Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

In Alderman Bennett Lawson’s 44th Ward newsletter, the main public-safety and community-facing item is a recent Public Safety Town Hall, plus upcoming beat/public-safety meetings like the 19th Police District Council session on July 29 on the Parking Alternative Response Team. The newsletter also covers major ward activity updates rather than housing/development approvals: planned demolition phases at 2800 N. Sheridan beginning Aug. 3, and ongoing street/alley resurfacing with dates in late July. Other notable announcements include street closures for Savannah Bananas games (July 24–26) and the Mustache Bar Crawl, plus National Night Out and a Merlo Library blood drive on Aug. 4, and Lollapalooza running July 30–Aug. 2.

Alderman Jim Gardiner (45th Ward) highlights tonight’s community meeting on a proposed Special Use Permit at 5462 N. Milwaukee Ave. for a drive-through café, alongside a Cook County Board of Review update accepting pre-filed property tax appeals for the 2026 tax year. The newsletter also notes safety-related infrastructure work at Norwood Park Metra Crossing after four deaths, and includes a mention that City Council committee approved $424 million in tax subsidies for the Chicago Fire stadium site. Other updates include the launch of construction at the Nagle Railroad Crossing (starting July 6), a list of 2026 beat meeting dates, and community programming such as a recent women’s self-defense class and local business spotlights.

In the 49th Ward, Alderwoman Maria Hadden highlighted July City Council and committee actions on housing and related policy: she opposed the introduced FAIR (Fair and Accountable Illinois Rental) ordinance as a scaled-back alternative to Mayor Johnson’s PRO, and the City advanced ballot referenda for November 2026 and February 2027. She also covered environmental-protection legislation tied to zoning/building standards, including re-referral of an ordinance that would require bird-friendly building design for new construction and major renovations, plus an ordinance introduced after a hearing to require data centers to report energy and water use. The newsletter also notes a budget hearing on Chicago’s mid-year budget report, a delayed September 30 deadline for approving a parking meter sale, and several environmental/ward events such as a rescheduled mid-summer block party town hall (July 23) and the National Night Out / Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival in August.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) announced that the Cook County Board of Review is open for 2026 property tax appeals and reported that the Chicago Department of Water Management is cleaning and installing catch-basin restrictors across parts of the ward (Montrose–Addison and Narragansett–Laramie), expected to finish in early August to help reduce flooding and sewer overload. The newsletter also promotes National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4 (5–8 pm) at Norwood Park (5801 N Natoma), including police T-shirt sales with proceeds benefiting local and memorial causes. Other updates include information on donating to St. Cyprian Food Pantry, a local business highlight (Wildflower Thrift and Gifts), and various job opportunities.

Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor’s Ward 20 newsletter (Oct. 5, 2026) contains no updates on zoning/development, housing, transit, or budget hearings/decisions, and no related policy changes or ordinances. The main content is general information and opportunities, including current apprenticeship program openings and help applying through HIRE360Chicago, plus a note of Ward 20 office/contact resources and social links.

Alderman William E. Hall (6th Ward) invites residents to a Future 75 Community Meeting on Thursday, August 6, 2026 (6:00 PM at 8000 S. Michigan Avenue) to plan a long-term vision for the 75th Street corridor, covering investment, public safety, housing, and transportation. The newsletter is focused on gathering community input to shape development and transit-related priorities over the next 30 years. Other announcements: none beyond the event invitation and location details.

Alderman Matt O’Shea (19th Ward) promoted a free outdoor concert at Kennedy Park (11320 S. Western Ave.) on July 23 at 7:00 pm featuring El Rando Band, with families encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, and bug spray. The newsletter does not mention any zoning, housing, transit, budget, ordinance/policy changes, development approvals, or street safety items. Other note: the 19th Ward office also shares general state employment/retirement program information (Illinois Secure Choice).

Alderwoman Angela Clay’s 46th Ward newsletter is focused on the upcoming Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 1 (11:00 AM–3:00 PM) at Clarendon Park, including free school supplies and backpacks, raffles, community resources, and family activities. The email mainly asks residents to volunteer for setup/tear-down, check-in, supply distribution, and helping at activity stations, and it thanks event sponsors and partners.

Alderwoman Angela Clay (46th Ward) is urging residents to volunteer for the 46th Ward Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 1 (11:00 AM–3:00 PM) at Clarendon Park, offering free school supplies and backpacks, raffles, activities, and community agency resources. The newsletter includes a sponsor thank-you list and provides a volunteer sign-up link; no zoning, housing, transit, budget, or policy changes were announced.

Alderman Jason C. Ervin’s July 2026 newsletter primarily promotes community events and information sessions rather than specific zoning/development, transit, housing, parking, street-safety, or budget actions. The only major city planning item noted is “Public Hearings on Proposed FY2027 Capital Plan” with sessions on July 22–23, 2026. Other highlighted announcements include a Department of Gun Violence Reduction community teach-in (July 22), Chicago Tech Week programming (July 23), multiple housing/resource fairs and down payment assistance (Chicago Neighborhood Recovery Program), and several back-to-school and neighborhood events including Taste of the Hatchery (July 25) and the Chicago Gospel Music Festival (July 24–25 at Millennium Park).

In Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley’s 21st Ward weekly bulletin, the focus is on ongoing development and infrastructure progress, including advances in major residential and business projects (e.g., Morgan Park Commons and Beverly Ridge Phase 1B), completed resurfacing work, and scheduled transportation improvements like Metra’s 89th & Morgan Bridge Project. The newsletter also highlights upcoming community policy/services engagement through a July 25 town hall on water management, environmental concerns, and emergency preparedness, plus a second portion featuring a SplitsecAI gunshot-detection app demonstration and free Back-to-School immunization clinics. Other major announcements/events include “Movies in the Park” (Gremlins on July 22), summer block party visits and PlayStreets (107th Place), and safety advisories on Honda air bag thefts and Illinois Secretary of State text scams.

Alderman Debra L. Silverstein (50th Ward) announced the annual 50th Ward Back to School Giveaway on Sunday, July 26 at 10:00 AM at the Indian Boundary Nature Play Center (northwest section of the park near Estes and Rockwell), featuring free backpacks and school supplies distributed one per child on a first-come, first-served basis. The newsletter includes sponsor acknowledgments (Devon Sport, AAIM Howard & Western LLC, and Peoples Gas) and provides event and office contact details. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety policy meetings or approvals are mentioned.

Alderman Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) does not list any specific city meetings, hearings, ordinances, development/zoning actions, or budget/transit funding decisions in this newsletter; the focus is on business reminders. It includes practical guidance on sidewalk café permit compliance and setup, street-sweeping rules, keeping alleys/dumpsters clean (including grease bins), and city graffiti removal resources. Other major announcements are a July 25 North Branch Works bike tour (“Blues & Brews”); plus reminders to register for the Small Biz Expo in August and use local small-business resource organizations and programs.

Aldermanic Office of the Third Ward newsletter (7/21/26) highlights upcoming/community events rather than zoning, housing, transit, or budget matters, including the 8th Annual CRR1919 Bike Tour, Cosmo Care Day of Giving, and the Fuller Park Sidewalk Sale. It also notes mobile vehicle emissions testing. No specific policy changes, development approvals, or street safety/redesign projects are mentioned in this issue.

Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman’s 16th Ward newsletter focuses on community service guidance rather than outlining specific zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety hearings, policy changes, or development approvals. It notes that an Air Quality Advisory led to rescheduling “Alderman in the Park” at Mabel Park to Monday, July 27, and reminds residents to report City issues via the CHI311 app or the ward office. The newsletter also promotes general resources and upcoming community events/educational and employment opportunities.

Alderman Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward) reports that after advocacy following a Sunday homicide near Lincoln and Webster tied to fights at “The Dime” (2263 N. Lincoln Ave), Chicago Police Interim/Acting Superintendent Fred Waller issued a Summary Closure Order closing the bar immediately for up to six months. Knudsen says the closure is separate from a longer process to permanently revoke the liquor license and will continue pushing for stronger restrictions and a permanent resolution for the site, with community input. Other notes include condolences to the victim’s family, thanks to local police leadership and Lincoln Avenue businesses for providing information, and regular office hours details.

Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley (21st Ward) announced “Movies in the Park” at Fernwood Park (10436 S. Wallace) on July 22 at 7:45 pm, featuring a free outdoor showing of *Gremlins* (plus free snacks) with the movie starting at dusk. The newsletter does not mention any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety hearings or policy changes.

Alderman La Spata’s 1st Ward newsletter reports that the community review is underway for the proposed development at 2758 N. Mozart, with extensive resident feedback collected following the July 21 First Look meeting. It also notes an accessibility-related transit/streets update: CDOT lost a class action over Accessible Pedestrian Signals, and Chicago’s all-pedestrian crossing at North, Milwaukee, and Damen (the “Pedestrian Priority Pilot”) will be delayed pending required APS installations. In addition, the alderman highlights the scheduled start of work next Monday on the Polish Triangle’s planned first public restroom in decades, plus updates on Meet Me on Milwaukee volunteer sign-ups and a rescheduled bike tune-up event at Palmer Square Park.

Alderman Walter Red Burnett (Ward not listed) is inviting residents to Ward Night tonight (07/28/26) to share concerns and request time to meet with him. The newsletter provides an opt-out link; no zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings or policy actions are mentioned.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlights a Metra Clybourn Station feasibility study open house (July 23) and delayed Cook County property tax bill timing (second installment mailed around Sept. 1, due around Oct. 1). On transportation and street work, the newsletter also outlines ongoing infrastructure: Inner Lake Shore Drive resurfacing with pedestrian-safety improvements, Southport/Belden intersection reconstruction, and additional park and street projects (including Clover Playlot and Pearson St parkway work), plus an update that the Division Street streetscape will start in early August. Other major announcements include Coffee with the 18th District Commander (July 23), the 2nd Ward Bike the Ward event (Aug. 23), Market Days at Pioneer Court (Wednesdays through October), and community events like garden walks, Chicago Climate Week (through July 25), and a Beatles sing-along at Lake Shore Park (July 26).