Ald. Ariel Reboyras held off a challenge from Jessica Gutierrez

, ,

Ald. Ariel Reboyras held off a challenge from Jessica Gutierrez, the daughter of a former congressman, in a runoff election in Chicago’s 30th Ward Tuesday night.

Reboyras earned 52 percent of the vote on Tuesday, earning 296 more votes than Gutierrez with 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial election results showed.

Reboyras finished the Feb. 26 election ahead of Gutierrez by a razor-thin 27-vote margin, setting the stage for the two to face off once more in a race that pitted two longtime allies of outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel against one another.

Reboyras chairs the City Council Committee on Public Safety, which oversees the Chicago Police Department, and has backed Emanuel’s agenda items on multiple occasions, including police reform.

10 Races to Watch in Chicago’s Municipal Runoff Elections

10 Races to Watch in Chicago's Municipal Runoff Elections

Emanuel offered Reboyras his support at a fundraiser in September, according to a video Reboyras posted on his Facebook page, in which Emanuel gave Reboyras credit for bringing a new elementary school to the Belmont-Cragin neighborhood. Reboyras, who was first elected in 2003, also earned the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Jessica Gutierrez is the daughter of former Rep. Luis Gutierrez, another Emanuel ally who chaired the mayor’s re-election campaign in 2015. Luis Gutierrez announced in 2017 that he would not seek re-election the following year, engineering the victory of his chosen successor, now-Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia – who was Emanuel’s mayoral opponent in 2015.

Jessica Gutierrez most recently worked as a field director on Garcia’s Democratic primary campaign for her father’s Congressional seat. She ran to Reboyras’ left, with the Chicago Teachers Union’s endorsement, a vow to join the Progressive Caucus, and hope that Emanuel’s support would prove detrimental to Reboyras.

In the end, that wasn’t enough to oust the longtime alderman from the 30th Ward, which includes parts of the Belmont-Cragin, Portage Park and Irving Park neighborhoods on Chicago’s Northwest Side.

/by

Mayor Emanuel, CTA and World-Renowned Artist Theaster Gates Unveil Two Works of Art at the New 95th Street Red Line Terminal

,

Civil tapestries and one-of-a-kind radio station part of larger, long-term art program envisioned by the South Side artist to engage community members and create new jobs

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Transit Board Chairman Terry Peterson and CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. today joined world-renowned, Chicago artist Theaster Gates in officially unveiling two new, one-of-a-kind works of art commissioned  for the recently completed 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal, located at the southernmost end of the Red Line, CTA’s most-heavily traveled rail line.

“A world-class transportation hub such as the newly renovated 95th Terminal deserves to be enhanced with world-class art such as that created by Chicago’s own Theaster Gates,” said Mayor Emanuel. “An internationally-renowned artist, Mr. Gates’ artwork will add an element of community and collaboration to this important South Side rail station.”

Displayed at the South Terminal is artist Theaster Gates’ visual piece, america, america, a pair of large tapestries made from decommissioned fire hoses. The civil tapestries were created by the artist to formally materialize the history of the civil rights struggle in the U.S. The work also serves as a reminder of struggle and acknowledgment that the work of equity and equality is an ongoing effort not carried by one people but by all.

The artists’ performance space and radio station, called An Extended Song of Our People (AESOP), is located in the North Terminal and is the first of its kind public broadcast studio/disc jockey (DJ) booth. Occupying a dedicated 200 square foot space inside the North Terminal, AESOP will provide riders with real-time programming, including an on-site DJ. Programming will be broadcast over the 95th Street Station’s public address system, and possibly via an internet radio station sometime in the future.

Studio image

“We are proud and honored to have the impactful and thought-provoking artwork of world-renowned artist Theaster Gates displayed at the 95th Street station,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter. “By creating a visually stunning piece, as well as an interactive DJ booth, Mr. Gates has transformed the southernmost Red Line station into a vibrant community hub where local artists, and musicians can share their work with the greater Chicago area.”

