General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          As President Trump continues to say he will be sending federal agents and potentially the National Guard to Chicago, I am focused on ensuring that all of our neighbors are prepared for what is to come. As the son of a refugee and asylum seeker, the moment we are living in is incredibly personal. I will not stand idly by and allow for people in America to live in the same fear and oppression my family and so many others fled.

          We know what President Trump wants. He wants to manufacture a crisis to retaliate against a city whose people do not support him or his tyrannical regime. Then, after establishing a police force for political theater, Trump will claim he has solved the problem of crime in Chicago.

          As Mayor Johnson and Governor Pritzker have made clear, crime in Chicago has reached remarkable reductions in the past year with the help of expanded violence prevention efforts, including youth engagement programs and the state ban on assault weapons, all of which I have staunchly supported and worked hard to bring to fruition. I actually care about real community safety and peace in Illinois, and we continue to fight for violence prevention resources that actually work.

          As we watch closely for updates and prepare for what’s to come, I want to encourage everyone to continue to do what we do best - organize and keep each other safe.

          Please take the time to familiarize yourself, friends, and family members with the constitutional and legal rights that every American has. At icirr.org, listed below, and located in my district office (1040 W. Bryn Mawr), you can find 'Know Your Rights' handouts and portable cards available in 16 languages. Please carry around a 'Know Your Rights' card at all times, particularly if you plan on exercising your right to protest. Know your rights to fight back in the best way we have available: the law.

          If you need assistance due to ICE detention, please call ICIRR's Family Support Hotline: 855-435-7693. Finally, please reach out to my office if you have any questions: 773-769-1717. We must support each other and our great city of Chicago. Stay safe and look out for one another. I look forward to protesting alongside you.

          Below are many additional updates - including a recap of my August Town Hall, my continued push for a special session to address the transit fiscal cliff, my 100% Environmental Scorecard for the fourth year in a row, and highlights of community events like Argyle Night Market, Bike the Drive, and CMAA’s ribbon cutting. Coming up, I’m looking forward to the Oktoberfest Senior Luncheon as well as celebrating 150 Years of Merz Apothecary in Lincoln Square.

          In terms of upcoming events, I invite you to my upcoming Immigration and Housing Town Hall set for Thursday, September 18th, 2025 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The location will be announced soon via email to those who RSVP, in a future newsletter, and on social media. You can rsvp here: bit.ly/simmonsthsep.

          One final call to action: as Weiss hospital continues to struggle to demonstrate competent and responsive leadership, I encourage you to hold them accountable. I am committed to maintaining pressure to bring this safety net hospital back on-line, and if they cannot do it, to look for someone who can.

          Please take care of yourself and one another, and I look forward to seeing you around the 7th District!

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          June and July have been filled with amazing community moments - from my annual Pride Press Conference at the Gerber Hart Library, Midsommarfest in Andersonville, a State of the State event in Lincoln Square, a Senior Town Hall at The Breakers in Edgewater, and Juneteenth celebrations in Rogers Park. My staff and I have also been able to do traffic calming site visits along Western, host our annual Northside Housing Fair at Truman College, and I gave four commencement graduation speeches!

          All of these events keep me firmly rooted in the 7th District. In the past few weeks, I had the privilege of encountering the smiling faces of 8th grade and high school graduates, talking with seniors who use their well-earned retirement to fight for democracy, meeting with small businesses owners who sustain their culture through food, and dancing and celebrating with neighbors at a block party on Juneteenth - Freedom Day. In a time when federal cuts try to divide and push people down and make us feel small, I want to remind you that our 7th District is strong, beautiful, and connected. I am dedicated to knowing you, your experiences, worries, successes, and hopes for the future.

          I want to assure you that your voice is heard, and I want to thank the many thousands of you who have taken time to call and write to my office about what is important to you. I have been sending out hundreds of emails in reply to those who wrote in regarding the transit fiscal cliff and various other legislative topics. Please be on the lookout for a response from me as I work through a backlog of letters from constituents! It takes time to reply to you all, but I feel that it is important you hear directly from me when you write into my office.

