"Via Commissioner Bridget Gainer’s office"

Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer created a “Citizens Guide to the Cook County Budget” to provide a road map for taxpayers to the $3.5 Billion dollar annual County budget. After consistently hearing from her constituents, local neighborhood groups and Chambers that good information on the County budget was impossible to find, Commissioner Gainer organized a presentation that breaks down the $3.5 Billion dollar budget into information people really need: where does the money come from, where does it go, and who makes the decisions about how to spend it.

Residents of Uptown and Edgewater are invited to attend the Town Hall and weigh in on county spending. This Town Hall is sponsored by the Business Partners - Chamber for Uptown, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, Buena Park Neighbors (BPN), North Uptown Neighbors Association (NUNA), Neighbors of Edgewater West (NEW), Edgewater Beach Neighbors Association (EBNA), and many other local groups.

The Town Hall will be held: Thursday, January 13th at 7pm in St. Augustine Hall at 1345 W. Argyle St. Please contact Mike Simmons in Commissioner Gainer’s office with questions: 312-603-4210 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it Commissioner Gainer’s legislative district covers all of Uptown and Edgewater.

"Via the CTA"

"Via Chicago Parking Meters "

On-Street Parking Rates Set to Change Next Week

Chicago Parking Meters, LLC is reminding motorists that on-street metered parking rates will change in 2011, based on the rate schedule detailed in the parking meter concession agreement.

Rates will change as follows:     

• In most areas of the city, representing 82% of the metered parking spaces, rates will be $1.50 per hour.
• In the Central Business District outside the Loop (Area bounded by Lake Michigan to the East, North Avenue to the North, Halsted to the West, and Roosevelt Road to the South, exclusive of the Loop Area), representing approximately 16% of the metered parking spaces, rates will be $3.00 per hour.
• Inside the Loop (Area bounded by Lake Michigan to the East, Wacker Drive to the North and West, and Congress Parkway to the South), representing less than 3% of the metered parking spaces, rates will be $5.00 per hour from 8 AM- 9 PM, $2.50 from 9 PM – 8 AM.

Except for Inside the Loop, payment is not required from 9 PM to 8 AM unless otherwise posted.

The transition to the new rates will begin on January 2^nd, starting with the Loop and moving outward into the neighborhoods.  Weather conditions permitting, the goal is to complete the transition in January.

Most importantly, as the transition moves forward, motorists are only responsible for paying the posted rate on the meters.  Accordingly, only the posted rates on each meter/pay box will be enforced.

If motorists have any questions or concerns, they can call 877-242-7901 or 312-744-PARK.  To access any information about the parking meter system, they can always consult www.chicagometers.com.