Theaster Gates’ unique art pieces represent not only the largest public artwork project in CTA’s history, but helped establish local jobs, employment training and promoted community involvement in the South Side.

“I am honored every chance I get to create art in my community,” said artist Theaster Gates. “My goal for the installation was to create a work that could absorb the memories and hopes of riders through music, and shift what we imagine a work of public art should be. It’s not only monumental objects. Public art can also be a way of harnessing the many voices of our people. The radio station will do that.”

Under the leadership of Mayor Emanuel, 60 new art installations have been announced or installed across the entire system – more than doubling CTA’s collection of public art, which includes mosaics, art glass and sculptures created by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, many of whom are local. Upon completion of all announced projects, a total of 98 (68%) CTA rail stations will feature artwork and significant architectural details

The artwork serves as a finishing touch to the $280 million 95th Terminal Reconstruction Project, which generated thousands of jobs and created a new state-of-the-art transit facility that serves as a landmark for Chicago’s Far South Side.  This project is the latest in more than $8 billion of transit investments made by Mayor Emanuel and CTA since 2011, including a number of station and track projects on the Red Line.

For additional project information, visit: http://www.transitchicago.com/95thTerminal/.

About the artist
Theaster Gates lives and works in Chicago. Gates creates work that focuses on space theory and land development, sculpture and performance. Drawing on his interest and training in urban planning and preservation, Gates redeems spaces that have been left behind.

Known for his recirculation of art-world capital, Gates creates work focused on the possibility of the “life within things.” Gates smartly upturns art values, land values, and human values. In all aspects of his work, he contends with the notion of Black space as a formal exercise – one defined by collective desire, artistic agency, and the tactics of a pragmatist.

Gates has exhibited and performed at Sprengel Museum Hannover, Germany (2018); Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland (2018); National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., USA (2017); Art Gallery of Ontario, Canada (2016); Fondazione Prada, Milan, Italy (2016); Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2013); Punta della Dogana, Venice, Italy (2013) and dOCUMENTA (13), Kassel, Germany (2012). He was the winner of the Artes Mundi 6 prize and was a recipient of the Légion d’Honneur in 2017. He was recently awarded the Nasher Prize for Sculpture 2018, as well as the Urban Land Institute, J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.

Gates is a professor at the University of Chicago in the Department of Visual Arts, and serves as Senior Advisor for Cultural Innovation and Advisor to the Dean at the Harris School of Public Policy.

/by

Smart911

, ,

Mayor Emanuel Announces Launch of Smart911

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today the launch of Smart911 as part of the city’s effort to strengthen the accurate, timely and effective dispatch of emergency resources in crisis situations. Smart911 is a free, voluntary and secure service that allows individuals, families and facilities to provide personal, medical, or situational information when they call 9-1-1 to help first responders better assist in an emergency. Today, Smart911 is now available to all residents and visitors of Chicago, making the city the nation’s largest single user of Smart911.

“Smart911 is part of our effort to leverage every tool to help first responders respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations – be it a burning home or a mental health crisis,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The information residents provide today can help save a life or more quickly de-escalate a tense situation tomorrow.”

Smart911 allows residents and travelers to create a Safety Profile. When a resident dials 9-1-1, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing OEMC to dispatch the appropriate responders to the right location with the right information. When registering, residents can include any information they might want 9-1-1 and first responders to have in the event of an emergency such as home location and layout, vehicle details in the event of an accident, emergency contact information, family members who would likely be at that location or pets that may be home. In addition, listing critical health information and pre-existing medical conditions, such as allergies, diabetes or epilepsy, can ensure that first responders can deploy appropriate resources.

“Most people are unaware that their mobile phone cannot always determine their exact location,” said Office of Emergency Management and Communications Executive Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “A weak cell signal or a dropped call only adds to the difficulty 9-1-1 dispatchers sometimes have trying to locate you. In addition, getting specific information on the location within a building, such as the apartment or floor number, is also important and can save time in a response effort. Information provided in your Safety Profile can potentially alleviate some of these difficulties, making sure you receive help fast.”

