 Dear Neighbor, Last week, I joined community members in attending the graduation ceremony for the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court. Sixteen people successfully completed their program and graduated. As a result, the graduates will have their charges dismissed and arrest and court records expunged – offering them a second chance and clean slate in life. Cook County’s Restorative Justice Community Courts are aimed at young adults, aged 18-26, charged with non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes. Part of the court’s mission is to end the harmful cycle of revenge and recidivism. The courts resolve conflict through restorative conferences and peace circles involving participants, victims, family members, friends, others affected by the crime, and the community. I am committed to continue building off of this model of restorative justice so that we address the harm and pain in our communities while also moving away from the failed model of mass incarceration which has created generation trauma and socio-economic instability for so many communities. If you are interested in volunteering at the Avondale Restorative Justice Community Court for their community peace circles, please contact my office at district8@cookcountyil.gov for more information. Sincerely, Anthony Joel Quezada Cook County Commissioner, 8th District Upcoming Events Join us on Friday, November 17th from 10 am – 12 pm at Prieto Math and Science Academy (2231 N. Central Ave.) and receive a 10-12 lb frozen turkey, along with three family sized sides. Use the QR code on the flyer or visit this link to reserve a meal — 100 meals will be available for those who reserve them, and 100 will be available for walk-ups on a first come, first served basis. There is a limit of ONE meal kit per family. Commissioner Quezada, Cook County Health, and Foodsmart look forward to helping you have a happy Thanksgiving!  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. 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. Free Trips to the Zoo and Garden The Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic Garden offer a variety of opportunities for Cook County residents to enter free of charge. Visit this link to learn more about ways to visit these world class spaces for free. Legislative Recap Our office supported a hearing held this week with Cook County agencies that interface directly with transgender county residents to hear how Cook County agencies are supporting the community. We heard from agencies such as Cook County Health about their gender-affirming practices and how they are working to gain the trust of a community, which has faced discrimination and medical negligence. Commissioner Quezada asked questions to clarify what Cook County Health is doing to provide more support on the clinical side. CCH has been cooperative in providing care such as hormone therapy, and has committed to expanding their clinical work to further become a home for transgender care. |
