Sunday, July 31, 2011

Great Work, 41st Ward Garbage Crews: Suntimes Letter to the Editor from Norwood Park

Thanks, garbage crews

Story Image
| Photo:  Al Podgorski~Sun-Times


Letter to the Editor:
In the recent weeks, rain storms have created havoc on many levels — power outages, flooded basements, downed trees and, sadly, the loss of life.
My wife and I, like many of our neighbors, spent countless hours cutting up wet carpet, hauling out flood-soaked furniture, bleaching and mopping, with all that waste ending up in our alley.
We owe a huge amount of gratitude to our city’s garbage crews. Every week, they haul away our trash, but today they are hauling away years of people’s lives, piled up in humongous heaps. These men and women deserve more than budget cuts.
John Trevino, Norwood Park

41st Ward Had More Power Outages in 2010 Than Any Other Ward In The City

Take a look at the table... (click on the blue, underlined words to access the chart)
Analysis gives ammo to areas that say ComEd gives them short shrift - Chicago Sun-Times

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Where is the 41st Ward Website?

            



New Ethics Ordinance


City Council Passes Ethics Reform Ordinance


Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
On Thursday, the Chicago City Council passed an ethics ordinance introduced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel which will create a level of transparency unprecedented in the history of Chicago’s city government.
“I promised during the campaign to reform city government and change the way we do business at City Hall,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Today’s ethics ordinance will rein in the influence of lobbyists and ensure everyone in City government is working for Chicago’s taxpayers.”
On his first day in office, Mayor Emanuel signed six ethics Executive Orders aimed at increasing transparency and accountability across the City. This ethics ordinance strengthens limits on lobbying activities through:
Searchable Online Registration and Reporting: Creation of a searchable online system for registration and reporting.
Gifts: Adding the term “lobbyist” to those potential gift-givers who are limited to $50 per single, non-cash gift, and $100 in cumulative gifts per calendar year.
Loans: Adding lobbyists to the list of persons that City employees, officials or their businesses are prohibited from applying for or receiving loans from.
Campaign Contributions: Amending semi-annual activity report form to require lobbyists to disclose all campaign contributions to City elected officials and City employees running for office.
Revolving Door: Codifying the post-employment revolving door provisions in Mayor Emanuel’s May 16 Executive Order, which bars employees from lobbying the City after leaving City employment.

City Council Meeting July 28, 2011

Readers:  This is from today's City Council Meeting.  If you click on the blue print, you will be linked to the official press release for the specific ordinance.

City Council Meeting

Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
A series of ordinances were introduced in Thursday’s City Council meeting, including the following:
-Mayor Emanuel introduced eight ordinances supporting economic development and affordable housing for seniors and low-income renters.
According to the Mayor, “Our goal is to foster the development of neighborhoods where commercial and affordable housing, jobs and open spaces contribute to continued growth and vitality. Facilitating investment in our communities is essential to the future economic healthy of our city.”
-Mayor Emanuel and Ald. Ameya Pawar introduced an ordinance to support and expand urban agriculture and community gardens.
Ameya Pawar
Ald. Ameya Pawar
The Mayor commented, “This ordinance is an important component of a comprehensive strategy to eliminate food deserts in Chicago while creating jobs. By making it easier for communities to turn vacant lots into urban farms, we can help transform eyesores into engines of local economic activity that will supply fresh fruits and vegetables to the neighborhood.”
“By revising our zoning code, we can remove serious obstacles that have hampered the development of urban agriculture in Chicago,” said Ald. Pawar. “Passing this ordinance will unleash the full potential of Chicago’s urban farmers and community gardeners, expanding access to fresh, healthy foods in neighborhoods throughout the city.”
-Mayor Emanuel also introduced an ordinance to increase pedestrian safety by requiring drivers to come to a complete stop when pedestrians are crossing an uncontrolled crosswalk and by maintaining temporary awareness signs within the public way.
“My Administration is committed to making our streets safer for pedestrians,” said Emanuel. “The ordinance introduced today will clarify our safety laws to better protect pedestrians and support a vigorous, creative public awareness campaign to help educate all who use our roads about pedestrian safety.”
-City Council approved an ordinance enabling the City to enter a Concession Redevelopment and Management Lease Agreement with Westfield Concessions Management, LLC.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
“This agreement will bring 280 new jobs to Chicago and improve the travel experience of Chicagoans and visitors from around the world who fly through O’Hare International Airport,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The new concessions program in Terminal 5 will reflect our City’s world-class shopping and dining experiences, featuring local, national and international brands.”
-The City introduced an ordinance that authorized the final acceptance of funds from the Settlement Agreement among the City, the Attorney General’s office, the Citizens Utility Board, and Peoples Gas.
The City will receive up to $5 million a year for 6 years, money which will be designated for energy conservation and weatherization projects.
- Finally, the Department of Law and the Chicago Police Department together introduced an ordinance to amend the City’s gun range ordinance.
“Chicago’s gun ordinances continue to be the target of legal challenges,” said Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton. “These revisions to the recent gun range ordinances will help to further ensure that it can withstand legal challenges while still protecting the safety of Chicago residents.”

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Where is the Real Payroll Waste in the City Budget? Upper & Middle Management


Readers,
We heard much last week in the media about Mayor Emmanual laying off 625 union workers on the lowest end of the pay scale (call center workers, custodians, CDOT laborers, etc).  This article, written by one of the best political journalists in the city, looks at where real payroll waste occurs - in the ranks of upper & middle management. The article appears in the "Chicago" section of the New York Times.   
July 23, 2011

The City Payroll May Include a Few Too Many Bosses



In City Hall’s Department of Family and Support Services, the relatively small band of employees receive supervision from no less than one commissioner, 14 deputy commissioners, 4 assistant commissioners, 6 assistants to the commissioner and 17 others with the word “director” in their titles.
Budget consultants hired by city-employee unions calculate that the department has more than 200 employees in various supervisory roles and 334 “front line” workers, for a ratio of about 1.6 staff members per manager.

