Friday, December 30, 2011

Burglaries Still a Big Problem in the 16th District

Readers,

Burglaries continue in the 16th district and have increased from this time last year.  Be vigilant.  Watch what goes on around you.  If someone is lurking around the alley or ringing doorbells call 911 and report suspicious activity.

Take a look at this...just one day...

Burglary
Burglary: Attempted forcible entry / Residence (garage)
5000 block N. Mc Vicker Ave.December 21, 2011 @ 3:30 p.m.
Burglary: Unlawful entry / Apartment
5500 block N. Major Ave.December 21, 2011 @ 2:30 p.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
4900 block N. Mc Vicker Ave.December 21, 2011 @ 8:50 a.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
5200 block N. Moody Ave.December 21, 2011 @ 7 a.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
4900 block N. Melvina Ave.December 21, 2011 @ 7 a.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
4600 block N. Leclaire Ave.December 20, 2011 @ 11 p.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
4700 block N. Lotus Ave.December 20, 2011 @ 10 p.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
5800 block W. Gunnison St.December 20, 2011 @ 9 p.m.
Burglary: Forcible entry / Residence (garage)
4900 block N. Melvina Ave.December 20, 2011 @ 6 p.m.
Criminal damage
Vandalism: Criminal damage to property / Residence (garage)
5200 block N. Moody Ave.December 21, 2011 @ midnight

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Our first-ever awards for 'achievement' in local politics

It has been a painful year to be a taxpaying voter in the city of Chicago, the County of Cook and the State of Illinois.  Lets hope that in 2012, politicians get over their fears and start working to really represent the people who elected them.

Our first-ever awards for 'achievement' in local politics 

Honoring the deeds and misdeeds of 2011 at the city, county, and state level

As our elected officials and candidates told us over and over again, 2011 was the year of reform.
They informed us that voters were tired of our long history of corruption, waste, asset hocking, and insider deals. So they vowed that the days of bosses and governors on the take were coming to an end. At last—the time had come to clean up politics in Chicago and Illinois.

Well, maybe next year.
As another former governor heads off to prison and a new mayor cows everyone around him into submission, the reform movement could arguably use a little more forward progress. But that doesn't mean our public servants didn't perform with distinction this year. In fact, with 2012 upon us, it's the perfect time to bestow our first annual Reader awards for achievement in local politics. With so many governmental bodies collecting and spending so many billions of tax dollars, the competition for these awards was fierce. Those who came up short can take solace in the fact that the New Year will bring ample opportunity to stand out, including another set of budget deficits and two more rounds of elections for public offices and party posts.
So without further ado, the honorees are:

THE BILL CLINTON AWARD . . . for saying one thing and doing something else even after you're caught doing what you say you're not: Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who learned from the master himself. Emanuel promised not to raise city property taxes, so he raised school property taxes instead. He announced that he'd moved hundreds of police officers to new assignments, though the police ranks have actually been shrinking. He promised to reform the tax increment financing program—except for the millions in subsidies he plans to hand out to Sara Lee, various developers, and even a pizzeria. He swore off "smoke and mirrors" budget gimmicks, but then quietly continued to divert tens of millions of dollars from the water and sewer funds for expenses that have little to do with water or sewers. Good thing we have a vigilant City Council. Oh, wait . . .
THE POLITBURO AWARD . . . for unanimity in the legislative process: The Chicago City Council, which voted 50-0 to approve Mayor Emanuel's first budget, complete with tax hikes and cuts to the library and public health systems.

THE JANE BYRNE AWARD . . . for defeating the Machine and then promptly embracing it: So many deserving nominees, so few trophies. Among the leading candidates were Sixth Ward alderman Roderick Sawyer, who beat an incumbent backed by Emanuel; 46th Ward alderman James Cappleman, who swore up and down he would crack down on TIF abuses; and 47th Ward alderman Ameya Pawar, who pulled the biggest upset of the February elections after vowing to fight budget chicanery in all forms. And the winner is—oh, just split the prize. The three of you have managed to utter the word "nay" just twice in eight months of council votes.

THE RALPH METCALFE AWARD . . . for putting your career on the line by taking a principled stand against an all-powerful mayor: No one. In fact, we haven't had a winner in this category since 1972, when Congressman Metcalfe broke from Mayor Richard J. Daley over the issue of police brutality in the black community.

THE KRYPTONITE AWARD . . . for being the only politician in town our superman mayor fears might out-reform or even challenge him someday: Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle, who—impossible as it seems—gets even puffier press than Emanuel.

THE PADDY BAULER AWARD . . . for standing up for the rights of drinkers, smokers, patronage organizations, and backroom deal makers: Named after the alderman and saloonkeeper who once proclaimed, "Chicago ain't ready for reform," this honor goes to county commissioner William Beavers, who voted against Preckwinkle's budget on the grounds that it raised taxes on booze and cigars by an average of a few pennies for an evening's entertainment. Give Beavers credit—the self-proclaimed "hog with the big nuts" was the only one of 67 aldermen and county commissioners to vote no on their respective budgets.
THE LITTLE DUTCH BOY AWARD . . . for temporarily keeping a finger in the dam: Governor Pat Quinn, who resisted enormous pressure to rush through the passage of a bill that would give Chicago the right to own and oversee its own casino.

THE MITT ROMNEY AWARD . . . for ideological integrity: Also to Quinn, our first double-award winner. Way to go, guv! A lifelong progressive, Quinn followed up his courageous stand on the casino legislation by agreeing to dole out an $85 million-a-year tax break to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, one of the wealthiest collections of option traders in the world.

