The City continues to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. My office has been receiving many inquiries regarding general public vaccination. Currently, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is only vaccinating healthcare workers. However, Governor Pritzker announced this week that residents 65 years and older will receive the vaccination next. CDPH has yet to release detailed information on general public vaccinations. In the coming weeks, please keep an eye on my newsletter for additional information regarding general public vaccinations. Also, please continue to social distance, wear a mask, and wash your hands to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19.
As we move into 2021, I'd like to share some 2020 39th Ward accomplishments.
In 2020:
My office took over 12,000 phone calls from Ward residents.
18,398 city service requests were placed for the 39th Ward. 15,982 of these city service requests have been completed. We continue to track all outstanding requests to ensure they are completed.
We resurfaced over a dozen streets in the Ward, repaired several blocks of sidewalks, built new ADA curbs, and updated underpasses across the Ward through the Aldermanic Menu program. Projects in our parks and schools like pollinator gardens, green spaces, and traffic calming measures were also started. Many of these projects were proposed and funded through Participatory Budgeting.
Several new restaurants opened in the 39th Ward. You can learn about these new restaurants and established local favorites through my #DineIn39 Campaign on Facebook. Through this campaign, my office promoted over 45 local restaurants. We encourage 39th Ward residents to order takeout to support local businesses.
We created the 39th Ward Neighbors Helping Neighbors program, in which over 65 Ward residents volunteered their time to help a neighbor in need. Thank you to all the volunteers who lent a helping hand during this difficult time.
The 39th Ward Public Service Office distributed over 30,000 masks to ward residents, community organizations, and schools.
I sponsored 147 pieces of legislation in City Council. Issues ranged from environmental protections, public safety, and education.
It is a tremendous honor to serve the residents of the 39th Ward. Despite the pandemic, national and local unrest, and the unprecedented changes to our daily lives, may we enter 2021 with open hearts and minds.
The 39th Ward Public Service Office is open virtually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out via phone (773.736.5594) or email (Ward39@CityOfChicago.Org).
Sincerely,
Alderman Samantha Nugent
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Annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program
January 9 - January 23
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 The City of Chicago's Annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program will be open from January 9 - 23. Live holiday trees can be dropped off inside tree corrals set up in any of the 25 designated Chicago Park District locations. In the 39th Ward, North Park Village (5801 N. Pulaski Rd.) is a designated drop-off site. To learn more, click here.
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Necessity Drive
January 4 - January 16
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The North River Youth Council's Necessity Drive is now open through January 16. The drive is accepting a range of items, from winter hats to toilet paper. To view the most needed items, click below.
If you have items you would like to donate, my office will be open Mondays and Fridays, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to accept donations.
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Annual Women's Toiletry Drive
January 4 - March 15
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Through March 15, I am co-sponsoring the Annual Women's Toiletry Drive to support incarcerated women. Items needed for donation include shampoo/conditioner, soap, deodorant, and body lotion. Items can only be travel-sized. To find a donation drop off site, click below.
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Saving With Solar Webinar
Thursday, January 21, at 6 p.m.
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The Citizens Utility Board and North River Commission is co-hosting a webinar on energy efficiency, decoding your utility bills, and Illinois Solar For All on Thursday, January 21, at 6 p.m. Click below to register for the webinar.
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New Registration: Irving Park Community Food Pantry
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In conjunction with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Irving Park Community Food Pantry has rolled out a new registration system for clients. The system, Link2Feed, requires additional demographic information and an email address. No one will be disqualified from receiving food by their responses. To register, click below.
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Virtual Welcome Wednesday Tours
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Discover what St. Edward School has to offer through their Virtual Welcome Wednesday Tours. St. Edward School is a nationally acclaimed elementary school offering classes from three-year-old pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Click below to schedule your virtual welcome tour.
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City of Chicago Announcements
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Free Tax Assistance
Federal and Illinois Tax Returns
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The City of Chicago offers free, confidential tax help from late January through mid-April in partnership with Ladder Up. Trained volunteer tax preparers can assist you in completing and electronically filing Federal and Illinois tax returns for tax year 2021 and in, some cases, for prior years. Also, find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and other tax credits. To learn more and schedule an appointment, click below.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Update
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The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 vaccination clinics began operations the week of December 28 for healthcare workers only. These vaccination clinics will initially be vaccinating healthcare workers who are not affiliated with a hospital or other large healthcare system only. CDPH anticipates the vaccination of these healthcare workers will take several weeks, through January.
To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
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Together We Heal
Conversation Starters
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Together We Heal is a citywide initiative that seeks to promote civic unity by encouraging Chicagoans to connect across lines of difference and support a collective conversation about our truth and our promise as a City.
To start the new year, the initiative is encouraging Chicagoans to connect with family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors by asking "conversation starter" questions. Together We Heal has written a series of questions to facilitate discussions. To view the questions, click below.
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Now Avaliable: EBT SNAP Online Payment
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Instacart has announced they are expanding the Electronic Benefit Transfer and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (EBT SNAP) integration in partnership with ALDI foods. EBT SNAP online payment will now be available at nearly 1,000 more ALDI stores.
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Available: Community Garden Space
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Grow your own fruits and veggies this summer! Peterson Garden Project has plots available in the community garden space located at Lincoln and Sacramento. Garden season runs from April 24 to November 7. To register, visit www.petersongarden.org.
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Throughout January, Greater West Town is hosting Virtual Recruitment Fairs for their vocational classes. Click below to explore Greater West Town's courses.
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