Smart911 for Mental and Behavioral Health Emergency Response: Smart911 is also a part of the city’s effort to improve its mental and behavioral health emergency response and fulfills a key recommendation of the Police Accountability Task Force report on police reform. By creating a Safety Profile, residents can include information on behavioral health diagnosis or possible mental health triggers so that first responders can better assess and de-escalate emergency situations. OEMC is on track to identify over 36,000 mental health crisis incidents this year. Smart911 will further help OEMC dispatch appropriate Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained first responders to access and address incidents appropriately.

Smart911 for Domestic Disputes: Smart911 is a tool that residents can use in their safety planning for people experiencing domestic violence, intimate partner abuse or stalking. Residents can include images and descriptions of a known abuser or former domestic partner. Residents can also add a notification to first responders of their intentions to leave a partner and their stage of planning. All of this information can be shared with dispatched police officers to give them situational awareness and better able to apprehend an offender quickly.

Text to Smart911: For residents or visitors who may be deaf, hard of hearing or nonverbal, a 9-1-1 operator can initiate a two-way text message when they view the individual’s Safety Profile with a notification that text is preferred. In addition, if the caller is disconnected from the call or has poor cell phone coverage, a 9-1-1 operator can initiate a conversation via text to see if that works best. The text feature is also useful if an offender is in the vicinity or during domestic disputes.
“9-1-1 represents the eyes and ears of first responders and today’s Smart911 announcement takes us to the next generation of public safety in Chicago,” said Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. “Emergency dispatch personnel will now have access to vital Information that will help police officers, firefighters and paramedics provide the best quality of service to communities throughout the city.”

Approximately 75% of 9-1-1 calls are made using cellular phones that lack detailed location information. Through Smart911 profiles, residents can link their home, work or other frequented addresses to mobile phones, which can be shared with responders in the field for a more detailed, rapid response to the specified location.

“Every second counts during an emergency. Accurate and concise information will allow us to save time and as we all know, time saves lives” said Chicago Fire Commissioner Richard C. Ford II. “With the availability of Smart911 in Chicago, I encourage everyone to register and provide the pertinent information that will help us help you in the case of an emergency.”

OEMC and their partners have engaged residents through community meetings, senior events, neighborhood festivals, back-to-school and safety fairs, pet adoption events and more to provide tutorials and teach residents how to sign up. To date, a total of 2,948 residents have pre-registered for Smart911 in Chicago.

“It is critically important that all emergency responders are able to gain as much information about a caller in crisis as possible, for the safety of the person and emergency responders,” said Alexa James, Executive Director of NAMI Chicago. “In a crisis, sometimes people may be too overwhelmed to share the most critical information. With a Safety Profile, Smart911 will assist in dispatching the most appropriate response. OEMC has made great efforts to ensure better information is gained through ongoing training and now this new platform will further support those efforts. “

Residents are encouraged to create their Safety Profile with Smart911 today at www.smart911.com to have their information immediately available to 9-1-1. Smart911 is private and secure, is only used for emergency responses, and only made available to the 9-1-1 emergency response personnel in the event of an emergency call. All data collected is encrypted at every level and is not searchable by call takers. All information is optional and residents have the ability to choose what details they would like to include.

Preparedness and being informed is key in any emergency. NotifyChicago is the city’s tool to provide residents with text messages, and/or e-mail alerts for various emergency and non-emergency situations in Chicago, including weather-related incidents. OEMC urges residents to also subscribe at www.NotifyChicago.org to receive alerts sent directly to mobile phones or email accounts to stay informed.

/by

Chicago Smart Lighting Project

One year into the program, the Chicago Smart Lighting Project has reached all 50 Chicago Wards with new, energy efficient and reliable streetlights.

The smart LED streetlights consume 50-75 percent less electricity than existing High-Pressure Sodium lights, generating significant cost savings. LED fixtures also last 2-3 times longer than HPS lights.

By modernizing our city’s streetlights we are improving nighttime visibility, creating new jobs and saving taxpayers more than $100 million over the next decade.

http://chicagosmartlighting-chicago.opendata.arcgis.com/

/by