Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

May 8, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Rogers Park Township Property Tax Appeal Help - May 19

Calling all Rogers Park Township property owners! Free one-on-one property tax appeal help will be available at the 50th Ward Office on Tuesday, May 19 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Rogers Park Township property owners are invited to meet with analysts and receive help filing tax appeals. Due to high demand, pre-registration will be required.

I am partnering with Commissioner Josina Morita and the Cook County Assessor’s Office to offer in-person appeal assistance to help you lower your property tax bill. Please bring your most recent tax bill or have your Property Index Number (PIN) available when you come to the Ward Office.

Rogers Park Township encompasses the area of the 50th Ward that is north of Devon Avenue. The appeals period is open until Monday, June 1. You can file an appeal at our upcoming outreach event or online at www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/online-appeals.

The assessment of your home is one of the most important factors in determining how much you will pay in property taxes, so it is very important that you file an appeal. If your appeal is accepted, changes to your property's assessed value will be reflected in the second installment property tax bill you receive next year in late 2027.

For any questions, please contact my office at (773) 262-1050 or contact Commissioner Morita’s Office at (312) 603-6383.

50th Ward Summer Events

Summer is almost here and we have a very busy schedule of fantastic community events! You can find the complete 50th Ward summer schedule at: 50thward.org/summer. Please save the date for the following local celebrations:

Outdoor Office & Ice Cream Socials

Celebrate the summer together with Alderman Silverstein and your neighbors. Join us for free ice cream and outdoor office hours at one of our events across the neighborhood!

Meet your alderman, discuss any needed city services, and enjoy ice cream together with your neighbors (dairy-free options will also be available).

The first outdoor event will be by the Northtown Library at Pratt & Western on Thursday, June 4 from 4:30-6:00 PM, and then we will meet throughout the rest of the summer at neighborhood parks and other locations.

I hope to see you all out in the Ward!

50th Ward Back to School Giveaway - July 26

Help your children start the school year on the right foot with free backpacks and school supplies at the annual 50th Ward Back to School Giveaway!

We will be meeting on Sunday, July 26 at 9 AM at the Indian Boundary Park Nature Play Center in the northwest section of the park, near Estes and Rockwell. Backpacks will be distributed one per child on a first-come, first-served basis. Backpacks will ONLY be distributed to children, so make sure your child is present.

50th Ward Movie in the Park - August 5

Join us at the annual 50th Ward Movie in the Park at Chippewa and enjoy free snacks, entertainment, and the movie Zootopia 2! This year’s celebration will be on Wednesday, August 5.

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Upcoming 50th Ward Summer Events

Block Party and Jumping Jack Applications

Apply for a free bouncy house at your block party this summer!  The Jumping Jack application is now open online here. Inflatables will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from May 23 through September 6. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply as early as possible to ensure your block party date is available.

The weather is getting nicer and that means block party season is almost here! These fun events are a summer fixture in Chicago and help bring the community together. Block party applications can be found online at 50thward.org/block-party.

Complete the online intake form and a 50th Ward staffer will send you a block party permit. If you prefer a paper form, you can download one here and return it to the 50th Ward Office at 2949 W. Devon or email it to [email protected].

New SNAP Requirements as of May 1

Changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) took effect on May 1, introducing new federal work and volunteer requirements that impact eligibility for food assistance benefits. These changes are affecting thousands of Illinois residents who may now face adjustments to their SNAP eligibility.

If Chicago residents have lost their food benefits, support and resources are available: 

• Speak with a Food Depository Benefits Specialist to discuss your case: 773-247-3663.

• Contact the Illinois Department of Human Services Help Line: 1-800-843-6154.

• Visit jobreadyil.com or serve.illinois.gov to find job training and volunteer opportunities that can help you meet SNAP work requirements and maintain eligibility.

• To find a food bank near you, visit: www.chicagosfoodbank.org.

For more information, visit www.abe.illinois.gov.

Deadline to Apply for Property Tax Saving Exemptions

The deadline to apply for property tax-saving exemptions for the 2025 tax year is fast approaching. Visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/exemptions to apply now. The deadline to file an exemption application is Friday, May 15.

Exemptions appear on your second installment tax bill issued in the summer and can significantly lower your property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which applies to homeowners who own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. The key exemptions you can now apply for are: 

• Homeowner Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year. New homeowners, first-time applicants, or those that need to reapply can now do so online.

• Senior Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Senior Freeze Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

• Persons with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Veterans with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

   

Property tax exemptions can be applied for online or in one, streamlined paper application available here. To learn more, visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/exemptions.

Become a Court Advocate

The 24th District is seeking volunteers to become Court Advocates. Court Advocates follow, attend, and track court cases that are of concern to the community. Please contact the CAPS Office at [email protected] if interested in this program.

Court Advocate activities include: 

• Tracking Key Cases: Subcommittees work with the police to monitor cases that matter most to the neighborhood. This ranges from violent crimes to "quality of life" issues such as drug dealing, problem landlords, and abandoned buildings.

• Supporting Victims and Witnesses: For many, testifying can be a source of anxiety. Having community volunteers in the courtroom provides support to victims and witnesses.

Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and stand in solidarity against crime in your community. To learn more about how you can participate, contact the 24th District CAPS Office at [email protected] or 312-744-6321.

Sign Up for Street Sweeping Alerts

Street sweeping has officially started and will continue through late-November. You can view the schedule for the 50th Ward as an interactive map here or download a printable version on the Department of Streets and Sanitation website here. Please double-check your address on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct section.

You can find a printable schedule for each individual sweeping section on the 50th Ward website at 50thward.org/sweeping.

You can also sign up for street sweeping alerts with We the Sweeple, a third-party website that pulls information from the publicly available sweeping schedule on the Streets and Sanitation website. Visit www.WeTheSweeple.com to sign up for email alerts when street sweeping is scheduled on your block.

Please note, the site is not affiliated with the City of Chicago, so please always double-check with the official schedule.

SBA Disaster Declaration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved a disaster declaration for the severe storms and flooding that impacted six counties in northeastern Illinois from Aug. 16–18, 2025. This declaration will allow homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations to apply for low-interest loans to help cover damages not covered by insurance.

The declaration includes the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. These areas qualify for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) through the SBA. Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $500,000 in low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners or renters can apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property such as appliances and furniture. Businesses and some not-for-profits can borrow up to $2 million for physical damages.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Friday, May 15. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Wednesday, December 16.

Summer Jobs for Chicago Youth

The Chicago Youth Works (CYW) application portal is now open. Chicago Youth Works — formerly One Summer Chicago — reflects the City’s continued investment in expanding youth employment opportunities and strengthening pathways to long-term career success for Chicago’s young people.

The City's goal is to hire 29,000 young people (ages 14-24) through paid summer opportunities. Interested youth can apply online at ChicagoYouthWorks.org. The application deadline is May 29, but interested youth should apply early to increase their chances of receiving a job offer.

Summer employment will be a minimum of 6 weeks starting in June and conclude in late July or early August, dependent on the employer the young person is hired through. Youth ages 14-15 will have access to stipend paid opportunities while youth and young adults ages 16-24 will be paid an hourly wage.

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Chicago River Clean Up Day

Dance Show at Indian Boundary

Senior Health and Resource Fair

Chamber of Commerce Community Guide