Public Safety Resources And Updates
Yesterday was difficult for Chicago. What started as a peaceful protest that remained peaceful for most of the afternoon became a very different scene later in the day as the peaceful protestors returned home.
Many of our community businesses have asked about companies to help board up and protect their establishments. A team of building inspectors was sent around the central business district last night to take stock of needs and have hired companies to conduct emergency board-ups.
If you need to hire a company to board up your business, here is a list of a few:
Cook County Board Up: 708-389-3889
Chicago Board Up Service: 773-338-2500
Rapid Board Up: 773-997-8770
A Quality Board Up Services: 773-202-8700
Triple A All County Board Up: 773-233-4900
Busy Bee Board Up: 773-501-7705
Tri-County Board Up: 708-800-6672
In the event your business and/or home are located along routes used for public assembly, in efforts to allow for safe passage, temporarily relocate any items and/or vehicles within or near the public way.
Today, the City of Chicago announced new precautionary measures to further ensure the health and safety of residents and the hundreds of peaceful protestors participating in rallies. As part of these efforts, the City announced that multiple routes to the Central Business District will be temporarily reduced today following multiple public safety incidents and property damage that occurred overnight. The Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), Department of Water Management (DWM) and Chicago Police Department (CPD) will reduce access in the Central Business District and Loop area to only employees whose businesses are located within the designated boundaries, individuals who reside in the surrounding area and residents engaged in essential activities as defined in the Municipal Code, Order 2020-3. The following boundaries include:
Division St. from Lake Shore Dr. and N. Halsted St.
N. Halsted from Division St. to Milwaukee Ave. and Grand Ave.
Milwaukee Ave. from Grand Ave. to Kinzie St.
Canal St. from Kinzie St. to 26th St.
26th St. from Canal St. to Lake Shore Dr.
CTA service has also been suspended for trains and buses coming in and out of the Loop for public safety reasons. CTA will provide regular service updates at: transitchicago.com.
Following today's announcement, the City will continue working closely with the organizers of rallies and protests scheduled to take place within the area this afternoon to provide an alternative, optional route for marches to peacefully and safely return in Chicago. This latest effort follows Mayor Lightfoot and Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Arwady's joint-issued citywide curfew for all residents and visitors, effective from 9PM to 6AM daily that began Saturday, May 30 and remains in place until further notice.
As always, we advise all community members to continue being mindful of your surroundings and to address any unlawful activity by contacting the appropriate authorities. As CPD recommends: if an incident is in progress and the on-site presence of a local authority is necessary, please dial 911. If an incident occurs and the suspected offender(s) is/are no longer at the scene, please dial 311.
According to the Illinois Constitution, Article I, Section 5: “The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable manner, to consult for the common good, to make known their opinions to their representatives and to apply for redress of grievances.” The West Loop Community Organization recognizes the rights to peaceful protest granted under the Illinois Constitution’s Bill of Rights. And we join our fellow Chicagoans in pleading for an end to violent rioting and looting so that we may move forward as a city together.