Alderman Bennett Lawson - 44th Ward Chicago

Alderman Bennett Lawson
44th Ward
Seal of Chicago

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44th Ward Service Office Closure Until Further Notice

The 44th Ward Office will close at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17th. Staff will continue working remotely.  For assistance with general issues, email ward44@cityofchicago.org. You will find a list of 44th Ward staff, their specific duties, phone extensions and contact emails here. Residents can still order 383 Residential Guest Passes from the City Clerk’s website here. Please note that online orders are typically delivered within 14 business days.

‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY LIVE Q&A’

City launches daily ‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY LIVE Q&A’ with Chicago health commissioner to answer questions about ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) response  

Live daily briefings and Q&A sessions held daily on Twitter and Facebook Live to allow residents to submit questions and stay informed 

CHICAGO – As part of its ongoing efforts to provide residents with frequent and ongoing updates on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health (CDPH) is announcing a new way for the public to engage and learn updates with ‘THE DOC IS IN: ASK DR. ARWADY,’ a new daily live-stream hosted by the City and CDPH Commissioner Allison Arwady, M.D. Starting today, THE DOC IS IN will be held daily at 11 a.m. on Twitter and Facebook Live, connecting residents directly with Chicago’s leading public health expert and occasional co-hosts, including experts from city departments and Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot.

Allison Arwady, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health, City of Chicago

“As Chicago faces this unprecedented moment, our comprehensive, proactive, and data-driven response has been led by Dr. Arwady and our outstanding team of public health professionals,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “This new livestream serves as the latest tool for City leaders to communicate directly with residents eager for the latest updates on this ongoing situation and empower them as they go about their daily lives. We are all in this together, and will continue to do everything to protect our city, secure the health and safety of our families, and keep our residents informed.”

Residents can submit their questions for Dr. Arwady from wherever they are by tweeting with the hashtag #AskDrArwady or by commenting on the livestreams to get answers in real-time. The daily social briefings will be hosted on all of the City’s social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter (www.facebook.com/ChicagoMayorsOffice and www.twitter.com/chicagosmayor).

“I know this has been a very confusing and disconcerting time for many people, so I’m excited to able to interact directly with them and answer their questions,” said Dr. Arwady. “In situations like this there can be a lot of misinformation out there, so I look forward to addressing the concerns people have and sharing what we have learned about this virus.”

Today’s social media briefings build on CDPH’s established call center to address questions and concerns from the public. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, seven days a week, CDPH staff answer phones to provide the latest public health guidance to communities as part of ongoing efforts to help minimize transmission and ensure residents are taking the appropriate precautionary measures.

Dr. Arwady has been at CDPH since 2015, serving as Chief Medical Officer before being elevated to acting commissioner in June 2019 and then confirmed as commissioner in January. Prior to CDPH, she worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer. In that role, she focused on outbreak response, including international work on Ebola and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. She is a board-certified internal medicine physician and pediatrician, and continues to see primary care patients weekly.

 

For more information and updates on COVID-19, please visit chicago.gov/coronavirus.

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People’s Gas commitment to safety – a message about coronavirus

Dear Customer,

Safety is at the center of all we do at Peoples Gas. As information about the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are committed to taking preventive measures to reduce the risk to our communities while providing the essential services you depend on, including responding to any emergency situations.

To date, we have taken the following steps:

  • Our employees are proactively following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, including:
    • Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
    • Washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always washing hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
    • Avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth.
    • Covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in the trash. If no tissue, sneezing or coughing into elbow, not hands.
    • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • We have emphasized the need for our field crews to avoid close contact with large groups and anyone who appears sick.
  • We also have implemented travel restrictions for our employees and are limiting visitors to our facilities.

Please help us in limiting the spread of COVID-19. We are happy to reschedule service appointments for customers who feel ill. Simply contact us at 866-556-6001 for a new appointment.

As we’ve seen over the past few days, conditions with COVID-19 are rapidly changing. We continue to work with medical experts and monitor updates from the World Health Organization, the CDC and the Centers for Public Health, and state and local health agencies on a frequent basis.

Through these unprecedented times, our focus remains on providing you with safe and reliable energy service.

Thank you. It is through all of our collective efforts that we can reduce the risk to each other.

