Transportation Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Friend,

In addition to a summer full of outreach, community events, and constituent casework, I want to take the opportunity to update you on what I have been working on in the area of transportation. As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and a life-long cyclist and public transit user, I have made a point to bike to hearings in Naperville and Elgin, where I advocated for the prioritization of pedestrian/cyclist safety, multimodal transportation, and all-things CTA from improved service and safety on all buses and trains, bus rapid transit, and the elimination of ghost buses.

As your Senator, I know the future of transportation is at a generational crossroads. This Transportation focused e-blast covers the latest related to transportation issues, including the redesign of North Dusable Lake Shore Drive, ongoing discussions about potential reforms of our mass transit systems currently operating as the Regional Transit Authority (CTA, Metra, and Pace), and even a few fun highlights of biking through the State and District with my colleagues.

As reform talks continue, it is more important than ever to remember that above all else, we must strive for a transportation system that is safe, accessible, and sustainable for all.

The next Senate Transportation Hearing takes place on Wednesday, October 16th at 10:00 a.m. and will be live-streamed on ilga.gov. I encourage you to tune in!

In addition, this fall I am focused on fighting for the House passage of my bill, SB899, which passed the Senate this past spring. This bill will advance more than two dozen traffic calming and road safety infrastructure improvement projects in high-crash corridors across the state, including in our district. Specifically, this bill advances new pedestrian and cyclist safety design requirements by clarifying state and city jurisdiction over project management of these road improvements.

If you have any questions, opinions, or comments you want to share on anything related to the future of transportation, please feel free to reach out via the contact form on my website or by giving my office a call at 773-769-1717. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Simmons
7th Senate District

Dear Neighbor,

What a summer! It is hard to capture everything that has happened but I want to make sure to share as much as possible about what I and my district office team have been up to. We have gotten to see so many of you at summer celebrations, block parties, and outreach events - it has been wonderful.

My office has also fielded hundreds of walk-ins, referrals, and phone calls to address constituent needs. Accessing stable, affordable housing is the number one issue that comes to our office. Just last week we had 27 cases on this issue. If you are facing challenges in housing, I want you to know that my office is a safe space and encourage you to reach out.

This summer has also been a major time of connecting with leaders to advocate for the needs of the 7th District. I sat down with Senator Dick Durbin, and housing was a major focus of our conversation. We also discussed youth mental health, and the need for greater access to affordable health care. You can read more about our conversation below. I was especially honored to host him at Mella Cafe, owned by Yirgy Meles and Negus Solomon in Edgewater and share Ethiopian traditions and food.

In other news, I have been honored to be part of the Edgar Fellows program, a leadership program established by former Governor Jim Edgar. As a 2022 alum, I was honored to address the 2024 Class of Edgar Fellows.

A big thank you to Mathew Adjesso and Dohyeon Kim, our summer interns! We are so grateful that you were with us this summer. Our interns are integral staff members. They help lead us through resource events like the Juneteenth Celebration at Truman College and our recent Survivors of Domestic Violence event. Our summer interns even helped spearhead organizing and implementing our recent Virtual Town Hall. They support every day office needs and connect constituents with the resources they need. I am proud of how each of our interns served the 7th District this summer with enthusiasm and empathy.

As you can see below, my team and I have been all over the district, meeting with constituents, sharing new resources, connecting folks with services, celebrating, and always, always, listening. We look forward to continuing to serve you and the North Side of Chicago this fall, and to developing legislation that is informed by your needs.

To our Eritrean/Ethiopian community, Melkam Addis Amet! (Happy New Year).

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Simmons
7th Senate District

Dear Neighbor,

It was a huge honor to recently receive the “Friend of Rogers Park Award” from the Rogers Park Business Alliance in recognition for my commitment to serving Rogers Park. It was a full-circle moment for me as I reflected on my mother Ramona’s long-standing Rogers Park business, Salon Pastiché, which was located at 1226 W. Loyola for 25 years.

A few days later, my staff and I visited Archie’s Cafe and Roman Susan Art Gallery (right next to the former location of my mom’s salon). This is the flatiron and iconic building at 1224 to 1234 W. Loyola next to the Loyola Red Line Station. Loyola University purchased the entire building and plans to demolish it. I hold vivid memories of Kristin and Nathan Abhalter Smith – owners and directors of Roman Susan – and my mom devising a calming color scheme for her salon in this space in 2017. During our visit, I reflected on the years my mother contributed to the vibrancy of Rogers Park serving and befriending people from all walks of life, and building community with Roberta Schmatz, owner of Archie’s Cafe, along with Nathan Abhalter Smith and Kristin at Roman Susan art space. My heart is heavy as Archie’s closes its last week serving the Rogers Park community as they are displaced from the building.

I will continue to stand with the Rogers Park and Edgewater communities in strongly demanding that this historic building at 1224 - 1234 W. Loyola be preserved, and that the residents – many longtime Rogers Park residents – keep their housing and remain in the neighborhood. We must demand better and prevent needless land-grabs in communities like ours that deserve true investment, not displacement. This building and its history are a key part of Rogers Park’s history, and I will continue to fight for its historic preservation as a cultural and economic landmark.

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Simmons
7th Senate District

Dear Neighbor,

My team and I have been hard at work to bring you four different events in August that I want to make sure you all know about! Below is a quick list of each event, and full details are in the body of this e-blast.

Upcoming events are:

• Wednesday, August 7, 12:30-3:00 pm | Mobile Office Hours in partnership with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) at the Edgewater Library Branch, 6000 N. Broadway
• Thursday, August 8, 6:00-7:00 pm | Resource and Outreach Event for Survivors of Domestic Violence at the Church of Atonement, 5749 N. Kenmore Ave.
• Monday, August 12, 6:00-7:00 pm | Virtual Town Hall via Zoom
• Friday, August 16, 5:00-6:30 pm | Back to School Bash at Senn High School, 5900 N. Glenwood Ave.

Lastly, The Redefine the Drive project is hosting a Public Open House on Thursday, August 8th from 3:00-7:00 pm at Truman College, and Commissioner Samantha Steele is hosting property tax appeal workshops on August 5 and 12, in Rogers Park and Evanston, respectively. Full details are below. There is a lot happening in the 7th District, I look forward to seeing you at some of these great events in the next few weeks!

Sincerely,

Senator Mike Simmons
7th Senate District