SSAs are local tax districts that fund enhanced services or programs, which are paid for by local property taxes.

According to their website, the SSA #73 Chinatown Board delivers its services through @Chinatown312 (The Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce)

8 individuals are present on the call. Paul Poy starts the call by saying that SSA #73 supports the economic and other community needs in addition to what the city of Chicago provides.

The full agenda for today’s meeting is available here: https://chinatownssa73.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Agenda-3-23-2021.pdf

Minutes from the 01/26/2021 meeting notes were approved at 3:05PM.

The 2020 SSA #73‘s budget primarily focused on trash clean-up (ex: the red trash cans along Wentworth Ave), string lights, and landscape maintenance.

In 2021, the duties expanded to additional maintaining city landscaping, and continues to manage trash pick-up.

Paul Poy & Emma Yu met earlier with Ald Bryon Sigcho-Lopez. They discussed homelessness & asked if the group had ideas to provide an assessment on housing needs and services to the encampment under the viaduct Archer Avenue — however, this falls outside the SSA area.

Poy reached out to the City to see if SSA funds can be reallocated to help support the encampment. He also mentioned reaching out to local non-profits, such as the @PuiTakCenter on their recommendations in how to help.

Tom: We need to ask DPD first if we can spend that SSA money bc it is outside of the physical boundaries & we need to see if our current budget even allows for us to spend on these social services.

Poy clarified this would be for the 2022 budget.

Poy: We need to understand what their needs are…I am not an expert, “this is a problem that is pervasive, even outside of Chinatown…and I’m assuming this would be one member of the SSA and the contact person to manage the assessmen ..do we get involved?”

Other committee members echoed Darryl Tom’s concern: “Can we legally use SSA #73 funds for outside the boundaries?”

Ald. Sigcho-Lopez approached SSA #73 on reallocating funds to assist the Archer Ave viaduct encampment. He emphasized that he would approve any line item

Poy: “This probably can be one way we can support business people and citizens is helping the homeless issue…we got into this discussion to justify the SSA’s continued existence.”

Poy: “This impacts of all of Chinatown…”

To potentially justify using SSA funds to support the Archer Ave encampment, Poy said, “We could say that it might harm the general vicinity to walk in the area and in business transactions…”

Next item on agenda: reviewing the 2021 budget so far. At the moment there have only been transactions to fund trash pick-up.

As of today, they have received about $8000 in funding from the first installment property taxes.

Next item: looking at the initial 2022 budget.

In 2020, trash removal will continue to be covered. Poy asked if there was anything additional…silence from the rest of the commissioners.

The @Chinatown312 is planning for the following events: The Dragon Boat Festival will be held on August 28 & the Chinatown Summer Fair is scheduled for 2 days in July. There are also plans to host the Miss Chinatown Pagent this year.

According to Emma Yu, the @Chinatown312 will be hosting a Facebook Live event on March 31, 2021 from 3PM - 4PM to notify community members on upcoming events.

Public comment opened up at 3:46PM, no public comment.

A Commissioner corrected herself and said that currently in the SSA #73 bank account, there is $14,000 that can be spent.

Poy motioned to adjourn the meeting at 3:47PM. The meeting adjourned at 3:48PM.

This concludes the Chicago SSA #73 Chinatown Board Meeting. The next SSA #73 meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2021.

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