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Dine Out on Broadway
The Office of the City Clerk announces City Hall location limited reopening as the City moves into Phase 3 of its Reopening Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2020
Contact: Treshonna Nolan, Treshonna.Nolan@cityofchicago.org
Chicago City Clerk Anna M. Valencia Announces Limited Operational Reopening of City Hall Office Location Set for Monday, June 8
The Office of the City Clerk announces City Hall location limited reopening as the City moves into Phase 3 of its Reopening Plan
[CHICAGO] – Today, Chicago City Clerk Anna M. Valencia announced the Office of the City Clerk (OCC) will reopen its City Hall location with limited operations starting Monday, June 8, 2020. In an effort to adhere to gathering restrictions and social distancing rules, the Office of the City Clerk will be phasing in employees, starting with a limited front-line staff. The Office of the City Clerk has also implemented operational changes to increase safety for staff members and residents.
“The health and safety of our team members and residents is our top priority,” said Clerk Valencia. “Our office has taken the necessary steps under the guidelines of both state and city requirements to increase safety measures allowing residents to obtain essential city services as safely and efficiently as possible.”
These new operational and safety measures include:
Masks and Social Distancing Requirements
All residents and staff members are required to wear a mask or face covering and practice social distancing (maintaining a six-foot distance) while inside the OCC City Hall location.
All residents visiting the office should use the designated entrance on LaSalle Street. This entrance serves to streamline the purchasing process and ensure social distancing practices. All residents and City workers are required to have their temperature checked upon arrival at City Hall. Staff will be stationed throughout the lobby to assist with any questions or concerns.
Updated Signage
The City Hall location lobby is reconfigured to ensure residents can receive city services as safely and efficiently as possible. Residents will notice updated directional signage as well as reminders for social distancing posted throughout the office.
City Sticker Late Fee Waiver
To provide some relief for those who are unable to purchase or renew their stickers during this time, The Office of the City Clerk will be waiving late fees on certain City Stickers from March 19, 2020, until July 15, 2020, for residents whose stickers were up for renewal or who purchased a new vehicle from January-June of 2020.
24/7 Online Store
The Office of the City Clerk is encouraging residents to make purchases online or by mail. Residents can visit the 24/7 online store, ezbuy.chicityclerk.com, to purchase their City Sticker, Residential Parking Permit, and Dog Licenses.
The Customer Service phone line, Archer Avenue, and Gale Street locations will remain temporarily closed.
For the most up to date information, make sure to visit chicityclerk.com.
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CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES REOPENING GUIDELINES FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2020
CONTACT:
Mayor’s Press Office
312.744.3334
press@cityofchicago.org
CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES REOPENING GUIDELINES FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP
New guidelines allow for limited in-person religious gatherings as well as requirements for social distancing; Seniors and individuals with underlying health conditions strongly encouraged to continue practicing remotely
CHICAGO – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced today guidelines for organizations to hold in-person religious services. The “Be Safe. Places of Worship” guidelines come as the city moves into Phase 3 “Cautiously Reopen” of the “Protecting Chicago” framework. Under the new guidelines places of worship can welcome congregants back to their doors with a maximum of 50 people per room or 25 percent of the room capacity, whichever is fewer, as long as required social distancing can be maintained.
“For people of faith, worshipping together is an essential function, and I am grateful for the Chicagoans of faith who explored new ways to celebrate their beliefs virtually in the interest of the health and safety of everyone during the stay at home order,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “As we take this next step into Phase 3 of reopening, we can cautiously return to in-person services to bring our communities back together and begin to heal from the past few months.”
Under the new guidelines, a maximum of 50 people can attend in-person services per room as long as the recommended six feet social distancing between individuals not of the same household can be maintained. Houses of worship will also need to ensure that they protect congregants by maintaining healthy interactions, safe spaces and conditions, and operational resiliency and travel guidelines.
“As we cautiously reopen, we want people to start doing the things that bring them peace and joy, but to do so safely and smartly,” said CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. “If we don’t continue to take these important precautions, we could very well see a resurgence in cases that would mean more infections and more deaths.”
Although many Chicagoans are eager to return to in-person faith services, CDPH recommends residents who are elderly or with underlying health conditions continue to practice their faith remotely, through services on television, radio or online, until the COVID-19 data supports new guidance.
“As houses of worship are given clearance to open their doors to fifty people or less, I passionately ask faith leaders to carefully examine the cause and effect of allowing people into the building; permission does not mean you must participate,” said Reverend L. Bernard Jakes, D.Min., Senior Pastor, West Point Missionary Baptist Church. “Faith leaders have found a myriad of ways to adapt for the past eleven weeks, and another few weeks could save the life or lives of parishioners, as well as their families, especially our most vulnerable.”