Sincerely,

Congressional Action Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

Dear Friend,

Over the past few weeks, you have likely heard about the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19. I want to reassure you that addressing this situation is the top priority in Congress. As part of the response, my office and I have been in frequent contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and other relevant agencies. I am also coordinating closely with local health care professionals and Chicago-area hospitals. I will continue to monitor the situation very closely as it continues to develop.

During this critical time, my Washington, D.C., and Chicago offices will remain accessible and fully functioning. We are currently accepting very limited in-person meetings, so please reach out to the appropriate office before you visit. We will respond as quickly as possible. You can find contact information for all three of my offices on my website here.

It is important to remain calm and know that there is no reason to panic. Through this e-mail message, I hope to provide you with some basic information about the virus and its spread.

 

Congressional Action

I believe that this outbreak calls for thorough, robust, and bipartisan action. I’m proud of Congress for mobilizing quickly and passing a smart, bipartisan bill that provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for prevention, preparedness, and response efforts. Last week, the House passed an additional bill to implement paid sick leave and emergency unemployment benefits, provide free coronavirus testing, protect our health care workers, and expand food security programs. This situation will surely call for additional resources and actions in the coming weeks and I will continue fighting to ensure that our community has everything it needs to stay safe and healthy.

 

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The current best information is that the virus is spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) or through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneeze.

The CDC guidelines for protecting yourself include:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

The CDC does not recommend wearing a face-mask as a way to protect yourself from coronavirus.

If you are experiencing a fever, cough, and shortness of breath and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 OR if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID- 19, you should contact your doctor immediately.

For the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention please visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.

For the latest information from the Chicago Department of Public Health, please visit Chicago.gov/coronavirus.

Sincerely,

Mike Quigley

 

Washington, DC Office
2458 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
phone: (202) 225-4061
fax: (202) 225-5603		 Chicago District Office
4345 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60641
phone: (773) 267-5926
fax: (773) 267-6583		 Satellite Office
3223 N Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
phone: (773) 267-5926

 

Lakeview Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

March 16, 2020

The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is limiting its office operations effective Monday, March 16 as a precaution due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Throughout the duration of this public health event, the best way to get in touch with us is to email info@lakeviewchamber.com or call (773) 472-7171, and stay tuned to our website and social media accounts for the latest updates.

COVID-19 Resources for Lakeview Businesses
For more information and resources for local businesses, visit our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Page at www.lakeviewchamber.com/COVID19. We plan to update this page frequently, so check back often for the latest information.

 

City of Chicago Issues Guidance and Supports for COVID-19 Restrictions on Restaurant Dining and Taverns
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno today issued guidance for restaurants and bars to comply with Governor Pritzker’s order to close taverns and restrict onsite consumption of food or beverage to help slow the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, March 16th and lasting through March 30th, all restaurants and taverns in the state of Illinois must cease their regular operations. Restaurants and bars in the City of Chicago are required to follow the following updated guidelines, with the City beginning any necessary enforcement measures at midnight tonight:

  • The consumption of food or beverage is not permitted inside a restaurant or bar
  • Congregation of any kind is not permitted inside or outside a restaurant or bar
  • Drive-thru, delivery and carry out or curbside pick-up may continue, with the restaurant owner responsible to ensure social distancing policies are in place and followed.

For more information about this guidance, please consult the following resources from the State of Illinois and City of Chicago:

 

State of Illinois Asking for Feedback re: Small Business Administration Loans For Businesses Substantially Impacted by Coronavirus
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has received authorization to provide small business assistance through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for businesses affected by the coronavirus. This program can provide low interest loans of up to $2 Million to businesses and private non-profits. The Lakeview Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Small Business Advocacy Council to advocate for businesses experiencing economic interruption during this crisis, and it is our understanding the SBA is working with the State of Illinois to support their efforts to submit the Governor’s request for a declaration. To accomplish this, the state is identifying businesses that have experienced substantial economic injury. This step is important as a county can only qualify if they either, have an identified business that has suffered economic injury, or the county is contiguous to a declared county. Once the state has pulled together its request, it goes to SBA for review. Once a disaster is declared, the EIDL becomes available for businesses located in declared counties.

Please take two minutes to complete the following survey to assist in efforts by the State of Illinois to secure important SBA funding for small businesses in Chicago: https://form.jotform.com/200717156003039.

Our mailing address is:

Lakeview Chamber of Commerce

1409 West Addison

Chicago, IL 60613

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