Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Alderman [Name Not Provided]’s 29th Ward newsletter does not mention any hearings/meetings, policy or ordinance actions, development/zoning changes, budget or infrastructure decisions, long-term transit service changes, or street safety/redesign projects. The only major item listed is the City introducing a free “Recycle Coach” app for hyper-local waste and recycling information, plus general event/resources information.

Alderman Desmon Yancy’s newsletter is a correction clarifying the correct office phone number (773-324-5555) for residents to report post-storm flooding to the Department of Streets and Sanitation; it also notes that 311 requests are only submitted when an entire street is underwater. It advises that puddles after rain are normal and not considered an emergency, and otherwise includes standard social media and contact/unsubscribe information.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) shared that CARE mental-health response hours will expand beginning October, with teams responding 9 am–10 pm instead of 9 am–5 pm, following a Treatment Not Trauma CARES town hall. She also highlighted the Community Safety Committee’s work on youth safety/violence prevention planning and announced upcoming events such as the Back-to-School Bash (and other youth resources/events in the ward). Other items included the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture receiving top American Alliance of Museums accreditation and an update on the state’s SNAP/FRESH $400 emergency benefit program (no application, contacted by IDHS).

Alderman Desmon Yancy’s 5th Ward newsletter focuses on flood mitigation after last week’s storms, including guidance to disconnect downspouts from sewers, conserve water during storms, and use MWRD overflow alerts; the office can also contact Streets and Sanitation for major flooding conditions. Other major announcements include Friends of the Parks community dialogues on public spaces, the opening of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Gary Comer Youth Center, upcoming free/discounted museum days, and several community events such as a Back-to-School youth basketball tournament, a prostate-cancer awareness run on Aug. 30, and an Annual Men’s & Families’ Health & Resource Fair on Sept. 24, 2026.

Alderman Nicole T. Lee’s 11th Ward newsletter highlights upcoming zoning meetings for addresses at 3539/3541/3545 S. Union and at 295 S. Bonaparte (Aug. 10), while also flagging concerns about instability from the abrupt resignation of City CFO Steven Mahr ahead of October budget guidance and an extended CPD superintendent search timeline after Superintendent Snelling’s retirement. The newsletter also notes several ward events, including National Night Out at Armour Square Park (Aug. 4) and a Back To School Bash with a resource fair (Aug. 12), plus Veterans’ Assistance Office Hours (Aug. 14) and ongoing street repaving/construction updates. It concludes with non-policy announcements such as a Chinatown library/White Sox reading event and condolences for the passing of Raymond M. Chin.

In Alderman Scott Waguespack’s 32nd Ward newsletter, he highlights City budget concerns after Chicago CFO Steven Mahr abruptly resigned and says the administration has not implemented revenue/work needed to address a reported $130 million FY26 budget gap, with an acting CFO (Brendan White) expected to manage the October budget kickoff. The newsletter also lists CPD CAPS meetings in the 14th and 19th districts and urges residents to attend National Night Out on August 4, plus includes city/ward operational items like street-sweeping and storm/recovery guidance. Other major announcements/events include a Waters Edge senior luncheon and National Senior Citizens Day (Aug. 21), Camp Courage graduation for a 32nd Ward resident, upcoming National Farmers Market Week (markets in the ward), and Lakeview Taco Fest (Aug. 21–23).

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward) reports attending a Chicago Board of Education meeting urging full state funding for schools, and says the board approved an amended CPS budget that shifts responsibility to the state to cover a funding gap; he also describes City Council action related to a proposed “millionaire tax” (3% on earnings above $1M) ahead of the Council’s August break. He highlights upcoming housing-related work, including a Pilsen Housing Affordability Expo (Aug. 22) and a TIF Review Committee virtual meeting (Aug. 25), while emphasizing community engagement events like a Back to School Block Party and Mobile DMV on Aug. 21. Other announcements include CPS’s 2026–2027 school year start dates (Aug. 24 for K–12; Aug. 25 for preschool) and a Community Clean Up on Aug. 8.

