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2023 Budget Updates
October 6th, 2022
Dear Neighbor,
This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced her proposed budget for 2023.
The proposed budget does not include a property tax increase, and includes essential funding for meeting pension obligations, housing and homeless services, mental health care, workforce re-entry, and reproductive health access. Below are some of the proposed measures in the Mayor’s 2023 Budget:
- $1 billion allocated to actuarial based funding to meet pension obligations
- The City of Chicago is home to 23,000 pensioners who collectively served over 900,000 years of service to our city.
- $242M in advance payments into Chicago's four pensions to address the escalating costs that will grow during each budget year due to over $2B in pension payments made each year.
- $218 million allocated to the development of affordable housing
- Over $200 million allocated for homelessness prevention services, including increasing shelter capacity and re-housing programs
- Each year 15,000 to 20,0000 Chicagoans access services while experiencing homelessness. Learn more about the efforts of DFSS here.
- Read our previous newsletter about ongoing efforts to address chronic homelessness in the 46th Ward.
- Our goals to end chronic homelessness are outlined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness 7 Principles, and I am advocating for funding to support this framework. To learn more about these principles please click here.
- $89 million allocated to mental health care serving 60,000 residents a year.
- This is a seven-fold increase in budget and will allow services to reach every neighborhood.
- $10 million to the re-entry workforce program for formerly incarcerated individuals
- $3.1 million to reproductive health access and education
- Chicago stands as a safe haven for those seeking care across the country and additional resources are needed to ensure access.
- Establish Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Equity
- A six person office is established within the Mayor's Office to address environmental justice and climate priorities for the City of Chicago.
For the complete proposed budget, please click here.
I will continue to seek ways that the City of Chicago could make more effective use of their expenses by streamlining city services and making City departments more accessible and responsive for residents and businesses. I am also continuing to work on emphasizing funding initiatives that produce great outcomes (i.e., funding social service providers for success in getting people housed within a timely manner rather than for the case management services they provide).
Best,
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46TH WARD OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY, OCTOBER 10TH FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY
The 46th Ward will be closed on Monday, October 10th for Indigenous Peoples' Day. The office will reopen with normal hours at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 11th.
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GREEN FORUM
The Green Forum is cohosted by the 46th Ward Office and Buena Park Neighbors. Find more information on our website here. We aim to hold monthly meetings that provide residents a platform to express environmental concerns, learn about local programming focused on environmental sustainability, and organize around action items. Action items are listed below:
311 Tree Request
MWRD Rain Barrel Order
Take the Sustainability Priorities Survey
The Sustainability Priorities Survey will help inform future programming for the Green Forum and will give Alderman Cappleman and the next 46th Ward Alderman a gauge of residents' environmental priorities.
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MEET WITH ALD. JAMES CAPPLEMAN
SPEAK WITH ALDERMAN CAPPLEMAN EVERY TUESDAY
Virtual office hours are every Tuesday from 3:00PM - 5:00PM via Zoom or phone. Sign up by the end of day Monday at 5:00 PM by emailing the office at Ward46@cityofchicago.org. If this time period does not work for you, contact the Ward Office to schedule another time.
SCHEDULE A ZOOM MEETING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP
Ald. Cappleman or a staff member is also available to meet with your local neighborhood or business organization to provide updates about what's happening locally or city-wide. East Lake View Neighbors, Triangle Neighbors, Buena Park Neighbors, Sheridan Park Neighbors Association, Beacon Block Club, and Uptown United all do this on a regular basis. Schedule a time by either email at Ward46@cityofchicago.org or call 773-878-4646.
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DONATIONS FOR NEW ARRIVALS FROM TEXAS
Hundreds of migrants have been arriving from the State of Texas to the City of Chicago. As a welcoming city, we know Chicagoans are ready to show their generosity and are looking for ways to support the new arrivals. If you wish to volunteer, please complete the volunteer registration form found here.
The 46th Ward Office is a drop off site for donations. You can view the list of requested donation items and other offices serving as drop-off locations here. Note food is not being accepted.
If you have items that can be donated please stop by the 46th Ward Office, 4544 N Broadway, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to drop off donations.
For any questions about donations please email: DONATIONS@cityofchicago.org.
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WEISS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL UPDATE
This week, Pipeline Health System, LLC, owner of Weiss Memorial Hospital, announced that it has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 protection of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Texas. Find the full press release here.
Weiss Hospital remains open and will continue to provide care for the community. Pipeline officials emphasized that during the Chapter 11 process they will continue to pursue all available options to complete the planned sale of the two Chicago hospitals to Resilience Healthcare as approved by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board on June 7, 2022.
Patients, community members, employees and others with questions can call 800-764-6401 or email pipelinehealth@epiqglobal.com.
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PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATES
TRUMAN COLLEGE COVID/FLU VACCINE EVENT
The Chicago Department of Public Health is hosting another vaccine clinic on Saturday, October 15th from 9:00AM to 2:00PM at Truman College, 1145 W Wilson Ave.
Flu and COVID vaccines will be available, including the new bivalent booster. Walk-ins are available but registration is encouraged. REGISTER HERE
UPDATED COVID-19 VACCINE BIVALENT BOOSTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
More information about the new vaccine and roll-out can be found here. For those who need help finding a nearby vaccination site, Vaccines.gov is a free online service that you can use to search for pharmacies and providers that offer vaccination. Residents can also call the City’s COVID-19 call center at 312-746-4835. Or call 312-746-4835 to get a vaccination at home.
