Hello Chicago Gold Coast Neighbors and world! Today I am reflecting on this holiday season. The year has been amazing in many ways. Between the stock market, economy and the scandals, the politics and the election results, we haven't been bored. Chicago in December has it's beauty and it's challenges. We've been snowed and iced, tomorrow we expect to be frozen stiff! So, whether you are reading this from the comfort of your Chicago home or from your vacation or family retreat, I want to wish everyone the happiest of holidays and the very best in the coming new year. Below I have copied a newsletter from 42nd Ward Alderman, Brendan Reilly. There is a lot of great information here. Enjoy! Happy Holidays from Alderman Brendan Reilly!

Alderman Reilly's Illegal Billboard Ordinance Approved by City Council The City Council voted this week to approve Alderman Reilly's ordinance to crack down on sign companies that erect and operate billboards illegally without the required city approvals and permits. This ordinance increased the fines to $10,000 per offense for off-premise advertising billboards that are larger than 499 square feet. There are hundreds of billboards operating illegally in the City, many of which are located downtown in the 42nd Ward, and enhanced fines for violations will help ensure that the City's ordinances and approval processes are respected and followed by sign companies. _____________________________________ Kingsbury Alley Update Alderman Reilly successfully resolved the "Kingsbury Alley" issue, a blighted and inoperable extra long private alley that runs east-west between Orleans and Kingsbury Streets. Representatives from the two condominium associations who owned the alley signed the property plats over to the Chicago Department of Transportation, and Alderman Reilly will sponsor the enacting ordinance to memorialize the official dedication. The City of Chicago has a mandatory "construction moratorium" during the holiday season and winter weather conditions will preclude any large-scale reconstruction efforts prior to this Spring 2009. However, at Alderman Reilly's request, Commissioner Tom Byrne of the Dept. of Transportation graciously agreed to perform temporary patching to improve the alley for the winter months until the permanent improvements commence. We are pleased to report that this temporary patching has been completed. Alderman Reilly is looking forward to delivering a brand-new, fully reconstructed public alley to River North this coming spring. _____________________________________ Snow and Ice Removal With the accumulation of more snow last night and this morning, the Department of Streets and Sanitation has been working around the clock to plow and salt the streets to ease today's commutes. While the City streets are being cleared, we would like to remind business owners and residents to please keep sidewalks free of snow and ice, for the safety of our entire community! For special concerns with snow removal, please do not hesitate to contact our office or the Office of the 42nd Ward Department of Streets and Sanitation at 312-744-5026. If you need assistance outside of regular office hours, please contact 3-1-1. ____________________________________ Join the 42nd Ward USPS Customer Advisory Council! Alderman Reilly is working with the United States Postal Service to recruit volunteers to participate in a neighborhood-based USPS Customer Advisory Council for downtown Chicago's 42nd Ward. This Advisory Council with help local postal officials and managers to clearly identify customer needs for the purpose of improving postal service for residents and businesses in downtown Chicago. Alderman Reilly is eager to work with the United States Postal Service to address the many challenges that local residents and businesses are experiencing with postal service in downtown Chicago. By working directly with the Postal Service and the USPS Customer Advisory Council, Alderman Reilly is looking forward to developing a keen understanding of customer expectations; resolving general service issues; improving community partnerships; and significantly improving mail service for the residents and businesses in the 42nd Ward. Members of the Postal Customer Advisory Council will be asked to provide postal officials with recommendations and will be invited to assist Alderman Reilly's office with the implementation of solutions to help improve mail service. The next Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2009 at 6:00 pm at Fort Dearborn Post Office, located at 540 North Dearborn. Please consider joining the 42nd Ward Postal Customer Advisory Council to help Alderman Reilly and the United States Postal Service develop creative solutions and fresh ideas to improve USPS customer satisfaction in downtown Chicago. If you are interested in joining the Advisory Council, please contact Nuntida Sirisombatwattana in Alderman Reilly's Constituent Service Office at (312) 642-4242 or via e-mail at Nuntida@ward42chicago.com. _____________________________________ 18th District Police Department Events and Holiday Safety Reminders Warm Hands, Warm Hearts Join the 18th District Police Department in a holiday drive to help Chicago's elderly! Donations of new gloves, mittens, scarves and socks are needed. Donations can be dropped off at the 18th District community policing office at 1160 North Larrabee Street. For more information, please contact Officer Ferguson at 312-742-5778. Holiday Food Drive The 18th District Explorer Scouts need your help in collecting donations for their annual food drive. