Page 14 - Devon Reid News Today

Evanston’s proposed 2023 budget targets post-pandemic economic recovery, addresses  sustainability efforts and creates new government positions. It totals to about $402.5 million –– a $42.1 million increase from the adopted 2022 budget –– and is unpopular with the mayor and other public figures.  The Daily broke down five things to know about the proposed budget....

Content warning: this story contains mentions of police violence. City Council unanimously voted to ban no-knock warrants last week, a policing practice where officers are allowed to enter a home or business without warning the tenants when permitted by a judge.  Ald. Devon Reid (8th), who introduced the legislation, said both local and national incidents...

The Evanston Youth Advisory Committee hosted a youth town hall Tuesday at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center to inform the community about issues Evanston youth face.  The attendees highlighted mental health and school safety as primary concerns, and encouraged residents to vote in the upcoming election. Evanston Township High School senior and 4th Ward...

Evanston’s Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator Cara Pratt presented an update on the Climate Action and Resilience Plan at Monday’s City Council meeting. Pratt cited the city’s 38% decrease in carbon emissions since 2005 as a sign of CARP’s success, but expressed that the city needs to allocate more resources toward sustainability efforts. Pratt said the...

As soon as Ald. Devon Reid (8th) was sworn into City Council, he said his number one priority was to make beach passes free for Evanston residents. It wasn’t just to drive more traffic to the beaches — Reid wanted to end a policy that had long been used to block off the city’s beaches...

City Council approved the creation of a $50,000 Refugee Resettlement Fund to assist refugee families settling in Evanston on Monday. The fund will provide families who have fled violence and persecution with services such as housing, food, clothing and transportation, according to a memo from Health and Human Services Director Ike Ogbo. City Council also...

City Council swore in Schenita Stewart as Evanston’s first permanent woman police chief at its Monday meeting. Evanston Police Department members and residents packed the council chambers, erupting in a standing ovation after Stewart was sworn in by Mayor Daniel Biss. Stewart most recently served as the deputy chief of police for the East Dundee...

Evanston's first permanent female police chief, Schenita Stewart, was born and raised in the city.

A study investigating Evanston parking across the city and around Ryan Field concluded Evanston should raise its parking prices.  City Council contracted engineering consulting company WGI to conduct the study in 2020, but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were presented to City Council on Tuesday night. Ald. Devon Reid (8th), a...

In August, Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare’s crisis emergency response program began operating on a 24/7 basis. Chris Mayer, clinical director of crisis services at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, presented to City Council Tuesday on the program’s progress. He said Illinois residents will have access to the mobile crisis line any time of day with Trilogy’s new program. ...