Last night, Daniel Biss was sworn in as Evanston’s 22nd Mayor, along with the 81st Evanston City Council.
Mayor Biss announced plans to appoint a Reimagining Public Safety Committee. In a letter published earlier in the day, he stated that the new committee will conduct a holistic, data-driven analysis of public safety and make community-informed recommendations in time to be incorporated into the 2022 City budget. He also provided the names of the committee’s 17 members.
The Council members sworn in were Clare Kelly, 1st Ward; Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward; Melissa Wynne, 3rd Ward; Jonathan Nieuwsma, 4th Ward; Bobby Burns, 5th; Thomas Suffredin, 6th Ward; Eleanor Revelle, 7th Ward; Devon Reid, 8th Ward; and Cicely Fleming, 9th Ward. Stephanie Mendoza is the City’s new City Clerk.
In an outgoing message yesterday, ‘Farewell and Thank You’, Mayor Stephen Hagerty said serving as Evanston’s mayor had been the most interesting, fascinating, exasperating, and richest professional experience in his life.
In COVID-19 news, the Food and Drug Administration authorized use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.
COVID-19 by the numbers: We are checking in with many sources to keep you updated on local COVID-19 cases and vaccine information.
- Four cases were reported yesterday in Evanston, the seven-day average is seven.
- Northwestern University reported 10 new cases for the seven days ending May 9. Northwestern students, staff and professors living in Evanston are included in City test and case counts.
- The number of cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days is 63 in Evanston and 115 in Illinois.
- Our City’s seven-day positive test rate is 0.7%; the test positive rate in Illinois is 2.8%.
- Some 4.5 million or 35.4% of total Illinois residents are fully vaccinated.
Evanston Vax Facts: According to City figures, 80% of Evanston residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 62% of residents 16 and older are fully vaccinated. Nearly 100% of residents 65 and older have received at least one dose and 94% are fully vaccinated. More details are available on the City’s Vaccine Dashboard.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable Website
School Districts Post Application Processes to Fill Board Vacancies. The two Evanston/Skokie School Boards have open positions for which they are now taking applications. The vacancy on the District 202 School (Evanston Township High School) Board was the result of too few candidates in the April 6 general election. Four positions were open but only three candidates, all incumbents, ran. The post-election resignation of Rebeca Mendoza created the vacancy at District 65. Applications and other information are available on the website of District 65 and ETHS.
Not Barking Up a Tree to Say Interest Is High in City’s Next Dog Park. Evanston’s recent municipal election may have received a rather tepid response, but there’s no lack of interest in the winner of another contested process. More than 100 people were signed on to the virtual broadcast the City held May 5 to discuss progress on the selection of a site for Evanston’s second dog park. And that did not include a number of dogs barking in the background as owners weighed in on the selection process.
Ann Rainey Apartments Fittingly Named. Nearly 40 years ago, when we were both young mothers, a mutual friend (was it the late Karen Chavers?) called and asked me whether I would introduce Ann Rainey to my neighbors. I had never met Ann, but was told she was running for Eighth Ward alderman and would appreciate an hour or two of my time. She came to my house, we chatted a while, and I was awed by her energy and her grasp of local issues. We spoke with those neighbors who were available, and the rest is herstory.
New Life Interim Housing Shelter Remodel Slated for Summer Start. Good News Partners has some “good news” for the mothers and children/families that it serves: Plans are moving ahead to renovate the 30-year-old New Life Interim Housing Shelter located in Rogers Park this summer.
Local Resident in Cast of ‘Divercity’. Evanston resident Jack Gehringer is one of nine cast members – each with a disability – telling their stories, which range from touching to hilarious, in “Tellin’ Tales Theatre Presents: Divercity.” The theatre’s mission is to shatter barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story.
ETHS Students Earn 2021 Latin Exam Recognition. Evanston Township High School students participated in the 2021 National Latin Exam, with 43 of the 57 participating students earning awards. The 40-question exam, taken by level, was completed by more than 88,000 Latin students worldwide.
Around the Web
- This is the last week of school for ETHS’ Class of 2021. To see what many of them have planned next, check out this ETHS Seniors 2021 Instagram page.
- Looking for a job? A local job board is now available online at the North Shore Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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