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Greetings!

Sometimes all it takes is a rare, spectacular astronomical event to bring us closer together. Last week’s solar eclipse couldn’t have come at a better time, as our nation and our community struggled to comprehend and heal from the recent events in Charlottesville. At the Evanston Public Library’s Eclipse Party last Monday, I was inspired as I witnessed people generously sharing their eclipse glasses with total strangers, neighbors chatting with neighbors, and community members marveling together as the moon blocked out the sun for a few brief minutes. 

It’s easy to be weighed down by terrible disasters and all of the negativity out there, but if you’re looking for inspiration and hope, look no further than our own community. On August 17, hundreds packed a "Lament and Hope" interfaith vigil at Second Baptist Church to speak out against racism, renounce hate, and join together for a truly incredible evening of healing, faith and unity. (You can watch the video on my Facebook page, or read a transcript of my remarks.)

Evanston Boy Scout Troup 929 showed us that despite the headlines, civic engagement has a bright future. The scouts sacrificed a precious summer evening to attend our August 14 Evanston City Council meeting to see local government in action. Watch video from the meeting here.

I'm proud to be a part of this amazing city where people of all ages care for one another, fight against injustices, and become involved in their community. Working together, I'm confident we won't have to wait until the next solar eclipse to make our city and our world a better place.

Sincerely,

Stephen H. Hagerty
Mayor, City of Evanston
shagerty@cityofevanston.org

In the Community

2017 Evanston CommUNITY Picnic

I had a great time celebrating Evanston and going back to school at the 2017 CommUNITY Picnic on Sunday, August 20 in Ingraham Park. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you at the picnic and challenge some of our young people to basketball, state capital naming contests, and other games. (Congrats to Evanston 1st grader Nate, who bested the Mayor in a state capital challenge!) Thank you to all who attended the picnic, and cheers to the start of another great school year for all of our students, teachers and parents!

Eclipse Party at the Library

Thank you to the Evanston Public Library for a wonderful and informational Eclipse Party on Monday, August 21. I'm looking forward to the next one in 2024!

"Hagerty Huddle" - Everyday with French and Friends

Last Monday, August 21, I sat down for a "Hagerty Huddle" on 1590 WCGO's "Everyday with French and Friends" program to discuss current issues in Evanston, including recent interfaith peace services, construction and businesses around town, our CommUNITY Picnic, and more. Click below to watch the interview.

Get Involved

Citizen Police Complaint Assessment Committee Update

Thank you to everyone who took the time to prepare a thoughtful application to the Citizen Police Complaint Assessment Committee. Over the next two weeks, I will carefully review the applications and thoughtfully assemble a diverse committee that I think will take a fair, open minded, inquisitive, fact based, and respectful approach to what improvements Evanston can make to its current citizen police complaint process.

Climate Action and Resilience Plan Working Group

Are you interested in helping to guide the City’s next steps in the fight against climate change? We’ve made tremendous strides over the last decade, but there’s still much work to be done! Last week I announced the formation of a new Climate Action and Resilience Plan Working Group, which will be tasked with developing a Climate Action and Resilience Plan, updating the City’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and assessing climate change vulnerabilities and risks in Evanston.

Community members with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply by Friday, September 8.

Stay Engaged

We've launched a new website where you can participate in a community forum on the issues, read my thoughts on our City and proposed plans, learn more about Evanston's boards and commissions, share events that your organizations are hosting, and more.

As always, please reach out to me if you have any ideas, concerns, or questions about our wonderful City. You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or through my website, stevehagerty.com.