Newsletter #3 - 11/30/20
Hi there Northwest Siders,
Hope everyone had a safe Thanksgiving weekend. It was certainly one most of us will not forget. While many of us were faced with a more isolated holiday than ever before, many of our neighbors remain housing insecure, unemployed, unable to provide for their families, and left to struggle alone as the winter descends upon Chicago, and therefore our work continues as we try to build a more just and compassionate community on the Northwest Side. Here is our list of upcoming events and actions, hope you can participate!
SAVE THE DATE: United Northwest Side Open House on 12/8 & 12/10
We are thrilled to be presenting our very first open house! While of course we'd have preferred for this to be an in-person meeting (remember those?), we're excited about the ease with which people can now attend thanks to the virtual meeting format. Get energized and organized with us! This not just an informational seminar where we drone on about ourselves and the org; this is an opportunity for you to share your priorities for our community, and for us all to build people power by taking collective action on current campaigns. We can't wait to meet more of our neighbors who are ready to make positive changes in our neighborhoods!
WHAT: United Northwest Side Virtual Open House
DATE:Tuesday, Dec. 8 or Thursday, Dec 10
TIME: 7PM
Register here: https://forms.gle/US5J7pz7C5BTPVi88
ACTION ITEM: Tell Cook County Commissioners to Protect All Renters Landlord groups and real estate lobbyists are working to make sure suburban Cook County renters don’t have the same protections as Chicago residents do—with an eviction crisis on the horizon. Take one moment to fill out this form and ask your Cook County Commissioner to support the proposed Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (RLTO). This can be done very easily via this form letter provided by Housing Action Illinois.
WHAT: Fill Out Form To Ask Your Commissioner to Support RLTO
WHEN: Now!
LINK: https://housingactionil.salsalabs.org/cookcorenters_oct2020/index.html
The People's Appointment: A Joint IPO Event Regarding Fair Senate Seat-Filling As mentioned in our previous newsletter, earlier this year, United Northwest Side collaborated with group of IPOs and elected officials in a series of meetings to discuss the inherently undemocratic process of appointing replacements for vacant positions in our government. In short, the common stereotype of decisions made by a small number of power brokers in smoke-filled rooms is a reality when it comes to filling vacant seats. Decided with little-to-no input from the community, committeemen meet and select their preferred choice to fill said vacant seat. IPOs that make up the 20th senate district feel there is a better way to fill vacancies and are seeking to develop a more democratic and transparent process.
As part of this more democratic and transparent process, the IPOs developed a questionnaire for potential candidates, and on December 2nd at 7pm CST, will host a joint-IPO forum, along with Aldermen and Committeeman La Spata (1st Ward), Alderman Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward), Alderwoman Rodriguez (33rd Ward), and Committeeman Anthony Joel Quezada (35th Ward), to hear from individuals seeking the joint IPOs’ support to fill Senator Martinez’ vacancy. This forum will include Dr. Cristina Pacione-Zayas who is seeking to fill the vacancy.
This process will allow IPO membership and the general public to see where Dr. Pacione-Zayas stands on issues important to our communities. Additionally, this exercise represents the first of many opportunities for Chicago’s ward- and regionally-based IPOs to collaborate on shared goals, which will prove to be a powerful organizing tactic moving forward as they continue to challenge entrenched political self-dealing in Chicago politics.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 2, 2020
TIME: 7:00pm CST
WHERE: Zoom, RSVP to https://bit.ly/Dec2Register to receive Zoom link
45th Ward Zoning Meeting For 5071 N. Northwest Hwy on 12/3
Come share your support and input! This proposed residential project in Jefferson Park would bring more density with less parking, under the city’s transit-oriented development (TOD) guidelines. It also has the potential to generate demand for business and services near the Jefferson Park Transit Hub, the largest transportation hub on the NW side of the City.
The first meeting for this development was abruptly cancelled due to Zoom management difficulties including mute control and no chat monitoring, which resulted in opponents of the development monopolizing the meeting and supporters not being addressed.
"A 36-unit, four-story residential building with 16 on-site parking spaces is being proposed for a vacant parcel at 5071 N. Northwest Hwy., across from the side of the 16th (Jefferson Park) Police Station parking garage.The project’s developer is seeking additional density allowances and a reduction in parking requirements due to the site’s proximity to the Jefferson Park Metra Station parking lot, 5020 N. Northwest Hwy., and the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave. [...]The TOD guidelines, which are intended to encourage dense projects near transit hubs, also reduce parking requirements. Normally one parking space per unit is required, but that is waived for TOD sites."
WHAT: Zoning Amendment Proposal: 5071 N. Northwest Hwy
DATE: Thursday, Dec 3
TIME: 6.30PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 964 3569 6656
Passcode: 913116
Dial In: 312-626-6799
Albany Park + Avondale Barnstorm for Rent Control + Relief Now on 12/9
When will our legislators stand up and deliver us the rent control and rent relief we desperately need? When we organize, that's when. We must step up before the eviction moratorium ends, and protect Illinois from mass homelessness and debt. The politicians have been meeting with the real estate lobbyists and developers. Let's gather with our Avondale + Albany Park neighbors and set the housing agenda for the coronavirus recovery: rent control, rent/mortgage cancellation, tenant safety, and small business survival. At this barnstorm, we'll assemble, learn, strategize and take action! United Northwest Side is pleased to partner with the Lift the Ban Coalition and 33rd Ward Working Familes on this event. (Facebook event)
WHAT: Barnstorm For Rent Control
DATE: Dec 9, 2020
TIME: 6:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82506740218...
Meeting ID: 825 0674 0218
Passcode: LTB
Thank You!
We hope you'll join us for our open house meetings and will take a moment to consider the above actions and events. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones this holiday season, and we hope to continue to work with you to build community and people power on the Northwest Side!