After weeks of remaining mostly quiet during a public relations barrage from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, labor leaders are preparing to respond with cost-saving alternatives to Mr. Emanuel’s decision to lay off as many as 625 city workers. Union officials will urge him to reduce the number of managers in Family and Support Services as well as other top-heavy departments instead of laying off their members, according to a section of the consultants’ draft report obtained last week by the Chicago News Cooperative.
“Fewer workers are actually doing the work and an excessive number of supervisors and managers are overseeing the work,” the consultants contend in the report. “We don’t need to be firing any more of the people actually doing the work — we need to get rid of the excessive number of people watching them do it.”

Leaders of the Chicago Federation of Labor, the umbrella union group that hired the budget consultants, declined to comment Friday. But the excerpt from the draft report indicates that a main thrust of the union’s counteroffensive will be a call for “eliminating unneeded midlevel management and political appointees.”
Mr. Emanuel has used similar rhetoric, although he has not made clear what he envisions as the future size of the city work force. During his campaign for mayor in February, he promised to “streamline the bureaucracy” of city government, partly by doing away with “unnecessary layers of management.” On May 17, the day after he took the oath of office, he announced plans to cut total salaries for “senior management” by 10 percent in every City Hall department, including his office.

“His responsibility is to protect the city’s taxpayers, not the city’s payroll,” a mayoral spokeswoman said Friday. “No part of that payroll is immune, including management.”

Labor activists, many City Council members and other budget watchdogs have long asserted that the administration of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, who retired this year, had too many bosses making too much money. While the total number of City Hall employees dropped during his 22 years in office, the ranks of officials with the fanciest job titles grew steadily for most of his tenure, city budget records show.
There was financing for the salaries of one commissioner, two deputy commissioners and one assistant commissioner in the Buildings Department in 1990, the first year that Mr. Daley proposed a budget. By 2008, the list of Buildings Department honchos with such titles had swelled from 4 to 14. Only the following year, after the recession began to dry up city revenue streams, did Mr. Daley move to eliminate some positions for high-level managers in the Buildings Department and other branches of his administration.
Labor officials and some elected leaders say Mr. Daley’s successor should cut much deeper.

“City government has bloat in its middle-management layers,” Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), the vice chairman of the Council’s budget committee, said last week. “Correcting the management-employee ratio will be critical to getting our fiscal house in order.”

The Chicago Federation of Labor’s consultants, Public Works LLC of West Chester, Pa., did not conduct a comprehensive review of the structure of the entire 35,000-member city work force. But in their draft report they say that the Emanuel administration should closely examine the overall proportion of workers to managers, and they point to the organizational structure of three departments, including Family and Support Services, as examples of the problem.

The report notes that the payroll for the city’s Department of Information Technology includes 11 deputy chief information officers, as well as a chief and a managing deputy chief, among 103 full-time department employees. (In his mayoral run, Mr. Emanuel said he would consider folding that department into the city’s budget office.)

The consultants also found that 55 managers are included in the 477 filled positions in the General Services Department, about 7.6 workers for each administrator.
The consultants argue that such ratios are too low and that Chicago should follow the lead of other city and state governments across the country that have achieved great savings by reducing layers of management. A slight increase in the number of workers per manager could save the city tens of millions of dollars, the consultants say.

Similarly, the Civic Federation, a tax watchdog group financed by business leaders, recently analyzed the management structure in city government’s largest department, the police force.

“The Chicago Police Department has more layers of management at the top of the department than police departments of other major cities,” according to a Civic Federation report on the city’s budget released last month.

The authors of that report said the police force had two more layers of supervisors than the Los Angeles and Houston police and one layer more than the New York Police Department. Chicago has four classes of officialdom above the department’s seven deputy chiefs of patrol.

Many upper-echelon city officials command high salaries, including 41 managers who are paid at least $100,000 a year each in the Aviation Department, an agency that Laurence Msall, the Civic Federation president, also criticized for its many layers of bureaucracy.

But Alderman Reilly and Mr. Msall said thinning the flock of city bureaucrats was not a cure-all for a budget deficit that could reach $700 million next year. With 80 percent of city spending devoted to personnel costs and 90 percent of workers in unions, closing the shortfall will also require eliminating many lower-level jobs, according to Mr. Msall.
“They need to reduce at all levels, including management,” he said.

Mr. Emanuel’s most recent public statements have focused on workers represented by organized labor. He called on employee unions to agree to changes in contractually guaranteed work rules, like overtime policies, to help balance the budget. When labor leaders did not quickly agree to those proposals, the mayor carried out his threat to issue layoff notices and announced plans to outsource janitorial work at airports and libraries as well as the administration of employee benefits and the water-bill call center.
Union leaders said Mark Angelson, the deputy mayor, began a closed-door meeting with them Monday by saying, “There’s a new sheriff in town.”
While Mr. Emanuel has promised to scale back overall payroll spending on managers, some of his newly hired aides are being paid more than their predecessors in Mr. Daley’s administration, city records show. They include Matt Hynes, the chief lobbyist; Alexandra Holt, the budget director; Lois Scott, the chief financial officer; Transportation Commissioner Gabriel Klein; and Evelyn Diaz, the new head of Family and Support Services.

The new mayor will not lack for public relations aides to help him frame the debate with unions. Payroll records show that at least 45 management-level officials are engaged in promoting the mayor’s agenda in the news media. The payroll includes dozens of public relations officials in departments across City Hall in addition to the press secretary, deputy press secretary, five assistant press secretaries, two “press aides” and one photographer in the mayor’s press office.

dmihalopoulos@chicago
newscoop.org

Friday, July 22, 2011

New State Laws to Fight Crime & Protect Illinois Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011



Governor Quinn Announces New Laws to Fight Crime and Protect Illinois Residents
Legislation Increases Protections Against Violent and Sex Crimes, Tackles Gang Violence and Protects First Responders

CHICAGO – July 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a package of new laws to fight crime and protect residents across Illinois. The new laws will increase public safety by stopping anyone convicted of a sex crime from working in healthcare in Illinois, protecting law enforcement officers and those who tip off police to violent crimes, preventing anyone convicted of domestic battery from owning a gun, and ensuring that anyone convicted of first degree murder registers with the state upon their release from prison.