THE CHEECH AND CHONG AWARD . . . for ganja humor: Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis, for cracking wise about her pot-smoking days at Dartmouth College while speaking at a symposium on education. For the record, there are others among us who spent some of our college years "self-medicating."
THE "I DIDN'T INHALE" AWARD . . . for politicians who lack the guts or honesty to even talk about our crackpot drug policies: A tie among dozens of aldermen, state lawmakers, congressmen, governors, mayors, and other politicians, including President Obama, who's already admitted to inhaling but still won't touch the issue.
THE DICK CHENEY AWARD . . . for an old guy who's secretly running the government from a bunker well-stocked with campaign contributions and political minions: Illinois house speaker Michael Madigan, who ushered the CME handout through the General Assembly and then voted present on it himself because his law firm represents the Chicago Board Options Exchange, which would also get a tax break.

THE SMITHSONIAN AWARD . . . for historical preservation: Fourteenth Ward alderman Ed Burke for managing to preserve his finance committee chairmanship and at least a few of his bodyguards in the transition from Mayors Daley to Emanuel.

THE MISS MANNERS AWARD . . . for always remembering to say "yes, sir" to whichever mayor is calling the shots: Fortieth Ward alderman Patrick O'Connor, formerly the council leader for Mayor Richard M. Daley and currently the council leader for Mayor Emanuel, since he's always ready to serve.

THE GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER AWARD . . . for blaming everything on public employees: Should go to Mayor Emanuel for trying to privatize education and getting teachers to work for minimum wage. But since he's already won an award, we'll give it to Forrest Claypool, Rahm's guy at the CTA, for attempting to blame everything wrong with public transportation on bus drivers getting a bathroom break.

THE HALLIBURTON AWARD . . . for the private contractor who quietly runs a wing of government: Mayoral pal Juan Rangel, CEO of the United Neighborhood Organization, which receives $27 million a year to oversee an empire of nine charter schools—and counting.

THE TONI PRECKWINKLE AWARD . . . for successfully getting the hell out of the City Council: Former Sixth Ward alderman Freddrenna Lyle, who after being hired to represent the council's black caucus during the ward-remap battle, was tapped to be a county judge. Early frontrunners for the 2012 prize include Joe Moore (49th), who's hoping to be named chief of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Rick Munoz (22nd), who's running for clerk of the circuit court.

And last but not least, THE RICHARD M. DALEY AWARD . . . for privatizing government operations and functionaries: There's no contest—running away with it is former mayor Richard M. Daley, who since leaving office has joined Katten Muchin Rosenman, the law firm that made nearly $700,000 drawing up the parking meter deal; become a lecturer at the University of Chicago, which got TIF money from the city; launched a foreign investment company with his son; signed on as an adviser to JP Morgan Chase; and joined the board of Coca-Cola. Word has it that in 2012, when rates go up again, he will accept a highly lucrative part-time position as a parking meter. Happy New Year, everyone!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Closing City of Chicago Mental Health Centers Will Cost Taxpayers More than Keeping them Open

Why close the Mental Health Centers now?  Cook County Hospital ER is already overrun with mental health patients, as is Cook County jail.  The police stations have mentally ill homeless people living in their lobbys.  Close half of the city's mental health centers and where do you think the uninsured mentally ill will end up?  In ERs, police stations and cook county jail - no doubt about it...doubling the numbers already there.

The state is currently about six months behind paying mental health providers who bill medicaid.  The mental health safety net is bursting at the seams and has massive holes in it now.  Add the stress of closing the City's Mental Health Centers and we will PAY DOUBLE the cost to keep them open with increased ER visits, jail costs, cost to CPD, etc..

This whole plan is one BIG MISTAKE. 

Ripple Effects of Center Closings Will Continue for Many Years
    James Warren writes a column for The Chicago News Cooperative.
    Chicago News Cooperative


    The cavalry may be on the way. But until it arrives, some of Chicago’s most at-risk citizens — many of whom were once productive members of the community — will be in greater jeopardy from what experts describe as a frequent nonsystem of care.

    Expect more of those who are uninsured to be turned away from community centers, more desperate souls seeking shelter with their families, more children whose conditions go undiagnosed, more patients than John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital can deal with, more disturbed offenders shuttled off to Cook County Jail and more homeless people.

    As budget cuts continue, the ripple effects will hit many: people with chronic mental illnesses whom we may avoid on the streets; and hidden cases, like the suburban mother whose depression is so strong she can’t work or care for her children.

    The cavalry is President Obama’s health care reform law, which takes effect in 2014. It’s seen by advocates as a way to ensure equal access to quality mental health services. But its worthy aims can only be achieved if it survives court challenges and if state legislatures don’t undermine it when devising related regulations, according to nonpartisan experts like Harold Pollack at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Services Administration.

    The help would come in the form of insurance for those often uninsured and incentives for providers who now often spurn the uninsured. But while the law’s full impact can’t be predicted, the Chicago area’s mental health landscape will deteriorate in the interim.

    Should we expect continuing declines in government support and a worsening mess?
    “Yes. Historically that’s been the pattern,” said Sara Feigenholtz, a state representative from Chicago who chairs the human services appropriations committee in the Illinois House.
    The budget cuts affecting a traditionally weak mental health system show no sign of abating. Mental health will remain low on the priority lists of most legislators, and among the first items to be slashed.
    Mental health gets about 6 percent of health care spending, according to The American Journal of Psychiatry. But the journal estimates staggering indirect costs of perhaps $200 billion a year nationally when one includes the impact of incarceration, homelessness, a high rate of medical complications, dependence on emergency room care, lower educational attainment, a reduced ability to hold jobs and the burden on families.
    But the mentally ill don’t have an army of lobbyists and clout-heavy executives making hefty campaign contributions.
    “In Illinois, mental health services have never been a serious political priority, as evidenced by the recent city and county cuts,” said Dr. Ronald Davidson, director of the mental health program at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s department of psychiatry. “And reform is at risk of being whittled away by 50 state legislatures, and that means a powerful insurance lobby in Springfield gets one more shot at limiting access to mental health services.”
    When Illinois cut mental heath financing for the uninsured several years ago, hundreds of mentally ill people were told they could no longer get help at the five Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, said Dr. Anthony Kopera, president and chief executive officer.
    Dr. Kopera runs those centers, employing 260 people with a $17 million budget. But he said the state is six months late with $3 million in payments to him for treating mentally ill patients.
    “Now the unfunded don’t ask us for help,” he said. “They suffer until they go to the hospital emergency department, or their symptoms flare up and they get picked up by the police and taken to state hospitals.”
    Mr. Pollack concedes there is immediate stress on a system whose configuration is based on old assumptions as to where the needy live. The suburbanization of poverty, as many exit Chicago, means the migration to Harvey, Calumet City, Hazel Crest and elsewhere aggravates the problem because our network of facilities is based on where they lived long ago.
    And even if the street peddler confronting you is getting help from a city center that’s closing, said Mr. Pollack, he probably won’t have the wherewithal to switch to one that remains open.
    His last-ditch options? Bridget Gainer, a Cook County commissioner, foresees unrealistic demands placed on the jail and Stroger Hospital, and quotes the poet Robert Frost.
    “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

