to keep supporting their mission. Stay tuned for another 43rd Ward food drive this fall!