This newsletter from Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s campaign focuses on petitioning for the 2027 election rather than any zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget policy updates. It announces a volunteer need for Sunday, August 2 (9am–1pm) and directs residents to an online petition-shift calendar and volunteer signup links. Other major announcement: campaign petition season runs August 1–August 31 using Airtable for scheduling.

In Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s 49th Ward update, the main zoning/development item is the proposed St. Ignatius Campus project at 6555–6559 N Glenwood and 1300–1320 W Loyola Ave: IMC would need a special use permit and Loyola’s plan for student apartments would require a rezoning from RS-3 to RM-5.5, with the community survey open through August 10. The newsletter also notes Loyola will close W. Loyola Ave (N Sheridan to the nearby alley) until mid-August for a Nursing and Science Center construction, and lists upcoming street grindings and safety-related improvements at the Joyce Kilmer Triangle monument. Other major announcements/events include the reopening/ribbon-cutting of the 400 Theater, the National Night Out event (Aug. 4), and multiple community events such as the Back to School Bash (Aug. 8) and Glenwood Ave Arts Fest (Aug. 14–16).

Alderman Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) cancelled today’s remote office hours at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market due to rain, and announced they will be rescheduled for Saturday, August 8, from 9–11 a.m. The newsletter also urges residents to support a “Letter for a Safer Lincoln Avenue” seeking to revoke The Dime’s liquor-related licenses for public safety reasons, and includes citywide guidance on storm flooding/combined sewer overflow prevention. Other major updates: the newsletter references severe storms and flooding, shares MWRD overflow action guidance to reduce water use during/after storms, and lists regular 43rd Ward office hours and contact information.

Alderman of the 46th Ward newsletter does not report any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings or policy actions. It mainly announces that the 46th Ward’s 3rd Annual Back to School Bash is still on today (Aug. 1) from 12:00–4:00 PM, moved indoors to Clarendon Park’s gymnasium and lobby due to weather. Other major information is the event’s offerings (free backpacks/supplies, food, live music, haircuts, activities, and raffles).

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) shared that the Treatment Not Trauma CARES town hall will expand Chicago’s CARE mental health response hours starting in October to 9 a.m.–10 p.m. (from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.), alongside continued advocacy with other aldermembers for resources to support vulnerable residents. She also highlighted Community Safety Committee updates, including violence-prevention outreach planning and upcoming youth events such as the Back-to-School Bash. Other major items included the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture’s American Alliance of Museums accreditation and a SNAP/FRESH program update providing a one-time $400 benefit for certain households.

In Alderman Scott Waguespack’s 32nd Ward newsletter, he highlights city budget and finance concerns after Chicago CFO Steven Mahr abruptly resigned and says the administration has delayed implementing the FY26 budget, with Acting CFO Brendan White expected to manage the budget launching in October. The newsletter also lists upcoming CAPS police meetings for multiple beats/districts and notes neighborhood public-safety updates, including recent thefts and residents’ concerns about car racing; no specific zoning/development/housing/transit approvals or ordinances are described. Other major announcements include National Night Out (Aug. 4), a Camp Courage graduation for ward resident Julia, street-sweeping and sewer-prevention reminders, storm-damage assessment guidance, and upcoming local events like Lakeview Taco Fest and an Aug. 29 Business Resource Expo.

Alderman Anthony J. Quezada (35th Ward) highlighted meetings and policy items including a community meeting on a zoning map amendment request for 3019–3021 W Belmont (Aug. 12) and a request to lift a moratorium on new North Milwaukee Ave tavern licenses (feedback accepted until Aug. 7). He also promoted the 35th Ward Participatory Budgeting process and noted participatory/transit planning via the Belmont Blue Line ETOD study survey (through Aug. 31), plus neighborhood outreach after the former Belmont-Kedzie underpass homelessness encampment was cleared. He also announced upcoming Ward Nights (Aug. 10 and Aug. 24) and other events such as the 35th Ward Annual Report Town Hall (Aug. 5) and a lead service/sewer and arterial resurfacing work updates (including Fullerton Avenue resurfacing and scheduled DWM work/closures around Waveland and Kimball).

