Politics & Government News
At his town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 10, Illinois 1st District State Senator Antonio "Tony" Muñoz announced a proposed state bill to mandate notice of new community sources of pollution, a response to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's flubs in conducting timely outreach about the new MAT Asphalt plant project at 4010 S. Damen Ave.
If passed, State Bill 3623 would mandate that the agency send notice to elected officials within 15 days of application of a permit for "any type of facility, equipment, vehicle, vessel or aircraft that will impact air or water pollution." Currently, the agency notifies community leaders as part of their environmental justice program using internal procedures and standards without force of law. Because of an oversight at the agency, only two weeks were provided for community notification about the MAT Asphalt plant project before its permit was granted.
Read more: Muñoz Debuts Environmental Notice Proposal at Fiery Town Hall Meeting
The McKinley Park Dog Park is on track to receive 100 percent of its required funding with potential build-out this year, said dog park committee lead Angie Robertson. The $375,000 budget for the park stands to be paid out of funds from the Archer/Western Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, with the support of 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas, Robertson said.
"There is a huge community of nearby dog owners who will enjoy the dog park," Robertson said. "Our plans are now coming to fruition."
Read more: Dog Park Development Leaps Forward with TIF Funding
Spring arrived in the McKinley Park neighborhood this past weekend with two seasonal events that drew both neighbors and politicians to local parks.
On Saturday, April 21, the Omega Delta Baseball & Softball League celebrated its fifteenth year of play with its 2018 opening day parade through the neighborhood followed by a ceremony and games at Hoyne Park. On Sunday, the McKinley Park Advisory Council hosted a major Earth Day volunteering event that installed hundreds of new plantings in McKinley Park's new natural area.
Read more: Politicos, Neighbors Flock to Parks for Spring Kickoff Events
Jesus "Chuy" GarciaLocal leaders Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Alma Anaya and Beatriz Fraustro-Sandoval won their election contests on Tuesday, March 20, setting Garcia and Anaya up as leading candidates for their offices in the November 20 general election and placing Fraustro-Sandoval on the 14th Subcircuit of Cook County as judge.
Garcia easily won the Democratic primary for the 4th District U.S. House of Representatives, winning more than double the votes of both of his challengers. He will face Republican Mark Lorch of Riverside in November.
Read more: Garcia, Anaya, Fraustro-Sandoval Notch Wins in Local Elections
Dozens of the McKinley Park neighborhood's residential and commercial properties appear on the delinquency list for 2016 taxes and are at risk of being included in Cook County's upcoming annual tax sale on May 4, according to public data released by the Cook County Treasurer's office.
The properties span the neighborhood and include some properties deemed "most vulnerable," meaning that the owners might not even be aware of their tax delinquency. By law, the treasurer's office is required to auction off back taxes, which can lead to the owner losing the property to whomever pays for their owed taxes.
Read more: Dozens of McKinley Park Properties Hit Tax Delinquency List
