Happy New Year! I hope that your 2025 has been off to a great start. Shortly after the New Year, members returned to Springfield for Lame Duck Session. During this special session, we addressed many important pieces of legislation that would “sine die” if not passed by both chambers by the time the 103rd General Assembly ended on January 7th.
Some legislation of note:
- We passed Karina’s Law (HB4144). This bill provides for a robust process in which firearms are surrendered and removed from those who have an order of protection for domestic violence entered against them. Named after Karina Gonzalez, a mother from Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood who was shot and killed along with her daughter by her husband after an order of protection had been issued against him, this bill will further protect those who are affected by domestic violence. The bill will be effective 90 days after the Governor signs it into law.
- We discussed the Hemp Consumer Products Act (HB4293). This bill would set forth provisions to regulate the production and sale of intoxicating hemp products which were not previously regulated due to definition loopholes in current federal statute. While the bill was not called for a vote in the House, please know that I support regulation and would have voted in favor of this bill. Currently, this unregulated market poses a threat to the health of children and adult consumers.
On January 8th, the members of the 104th General Assembly were sworn in to begin a new legislative term. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Illinois’ 12th House District for a fourth term, and I look forward to collaborating with my fellow legislators to create a better Illinois.
Please read on for upcoming events, a recap of December, and other resources. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or if we may ever be of assistance.
Chicago Restaurant Week
It’s almost that time of year: Chicago Restaurant Week! From January 24th to February 9th, Chicago’s hottest restaurants are offering fixed menus for lunch and dinner at a discounted rate. While there are great bites throughout the city, here are some of the many restaurants participating in the 12th District:
- Chicago’s Dog House (816 W Fullerton)
- Sushi Hall (2630 N Clark Street)
- Butcher and the Bear (2721 N Halsted St)
- Medi (2138 N Halsted St)
- Cedar Palace (655 West Armitage Ave)
- Denucci’s Italian (503 W Dickens Ave)
- Gemini (2075 N Lincoln Ave)
In the Community
Illinois REALTORS Interview and Luncheon
State Representative Eva-Dina Delgado and I joined the Illinois REALTORS and their members for a luncheon. We had a meaningful discussion about the future of housing in Chicago, as well as current issues facing the industry. Thank you to the Illinois REALTORS for having us!
Advocate Illinois Masonic Dental Center Ribbon Cutting
It was an honor to join Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for the ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Dental Center! This expansion of Advocate Illinois Masonic’s dental program is a huge benefit for our community’s families and those with special needs, and I am so proud to have been able to support this project. Special thank you to Dr. Jim Benz, Program Director for the Dentistry Department, for his work on this project and continued dedication to the medical center’s patients and residents.
State Menorah Lighting
I stood alongside Governor Pritzker and other religious and governmental leaders in lighting the Illinois State Menorah. It was an honor to join in on this celebration of the beginning of Hanukkah and to support the Jewish community here in Chicago.
43rd Ward CHA Senior Luncheon
It was so much fun to call a round of bingo at Alderman Knudsen’s annual Senior Luncheon with some fellow elected officials! Thank you to the 43rd Ward for all of their hard work to make this event such a fun celebration for our CHA Seniors.
Governmental Updates
Secretary of State: Vote for Illinois’ New Flag
The Illinois Flag Commission selected its Top 10 finalists for the state flag redesign contest with public voting open now. The purposes of the Commission are to develop new State flag designs and to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning whether the current State flag ought to be replaced with a redesigned State flag. If you would like to vote on one of these new designs, please visit the Secretary of State’s website here.
Cook County Treasurer: Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program
The Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program allows property owners aged 65 or older to “borrow” money from the state to cover their property taxes. This program operates as a loan with a simple annual interest rate of 3%, providing financial relief to eligible seniors. The program allows deferring up to $7,500 annually in property taxes. For eligibility and more information, please visit Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ website here.
PAWS Shoutout
We have a new PAWS Chicago pal to introduce for January: meet Clifton!
Clifton has steel blue eyes and foxlike features, is energetic, playful, and dare we say perfect? This great pup is everything you’ve been looking for in a playful companion. A husky mix, he prefers being active, so if you have space for a sweet pup to run around in, he’ll be happy. After all that activity, his ideal way to relax is in a quiet home without a lot of noise.
Clifton is a wonderful addition to any home and would love to spend time with you working on your training, so calling all hikers, runners, and perhaps future Iditarod participants – Clifton is looking for you!
If you’re interested in adopting Clifton or another furry friend, visit PAWS Chicago for more information.
Grant Opportunities
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is looking to assist Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking federal grants through their Federal Grant Support Program! The state-funded grant will help Illinois compete for additional federal funding to strengthen our businesses and communities that align with the State’s economic development objectives. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to have part of their match covered by state dollars. Applicants can apply for this program while they are preparing an application for a federal grant. More information can be found here.
Need help navigating DCEO’s grant process? Grantees may contact the Grant Help Desk by e-mail at CEO.GrantHelp@illinois.gov or submit a question using this form.
The Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program is looking to assist Illinois-based small businesses with capital resources that can be used for infrastructure improvements, acquisition of essential equipment, or purchase of new property. To be eligible, the business must be owned by Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) with a maximum of 25 full-time permanent employees OR Very Small Businesses (VSB) with fewer than 10 employees. To learn more about the grant, more information can be found here.
Need help navigating DCEO’s process for the The Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program? Grantees may contact Tiffany Hawkins by email at CEO.OE3Grant@illinois.gov.
Do you want to stay up-to-date on active state grant opportunities? Subscribe to Illinois NOFO Notifications to receive a weekly digest of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) offered by state agencies.
To subscribe, send a blank email (subject and body) to subscribe-omb-gata-grants@lists.illinois.gov.
Upcoming Events and Community Meetings:
Coffee & Conversation with Commander Barz
Join 18th Police District Commander Barz for coffee and conversation on Thursday, January 23rd, at 10AM at the Park Community Church- Near North (1001 N Crosby). For any questions, please contact the 18th District CAPS office at (312) 742-5778 or via email at caps.018district@chicagopolice.org.
Lincoln Park Preschool Fair
The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Lincoln Park Branch Library for the first ever Lincoln Park Preschool Fair! Make the process of choosing the right preschool for your child easier through this unique opportunity to connect with some of the neighborhood’s top preschools– all in one convenient location. This event will take place on Saturday, January 25th, from 9:30-11:30 AM at the Lincoln Park Library Branch (1150 W Fullerton). For more information, please visit the Chamber’s website here.
18th Police District Council Meeting
19th Police District Council Meeting
The 19th Police District Council will host their next meeting on Wednesday, January 29th at 6:30PM at Sulzer Library (4455 N Lincoln Avenue). This meeting will focus on the CPD Workforce Allocation Study. To RSVP, please see the form linked here.
North Chicago Township Property Tax Appeal Workshop
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele is partnering with other local elected officials to host a North Chicago Township informational seminar on how to appeal your property taxes. This event will take place on Thursday, January 30th, at 6PM at the Lincoln Park Branch Chicago Public Library (1150 W Fullerton). Attendees may arrive at 5:30PM to work with an analyst on filing an appeal or general assistance before the presentation begins at 6PM. The event ends at 7:30PM. Please bring your PIN Number which is located on your property tax bill. To RSVP, please see the form linked here.
Resources
Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response
Residents of the 19th Police District are encouraged to keep the above contact information for Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response. If you or someone you know may be struggling with a mental health crisis, please utilize these resources.
Wishing you a safe and healthy January. As always, please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