In the 40th Ward, Ald. Andre Vasquez reports the city council is debating Mayor Johnson’s “Protecting Renters Ordinance” (rental registry, tenants’ bill of rights with just-cause eviction, fee limits, and relocation assistance) versus a competing “FAIR” ordinance that he says would roll back protections and exempt landlords with 12 units or fewer. He also notes a Chicago Board of Education budget vote that relies on $285M in TIF funds and $150M in expected state funds to cover a $700M+ gap, warning the plan is risky if revenue doesn’t materialize. Separately, the newsletter updates residents on storm damage recovery from late-week thunderstorms, a pending rezoning request for 2648 W Lawrence Ave for a 5-story mixed-use building (feedback due Aug. 3), ongoing and upcoming streetwork (including Catalpa Avenue closure for Elise Malary Plaza and Ashland Avenue markings), and a public safety incident investigation tied to an alleged hit-and-run at Peterson and Ravenswood.

Alderwoman Angela Clay’s 46th Ward newsletter highlights zoning/development feedback for a proposed B3-2 to B2-3 change at 1429 W. Irving Park (a five-story mixed-use project with 36 units and retail) and major infrastructure work including ongoing Malden/Magnolia/Leland/Lawrence alley reconstruction, CDOT residential street resurfacing (Aug. 3–6 schedule listed), Sheridan Road safety improvements (completed paving with remaining striping), and Racine water main replacement (final connection/decommissioning next week, restoration afterward). The newsletter also announces HomeGrown Purchase Assistance opening June 8 for eligible homebuyers, reminds residents about LV2 Cubs season parking passes and street-cleaning dates, and notes community events including the Aug. 1/“tomorrow” 46th Ward Back to School Bash at Clarendon Park and the next Houseless Neighbor Picnic on Aug. 26.

Alderwoman Ruth Cruz (30th Ward) reports that the City Council approved two ordinances directing over $400 million in TIF funds for infrastructure improvements, including a raised podium/parking garage at The 78 (Chicago Fire stadium area). She also describes zoning-related community outreach for a proposed special use permit at 3346 N Milwaukee Ave for a small event venue, and notes City Council advisory referendum questions scheduled for the November 2026 and February 2027 municipal ballots. Beyond legislative and zoning updates, Cruz highlights wardwide cleanup and storm recovery efforts after severe storms in mid-June, and urges residents to attend National Night Out on August 4 and upcoming back-to-school events in the 30th Ward.

Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) announced completion of a long-delayed sidewalk repair at 440 North State Street, removing a steep, hazardous slope to improve accessibility and pedestrian safety. He also highlighted the groundbreaking of a 500 North Michigan Avenue office-to-residential conversion that will create 320 new homes, and invited residents to a two-month, no-cost gunshot detection pilot program using SplitSec AI after the ShotSpotter discontinuation. Other major updates include Lollapalooza returning to Grant Park July 30–August 2 with extensive street/sidewalk closures, plus reminders about upcoming public safety/CAPS information, free Brookfield Zoo tickets, and various CTA and CDOT construction/traffic changes.

47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reported plans for a new public plaza at Lincoln & Berenice and urged residents to complete a survey on the near-final design. He also discussed 19th Police District Council deliberations over alternative response to parking-related 911 calls, criticizing the Johnson administration’s proposal to narrow the pilot and cut its staffing; his office’s legislation would use city finance “parking enforcement aides” instead of police for these calls. The newsletter also highlights upcoming community events (including the Dim Sum 5K and a 47th Ward Youth Council back-to-school event on Aug. 27) and notes construction updates like continued Western Brown Line/CTA bus service preparations and late-stage Ashland arterial resurfacing.

33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez’s newsletter highlights zoning/development items in review, including proposed zoning changes at 3007-11 W Irving Park Rd (Type 1, B3-1 to B3-3), 3446 W Irving Park Rd (Type 1, B3-1 to B3-3), and 4634-36 N Avers Ave (Type 1, RS-3 to RT-4). It also includes street/budget-adjacent infrastructure updates such as CDOT’s Kimball & Ainslie detour and raised-intersection safety project, and the scheduled July 29 start of an alley reconstruction (about six weeks). Other major announcements include a town hall on Treatment Not Trauma/Care program expansion, a summer shredding event on Aug. 1, and the Aug. 9 Ecuadorian Parade with related street closures and parking/tow rules.