“We must stand up strong against the violence and crime that destroys communities,” Governor Quinn said. “Whether they are at the doctor’s office or in the streets of their own neighborhood, families and citizens should feel safe and protected. These new laws will help make Illinois safer and more peaceful place to live.”

Sponsored by Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) and Sen. John Mulroe (D-Chicago), House Bill 3390 makes the aggravated assault of a peace officer with a gun a non-probationable offense. Currently, offenders may be sentenced to only probation, periodic imprisonment or even conditional discharge. The law takes effect immediately.

Among the 11 bills signed into law to increase public safety was House Bill 1271, which prevents anyone who is required to register as a sex offender or has been convicted of a criminal offense from receiving a health care worker license in Illinois. The new law also revokes licenses from any healthcare worker convicted of a sexual criminal act, criminal battery against a patient or any other forcible felony. Sponsored by Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago) and Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), the new law takes effect in 30 days.

Governor Quinn also announced new laws to fight gang violence and protect first responders in the line of duty. Sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) and Rep. Constance Howard (D-Chicago), Senate Bill 1739 aims to help break the code of silence by making it an offense to intimidate a citizen who reports information about a forcible felony to a law enforcement agency. Too often, individuals do not come forward with information about crime because of fear of gang intimidation and retaliation. This new law, effective Jan. 1, will help protect citizens who come forward and encourage them to share information and cooperate with law enforcement.

House Bill 3365 stops anyone convicted of domestic battery or aggravated domestic battery from obtaining a FOID (Firearm Owner's Identification) card. Sponsored by Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) and Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), the new law ensures that domestic offenders in Illinois will not be able to own a gun. It takes effect Jan. 1.

Governor Quinn today also announced the signing of House Bill 263, also known as Andrea’s Law. Sponsored by Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst) and Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream), this law requires individuals convicted of first degree murders to register in a state database for 10 years upon their release from prison. The law takes effect Jan. 1 and will help protect families from potentially dangerous offenders.

Additional bills signed to increase public safety in Illinois include:
House Bill 167 – Sponsored by Rep. Dave Winters (R-Shirland) and Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), this law makes it a criminal offense to point a laser at the cockpit of an aircraft.
House Bill 295 – Sponsored by Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) and Sen. Edward D. Maloney (D-Chicago), this new law requires sex offenders to also register with the public safety director of the college where they attend or are employed.
House Bill 3283 – Sponsored by Rep. Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) and Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), the new law toughens penalties for child pornography by ensuring that a child pornography offense involving moving images is one felony one class higher than one involving still images.
Senate Bill 1038 – Sponsored by Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), this law requires a person convicted of criminal child luring to undergo a sex offender evaluation and increases the severity of the penalty if the person has a prior sex conviction.
Senate Bill 1708 – Sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) and Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), this law requires any individual convicted of a hate crime to enroll in an educational program discouraging hate crimes.
Senate Bill 2151 – Sponsored by Sen. John Millner (R-Carol Stream) and Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Pecatonica), this new law requires the Juvenile Justice Commission to study and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly to ensure the effective treatment and supervision of juvenile offenders who are found guilty of a sex offense.
These new laws go into effect Jan. 1.

National Night Out





National Night Out

When: Tuesday, August 2nd
Where: Norwood Park- 5801 N. Natoma Ave
Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Residents are invited to join Alderman O'Connor, the 16th District Police and the Chicago Park District for "National Night Out." Join concerned citizens everywhere to celebrate the idea of police and community working together to make our homes, streets, schools and parks safe and enjoyable for all!

This event will include an antique car show, giveaways, food for purchase, face painting, family swim and more.

41st Ward Newsletter 7/22/2011 New Bike Lanes on Northwest Highway & Other News

 
The National Weather Service in Chicago expects the hot and humid temperatures to remain in Chicago until Sunday. During this time, high temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s and 90s, including at night. Heat Indices of around 105 degrees are possible each day through Sunday, and an Excessive Heat Warning will be in effect from Wednesday morning through early Friday morning. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) wants to remind everyone to be aware of extreme temperatures and to take the necessary precautions to avoid heat-related emergencies. Everyone is reminded to take the following steps to minimize the impact of hot weather:

* Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day.
* Avoid going out in the heat during the hottest part of the day.
* Prepare for hot weather, especially if participating in or attending outdoor activities.
* Public buildings such as Libraries, Park District facilities and Chicago police district headquarters can be used as temporary cooling centers. Call 3-1-1 to receive the address of the nearest temporary cooling center.
* Check on the well being of neighbors and relatives who may be susceptible to hot weather conditions. Call 3-1-1 to request a well being check or a ride to a cooling center.
* Open fire hydrants are a public safety issue because it drops water pressure in the area and prevents firefighters from being able to use them to fight a fire. The water stream from an open hydrant also creates a potentially hazardous situation for small children, especially when cars are present.
* Com Ed has additional crews on stand by to quickly respond to power outages. Customers should call 1-800-EDISON-1 to report outages immediately.

The City will continue to work closely with the National Weather Service to monitor local conditions. The City's Emergency Operations Center has not been activated at this point, but we are ready to do so if necessary. For more information, or to sign up for extreme weather alerts, please visit
http://www.alertchicago.com/
or view the OEMC's Facebook Page.
Follow-up Links 

http://www.alertchicago.com/ 

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/

http://www.edgebrookchamber.com/

www.chicagobikes.org/

http://www.ward41.com/  

http://www.cityofchicago.org/ 



Dear ______________,

After several weeks of construction,
street resurfacing along Northwest Highway is finally nearing completion.

I am now pleased to announce that the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be installing bike lanes on Northwest Highway between Nagle and Harlem and marked shared lines between Harlem and Oketo.


The installation of these bike lanes and marked shared lanes will not affect motor vehicle travel, turning or parking lanes. These bikeways will organize traffic and improve safety conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Riding a bicycle can be a healthy and cheaper alternative to driving an automobile, but it's important to remember that cyclists have a responsibility to observe and respect the rules of the road. Please visit http://www.chicagobikes.org/ for more information about cycling in the City of Chicago and what you can do to stay safe.

