📍Our new district map & upcoming community events
Dear friend,
A quick update on two measures we worked on during Tuesday's one-day legislative session in Springfield.
The principal reason for our return to the capital was to adjust the new legislative maps based on final numbers from the Census. To meet our Constitutional deadline of June 30, we had used estimated numbers from the American Community Survey to draw maps this spring. But the final count differed from those ACS estimates, so we needed to revise the maps to make sure they reflected accurate total population and provided for diverse representation.
As a result, our district (the 39th) was redrawn from the changes we made in May. Here's how my new district will look (current boundaries in black, new boundaries in orange):
You can see more details here, including how this changed from the maps that we passed in the spring.
We also returned to discuss our comprehensive clean energy legislation. I'm frustrated to report that we haven't yet reached a deal. The fossil fuel companies are clinging to their position that one of the dirtiest power plants in the country, Prairie State, should be allowed to stay open with no reduction in emissions until 2045.
It's like they didn't read the IPCC report declaring this moment a "code red for humanity." Like they didn't watch the news of catastrophic flooding from New Orleans to New York yesterday. Like they're willfully ignoring the evidence of scientific research and the evidence of our eyes and ears, to extract as much profit as they can while our planet burns.
We're not willing to let that happen. We can't afford to wait 24 years for this thing to stop belching out greenhouse gases - we need reductions in emissions now. So the negotiations continue.
More updates on that as they happen. I expect we'll be called back to Springfield to revisit this issue in the coming days.
Until then, hope to see you at some of our upcoming events in the community!
Take care,
Will
Mark Your Calendar for our Upcoming Community Events!
Small Business Canvass
Wednesday, September 8 | 5:30 - 7:00pm
Looking to help small businesses on Chicago's Northwest Side? Join us for a small business canvass next Wednesday to connect small businesses in Hermosa with the state's new Back 2 Business Grant Program! Click here to sign-up for our canvass >>
Property Tax Appeal Workshop
Thursday, September 9 | 10:00am - 7:00pm
Get one-on-one assistance to appeal your property tax assessment. This workshop is now open to all northwest side residents. Be sure to bring a copy of your property tax bill or PIN number. To sign-up for an appointment call our office at (773) 853-2570 or the 35th Ward at (773) 887-3772.
Shred & Recycling Day
Saturday, September 18 | 9:00am - 11:00am
Join us for a community shred day where you can securely shred your documents on site, dispose of your old home electronics, recycle your pharmaceutical drugs through our drug take back program, and get a free rapid response COVID-19 test! Click here to learn more >>