    jwarren@chicagonewscoop.org

    Shared Cost Sidewalk Program -Starts January 1, 2012.

    From the city website:

    Just a personal testimony - participated in this program a few years ago and the work was great, still looks good.  One of the programs that works well.

    Shared Cost Sidewalk Program

    *** 2012 Program opens to new applicants Jan. 1, 2012 ***

    The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is an extremely popular program in which residents share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. The program has been a successful service for many years, offering an outstanding value to property owners. All property owners pay the same square-foot cost for new sidewalk: $3 per square foot--well below what a private contractor would charge.
    Click on the links below for more information on the program.
    The 2012 program opens to new applicants January 1, 2012.  Applications will only be accepted through the City’s 311 system (by phone or by clicking on the button below).  Owner information and the property address must be provided at the time of request.
    Participation will proceed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Note that the program typically reaches capacity quickly, so you are encouraged to apply early in the year.  Please note that if you applied for the program in previous years, you must apply again in 2012.


    Friday, December 23, 2011

    The Chicago Neighborhoods Logo Project

    This looks like an interesting design project.  Creating logos for each of the 77 Chicago neighborhoods.  Edison Park has a logo for this project but Norwood Park, OHare, Big Oaks, Oriole Park, Wildwood and Edgebrook are missing...  Perhaps there is someone out there with an idea for a community logo?  If so contact the project director [click on link]



    Edison Park



    Ozark, Overhill, Ottawa, Oleander, Oriole, Olmsted, Onarga, Oliphant, and so on. Just about every north-south and diagonal street in Edison Park begins with an "O," which came about in 1910 when the neighborhood was annexed into Chicago. Many of the newly annexed areas had streets that shared names with existing Chicago streets, so to solve this, the "new" streets on the north side of the city were renamed in mile-wide swatches of alphabetic letters. Doing so eliminated duplicate names and helped the post office sort mail. Edison Park, which is named for inventor Thomas Edison, inherited "O," and had many of it's streets named for Native American tribes (several of these were later "renamed to more manageable, spellable" words).

    Wednesday, December 21, 2011

    Cut City Council in Half Via the Remap!

    Great Idea.  And a wonderful savings to the taxpayer. 

    Hispanic aldermen welcome proposal to cut City Council in half


    Updated: December 21, 2011 2:17AM

    Calling Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s bluff, the Hispanic Caucus has drafted a new Chicago ward map that cuts the City Council in half — with 25 wards nearly evenly divided between blacks, whites and Hispanics.
    The 50-member City Council is currently comprised of 22 whites, 19 blacks, eight Latinos and Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), who is of Indian descent.

    The 25-ward map drafted by the Hispanic Caucus includes eight majority white wards, eight majority black wards, seven majority Hispanic wards, one Hispanic “influence” ward and one black influence ward.

    That more fairly represents a city now 32.9 percent black, 31.7 percent white and 28.9 percent Hispanic, according to Ald. Danny Solis (25th), chairman of the City Council’s Hispanic Caucus.
    “If it was 25 wards, we would be much better and more fairly represented because you’re starting from scratch. This would be welcomed by the caucus and me,” Solis said.

    “It was an issue in the last election. Editorial boards asked the question. It’s been mentioned in several of the meetings that the mayor might push this. We would be open to it and confident the end result would more accurately reflect the population.”
    Ald. Howard Brookins (21st), chairman of the Black Caucus, scoffed at the suggestion that Hispanics would fair better if the Council was cut in half.
    “They think they’re gonna beat Ald. Ed Burke in a ward that’s double the population and he’s got $9 million in the bank? That’s a pipe dream. They will not fare better. It’ll be harder to run, harder to win and require more money,” Brookins said.
    Earlier this week, Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th), the mayor’s City Council floor leader, warned that Emanuel is prepared to push a non-binding referendum asking Chicago voters if they want to cut the council in half if feuding aldermen can’t avoid a $30 million repeat of the 1990 remap referendum.

    Tuesday, December 20, 2011

    Follow up to Burglaries in the 16th District

    20 December 2011

    Dear 16th District Residents,

    On 2 December 2011, I sent out a message in regards to the increase in residential burglaries, and in particular burglaries occurring in an area on Beat 1613 bounded by Gunnison to Argyle and Nagle to Harlem.  Since that time, we have some success in identifying, capturing and charging three subjects for residential burglary.  This success is due, in large part, to the alertness of citizens.

    About two weeks ago a citizen called police about suspicious activity.  The citizen provided police with a description of a vehicle and the partial numbers on the license plate.  These descriptions matched those of the wanted vehicle and offender from burglaries that occurred in Harwood Heights and Beat 1613.  16th District personnel along with personnel from Harwood Heights and Park Ridge worked together to identify, locate and investigate this wanted vehicle and offender.

