January 2021 Year in Review Newsletter
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Third Ward Newsletter January 2021 Newsletter/2020 Year in Review In this Issue Greetings! 2 020 Year in Happy New Year! Now that we have turned the page to 2021, let's leave all Review the bad feelings in 2020 where they belong and commit ourselves as neighbors, a city and as a country to new, more positive beginnings. That January 2021 means going out of our way to be extra nice to our neighbors, paying special Third Ward Update attention to maintaining the beauty of our block and city, and respecting the viewpoints of others, whether you agree with them or not. These are simple Important commitments to civility we can share to help make 2021 a great year we all Announcements can be proud of. January CAPS Two quick notes before we get into the newsletter. First, while the snow can temporarily hide a lot of problems, since the beginning of the pandemic and especially during the various stay-at-home orders, I have noticed an increase Join Our in garbage on our sidewalks, streets, and parkways. I know 2020 had a lot of Mailing List challenges, but it's easy to throw your garbage in the trash, or to hold it until you get home to throw it away. When the weather permits, I encourage everyone to clean up out front of where they live. If everyone pitches in, we can have a beautiful start to the new year. Second, as is the case every year, the January newsletter is especially long. The first section contains a review of all the work, events, and improvements we have made to the 3rd Ward in the previous year. The second section is the normal review of January 2021 ward updates. Despite the pandemic, we have been quite busy both in the community and City Council. I encourage you to check out what we have done in our community to continue making the 3rd Ward the best ward in the City. The 3rd Ward Public Service Office staff and I are available to assist you by phone 773-373-9273 or via email at [email protected]. Thank you for reading this newsletter. Please share it with a neighbor or friend. Sincerely, Pat Dowell Alderman, 3rd Ward 2020 Year in Review Outreach and Events During COVID-19 During the pandemic, the 3rd Ward continued to serve the community while following the most updated public safety guidelines. That includes moving all Town Hall meetings virtual so that residents were able to stay informed about the important issues in the ward and talk to Alderman Dowell directly from the safety of their own homes. To meet the needs of those who experienced food insecurity due to the pandemic, Alderman Dowell hosted dozens of drive-up food box giveaways. Similarly, Alderman Dowell hosted multiple PPE giveaways and COVID testing events to make it easier for residents to protect themselves and their families from the pandemic. Alderman Dowell also hosted a few in-person events that focused on assisting residents through the pandemic, like Clean and Green Days, Shred-a-Thons, Census outreach events, and more. While COVID-19 certainly made engaging the community more challenging, Alderman Dowell and the entire 3rd Ward team adjusted to bring services to residents more safely and directly than ever before. Community Engagement Third Ward Town Hall Meetings *Video recordings of virtual Town Hall meetings can be found at www.facebook.com/aldermanpat.dowell unless otherwise noted* Alderman Dowell Partners with Commissioner Rogers on Property Tax Appeal Forum Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr., along with Alderman Dowell, State Senator Mattie Hunter and Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer hosted a property tax appeal forum where members of the public received valuable information about how to appeal their property taxes. Commissioner Rogers explained how the property tax appeal process works - starting with the Cook County Assessor's Office, then to the Board of Review if necessary - and how to find and file the proper appeal paperwork. If you would like to appeal your property taxes, please start here at www.cookcountyassessor.com/Appeals/Appeal-Forms.aspx. Ald. Dowell Gives South Loop Update at Neighbors Night Out Alderman Dowell attended the Greater South Loop Association's (GSLA) Neighbors Night Out event at the new Moody Tongue Brewery (2515 S. Wabash Ave.) to give a State of the South Loop presentation. Alderman Dowell would like to thank the GSLA organizers for inviting her to this event, and everyone who came out to support a local business and learn more about what is happening in our community. In her remarks, Alderman Dowell discussed her ongoing work to find a location for a new South Loop High School, provided updates on public safety initiatives for the area, highlighted the many commercial and residential developments in the community, and introduced the new neighborhood businesses. CN Meeting Hosted by Congressman Danny Davis and Ald. Dowell Alderman Dowell hosted a joint meeting with Congressman Danny Davis to discuss the Canadian