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January 11, 2026
Dear neighbors,
Did you watch the Bears game yesterday? What a game and unbelievable comeback by Caleb Williams and the entire team!
I hope everyone is having a good start to the new year and all our students are adjusting to being back from Winter Break. As a reminder, our 11th Ward office is open Tuesday-Friday from 8:30AM-5PM, with extended hours on Monday nights until 10:00PM and is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9AM-12PM. If it’s a holiday weekend, the office will be open the following Saturday or Monday. I am available to see residents on Monday night from 5:30-7PM. If you’d like to make an appointment, please call the ward office at 773-254-6677. The office will be closed on Monday, 1/19/26 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. With the new year comes new City service issues, and we are here to work things out. One service issue that the office has received calls about over the past few months is a homeless encampment at Clark and Cermak., on the walking path to Chinatown, towards the South Loop. The office is working toward a solution with the City and Mayor’s Office to find a long-term solution to help find stable housing for those sleeping in this area.
We lost two important people to the ward this week. Chef Steve Chiappetti was a member of the family behind Chiappetti Lamb and Veal, which was one of last remaining meat processing factories in the Stockyards. Steve was a well-known Chef, formulating numerous restaurants and hotel dining programs in the Chicagoland area and frequently appearing on local television.
We also lost a U.S. Army Veteran and business partner of beloved taqueria Tacos Erendira, Rafael Solis. Tacos Erendira served millions of plates of food over their many years of business, and he is survived by his loving extended family, including 10 siblings, one passed, who grew up working in Tacos Erendira alongside with their single father, Salvador. My condolences to the Solis family, who have also run Nana’s, Ajo, and most recently, Tacos E. Thank you for the memories of a great ward business.
This week, a new business at 3265 S. Halsted Street was awarded a grant by Mayor Johnson and the Department of Planning and Development Community Development Grant and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund programs. JS8 Holding was one of four businesses in the $150,000 pre-development grant category, which is money to be used for design and engineering fees. The new renovation will be for a Korean and Japanese diner business.
The application window for the next round of Community Development Grants and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund grant applications opens Feb. 13, 2026. More information on the grant programs are available at and .
I am concerned about another proposed rate hike suggested by Nicor Gas to the Illinois Commerce Commission. Although this rate hike is targeted at the suburban areas, this company just got another rate hike two months ago. Peoples Gas is also actively seeking an for Chicago, which feels borderline unconscionable with rising heating costs as they are. I will be keeping an eye out for more details about their proposal
According to the , we are in a flu and COVID swell. It can still be helpful to get a flu or updated COVID vaccine, which are available free of charge. All Chicago residents are , so do take advantage.
We’ve also seen a verified case of rabies in a dog in the City, as well as coyote sightings in the ward, so take care with the safety and wellness of your pets. Speaking of critters – here are a few good tips and reminders: the best way to address the issue of rats, coyotes, skunks and other animals in the ward is not to feed them (intentionally or unintentionally). This means making sure that all food waste is disposed of properly in trash receptacles, ensuring these are covered, picking up after your dogs and not throwing food on the ground to feed birds are all things we can each do to help. If you or your neighbors need a new trash cart, please call our office so we can get it replaced as soon as possible.
This week, the nation was rocked by the footage of a woman, Renee Nicole Good, being shot in the head and killed in her car in Minneapolis by an ICE agent as she was present as a legal observer to protect immigrants being targeted. Having seen videos of this shooting, I believe that the use of deadly force was not justified, despite the claims of the Department of Homeland Security before even thoroughly investigating the incident.
As a mother, I’m heartbroken for Renee Good’s child. Like many of you, I watched videos of the incident and saw pictures online. What stuck with me most were two things: 1) the split second when Renee Good’s life was taken and 2) a camera shot of the front passenger seat of her car with a console full of stuffed animals and toys.