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the lobby of the 18th District police station at 1160 North Larrabee Street from November 1 until December 19, 2008. For further information, please contact Officer Robert Minor at 312-742-5778. Holiday Safety Reminders The Chicago Police Department is committed to your safety and security, and would like to encourage the use of crime prevention methods and safety techniques, in the spirit of cooperation with the public they serve. The Chicago Police Department would like to offer the following safety tips to make sure that your holidays are safe and secure: If you will be away for the holidays, give your home an "occupied appearance" by leaving some lights on, and let a trusted neighbor know if you will be gone for an extended period of time. Return the favor, and create a "neighborhood watch"! Never leave your purse in a shopping car or upon a counter unattended while you shop. Transfer valuables and shopping bags to the trunk of your car before, not after, you reach your destination. Keys should never be carried in your purse-- keep your keys in your pocket. Remain alert at all times! For more tips please contact the 18th District Community Policing office at 312-744-5778, or visit www.chicagopolice.org. ____________________________________ Use an I-GO Car For Your Holiday Shopping! Alderman Reilly is a vocal proponent of many initiatives that are helping Chicago to become an environmentally-friendly and sustainable city, including the I-GO Car Sharing program. I-GO is a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing economical and environmentally-sound transportation choices. I-GO's goals are to reduce car ownership rates, lower family transportation costs, reduce urban congestion and improve air quality in all neighborhoods. There are I-GO cars at numerous locations in the 42nd Ward, within walking distance of thousands of households. To view a complete location map, please visit www.igocars.org/locations. Alderman Reilly requires that all new residential and parking garage developments include I-GO cars, ensuring that this program will continue to expand and serve even more Chicago residents. In further effort to improve transportation options in the City of Chicago, last month the Chicago Transit Board approved a proposal by the Chicago Transit Authority and I-GO Car Sharing to launch a joint smart card that can be used to gain access to I-GO cars and ride the CTA. For additional information, please read recent press releases here. _________________________________ Home Depot Weatherization Vouchers Winter is just around the corner, and Chicagoans will soon be faced with the challenge of heating their homes amidst rising energy costs. Our office has a limited number of $40 vouchers available for the purchase of a variety of weatherization materials (such as programmable thermostats, filters, insulation and weather stripping) at all Chicago Home Depot locations. Please call or stop by our Constituent Service Office for more information or to receive a voucher. _________________________________ Save Energy with a FREE Light Bulb Alderman Reilly, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and the Department of Environment want to help you save energy and money this summer. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs are available at Alderman Reilly's Constituent Office (one per person). In order to receive a free bulb, please be prepared to sign up with your name, address and email. These bulbs last up to 9 years and use of up 75% less energy. That's 10 times longer than regular light bulbs! Feel free to stop by the Constituent Service Office during our normal business hours to pick up a free light bulb. For more information please visit www.citizensutilityboard.org or www.cityofchicago.org/environment. __________________________________ Street Closures and Construction Due to building work at 664 N. Michigan Avenue, the west sidewalk of Michigan Avenue between Erie and Huron and the north sidewalk of Erie between Michigan Avenue and Rush Street are closed. In connection with construction at 108 North State Street (Block 37), the underground Chicago Pedway from Dearborn to State remains temporarily closed. Dearborn, Washington and Randolph Street vehicle lanes are reduced, and sidewalks are closed around the construction area. The construction also affects some bus stop locations and one rail station entrance. The streetscape project continues on Wabash Avenue between Wacker Drive and Harrison Street. Two lanes of traffic and pedestrian access are maintained. For more information, see the CDOT website at www.cityofchicago.org/transportation The northbound curb lane and east sidewalk on Wabash Avenue from Wacker to Kinzie Street is closed through the end of December 2008 due to viaduct replacement for the Trump Tower building. ---- For the most up-to-date information regarding Chicago street closures affecting you, please click here for the Office of Emergency Management & Communication's Street Closure Permit database. This database provides online access to all street closure permits granted in the city. ____________________________ 42nd Ward Website The 42nd Ward website is designed to help local residents, businesses and community groups find quick answers to questions about city services and programs. On this site you'll find links to the most requested city services and other useful resources located within downtown Chicago's 42nd Ward. Please visit the Alderman Reilly's "virtual office" at www.ward42chicago.com. _________________________________________________________________________________

Office of Alderman Brendan Reilly 311 W. Superior St., Suite 212 (312) 642-4242 (312) 642-0420 (fax) Office of Alderman Brendan Reilly City Hall 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 300 (312) 744-3062