    On 15 December, the offenders using this same vehicle committed a residential burglary in the 17th District.  Our assembled team of 16th District, Area 5 Detective Division, Harwood Heights, and Park Ridge personnel combined efforts to capture these offenders and recover the proceeds.  The investigative team was able to gather more information, and now can identify several locations in the 16th District and Harwood Heights in which this crew of burglars committed residential burglaries.

    This investigation illustrates that we are working blind without the support of alert citizens.  We were focused on locating a vehicle because surveillance cameras captured this crew of burglars in a dark colored four door Mazda.  Another alert citizen was able to obtain a license plate.  With this assistance, law enforcement was able to locate the vehicle, and capture the offenders.

    Residential burglaries continue to be the 16th Districts featured crime.  The best way for us to curb this crime is to call 911 and report any suspicious persons or activity.  The information developed from 911 calls and prior case reports will assist us in locating, identifying, and arresting burglary offenders.

    On Christmas Eve and Christmas, many of us will be out of our homes visiting family.  The 16th district will have personnel dedicated to patrolling the side streets and alleys in specifically identified areas.  Please share with your neighbors your plans; keep an eye out for each others properties.  And if there is any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately.

    District Commander 16th District

    Saturday, December 17, 2011

    Edison Park Gift Certificates for Christmas

    Need a great Christmas Gift?

    The Edison Park Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the Edison Park Gift Certificate! The Edison Park Gift Certificate is the perfect gift that can be used at any of the listed participants! Just fill out the order form and your gift certificate will be mailed within 3-5 business days! Gift certificates can also be purchased at the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce office located in the Edison Park Train Station. Office hours vary so please call (773) 631-0063

    Here is the list of participants:

     

    Participating members

    Buying Edison Park Chamber of commerce Gift Certificates gives you both advantage of a selection of options and at the same time helping the community.

    Armand's Pizzeria http://armandspizzeriaexpress.com/
    Baubles & Bags http://baublesandbags.shutterfly.com/
    Cafe Touche http://cafetouche.com/
    Cafe Zalute http://www.zalute.com/
    Chris' Landscape, Inc. http://www.chrislandscapeinc.com/
    Don Juan's Restaurant
    Dr. Weathers DDS http://www.drweathersdds.com/
    Edgewater Carpet & Rug http://www.edgewatercarpet.com/
    Edison Park Inn http://www.edisonparkinn.net/
    Ek Automotive http://ekautomotive.com/
    Emerald Isle http://www.emeraldislebarandgrill.com/
    Jacqueline's Jewelry Redesign http://jacquelinesofnb.com/
    le Flour Bake Shop & Market http://www.leflour.com/
    Lifetime Treasures Photography http://www.lifetimetreasures.net/
    Medical Aesthetics
    Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria http://www.morettischicago.com/
    Nonno Pino http://nonnopinositaliankitchen.com/
    O'Connor's Market & Deli http://www.oconnorsdeli.com/
    Romance in Blooms http://romanceinblooms.com/
    Snappy Dog http://www.snappydogchicago.com/
    Snuggery http://www.snuggerychicago.com/
    Tease Salon & Spa http://www.teasesalonandspa.org/
    The Curragh Irish Pub http://www.curraghirishpub.com/
    The Mecca Supper Club http://www.meccasupperclub.com/
    Tony's Deli http://www.tonysdeliandsubs.comhttp://www.uecatering.com/
    Unforgettable Edibles
    Zia's Trattoria http://www.ziaschicago.com/

    Streets and Sanitation Crew - Thanks from a Senior

    Readers,

    I received a brief email from a senior citizen reader who wanted me to acknowledge the Streets and Sanitation crew (she thought they were the regular garbage pick-up crew, but couldn't be sure) who moved all the matted down leaves from the gutters around her corner house.   She said the leaves usually clog up around the sewers and she ends up with a very icy street almost all winter.  So thanks S & S - nice job...

    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Free Flu Shots From Walgreen - Fill out this Form to Receive Your Voucher



    Flu Voucher Registration/
    Registro para cupón de vacuna contra la gripe

    Introduction/Background
    Introducción/Antecedentes

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with Walgreens has provided the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) with a limited number of vouchers for free seasonal influenza vaccines (flu shots).
    Por medio del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS por sus siglas en inglés) Junto con la farmacia Walgreens; el Departamento de Salud Pública de Chicago (CDPH por sus siglas en inglés) tiene disponible una cantidad limitada de cupones para que las personas reciban la vacuna contra la gripe estacional gratuitamente.

    Program Details/Detalles del Programa
    1. The vouchers are valid in any Walgreens pharmacy located in the Chicago area through April 15, 2012.

      Los cupones son válidos antes del 15 de Abril 2012, en cualquier farmacia Walgreens localizada en el área de Chicago.
    2. The voucher will cover Walgreens cost of the flu shot and Walgreen’s administration of the flu shot.  There are no other costs or fees to the voucher recipient. The Federal vouchers are only valid for seasonal flu shots and are not redeemable for other medication, products, food, store credit or cash.

      El cupón es para cubrir el costo de Walgreens por la vacuna contra la gripe y cubrir el costo de Walgreens por la administración de la vacuna. Los cupones federales sólo son validos para la vacuna contra la gripe estacional y no son redimibles para otras medicinas, productos, alimentos, crédito de tienda ni dinero efectivo.
    3. Children 14 – 18 years (with a parent/guardian) and adults can get a flu shot with these vouchers at a Walgreens pharmacy. Children 2 through 13 years of age (with a parent/guardian) can use these vouchers to get vaccinated at a Walgreens Take Care Clinic.

