To Elected Officials with links. Elections and Voting with links.
To Helpline. Community Resources. Disabilities. Nonprofit Organizations. Calendars and Directories.

Government Services

A service of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website, www.hydepark.org. Help support our work: Join the Conference!

When it's useful to call 311 (from Conference Reporter). City Stickers available

This page also has links and contacts for many government agencies. Here's the short quick-list: (to full) Key Agencies & Public taxing bodies:
               City of Chicago.org   City services  Chicago Park District  Chicago Public Schools  Chicago Public Libraries  CTA
               Chicago's Departments of       Planning  
TIF registry   Environment   Police   Water
               Cook County        Depts:  list of Bureaus & Agencies   Search by services wanted
               State of Illinois                       An access to all Illinois government + links to some cities 

Numbers: Chicago-request city service/make complaint ("Request service" forms) 311
Emergencies: 911 (Police recommend when in doubt its 911)
Police non-emergency (312) 746-6000
Fire TDD (312) 744-9110
P
oison Control Center (800) 942-5969
Heat Emergencies (312) 744-5000
H
omeless Help Line (312) 563-1620
Free low-income income tax preparation sites: www.cityofchicago.org/CTAC/

City of Chicago Emails are generally first initial ahead of last name @cityofchicago.org.

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Page Index. (Scroll through subject headings for more hotlines.)

Meetings, program explanations et al

Our community's current liaisons from city agencies

Our governmental agency liaisons

Police: Commander Howard Lodding, 21st District; Theresa Odum--see CAPS page.
Commander John (?) Franklin, 3rd District

Housing: Clare Leary (Affordable, Multi-family, Loans)

Planning and Development: Com. Lori Healy- (specific liaisons for Olympics, TIF, Harper Court, SBIF, Cleanslate, TED. Constance Buscemi)

Transportation: Deidre Holmes, under her Janet Attarian and Scott Waldinger for Lake Park Project and interfaces with Planning and Development

CHA: Jessica Caffrey. Chicago HUD Director Ed Hinsberger

Chicago Park District: (includes Regions: Liz Millan (South) , Bill Richardson (Central) , Alonzo Williams (Lakefront); Planning-Chris Gent rep. to Gia Biaggi; External/Community- Arnold Randall.

Revenue:

 

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Aldermanic and Ward Service Offices

(4th and 5th ward phones have a menu of aides who handle various topics.)
(re: Aldermanic websites)

The Chicago City Council is the City's legislative body, comprised of 50 alderman baoth representing and in several key respects managing city wards. In additon each ward has a Ward Superintendent responsible for services. Click to find out about aldermanic Ward meeting times and rules for attending, citizen advisory committees, and to see what standing City Council committees the aldermen serve on. There is no online information yet on what ordinances are being proposed, but you can try in the City Clerk's site Guide to current legislation activity.

Complaints and requests for services may be best fielded by your alderman's office:

When especially to contact your alderman.


Aldermanic websites: go to www.cityofchicago.org, find City Council and scroll to alderman's name. Their e-mail is first initial of first name followed directly by last name@cityofchicago.org. Example TPreckwinkle@cityofchicago.org, LHairston@cityofchicago.org.
Current Ward maps are available in City Hall, ground floor.

Whom to call at the 5th ward Office (773 324-5555)

Kim Webb (x11). Chief of staff. Development, infrastructure, resurfacing, potholes, speed humps, landmarks, liquor license, permits, real estate, zoning, city council resolutions.

Ask swithchboard for the person in charge of.... (14). 3rd and 4th, 21st Distr. police, 3rd Dist. business, community outreach/youth, Jackson council, Park district, schools, South Shore cultural center, CHA, water management incl. sewers.

Sue Purrington (17). 21st District businesses and police, buildings, CTA/ Metra, East Hyde Park Committtee, housing/HUD, landlords, parking, street signs, U of C.

Rosalind Moore (12). Alderman's schedule, parks, block club permits, handicapped parking, streets and sanitation, forestry, garbage, street cleaning, animal/rodent control, snow removal, graffiti blaster.

