1st Ward Newsletter | July 28, 2026
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Dear neighbors,
There has been a lot of policy debate in City Council of late concerning rental protections and the economic relationship between renters and landlords. This has a disproportionate impact in the 1st Ward where approximately 65% of residents are renters. I was a renter for my first 12 years in Chicago and, while I had several good apartments and landlords, I experienced many that placed I, my roommates, and family, in positions that were uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worse.
We've made great strides over the past decade in the city, introducing a right to counsel program that has created a more balanced legal relationship between tenants and landlords; passing a fair notice ordinance on non-renewal of leases; and creating a pilot on tenant right of purchase on the northwest side. The Protecting Renters Ordinance or PRO introduced by the mayor codifies the Right To Counsel program as well as establishes a Tenant Bill of Rights; eliminates post-lease junk fees; creates a Rental Housing Registry for a comprehensive understanding of rental housing in Chicago; and would require legal just cause for eviction. The ordinance's original language is not without its challenges and concerns (many of which I've already conveyed to the administration) but it could be an incredibly positive step toward a more stable and fair rental housing market.
By contrast and in response, several of my colleagues introduced what they call the FAIR Ordinance. Unfortunately, besides creating the rental housing registry, it does not advance any of those other legislative aims and actually rolls back several current tenant protections, including the fair notice ordinance that has helped so many plan for their housing needs. Renting in Chicago is a challenge for so many; this feels like a terrible time to make it even more difficult.
What's clear in all of this is that advancing rental protections and improving the relationship between tenants and housing providers is going to take humility, collaboration, and cooler heads. It's also clear that if we put scoring political points above passing legislation, all we will be left with is anger, confusion, and missed opportunities. I'm ready to rise to this challenge and I hope my colleagues are as well.
Have a wonderful week and wish us luck (and wisdom and courage)!
Sincerely,
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Alderman La Spata
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In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
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If you haven't heard, Meet Me on Milwaukee is back for 2026! We're seeking volunteers to sign-up for 3-hour shifts on each event day. Volunteers will be responsible for setting up barricades, guarding intersections, redirecting drivers, providing information to attendees, disposing of litter, and more. Please help make MMoM 2026 a success by registering below!
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Save the date for our annual Back to School Bash! Join Ald. La Spata and community partners on Saturday, August 8 for our annual Back to School Bash! Come by Pulaski Park between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for free backpacks, school supplies, ice cream truck, bouncy house, gaming truck, face painting, snacks & so much more!
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Additional events this month include:
- 8/20 Dog Vaccine and Microchip Clinic: Open to the first 100 dogs. Open to all Cook County residents. All dogs MUST be leashed or in a carrier. Dogs requiring muzzles MUST be muzzled and you MUST be able to handle your dog around other animals. Services offered:
- Rabies vaccine and tag
- Distemper vaccines
- Microchips with registration
- 8/26 Senior Resource Fair: Join Ald. La Spata, State Rep. Lilian Jimenez, State Sen. Omar Aquino, and a plethora of service organizations including healthcare providers. Light refreshments will be provided. Register here.
- 8/26 Meet Your Electeds: Swing by Bungalow by Middle Brow for an evening with your local elected officials, including Ald. La Spata, State Representative Will Guzzardi (39th District), Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez (8th District), and State Senator Graciela Guzman (20th District). Register here!
- 8/30 Meet Me on Milwaukee: The first MMoM of the year! Join us on in Wicker Park on Milwaukee Ave between Damen and Ashland for strolling, shopping, eating and more!
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The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) has released a draft of the next Regional Transportation Plan, an important document that helps shape the future of the region. CMAP is requesting public comments by July 31; this is a great opportunity to tell decision-makers how critical public transit and bus priority infrastructure is for you and the region! Submit your comments here!
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Registration is now open for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability's (COPA) People's Academy Session VI, a six-week condensed version of COPA's Training Academy for the public (civilian or sworn) and organizations around the country.
This academy session will be exclusively in-person and will take place on Tuesdays from 6:00pm–8:30pm at Wright College – Humboldt Park (Humboldt Park Vocational Education Center), 1645 N California Ave, from September 15 to October 20, 2026. Logistics will be announced closer to the start date. To enroll in COPA People's Academy, please visit: chicagocopa.org/cpa.
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Community Review Updates
The 1st Ward Office is receiving questions about community process for a proposal to redevelop the existing vacant lot at Mozart & Diversey (2758 N Mozart):
- Because such a large volume of feedback was immediately received by the community (190 responses in one week), the proposal has been sent to Logan Square Preservation with an anonymized version of all feedback and analysis summary of feedback.
- There will be a forthcoming meeting with neighbors in the immediate vicinity of the proposed development as well (stay tuned for details!). This community review approach has been successfully used with other developments, such as the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church adaptive reuse proposal.
- Feedback was also sent to the development team, with special attention placed on the number of bedroom windows (due to numerous comments and questions); the function of ground floor loading and garbage; and, ground floor design in general (many neighbors requested an active commercial corner).
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