A Message From Micah
Hi neighbors!
I'm excited to launch this monthly newsletter as a way to keep you informed about what's happening in our ward and at City Hall. I also really hope it becomes a two-way communication about things I’ll be voting on or about other issues in the city. Since being sworn in this spring, I've been working to make local government more accessible and this newsletter will hopefully be one step in that direction.
Inside this issue, you'll find some upcoming events, info on legislation I’ve been involved with, and a recap of my last ward meeting. So without further ado, let’s hop into it!
What’s On The Calendar
In future newsletters, I’ll include a list of upcoming events, but for now I want to share a few great ways to stay up to date on what’s happening around Berwyn.
For official city events, visit the city’s online calendar by clicking here.
If you’re looking for a broader mix of community events, I highly recommend weloveberwyn.org. They conglomerate local events all in one place and you can even add their Google Calendar directly to yours! The image below shows where to find that option on their site.
My next First Ward Meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 20th at 7 PM. The exact location is still being finalized, but I’m hoping to host it at the new Community Center at 3320 S. Grove Ave. I’ll share an update once it’s confirmed.
If you’d like to attend upcoming City Council meetings, the next two are scheduled for Wednesday, November 12th and Tuesday, November 25th, both at 8 PM.
Want to know what’s on the agenda before each meeting? I post plain-language summaries on the First Ward Wiki so you can easily see what decisions are coming up in our city.
Legislative Updates
My First Piece of Legislation: Opposing Larger Commercial Trucks
At the September 9th City Council meeting, I introduced my first resolution opposing federal proposals that would force Illinois to allow significantly larger and heavier commercial trucks on our roads. These proposals would increase truck weights from 80,000 to 91,000 pounds and make them five feet longer.
Why does this matter for Berwyn? We sit between two major interstates and border the Cicero Railroad Yard. We already see oversized trucks damaging our sidewalks, signs and utilities. A 2016 federal study shows these larger trucks have longer stopping distances, higher rollover rates and higher fatality rates. They would also cause massive infrastructure damage (over $1.4 billion in bridge replacement costs for Illinois alone) with no federal funding to help us fix it.
The resolution passed unanimously and adds Berwyn's voice to the growing opposition from communities across the country.
Know Your Rights & Immigration Enforcement
At the September 23rd City Council meeting, I introduced a resolution calling on our federal lawmakers to require immigration agents to clearly identify themselves during enforcement operations. This addresses concerns about incidents where federal agents have operated in masks, plain clothes, and unmarked vehicles in Berwyn and nationwide.
The resolution asks Congress to prohibit the use of masks to conceal identities and require clear identification and agency insignia. This helps residents distinguish between legitimate law enforcement and potential impersonators, improving community safety for everyone.
This resolution also passed unanimously. The City Council continues to develop resources and protections for our residents. More on that below.
City Decisions in Progress (and how you can get involved):
Pool Committee: The City Council approved a Pool Feasibility and Design Exploration Committee to explore options for a new or improved swimming pool in Berwyn. The existing pool at the Recreation Center is aging and costly to maintain, so this group will look at possible designs, costs, and locations for a future facility. The committee includes three alderpeople, park district and township representatives, and six community members. As a member of the committee, I’ll be accepting applications for community representatives. If you’d like to learn more about how to apply, reply to this email and let me know.
Tree Board: The City Council has brought the long-inactive Tree Board back to life and clarifying its role in caring for and growing our city’s tree canopy. The board will include two city arborists and eight residents, one nominated by each alderman and appointed by the Mayor. I’ll be selecting a representative from the First Ward to serve on the Tree Board. If you have skills, experience, or a background related to trees, landscaping, ecology, or community planning (and are interested in serving) reply to this email and let me know.
Video Gambling Reform: The Licensing & Taxation Committee advanced a major reform package that shifts approval power from the mayor to the city council, pauses new terminals for two years, tightens location rules, updates fees, and creates a community committee to study social impacts. The committee held a three-hour public discussion (you can watch the livestream on YouTube here). The proposal passed committee and is expected to be discussed at the next Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, November 12th.
Berwyn State Bank Redevelopment: The City Council reviewed two proposals for redeveloping the long-vacant Berwyn State Bank building in the Depot District. You can watch the discussion on Youtube here. Both plans would restore the historic structure and bring new housing and activity to the area. One proposal included a mix of apartments and ground-floor retail, while the other featured apartments with live-work units for artists on the first floor. The committee agreed that the second developer brought a stronger overall plan, but we want to see traditional commercial storefronts on the first floor instead of live-work units to help keep the Depot vibrant and growing. The next step is to ask for an updated proposal and continue accepting other proposals in the meantime.
Ward Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined me for the First Ward meeting at Pershing Elementary on October 19th! It was great to see so many neighbors come together to talk about what’s happening in our community. If you couldn’t make it, here’s a quick recap of what we covered.
We started with an update from Dr. Charles Bareis, the new president of MacNeal Hospital. He shared information about the hospital’s parking garage, which is closed due to structural concerns. Engineers are still determining whether it can be repaired or will need to be replaced. MacNeal is working closely with the city to reduce parking disruptions and will keep residents informed as plans move forward.
I shared several legislative updates, which you can read more about earlier in this newsletter.
We also discussed ongoing infrastructure projects. The 34th Street Improvement Project is nearing final design, and I’ve pushed for added stop signs and safer conditions for cyclists. The Ogden Avenue Water Main Project continues to move eastward and most of the work is in the second ward, but it will come back our direction this spring. The BP gas station explosion site remains an active concern; cleanup is now underway, but demolition has not yet begun. We also talked about water main breaks, which have largely subsided since Public Works installed pressure-relief valves on hydrants. Those valves are a temporary fix and should no longer be needed once water tower repairs are complete.
Thanks to advocacy from residents and the Irving PTO, updated Safe Routes to School maps are now available, showing accurate crossing-guard locations. I’ll keep working with the city and schools on additional safety measures where needed.
Another major topic was Berwyn’s response to increased federal immigration enforcement. Berwyn remains a Welcoming City, meaning our police do not cooperate or share information with ICE. I’m partnering with the mayor on “Know Your Rights” education, yard signs, and clearer police identification standards to build trust and reduce fear. I also voted to end the city’s contract with Flock Safety after the Illinois Secretary of State found the company shared data with federal immigration agencies. The vote ended in a 4-4 tie, with the mayor breaking the tie to maintain the contract. I’ll continue exploring privacy-protective alternatives that uphold our city’s values.
We also discussed participatory budgeting, which lets residents directly decide how to spend a portion of local funds. This year, we’ll pilot a simplified version with about $6,000 available for small neighborhood projects such as school-zone signage, food pantry support, and public bike pumps. Soon, residents will be able to vote on which projects move forward, and I’ll expand this into a full participatory budgeting process next year. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details.
We wrapped up with an open discussion on rodent control, garbage enforcement, and coyote sightings. I’ll be following up with the appropriate departments on each issue.
Thank you again to everyone who came out, asked questions, and shared ideas!
That’s it for now.
There’s far too much to try to fit into the first newsletter, but I’ll be sending updates every few weeks with the latest information. I’d love to hear what you think and what you’d like to see in future editions. Thanks for reading! As a reminder, you can reply to this email to reach me directly. Have a great day!
Best,
Micah