Bernice Linder. Phone and walk-in reception.

Ward Superintendent (Streets and Sanitation): Gloria Pitman 312 747-7900

 

Whom to call at the 4th Ward Office, Toni Preckwinkle, Ald.

Pam Cummings, Mae Wilson, Al Kindle, Ed Kelly....

 

 

Toni Preckwinkle


Alderman, 4th Ward
4659 S. Cottage Grove, Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60653
tpreckwinkle@cityofchicago.org
Phone: 773-536-8103
Fax: 773 536-7296
Lead: Pam Cummings


City Hall Office:

121 N. LaSalle St.
Room 300, Office 10
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-744-2690
Fax: 312-744-2691

Extended ward hours 2nd Thursday evenings, Ward meetings 4th Saturday of the month
City stickers on sale June 24 9-2, July 11 9-5.

Ward meetings 4th Saturday ams at the office. Free tax prep for low income select Saturdays.

Reach the alderman's webpage via http://www.cityofchicago.org (/Ward4 ?)

Ward Committeemen:

4th Ward Democratic- Toni Preckwinkle (Ald.)
4th Ward Republican- Babette Peyton 773 536-5326

Ward (Sanitation) Superintendent:

4th: Nathaniel McGowan, 4352 S. Cottage Grove, 60653, 312 747-0860. Fax 312 747-0861. nmcgowan@cityofchicago.org

Ward Sanitation Office.
4th Ward- 4415 S. Cottage Grove. (312) 747-0860

Leslie Hairston


Alderman, 5th Ward
2325 E. 71st Street
Chicago, IL 60649
lhairston@cityofchicago.org
Phone: 773-324-5555
Fax: 773 324-1585
Lead: Kimberly Webb

City Hall Office:

121 N. LaSalle St.
Room 300, Office 23
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-744-6832

Extended ward open hours Tuesday evenings, 2nd Sats. 10-2, Free legal counseling 2nd Tuesdays at ward office 6-8 pm.
City stickers on sale June 10 10-2, and July 13 11-6.

Ward meetings 4th Tuesdays 6-8 pm. Location rotates.

Reach the alderman's webpage via http://www.cityofchicago.org

Ward Committeemen:

5th Ward Democratic- Leslie Hairston (Ald.)
5th Ward Republican- Christopher Coordes

Ward (Sanitation) Superintendent:

5th: Gloria Pitman, 1619 E. 73rd St, 60649, 312 747-7900, Fax 773 687-6477

Ward Sanitation Office. Superintendent Gloria Pittman. 1619 E. 73rd St. 312 747-7900. M-F 6-2:30

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Chicago city-wide elected officials' services:

City Information and Complaints Click Here for all city services.
Telephone (312) 744-5000 or 311. City Hall: 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60602- include Suite or Room.
City of Chicago /(Office of the) Mayor (The Mayor cannot be directly sent e-mail.)
It is best to substitute www.cityofchicago.org where they used to read ci.chi.il.us/

Citywide elected officials. Note, the Mayor cannot be directly e-mailed

Richard M. Daley
Mayor

Office of the Mayor
City Hall Room 501
121 North LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60602
Telephone (312) 744-3334

Miguel del Valle
City Clerk

(312) 744-6861. info@chicityclerk.com

 

 

Stephanie Neely
City Treasurer

(312) 744-3360

Mayor's Office:

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Chicago City Clerk
E-mail to info@chicityclerk.com
121 N. LaSalle Street. (312) 744-6861, TDD(312) 744-2939

Get info here on:

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Other City Services (selection)
Click Here for all city services.
Or, Chicago-request city service/make complaint ("Request a city service" forms) 311. Go to city website for departments without links.

New! Dept. of Children and Youth Services consolidates lots of programs.