For the past several weeks, the City has been working directly with faith leaders across denominations to draft guidelines to bring people back to services, while also keeping everyone safe. These guidelines are drafted to allow a gradual transition into in-person worship services while still adhering to recommended guidelines to prevent spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We are fortunate to have a mayor who not only genuinely cares about the health and safety of all city residents, but actively sought our input and the input of Chicago’s other faith leaders,” said Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs, Agudath Israel of Illinois. “We were gratified to see that our concerns and suggestions were listened to and incorporated.”
As part of the guidelines, religious organizations must follow these protocols:
- No more than 50 individuals in a room if distancing is followed;
- Stagger ingress and egress times to avoid checkpoint crowding;
- Frequently disinfect facilities;
- Provide sanitation stations available throughout facilities;
- Wear facial coverings;
- Spread out seating by 6 feet to promote social distancing; and
- Post visual signage throughout the facility regarding hygiene, social distancing and proper PPE among others.
“It has been an honor working with the Mayor and other faith leaders to plan how to safely and gradually reenter our houses of worship,” said Reginald Sharpe, Senior Pastor, Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. “I look forward to welcoming back the faithful to church and continuing this interfaith and intergovernmental summit for the good and future of all Chicagoans.”
Regardless of an organization’s reopening plans, all residents should continue to abide by important guidance in phase three, including: physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting non-business, social gatherings to <10 persons; staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19; and getting tested if you have symptoms.
Last week, Mayor Lightfoot and CDPH released industry-specific guidelines for businesses, employees, and customers to follow as they begin to safely reopen as part of Phase 3: Cautiously Reopen. Specific guidelines are currently available for childcare, commercial buildings, residential buildings, hotels and accommodations, food service, retail, personal services, health and fitness clubs, manufacturing, construction, warehousing, healthcare, CTA, taxi and ride hail, and parks and outdoor attractions.
Specific guidelines for sporting events, outdoor performances, summer programs and youth activities, the Lakefront, and museums will be available later in Phase 3 when those entities are predicted to begin reopening.
To download a copy of the “Be Safe. Places of Worship” guidelines or to learn about the City of Chicago’s Cautiously Reopen plans in other sectors, visit www.chicago.gov/reopening
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RPB CAN: Roscoe: Parking/Sidewalk Closure 6/3 to 6/19/2020
TOMA NUESTRA ENCUESTA PARA AYUDAR A MEJORAR LOS SERVICIOS DE LA CIUDAD
City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General 2020 Audit and Program Review Community Survey
CITY OF CHICAGO RESTORES ACCESS TO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT TO PREPARE FOR CAUTIOUS REOPENING
Protest At Wrigley Field Today
Dear Neighbor,
Another protest has been planned and will start at Wrigley Field at 2:00 p.m. Protesters will then march south on Clark.
While details of this protest are limited, police will be visible throughout the neighborhood before, during and after this gathering.
Residents and businesses along our commercial streets are encouraged to remove valuables from windows and paper or board windows, if possible. A list of companies that can board up buildings, if necessary, can be found in yesterday’s e-newsletter here.
Finally, I want to thank those who marched last night in a peaceful and meaningful way that was respectful of our neighborhood. I also commend our local police for their professionalism and support.
In solidarity,
Tom Tunney
Alderman, 44th Ward
COVID-19 Newsletter 05.31.2020
Dear Chicago Residents and Partners,
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) this week announced that Chicago is on track to transition to phase three of the “Protecting Chicago” framework and will begin reopening on Wednesday, June 3. Cautiously reopening in phase three will still require strict physical distancing but will begin to allow for some industries to start reopening.
Regardless of industry reopening plans, all residents should continue to abide by important guidance in phase three, including: physically distancing and wearing a face covering; limiting non-business, social gatherings to <10 persons; staying at home if you feel ill or have come into contact with someone with COVID-19; and getting tested if you have symptoms. City of Chicago services that had been closed to the public including parks facilities and libraries will begin reopening on Monday, June 8.
Additionally, CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D., issued a public health order extending the Governor’s Stay-at-Home Order in the city until Chicago reopens on June 3. The order also requires all Chicago parks, beaches, and trails on and adjacent to the Lakefront, the Chicago Riverwalk, and the Bloomingdale Trail (the 606) to remain closed until June 3. People can go out for a walk or a jog but they must maintain at least six feet distance from others. Boating and gatherings of more than ten people are prohibited.
For updates on the various epidemiological factors guiding Chicago’s reopening decisions, visit chicago.gov/coronavirus.