National Bridge Reconstruction Project. Key issues discussed at the meeting with CN and Congressman Davis included: noise and idling of trains, CN's commitment to rail greasers, beautification along the track's retaining walls and train safety. Congressman Davis committed to exploring federal standards for noise and together we are working with CN on possible solutions for idling. CN made a commitment to better communication, including social media, with constituents. IIT Hosted 3rd Ward Town Hall Meeting Alderman Dowell held a Town Hall meeting on February 11 at the Illinois Institute of Technology's McCormick Tribune Campus Center. Residents received updates on public safety initiatives from the Commanders of the 1st and 2nd Police Districts, informed of the City's new recreational cannabis laws, and shown a potential development located at 51st St. and State St. Thank you to Commanders Pigott and Boyd, Kamau Murray and Ennedy Rivera for participating in this important community discussion. A full recap of the event is on Alderman Dowell's website at www.ward03chicago.com. Alderman Dowell Joined Illinois Elected Officials for Tele Town Hall With current data indicating that black people are being infected and dying from COVID-19 at higher rates than all other populations, Alderman Dowell joined dozens of other federal, state and local elected officials for a Tele Town Hall on Tuesday, April 7th. The town hall offered a forum to discuss the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our most vulnerable communities across the state and to answer residents most pressing questions about healthcare, resources, and assistance. 3rd and 4th Ward Youth Summer Town Hall Meeting Alderman Dowell and neighboring Bronzeville and South Loop Alderman Sophia King (4th) co-hosted a virtual Town Hall meeting in June focusing on opportunities for youth over the summer. The meeting featured presentations from providers like One Summer Chicago, After School Matters, the Chicago Park District, and many more. Thank you to everyone who joined this informative meeting. A full recap of the town hall can be at www.ward03chicago.com. Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, there were many great options for youth last summer. Organizations like One Summer Chicago and its partners hosted virtual summer sessions. The Chicago Park District ran in-person activities, though in order to maintain social distancing, offerings are severely limited. Mental Health Town Hall With Alderman Pat Dowell The 3rd Ward Office collaborated with the Greater Bronzeville Community Action Council, CPS and Bright Star Community Outreach to host a special mental health town hall focusing on remote learning, mental health services and public health practices during COVID-19. Thank you to everyone that attended and participated in this informative event. COVID-19 poses not only health and economic challenges, but mental health challenges as well. If you are having difficulty with the effects of quarantining, social distancing, fear or more, don't wait, reach out to your mental health care professional immediately. If you need a professional to talk to, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago hotline at 833- 626-4244 for free help anytime. Alderman Dowell - Navigating the Insurance Claim Process Meeting Businesses impacted by looting and vandalism can learn how to navigate the insurance claims process by watching this video of a town hall meeting hosted by Alderman Dowell. Topics included: best practices, issues to consider and process expectations as the businesses manage their way forward. Thank you to Bronzeville developer Eric Dantzler and State Representative Lamont Robinson who presented at the meeting. Special thanks to Robert Charles who helped to organize this event. Property Tax Virtual Town Hall with Alderman Dowell and Treasurer Pappas On July 28th, Alderman Dowell held a virtual town hall featuring Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas where the Treasurer presented information on various property tax relief programs available to Chicago property owners. This included how to lower your property tax bill, apply for missing exemptions, waive interest fees on late payments, and postpone the tax sale. In addition, Treasurer Pappas discussed the disparity between Black and non-Black communities when it comes to properties subject to the annual tax sale of delinquent properties. As a remedy to the problem, Treasurer Pappas created the Black Houses Matter program. This is a particularly important tool for seniors who may not realize they can wipe out their taxes by taking advantage of the homeowner's exemption, the senior citizen's exemption or the senior property tax freeze. A full recap of the town hall meeting can be found at www.ward03chicago.com. Dowell Hosted Cook County Assessor Kaegi at Town Hall Meeting On Tuesday, August 18th, Alderman Pat Dowell held a virtual Town Hall meeting featuring Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi.