Civic Engagement – Page 2 – North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

Update: Clarius Partners’ Proposed Redevelopment of Kostner and Roosevelt‏

Posted on October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

We are following up on an email we sent in August, in which we shared NLCCC’s public comments on the proposed sale of the land on the corner of Roosevelt and Kostner to Clarius Partners, LLC to build a development with mixed industrial and commercial uses.

Since that time, members of the NLCCC Executive Subcommittee have written a letter to the editor of Crain’s Chicago Business. Members of the Clarius team have met with our Steering Committee, and members of our Executive Subcommittee have been approached by Steven Kohn for a follow up conversation. Mr. Kohn works with Colliers International, the broker for Clarius Partner, LLC. While Mr. Kohn has provided insights regarding our concerns, we have not yet heard back directly from Clarius Partners.

Alderman Scott has indicated in August that he would set up a meeting between NLCCC and the Greater Westside CDC to explore ways the two groups can work together. By way of background, the Greater Westside Community Development Corporation was organized in December, 2015 to guide community development on Chicago’s Westside. They have been designated as the lead community-based organization to serve as a liaison between Clarius Partners and the community. As recently as 10 days ago, the Alderman has indicated that the meeting is still in the works.

Clarius Partners asked for NLCCC’s support of the project during their presentation to the Steering Committee in August. However, there are a number of questions from that meeting and our subsequent conversation with Steven Kohn that remain. While we understand that a number of individual groups and small businesses are indirect communication with Clarius Partners, they have not yet responded directly to NLCCC with answers to our specific questions. Until such time, it is not prudent take a position on this project, particularly when community residents raised similar concerns at public meetings held at United Baptist Church and Homan Square.

In closing, we ask that, if Clarius approaches your organization individually for support, that you would ask them if they have yet responded to NLCCC’s concerns. Likewise, if there are concerns that you would like us to share with Clarius during our meeting, please let us know, and we will include them in our agenda and keep you informed. If our individual organizations support Clarius directly, there is no need for them to respond to us as a collective. There is greater strength in unity. We will continue to strive for socially responsible development in North Lawndale that create win-win situations for developers and community residents.

Sincerely,

Members of the NLCCC Executive Subcommittee:

Rodney Brown
rodney@new-covenantcdc.org

Dennis Deer
drdeer@deerehabservices.com

Valerie F. Leonard
consulting@valeriefleonard.com

Reminder: NLCCC Transportation Subcommittee Meeting October 4, 2016

Posted on October 2, 2016October 2, 2016 by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

We just wanted to remind you that the NLCCC Transportation Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at Celestial Ministries School of Fine Arts, 2149 S Drake Ave, Chicago. We hope to see you there. Feel free to download the attached flyer and share with your friends and neighbors.

View this document on Scribd

Save the Date: November 9, 2016 Community Benefits Agreement Panel

Posted on October 1, 2016 by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

After many years of disinvestment, North Lawndale is once again a community that is getting a closer look by developers and investors. There are a number of incentives that are available to them, including TIF funds, free or deeply discounted land, tax reductions, tax credits, etc.

One school of thought suggests that North Lawndale residents should be happy that businesses decide to locate here, or that developers decide to build houses here. While this is good for business and helps improve the tax base, there is very little evidence that North Lawndale residents benefit directly–even in instances where local property taxes are being used to subsidize the development. There must be a way for developers and investors to make money while providing real opportunities to local residents and business owners.

We will host a a panel discussion on community benefits agreements (CBA’s) on November 9, 2016, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at a location to be determined. The panel, the members of which are still being confirmed, will include an attorney, developer and community activists from North Lawndale and other communities around the city of Chicago who will share their successes and challenges with negotiating legally-binding community benefits agreements. This meeting is being sponsored by our Economic Development, Infrastructure and Transportation subcomittees.

For further information, contact Audrey Dunford, Vice Chair of the Infrastructure Subcommittee at audrey.dunford@gmail.com.

Important News from the Chicago Board of Elections

Posted on September 12, 2016September 12, 2016 by North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council

The following information is from the Chicago Board of Elections website, http://www.chicagoelections.com/en/key-dates-and-fast-facts.html

Registered to Vote?

