1st Ward alderman-elect Daniel La Spata accepts congratulations from 2nd Ward chief of staff Jose Rivera. East Village Association membership meeting March 4, 2019, Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott Ave. Presiding: Michael VanDam, president 2nd Ward public safety Ward chief of staff Jose Rivera says police Cmdr. Stephen Chung has responded creatively to crime patterns in the north edge of the 12th District. Community policing will change under a court-supervised consent decree now in effect. Officers will receive additional training in impartial policing and crisis intervention under a federal monitor. Detectives will have more time to clear cases. Friends of Eckhart Park Volunteers on April 27 will clean Eckhart Park, 1330 W. Chicago Ave., to mark Earth Day, said Ben Beadles of Friends of Eckhart Park. Garden plots are tended the first Tuesday of the month from May till September. Fundraising will support youth sports and purchase park benches, said Claudia Sainsot. More in...

1st Ward alderman-elect Daniel La Spata will join us Monday and likely field a few questions. Jose Rivera, chief of staff to 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins, will give an update on safety and security, and we'll talk about next steps for the Shake-It bar-restaurant at 820 N. Damen. Join us at 7pm Monday at Happy Village, 1059 N. Wolcott. Also on the agenda: Update on 2nd Ward safety and security from Jose Rivera, chief of staff to Ald. Brian Hopkins Volunteer opportunities with Eckhart Park, from Ben Beadles and Claudia Sainsot Preliminary discussion on Shake-It restaurant at 820 N. Damen Officer elections for 2019. Proposed slate: Michael VanDam, President Michelle Hayward, Vice President John Gantner, Treasurer Neal McKnight, Secretary Schools/CAPS Updates