 I  also want to thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this latest round of violent thunderstorms. The damage done by these storms temporarily delayed the implemenation of some city services. We regret any incovenience this may have caused you.
Sincerely,
Mary O'Connor
Alderman 41st Ward

P.S.


Make sure to visit any one of the exciting events planned throughout the ward this summer! For more information, visit our ward office at 6107 N. Northwest Highway.


Edgebrook Summer Festival

When: Friday, July 22 (5:00 PM - 11:00 PM)
Saturday, July 23 (11:00 AM - 11:00 PM)
Where: 6400 N. Kinzua Ave
This year's Edgebrook Summer Festival will feature live music from local bands, a beer garden, a food court, a Kids Corner sponsored by Swedish Covenant Hospital, and lots of artisans and crafters.

Movies in the Parks
The Sandlot
When: Saturday, July 23 (Dusk- Approx. 8:00 PM)
Where: Norwood Park- 5801 N. Natoma Ave
Grab a blanket & picnic basket and join us for a FREE movie in the park. For more information call the Movies in the Park hotline at 312-742-1134 or visit http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/

National Night Out
When: Tuesday, August 2nd
Where: Norwood Park- 5801 N. Natoma Ave
Time: 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Residents are invited to join Alderman O'Connor, the 16th District Police and the Chicago Park District for "National Night Out." Join concerned citizens everywhere to celebrate the idea of police and community working together to make our homes, streets, schools and parks safe and enjoyable for all! This event will include an antique car show, giveaways, food for purchase, face painting, family swim and more.

Cell Phones for Soldiers
It is important to recognize the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families every day. That is why I am asking residents from the 41st Ward to participate in a cell phone collection drive coordinated by the AT&T Pioneers in support of the charity Cell Phone for Soldiers. This nonprofit organization uses funds from recycled cell phone to purchase prepaid phone cards for active duty military members in order to give them an affordable way to connect with their families. For more information, please contact the 41st Ward office at (773) 594-8341 or email at ward41@cityofchicago.org



 

41st Ward Office
 6107 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
(Phone) 773-594-8341
(Fax) 773-594-8345
(Email) ward41@cityofchicago.org
http://www.ward41.com/

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Neighborhood Newspapers: Your Thoughts


Today is Wednesday, and on Wednesday mornings, I pick up a copy of the local newspaper, the "Chicago Northwest Side Press", owned and operated by the Nadig Newspapers (the Press, Reporter, Journal).  I'm glad to have a local newspaper to read; many local papers including the Pioneer Press, have folded in the last few years.  No one is quite sure what will happen to print media, as many of us rely on web based news outlets these days.

But, there is just something about expecting to get the real deal from a tangible, in your hands, newspaper.

 "It's American, like apple pie", a neighbor said to me at a recent community forum.  "There is so much nonsense on the Internet, I'm never sure what to believe. The local paper, staffed with writers who have been around for years, are the real experts about what's happening in neighborhoods".

I agree. 

I do have some suggestions for the Nadig Newspapers though.  I am going to list a few observations about the Nadig News, and my thoughts on what I think could improve the paper.  I invite all of you to post your thoughts and constructive advice for the owner/publisher and staff writers for the Nadig Papers:

  • The communities in the 41st Ward are home to many skilled workers, a significant number of them on the city payroll.  It would be refreshing to see stories written from a workers point of view (including union workers).
  • Would like to see an Opinion - Editorial section and a "Letters to the Editors" section.
  • Would like to see more challenging articles written about obvious community problems:  forclosures, crime, loss of small manufacturing base, population & demographic changes, school overcrowding, etc...
  • Would like to see more in-depth interviewing of business owners, some of their challenges and sucesses.
  • Would like to see some varied political reporting...the 41st Ward is home to people with very diverse political ideologies - not eclusively a Republican stronghold anymore.  Recent demographic changes include larger numbers of young families, singles and minorities moving into the area who have progressive, non-partisan, democratic and even tea party alliances. 
Add your thoughts, send in a comment...

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Blue Star Memorial Garden at Harlem & Avondale Needs Help....

UPDATE:  7/20/2011  A few after pictures..  Click on the pictures to enlarge.


7/20/2011 Blue Star Memorial at Avondale & Harlem after clean-up effort of person(s) unknown

Found almost tucked under an overgrown bush - a small memorial to past Norwood Park Garden Club Members



UPDATE:  7/17/2011 Someone cut the grass and cleaned up the memorial site!  Thanks to whoever was responsible.  I'll post a few pictures soon...

Original Post:

Readers,

Blue Star Memorial Garden at Harlem & Avondale
A few comments came through this week about the Blue Star Memorial garden at Harlem & Avondale from readers who are concerned about its condition. The Blue Star Memorial honors service men and women. Our community's Blue Star Memorial is in terrible shape.  It looks as though the garden has been abandoned.  I went over there today, looked at the site and found the grass, bushes and trees all need cutting/trimming.  Weeds are everywhere. The memorial plaque itself needs to have the weeds removed from around it and could use a good blast with the hose.  I'm posting some info about the Blue Star Memorial garden program in hopes that a community/civic group may be interested in caring for the garden. 


Blue Star Memorial at Harlem & Avondale 7/11/2011
 

 
Blue Star Memorial Program
The Blue Star Memorial Program honors service men and women. This program began with the planting of 8,000 Dogwood trees by the New Jersey Council of Garden Clubs in 1944 as a living memorial to veterans of World War II. In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs adopted the program and began a Blue Star Highway system, which covers thousands of miles across the Continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. A large metal Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker was placed at appropriate locations along the way.
The program was expanded to include all men and women who had served, were serving or would serve in the armed services of the United States. Memorial Markers and By-Way markers were added to the Highway Markers, to be used at locations such as National cemeteries, parks, veteran's facilities and gardens.
The Blue Star became an icon in World War II and was seen on flags and banners in homes for sons and daughters away at war, as well as in churches and businesses.
This program has been active all through the years to the present, a fitting tribute always and especially now. Many states and regions have been very dedicated, but there is room for growth in some areas.
A "Guidelines" booklet can be ordered from Member Services for $5.00, which explains all procedures, including awards available to clubs.




