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48th WARD NEWS: JULY 8, 2026
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- When: Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30pm
- Where: Berger Park (6205 N Sheridan)
- Register online.
Join us for our Mid-Year Town Hall as we celebrate three years of collaboration and community! We'll review projects from the first half of 2026 and share highlights from our first three years serving the 48th Ward. Bring your questions and we look forward to seeing you there! Did you miss our 2025 End of Year Town Hall? You can watch a recording and view the deck from 2025 on our blog.
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Every summer, the 48th Ward team brings city services to you at fun events across Edgewater and Uptown! Drop by the 48th Ward table to access city services, pick up freebies, and say hi to the team! Over the last three years, we have increased city services by 20% in part by attending over 150 community events. Below is a list of events where our team is tabling this month:
See you soon!
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Submit Requests and Stay Informed with 311 and ChiStreetWork
For non-emergency city service requests, file a 311 report online, through the app, or by dialing 3-1-1. You can also search for and follow along with local city projects at chistreetwork.chicago.gov.
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Meet Jimmy Diaz - New 48th Ward Superintendent
Congratulations to Jimmy Diaz on his new role as Ward Superintendent! While Jimmy is new to this role, he is no stranger to the 48th Ward. Jimmy worked as the 48th Ward street sweeper for over a decade! Most recently, Jimmy was the Dispatcher In Charge at the Bureau of Traffic Services where he supported city-wide operations and emergency response activities. Jimmy started his career with the Department of Streets & Sanitation in 1998 as a motor truck driver at O'Hare Airport. Since then he has worked in the Bureau of Forestry, Bureau of Sanitation, and Street Operations. He brings a wealth of experience including crisis management, emergency response, snow removal, graffiti removal, special events, block parties, vehicle operations, tree trimming, hazardous materials, and more.
As Superintendent, Jimmy will monitor the 48th Ward's day-to-day operations, including refuse collection, street cleaning, and snow removal. Please join us in welcoming Jimmy Diaz back to the 48th Ward!
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Loyola University Parking Restrictions
Please be aware of the upcoming parking restrictions on Loyola University's campus. For more information, contact the Loyola Office of Neighborhood Initiatives at (773) 508-7450.
Thursday, July 9 from 8am-5pm: 6300-6359 N Winthrop Ave (both sides)
Sunday, July 12 from 8am-5pm: 6300-6359 N Winthrop Ave (both sides)
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Edgewater Greek Fest
- When: Saturday-Sunday, July 11-12 from 12-10pm
- Where: St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church (5649 N Sheridan)
- Learn more online.
Experience the warmth of Greek hospitality at St. Andrew’s Edgewater Greek Fest, where the sights, sounds, and flavors of Greece come alive. Hosted by St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, the annual festival brings together parishioners, neighbors, and visitors from across Chicagoland for a weekend of delicious food, lively music, traditional dancing, and family-friendly fun. This year’s festival is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 64th annual Greek Fest and the 100th anniversary of St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood.
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Edgewater Glen Garden Walk
- When: Sunday, July 12 from 12-5pm
- Where: Starting point at 1354 W Norwood
- Learn more online.
This year's walk will showcase beautiful gardens in the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Norwood, Glenlake, Hood, and Granville. Attendees can pick up a garden map at Norwood and Glenwood. With a suggested $10 donation, enjoy an afternoon exploring one of Chicago's most charming neighborhoods.
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Domestic Violence Informational Presentation
- When: Monday, July 13 from 10-11am
- Where: Edgewater Satellite Senior Center (5917 N Broadway)
- No RSVP required
Join Metropolitan Family Services at the Edgewater Satellite Senior Center for an informational presentation about domestic violence prevention.
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Money Matters Institute: Preparing for Homeownership
- When: Tuesday, July 14 from 5:30-7:30pm
- Where: Clarendon Community Center (4501 N Clarendon)
- Register online.
Join the 48th Ward Office and the Chicago Treasurer’s Office for a FREE workshop designed to help you get financially ready for homeownership. This event is free and open to anyone thinking about buying a home, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take the next step. Spots are limited; reserve your seat today!
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Osterman Beach Clean-Up
- When: Tuesday, July 14 from 9:30am-12:30pm
- Where: Colvin House (5940 N Sheridan)
- Register online.
Join Sustainable Events Collective for their annual beach clean-up in partnership with Alliance for the Great Lakes! Start your morning with environmental education by Chicago Environmentalists + Urban Rivers at Colvin House, then head to Hollywood Beach to make a real impact.
