I am excited to be participating as a panelist for the third and final part of the Exploring Progressive Women & Political Values series. You can register for the virtual event on June 23 here: https://bit.ly/3zqaIWw

Para leer en español, haz click aqui.

Dear Friend,

I’m excited to announce Illinois has entered Phase 5 of our Restore Illinois recovery plan, meaning all capacity limits have been lifted. We have officially entered our new normal!

Here’s what Phase 5 will look like:

• Businesses across all industries—including bars, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, live music venues, and indoor and outdoor recreational spaces—can return to full operations for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Festivals, conventions and other large events can resume.
• Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask except where required by local business and workplace guidance.

Find the full list of Phase 5 guidelines here.

You can find a list of guidelines for the city of Chicago here.

Keep in mind: Under Phase 5, masks should still be worn in crowded, high-risk areas, like public transportation, congregate living facilities and health care settings. To protect those around them, unvaccinated people should continue to wear a mask indoors and practice social distancing, and residents who are immunocompromised should consider wearing a mask in settings where others may not be fully vaccinated.

In short, getting vaccinated is your ticket to normalcy. It’s a safe, quick and easy way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the virus—and it’s available to all residents age 12 and older. Find a vaccination site near you and make an appointment today. Information on vaccine sites in Chicago can be found here.

Illinois has reached a test positivity rate of less than 2%, with more than half the population fully vaccinated, and hospitalization metrics have been on the decline since early May. These statistics are something to be proud of—Illinois could not have made such positive progress without the help of residents like you, who have masked up, social distanced and gotten vaccinated to protect your community. On behalf of the friends and neighbors you’ve kept safe: Thank you.

As we enter the final stage of our recovery, remember that my staff and I are here to help. For assistance with aid programs, state agencies, grant applications and more, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 773-278-2020 or reach out on my website here.

Let’s move forward into this new era, together.

Sincerely,

Cristina Pacione-Zayas, State Senator | 20th District

Es con sumo placer que les anuncio que Illinois ha entrado a la fase 5 para restaurar el plan de recuperación en nuestro estado, quiere decir que se han eliminado todos los limites de capacidad.  Oficialmente entramos a la normalidad!

Asi es como será fase 5: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/phase-5

Empresas, todas la industrias, baras, restaurantes, gimnasios, teatros (cines), conciertos, actividades recreacionales (interiores y exteriores) pueden volver a las operaciones completas por primera vez desde el inicio de la pandemia, Covid 19.

Festivales, convenciones y otros grandes eventos pueden reanudar operaciones.

Las personas completamente vacunadas pueden realizar sus actividades sin usar mascarilla, excepto cuando lo exijan las empresas locales o su lugar de trabajo.

Podrá encontrar una lista de guias para la ciudad de chicago aquí.

Tenga en cuenta: Durante la fase 5 las mascarillas aún deben utilizarse cuando hay mucha gente aglomerada, zonas de alto riesgo, como transportación pública, instalaciones residenciales con gran concentración de gente y facilidades para el cuidado de la salud.  Para proteger a los que te rodean, personas no vacunadas continuará usando mascarilla en interiores y practicando distanciamiento social, los residentes con el sistema inmunológico comprometido deberá considerar utilizar su mascarilla en entornos donde se encuentran otras personas que puede no estén vacunadas o completamente vacunadas.

En conclusión, Vacunarse es su boleto a la normalidad! Es una forma segura, rápida y fácil de protegerse a sí mismo y a sus seres queridos contra el virus, y está disponible para todos los residentes de 12 años o más.  Encuentre un centro de vacunación cerca de usted y haga una cita hoy.  Información sobre los sitios donde se puede vacunar lo puede encontrar aquí.

Illinois ha alcanzado una tasa de posibilidad de un 2%, tenemos más de la mitad de la población vacunada por completo, y las hospitalizaciones han estado en declive desde principios de mayo. Estas estadísticas es algo de lo que debemos sentirnos orgullosos- no hubiera sido esto posible en Illinois sin la ayuda de sus residentes, que utilizaron mascarilla, guardaron la distancia requerida y se vacunaron para proteger su comunidad.  A nombre de los amigos y vecinos que mantuviste a salvo, gracias.

Al entrar en la etapa final de recuperación, recuerde que mi personal y yo estamos aquí para ayudar.  Para asistencia con programas de ayuda, agencias estatales, ayuda economica y más no dude en comunicarse con nosotros llamando al 773-278-2020.

Avancemos a esta nueva era, unidos!

Dear Friend,

It’s hard to believe, but the spring legislative session is behind us. I’m proud of all we accomplished in Springfield in service of the people of our community, and of Illinois as a whole.

As we take our first steps into summer, I wanted to give you an update on the legislation I championed on behalf of the 20^th District, as well as information on upcoming events, the CPS superintendent search, and more.

I invite you to contact my office to discuss the issues most important to you—give us a call at 773-278-2020 or reach us on my website to share your ideas. Stay tuned for details on the grand opening of our district office this summer for in person visits! 

You can also get the most up-to-date information on events around our community by liking my page on Facebook or following my Twitter @SenPacioneZayas. 

As always, it’s been an honor to represent you in the Illinois Senate. I wish you and your family a safe, healthy and happy summer!

Sincerely,

Cristina Pacione-Zayas, State Senator | 20^th District

Legislative Update

Pacione-Zayas plan to train more early childhood educators passes General Assembly

I passed a plan to bolster the early childhood education workforce by creating a statewide higher education consortium, which will remove barriers by expanding access and affordability to get more people into the early childhood education field. Read more here.

Community-designed plan to name designated cultural districts passes General Assembly

This year, I passed a measure to allow for the designation of cultural districts in Illinois to give communities a chance to pursue economic opportunities and ensure our neighborhoods preserve their unique cultures. Read more here.

Child care benefits expansion codified under new measure

The past year of the pandemic has revealed just how hard families are struggling with child care here in Illinois, and we need to make assistance more inclusive. That’s why I passed legislation to raise the eligible income threshold for the Child Care Assistance Plan. Read more here.

I also championed legislation to:

• Promote accessbility of online curirculums in school (HB 26);
• Require ISBE to include the number of teachers who are National Board Certified Teachers disaggregated by race and ethnicity (HB 2438); 
• Allow Illinois courts to order DCFS to assess a child's out of state living arrangements under certain criteria (HB 3595); and
• Allow the Northwest Home Equity Program in Chicago to establish a fund to assist residents with delinquent property tax payments (HB 2614).

Northwest Side Legislative Forum

Join me, State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, State Rep. Will Guzzardi, and State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe on Wednesday, June 16 for a legislative forum.

You can register for the free webinar here: https://bit.ly/3ghfVHe

Chicago Public Schools Survey

The Chicago Public Schools’ Board of Education has launched a search for a CEO/Superintendent and wants to know your thoughts. Fill out the survey by midnight on June 11 to have your voice heard in shaping the future of Chicago Public Schools!

Fill out the CEO/Superintendent search survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCQT359

More information on the CEO Selection Process can be found here: www.cps.edu/about/leadership/ceo-search/

CPS is also looking for input from families to collect your thoughts on returning back to school in person for five days a week this fall, and how the district can support your family during the transition. Fill out the below survey by June 18.

Fill out the CPS Fall Reopening survey here: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6296385/SY22-Fall-Reopening

More information on the CPS reopening plan can be found here: https://www.cps.edu/school-reopening/

Phase 5 Reopening in Chicago

I’m excited to give you an important update on our state’s pandemic recovery efforts. The entire state will move into the Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan on June 11. This phase will allow businesses to open without capacity limits, and masks will no longer be required for fully vaccinated people.

Stay tuned for more information on the transition to Phase 5 in the city.

For now, get all the latest information on Reopening Chicago on the City of Chicago website here.

Federal Child Care Tax Credit

There have been important changes to the Child Tax Credit that will help many families receive advance payments starting this summer. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC) for tax year 2021.

For tax year 2021, families claiming the CTC will receive up to $3,000 per qualifying child between the ages of 6 and 17 at the end of 2021. They will receive $3,600 per qualifying child under age 6 at the end of 2021.

Check out the video above for more information, and visit the IRS website for more information on eligibility, credit amounts, and more.