NEW INFORMATION ON MVP
Click here to see the latest updates from the CDPH on MPV.
For further questions and concerns, contact the CDPH by calling 312-746-4835 or learn more here. Click here to see their most recent webinar about the virus.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
RACINE CLIFTON BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, October 8th from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Racine Ave between Leland and Wilson.
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JOB LISTINGS & COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Find up-to-date job listings here, and find more information about employment & volunteer resources here.
SUPPORT FRIENDS OF UPLIFT
Find more information here.
BUSINESS GRANT OPPORTUNITY
Find more information here.
VOLUNTEER WITH THE PARK DISTRICT
October 15 at 9:00AM - joint workday with Montrose Beach Dunes and Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary volunteers
Meet at the southern end of Montrose Beach Dunes, which begins along the stone wall at the far southeast end of Montrose Beach. RSVP with Community Steward Mark Kolasa at montrosedunesnaturalarea@gmail.com. Find more information here.
LIHEAP ASSISTANCE
Visit South-East Asia Center, 5120 N Broadway or visit the website here.
PEOPLES GAS UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Call 800-571-2332 or find more information here to help with utility bill assistance.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE 46TH WARD
Public libraries now serve as an incredible resource to get answers to almost any question you might have. There are also a lot of great activities for people of all ages as well.
- Bezazian Library | 1226 W. Ainslie Street | 312-744-0019 | More information on their hours of operation can be found on their website here.
- Uptown Library | 929 W Buena Ave | 312- 744-8400 | More information on their hours of operation can be found on their website here.
SENIOR CENTERS
Senior residents of the 46th Ward who are looking to beat the heat are encouraged to visit any of the Department of Family and Support Services Senior Center locations which operate Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
- Northeast (Levy) Senior Center | 2019 W. Lawrence Avenue | 312-744-0784
- Edgewater Satellite Senior Center | 5917 N. Broadway | 312-742-5323
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DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
If you have questions about any of these projects or other work taking place in the 46th Ward please reach out to our office at ward46@cityofchicago.org or 773-878-4646. When asking about developments or construction work, it is helpful to have the address of where the proposal or work is taking place.
4600 N. MARINE DRIVE
Last week, there was a formal groundbreaking for a $90M development on the SW corner of Marine Drive and Wilson. The former site of an underutilized parking lot for Weiss Memorial Hospital, this will be a 314 unit apartment building that will help meet the high demand for more housing due to Uptown's rise in popularity. (Two years ago, TimeOut Magazine named Uptown as the 24th coolest neighborhood on the planet.)
The Affordable Requirements Ordinance was followed with 8 onsite affordable units ($56,280 yearly income for a family of 3) and $3.1M was provided to Sarah's Circle to complete their financing for a 28 unit building to be constructed a few blocks away. Sarah's Circle's apartments will be for single women at greatest risk for experiencing homelessness, with qualifying yearly income ranging from 0 - $21,900. Use of these in-lieu funds allows the City's Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund to build affordable housing in other parts of the City where no other funding options are available.
Construction Timeline
The foundation should be completed by the end of this year, with completion of the building's overall structure around Spring 2023. Roofing is expected to be completed in Summer 2023, and final completion is expected in Fall 2024.
4701 N. CLARK
Developer Platinum Homes is requesting a zoning change from B3-2 to B2-3 in order to construct a five-story residential building. The proposal would have 38 dwelling units (29 two-bedroom, 2 bath units and 9 two-bedroom, 1 bath units with parking for 21 vehicles and 62 bicycles. More feedback from the Clark Street Block Club is needed and Ald. Cappleman will defer to the City's Dept. of Housing to determine how the ARO will be utilized for this development. This development proposal is along Clark Street, which is currently undergoing a retail corridor study led by the Chicago Department of Planning and Development, which is why this department's input is also crucial. Click here for more information.
4642 N. MAGNOLIA
After a close vote, Magnolia-Malden Neighbors voted in favor of approving an upzone to allow for the construction of a 6-unit residential building at this site. Along with their approval, they submitted a list of questions to Finan Development Corporation. The developer is still finishing up responses to the local block club, and it will be posted on the 46th Ward website. Once Ald. Cappleman reviews the developer's responses, he will relay his decision about upzoning this property.
4555 N. DOVER
The developer recently told Ald. Cappleman that he's very close to submitting a proposal for this site. Should a change in zoning be required, Ald. Cappleman will host a meeting with Dover Street Neighbors and the developer to discuss this proposal before a final decision is made.
WE WILL CHICAGO
Review and learn more about Chicago's first citywide planning initiative since 1966 here. Provide feedback through the survey here.
CTA & RED PURPLE LINE MODERNIZATION (RPM) UPDATES
If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the RPM project please contact RPM@transitchicago.com or call 331-303-2499.
RPM CONSTRUCTION NOTICES
Work continuing Wednesday, August 31st through Friday, October 28th. Click here to visit the RPM website for construction updates.
OCTOBER SCHEDULE
MENU WORK SCHEDULE
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