As we celebrate the end of this difficult year and welcome 2021, I’d like to take an opportunity to review the past year in our 35th Ward. Thread🧵👇🏽
We started this year by passing our 606 demolition moratorium, which has helped preserve our built environment, promote environmentally sustainable building practices, and protect affordable two- and three-flat apartment buildings near the 606 trail. chicago.curbed.com/2020/1/7/21054…
In January, we also amended Chicago’s sanctuary city ordinance to require our police department to report any requests they receive from ICE. This was a major step forward for accountability, transparency, and immigrant protections. news.wttw.com/2020/01/15/cit…
In February, we continued our work to address displacement and win housing justice for all Chicagoans by advocating for Just Cause for Eviction legislation. blockclubchicago.org/2020/02/05/inv…
We also continued to advocate to close the loopholes in our sanctuary city ordinance. blockclubchicago.org/2020/02/14/may…
In March, at the outset of the pandemic, I joined with democratic socialist aldermen @J1Ramann, @RossanaFor33, @DanielLaSpata, and @ByronSigcho to advocate for a pandemic response that prioritized and supported the most vulnerable in our communities. chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/16/2118…
And our 35th Ward Office got to work, helping establish mutual-aid networks, and rolling out Chicago’s COVID-19 Housing Assistance grant program. In just a few days we directly helped hundreds of Chicagoans apply for unemployment and housing assistance. telemundochicago.com/noticias/local…
In April, our ward office continued to support neighborhood based mutual-aid networks and we used census data to identify and support our most vulnerable ward residents. blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/17/her…
This included safely distributing our printed and English-Spanish bilingual “Recovery for All” newsletter to thousands of 35th Ward households. chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/04/20/chi…
In May, after five long years of organizing, we won full City Council approval for our 100% affordable, 100 unit housing development at the Logan Square Blue Line - a major victory for housing justice, and integrated and diverse communities! blockclubchicago.org/2020/05/20/its…
And we ensured public TIF dollars went to neighborhood needs rather than developer greed by allocating local TIF dollars to make improvements, including ADA improvements, to our Avondale Park Field House. blockclubchicago.org/2020/05/27/avo…
In June, we worked as democratic socialist and progressive Aldermen to advance movement for Black Lives' demands. Alongside @RossanaFor33, @J1Ramann, @Andrefor40th, @ByronSigcho, and @DanielLaSpata, I published an op-ed in support of #DefundCPD. chicago.suntimes.com/2020/6/8/21284…
We continued to organize and call for a Civilian Police Accountability Council (#CPACNow) and community control of the police. wbez.org/stories/after-…
In July, we came together to condemn police brutality against Chicago #BlackLivesMatter protesters, and to address our nation’s racist past and present by advocating for the removal of Chicago’s Columbus statues. abc7chicago.com/chicago-protes…
And alongside progressive and democratic socialist Aldermen, I worked to pass fair notice protections for Chicago tenants as a first step towards winning needed Just Cause for Eviction tenant protections. chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2020…
In August, we mourned Aaron Curry - a Chicagoan experiencing homelessness - who was murdered while he slept, and alongside @ChiHomeless, we demanded that unhoused Chicagoans be housed by raising the Transfer Tax on properties sold for over $1 million. chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/5/21347…
And our 35th Ward Office worked with @NLGChicago, and the Chicago Police Department to return confiscated bicycles to protesters. news.wttw.com/2020/08/23/doz…
In September, I joined my colleague @RossanaFor33 in supporting @Chi_Nations and Indigeneous Chicagoans in a push to finally and officially replace Columbus Day with Indigeneous Peoples Day. chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/…
We came together with @AutonomousUnion to support Albany Park tenants facing displacement (blockclubchicago.org/2020/09/04/alb…). And I joined progressive aldermen and housing advocates to push for a stronger inclusionary zoning ordinance for our city. news.wttw.com/2020/09/17/pro…
And we broke ground on our 100% affordable transit-oriented housing development right next to the Logan Square Blue Line stop! blockclubchicago.org/2020/09/22/wor…
In October, when a fire destroyed the Belmont/Kedzie homeless encampment - a possible hate crime - we came together as a community to support our unhoused neighbors as they recovered from this tragedy. blockclubchicago.org/2020/10/05/fir…
And, I joined with my Progressive Caucus colleagues in laying out a vision for a progressive city budget that invests in our neighborhoods and asks the rich to pay their fair share. chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/22/215…
In November, as the City Council debated Chicago's 2021 budget, we continued to fight against austerity, and fight for progressive revenue. blockclubchicago.org/2020/11/16/pro…
And I stood with our ward’s working families and voted no to Mayor Lightfoot’s property tax increase and her 2021 austerity budget. wbez.org/stories/mayor-…
In December, we moved forward with our ward’s land use and zoning policy for Milwaukee Avenue - a policy which seeks to protect our historic Main Street feel and spur economic development. blockclubchicago.org/2020/12/15/log…
We brought the High Road Kitchens grant program to Chicago to help restaurants survive the pandemic while ensuring restaurant workers receive living wages and dignity in the workplace. chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/12/18/non…
And we legalized new coach house, basement, and attic apartments in 80% of the ward as a part of a pilot program in just 5 areas of the city. A first step towards legalizing accessory dwelling units throughout the entire ward and city. chi.streetsblog.org/2020/12/18/sbc…
As you can see, 2020 has been a busy year in our ward - and I haven't even gotten into the 100+ ordinances we passed to support small businesses, address public safety issues, and other matters in our neighborhoods.
But while this has been such a busy and challenging year, it has been so heartening to see Chicagoans take to the streets for justice, and come together to support one another. It has been inspiring to see that even in the hardest of times, Chicago is a city that works.
We will continue to face many hardships in 2021 - millions of Americans are out of work, millions of Americans are struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on the table.
But while next year will be challenging, we will continue to have one another. I want to thank 35th Ward residents for allowing me to serve yet another year as 35th Ward Alderman. I am looking forward to continue serving you and working alongside you in 2021! Happy New Year!
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