Participatory Budgeting: Keep Those Ideas Coming!

The 33rd Ward has joined seven other wards that will be using participatory budgeting to allocate $1 million in aldermanic menu funds this fall.

PB is a civic engagement program that increases transparency and democratic participation in our communities. Residents work together to generate ideas about infrastructure improvements they'd like to see in our ward, then vote on which should receive funding. You can read more about PB Chicago here. 

The first stage is collecting your ideas for projects you'd like to see in our community! We are looking for ideas related to arts & culture (i.e. public art, public WiFi), safety & environment (i.e. community gardens, solar panels on public buildings), parks and recreation (i.e. playground equipment, park improvements), and streets & sidewalks (i.e. bike lanes, lighting improvements, lighting improvements).

We now have an Idea Collection box in our ward office and will be announcing dates for neighborhood assemblies soon. In the meantime, you can fill out idea collection forms online in English and Spanish.

Some residents have asked us how PB will impact ongoing infrastructure work such as pothole repairs or alley and curb resurfacing. Through the participatory budgeting process, residents work together to generate ideas, develop them into full proposals, and then vote both on which proposals receive funding and the level at which they are funded. 

For example, last year in the 35th Ward alley and curb resurfacing projects received $446,500, pedestrian and traffic safety projects $258,000, and a lighting project in Hermosa received $390,000. 

In the 49th Ward, street resurfacing and sidewalk and alley repair received $626,000, a project to plant 100 trees received $80,000, bus benches received $33,000, public murals received $44,000, a public plaza/stage (zocalo) in Touhy Park received $60,000, and a high school artificial turf field and running track received $157,000. 

The value of this approach is that it puts decision-making about our priorities in the hands of residents. It also encourages neighbors to work together to take stock of our needs and develop ideas for projects that, even if they do not receive funding in this year’s round, could be funded in future years or through other sources.

We will be announcing dates for community assemblies soon. In the meantime, please continue submitting ideas and if you'd like to become a community representative, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject line "PB Community Rep."

Legislatives Updates

A number of residents reached out this week to ask whether I will be supporting a new ordinance from Alds. Lopez and Sposato restricting backyard ownership of livestock. Horses already require a license, but this ordinance would extend this requirement to livestock such as chickens. 

Don't Miss This Weekend's Mosaic Art Festival!

This annual festival celebrating the global roots and local roots of Albany Park is a great antidote for the gloomy weather forecast for this weekend! Thanks to the North River Commission, the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce and Special Service Area 60 for hosting. Check out the full schedule, volunteer opportunities, and special discounts for neighborhood residents!  

Events include DJ sets and story-telling events and Surge Billiards and Nighthawk tonight, family-friendly events at River Park (rain or shine) and Eugene Field Park on Saturday, a special screening of the Albany Park Theater Project's 2012-2013 production Home/Land at Vintage GrindHouse on Saturday evening, and a free, staged reading of The Wooden Heart from Halcyon Theater at Montrose Saloon on Sunday. 

Friday, October 4th: Flu Shot Clinic and Community Health Fair

My office is working with community organizations and State Rep. Jaime Andrade to host a fall community health fair. If your organization would like to participate or help us spread the word, please contact us!

*If you cannot make it this Friday, we will be having a Saturday flu shot event on October 26, so keep an eye out for these details soon!*

Got Thoughts on E-Scooters?

Here's your chance share them! The four-month pilot program that brought scooters to our ward and other parts of the city concludes on October 15th. The city has created a survey to help understand the impact of the program, which will factor into whether it will continue in the future.

The Chicago E-Scooter Survey is open to everyone whether or not they rode a scooter during the pilot. We encourage you to share your thoughts!

Calling 33rd Ward Theater Lovers!

Our ward's own Windy City Playhouse is currently offering a discount code for 33rd ward residents to their critically-acclaimed immersive show, THE RECOMMENDATION, which the Chicago Reader called "a penetrating experience not to be missed."

Did You Receive Your Property Tax Bill?

The Cook County Treasurer announced this week that mail delivery of property tax bills was unsuccessful for about 60,000 homeowners this fall, and they may need to update their mailing addresses. Could this be you? Did you know that paper applications for change of address are no longer required?

To see if your bills have been returned or to change the name and address on your bill, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and:
• Select the purple box labeled “Your Property Tax Overview”
• Enter your address or Property Index Number (PIN)
• Look for a red warning box that appears if your bills have been returned
• Select “Update Your Information” to change the taxpayer name or mailing address

If you'd like to receive your bill by e-mail, select “eBilling” on the website. Paper name/address change applications will continue to be accepted in the treasurer's office, 118 North Clark Street, Room 212.

We're partnering with State Reps. Jaime Andrade and Iris Martinez's offices for this event tomorrow, which will be held in the parking lot of Roosevelt High School. Please enter off of W. Leland Ave.