CMAP budget.  As you know, the State of Illinois budget impasse continues to jeopardize CMAP's funding. We're working hard to ensure that the Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund is maintained, but the overall state budget outlook is obviously discouraging. While the latest news coverage points out that leaders in Springfield are presently discussing program cuts in addition to possible tax increases, I don't hear anyone saying it would make sense to back away from our state's and region's commitment to long-range planning, especially when a capital bill is still very likely to be signed by the Governor.  We'll continue to keep you posted. 

Chicago Tonight.  Last night, CMAP Board chairman Gerald Bennett was interviewed by Christian Farr of WTTW's Chicago Tonight.  Click here to see the video.  Mayor Bennett's main topic was the GO TO 2040 "Invent the Future" public-input phase, and he described the many engaging ways that residents can have their say this summer and help shape the comprehensive regional plan. 

Invent the Future.  By now, I hope you've visited our redesigned website for GO TO 2040.  Read about the new public-input phase in our news release from earlier this week.  With fun web tools developed by CMAP and MetroQuest (sponsored in part by The Chicago Community Trust), you can create your own future scenarios -- and even mail them to friends and post them at sites like Facebook -- to tell us how you want metropolitan Chicago to plan for the additional 2.8 million residents expected by 2040.  Or attend one of 50 "Invent the Future" GO TO 2040 scenario workshops that CMAP is holding with partners across the seven counties.  To find one near you, see our Google map with directions to workshops scheduled to date -- and more are being added by the day.

Invent the Future workshops. Click here for our growing schedule of GO TO 2040 "Invent the Future" workshops, the first of which was held yesterday at Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park.  Our next workshops will be Tuesday, June 9, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. co-hosted by the Lake County Planning Department at the College of Lake County, Southlake Campus 1120 S. Milwaukee Ave., in Vernon Hills.  We will also be having a workshop in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago at the Armitage Baptist Church co-hosted by Alderman Rey Colon, 35^th Ward, on Wednesday June 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Register online, email, or call 312-386-8814. If you need special accommodations or more information, please contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn at 312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov.

GO TO 2040 kiosks.  The latest sites for our kiosks are the Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St., Blue Island, IL), Naperville City Hall (400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL), and Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) (224 S. Michigan Ave., #116, Chicago, IL).  June 11 is the public opening of the CAF's exciting Chicago Model City exhibit, located at that same address -- now known as the Santa Fe Building and formerly the Railway Exchange Building -- which just happens to be where Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett crafted the 1909 Plan of Chicago. Our summer kiosk schedule is filling up, so contact us soon to propose any high-traffic indoor sites.  Contact Joey-Lin Silberhorn at 312-386-8814 or jsilberhorn@cmap.illinois.gov.).

Yorkville goes to 2040.  CMAP's recent community-design activities in partnership with the City of Yorkville and the Congress for the New Urbanism Illinois are in the news.

CMAP on Facebook.  Hopefully you're already a fan of CMAP and GO TO 2040, but now you can show it on Facebook. Just go to our Facebook page and click to become a fan of GO TO 2040. 

GO TO 2040 web media kit. This week we launched a handy online press kit for bloggers, online writers, and any other social networkers. There you'll find convenient resources to help you share information about GO TO 2040 and "Invent the Future" activities on an on-going basis. For example, it's easy to embed our "Invent the Future" teaser video.

Burnham book.  The Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, the Honorary Society for the Advancement of Land Economics, has published a new book, The Plan of Chicago @ 100: 15 Views of Burnham's Legacy for a New Century.  Click here to pre-order it.

DePaul Burnham festival.  DePaul University's "Century in Motion" festival begins on Friday, June 19, 2009, with a 5:00 p.m. reception at DePaul Center, lower concourse (1 East Jackson) preceding the performance of "Plans," a piece commissioned by the Grant Park Orchestral Association to celebrate the Burnham Centennial. For more information or to RSVP, email Burnham@depaul.edu.  Also, on Saturday, June 20, chartered mini-bus excursions guided by DePaul professors will include visits to the famed Chicago lakefront, the trains at Union Station, and a brief look at two vibrant neighborhoods. Visit http://las.depaul.edu/Burnham to purchase tour tickets and for more about  DePaul festival events, which continue into July.

Chicagoland's best public places contest.  From June 3 to July 27, 2009, enter the "What Makes Your Place Great?" contest by sending MPC a photo or video of your favorite public space in the region.  Together with a 250-word-or-less description, use your photo or video to describe why this place is so special to you and how it adds to your community.  Four winners will receive a fabulous prize package that includes Chicago Architecture Foundation walking tour tickets, passes to the Art Institute of Chicago, Co-op hot sauces from NeighborSpace, membership in the Active Transportation Alliance, and gift certificates to Branch 27, Browntrout, Feast, or Seven Ten Lanes.  Read the guidelines for entry and voting at www.placemakingchicago.com.

Certification reminder.  The FHWA and FTA Planning Certification Review for the Chicago Transportation Management Area will include a public meeting on Tuesday, June 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Planning Council,140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60603.

HSR symposium.  From 8:00 a.m. to noon on June 15, 2009, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association will hold a symposium on high-speed rail at the University Club, 76 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603.  Keynote speaker is Senator Richard Durbin.  Registration is $45, which includes breakfast.  Register on-line or download the form.  Contact Neida Cintron (312-666-5910 or ncintron@haciaworks.org). 

Housing event reminder.  Registration ends on June 10 for Solutions for Working Families: 2009 Learning Conference on State and Local Housing Policy in Chicago, June 28-30, 2009.  Sponsored by the Center for Housing Policy and the National Housing Conference, it's a forum for state and local leaders to share information on foreclosure prevention, rental housing preservation, green building, workforce housing, and other housing policies.

Blog entry.  In the GO TO 2040 blog, CMAP's Erin Aleman writes about her experience at a tour of the Museum of Science and Industry's Smart Home exhibit.