How many times have you seen something on your block but have not seen action once you’ve reported it? On this AHCA board alone, we’ve fielded countless “I reported it but nothing happened” stories and have found the secret to successfully following up with the City of Chicago’s 311 service.
Here’s how to report an incident or problem and get it resolved, in a few easy steps.
See something? Say something.
First and foremost, if you see something that strikes you as odd or out of the ordinary, say something about it. Don’t assume other people already have; that’s how things are allowed to get gradually worse, until a neighborhood becomes a target for crime – because, ya know, no one is saying anything. Always call it out! And make sure you tell your neighbors about it too. When everyone is communicating, everyone is on the lookout, which is a lot more effective.
Call or visit 311 online to make a report.
Dial 311 from your phone or visit http://311request.cityofchicago.org to alert the proper city team. Whether it’s a pothole, a down CTA sign, a random mess in the street or a potential crime in progress, you can raise the issue here. You might be transferred to 911 if the operator deems your report an emergency.
Treat your operator with politeness.
Say “Hello, Mr./Ms. X,” and be polite. The operators field many irate calls and will not tolerate rudeness. Plus, as the old saying goes, “you get more flies with honey than vinegar.” So be nice, be calm, and explain the issue without emotion. You’ll find that, when done this way, a call can take less than five minutes.
THIS IS KEY: Get the Service Request (SR) number.
Before you’re transferred or the call ends, make sure to get the operator’s name and a Service Request Number, or SR, Number. The call taker should automatically give you the SR #, but many don’t. The SR number is what all city departments use to track a request.
Share the information and the SR number with your Alderman if the request is not completed in a reasonable time.
Your Alderman is the primary “go-to person” to get problems resolved, so don’t hesitate to contact him. If you do not get satisfaction from 311 and/or the alderman, you can call our office at (773) 843-2232 and leave a message on our answering machine.
Of course, for the best results, you can address it with us in person by attending our monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of every month (except July and August). We meet at 7:30 pm at the Acero School cafeteria, and you can chat with any of us before or after the meeting, or raise the issue during the meeting to open the discussion with your neighbors.
There’s power in numbers, and when we reach out to the aldermen, they are keen to help us out, especially if we have records of reports that have not been addressed thus far.