Category: Business

Anabel Abarca announces her candidacy for 12th Ward Chicago Alderwoman, stating “today, I announce my candidacy for Alderwoman of the 12th ward, to build a better Chicago and to serve the neighborhoods of McKinley Park and Brighton Park. I know the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and diligence required to be a public servant. I have begun circulating a petition for my candidacy and I would be honored if the people of 12th ward would elect me as their Alderwoman.” Abarca served as Chief of Staff to Alderman George Cardenas in addition to staffing the Committee on Health and Environmental Protection and the Chicago Latino Caucus during Cardenas’ chairmanship. As Chief of Staff, Abarca oversaw business development projects, the infrastructure ward menu, and constituent services. Abarca focused on using technology to better serve the residents and implemented good governance best practices. She helped push projects over the finish line including La Villita Park, the Archer/Pershing shopping complex, and the redevelopment of the closed Dominick’s that is now a bustling Mariano’s.

“The families in Brighton Park and McKinley Park remind me of my own: hard working abuelos y abuelas taking care of grandchildren, mom and dad’s working night shifts to provide, and first-generation kids being translators for their families. Like many of the residents, my parents sent me to Chicago Public Schools. Also like many of the residents, I took out student loans and had to work while going to school full-time. I currently live in McKinley, and I have been a resident of McKinley Park for eight years,” said Abarca. Alderman George Cardenas offers his unequivocal endorsement of Anabel Abarca, stating: “Anabel has been a voice and leader in the ward for the past ten years. I am confident that Anabel has the leadership skills, government experience, and vision to succeed me as alderwoman of the 12th ward. Anabel will be a strong advocate for public safety, equitable development and infrastructure, and a leader in environmental justice issues.”  Abarca is an Illinois licensed attorney and an associate attorney at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.

Cuando las temperaturas suben o bajan a extremo y el uso de electricidad aumenta, ComEd y Better Business Bureau (BBB) han visto que los estafadores aprovechan estas condiciones para estafar a los clientes de su dinero tan duramente ganado. En julio del 2022, tras una racha de extremo calor durante las primeras cinco semanas de verano, ComEd recibió cerca de 280 reportes de estafas de los clientes, lo que es considerablemente más alto que los 80 reportes recibidos en julio 2021. Además del aumento en incidentes reportados en julio, la cantidad de dinero perdido en las estafas subió dramáticamente a cerca de $25,000. Esto se compara a aproximadamente $4,000 perdidos en estafas en julio del 2021.

Consejos para ayudar a identificar estafas

1. ComEd nunca llama o va a casa de un cliente o negocio a:

a. Pedir un pago directo con tarjeta prepagada, criptomoneda como el Bitcoin o aplicación de pago de terceros como Cash App, QuickPay, Venmo o Zelle.

b. Pedir un pago inmediato.

c. Pedir el número de cuenta de ComEd u otra información personal, como el número del Seguro Social, el número de licencia de conducir o información bancaria.

2. Para identificar a un empleado o comunicación de ComEd, recuerde:

a. Todos los empleados del campo de ComEd visten un uniforme con el logo ComEd y muestran una etiqueta de ID de la compañía con el logo y elnombre del empleado. ComEd cambió recientemente su logo por lo que usted puede continuar viendo el logo anterior de ComEd en los uniformes, insignias y vehículos hasta que se eliminen.

b. Revise el nombre en el correo electrónico o red y asegúrese que es el nombre y dirección de la compañía con la que hace negocios. Vea si no tienen faltas de ortografía o alteraciones ligeras.

c. Haga una llamada para verificar si el email o la red es de una fuente fidedigna. Utilice un número de teléfono de su récord comercial personal o la red oficial de la compañía y no el número provisto por el email.

ComEd exhorta a todo el que crea que ha sido víctima de una estafa, a que llame a ComEd al 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Para más información, visite ComEd.com/Scams.

Anabel Abarca anuncia su candidatura para Regidora del Distrito 12 de Chicago, declarando “hoy, anuncio mi candidatura para Regidora del Distrito 12, para construir un mejor Chicago y servir a los barrios de McKinley Park y Brighton Park. Conozco el trabajo árduo, la dedicación, el sacrificio y la diligencia que se requiere para ser un servidor público. He comenzado a circular una petición para mi candidatura y me sentiría honrada si la gente del distrito 12 me elige como su Regidora”. Abarca fungió como Directora de Personal del Concejal George Cárdenas además de formar parte del Comité de Protección Ambiental y de Salud y del Caucus Latino de Chicago durante la presidencia de Cárdenas. Como Jefe de Personal, Abarca vigiló los proyectos de desarrollo comercial, el menú de infraestructura del distrito y los servicios a los constituyentes. Abarca se enfocó en el uso de la tecnología para servir mejor a los residentes e implementó las mejores prácticas de buen gobierno. Ayudó a impulsar proyectos hasta completarlos, incluido el parque La Villita, el complejo comercial Archer/Pershing y la remodelación del Dominick’s cerrado, que ahora es un Mariano’s en plena ebullición.