This moment should shake us all to the core. Of course, many in our community have been volunteering as legal observers on rapid response teams who work to protect immigrants in our neighborhoods, very similar to what Renee Good was doing. This sort of thing could certainly have happened here in our community during Operation Midway Blitz or even today as the federal government continues ICE enforcement. I worry too, that the federal government will not thoroughly investigate this use of deadly force and examine the department’s policies, as it is clear that these operations are a significant threat to the safety of every community where ICE agents are deployed.
We all need to be patient with one another as a community as we process seeing a traumatic and violent event like this on camera. Mental health struggles are unfortunately tied into the aftermath of these actions by ICE, and I urge anyone feeling affected to seek support from trained professionals or community advocacy resources. NAMI Chicago has a free and confidential hotline you can call for mental health resources at 833-NAMI-CHI.
Public Safety
Many of you may have been following the missing person’s search for Healy Elementary School Special Education teacher Linda Kathleen Brown, who lives in Bronzeville. An active CPD and community search is now underway as more information has been discovered since Linda’s disappearance on January 3, 2026. If you have any information that could help her to be located, please call 773-444-8243. We join the Healy Elementary School community and Linda’s loved ones in praying she is found.
On Thursday, multiple car break-ins occurred in the early morning hours along China Place and Tan Court in Chinatown Square. Thanks to the quick response of the 9th District, the offender was arrested and put into custody. Police reports were and are crucial to ensure that the person responsible for these crimes is going to be held accountable. If your vehicle has been broken into, please make a report to the police by dialing 911 or 311 or go directly to the 9th District Office at 3120 S. Halsted. Even if you have experienced a break-in not related to this string of incidents, please file a report. This information helps police keep track of potential hot spots and patterns for car break-ins.
On Friday, a woman was a victim of a hit and run incident when she was hit by a car around 2:45-3:00PM at the Orange Line Halsted Station. Witnesses say the alleged incident was caused by a woman in a gray car with a license ending in 920-LB. The car has damage near the rear bumper. If you have any video or information about the incident please contact the 9th District police station.
This Week in City Council
On Wednesday, I attended the first meeting of the Chicago/Cook County Violence Against Women’s Task Force. While violent crime is down in many areas in the city, domestic violence and violence against women is up more than 30%. It’s why, as the Chair of the council’s Women’s Caucus, I was proud that the alternative budget we passed included an additional $1 million for gender based and domestic violence support.
Upcoming in City Council
Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development: 1/13/26 at 10:30AM
Committee on Finance: 1/14/26 at 10AM
Committee on Budget and Government Operations: 1/15/25, 12:30PM
Full City Council: 1/21/26 at 10AM
Around the Ward
In 2026, Armour Square Park will receive an exciting upgrade to its water spray area. The Chicago Park District will rehabilitate the existing spray pool and add a brand-new splash pad. The Chicago Park District would like input on what type of design to renovate with. Stop by Armour Square Park to cast your vote by placing a provided sticker on the project design you think is best.
The McGuane Park Pool is currently closed for repairs. The Park District has shared that they hope to have the repairs completed within the next two weeks. Bosley park will be reopening this week after new flooring was installed. Once the floor is done curing, all of the furniture and equipment will be moved back in and the office will be brought back online for the staff to work.
We held a public Zoning Meeting last Monday for a property at 3423-3427 S. Morgan, you can watch the recording from that .
We have another upcoming Zoning Meeting on February 2, 2026 at 6:15PM for a property at 3363 S. Morgan. Join us in the office or online by Zoom.
Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 842 0928 9428
Password: 560225
Dial in: +1 564-217-2000
The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program which provides highly subsidized contractor and construction services for sidewalk repairs on mainwalks, sidewalks through driveways, existing courtesy walks, and existing landing steps, will have an open application on January 12, 2026 from 6AM-10PM. Applications will only be accepted in the following ways:
- Calling 311
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Through the website:
- Through the free CHI311 mobile app
We still have 11th Ward Calendars available for you to grab when you come by the office!
Finally, please check out our !
With cheers to a new year!
Alderwoman Nicole Lee
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