40th Forward Newsletter
Words from Alderperson Vasquez
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Happy Friday, 40th Ward Neighbors!
We are working on launching our updated website and creating necessary redirects and nameserver changes. This MAY temporarily impact our email delivery and your ability to visit our website. We anticipate less than 2 hours of down-time (if any) as changes propagate across the platform.
Town Hall Wrap Up
On Wednesday we had our Quarterly Town Hall, where we shared all of the wonderful work our team has been doing to improve the quality of life here in the 40th and across the city. The meeting ran two hours, and we were only able to record an hour and a half, but we will work to improve our process in future townhalls. Here is the video of the town hall, and here are the presentation slides, for your convenience!
This week we also received our first snowfall in sometime, with more on the way, so I first want to thank all of our Shovel Squad volunteers for being ready to respond! We will need more volunteers to fully support our neighbors so if you are able and willing to be a help to your community by shoveling, fill out this form: https://airtable.com/shrdHyQaZNpThq1N8
Thank you for being the best ward in the city of Chicago!
Yours in Service and Community,
Andre Vasquez
Alderperson, 40th Ward
40th Ward Office Hours:
Monday: 10am to 7pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10am to 5pm
Friday: 10am to 3pm
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Notice of Zoning Change Request
Zoning change requests may be submitted to the City at any time by property owners and/or developers. The 40th Ward is committed to a transparent zoning process that includes a public meeting and feedback period. Holding of a public meeting does not imply support or opposition from the Ward. Alderperson Vasquez does not issue letters of support or opposition until the public process is complete.
Project: 2300 W Ainslie (St. Matthias Rectory Proposed Redevelopment )
Common Address: 2300 W Ainslie
Current Zoning: RS-3 Requested Zoning: RM-4.5
Owner/Developer Requesting Change: CKG Realty Group, LLC
THE PUBLIC MEETING FOR THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON February 2, 2023 7:00pm AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://bit.ly/ainslie2300
Building plans and additional info available at: https://40thward.org/currentzoningrequests/
Now Accepting Public Comments on Liquor Moratorium
The 40th Ward has a number of “liquor moratorium” zones, established by the previous alderman. On streets designated as moratorium streets, liquor licenses cannot be requested, sold, transferred, etc. except under extremely limited circumstances, such as inheritance by a family member. This prevents the opening of new liquor licensed businesses, and also prevents most transfers or changes of ownership and/or plans of operation for existing liquor licensed businesses within the moratorium zone.
Amendment of a moratorium zone requires legislative action. Businesses may request a moratorium amendment, either for sale/alteration of an existing business or for purposes of opening a new liquor licensed business.
Amendment of a moratorium does not guarantee the issuance of a liquor license! If a moratorium is lifted or amended, businesses must still apply for a liquor license and go through the subsequent public notification and comment process. Amendment of the moratorium only makes the application possible, and does not in any other way indicate or provide support for a specific business or application.
Public comment may be submitted on any of the requested moratorium alterations, displayed below:
5208 n Lincoln Ave
Public Comment Form – Please submit by no later than EOD Thursday, February 10th
Applicant: Navinkumar Patel, 100% ownership
Proposed Use: On-premise sale of packaged Liquor, beer and wine.
Proposed Hours: 9am to 11pm
Let Us Know What Needs Repair
Each year, every Ward is allotted $1.5 million of the City’s budget to be used for a “menu” of infrastructure maintenance, projects, and improvements. Neighbors have already voted on where to allocate this money between special projects and ward repairs. Learn more: Participatory Budgeting process and 2023 projects.
Fill out our Menu Repair Form to suggest infrastructure improvements throughout the ward!
Join Weekly Virtual Ward Nights!
Ward Night is held via Zoom every Wednesday night at 5PM! Click Here to Register!
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Winter Parking Bans - Please Read!