Las familias de Brighton Park y McKinley Park me recuerdan a mi misma: los abuelos trabajando mucho y las abuelas cuidando de los nietos, mamá y papá trabajando los turnos de noche para mantenernos y siendo la primera generación de niños que traducían para sus familias. Como muchos de los residentes, mis padres me enviaron a las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago. También, como muchos residentes, solicité un préstamo estudiantil y tuve que trabajar mientras iba a la escuela tiempo completo. Actualmente vivo en McKinley y he sido residente de McKinley Park por ocho años”, dijo Abarca. El Concejal George Cárdenas ofrece su inequívoco endoso a Anabel Abarca diciendo: “Anabel ha sido una voz y una líder en el distrito los pasados diez años. Tengo confianza en que Anabel tiene las destrezas de liderazgo, la experiencia gubernamental y la visión necesaria para sucederme como regidora del distrito 12. Anabel será una firme defensora de la seguridad pública, desarrollo e infraestructura equitativos, y una líder en cuestiones de justicia ambiental”. Abarca es abogada licenciada en Illinois y abogada asociada de Faegre Drinker Bidle & Reath LLP.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a consent decree with construction subcontractors building a new production line for Rivian Automotive Inc. (Rivian), expanding on a settlement reached in December 2021. The settlement requires two subcontractors to pay over $300,000 in back wages and penalties to resolve allegations that they failed to pay Mexican laborers for overtime worked. A joint investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s office and the Illinois Department of Labor (DOL) revealed that a chain of subcontractors hired to construct Rivian’s new production line in Normal, Illinois failed to pay overtime wages to their Mexican workers at the site. The consent decree Raoul filed requires China-based Guangzhou MINO Equipment Co. (MINO) and Florida-based BIW Automotive Solution Inc. (BIW), to pay owed overtime wages and civil penalties totaling $315,000 to 59 workers who were denied overtime wages they earned.

According to the Attorney General’s office, MINO, BIW and SDS used an elaborate subcontracting arrangement to deny overtime pay to Mexican laborers at Rivian’s facility in Normal. After Rivian hired MINO to build assembly lines, MINO subcontracted work to BIW. BIW then further subcontracted to SDS to obtain much of the workforce MINO used to fulfill its obligations to Rivian. Although SDS was responsible for paying the workers, MINO and BIW shared significant control over their work and their conditions of employment. Under the consent decree Raoul’s office filed today, MINO agrees to pay 59 affected employees $170,000 in owed overtime wages and penalties, and BIW will pay an additional $145,000. The Illinois Minimum Wage Law allows employees to recover up to triple the amount of damages for any underpayment of wages to which they are entitled. Through the settlement, Raoul’s office is recovering about 150 percent of the overtime wages that employees should have received if they had been paid the required overtime premium rate.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot announced that S&P Global Ratings (S&P) and Fitch Ratings (Fitch) have upgraded their long-term ratings for Chicago O’Hare International Airport (O’Hare) General Airport Revenue Bonds (GARB) by one notch from “A” to “A+” with a stable outlook. S&P has also upgraded the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) long-term rating from “A” to “A+” with a stable outlook. This is the first set of rating upgrades on O’Hare in six to seven years.  The last time S&P and Fitch upgraded O’Hare was in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Hare was also one of the few large hub airports not downgraded by S&P, proving the competitive market strength of the airport. The upgrade is due a number of factors, including:  

• Air traffic has recovered to about 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Early indications show traffic recovery will continue to improve this year and beyond. 
 
• O’Hare financial metrics have improved materially since 2015. Debt service coverage has increased from 1.08x in 2015 to 1.36x in 2022. Liquidity has improved from 167 days in 2015 to 476 days in 2022. The City improved these financial metrics over the last three years despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• The $1 billion redevelopment of Terminal 5 is nearing completion. Ten new gates will open in phases at Terminal 5 and a grand opening is planned for later this year, creating about 25% of the total expected capacity expansion of the airport capital plan. This major component of the capital plan nearing completion lowers risk for the airport overall. 

Learn more at www.ord21.com.  