Saturday, July 16, 2011

Emanuel Lays Off 625 City Workers - Where is the Leadership?

From Guest Blogger, Jim

     Mayor Emanuel's announcement Friday of the firing of 625 union employees sent shock waves across the entire city workforce.  Emanuel declared his intention to replace most of the fired workers with low wage/zero benefit workers from the private sector.

     The Union's representing the fired workers seemed to be caught off guard.  Statements like those from CFL President Jorge Ramirez, "...We're willing to be partners.  But this is no way to treat a partner."  AFSCME Executive Director Henry Beyer said "....We were particularly disappointed..."

     "Willing to be partners"?  "Disappointed"?  How lame.  Someone in the rank and file needs to grab these 'leaders' by collar and shake some outrage, not to mention courage, into them.  A more appropriate response would have been the announcement of a full blown organizing drive, not just of any privatized work force replacements of those fired on Friday, but of the non-union teachers currently at CPS charter schools as well.

     Union leaders better understand one thing, this Mayor is not your partner.  He is your adversary.  Emanuel is a millionaire many times over.  He cannot and will not relate to those who work for a living.  He just kicked you in the groin.  Get back up and kick him in the groin, and then kick him in the shins.

     Union leaders better start ramping up the rhetoric as well.

      Emanuel is a bully, and needs to be treated like one.

Rahm Emanuel sends layoff notices to city workers in union showdown

Story Image
Mayor Rahm Emanuel exits a press conference after announcing the possibility of layoffs to balance the 2011 city budget at City Hall Friday, July 15, 2011, in Chicago. | John J. Kim~Sun-Times
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is sending layoff notices to about 625 city of Chicago employees — and delaying 61 blocks of curb and gutter improvements and 76 blocks of sidewalk repairs — after union leaders didn’t agree to work-rule changes the mayor wants or offer alternate ways to cut costs by a deadline Friday. “My duty as mayor is to protect our city’s taxpayers and be their voice — not to protect the city’s payroll,” Emanuel said at a City Hall news conference Friday. “No amount of smoke and mirrors can put off the tough decisions any longer.”


The layoffs — which Emanuel said will save roughly $12 million — target 75 percent cut of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s “seasonal” workforce, as well as custodians at O’Hare Airport, Midway Airports and the city’s public libraries; and workers who run the city’s water-bill call center and manage city benefits.
The transportation department layoffs will be begin immediately. As a result, city curb and gutter repairs are being put off until next year.
Custodial services, benefits management and the water-bill call center will be privatized after 30- and 45-day layoff notices go out.
Emanuel said he bent over backward to avoid laying off city employees even as he’s been touting how he’s helped bring 3,600 private-sector jobs to Chicago since he took office in May.
Friday’s layoff notices came after Emanuel eliminated unpaid furlough days for city workers, saying that cost-saving move implemented by former Mayor Richard M. Daley was a “morale-killer.” He came up with a $19 million menu of cost-saving work-rule changes and agreed to a requested two-week delay — until Friday — on those so the Chicago Federation of Labor could try to come up with alternate ways to cut back.
In the meantime, the mayor made $20 million in budget cuts that didn’t affect union jobs.
Emanuel said Friday that the revised deadline has arrived, and he can’t wait any longer to deal with the financial time bomb left behind by Daley, who balanced his final city budget with union concessions not yet negotiated. At midnight on June 30, an agreement expired that had required unionized city employees to take the equivalent of 24 unpaid furlough days a year and substitute compensatory time off for cash overtime.
“I recognize that the workers affected here are people with families to support and bills to pay, and they are going to be cast into an economy that is scarce on jobs,” Emanuel said. “But there are millions of hard-working families across the city who are trying to pay bills every day, get their kids to school every day or in camp. They’re trying to make ends meet on a paycheck that may run out by the end of the month. Those are the people [who] pay the bills [and] that expect the services.”
The decision to delay curb, gutter and sidewalk repairs did not sit well with Chicago aldermen.
“It’s already taking a long time to get projects complete. ... I have projects on my 2009 aldermanic menu that still haven’t been finished,” said Ald. Joe Moore (49th).
“We’re just gonna need to adjust the expectations of the public with respect to how fast things can get done. But, it’s tough. People are already frustrated that it’s taking too long to complete projects.”
Emanuel’s decision to pull the trigger on layoffs escalates a high-stakes standoff with organized labor that is only in Round One.
Even more concessions or layoffs will be needed to erase a $700 million operating shortfall in the city’s 2012 budget — and $500 million more when unfunded pension liabilities are factored in. The mayor said he remains open to budget-cutting ideas.
Chicago Federation of Labor President Jorge Ramirez accused the mayor of throwing “gasoline” on a fire by pulling the trigger on layoff notices without negotiating work-rule changes with individual unions and before he sees alternative savings identified by the federation’s consultant.
That report is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
Ramirez insisted there have been “no negotiations over work-rule changes — period” with local unions whose members would be impacted by those salary-shaving changes.
“When there’s a fire, you don’t pour gasoline on it. ... We’ve shared the sacrifice. We’re willing to be partners. But, this is no way to treat a partner. ... .It’s taking a bad problem, and it’s making it worse,” Ramirez said of the layoff notices.
“These people have suffered a lot ... in this furlough arrangement. They had a previous mayor who never told ‘em, `Thank you.‚ And they have a current mayor who’s never said, ‘Thank you.’ Layoffs are matters of last resort. It’s what you have to do when all other options have been exhausted. I don’t think all other options have been exhausted.”
Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, agreed that neither the mayor nor his representatives have made any attempt to meet with his union to negotiate specific changes.
“If the mayor were serious ... he would have taken the appropriate measures to engage in such discussions. The fact that he has never done so is clear evidence that this attempt to blame union work rules for the city’s massive deficit is public relations gimmickry,” Bayer said a statement.
He added, “We are surprised and disappointed at Mayor Emanuel’s scattershot approach to the city’s budget shortfall. We are particularly disappointed that most of his bullets are aimed at frontline employees who do the real work of city government.”
Other union sources called the mayor’s decision “premature,” a “mistake” and a scare tactic that would alienate rank-and-file union members who took a 10 percent pay cut each of the last two years.
Two weeks ago, the Chicago Federation of Labor said it had hired a consultant to scour the city budget to pinpoint alternative savings. The federation said it needed more time to finish that report.
Emanuel granted the extension, setting a new deadline — of Friday.
Sources said the coalition of union leaders affiliated with the CFL is expected to meet Monday to review the recommendations, followed by a meeting with city officials.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Quigley refuses to sign House Dems letter opposing Social security cuts

UPDATE 7/13/2011  The guest blogger reports that seven (7) more House Democrats have signed the letter to President Obama opposing any cuts to Social Security or Medicare.  This brings the total number of signers to 77, as of today.  As of now, it appears as though, Congressman Quigley has NOT signed the letter.  Call the Congressman and let him know that you oppose cuts to Social Security and Medicare and URGE him to get on board.