      Los niños de 14-18 años de edad (acompañados por sus padres o guardián) y adultos pueden recibir la vacuna contra la gripe estacional en las farmacias de Walgreens. Los niños de 2 -13 años de edad (acompañados por sus padres o guardián) pueden usar el cupón para recibir la vacuna contra la gripe estacional en la “Take Care Clinic” de Walgreens.
    4. Individuals may request a single voucher or multiple vouchers. Due to the limited supply, a maximum of 5 vouchers per request.

      Individuos pueden solicitar un cupón o hasta un máximo de cinco cupones por solicitud, debido a las cantidades limitadas.
    5. CDPH will send the vouchers via US mail to the address provided below.

      CDPH enviará los cupones a través de correo regular de EEUU a la dirección proporcionada en este formulario.
    Since the peak of influenza activity usually occurs in January and February, it is not too late to get vaccinated. If you are interested in receiving a voucher/s for a free flu shot, please provide the following information:

    La gripe tiene un período de mayor actividad entre enero y febrero, todavía está a tiempo para recibir su vacuna. Si le gustaría recibir su cupón(es) para la vacuna contra la gripe estacional por favor llene la siguiente información:

    Flu Vaccine Voucher Registration for Individuals/
    Registro individual para cupón de vacuna contra la gripe










    Thank you for providing your information. If you have questions regarding this program, please contact the Ivan Story, 312-746-5381.

    Gracias por proporcionar su información. Si tiene preguntas con respecto a este programa, por favor contactan a Ivan Story, 312-746-5381.

    Please press the submit button below to submit your information.

    Por favor, pulse el botón de envío a continuación para enviar su información.

    Edison Park School to Get a New Addition - Just Released Today!

    Click on this map:

    MAP OF CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION PROJECTS

    Click on complete rennovation list:

    CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION LIST

    Office of Communications · 125 South Clark Street · Chicago, IL 60603 · (773) 553-1620 · FAX: (773) 553-1621 For more information contact: CPS Office of Communications Phone: 773-553-1620
    Fax: 773-553-1622
    Website: http://www.cps.edu
    Embargoed for Release, Publication and Broadcast
    Until December 14, 2011 at 1 PM


     CPS to Invest $660 Million for FY 12 Capital Plan to Improve Facilities,

    Drive Student Growth at Schools throughout the City
    Several months ago, the Board approved a broad FY 12 capital plan of $391 million, to be funded by state funds, City of Chicago tax increment financing and other funds, as well as proceeds of CPS bonds. Presentation of the capital program specifics follows months of detailed work by District officials to assess and prioritize needs.


    The full FY 12 program includes an additional appropriation of $269 million that were only partially appropriated in prior budgets or funded by external sources, such as city, state and federal governments. Altogether, the proposed FY 12 capital program totals almost $660 million. School communities across Chicago will benefit from an ambitious capital program being implemented during the 2011-12 fiscal year by Chicago Public Schools.

    The District will present a capital construction and improvement program to the Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday, December 14th, that includes significant investments to promote school safety, expand early childhood learning in underserved communities, bring school technology systems into the 21st century and relieve significant overcrowding at overenrolled schools, among others. "These investments will have immediate and significant impacts to help boost the achievement of thousands of students in every corner of the city," said CPS Chief Executive Officer Jean-Claude Brizard. "We need to provide students with the tools and environments they need to be successful.

    Access to new technology, safe learning environments, nutritional supports, and structurally sound schools are all important ingredients in supporting our schools leaders and teachers to give our students the tools they need to be prepared for college and career." The capital program includes projects in schools throughout the city, and will allow CPS to invest in both brick and mortar projects such as roofs, masonry, window replacement and boilers and enhance educational programming identified as priorities by the Districts administration. In addition, it will continue the Districts efforts to make its facilities accessible to people with disabilities.

    Chicago Public Schools - Press Release Page 2 of 3 Office of Communications · 125 South Clark Street · Chicago, IL 60603 · (773) 553-1620 · FAX: (773) 553-1621

    The capital investments will address critical safety, nutritional, early childhood, IT and college and career-ready initiatives designed to help drive student achievement. Some specific projects include:
     $14 million is proposed for work that supports college and career programs at a number of high schools, serving more than 6,000 students at Lindblom, Richards, Roosevelt, Schurz, Simeon and Sullivan. Among those programs are pre-engineering, culinary arts and hospitality, business, digital media and information technology. Separately, college and career program enhancements are also part of a $75 million capital project at Chicago Vocational that includes a major rehabilitation of the building which serves about 1,000 students.

    $18 million is proposed for information and technology services, including upgrading IT networks at 120 schools serving about 86,000 students. Much of that money comes from federal E-Rate funding.

    $9.9 million in state grant funds and CPS matching contributions will fund early childhood centers in order to increase early childhood services in underserved communities. Schools that stand to benefit from this funding include Camras, Hanson Park, McCormick and Locke, as well as community-based early childhood projects. The project would add new space as well as renovate and rehab existing facilities that will create some 280 slots to early childhood programs that currently serve 380 students.

    $7.7 million will purchase state-of-the-art digital secrity camera systems at 14 high schools serving 16,000 students and related security equipment throughout the district to enhance school safety and security.

     $3.9 million will be used to replace non-functioning equipment in school kitchens across the city to support health and nutrition programs.

    Jones College Prep, $96 million for a new high school campus to be built with Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds that will serve 1,200 students. Pending TIF grant agreement and City Council approval. Southeast Area Elementary School, $45 million, partially funded by TIF funds, to construct a new school that will serve 1,200 students and helps meet the areas demographic needs for additional classroom space. Pending TIF grant agreement and City Council approval. 

    Edison Park, $15 million. The current building is more than 40 percent overenrolled with 428 students and no additional capacity at neighboring schools to provide relief.

     Hale, $15 million. The current building is more than 60 percent overenrolled with 864 students and no additional capacity at neighboring schools to provide relief.

     Bell, $10 million for an annex to be constructed with state funds. The school serves nearly 1,000 students in three programs neighborhood, gifted and hearing impaired and needs additional space.

