EVA members review the Rules Committee map May 2 at Roots Pizza, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. EVA members discussed Chicago's ward boundaries May 2 after board members drafted a letter to support a ward consolidating much of West Town within the 1st Ward. Presiding officer Bob Zwolinski asked for member comment before sending the final draft to Ald. Michelle Harris (8th Ward), who chairs the City Council Rules Committee. Here is the approved letter: May 5, 2022 Alderman Michelle Harris 8th Ward Re: Support of Rules Committee Ward Map Dear Alderman Harris, The East Village Association, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, Chicago Grand Neighbors Association, and Wicker Park Committee have come together to express our support for the ward map as proposed by the Rules Committee. For the first time in many years, the map as proposed brings our neighborhoods together. We appreciate that you have taken our input and drawn boundaries for the 1st Ward t

A 1st Ward proposal would make Wood Street northbound from Grand Avenue to Ellen Street for protected bike lanes. East Village Association membership meeting Feb. 7, 2022, on Zoom. Presiding: Dan Johnson, director A proposal to change the traffic flow on Wood Street drew a crowd to EVA's monthly meeting. Many neighbors wondered why they hadn't heard about the plan earlier. East Village is likely to remain in multiple wards, 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins told East Village Association members Feb. 7. The online meeting highlighted the problems with a divided territory when attendees aired concerns about 1st Ward plans for bike lane improvements. "If it were up to me, and I say this with some sense of irony, I like my ward, I really do," Hopkins told the 50 attendees, addressing dueling City Council redistricting proposals . "I like representing your neighborhood and I lose it under both versions and I'm sorry that it's happening. ... It's part of

Days after issuing a joint letter on ward redistricting , a collection of community groups on Nov. 16 turned to public safety. Its joint statement on police and prosecution oversight will be reviewed in a 7pm Nov. 18 meeting at Nick's Beer Garden, 1516 N. Milwaukee Ave. The Greater West Town Community Coalition, established in 2021 after Erin Groble and Sam Royko experienced a carjacking in Wicker Park, is working to bring elected officials, community stakeholders, and empowered neighbors together across all West Town communities. The coalition’s mission is to promote initiatives and alternatives for complex issues facing Chicago such as criminal justice reform, effective policing, and administrative reform. Throughout 2021, West Town has suffered one vehicular hijacking every three days (99 as of October 31, 2021). West Town has seen the 2nd most vehicular hijackings for all community areas in Chicago. The West Town community zone includes, but is not limited to, Noble Squar

Following EVA's Nov. 1 meeting, the Greater West Town Community Coalition sent a letter on City Council ward boundaries Nov. 8 to Chicago aldermen. Signatories were the Chicago Grand Neighbors Association, Commercial Park Advisory Council, East Village Association, Eckhart Park Community Council, Ukrainian Village Neighborhood Association, Wicker Park Advisory Council, Wicker Park Committee and Wicker Park Garden Club. Neighborhood communities must stay unified in order to serve the constituents, ensure public safety, and address common needs. We, the community called West Town, are comprised of closely knit neighborhoods represented by the undersigned neighborhood associations. We insist the alderpeople and their respective caucuses create a ward map for the City of Chicago that unifies our connected neighborhoods into as few wards as possible rather than excessively dividing our community. Our neighborhood associations represent contiguous communities including but not limite

Damon Smith and Chaundra Van Dyk of Change Illinois organized "people's map" hearings. East Village Association membership meeting Nov. 1, 2021, 1019 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam West Town's diverse community groups will be flexing their muscle this month to influence a ward remap that threatens to divide them. Guests advised members of the East Village Association and neighboring organizations Nov. 1 to reach out to aldermen and lobby for more cohesive, responsive wards. "We have to have sharp elbows too," said Andrew Schneider, Logan Square Preservation president. "Don't believe the map has to look this way." The odds are stacked against East Village retaining its current representatives. Daniel La Spata's 1st Ward is likely to follow migration northwest or risk losing its Latino majority. Brian Hopkins' lobster-shaped 2nd Ward is expected to sacrifice its western claw to consolidate around the Lincoln Yards