From a Guest Blogger

    On Friday, 70 House Democrats signed a letter urging President Obama to reject any cuts in Social Security and Medicare as part of any deficit renewal deal.  Congressman Mike Quigley, who represents many of us in the 41st Ward, is not among the 70 signers.  By not signing this letter, Quigley is by default supporting benefit cuts to these vital entitlement programs.  In contrast, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Congressman Danny Davis and Louis Giuiterez have signed the letter.


     Someone should inform Congressman Quigley that the Social Security fund has enough cash to sustain itself for the next 25 years, and has nothing to do with the deficit issue.  His D.C. office number is  202-225-4061. 


     That's if he's not out golfing with Speaker Boehner.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Storm Update From Alderman O'Connor

Once again, the 41st Ward has suffered extensive damage - including widespread power outages - as a result of this morning's severe thunderstorm.  I have personally been surveying our neighborhoods in order to to address the needs of those residents most affected.

My office is continuing to receive calls regarding fallen trees, scattered debris and downed power lines all throughout the ward. We are taking these calls very seriously and alerting officials from the appropriate agency/department.

Officials from ComEd have indicated that several thousand residents are currently without power and will remain so until at least 8:00 PM.  In some instances, residents will be without service for the remainder of the evening and into the morning. The priority is to restore power to our residents and businesses throughout the 41st Ward. 

Please take any necessary precautions to protect you and your family - especially seniors.  If you know of any residents that require immediate attention, please call 911 for assistance. 
I understand that this is a very difficult time for many of our residents, many of whom have suffered damage on multiple occasions as a result of these ongoing storms.  I appreciate your continued patience.  Please don't hesitate to contact my office at (773) 594-8341 if there is anything we can do to assist you.
Also, please encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up for our regular email alerts by visiting http://www.ward41.com/

Sincerely,
Mary O'Connor

Thursday, July 7, 2011

New School Garden Approved for Ebinger School in the 41st Ward!

Open Space Impact Fees for School Garden Projects




The next ordinance authorizes $248,000 in Open Space Impact Fees for the construction of school
gardens in the Hermosa, Edison Park and Jefferson Park communities.
The City will provide the funds to Openlands for the construction of the Kelvyn, Ebinger and
Farnsworth School gardens. Openlands will work on all aspects of the garden creation process
including garden design, installation and curriculum support. The garden will be maintained by
students, teachers and volunteers from the community.
The Kelvyn Park High School garden at 4347 W. Wrightwood Ave. in the 31
$41,000. The budget for the Ebinger School garden at 7341-45 W. Farwell Ave. in the 41
be $107,000 and $100,000 will be allocated to the Farnsworth School at 5414 N. Linder Ave. in the
45
Each school garden project involves the removal of asphalt, addition of native plants and
construction of outdoor seating connecting children to nature and promoting environmental
stewardship. The three gardens are part of a dozen such projects that have been created over the
past year.
Openlands is a nonprofit agency dedicated to preserving and creating open space.
Open Space Impact Fees are fees collected from new residential developments in each of the City’s
community areas to help create open space and recreational facilities for residents.

City Council Meeting


Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
Here are some of the issues discussed:
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel today introduced eight ordinances supporting neighborhood amenities, business development, affordable housing and historic preservation. For more information, click here.
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel today asked the Chicago City Council to approve an ordinance that will allow the City to enter into a Concession Redevelopment and Management Lease Agreement with Westfield Concessions Management, LLC. For more information, click here.
- The City Council today approved an ordinance that creates a comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework that allows for shooting ranges to be located in the City of Chicago. For more information, click here.
- The Chicago City Council today approved 12 ordinances supporting residential and commercial development and the creation of parks and open spaces. For more information, click here.
- Today, Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ethics ordinance to foster unprecedented transparency across City government by creating the most comprehensive lobbyist disclosure database in the nation. For more information, click here.

PI's Cheat Sheet: July City Council Meeting Proposals

Wednesday’s City Council meeting was jam packed with policy and ordinance proposals. See Progress Illinois’ cheat sheet for an update:

PASSED:
Gun Ranges - Mayor Rahm Emanuel got an ordinance through the full committee that allows gun ranges in the city. Practicing at a range -- which previously meant a trip to the suburbs -- is part of the process in obtaining a permit. The ordinance will allow indoor ranges to set up shop in areas zoned for manufacturing and would require city and Chicago Police approval. Passing the ordinance lets the city get a hold on two related federal lawsuits that are pending.

Outdoor Dining Hours - The council OK’d a temporary measure to allow outdoor patios and rooftop gardens in the Central Business District to stay open until midnight, benefitting about 70 establishments in the area. The extension will expire Dec. 1 and was pushed by Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward), who, with the Illinois Restaurant Association, says the rule will appease international tourists.

Wrigley Field - A two-night exception to Wrigley Field’s 30-night maximum for night events was passed ahead of Paul McCartney’s concerts scheduled to take place at the historic ballpark on July 31 and Aug. 1.

PROPOSED:
O’Hare Concessions -
After much speculation of what the mayor will do, Emanuel re-introduced a proposal to give Westfield Concession Management the coveted contract at O’Hare Airport’s international terminal. UNITE-HERE, the union representing some workers who could lose their jobs under the contract, has already issued an analysis on the possible deal.

