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March 2010 |  |
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Alderman Laurino's Biography
printA lifelong resident of the 39th Ward, Margaret Laurino's professional life has been dedicated to neighborhood issues and community concerns. Alderman Laurino has worked with Mayor Richard M. Daley to bring capital improvements and efficient city services to the Ward. Her accomplishments include increased education funding, reduced crime, and infrastructure improvements throughout the ward.
As Chairman of the City Council Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, Alderman Laurino not only looks after the needs of her ward but also works tirelessly on citywide issues that affect quality of life for all citizens. She has spearheaded a number of key citywide initiatives including:
• A proposal for creating a wireless infrastructure for the city that would allow ubiquitous high speed internet access for all residents.
• Legislation which expanded mandatory ethics training to include all city employees on a yearly basis. The program is online based and expands training from 4,000 to nearly 40,000 employees.
• Ground breaking legislation that regulates restrictive covenants that are placed on property once occupied by grocery and drug stores. This new law is thought to be the first of its kind and will hasten the return of needed services to communities.
As Alderman, Margaret Laurino has worked to bring millions of dollars of improvements to the schools of her ward. In addition to annexes at Volta, Haugan, Sauganash and Palmer Schools, she helped fund a major addition to Hibbard grammar school. To relieve school overcrowding, Alderman Laurino fought to build new schools, and two new middle schools recently opened in the 39th Ward. The Aspira Haugan Middle School, located in the Jensen Park neighborhood, opened in September 2005. The Albany Park Multicultural Academy, formerly housed at Von Steuben High School, moved to its first permanent home when it opened in September 2006. Laurino has also initiated a partnership between Swedish Covenant Hospital and the Chicago Public Schools to fund a health center at Roosevelt High School. She helped acquire funding for the 17th Police District gang and drug prevention programs, as well as the renovation of the North Park Village auditorium into a gymnastics center.
To improve public safety in the community, Alderman Laurino lobbied city officials for a new police station for the 39th Ward. The new 17th Police District state-of-the-art police station on the 4700 block of North Pulaski opened in Spring 2005.
Infrastructure has been a priority to Laurino, who has resurfaced over 200 blocks of residential streets, and 100 alleys all over the 39th Ward. Major arterial streets were resurfaced along Peterson, Pulaski, Kedzie, Kimball, Devon and Montrose, and Foster. To help solve flooding throughout the Northwest side, Alderman Laurino helped bring $12 million for the Rainblocker pilot program to prevent basement flooding. She acquired $6 million for the Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) in Albany Park, replacing curbs and sidewalks, planting trees and installing new street lights, and providing façade rebates to commercial properties. Alderman Laurino’s leadership was instrumental in implementing four Tax Increment Financing Districts in the 39th Ward. In the Lawrence-Kedzie TIF, over $4 million was invested in Albany Park, renovating single family homes and multi-unit buildings. The Small Business Improvement Fund has provided assistance to neighborhood businesses and the Peterson-Cicero TIF is bringing a new Whole Foods Store and condominiums to the community.
Alderman Laurino has worked hard to improve the lives of senior citizens and youth throughout the ward. She worked with the City’s Department of Housing to award tax credits for the construction of a 97-unit senior building in the Mayfair neighborhood. Keeping seniors in the community is also important to Laurino who helped bring over $500,000 for senior citizen home improvements such as stair and bathroom railings and roof and siding repairs. Laurino works closely with the city to provide building renovation and programming to the over 500 seniors at North Park Village. Laurino was instrumental in the renovation of the historic Rock Garden at North Park Village.
Laurino attended St. Edward’s Elementary School and Alvernia High School in Chicago. She went on to Northeastern Illinois University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in History. As a co-founder of the Peterson-Pulaski Business and Industrial Council, the Sauganash Chamber of Commerce, and the Pulaski Elston Business Association, Laurino has helped keep and attract jobs to Chicago’s northwest side. Laurino works closely with the Albany Park Community Center, a social service agency which serves over 5,000 people per year, providing day care, youth counseling, adult literacy programs, and senior programs. Alderman Laurino, Queen of All Saints Parish, and the Albany Park Community Center recently celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Albany Park Food Pantry, established in 1996.
Margaret Laurino was first elected alderman in 1995, winning re-elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007. In addition to serving as the Chairman of the Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development, Alderman Laurino is also a member of the City Council Committees on Budget and Government Operations, Buildings, Rules and Ethics, Education, Finance, Zoning, and Police and Fire Committees. Laurino developed the Aldermanic Task Force, a group that meets quarterly to discuss technological needs in city government.