A MESSAGE FROM THE ALDERMAN

49th Ward Residents to Vote on Neighborhood Improvements


Dear Neighbor,
I am writing to invite you to attend one of the upcoming Neighborhood Assemblies to learn about the proposed neighborhood improvement projects that will be put to a vote of the entire 49th Ward community in April.

You need only go to one of the assemblies to learn about the proposed projects and provide your input. The dates, times and locations of the assemblies are as follows:

Thursday, March 4th, 7:00 p.m., Chicago Math and Science Academy, 7212 N. Clark (across from Touhy Park).

Monday, March 8th, 7:00 p.m., Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf (at the Lake), 2nd Floor.

In addition, a Spanish language Neighborhood Assembly will be held on Wednesday, March 3rd, 7:00 p.m., at the St. Jerome Church Parish Center, 1706 W. Lunt.

If you've been reading my e-mails, you know that this year I'm using a "participatory budgeting" process to allow 49th Ward residents to decide directly how to spend the Ward's $1.3 million "menu money"--discretionary funds received annually by each Chicago alderman for infrastructure improvements in their wards. The 49th Ward will be the first political jurisdiction in the nation to try such an approach, and if it works, I plan to make it a permanent fixture in the Ward.

For information on how the process works in the 49th Ward, click here.

Since last December, over 60 community resident volunteers have been meeting in six different committees to devise a list of recommended projects that will be put to a vote of the entire 49th Ward community on Saturday, April 10th.

You will have an opportunity at the upcoming Neighborhood Assemblies to hear directly from the committees about the projects they're proposing for inclusion on the ballot. Each committee will give a short presentation on its project proposals, and you will be invited to offer your feedback and suggestions.

To get a look at some of the projects that are being proposed and to offer your own ideas, visit my Participatory Budgeting blog: http://participatorybudgeting49.wordpress.com/.

I look forward to seeing you at one of the Neighborhood Assemblies.

Sincerely,
Joe Moore