State Senator Bill Cunningham and other area elected officials hosted two in-district outreach events this week.

Cunningham and State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) hosted a burglary prevention workshop in Evergreen Park on Monday.

Local law enforcement officers and a reformed burglar discussed how people can reduce the chances of burglary and educate voters about how to manage the aftermath of a home invasion.

Cunningham also hosted a senior resource fair Wednesday with Burke, State Rep. Fran Hurley (D-Chicago) and U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Western Springs).

The Oak Lawn senior fair brought state, local and private senior programs together under one roof to give out information and answer questions.

Health organizations also provided medical screenings for participating seniors.

Photo: Hurley, Jerry Mulivill from Congressman Lipinski’s office, Cunningham and Burke at the senior resource fair at the Oak Lawn Community Pavilion on Sept. 17.

EVERGREEN PARK – State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) are hosting a workshop Monday, Sept. 15 to increase awareness about burglaries and educate residents about how to minimize risk.

Local law enforcement officials and a reformed burglar will discuss steps people can take to reduce the chances of burglary.

The seminar will take place at the Evergreen Park Library. It is open to members of the public and the press.

Attendees should RSVP by calling Cunningham’s office at 773-445-8128.

DATE:

Monday, Sept. 15

TIME:

7-8:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

Evergreen Park Library

9400 S. Troy Ave.

Evergreen Park, IL

Cunningham will host a second burglary seminar Oct. 2 at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences.

EVERGREEN PARK – State Senator Bill Cunningham and Evergreen Park Mayor Jim Sexton announced the Village of Evergreen Park will soon receive $700,000 from state programs aimed at park construction, road work and storm drain upgrades.

The village's new 50-Acre Park at 91st and California Ave. will receive a $500,000 state grant to establish a farm and garden program for children with disabilities, while the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will provide Evergreen Park with $200,000 to improve city infrastructure, patch potholes and install new storm drains.

Cunningham and Sexton were joined at 50-Acre Park during the Labor Day weekend by Governor Pat Quinn to announce the awarding of the grants.

"Quality, well-maintained parks add value to the entire community," Cunningham said. "And that's particularly true when the parks provide us with much needed programs for a vulnerable segment of our population, like students with special needs.” Cunningham said. "Mayor Sexton and the residents of Evergreen Park have a truly inspiring vision for 50-Acre Park, and I'm happy to have secured state funding to help make it a reality."
 
Cunningham said that the additional road improvement funding coming to Evergreen Park is much needed given the weather-related damage to area infrastructure that has occurred after a harsh winter and rainy summer.

“The recent, widespread suburban flooding highlights the need to improve and maintain our storm water systems. This investment will have the added benefit of creating area construction jobs, which is important to note during the Labor Day holiday,” Cunningham said.

Sheriffs and units of local governments will now have a new tool to address blighted properties, create transitional housing and reduce the number of inmates who reoffend under a new law signed by the governor.

State Senator Bill Cunningham (D- Chicago) sponsored the Neighborhood Restoration and Alternative Sentencing Act as a way to improve neighborhoods and train work-release inmates in practical, construction skills giving them a better chance at employment after completing their sentences.

“This is a unique solution that helps solve three separate problems facing communities in Illinois. It reduces the rate that former inmates reoffend because they can’t find lawful work, repurposes blighted properties and gives local governments new housing options,” Cunningham said.

The law authorizes Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart to train county work-release inmates while rehabilitating, demolishing or rebuilding claimed property. The vacant houses targeted by the sheriff's programs are located in poor communities and have been foreclosed on by a bank.

The refurbished buildings can then be used by city and county governments as transitional housing to house the homeless, mentally ill or low income families.

This program, pioneered by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, will apply to counties across the state.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.