City Council Update

Chicago Business Licensing Reforms
At this week’s City Council meeting, I voted in support of an ordinance that makes Chicago’s business licensing system simpler, smarter, and more streamlined by reducing the number of license types by 60 percent. By cutting the number of license categories from 117 to 49, the reform will save over 10,000 small businesses $2 million in license fees each year and will have a positive impact on many of the small businesses within our community. This reform will ease the process of doing business with the City for well-run businesses and will allow for more time cracking down on problematic businesses. Click here for the full press release.

Resolution in Honor of Commander Tooker 
Next week marks the 25th anniversary of a missile attack on the USS Stark in the Persian Gulf, whereby 37 crewmen were killed. On Wednesday, the City Council honored Commaner William “Mike” Tooker who was a Lieutenant Junior Grade assigned to the USS Stark on his first deployment, and joined fellow shipmates in rescuing injured sailors from areas of the Stark engulfed in flames. Commander Tooker is currently the Commandment of the Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy, located in our community.

Construction Updates

Edgewater Library 
The Edgewater Library construction is underway and the deep caisson foundation work was completed in April. The General Contractor, Burling Builders immediately began excavation of the shallow foundation for the building. Approximately 25% of the forms were set, rebar was placed and the first concrete grade beam was poured on May 10, 2012.

CTA Summer Construction
Granville will be the first station to undergo improvements this summer as part of the CTA’s Red Ahead program, as explained in this newsletter. The station will be closed for a maximum of 6 weeks and has a new start date of June 1, 2012. Commuters at this station will be notified via signage. To read more about the improvements being made at Granville, click here.