| Dear Neighbor, Last week, I joined my colleagues on the Board of Commissioners in unanimously voting to pass the balanced $9.26 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Budget for Cook County. The budget includes continued funding for equity programs and pandemic relief without raising new taxes or fees.  I am proud to announce that with the support and collaboration of my colleagues, I successfully introduced and passed two amendments to the budget. One amendment will add dentists to the Belmont Cragin Health Center in the 8th District and across other Cook County Health clinics. The second amendment will add a new Outreach and Training Coordinator to the Department of Human Rights and Ethics so that the county can increase its capacity to address wage theft and infringement of workers’ rights. These amendments, in addition to continued funding for our Guaranteed Income Program, Medical Debt Relief program, Behavioral Health Services, Violence Prevention, Stormwater Management, and our new $100 million Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to support Cook County’s response to the migrant crisis and prepare for other emergencies, represent a budget rooted in our progressive values. I want to thank my staff and colleagues on the county board for their continued support and guidance. I look forward to continuing to advocate for the resources and services that our neighborhoods deserve. I hope you enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends. May your week be filled with peace, love, and joy. Please note that our office will be closed this Thursday and Friday and will reopen on Monday, November 27th. Sincerely, Anthony J. Quezada Cook County Commissioner, 8th District Upcoming Events In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the 8th District office will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th. We will be open at 9 am on Monday, November 27th.  Turkey Giveaway Last week, our office was able to distribute 200 Thanksgiving dinners to families in the 8th District! Special thank you to Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy for allowing us to host the event at their school. The turkey giveaway was a huge success and would have not been possible without the help of CountyCare and Foodsmart! Follow us on Facebook to learn more about events that the 8th District sponsors in the community!    The office of Rep. Will Guzzardi is hosting their Annual Winter Clothing Drive! This year’s fair will start on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and will end on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023. They will be collecting: Winter Coats & Warm Clothing – (Sizes: Infant to Adult Medium)Winter Boots – (Sizes: Infant / Toddler 5 to Adult)Winter Hats, Gloves, & ScarvesPajamas – (Sizes: 2T to Adult Medium) These items will be given away at the Winter Market at St. Nicolai United Church-Christ at 3000 N Kedzie Ave, on Wednesday, December 20th from 12:30 PM – 2 PM. There will be no eligibility criteria to receive these items. To participate, please drop off your donation items at: Rep. Guzzardi’s District Office – 3001 N. Central Park Ave. Sen. Toro’s District Office – 3140 W. Montrose Ave. Sipping Turtle Cafe – 2959 N. Milwaukee Ave. Brew Brew Coffee & Tea – 3832 W. Diversey Ave. The Brewed – 2843 N. Milwaukee Ave. News and Opportunities Property Taxes As homeowners in Cook County receive their 2022 Second Installment Tax Bill in the mail, we encourage you to look at the bottom left corner to ensure that the correct exemption(s) are applied. If you believe you are entitled to an exemption that is not reflected on your tax bill, you can apply for what is called a Certificate of Error. The Certificate of Error process provides homeowners an opportunity to redeem missing exemptions for tax years 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018. You can fill out the Certificate of Error on your own at this link or you can schedule an appointment to receive assistance from the Assessor’s office at this link. If you have questions, please reach out to our office at (312) 603-6386. Forest Preserve Hiring The Forest Preserves of Cook County are now hiring for multiple positions, including for seasonal laborers to begin work in the spring. Please visit the jobs page for the Forest Preserves to learn more about opportunities and to apply.   Forest Preserve Concessionaire Application Whether you’re selling fully loaded hot dogs or delicious ice cream, offering on-the-spot bike repair services, or anything in-between, there are concession opportunities in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Concessionaires can apply for a daily or annual Concession Permit to sell food, beverages, goods and services from concession stands, push carts and food trucks at preserves across Cook County. Applications for the 2024 season are available starting January 16 at 9:00A.M. Applications can be completed by visiting this link. |