Check your registration status
Register to vote online using an IL driver’s license or state ID through 11:59 pm on Sun., Oct. 23
Registering to vote in person: Oct. 12 – Nov. 8

Grace Period (In-Person) Voter Registration: Oct. 12 – Nov. 8 – Learn more
– For those who miss the Oct. 11 deadline to register by mail or the Oct. 23 deadline to register online.
– Voters must come in person and need at least two forms of identification, at least one of which shows the address of their new/updated registration.
– Open to those who need to change address or name.
– If you need to register or update your registration on Election Day, you must register at your home precinct for your ballot to count. Click here and enter your address to find your Election Day precinct and polling place.
– Full schedule of locations, dates and hours
– When registering, “grace period” participants vote during that visit.

Early Voting In-Person Before Election Day: Sept. 29 – Nov. 7 – Learn more

– Voters registered in Chicago may use any Early Voting site in the City.
– Sept. 29 – Oct. 23: Early Voting only at 69 W. Washington, Lower Level
– Oct. 24 – Nov. 5 – All 51 sites open Mon-Sat, 9 am – 5 pm.
– Certain sites will have Sunday hours on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6.
– Certain sites will be open through 7 p.m. from Oct. 31 – Nov. 4.
– Certain sites will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mon., Nov. 7.
– Government photo ID is encouraged in the event there is a question about your registration.

Vote by Mail – Apply online for your Vote By Mail ballot
No excuse is needed. All Illinois voters are eligible to Vote By Mail.
– Oct. 11 – Last day for unregistered civilians temporarily living overseas to have their voter registrations/Vote By Mail applications received by the Election Board. Fax and email applications are accepted.
– Oct. 31 – Last day for civilians permanently residing overseas and military personnel/families to have their voter registrations/Vote By Mail applications received by the Election Board. Fax and email applications are accepted.
– Nov. 3 – Deadline for all other Vote By Mail applications from civilians inside the United States to be received by Election Board. Chicago voters may apply online. Or, original hard-copy applications must be submitted in person, by mail or by certified courier. By law, we cannot accept email or fax applications from civilians inside the United States.
PLEASE NOTE: Although these are the legal deadlines to apply, the Board strongly encourages filing applications to Vote By Mail by mid-October to avoid any delay in receiving your ballot, and so that you have time to return your Vote By Mail ballot with a postmark on or before Nov. 8.
– Nov. 4-7 – Missed a deadline? In-person voting at the Election Board, 69 W. Washington St., Lower Level.
– Nov. 8 – Last day for postmark on the envelope to return Vote By Mail ballot.
– Nov. 8 – If a voter decides not to return the Vote By Mail ballot by Election Day, the voter may submit the unused Vote By Mail ballot to the judges at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home address, and then cast a ballot in person. If the Vote By Mail ballot was lost or did not arrive, the voter may sign a “cancellation of Vote By Mail ballot affidavit” and cast a provisional ballot, also at the precinct and polling place for that voter’s home address.
– Nov. 22 – Last day that a mailed Vote By Mail ballot (postmarked or certified Nov. 8 or earlier) may arrive at the Election Board to be included in the count.

ELECTION DAY: TUES., NOV. 8, 2016 – Learn more
On Election Day, a voter may cast a ballot only at the polling place assigned to that voter’s registration precinct. Hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find your polling place here.

Click here for a complete list of polling places.

You can also go to the Chicago Board of Elections website to learn more about actively participating in the election as follows:

Judges of Election: About Serving as a JudgeThis is a paid position.
Judges of Election: About Serving as an Election CoordinatorThis is a paid position.
Deputy Voter Registrars: About Serving as a Deputy Voter Registrar
Serving as a Poll Watcher for a Campaign or Political Party

The Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago is proud to lead the United States in hiring and training high school and college students to serve as judges and many college-age students to provide technical support. Each citywide election in Chicago over the last decade has been administered with the help of 4,000 student judges. Click here for general information on Student Judges of Election and applying to serve.