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Chicago Bike Maps Available at the 48th Ward Office
Come by the office at 1129 W Bryn Mawr whenever we're open to pick up your free 2026 Chicago Bike Map. The map includes all current protected & buffered bike lanes, neighborhood greenways, standard bike lanes, and off-street trails as well as bike shops, Divvy stations, and transit. The pamphlet also lays out reminders for cyclists and drivers alike promoting safe transportation practices. View the map online here.
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SAVE THE DATES: Homebuyer Event Series
- When: Saturday, September 12 & Saturday, September 19 from 8:30am-3:30pm
- Where: Truman College (1145 W Wilson)
- Register online.
Thinking about buying a home? Join us to learn how to make it happen! Save the date for the first of two events which will help you build skills and access assistance finding and paying for your first house. Note that you must attend both parts to receive your certificate.
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Edgewater Satellite Senior Center June Calendar
The Edgewater Satellite Senior Center located at 5917 N Broadway is open Monday through Friday offering entertainment, fitness, resources, hot lunch, and more! Come by to take a yoga class, play board games with neighbors, or enjoy a meal. Call the center at 312-742-5323 with any questions.
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DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE
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Emanuel Congregation / Fern Hill Feedback - Last Chance
Thank you to the more than 150 neighbors who joined us on Zoom for the third community meeting about Emanuel Congregation's proposed planned development. The meeting consisted of a brief presentation and a Q&A. View the recorded presentation here for an overview of the 48th Ward's zoning and development processes, project context, and latest revisions to the project plan based on community feedback from the first two meetings. You can also view the meeting slides here:
Feedback for version 3 of the plan is open now through Friday, July 10 at 5pm. Access the feedback form on our website.
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New and Improved! Priorities for Sustainable Development
The 48th Ward Green Council has been hard at work clarifying and strengthening the language on our website about sustainable development priorities. These include green infrastructure, equitable transit oriented development, preservation and adaptive reuse, and much more. The goal of publishing these priorities is to help people who are interested in building in our ward understand our values so that we can work together to create the community we want to see. Read them online here.
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20th District Council Monthly Meeting
- When: Monday, July 13 from 6-7:30pm
- Where: Broadway Armory (5917 N Broadway)
- No RSVP required
Are you interested in public safety? Looking for a way to get involved in community safety initiatives? Attend your next local district council meeting and join the conversation! Each district council is made up of three people elected by their community to build stronger relationships with police. The more people who participate in this vital community policing process, the more effective it can be. Thank you for working with us to build a safe and healthy neighborhood where we can all thrive.
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Storm Reminders: Flooding & Tree Debris
This past week saw another round of severe storms hitting the Chicagoland area. The rain only added to what has already been a wet year. The Bureau of Forestry is at work cleaning up tree debris and removing dangerous limbs and branches. Please allow additional response time due to the volume of calls.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) operates the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan which consists of giant underground tunnels and reservoirs that capture and store stormwater until it can be treated at the water reclamation plants. To help avoid overflows, we encourage neighbors to sign up for Overflow Action Day alerts which remind us to use less water during heavy rainfall to lessen the load on our sewers.
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CCHR at Edgewater Satellite Senior Center
- When: Tuesday, July 14 from 10:45am-12:45pm
- Where: Edgewater Senior Center (5917 N Broadway)
- No RSVP required
Join us at the Edgewater Senior Center to hear directly from the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) about housing discrimination and your rights as an older adult. Our team will be tabling at this event; come visit us and access city services on the go!
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CCPSA Non-Citizen Advisory Council Info Session
- When: Tuesday, July 14 at 12:30pm
- Where: Virtual
- Register online.
The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) is seeking applicants to fill multiple vacancies on its Non-Citizen Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC helps ensure that the perspectives of noncitizens and newly-arrived Chicagoans are reflected in public safety, community policing, and police accountability policies. Learn more and apply online.
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Virtual Immigration Briefing
- When: Tuesday, July 14 at 1pm
- Where: Virtual
- Register online.
The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Immigration & Refugee Rights (CIRR), invites you to join a monthly Immigration Briefings virtual series to ensure we all understand the changes to immigration law occurring at the federal level and their practical effects on Chicagoans.
In December 2025, a father whose family moved to the 48th Ward from Venezuela in 2023 was pulled over without a warrant and abducted. He remains in detention to this day. In the 48th Ward, we care for and respect all of our neighbors, regardless of origin or immigration. We want everyone who seeks refuge in our neighborhood to be able to stay here. Click here for more information about how to support this family.
