Hi neighbors,

I’m back with a new newsletter, and I want to highlight one important item this week. Starting today, you have a direct say in how we will invest the remaining $6,250 of this year’s aldermanic funds. These dollars need to be allocated by December 31st, and I want you to choose where they go.

The process is easy. I put together a very short survey based on the feedback you shared at our July and October ward meetings. You’ll see several project ideas, choose the ones you think matter most, and hit submit. Once all responses are in, your collective input will decide which projects receive funding and how much each one gets!

The survey takes less than five minutes, and your input will guide real investment in our neighborhood right now. I’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to fill it out.

Voting closes December 1st, so please take a moment today to fill out the survey!

Here are several upcoming local events to be aware of:

Calendars:
Berwyn Community Calendar (city events)
WeLoveBerwyn.org (community events)

At the November 12th Committee of the Whole meeting, the city council discussed a slew of proposed updates to our video gaming ordinances. These updates are meant to start a discussion about how we handle gaming in the city and whether our current approach still makes sense or whether it needs change.

To be clear, the proposal does not eliminate any existing video gaming licenses, and it does not require any current establishments to close. Instead, it focuses on a set of policy changes aimed at controlling oversaturation, improving oversight, and making the process more transparent. Here’s a quick summary of changes being proposed:

At the end of the Committee of the Whole, it was determined that more feedback is required from residents and business owners in order to make informed decisions about how to proceed. Each alderman is expected to gather that data within the next month and these changes will be discussed again at the December 9th Committee of the Whole meeting.

As a result, I’m quite interested in your opinion. I plan to create a survey on gaming soon, but in the meantime, I’d really like to hear directly from residents and business owners. If you have thoughts, concerns, or ideas about video gaming in Berwyn, please reach out. You can email me at [email protected] or call/text (708) 749-6401.

Your perspective will help shape how I approach this vote and the broader conversation that follows.

Flock Safety is a private company that operates automated license plate reader cameras. These cameras scan passing vehicles and upload plate numbers, timestamps, and images to Flock’s national cloud database. This system is used by our police department and many departments around the country to help with investigations into stolen vehicles and other related issues. However, this system has come under intense scrutiny due to concerns about how Flock conducts its business, including sharing information with ICE and CBP for immigration-related searches.

At our October 14th City Council meeting, the council voted on whether to terminate Berwyn’s contract with Flock after the Illinois Secretary of State reported that Flock broke Illinois law and shared Illinois license plate data with federal immigration agencies. That vote resulted in a 4–4 split, and the mayor broke the tie in favor of keeping the contract.

The item returned to the agenda at the November 12th City Council meeting with additional information about the statewide findings and new public input. Many residents contacted council members and spoke during public comment to raise concerns about privacy, data control, and compliance with our Welcoming City Ordinance. Despite this feedback, Alderman Leja moved to defer the item to a future Police and Fire Committee meeting, postponing action on a matter that carries immediate, real-world implications. This motion also resulted in a 4-4 split, and the mayor broke the tie to defer the item to the Police and Fire Committee. Until that meeting is scheduled and held, the cameras remain on, the contract remains active, and Berwyn’s data continues to be uploaded to Flock’s servers.

From my perspective, as long as that data keeps entering Flock’s network, we cannot prevent the same kind of lawless federal immigration access that prompted this vote in the first place. I will continue pushing for public safety tools that protect our community without putting residents’ information under the control of a private company. I remain convinced that the cameras should be turned off and that it is time for Berwyn to end its contract with Flock.

As we head into the holiday season, many families start to feel extra financial pressure. If you or someone you know could use a little support, I want to share a resource guide from the Cicero Berwyn Care Web that lists local food pantries and food banks. These organizations are here for our community, and they make a real difference for neighbors who need a hand.

You can also click here to view and download a larger version of the image. No one in Berwyn should go hungry. And reaching out for help when you need it is a sign of strength. These services exist because we believe in taking care of one another, and there is absolutely no shame in using them.

If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to complete the survey and lock in your vote! Your input really does guide what gets done here in the First Ward.

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving. I’m grateful to be in community with you all!

Best,
Micah