The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) reminds motorists the Chicago winter overnight parking ban began on Thursday, December 1, 2022, and is in effect through April 1, 2023. The parking ban is enforced regardless of snow on 107 miles of main streets throughout the city during the hours of 3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Violators of the parking ban will be towed and face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket, and a storage fee of $25 per day. Vehicles in violation of the ban will be towed to Pounds 2 (10301 S. Doty Ave.) or 6 (701 N. Sacramento). Chicagoans can visit chicagoshovels.org or a map of streets impacted by the ban and to view the City’s snow plows in real-time during a storm. Motorists can also call 311 to find out if their vehicle was towed due to the ban.
Improve the CTA
The past year, buses and trains have been running at fractions of their scheduled service, sometimes not at all! If your train is making you miss your job or your bus is running 30 minutes late, visit our page and report it. We'll send your messages directly to the CTA board and hold them accountable for all your lost time.
If you are interested in attending the next CTA Budget hearing please do so by clicking here.
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See below for a list of events announced or sent to us since the last newsletter! To view upcoming events visit our 40th Ward Event Calendar. To view events previously featured in the newsletter, visit this page. If you would like to submit an event for approval to appear on our newsletter, please use this form! Events must be submitted by Thursday at noon to appear on the following day's newsletter.
Youth Pathways Program at Chicago Industrial Arts and Design Center
The Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center (CIADC) Youth Pathways Program is a school-year educational series for grades 6-12 that exposes Students to hands-on, industrial arts and nurtures interests that can lead to post-secondary pathway opportunities in STEM, Trade, and Art/Design. CIADC offers FREE afterschool classes for CPS students. Register your youth/Teen today! More information at http://www.ciadc.org
Listening Session with Commissioner Morita
Join newly elected Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita of the 13th District along with Alderperson Vasquez and others for a listening session at the Croation Cultural Center on Monday, January 30th from 6-7:30p. Register at bit.ly/josinalistening!
The Andersonville Fika Fest will be on February 3-5, 2023 that will host promotions throughout the district for all things you want when it is cold outside sweaters, candles, warm eats that feed your soul, music, and fun games to play inside when it is too cold to play outdoors.
Events in Andersonville
Coffee Cocoa Crawl | February 4, 2023 | The Andersonville Coffee & Hot Cocoa Crawl returns as a part of Fika Fest! Each route invites you to explore specialty offerings that may include coffee, hot cocoa, bakery items, and more! Each paid attendee will receive a commemorative mug & complimentary donut from Downstate Donuts
Great Andersonville Puzzle Exchange | February 5, 2023 9-1PM | is back at a new location. Join us on Sunday, February 5 at the corner of Bryn Mawr and Clark inside 5601 N Clark. Puzzles may be dropped off prior to the event on Saturday, February 4 during the Coffee and Hot Cocoa Crawl from 9-1PM or during the event on Sunday. Bring a puzzle, take a puzzle. We are looking for puzzle donations ahead of time!
Virtual Briefing Regarding Asylum Seekers
Since August 31st, the City of Chicago has welcomed thousands of asylum seekers from the southern border. Constituents will have the opportunity to learn about the current situation, the city’s response, and ways to support. To participate online via Zoom, register here http://chi.gov/MOCEBriefing. You can also tune in on Facebook by visiting the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement page here https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoMOCE/. Thank you for your support as we work together to showcase the values of a welcoming city.
Plow the Sidewalks Town Hall with 36th Ward
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Get Vaccinated at Home!
 
 
Resources
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General Updates
Our 40th Ward officers are present and active in the 17th, 19th, 20th, and 24th Police Districts which is why some of the recent cases have been leading to apprehensions, thanks to the investigatory work and follow up. The current resources are addressing the issues, but by nature, police are reactive, rather than proactive, so we are also looking at violence prevention groups to provide added presence, as well as looking to implement measures that address the activity at its root, such as juvenile intervention and diversion programs, and investments in communities that haven't had it in generations, which ends up creating the environment that leads to more criminal activity citywide.
