SR0322 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0322 LRB103 32480 LAW 61975 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to thank Alderperson Harry Osterman of the Chicago City Council for his 12 years of service to the 48th Ward; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman, a lifelong resident of the 48th Ward, was born in Chicago and raised in Edgewater; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman's commitment to fighting for his community was instilled at a young age by his mother, Kathy Osterman, a former alderperson and longtime community activist; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman and his wife Peggy committed to raising their three children in the 48th Ward; and

WHEREAS, A community activist and former president of the Edgewater Community Council, Ald. Osterman has dedicated his career to many community issues, with his primary priorities being public safety, public health, education, and economic development; and

WHEREAS, Before being elected to the Chicago City Council, Ald. Osterman served as state representative for the 14th District for 11 years, representing Andersonville, Edgewater, and Rogers Park; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman led the fight to close the gun show loophole, supported the renovation of the Broadway Armory, increased safety for seniors and nursing home patients, expanded early childhood education, improved local schools, and secured grants for more security cameras near CTA stops and Ceasefire violence intervention; and

WHEREAS, As a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, Ald. Osterman worked to pass civil union legislation; and

WHEREAS, During his 12-year tenure on the Chicago City Council, Ald. Osterman oversaw major infrastructure improvements, including Senn High School, the Broadway Armory, Buttercup Park, Foster Beach, and countless others; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman advocated for, supported, and facilitated the CTA Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One Project to modernize the public transportation system, including replacing the more than a century old Red Line stations of Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman transformed the streetscape of Asia on the Argyle and worked to preserve the cultural heritage, traditions, and small businesses on Argyle; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman worked to combat the effects of COVID-19 by hosting a public vaccination event on April 22, 2021, which vaccinated over 2,400 people with a first dose, before vaccines were widely distributed; and

WHEREAS, In his last term, Ald. Osterman served as Housing and Real Estate Committee Chair on the Chicago City Council, advocating for fair and safe housing for seniors, affordable housing, the development and growth of the Edgewater Theatre District, and Equitable Transit-Oriented Development; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman treated his staff, constituents, and many faithful volunteers with nothing but respect, dignity, and compassion; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman employed three outstanding staffers for the entirety of his 12-year tenure, Chief of Staff Dan Luna and Staff Assistants Gerald Goodman and Ginger Williams; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman decided not to seek reelection after 12 years of service to the 48th Ward and the people of Chicago, during which he fully committed himself to providing compassionate, steadfast, and selfless public service; and

WHEREAS, Ald. Osterman's future plans include spending more time with his family and further supporting the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Alderperson Harry Osterman of the Chicago City Council for his dedicated service to the constituents of the 48th Ward and for his significant contributions to the City of Chicago and State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ald. Osterman as an expression of our esteem and respect.