Revised Curfew - Public Safety Committee Chairman Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward), Ald. Toni Foulkes (15th Ward) and Ald. Lona Lane (18th Ward) -- all from the South Side -- are backing a proposal to revise curfew times for children under age 12 to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends. Currently, there is a sweeping 10 p.m. weekday and 11 p.m. weekend curfew for the 730,000 CHicago residents under the age of 17 year old. Advocates say young children need even stricter rules to be protected.

Boystown Police Unit - Ald. Tom Tunney (44th Ward) offered up an ordinance that would create a special police unit for the entertainment district on North Halsted Street in Boystown. The unit would be similar to the one that patrols bustling Rush Street. Tunney’s ward constituents say there has been a spike in violence.

Pedicab Regulation - Tunney also proposed an ordinance to regulate the 200 bike-taxis or "rickshaws" that circulate the city, including requiring insurance and inspection.

Vacant Property - Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) introduced an amendment to make banks responsible for maintenance in vacant buildings before the foreclosure process. Dowell previously wanted a broader ordinance to regulate abandoned property without much support. This time around, the mayor offered his support publicly at the meeting.

Crib Bumper Ban - Committee on Health and Environmental Protection chairman Ald. George Cardenas (12th Ward) proposed a ban on crib bumper pads. This comes after a Tribune investigation revealed that babies can suffocate while sleeping alongside the bedding products.

More Ethics Reform - The mayor introduced more ethics reform measures, most notably a comprehensive, real-time lobbyist disclosure database.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Congressman Mike Quigley's Newsletter July 2011

As the summer days bring more sunshine I’m reminded of what Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said about open government: “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.”  It is my mission to shine a light on all of government’s business—no matter how messy it may be at times.

LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES

Just a few weeks ago, my bill making all federal agency reports to Congress available to the public passed the Oversight and Government Reform Committee unanimously. Every day, Congress requests thousands of reports from federal agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice. Right now, many of them are just sitting on shelves collecting dust. My bill—H.R. 1974, the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act—would make all of them available online and in one place. This legislation will give citizens like you and watchdog groups a lot more power—the power to see up close what is happening in government.

I am also excited about another piece of legislation I introduced last month that will help bring unprecedented transparency to Washington. H.R. 2339, the Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act will change the way lobbyists do business—from how they register to how they disclose their meetings. Roll Call said the bill wouldn’t make me the most popular Member of Congress with K Street lobbyists and these were going to be tough fights, but I’m a Cubs fan and used to adversity!

Continuing on the reform front, I’ve introduced H.R. 1924, the State Ethics Law Protection Act (SELPA) to allow Illinois to crackdown on pay-to-play without federal interference, and H.R. 1974, the Public Officials Accountability Act, to restore a statute to prevent elected officials from using their offices for personal gain. The Chicago Sun-Times called the bipartisan, bi-cameral effort “welcome teamwork.”

RESOURCES FOR YOU

The Transparency Caucus now has an online home. Last year I co-founded this bipartisan group and am happy to launch a new website where you can access information about the Caucus and its members, as well as learn about our mission and goals.

As always, be sure to stay up to date on everything happening in Washington and in the 5th District by following me on Facebook and Twitter.

If you need any assistance with a federal agency or have any questions, please feel free to contact any of my offices. My constituent service staff is here to help you.

It is an honor serve you in Washington.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Mayor Emanuel’s New Ethics Ordinance

The ordinance will be introduced at tomorrow's City Council meeting.  What do you think?
Mayor Emanuel’s New Ethics Ordinance

Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
On Tuesday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced his plan to introduce an ethics ordinance to Chicago’s City Council on Wednesday, July 6th during their meeting. The ordinance aims at creating the most comprehensive lobbyist disclosure database in the country, in order to render the city government more transparent.
“I promised during the campaign to reform city government and change the way we do business at City Hall,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Tomorrow I will introduce an ethics ordinance creating the most comprehensive lobbyist disclosure database in the nation—to rein in the influence of lobbyists and ensure everyone in City government is working for Chicago’s taxpayers.”
Emanuel signed six ethics Executive Orders on his first day in office with the goal of increasing the City’s openness and accountability. This new ordinance will extend those same goals. It will establish real-time lobbying disclosure as well as strengthening the limits on lobbying activities through:
  • Searchable Online Registration and Reporting: The ordinance will create a searchable online system for registration and reporting, allowing disclosures to be posted in real-time.
  • Gifts: Adding the term “lobbyist” to those potential gift-givers who are limited to $50 per single, non cash gift, and $100 in cumulative gifts per calendar year.
  • Loans: Adding lobbyist to the list of persons that City employees, officials or their businesses are prohibited from applying for or receiving loans from.
  • Campaign Contributions: Amending semi-annual activity report form to require lobbyists to disclose all campaign contributions to City elected officials and City employees running for office.
  • Revolving Doors: Codifying the post-employment revolving door provisions in Emanuel’s May 16 Executive Order, which bars employees from lobbying the City after leaving City employment.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Chicago Civic Federation Report Suggests Chicago Fire Department Cuts and Other Budget Cuts

Chicago Civic Federation 1903
 What do you think about these suggestions?

Report Suggests Fire Cuts - Chicago News Cooperative

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Report Suggests Fire Cuts

The Civic Federation is calling for a “thorough evaluation of staffing and employment” in the Chicago Fire Department, a politically hot topic that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has hesitated to touch even as he promises to address City Hall’s deep financial problems.

In a new report that will be released Thursday, the Civic Federation cites a recently published Chicago News Cooperative story detailing how other cities, unlike Chicago, have cut fire department personnel costs to help balance recession-hit budgets.

“The Civic Federation is concerned that despite an enormous budget gap and structural deficit, the city of Chicago has not announced plans to reduce fire department expenditures,” the report states. “During a time of extraordinary fiscal stress, every city department – including public safety departments – should be reducing costs and performing more efficiently.”
Staffing changes must be “at the core of cost reductions to be made at the Fire Department,” the Civic Federation argues. Personnel expenses make up the bulk of Chicago’s budget, and the fire and police departments represent almost two-thirds of payroll costs.