Consumer complaints (800) 386-5438

Department of Aging
e-mail: Aging@cityofchicago.org. (312) 744-6777, (312) 744-4016. Fax (312) 744-1022. 121 N. Lasalle
Administration: (312) 744-8176, 30 N. LaSalle St. Fax (312) 744-0680

This site can help you do the following:

Services for Seniors (any level of gov't):

Area Regional Center: Southeast: Atlas 1767 E. 79th St. (312) 747-0189

Volunteering: Light Up Chicago One To One. (312) 744-5795

Animal Care and Control

2741 S. Western. (312) 747-1406

Department of Buildings

121 N. LaSalle St. (321) 744-3400 incl. Commissioner's Office.

The department has been divided into Buildings (code enforcement and inspections)
and Construction and Permits that now has one-stop centers.
Business Express312 744-CITY Assigns you a single contact.

Business Licenses are handled by the Department of Revenue

Also: Department of Business Affairs and Licensing, incl. Local Control Commission

Acting Commissioner Mary Lou Eisenhower, City Hall 121 N. LaSalle

Department of Buildings- Public Affairs Bureau, including Landlord Training Program

(312) 744-3430. Programs on keeping illegal activities out of rental buildings, crisis resolution, eviction process, crime prevention through environmental design, contract clauses and leases, warning signs of illegal activity, accessing required city services. (More information in Helpline)

Business Licenses are handled by the Department of Revenue

Also: Department of Business Affairs and Licensing, incl. Local Control Commission

Acting Commissioner Mary Lou Eisenhower, City Hall 121 N. LaSalle

Cable Communications

33 N. LaSalle St. suite 1650. (312) 744-4052

Construction and Permits

Department of Consumer Services

50 W. Washington and 121 N. LaSalle

Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
e-mail: (NONE) website www.cityofchicago.org/Disabilities. (312) 744-6673 121 N. LaSalle room 1104. (See also
Mayor's Office of Workforce Development, 1615 W. Chicago Ave. (312) 744-7777.)
This site can help you do the following:

More in Disabilities page and Helpline.

Domestic Violence

Mayor's Office On: (312) 747-9972
Helpline 24 hour multilingual voice toll free: (312) 1-877 863-6338

Department of the Environment
e -mail: environment@cityofchicago.org, Directory

30 N. LaSalle St. 60602, (312) 744-7607

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Department of Public Health
e-mail: PublicHealth@cityofchicgo.org
This site can help you do the following:

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Public Aid and Health Services-any level
of government

Department of Housing

Main office 318 S. Michigan. (312) 747-9000
Homeless Hotline. (800) 654-8595

Human Relations Commission

Department of Human Services

e-mail: online at website (click "feedback")
Information 24 hours: (312) 744-5000
Community Service Center. King HSC 4314 S. Cottage Grove. (312) 747-5619

This site can help you do the following:

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Inspector General

(773) 478-7799, Hotline 24 hour (773) 478-2127

Landmarks, Commission on Chicago

121 N. LaSalle. (312) 744-3200

The Landmarks Commission meets 1st Thursdays, 12:45 pm, 33 N. LaSalle, room 1600.
Department of Planning and Development- Commission on Chicago Landmarks
33 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1600. Also given as 121 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL, 60602
312 744-3200, TDD 312 744-2958
Reach website from www.cityofchicago.org
To contact concerning Commission dates, location of meetings, and agenda: Terry Tatum, 312 744-9147.

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Law

License Appeal Commission

50 W. Washington (312) 744-4095

Department of Parking

Department of Planning and Development

121 N. LaSalle Room 1000? (312) 744-4190

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Department of Revenue

At 121 N. LaSalle Room 107

Department of Streets and Sanitation

Department of Transportation

Vehicle Stickers-see City Clerk and Dept. Consumer Services

Contact aldermanic offices for days the City Clerk's comes to the office to sell city stickers

Department of Water Management

Emergencies, need evaluation: At least in the 5th ward call Tom Laporte, 312 742-109. cell 312 614-7719.

Department of Zoning and Zoning Board of Appeals

(312) 744-3508. Appeals: (312) 744-3888
New Zoning Ordinance

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Safety, Policing and Emergency contacts (city and other)

Community Policing

More including more links in Public Safety and CAPS pages. Not here? Look in telephone blue pages Chicago-Police Department.

