Discussions

2026  Work Plan & Administration

• Motion adopted for the SSA 42 Work Plan and 2026 budget with $747,210 levy. Unanimous approval.
• SSA (Special Service Area) will move into a new Chamber-owned building by the end of November 2025.
• Adjusted spreadsheet to include new insurance cost for trash cans/kiosks for 2025 and 2026 budgets.
• Exploring anti-litter campaign to create more robust neighborhood messaging.

Corridor Live
Commission was not pleased with the brand concepts proposed by Perkins & Will. Unanimous consensus to request more concepts. Potentially may request changing vendor.

Security & Public Safety

• Area-wide crime stats: 21% decrease in robberies, 5% in overall crime for June (area-wide, not corridor-specific).
• Discussion on reliability and actionability of reported data.
• Consensus on the need for all incidents, no matter how slight, to be logged for transparency and to justify public investment.
• Recognition that policing and traditional patrols have not substantively lowered crime; ongoing need to balance security patrol investments with other public safety/violence prevention initiatives.
• Noted decline from $158,100 (2025) to $150,000 (2026) in security budget to allow for future innovation in approach (e.g., non-police ambassador programs, violence interruption models).
• Longer conversation about security-to-prevention continuum tabled for future meeting.
• Alignment with “Reimagined Public Safety” state-funded programs; called for more integrated, strategic discussions bringing together multiple stakeholder groups (SSA, Alderman, Quality of Life Plan [QLP], NMA).
• Highlighted necessity of workforce component for youth engagement in violence prevention.

South Shore Summer Festival

• October London will be performing. Currently more than 10,000 registered to attend. Chamber solicited support of the commission to assist with reaching out to networks for sponsorship.