Bridging the gap to homeownership

The Greater Chatham Housing Trolley Tour is coming up on Sept. 21. It will run from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., and the tour will start at the Medical Center Building located at 200 East 75th Street, Chicago.

If you’re ready to buy a home in the next 6-12 months this event is for you. Come tour homes and meet realtors and lenders who can help you get on track to homeownership. Learn about down payment assistance and special programs geared toward First Responders like firefighters and emergency personnel who are looking to become homeowners.

Participants will meet at the Medical Center Building, 200 E. 75th Street, between 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. They will leave promptly at 11 am and tour properties in the Greater Chatham area. The group will return to the 200 E. 75th Street building by 1 p.m.

Thrive on the 5 -Greater Chatham Health Day in collaboration with the City of Chicago, Department of Health and Haji Healing Salon.

Upon your return, join the Greater Chatham Heath Day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Enjoy Haji's Healing Salon, our KidZone and more...

Learn more and register here: http://bit.ly/bridgetohomeownership

Labor Day Festivities

It is so important that we celebrate the hardworking men and women of Illinois. I hope you all took some time to thank them for all they do. It was great to participate in various events and celebrate the contributions of our local laborers and unions, including at the annual Calumet Memorial Park District Labor Day Parade, the Annual Southeast Side Labor Day Parade and 2019 Eddie Fest.

Shred-a-thon

New Sims law cracks down on criminal history errors

SPRINGFIELD—A new law sponsored by Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) will hold businesses that erroneously publish criminal history records accountable.

The plan requires companies that make errors on criminal history reports to correct them within five business days.

“Errors on criminal history reports can wreak havoc on a person’s life,” Sims said. “It can cost them a job or make it hard for them to find proper housing. This law will ensure companies that publish this information fix mistakes in a reasonable amount of time or face consequences for their negligence.”

Senate Bill 1599 expands the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act so that a person or entity that publishes a person's criminal record information on a criminal history report that charges a fee for removal or correction of the information must correct any errors within five business days after notification of the error.

A person who faces harm as a result of a failure to correct published criminal record information within that time frame is entitled to damages of $100 per day, plus attorney's fees. 

“I am grateful to my colleagues and the governor for taking this issue seriously and helping to prevent loss of opportunities for people throughout the state,” Sims said. “This new law will help Illinoisans better protect their reputation and quickly correct any issues.”

SB 1599 was signed into law Tuesday and is effective Jan. 1, 2020.