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Dear neighbors,
Like many of you, I can't ignore or escape the brutal cold we're experiencing. Chicago is not expected to get above freezing for at least a week with lows in the negative double digits this Friday and Saturday. If you or a neighbor has need of a warming center please find a comprehensive map of locations and hours . You can also request shelter for yourself or a well-being check for a neighbor by calling 311. For those who manage or live in rental housing, please know that the city's heat ordinance mandates a minimum of 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and a minimum of 66 degrees from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Fines of $500 to $1000 dollars a day can be levied if adequate heat is not being provided. For more information on the responsibilities of both tenants and landlords, please check .
A frequently asked question on the Logan Square side of the ward is, "What's happening with the Congress Theater?" The TLDR of the Congress is that while permanent financing for the theater (and the adjacent affordable housing and commercial space is secure), there remained a gap during the construction phase. We are very hopeful that this gap will be closed through what's known as a HUD 108 loan and an ordinance authorizing that application has passed the Finance Committee and should pass the full City Council tomorrow. The path toward the full rehabilitation of the Congress Theater has been longer and more circuitous than I could have imagined, but I am confident and committed to this project's success.
Finally, I hope yesterday's holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King brought you some combination of rest and inspiration. It brought me a bit of both, as well as the anxiety that comes with the dismantling of democratic norms and the insidious creep of White supremacy across the federal government. My hope is that the City of Chicago, by both our words and actions, can be a rebuke to those forces. I'm grateful for those of you who share that commitment and extend your encouragement.
Wishing you safety, warmth, and courage.
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