Dear Neighbor,
We’re entering the home stretch for this year’s Participatory Budgeting Election, where ward residents decide how to spend $1 million on ward improvement projects.
About 50 “Community Representative” volunteers worked over the past four months to narrow down all the ideas offered by neighbors at last November’s neighborhood assemblies and other venues into a great set of proposals to improve our library and parks, replace trees and install new street lights.
On this year’s Participatory Budgeting ballot, ward residents will first be asked to vote on the percentage of the ward’s $1 million infrastructure budget they want spent on street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Then they will be asked to choose how to spend the remainder of the budget from among eight proposed neighborhood improvement projects.
The official PB49 Election Day takes place Saturday, April 30th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Chicago Math and Science Academy, 7212 N. Clark (just south of the Rogers Park firehouse).
For those who prefer to vote early, early voting will start Saturday, April 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at my 49th Ward Service Office, 7356 N. Greenview, during my annual Spring Clean-up. The early voting will continue throughout the following two weeks at the Ward Service Office and other early voting sites. Look for announcements of the early voting times and locations.
Also for the first time, this year residents will be able to vote online from the comfort of their own home or office. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.
Here are the projects residents can choose. Download the presentation (pdf) for more details on the projects.
1. New Residential Street Lights on Greenview
Replace the old streetlights on 7060 to 7200 N. Greenview (Greenleaf to Touhy) with new, brighter streetlights to increase safety.
Cost: $117,000
2. Improvements at Dubkin, Paschen and Loyola Parks
Install a concrete entryway at Dubkin Park (located on Ashland between Fargo and Birchwood) to improve access for people with strollers or mobility impairments ($10,000). Install a 15-foot fence around Paschen Park basketball hoops (Lunt and Damen) to improve safety and protect property ($15,000). Install two chess tables in Loyola Park ($10,000).
Cost: $35,000
3. Mural and Mosaic Projects
Paint a mural ($30,000) on the CTA embankment wall of Dubkin Park. Install a mosaic mural ($60,000) on the Howard Street window bays and the entrance wall of the Willye White Fieldhouse, 1610 W. Howard. (Subject to approval by Chicago Park District.)
Cost: $90,000
4. More Trees for Rogers Park
Plant 100 trees across the ward to replace some of those lost in the August 2015 storm.
Cost: $80,000
5. New Public Benches on Bus Routes
Install 11 bus benches in various locations throughout the ward, incluidng southbound Clark Street at Touhy, North Shore, Pratt and Greenleaf; northbound Clark Street at Albion, North Shore, Pratt and Lunt; westbound Devon Avenue at Greenview and Lakewood; and southbound Sheridan Road at North Shore.
Cost: $40,000
6. Automatic Door Openers for Rogers Park Library
Install automatic openers on inner and outer doors to make it easier for people with disabilities and people with strollers to enter and exit the library.
Cost: $17,000
7. New Residential Street Lights and Flood Lights adjacent to Sullivan and Kilmer Schools
Replace the old residential streetlights on the 6600 blocks of Greenview and Bosworth, from Albion to North Shore with new, brighter streetlights. Also install new flood lights in the alleys adjacent to Kilmer School.
Cost: $157,200
8. Curb Cuts at Howard CTA Terminal
Install curb cuts and crosswalk at 7557 N. Paulina to allow people with strollers or mobility impairments to access the north end of the train station.
Cost: $40,000
I look forward to seeing you at the polls!
Sincerely,
Joe Moore