          In the coming days, weeks, and months ahead, you can expect that I will do everything in my power to take action to protect our rights and to fulfill the purpose of the state government to its people. I am actively and forcefully calling for a special session to address the looming transit fiscal cliff. I will be pushing to pass LGBTQ+ human rights protections. I will be working to pass protections against rental junk fees for tenants. I will strive to protect books and materials in the public school curriculum. These are just a few of the policies I intend to see over the finish line.

          No lawmaker or leader can deny the lived experiences and needs of their constituents. I am firmly dedicated to co-governing and encourage you to stay engaged. As always, you can reach my office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-769-1717.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District     

General Updates from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

          The Spring legislative session concluded on May 31st, and I have many updates to share with you. It was a tough session in the legislature with many issues to address and a tight budget. Nonetheless, I am proud of the many bills we passed, and the progress we have made in addressing the transit fiscal cliff and junk fees for renters. I am proud to share that I voted for a transit funding and reform bill that passed the Senate 32-22 on May 31st. Full details on the bill are further down this newsletter.

          However, I am deeply disappointed with the exclusion of funding for beneficial programs, such as the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program. In a time where the Trump administration is pushing to cut access to Medicaid and Medicare, we need to do much more as a state and be a lot more aggressive to ensure everyone has access to healthcare coverage. I will continue to advocate and fight for expanded healthcare programs in Illinois.

          The big wins in the Fiscal Year 26 state budget includes a new historical high for violence prevention funding for the 7th District with $2 million exclusively appropriated for violence prevention! I fought hard to increase this fund from last year’s $1 million to $2 million, bringing more dollars to our violence prevention organizations in Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park.

We also secured $20 million for the Parent Mentor Program in public schools and a $10 million increase to MAP funding for Illinois students going to college in Illinois, many of whom are able to attend colleges and universities in Illinois for nearly free without being loaded with a bunch of student loans.

          Finally, thank you to everyone who joined me for my Budget and Transportation Town Hall at Amundsen High School on Wednesday. If you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of my townhall event here. I received the question, “What can I/we do to make sure transit funding and reform is secured?” One immediate action you take is to get looped in with a transit advocacy organization. Better Streets Chicago is convening a virtual “What Now?” meeting this Monday, June 23 from 6 - 7 p.m. Whether you're a longtime advocate or new to transit issues, your perspective and participation is critical. You can RSVP here. I encourage you to attend!

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District

Invitation from Senator Mike Simmons

Dear Neighbor,

In response to the Illinois budget and to provide direct updates about transit funding and reform, I am holding a Transportation & Budget Town Hall on Wednesday, June 18 at Amundsen High School in the auditorium, from 6 - 7:00 p.m. It is crucially important that the public and our communities hear real-time updates and I hope you will join me.

Our transit systems in northern Illinois – including CTA, Metra, and Pace –  face a $770 million fiscal cliff this year as federal COVID-19 dollars run out. As a life-long user of public transportation and member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I fought vigorously and passionately to pass HB3438 out of the Senate before the end of the Spring session.

HB3438 offers a once in a generation opportunity to not only protect the current transit systems we all rely on, but also to expand and upgrade CTA, Metra, and Pace so that these systems rival those in Germany, Japan, Colombia, and other global centers.

At this town hall I will also address the Illinois state budget as a whole, including areas that were not funded but that I and my colleagues fought for, such as the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program.

I will also address major wins, including unprecedented funding for violence prevention, Parent Mentor, Ladders of Opportunity, increased MAP grant funding so that Illinois students can attend college affordably, and increased Direct Service Provider hours.

Come to this event to hear updates directly from me and learn how you can advocate.

Please RSVP at bit.ly/simmonsth1. If you have questions please contact my office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 773-769-1717.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons
State Senator | 7th District