    Approximately 285,000 students at 439 schools to benefit from investments in facilities, technology upgrades, expansion of early childhood centers, state of the art security cameras, and college and career readiness programs CHICAGO

    Thinking Beyond Mayor Emanual

    From a Reader - thanks, Tim

    THINKING BEYOND MAYOR EMANUAL

    This week, two American cities displayed their contrasting moralities in governance.  In Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanual was victorious in seeking huge tax cuts for the uber-rich Chicago Mercantile Exchange.  The mayor fought long and hard for an organization whose top skills appear to be, manipulating  food markets around the world to the point of triggering mass starvation in  third world countries, while looking the other way as billons of investors dollars are stolen by one of its tenants.

    While twisting arms on behalf of his rich MERC pals, Emanual simultaneously gutted most of Chicago’s’ public mental health clinics to the point where they are unrecognizable to mental health advocates; which is hard to do considering how used to being under siege mental health advocates are.    Emanual did so just days after proclaiming he would use six and a half million taxpayer dollars to entice Hillshire Farms back to Chicago for their couple hundred lousy office jobs.  Remember Rahm celebrating the Groupon IPO and the promise of jobs it would bring?  Check the Groupon IPO stock price to its current listing.  Suckers.  Seriously - Emanual would rather be patted on the head by his masters at the Chamber of Commerce than just provide the most basic care to those who suffer from life-long mental illness.  Now Emanual proposals to heap fines and deny access to those who dare exercise their right to protest the upcoming NATO/WTO conference.  Not to mention his hand-picked, unelected School Board going behind closed doors and voting to close neighborhood Public Schools in favor of Charter Schools – funders of his political agenda.

    It does not have to be this way.  Instead of trembling with fear when these treasonous corporations threatening  to move, we could and should do as San Francisco has done – order their corporate employers to pay all of their employees a living wage.  This week the minimum wage in San Francisco rose to over Ten dollars an hour.  San Francisco does not stop there.  The Golden Gate city is in the planning stages of forming their own bank.  So instead of giving tax payer dollars to one of the criminal Wall Street banks, like we do in Chicago,  San Francisco hopes to do what the state of North Dakota has done for many years – own their own bank.  North Dakotans don’t worry about huge bonuses being grabbed by their states’ banking executives.  They don’t sweat some risk-taker sinking billions into risky overseas bonds, because North Dakotans ARE the bank executives.  San Francisco’s’ elected officials get this.  But as long as Chicagoans elect former investment bankers like Rahm Emanual (18 million dollars ‘earned’ from investments in just 2 and a half years), we are doomed to do what the bankers, and the MERC, and the Chamber of Commerce tell us to do.      

    Wednesday, December 14, 2011

    This Simply Lacks Ethics

    This is a very unsafe move on the part of Chicago Department of Health - leaving very vulnerable clients without a safe transition plan as six of the City of Chicago's Mental Health clinics are closed - and then to literally dump them on unprepared and unfunded community mental health clinics is unethical...

    Come on aldermen, lets protect the city's most vulnerable, and be honest and up front with city employees who have dedicated years of their lives to helping persons with mental illness.


    Employee Christmas present from Chicago Department of Public Health: 208 layoffs

    Employee Christmas present from Chicago Department of Public Health: 208 layoffs
    It's lousy to get laid off at Christmas time. But even lousier to hear about it through a cryptic message faxed to your office.
    That's how many Chicago Department of Public Health employees learned last week that they were going to be laid off. A faxed table of employee layoffs they'd never heard of went from office to office, saying the department would be eliminating 208 staff members from mental health and public health clinics.
    The department's spokeswoman Efrat Stein confirmed the document as real, saying the layoffs are projections based on its current budget numbers but may be subject to change based on union rules. Although Stein said the document is a matter of public record, the layoffs were news to employees. The memo is tucked inside a 101-page document on privatizing neighborhood health clinics, a reply to a question asked by 34th Ward Alderman Carrie Austin during a budget hearing.
    The layoffs come after the mayor and Chicago City Council decided that half the city's mental health clinics will be closed. During the budget process, department head Dr. Bechara Couchair insisted that these cuts will actually improve services. Some employees hoped that his comments meant that while clinics would be closed, staff would remain, so that each clinic could have a full staff, rather than the skeleton crew they've been working with in the past few years.
    But it doesn't look that way. In fact, 53 people will be laid off by the end of the year, the document shows. In addition to the closed clinics, the city is firing another three center directors, meaning that during the transition and operation of the remaining clinics, not one will have a full-time director.
    2012 doesn't look much better. "By March," the document states, 31 more mental health staff will be laid off, including 19 clinical therapists, 8 social work assistants,and 4 behavioral health assistants.
    And, by June, 124 more neighborhood health center workers will be given a pink-slip as well.
    But employees aren't just worried about their jobs. They're worried about their patients. According to the same document, in 2012, each psychiatrist at the city mental health centers will have up to 650 patients.
    "If this is a real document, it completely gives the lie to any assertion that mental health consolidations will improve efficiency," said one employee of the mental health clinics, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the fear of retribution. "If three center directors and some other downtown positions are gone by the end of this month, how could  the transition possibly be handled well?  And how could three center directors possibly administer 12 clinics well in the time frame leading up to the announced transition?"
    Stein continued to assert that the closings and layoffs would lead to better services for Chicago's mentally ill. Couchair wasn't available to speak on the matter.
    "By consolidating our centers from 12 to six, we will serve all 3,000 of our current uninsured patients and also have the capacity to serve 1,000 of our 2,100 Medicaid patients," said Stein, in an email. "We will increase psychiatry services that will lead to improved efficiency at our sites."
    How will fewer staff and clinics lead to increased services? Stein didn't say. But she did insist twice that services would be increased.
    Stein noted that the city isn't the only entity that provides mental health services in Chicago--that there are more than 70 providers in the city, and that the consolidations provide a "long-term sustainable solution for our city."
    "We have 100 percent support from the community mental health centers that are ready to increase capacity and work closely with us to ensure that there is no lapse in care for our patients," she said.
    Then yesterday, the city released a Request for Proposals, asking for  bidders "to increase adult psychiatry services in Chicago" that have "experience in providing quality and cost effective Mental Health Services to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Chicago."
    Not long ago, I was at a rally outside the University Club in downtown Chicago where a group of citizens gathered to try to get answers from the mayor about whether or not the city's clinics would be privatized. After standing there for several hours, they never got answers. I guess we have them now.
    © Community Renewal Society 2011

    Sunday, December 11, 2011

    Are You Kidding Me?????