 


Cook County

Cook County Website:

http://www.co.cook.il.us

County Number: (312) 443-5000 (-5656 can also be used to reach County and Court Clerk)

Cook County Hospital. (312) 633-6000 835 W. Harrison

County Building (312) 443-5000

Deceased Removal (312) 666-0200

 

Regional Transportation Authority
Chicago Area Transportation Study

 

Todd Stroger, Jr.
Board President

Commissioner, 4th District
Telephone (773) 224-1705

James Hoolihan
Cook County Assessor
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com

Dorothy Brown
County Clerk

Aurelia Pucinski
Clerk of the County Court
http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org

Michael Sheahan
Cook County Sheriff

Richard Devine
Cook County State's Attorney
Maria Pappas
Cook County Treasurer
http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com


Jerry "Iceman" Butler
Area Commissioner (out of date?)

5th Subcircuit, Circuit Court of Cook County. (South Side north of 75th and east of Western Avenue)
Ed Washington II

Key relevant divisions and departments

Note: see expanded information from the Treasurer and Assessor in Seniors and Others Tax page.

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State of Illinois

Local legislators

State Representative, 25th District
Barbara Flynn Currie
1303 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL 60615
Telephone (773) 667-0550, fax 773 667- 3010
 
http://www.legis.state.il.us/
homepages/house/curriebf.html.

e-mail: repcurrie@sbcglobal.net

Map: 25th Representative District. Each rep. district constitutes one half of a senatorial district.

Eleanor Gordon for office, Annette Harley for cutting red tape.

Rep. Currie's office is collecting used cell phones, which are reprogrammed to 911 for victims of domestic violence.

_____________________________________

State Representative, 26th District, Elga Jeffries
west part of HP-K:
Chicago, IL 60616
435 E. 35th Street
Telephone (733) 373-9400

______________________________

State Senator Kwame Raoul Kwame Raoul or http://www. kwameraoul.com
State Senator, 13th District (25th and 26th House districts comprise the 13th Senatorial District) senatorraoul@sbcglobal.net

Contact information see in Elected. Lead: Justin Slaughter
5210 S. Harper Ave. Ste. D, 60615.
(773 )363-1996. Fax (773) 363-5099
e-mail: seems to be none yet or try in
www.senatedem.state.il.us/raoul

Springfield: 105B State Capital, Springfield,
IL 62706, (217) 782-5338, fax 782-5340 Not yet in Google 11/28/04

Redistricted state legislative maps are
available at the State Board of Elections,
State of Illinois Building (Thompson Center).

Office-Chicago
4064 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
Telephone (773) 868-3240

State of Illinois Website: http://www.illinois.gov/. Old.

General state information: (312) 814-3500. Note that the state is too vast to incorporate here. Ye olde phone book will help you get started if you get lost in the webmaze.

State Income Tax (800) 732-8866

Follow in the website top left column any bill introduced in the current session through the legislature and find out its contents and status. (Note, many bills start as boilerplate filler-
shells, they are called- especially a duplicate of one in the other chamber, until it's actually
heard, composed and negotiated.)

 

Illinois Dept. of Agriculture. (217) 782-2172

Children and Family Services. (312) 808-4039

KidCare/FamilyCare: Applications and list of Application Agents: www.kidcareillinois.com or hotline 1-866-4-OUR-KIDS.

Illinois Commerce Commission. 160 N. LaSalle St. Suite C-800. (1 800) 52-0795.

