Working Together

Alderman Colón works to unite neighborhoods and include all constituents in the community-building process. His vision of a transparent local government has become a model of participation citywide.

Policy by the People
On several occasions, Colón has used ballot referenda to learn the opinions of the community and has followed up through local policy and City ordinances. Citywide ordinances that he has supported at the request of his constituents include the Clean Indoor Air Act, the Big Box Living Wage Ordinance, and the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. He is an independent politician, who maintains a respectful relationship with other City representatives.

Zoning and Land Use
Alderman Colón vowed to include the community in decisions involving zoning and land use. Upon election, he created the Zoning Advisory Committee (ZAC), made up of community representatives. This group considers all requests for zoning changes received by the Alderman’s office. Colón also holds open public meetings on each requested zoning change. Colón believes that his decisions should reflect the community consensus, and bases his decisions on input from both the public and the ZAC. Since taking office, Alderman Colón has approved 81% of requests for zoning changes, 84% of which were down-zones. In response to community need, he requires developers to include 15% affordable housing in projects with more than 10 units. He encourages responsible development that preserves the character of the area and enhances the sense of neighborhood.

Improving Open Space and Parks
The 35th Ward ranks second in all of Chicago for the least amount of open and green space. In response to this problem, Alderman Colón and hundreds of concerned residents created an Open Space Plan with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and the Chicago Park District. Since his election, Alderman Colón has organized numerous public meetings between residents and the City to solidify plans to create or improve open space in several areas. He is currently securing funding for projects including the Brentano Campus Park, Logan Gateway Parks (with a skate park at Logan and Western), Palmer Square improvement, and a Market Plaza on the Square. In addition to raising $250,000 for Athletic Field Park in 2006, Alderman Colón has committed $50,000 from the 2007 Aldermanic Menu to improve facilities at this park.

Supporting the Arts
Alderman Colón played a key role in bringing numerous arts organizations to the Ward, including Elastic Arts Foundation, American Theater Company, Chicago Ballet, The Arts Alliance, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, and The Arts Center 2421. This has spurred the creation of the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Organization and a vibrant new arts scene in the area. In addition, he created the Palmer Square Boulevard Arts Festival, an annual event to celebrate the diversity of the 35th Ward through art, food, music, and family activities.

Improving Communication
Alderman Colón is accessible to all residents of the 35th Ward. He attends events and block parties throughout the Ward in order to meet with constituents. In addition, he encourages people to stop by his office on Ward Night (Tuesday evenings), when they can meet with him without an appointment, or call any time. He has increased the communication of neighborhood issues using his website www.reycolon.org, a quarterly newsletter, a local access cable TV show, and open public meetings. Alderman Colón encourages the exchange of ideas and listens to what his constituents have to say.

Historic Preservation and Landmarking
Alderman Colón has designated two Historic Landmark Districts in the 35th Ward. Landmarking has preserved significant buildings, maintaining the beauty and historical atmosphere of the boulevard system in Humboldt Park and Logan Square, as well as in the six-corners intersection of Milwaukee-Diversey-Kimball. In areas that do not qualify for landmark status, he has encouraged developers to reuse existing buildings to protect treasured architecture, such as with the Orbit Building on Milwaukee Avenue and the former Kimball Bank Building on Fullerton Avenue.

Keeping Jobs in the Area
With the designation of the Kennedy Industrial Corridor as a Planned Manufacturing District, Alderman Colón has insured that this area will continue to be a manufacturing and industrial complex, keeping the workforce close to home. In addition, his priorities for use of TIF funding include incubating and expanding local businesses and supporting job training and workforce development programs.

Encouraging Healthy Activities
With his background, Alderman Colón knows how important healthy activities are for everyone. He created an annual Bike the Ward event to encourage bicycle riding for the whole family. Next year, he plans to introduce a Sunday Parkways event to further promote this activity. In addition, he supported the creation of a Farmer’s Market near Logan Square and is actively seeking to attract businesses that make healthy foods available at affordable prices. He submitted an ordinance to City Council to grant free parking for all hybrid vehicles and encourages the use of shared I-GO cars. He works with community organizers biannually on Clean & Green efforts, not only providing the tools to clean public land but planting trees and plants to improve the environment. He also promotes the use of environmentally friendly construction materials and energy efficient products by developers desiring to do business in the Ward.

Encouraging Social Services
While the 35th Ward is rich in social services, Alderman Colón has succeeded in helping many organizations expand. Through an open RFP process, the former Logan Square Library was transformed for use by Christopher House to expand their Head Start programs for children. The former YMCA on Fullerton is now home to the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, the first green clinic in the state.