    How can this happen?  Former Alderman of the 36th Ward, John Rice landed a state job as "Deputy Director of Traffic Safety" for IDOT?  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
    Does the former alderman have an advanced degree in transportation engineering? Or a degree in public health & transportation safety?  How can he possibly qualify for this position?  Unless of course, it's a made up political position....  Rice states he is qualified because he ran a valet service and a snow plowing company?  
    In the year 2010, almost 1000 people died related to traffic fatalities, and we have an unqualified, political hack in a Deputy Director position?
    This was an appointed position.  Rice did not have to go through the civil service process to compete for this position. 
    I hope there is outrage over this!  Traffic safety should be a serious division within IDOT, not a patronage dumping ground for has beens being taken care of by cronies.


    _____________________________________________________________________________
    Ousted Alderman Lands State Job
    Months after voters on the Northwest Side bounced him from the City Council, former Ald. John Rice has found a job in the administration of a fellow 36th Ward Democrat—Gov. Pat Quinn.

    Rice was hired last month as a $84,420-a-year deputy director of traffic safety for the Illinois Department of Transportation. The spot on the payroll is exempt from civil service rules, meaning that the Quinn administration was free to fill the post based on political considerations.

    But Rice said he did not rely on any of his political connections in landing the job.

    “If I had so much power, I would be working the weekend after I lost the election,” he said, adding that he had lived off his savings since he lost the run-off election to firefighter Nicholas Sposato in April.
    Then-Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Rice to the council in 2009 to replace retiring Ald. William J.P. Banks, the longtime boss of the powerful 36th Ward Democratic Organization. Rice was an aide to Banks, often driving him between City Hall and his ward office on Belmont Avenue, and Banks in turn asked Daley to replace him on the council with Rice.
    Finding a new job after losing his council seat was not easy, Rice said. He said he applied for many public and private sector openings and put in for the state job online during the summer.

    Rice said his experience in the transportation field included running valet and snowplowing companies and managing valet services for Jam Productions.

    Josh Kauffman, an IDOT spokesman, said Rice’s new responsibilities for the state involve developing solutions to traffic safety issues, initiating and reviewing proposed state legislation and helping create and implement a highway safety program. Kauffman said Rice’s background as an alderman and in the transportation industry qualified him for the job, and he denied that clout influenced his appointment.
    “He has, obviously, extensive experience when it comes to community involvement in his former position,” Kauffman said. “We’re pleased to have him on board.”
    Rice said his new job was so far less stressful than being an alderman, but he still missed being on the council.
    In addition to Rice, three other aldermen were defeated in this year’s city election. One of the other losing incumbents, former 6th Ward Ald. Freddrenna Lyle, will be sworn-in to fill a vacancy on the Cook County Circuit Court bench, though she said she does not plan on running for a full term in the March primary. Lyle said she hoped to eventually become an appellate court judge.
    Lyle said she did not include veteran Ald. Edward Burke (14th) on her list of references when she applied for the judicial post. Burke is the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party’s judicial slate-making committee.
    “I specifically did not list Ald. Burke because I did not want people to think this is a political appointment,” she said. “And that’s why I wasn’t really trying to get a whole lot of press about it, because that’s the first idea people are going to have: ‘Oh, this is a political hookup.’”
    Lyle said the state Supreme Court justices who signed off on her appointment were Edward Burke’s wife, Anne Burke, as well as Charles Freeman and Mary Jane Theis.
    Lyle also has been working as a legal advisor to the council’s Black Caucus during the ward remap process.
    But she said has no plans to mount a comeback bid and will give up her spot as the 6th Ward’s Democratic committeeman at the end of her term next year.
    A lifelong 36th Ward Democratic worker, Rice said he also would stay out of the March primary to lead the organization. Banks is retiring from the top party post, creating a contest between Sposato and organization loyalist Lawrence Andolino.
    Not all aldermen ousted in the April run-off election are saying goodbye to politics. A website for former 50th Ward alderman Bernard Stone states that he is now a political analyst who is “available for interviews and media consultation.” Stone did not reply to an email request for an intervi

    Saturday, December 10, 2011

    Food Pantries in the 41st Ward

    Update:  16:14  04 December 2011


    
    
    Remember the food pantries during Christmas season, too.
    Holidays are around the corner, and I just received an email from a good friend and neighbor reminding me about the spirit of the holidays - giving.

    A couple of ideas for this year:

    1.  Support the two local food pantries in the 41st ward.  They do wonderful work.  Hard times can hit anyone, at anytime, and knowing these faith organizations have missions to feed neighbors in need is comforting.  This year, how about donating something to the local food pantries listed below:  food, cash, gift cards etc...

    2.  Support local businesses this year, too.  Buy products and services from our local merchants, especially the ones who donate to the local food pantries.  Personally, I like receiving a gift certificate to a restaurant or store, I've never tried, but have been meaning to... 

    Info about the local Food Pantries:

    PANTRY
    New Hope United Methodist
    7115 W Hood Ave
    Chicago IL 60631
    (773) 775-1215
    Contact: Marilyn Doering
    Hours of Operation: Tuesday: 9:30 am - 11:30 am
    Boundaries: Zip Codes: 60631, 60646, 60630 and 60656
    Newsletter: 
    Read the latest issue of our newsletter online.

