Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

29th Ward Alderman Taliaferro announced a Senior Bingo event for the community. No meetings, policy changes, or development approvals were mentioned. The event will take place at 6272 W North Ave, Chicago.

29th Ward Alderman Taliaferro announced that the scheduled community meeting has been postponed. No other meetings, policy changes, development approvals, budget decisions, transit service changes, or street projects were mentioned in this newsletter.

On January 25, Alderman Nicole T. Lee of the 11th Ward reported that City Council passed an ordinance expanding airport employee fines for security infractions—an important transit‑related policy change—and also enacted a hemp‑sale restriction to protect minors. The council is set to approve a $6 million Cermak‑Rd. improvement project and has approved several water, sewer, and lead‑service‑line replacement works, reflecting significant infrastructure spending. In addition, a street‑resurfacing and ADA‑corner project on Cermak and 24th Pl is underway, while the ward continues to promote snow‑removal volunteer efforts, a school‑closure investigation, and a March 9 blood drive.

Alderman William Hall of the 6th Ward reports that a winter storm is affecting the Southeast Side of Chicago, with Department of Streets and Sanitation crews actively plowing and salting main and arterial streets, bus routes, and high‑traffic corridors—especially near schools, senior housing, and medical facilities. The 6th Ward Office will be closed tomorrow due to weather, and residents are urged to exercise caution, avoid parking on snow routes, and check on vulnerable neighbors.

City Council has approved a ban on most intoxicating hemp‑based products. The city's parking meters will be sold to a different private company. Alderman Jim Gardiner announced that Chicago Public Schools will be closed on Friday, January 23 due to extreme weather and urged neighbors to check on elderly residents, while also highlighting a senior scam‑prevention seminar and a visit to Yellow Rose Café celebrating a 30‑year‑old local business. The newsletter also listed community resources such as food pantries, business‑support programs, and recent school achievements.

On January 24, 2026, Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reported that the City Council’s first meeting of the year was held, with additional policy items to be released later. The ward’s infrastructure update highlighted the Department of Water Management’s 75‑day sewer‑lining project on N Greenview Ave, which may require lane closures. Other key announcements included the 400 Theater opening feedback period, the launch of the Snow Squad volunteer program, and new SNAP work‑reporting requirements effective February 1.

No meetings, policy changes, development approvals, budget decisions, transit changes, or street redesigns were announced. Alderman Nicholas Sposato of the 38th Ward closed the office for the extreme cold on Jan 23, provided cold‑weather and pet‑safety tips, and highlighted a rescued dog named Duna. He also promoted community events, free English classes, food‑pantry donations, a local aquarium, and listed several regional job openings.

The 35th Ward office hosted a city‑budget back‑town hall with Mayor Brandon Johnson on Tuesday, where the original 2026 Protecting Chicago budget and the alternative budget passed by City Council were discussed, drawing over 150 residents. The ward also reported progress on the Milwaukee Avenue Streetscape and Logan Square Redesign, with benches, trash receptacles, and street‑light poles being installed while major construction is paused over winter. Other updates include a Committee on Health and Human Relations meeting on January 27 to discuss immigration‑enforcement impacts, a tragic fire on West George Street that claimed one life, and upcoming community events such as the ward night on February 2.

Alderwoman Angela Clay reported a community meeting on Thursday evening to discuss the Sarah’s Circle “Sarah’s on Sunnyside” 54‑unit supportive‑housing development at 4458 N Clarendon, which will need Lakefront Protection Ordinance approval but no zoning change. She also updated residents on the near‑completion of the Montrose street‑light project between Marine and Clifton, with new piggy‑back poles installed and sidewalk restoration slated for spring, and noted the February 1 SNAP work‑reporting changes that will affect many residents. Other highlights include Chicago Restaurant Week, a free winter hip‑hop class, and a reminder to use the ward’s warming centers during the cold snap.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward reported that the ward held a zoning community meeting on February 4 and a development‑feedback session for a 44‑unit affordable‑housing project at 3251 W. Division, and she attended a City Council meeting where votes on the Hemp Ban and a Snap Curfew Ordinance were postponed. The ward is also reviewing a landmark‑district extension for the Logan Square Boulevards, and at the Northwest Side City Budget Report Back Town Hall Fuentes highlighted the 2026 budget’s preservation of school funding and youth jobs while rejecting a proposed garbage‑fee increase. Other updates include the launch of Protecting Chicago no‑trespassing signs, a deadline for Participatory Budgeting, voter‑registration support, and opportunities for students to serve as election judges.