In May, the CNC reported that Chicago has more firefighters per resident than all but one of the 10 largest U.S. cities, and only two major cities boast more firehouses per square mile than Chicago. Staffing levels in the department have remained steady for decades, despite a marked decline in the number of fire calls and fire deaths.
Fire department officials have aggressively rebutted suggestions that any cuts be made, warning that public safety would be compromised. And the new mayor has not suggested changes in fire staffing.
The Civic Federation also proposes an appraisal of police personnel costs, which would include examining whether to change police district maps so they conform more closely to crime patterns. Emanuel has rejected this notion, known as beat realignment, and has vowed to hire 1,000 more officers in a department where troop levels have declined.
The report also makes a laundry list of other suggestions for a city government that is grappling with annual budget shortfalls in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Other proposals include:
• Reducing pension benefits not yet earned by current workers and increasing city and employee contributions to retirement funds. During the mayoral campaign, Emanuel privately told union leaders that he supported pension cuts for current employees as well as future hires, and his Springfield lobbyists recently pushed for a failed proposal that would have increased public employee pension contributions.
• Reforming employee pension boards “so that employees do not hold a majority of the seats.” The report suggests placing “independent taxpayer representatives” on the boards.
• Halving the size of the City Council, from 50 aldermen to 25.
• Suspending the creation of new tax-increment financing districts pending a review of the controversial business subsidy program.
• Creating a policy analysis office for the City Council.

The committee that provided Civic Federation staff with input in creating the new report featured several former high-ranking aides to Mayor Richard M. Daley, who retired last month. The committee’s chairwoman, Alicia Berg, was a planning commissioner in the Daley administration. Other committee members include former Daley budget director Bennett Johnson III and one-time chief financial officer Dana Levenson.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Alderman O'Connor's 4th of July Email Newsletter

Edgebrook 4th of July Parade

In This Issue
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY
RECYCLING IN THE 41ST WARD
HEAT ADVISORY

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Recycling Drive
What: Rexam
Cans for Cash
When: Saturday, July 30
8 AM - 2 PM
Where: 8770 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
(At 1-90 and Cumberland)

Start gathering all your aluminium cans and recycle them with Rexam to receive cash for your organization or charity.
To learn more about this event please contact Carolyn Underhill
at 773-399-3697 or
carolyn.underhill@rexam.com


Recycle Your E-Waste in the 41st Ward
What:  Electronic Waste Collection Event
When: Saturday, August 6
10 AM - 2 PM
Where: 6453 W. Higgins Ave

Accepted items include:
desktop computers, DVD and VHS players, mobile phones, computermice, video game consoles, PDAs, monitors, laptops, MP3 players, scanners, keyboards, fax machines, and zip drives.


VEHICLE STICKER DEADLINE

The deadline is near to purchase and display your city vehicle sticker! Your current city vehicle sticker expires June 30, but there is a grace period until July 15 to purchase and display your sticker. Stickers can be bought at the City Clerk's satellite office located at 5430 N. Gale St (312) 742-5375 or online at the City Clerk website.
  
Follow-up Links 

http://www.chicityclerk.com/ 

Vehicle Sticker and Residential Permit Parking Sales

http://www.chicagorecycles.org/

http://www.ward41.com/ 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/



Dear Neighbor

Come join my staff and I this 4th of July! Please bring your friends and neighbors to one of the two exciting parades taking place in the 41st Ward on Monday, July 4th.
Oriole Park Independence Day Children's Bike Parade
This parade will assemble at 9:00 AM at 7500 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue at the north end of Oriole Park. The parade will step off at 9:30 AM.
The parade heads west on Bryn Mawr to Oriole, south on Oriole to Berwyn Avenue, east on Berwyn to Olcott, then north on Olcott to Oriole Park.
Children of all ages in Oriole Park are invited to participate in the parade.  They are encouraged to decorate their bicycles in patriotic colors. All participants will receive a prize and parents are encouraged to join their children in the parade.
To learn more, please visit  http://www.orioleparkcommunityclub.org/
Edgebrook Community Association Parade and Picnic
The parade begins at 11:00 AM at the Edgebrook School (6525 N. Hiawatha). Participants in this year's parade should line up by10:30.
The parade heads west on Hiawatha, south on Central, and west on Devon. It then heads north on Lehigh, west on Hiawatha and ends at Wildwood Park.
Once the parade reaches Wildwood Park, please stick around for a family friendly picnic!
To learn more, please visit  www.edgebrookcommunity.org/
While enjoying time with your friends and family, please be respectful of your neighbors and remember that fireworks are illegal in the City of Chicago. In the event of an emergency, please call 911 immediately.
Please remember all our brave men and women in uniform who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom and independence. Also, remember those who are currently serving our country.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
 Sincerely,
Mary O'Connor
Alderman, 41st Ward





Reminders of Safety tips for extreme temperatures and summer activities

Over the next two days, the forecast calls for hot and humid weather conditions, with expected high temperatures each day of at least 90 degrees. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) wants to remind everyone to be aware of extreme temperatures and to be sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid heat-related emergencies.

Everyone is reminded to take the following steps to minimize the impact of hot weather:

 *   Drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses a day.

 *   Avoid going out in the heat during the hottest part of the day.

 *   All Chicago police district headquarters, libraries and public buildings can be used as temporary cooling centers.

 *   Residents should check on the well being of neighbors and relatives who may be susceptible to hot weather conditions. Call 3-1-1 to request a well being check and a ride to a cooling center.

 *   For assistance paying household utility bills, residents are reminded to contact Com Ed at call 888-806-CARE.

The City will continue to work closely with the National Weather Service to monitor local conditions. At this point the City has not activated its Extreme Weather Operations Plan, but we are ready to do so if necessary. For more information, or to sign up for extreme weather alerts, please visit http://www.alertchicago.com/ or view the OEMC's Facebook Page.

,



 

41st Ward Office
 6107 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
(Phone) 773-594-8341
(Fax) 773-594-8345
(Email) ward41@cityofchicago.org
http://www.ward41.com/