What’s New
Sharing Our Streets – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Commissioners Gia Biagi and Rosa Escareno from the Chicago Departments of Transportation (CDOT) and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) on Friday announced Chicago’s ‘Our Streets’ plan to open and convert residential streets and commercial corridors for alternative uses. First, the City plans to convert streets, or portions of those streets and cross-streets, in key commercial corridors throughout the City into expanded outdoor dining, providing much needed relief to restaurants of all sizes. The six corridors identified to pilot expanded outdoor dining are:
- Chatham: 75th Street from Calumet Avenue to Indiana Avenue
- Lakeview: Broadway from Belmont Avenue to Diversey Parkway
- Little Village: 26th Street from Central Park to Harding Avenue
- Rush & Division: Rush Street from Oak Street to Cedar Street
- Near West Side: Taylor Street from Loomis Street to Ashland Avenue
- West Loop: Randolph Street from Expressway no further than Elizabeth Street
More information on the application process and supporting documents will be made available on the website, as well, and the City will be hosting multiple informational
sessions with potential applicants in the coming days. Second, the City will also convert residential streets to provide Chicagoans with additional transportation options and space for outside recreational activities while safely social distancing. CDOT has already received more than 500 requests from Chicagoans, most of them to allow only local traffic along residential streets while opening them to pedestrians and cyclists – easing essential travel to transit stops and local stores, and allowing people to walk or run while maintaining safe distances. Neighborhoods may also request location-specific interventions that reflect local needs, including transit access improvements or collaborations with community groups to improve the accessibility and operation of streets. CDOT also made public new mobility guidelines as part of the ‘Be Safe Chicago’ campaign which provide clear indications of how Chicagoans can maintain safety as they return in greater numbers to walking, driving and riding a bike on Chicago streets. Residents looking to learn more about the
Our Streets program and to share their ideas and take a short survey can visit: chicago.gov/covidmobility.
The Second City’s Phased & Confused – Through a new partnership with legendary Chicago comedy institution, The Second City, the City will produce a weekly web series that will communicate information regarding the City’s “Protecting Chicago” five-phase framework guiding Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19. The show, titled “The Second City’s Phased & Confused” will premiere on both Mayor Lightfoot’s and The Second City’s Facebook pages beginning Thursday, June 4, and will feature a diverse lineup of engaging interviews with city officials and local heroes, original sketch comedy, animation, music, and special guests. Longtime partner to the City of Chicago, BMO Harris Bank, is the inaugural sponsor for the first five episodes of “The Second City’s Phased & Confused” series.
Resources
Industry Guidelines for Reopening – To allow businesses and organizations to prepare for the reopening, the City has released industry-specific guidelines for businesses, employees, and customers to follow as they begin to safely reopen on June 3. Industryspecific guidelines include details such as how businesses can engage in healthy interactions between workers and customers, how to maintain safe working spaces and conditions, and how to design and monitor workplace operations to create flexibility and maintain safety for employees and customers. The guidelines are aligned with the Stateissued guidelines, with additional specificity included for Chicago’s context. Specific guidelines for sporting events, religious services, outdoor performances, summer programs and youth activities, the Lakefront, and museums will be available later in phase three when those entities are predicted to begin reopening. Learn more at chicago.gov/reopening.
Chicago PPE Market – To support safe and efficient reopening, the City has partnered with local startup Rheaply to launch “Chicago PPE Market”, a program that will facilitate access to PPE for Chicago’s small businesses and nonprofits. Beginning May 26, using Chicago PPE Market, Chicago-based organizations will be able to connect with a network of local manufacturers and suppliers to access protective shields, reusable face masks, and hand sanitizer at cost-controlled rates. Buyers can register for the Chicago PPE Market at chicagoppemarket.com and then check their email for a link to access the online platform. To use the Chicago PPE Market, buyers browse available listings for reusable face coverings, hand sanitizer, and protective shields; request to purchase specific PPE based on their desired quantity and the advertised price; and communicate directly with the supplier through the in-platform messaging feature to agree on payment and pick-up or delivery details. More items may be added over the coming weeks.
Chi COVID Coach – The Chi COVID Coach app is developed to help you know what to do you have COVID-19 symptoms. Once you sign up, we’ll check back with you via text message. We’ll let you know what you and the other people in your household should do to limit the spread of COVID-19, help you know how long you need to stay separated from others, and give you day-by-day guidance throughout a potential isolation or quarantine period. Additionally, when you register with our Chi COVID Coach, we will alert you when COVID-19 approved antibody testing – and down the line, vaccination – is available. Learn more at covidcoach.chicago.gov.
Millennium Park at Home – If you’re missing Millennium Park’s renowned cultural programming, you can now enjoy “Millennium Park at Home” — a new series of virtual events presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The concerts featuring local musicians and media hosts start with House Music on May 22 & 23 (6-8pm), followed by Gospel Music on May 29 & 30 and Blues Music on June 5, 6 & 7 to align with the previously-cancelled Chicago House Music, Chicago Gospel Music and Chicago Blues festivals. Watch the concerts at youtube.com/ChicagoDCASE.
Virtual Field Trips
Museum of Science and Industry
Take a trip with Mayor Lightfoot and spark your curiosity! See how science shapes our world and continues to improve lives. Be inspired by science every day.