Al. Matt Martin of the 47th Ward reports no zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget meetings or policy changes this month. He highlights that Catholic Charities will keep the North Center Senior Center open, the city council approved $23 million in police‑misconduct settlements and new hemp‑product regulations, and he will hold a town‑hall on rising utility costs next Thursday. Other events include a chief‑of‑staff farewell, Restaurant Week, and various community gatherings.

Alderwoman Ruth Cruz of the 30th Ward reports that the City Council adopted a hemp‑ban ordinance, a substitute youth‑gathering ordinance, and an advance pension‑payment ordinance—all of which she supported—and that voting is now open on the proposed redesign of the Chopin Park splash pad. The newsletter also notes the council’s resolution honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day and highlights community resources such as warming centers, SNAP‑benefit updates, and upcoming events like the Mobile DMV and Veterans Assistance Commission meetings. Other announcements include business highlights, the opening of a new pickleball venue, and calls for election judges and volunteer opportunities.

Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward announced new winter‑parking restrictions (December 1–April 1, 3 a.m.–7 a.m.) and updated CTA bus routes, including a westbound #66 reroute and a new #124 departure from Navy Pier. He also highlighted ongoing street‑safety projects: construction on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge, Canal St reconstruction, and bridge closures that will affect traffic until late 2026/2028. Additional updates included a reminder of winter‑weather precautions, a call for vendors at the Daley Plaza Farmers Market, and upcoming CAPS meetings.

Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez of the 33rd Ward announced that the ward’s zoning board has approved changes for 3240 W Lawrence Ave and 3039 W Irving Park, and is reviewing a B3‑1 to B2‑3 change for 3446 W Irving Park. She also scheduled a hearing on January 27 with the Chicago Council Committee on Health and Human Relations to address ICE enforcement impacts, and highlighted the city’s new Five‑Year Blueprint on Homelessness as a key policy initiative. Additional community updates include the upcoming Winter Mercadito, a neighbor night on January 26, and several volunteer and resource‑sharing opportunities.

Alderman Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward reports that the City Council passed a hemp‑regulation ordinance restricting intoxicating hemp products and that a curfew ordinance was delayed, while the council debated a full $260 million advance pension payment that the mayor has postponed. He highlighted the CTA and CDOT’s “Better Streets for Buses” plan, which prioritizes bus corridors on Ashland, Fullerton and Western, and noted the ongoing Fletcher water‑main project, with no scheduled shutdowns and traffic‑parking restrictions during construction. Other updates include winter‑weather preparedness reminders, a CTA bus‑corridor survey deadline of Jan. 31, and an invitation to the LPCC Annual Meeting on Feb. 5.

Alderman Knudsen's newsletter stated that the City Council passed a hemp-regulation ordinance. The newsletter also provided tips on dealing with the extreme cold weather and discussed the Council's renewal of a compromise ordinance on snap curfews.

Alderman Raymond Lopez of the 15th Ward announced a focus‑group session on January 27 to gather input for the CTA/CDOT Bus Priority Corridor Study on Garfield Boulevard and Cottage Grove Avenue, a key transit‑improvement effort. He also reiterated the city’s noise‑ordinance quiet hours and youth‑curfew ordinance, and directed the removal of dibs to enforce fair street‑parking access. Other highlights included a property‑tax appeal workshop, Vote‑by‑Mail registration for the March primary, STEM Academy summer programs, veteran fitness programs, and a city food‑scrap drop‑off initiative.

Alderman Debra Silverstein of the 50th Ward noted that winter parking restrictions remain unchanged through April 1, with no overnight bans in the ward but prohibitions on streets with at least two inches of snow. She also highlighted the city’s emergency heating repair program, the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program, and the upcoming primary election, while reminding residents of extreme‑cold warnings and the Holocaust Remembrance Day resolution. Additional updates included a new staff member, a holiday‑lights recycling initiative, and community events such as skating, India Republic Day, and CAPS meetings.

Alderman Bennett Lawson of the 44th Ward is still gathering feedback on the proposed 1040 W Belmont mixed‑use development, a key zoning and housing issue for the ward. He also noted the City Council’s recent ban on certain intoxicating hemp products, a policy change unrelated to housing or transit. Other updates include severe‑weather advisories, a winter ice‑sculpting event, and the alderman’s participation in resolutions honoring local community leaders.

Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman reports no upcoming meetings or hearings on zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget, nor any new policy changes, development approvals, budget decisions, transit service changes, or street‑safety projects for the 16th Ward. The newsletter highlights community events such as a volunteer sign‑up for a senior & veteran Valentine’s lunch, warming‑center information, and a reminder that property owners must file appeals by February 3, 2026, with options to apply for property exemptions online. Service‑office hours and contact details are also provided.