Current Temperature

CHICAGO WEATHER
Showing posts with label services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label services. Show all posts

Thursday, August 24, 2023

How to beat the heat?

 

[VIDEO] As I write this at 12:00 Noon the temperature is 97°F here in Chicago - according to Accuweather - and we're in a serious heatwave which actually started on Wednesday. This WGN-TV report shows cooling centers open around the Chicago area. 

If you are in need of a cooling shelter please call 311. Here's a link from the City of Chicago for six community service centers utilized as cooling areas. Masks are currently required however. Dang you coronavirus! 

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

WGN: More Chicago area Secretary of State office to require appointments starting this week

 

[VIDEO] We've all seen the lines at Secretary of State drivers services facilities since the pandemic. Lines going out the door presumably for the purposes of social distancing. I personally couldn't even imagine standing in a long line just to renew my driver's license or renew my license plates.

Starting this week 16 drivers services facility for the Secretary of State will require appointments. Reserve a time and hopefully your needs will be met in a quick fashion and no waiting in lines. If anyone goes up to the facility at 99th Street & King Drive perhaps you can tell us about your experience with an appointment. Just look for our email in the sidebar to the top left.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Block Club Chi: "My Block, My Hood, My City needs volunteers to help shovel senior’s sidewalks Tuesday."

 

ForMyBlock.org

One of the many wonderful initiatives by MBMHMC founder Jahmal Cole. He's been organizing volunteers to shovel snow for senior citizens for many years around the city. And our city is getting hit my heavy snow as of late:

My Block, My Hood, My City needs volunteers to help shovel senior’s sidewalks Tuesday.

The city got hit with its first big storm of the season Monday night and Tuesday morning.

People who want to help seniors can sign up with the organization online. My Block, My Hood, My City will send them information Tuesday morning about the homes of one or two seniors who need help with shoveling, according to an email newsletter from the group.

Once participants get that information, they will go to those homes and shovel the sidewalks.

Monday, April 13, 2020

CTA cleaning #Pandemic

[VIDEO] Since I shared Amtrak's response, what about the response from the Chicago Transit Authority. Unfortunately many Chicagoans have a love hate relationship with their public transportation provider.

I don't often see CTA workers giving the "spit-shine" to at the very least the CTA trains especially when they get into their respective terminals. To be honest it's probably hard to do when say a train get into its final destination and it has to go right out and you have passengers coming around and taking their seats.

Another thing I've noticed on trains during the heat of this pandemic is that increasingly you see homeless people riding the trains. Unfortunately they're just as vulnerable to the coronavirus and I get the idea less likely to seek out medical help for this very dangerous illness. So unfortunately there's that the content with on CTA at all hours.

It's great to see this b-roll footage of CTA workers sanitizing even train stations from handrails to Ventra card machines. It's great to see workers get on the buses and deep clean once their in their respective garages. Indeed, this is also occurring to CTA trains once they're in the yard.

There could be more CTA could do to insure passengers are in a very clean and safe environment on public transportation during this pandemic. Perhaps make more of an effort to keep the homeless from using CTA as a shelter for example - although granted I hear a lot of the shelters are crowded right now.

Another odd thing that has been going on with CTA right now is their attempt to protect their employees, especially bus drivers. CTA riders will have to board the back of the bus now.
While this had in my mind conjured up images of the Montgomery Bus Boycott - and its not really something I've seen discussed in the media - I realize these are not those times. There are reports of CTA bus drivers being diagnosed with coronavirus and have little issue with ensuring their safety. Getting on the bus through the back doors are something we have to get used to for now for the safety of the transit workers.

Not that I advocate for this, however, at least until we get back to normal if you pay cash fare to board a bus CTA isn't collecting your fare. Reportedly, however, they plan to place Ventra card readers at the back of the bus though so far most buses don't use this feature yet.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Since the "polar vortex" weather is back


I originally posted this information over at The Sixth Ward on January 6, 2013 during the first "polar vortex" episode. So this information remains important. Please remember if you need transportation to or information on the nearest warming center call 311.

State Rep. Elgie Sims (District 34) provides some more resources with regards to the weather in a recent email
Please use the following resources to keep you safe and warm:
  • Keep warm Illinois
    • A website aimed at identifying warming centers around the state and other information necessary to assist with keeping warm during the cold months of the year.
  • Getting around Illinois
    • The website will provide residents and motorists with information regarding the status of our roads. 
  • ComED energy assistance
    • Customers are encouraged to notify ComED as quickly as possible if they experience an outage. 
    • Customers can text OUT to 26633 to report any outages and receive restoration information, or they can contact ComED by calling 1-800-EDISON-1.
And as always this:
Please check on elderly neighbors and make sure that you and any children under your care are sufficiently bundled up if you must go outside.  Please do not forget pets and keep them indoors during these extreme conditions.
Be careful out there everyone! Stay safe and warm!