Illinois Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation. 100 W. Randolph. (312) 814-4500

Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

Illinois Inspector General. (773) 478-2127

Illinois Dept. of Insurance. 100 W. Randolph. (312) 814-2420

Illinois Natural History Survey

Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Water Resources, Fish and Wildlife, Geographical/Geospatial Data and Clearinghouse, Land Management and Parks: big sites

Illinois Dept. of Public Aid. Child Support Division 32 W. Randolph room 890. (1 800) 447-4278

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Illinois State Police. (847) 294-4400

____________________________

Office of the Attorney General

Lisa Madigan

Downtown main number (Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, Floor 12, 60601) (312) 814-3000.
(1 800) 386-5438, TDD (1 800) 964-3013.
South Side office (7906 S. Cottage Grove, 60619) 773 488-2600. Otherwise if in Chicago it's either at Thompson, 100 W. Randolph or at 160 N. LaSalle.

Numbers: Consumer Fraud (Chicago) (800)-385-5438,
TYY (800) 964-3013

Charitable Trusts Bureau (312) 814-3374
Children's advocacy (312) 814-3489
Internet Child Exploitation (312) 913-3505
Sex Offender Registry- www.isp.state.il.us
Crime Victims (800) 228-3368
Automated Victim Notification (866) 5-NOTIFY
Disability Rights (312) 814-5684, TTY 312 814-3374
Environmental Crimes (888) 288-9436
Franchise Bureau (217) 782-4465
Freedom of Information (217) 782-9005
Gang Crime Prevention (877) 411-GCPC (4272)
Health Care Hotline (877) 305-5145
Senior Citizens Consumer Fraud (800) 243-5377
School Violence Tipline (800) 382-3000
Veterans Helpline (800) 477-0024
Violence Against Women (312) 814-2592

Deadbeat parents and more: http://www.ilchildsupport.com/deadbeats/

Areas of representation: Antitrust, Civil Appeals, Civil Rights, Consumer Protection, Disabilities, Environmental Enforcement and Asbestos Abatement, General Law, Land Acquisition, Industrial (Workers' Comp)

Illinois Department of Employment Security: Employment/business websites and one-stop portals: (See more in Disabilities and Helpline-Employment pages.)

From the Illinois Department of Employment Security: Unemployment and Workers' Compensation Information for Employers and any others, business license information and business regulation. (Remember that all libraries now have free computer access.) 33 S. State St. , Chicago IL 60603, 312 793-9276.

Services are now immediately available in one place through Business Portal at www.business.illinois.gov.

Statewide internet unemployment claims system at www.ides.state.il.us
. Watch for future services over these and other internet sites.

Illinois Skills Match free internet job matching: www.illinoisskillsmatch.com (to be enhanced in the fall for businesses that do not need a 100% match)

Illinois TaxNet from IDES and the Dept. of Revenue lets businesses file, apply for an account,make address and employee info changes between quarters: www.ides.state.il.us.

Workforce data, economic information and career information: www.ilworkinfo.com.

State Environmental-responsibility departments are found in the links section of the Green Hyde Park page.

Some state agencies involved in disabilities:

Illinois Attorney General's Office. In Chicago, Disability Rights Bureau, 100 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601, 312 814-5684, TTY 312 814-3374. Violations of the Guide Dog Access Act or White Cane Law, instances of discrimination or non accommodation.

Illinois Department of Human Services. 800 720-4166, TTY 800 447-6404. Provides information about and eligibility for Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps, and other services.

Illinois Department of Insurance. 877 527-9431, TTY 312 814-2603. Health insurance.

Illinois Department of Public Aid. 800 226-0768, TTY 866-675-8440. Provides information about and eligibility for Medicaid for individuals with disabilities who are employed. Illinois this program is known as Health Benefits for Workers with disabilities (HBWD).

Illinois Office of Consumer Health Insurance. Also www.chip.state.il.us.866 851-2751, TTY 800 545-2455. Provides information about I-CHIP. (Will find out what that is.)

Illinois Rx Buying Club. 866 215-3462, TTY 866 215-3479. Provides options for purchasing some subscriptions at discounted prices.

Heating cost assistance. Available to eligible Peoples Energy customers. Federally-funded LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Help to reconnect, pay bills, keep service. Spring to Nov. 1- available to customers disconnected, disabled or elderly. From Nov. 1 open to all eligible.
Call LIHEAP hotline at 1-800-571-2332, WECAN at 6450 S. Stony Island, or Peoples Energy- www.peoplesenergy.com.
People's Energy also has a Budget Payment Plan (but read the fine print).