    PANTRY
    Windy City Community Church
    6112 N Navarre Ave
    Chicago IL 60631
    (773) 631-9222
    Contact: Nancy Volpert
    Hours of Operation: Last Tuesday: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (except Nov - Dec open 3rd Tues. of the month)
    Boundaries: Zip Codes: 60631, 60646, and 60656

    Updated:
    Open Pantry
    Salvation Army
    8354 W Foster Ave  Norridge, IL 60706-3032
    (708) 456-6220
    Wednesdays:  1pm (call first - I believe there may be a different day for first time users, an intake process)

    Friday, December 9, 2011

    16th Chicago Police District Incident

    Man charged with throwing chunks of concrete at police station window

    December 9, 2011
    A Northwest Side man was charged early this morning with heaving chunks of concrete at a large plate glass window at the 16th District police station in Jefferson Park Thursday night.
    Three officers were injured when they tried to arrest the 38-year-old man, Chicago Police News Affairs Hector Alfaro said.

    Andrzej K. Borowiec, of the 5300 block of West Wolfram Street was charged with three counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, one count of criminal damage to property and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest.

    Police said Borowiec entetered  about 8:15 p.m. and said, "If the government wrecked my place then I will wreck yours" before removing the concrete from under his jacket and throwing it at a window.
    Police say he then hit one of the officers three times in the face and flailed his arms while trying to resist arrest.

    Borowiec was subdued and the three officers were treated and released from Resurrection Medical Center for minor injuries, Alfaro said.
    The concrete chunks damaged the window but didn't break it, Alfaro said.
    It's unclear what prompted the incident, Alfaro said. The station is located at 5151 N. Milwaukee Avenue.
    chicagobreaking@tribune.com

    Wednesday, December 7, 2011

    A look at our Neighboring 36th Ward

    I received this State of the Ward (36th Ward)  article today from a reader who found it in the Galewood Gazette, a community newsletter.  The reader wants to highlight the many advisory boards set up and the process in which citizens are involved in local government in the 36th Ward


    State of the Ward

    By Alderman Sposato
    Dear Friend,
    As we enter this Holiday Season and I complete my first six months as the 36th
    Ward  Alderman I want to take this opportunity to update you on events that have taken place in our community. When I decided to run for Alderman I promised if elected we would create anew system of open and accessible government for the 36th Ward.
    Over the course of the last six months we have started implementing a new form of community government that has had a real effect onthe neighborhoods and people throughout our community
    community.On May 16th we opened our new 36th Ward Community Service Office located at 6934 W Diversey. We have been running full steamever since.
    I want to give credit to my 36th Ward office staff and toour 36th Ward Streets & Sanitation staff who have done a remarkable job in hitting the ground running and ensuring that our office has been accessible. We have been striving to provide top notch service to the constituents of the ward. Providing accessibility to me and my office staff is one of the steps I have taken to deliver on my promise of opening up our ward government to the community.
     A major part of my new ideas for representative government for the 36th
    ward was to create several advisory committees that would provide me with community input on issues involving our Parks,Schools, Libraries, Crime, and other community development issues.Over the course of the last six months we have been signing upresidents that want to participate and the advisory committees arenow meeting once a month to discuss the issues they feel we shouldbe focusing on in our ward. This has been a tremendous asset to me providing an insight into different areas of our community.In addition to advisory committees I have made other steps to include as many people as possible in our Ward Government.
    ward website, created asystem of email blasts to update residents on what we are doing bothat 6934 W Diversey and down in City Hall, we have startedcommunicating through Facebook, and started a series of communitytown hall meetings. The response from the community has been  remarkable.
    When given the chance to have a voice in the direction of our community, 36th Ward residents haven't hesitated to step up andget involved. Our town hall meetings have been averaging between 75-100 people but a few of our meetings have drawncrowds that reached 200-300. I have heard from several members of our community that they like the meetings but feel thatthere should be better follow up information provided. That is why in the coming weeks I will be adding an area to our websitethat will contain my decisions on many of the issues discussed in these meetings. Communication and information is essentia lto our partnership.
    Changing the culture of government in the 36th
    ward has not been the only challenge we have been faced with over the last fewmonths. For many years the City has looked to one time fixes to address fiscal problems, only to see them come back worse a
    few years later.
    We needed to change how this city was operating! This year’s budget negotiations were historic for a number 
     of reasons 1) the City has never been faced with such economic difficulties and 2) the new City Council and Mayor needed to
    figure out how to work together to address these issues. Mayor Emanuel’s original budget proposal contained $6.3 million
    dollars in cuts for the Library system, Health Care, Graffiti removal crews, and front line public safety operations at the 911 callcenter.
    In response to issues raised by myself and other members of the Progressive Caucus Mayor Emanuel agreed torestore $4.3 million in cuts he had proposed including $3.3 million that will prevent 100 planned layoffs and allow the libraries tomaintain their six day-a-week schedule during summer months and other holidays when school is out.
    While this budget wasfar from ideal it addressed the
    dire fiscal situation and didn’t kick the can down the road. Although we had to make some tough
    decisions the choices we made this year will prevent even larger cuts in the future and help get our city back on track. As we move forward into the winter months I would like to encourage you to take a minute each day to check on any elderly or disabled neighbors.
    Last year we saw this city come together as one community to help each other through the blizzard and Ihope we can continue that spirit of cooperation this year.I promise that as long as I serve as your Alderman I will continue to strive to provide you with a voice in our ward's direction. Donot ever hesitate to contact me at (773) 836-0036 or  info@aldermansposato.com.I look forward to hearing from you! It is my honor and privilege to serve you. Thank you for your continued support.Sincerely,Nicholas Sposato
     Alderman, 36th Ward