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Train the Trainer: Congressional Inquiries in Case of Deportations
- When: Wednesday, July 16 from 12-1pm
- Where: Virtual
- Register online.
Join Chicago City Council’s Committee on Immigration & Refugee Rights (CIRR) for a training designed to empower organizations and advocates to help immigrant families complete the DHS form 60-001. This form is in case someone might be at risk of being detained by ICE. The training will also explain the role of congressional offices in assisting with immigration related inquiries.
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Firework Debris Removal
Thank you to everyone who has contacted our office to report firework debris leftover in the park from last weekend. The Chicago Park District has assured us that their crews are at work removing firework litter from lakefront parks and beaches.
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Secretary of State Plate Watch Hotline
As federal immigration activity intensifies once again in Illinois, it’s important for everyone to remember that it’s illegal for anyone, even federal ICE agents, to drive on public streets without proper license plates, or to tamper with, cover, or swap out plates in any way.
If you spot anything that doesn’t look right, we’d really appreciate your help by reporting any potential violations to our Plate Watch Hotline at (312) 814-1730 or [email protected].
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Quarterly Public Safety Meetings - Update
Earlier this week, our team met with 20th Police District Commander Giltmier for a quarterly public safety update. Based on community requests, we've secured additional patrols along Clark and near the lakefront over the past few weeks, and this support is expected to continue throughout July. We encourage anyone interested in community policing and public safety to attend upcoming meetings for their beat and district as well as monthly meetings of the CCPSA.
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CLICK HERE to opt in to receive occasional crime alerts from our office. If you're having trouble with this link, you can also opt in by re-subscribing HERE and checking the box at the bottom of the form. Doing so will not alter or double your existing newsletter subscription.
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CTA Construction Activity Notices
Please review the following construction notices from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). To sign up for alerts near you, click here.
ALLEY CLOSURES
East side of the tracks from Ardmore - Thorndale
- Tuesday, July 7 - Monday, July 13
- Work Activity: Fence Installation
West side of the tracks from Hollywood - Ardmore
- Wednesday, July 1 - Monday, July 13
- Work Activity: Underground Utility Installation
ALLEY IMPACTS
East side of the tracks from Hollywood - Ardmore
- Wednesday, July 8 - Monday, August 14
- Work Activity: Surface Grading and Paving
East side of the tracks from Catalpa - Bryn Mawr
- Monday, July 6 - Monday, August 17
- Work Activity: Curb Install
West side of the tracks from Balmoral - Catalpa
- Monday, July 6 - August 7
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Ainslie - Argyle
- Tuesday, June 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Ainslie - Argyle
- Tuesday, June 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
West side of the tracks from Winona - Foster
- Tuesday, July 7 - Monday, August 24
- Work Activity: Curb Installation
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Grind Schedule
Grinding work is scheduled for the following locations over the next two weeks, weather permitting.
Alley Resurfacing:
- Argyle/Ainslie/Kenmore/Sheridan (July 14)
- Hollywood/Olive/Clark (July 14)
- Glenwood/Ridge/Hollywood (July 15)
- Glenlake/Thorndale/Kenmore/Sheridan (July 16)
- Hood/Glenlake/Clark/Greenview (July 16)
- Granville/Hood/Glenwood/Lakewood (July 16)
Street Resurfacing:
- Glenwood: Balmoral to Berwyn (July 14)
- Glenwood: Bryn Mawr to Ridge (July 15)
- Glenwood: Rosedale to Ardmore (July 15)
See the construction schedule on our blog for more information.
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CHECK OUT THE 48th WARD CALENDAR
Never miss an event! See the calendar on our website for more exciting things happening in the ward. Fill out this form to have your own event listed.
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WHERE IN THE WARD IS LENI?
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Last week's heat broke just in time for the first Argyle Night Market of the season! In addition to being the first market, it was also Filipino night. As the first Filipina elected to Chicago City Council, Leni was thrilled to share a few celebratory remarks before enjoying excellent food and music with friends and neighbors. See you on Thursday!
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Thanks to Funny You Should Care at Second City for having us at Steps to Better Housing: The Single Stair Comedy Show. Steps to Better Housing is a comedy show about modernizing our housing codes! Leni participated in a panel interview at intermission before enjoying the rest of the performance in Donny's Skybox theatre.
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This week, Leni and Conor met with the Center for Disability and Elder Law (CDEL) to learn more about their mission and discuss opportunities for collaboration! CDEL provides free legal services to low-income older adults and people with disabilities throughout Chicago and Cook County. Read more about their work and how to get involved here.
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