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Federal

Web portal to federal services

Now you don't have to wait inline for services and information because the Federal government opens its doors "one-stop" at FirstGov.gov. Or call 1-888-FED-INFO (333-4636)

Some Federal Agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation, 218 S. Dearborn, 60604. (312) 431-1333

Federal Trade Commission, 55 E. Monroe St. Suite 1860. (312) 960-5633

Social Security Administration, 800 772 1213, TTY 800 35-0778

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Energy. Solar Energy

U.S. Department of Immigration and Naturalization 10 W. Jackson, (312) 385-1500

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Green landscaping (best practices at home)
77 W. Jackson Blvd. 60604. (312). Inspector General: 202 260-4977
Hazardous Material or Oil Spill: (800) 424-8802
Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice: (202) 514-2000
Environmental Justice-Public Lands: (202) 452-5050
Environmental Library: (202) 452-5050
Home or Community Environmental Issues: (312) 814-6026

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Geological Survey including water resources and Great Lakes; geol,eco, official land use and topological maps

 


Don't Curse the Darkness, call 311!

Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Vol. 11 No. 1. Winter, 2005

By Trish Morse

Be the eyes and ears for the city services and the aldermanic offices for your neighborhood. They aren't always in a position to know when things aren't working--but you are. People may not know why they feel better in a neighborhood with enough trash cans, fixed sidewalks, and lit streets. Things are transparently right. But it's obvious what's wrong when a street is covered in trash over broken pavement that trips you up in the dark. Neglect feeds on itself. For a safer, healthier neighborhood, when you see something that needs fixing, call 311.

This was my discovery one night as I was walking home from work. The street lights were out on 56th Street. Ordinarily, I'd have just walked through the darkness, muttering to myself that someone ought to fix it. But for once, I had another idea and I called someone in the Fifth Ward alderman's office. Sure enough, the lights got fixed. What a sense of accomplishment the next night to see my way home!

I often would mutter about a pothole or a piece of badly broken sidewalk, but I had been daunted before because I didn't know who to call when I saw something wrong. I had been reluctant to call 311 because I thought it was mostly for non-emergency police reports. I also assumed that a call there would get lost in the shuffle. As it turns out, 311 is there to get your call about city business to the right place--whatever place that is. It can even answer questions about city and Park District events and festivals. Better yet, your call for a city service becomes part of a tracking system that the aldermen use as well as the city to follow through on the problem.

So, I called for a garbage can for the bus stop on my block for all the trash that gets strewn about. I called about an abandoned car that was slowly settling into last autumn's leaves as the air left its times. As a result I have a neater street with more parking. If your request isn't one of the routine ones, 311 will tell you who to call. For instance, if t he lights are out in the park across the street, that's a Park District responsibility, but 311 can get you to the right place.

If you don't want to call, you can enter things into the 311 database directly by going online to http://egov.city ofchicago.org/. Click on "Request a City Service" in the left-hand list. On the page that opens, the link to the full list of forms will give you the full range of possibilities--from building code problems to potholes, abandoned animals and animal cruelty to street signs, form graffiti to trees on the public way. But remember, the city doesn't shovel sidewalks or fire hydrants.

There is of course a hitch. The city doesn't have the money to fix everything. as a result, the city provides each alderman with a limited amount of money. As the budget crunch worsens, more and more gets put on the same menu with no increase in the amount of money the alderman has to work with. But the city can't fix and aldermen can't put on their menues what they don't know about. It's still worth a try.

You can also call the aldermanic offices to report problems during office hours."

Fourth Ward, Toni Preckwinkle
4646 S. Drexel
Chicago, IL 60653
tpreckwinkle@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773 53608103

Fifth Ward, Leslie Hairston
1900 E. 71st Street
Chicago, IL 60649
lhairston@cityofchicago.org
Ward Phone: 773 324-5555.

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