We are also installing License Plate Reader Cameras in a number of arterial intersections to aid in evidence gathering for investigations, and have recommended that neighbors take advantage of the city's Home and Business Protection Program, which can provide reimbursement for neighbors who want to purchase cameras to also aid in evidence gathering if an incident were to occur. Here is the link for the program: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/cscc/home/home-and-business-protection.html
Because we know neighbors are also concerned about the safety and privacy of the cameras and what they record, we also recommend Eufy as a company to look at for cameras, as it has the most encryption available for the privacy of our neighbors:
https://us.eufy.com/collections/security
We will continue to report out when incidents occur and to work with all public safety stakeholders to make sure that our ward remains one of the safest in the city, and also send stats weekly in our newsletter.
Thank you for your engagement, as we know a connected community is a safer one.
Resources
Find your 40th Ward Beat and CAPS meeting schedule at bit.ly/2022CAPS40
Chicago Police Department Links for 40th Ward Residents:17th District Home Page , 19th District Home Page, 20th
District Home Page , 24th District Home Page
Find my police district - https://operations.chicagopolice.org/FindMyDistrict
Violence and Victimization Trends
Data from the last 28 Days via the City's Violence Reduction Dashboard.
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CTA Bus Operator Job Fair
Greencorps Chicago is Recruiting!
Greencorps Chicago is the City of Chicago’s green industry job training program for individuals with barriers to employment. Greencorps Chicago is currently recruiting potential candidates for this year’s Employment & Training Program. More information and how to apply can be found here.
During the ten-month program, Greencorps Chicago trainees earn a starting wage of $18.50. Greencorps Chicago trainees receive practical experience, professional development, and classroom & field training in a variety of environmentally-related jobs with skills that are easily transferable to other industries. Trainees are offered a number of professional certifications including Defensive Driving, First Aid/CPR, HAZWOPER, OSHA 10-Hour Safety, Chicago Wilderness Prescription Burn Class, and the Illinois Pesticide license. Throughout the program, trainees are supported with wrap-around social services, a stable income, and assistance finding full time employment upon completion of the program.
For more info, please see: https://greencorpschicago.org/how-to-apply/.
CPS is Hiring!
 
Support our local businesses!
Learn more about the 40th Ward's Chambers of Commerce and their upcoming events by clicking on the links below:
Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Edgewater Chamber of Commerce
Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
Rogers Park Business Alliance
West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
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Join Shovel Squad and Help Your Neighbors
Shovel Squad is a successful program where volunteers shovel sidewalks for neighbors who are physically unable to.
The 40th Ward will dispatch shoveling volunteers ONLY when:
• Snowfall is 2 inches or more, or
• When conditions are particularly treacherous
We are looking for volunteers who are available to shovel one house all season (every time snowfall is 2 inches+, every time conditions are treacherous)-- please sign up to volunteer if you plan on being in Chicago the majority of the winter.
If you are seeking assistance we will connect you with a volunteer via email or phone. You will be connected with this person the entire season. Please fill out this form and indicate if you’ll need assistance or are looking to volunteer https://airtable.com/shrdHyQaZNpThq1N8 . We can not guarantee that there will be enough volunteers so if we are unable to pair someone who needs assistance we will try our best to send folks from the office to shovel for you. This is to say, please only sign up if you do not have any other way to remove snow
Join the Youth Board!
Volunteer with the 40th Ward Office
Seeking Front Desk Volunteers - Office volunteers provide valuable constituent service assistance for 40th Ward residents who call and visit during regular hours. Shifts are 2-3 hours. This is an ideal opportunity for someone seeking a regular volunteer commitment. Please note, volunteers must be fully vaccinated and be comfortable wearing a mask indoors. Email morgan@40thward.org to learn more.
Stay connected through Slack! If you haven't already done so, please join the Neighbor Network Slack group by clicking here. The 40th Ward office uses slack to post messages about ward happenings and volunteer opportunities. New to Slack? Get more information on how to use the platform here.
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Another shot from this week's Town Hall at the Chicago Waldorf School! If you were a staff member, you got this view of engaged neighbors enjoying our staff's presentation. Be on the lookout for future ward events, and thank you for joining us!
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Row by Row from Left to Right: Alderperson Andre Vasquez, Deirdre O'Connor, Pooja Ravindran, Morgan Madderom, Bill Hohenadel, Jordan Dubin, and Angel Rubi Navarijo
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Pooja Ravindran, Chief of Staff
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