El Procurador General Kwame Raoul anunció un decreto de consentimiento con subcontratistas de construcción que construyen una nueva línea de producción para Rivian Automotive Inc. (Rivian), ampliando un arreglo alcanzado en diciembre del 2021. El arreglo requiere que dos subcontratistas paguen más de $300,000 en salarios atrasados y penalidades para resolver alegatos de que no pagaron a trabajadores mexicanos por horas extra trabajadas. Una investigación conjunta conducida por la oficina del Prourador General y el Departamento de Trabajo de Illinois (DOL) reveló que una cadena de subcontratistas contratada para construir una nueva línea de producción de Rivian en Normal, Illinois no pagó el salario de horas extras a sus trabajadores mexicanos. El decreto de consentimiento que Raoul presentó requiere que Guangzhou MINO Equipment Co, (MINO), con sede en China, y BIW Automotive Solution Inc. (BIW), con sede en Florida, paguen los salarios por horas extra adeudados y multas civiles por un total de $315,000 a 59 trabajadores a quienes se les negaron los salarios por horas extra que ganaron.

De acurdo a la oficina del Procurador General, MINO, BIW y SDS usaron un elaborado arreglo de subcontratación para negar el pago de horas extra a los trabajadores mexicanos en la instalación de Rivian en Normal. Después que Rivian contratara a MINO para construir líneas de ensamblaje, MINO subcontrató el trabajo a BIW. BIW luego subcontrató a SDS para obtener mucha de la fuerza laboral que MINO utilizó para cumplir sus obligaciones con Rivian. Aunque SDS era responsable de pagar a los trabajadores, MINO y BIW compartieron un considerable control sobre su trabajo y sus condiciones de empleo. Según el decreto de consentimiento presentado hoy por la oficina de Raoul, MINO acepta pagar a 59 empleados afectados $170,000 en salarios y multas por horas extra adeudados y NOW pagará $145,000 adicionales. La Ley de Salario Mínimo de Illinois permite a los empleados recuperar hasta el triple de la cantidad de daños por el pago insuficiente de los salarios a los que tienen derecho. A través del acuerdo, la oficina de Raoul está recuperando alrededor del 150 por ciento de los salarios de horas extras que los empleados deberían haber recibido si se les hubiera pagado la prima de horas extras requerida.

The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), released the updated Chicago Business Zoning Guide to serve as a reference for business owners and entrepreneurs. The Zoning Guide will provide property owners and businesses with clear, reliable, and consistent information on zoning usage. Zoning requirements are designed to maintain the unique character of Chicago’s many neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and industrial areas, as well as provide a basis for economic growth. Ensuring proper zoning is a critical first step for any business looking to get their start or expand operations in Chicago. The new Zoning Guide contains significant updates, including:

• Easy-to-follow charts to increase readability and save time

• Additional introductory zoning information to acquaint users with how zoning works and the specifications of each zoning district

• Updated, consistent, and reliable information regarding business uses

• Helpful resources and tools for further business support

To confirm the zoning status of a specific location, call the Business Call Center at 312-74-GOBIZ (744.6249). The Chicago Small Business Center also offers walk-in consultations from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 121 N. LaSalle Street, Room 800. To learn more, visit Chicago.gov/BusinessLicensing.

Mujeres Brillantes de La Limpieza LWCA, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya, 10th ward Alderwoman Susan Sadlowski-Garza, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: United Workers’ Center (CTU) and allies gathered on Monday at City Hall to support the launching of its first cleaning worker cooperative.  A worker owned cooperative provides an opportunity for all worker owners to share the same responsibilities, profits and work ethics in an attempt to create alternative economies. The effort to expand and form new worker cooperatives is being led by women and people of color. A study conducted by the Illinois Worker Cooperative Alliance (IWCA) found that worker cooperative businesses are an emerging sector of the economy.  More than sixty percent (60%) of worker cooperatives in operation have been formed since 2000.  Nationally, roughly sixty-six percent (66%) of all current worker-owners are women; and since 2010, sixty percent (60%) of new worker-owners are people of color. (Cooperation Chicago: Building Chicago’s Worker Cooperative Ecosystem, 2018)

As worker cooperatives create living-wage employment opportunities for low and moderate- income and marginalized workers, IWCA believes that fostering the growth of the worker cooperative ecosystem is the single most important thing that the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois can do to address worker exploitation and inequality, while promoting economic stability and community wealth building. The Illinois Worker Cooperative Act became effective in January 2020, right before the State of Illinois went into closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Worker Cooperative Act 1) creates a new business entity better suited for worker co-ops, 2) allow for businesses to assert themselves as worker co-ops under State statute, 3) enshrine co-op values into the business form, 4) allow co-ops to raise capital without the burden of costly securities registration, and 5) creates access for worker-ownership for low-moderate income entrepreneurs, formerly incarcerated individuals and immigrant communities in Illinois.