Monday, May 10, 2021 | View in browser
Greetings Neighbors and Partners,
1,460 days and over 1,000 meetings: What an honor it has been to represent our community. Serving you has been among the greatest experiences of my life. My lived experience and your continuous feedback prepared me to build on the great efforts of 5th Ward leaders that came before me.
Our first order of business was to support our historically under-resourced business community with façade improvements. We continued that commitment with business grants and technical assistance. Together, we’ve acknowledged our racial disparities in a real way and taken a bold first step to begin reckoning with our history and current practices that are rooted in anti-Blackness.
As a 5th Ward community:
- We’ve taken a stand on Environmental Justice in our neighborhoods.
- We continue to serve our food- and housing-insecure families.
- We’ve increased diversity on our Boards, Committees and Commissions.
- We’ve created more support and opportunities for our residents to become tradespeople, firefighters, and business owners.
- We’ve planted over 100 new trees in our neighborhood parks and parkways.
- We’ve increased our parkland by 4 acres.
- We are closely monitoring our air quality.
- Our neighborhood community centers have received millions of dollars in financial assistance for mechanical and cosmetic improvements.
- We’ve welcomed dozens of new businesses.
- We’ve made negligent landlords address property standard violations.
- Our support has helped solve more homicides than in previous years and implement more violence prevention strategies.
- We’ve definitely had the most fun and exciting community events with professional entertainment, transformative enrichment, and all the good times one could have in Twiggs Park!
- Our collective light has attracted new partners. What we’ve accomplished together in the last 4 years has inspired this nation.
I’m regularly educated on our past by Alderman Delores Holmes, constantly reminded by Judge Lionel Jean-Baptiste that our work is cumulative, guided each day of my service by the legacy of Alderman Edwin B. Jourdain Jr., and inspired by our youth to stay laser-focused on our vision. I know there remains a long road to justice and a long road for each of us to enjoy the same livability in our City, but our efforts have accelerated our goals.
To those who have been supportive and/or productive, thank you. There is no shortage in opportunities to contribute in a positive and actionable way. Your actions demonstrate your heart, intent, and your belief. Your recommendations, insights, and volunteer efforts are what make us a community. It’s what helps us reach our collective goals. Every kind message came right when I needed it, and every positive action helped move us along.
I encourage you to remain centered on “Solutions Only” and to remember that “none of us is as smart as all of us.” Collaboration is key! There are too many of you to name individually, but this thanks extends to my beloved neighbors in the 5th Ward and neighbors in every Ward of our City, our brilliant City Staff, our committed community partners, our devoted City Council, and our dedicated national partners. Best wishes to incoming 5th Ward City Councilmember Bobby Burns and the 81st City Council.
I look forward to remaining in community with you and to continue to collaborate with you in my aldermanic retirement. I can be reached at Robin@RobinRue.com.
In solidarity,
Robin Rue Simmons, 5th Ward Alderman - 80th City Council
Onward
Robin Rue Simmons
Alderman, 5th Ward
847-521-6434
rsimmons@cityofevanston.org
www.cityofevanston.org
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