Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

September 4, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

50th Ward Movie in the Park

The 50th Ward Movie in the Park was a tremendous success this week! We were joined by hundreds of local families for free pizza, Rita’s ices, snacks, airbrushing, balloon twisters, and the movie Zootopia 2.

View all of the photos on Facebook here.

Thank you to everyone who came out despite the heat! Thank you to all of the volunteers. And thank you to our generous sponsors: State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Representative Robyn Gabel, Commissioner Josina Morita, Rita's of West Ridge (5940 N. Lincoln), Tel Aviv Slices Pizza (3517 W. Devon), Jewel-Osco (2485 W. Howard), and Dunkin’ (3132 W. Devon).

I love spending time with my neighbors, and this event is always my favorite one of the year. I cannot wait to see you all again at next year's Movie in the Park!

Bridge Building Among Our Diverse Community

I was very pleased to host a bridge building meeting at my office this week, where we were joined by organizations representing many of the diverse communities that make up the 50th Ward. Thank you to Love West Ridge, the Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago, and the Chicago Rabbinical Council for organizing this important meeting!

The 50th Ward is home to numerous ethnicities, religious groups, and communities from around the world. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and it was truly inspiring to see how eager all of the attendees were to build relationships and connections with neighbors of different backgrounds.

Thank you to the following organizations for participating:

• Amal International

• Chicago Commission on Human Relations

• Chicago Rabbinical Council

• Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America

• ICNA Relief

• Indo-American Center

• Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago

• Love West Ridge

• Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance

• Muslim Community Center of Chicago

• Rohingya Culture Center

• Sabka Sahaara

• The Ark Chicago

• 24th District Police Place of Worship Safety Advisory Team

  
  

If your organization or community group is not on this list, please contact us so we can invite you to the next meeting. I look forward to continuing this important work and building bridges between all of the many people that call the 50th Ward home!

Construction Update

City contractors will soon be in the 50th Ward to begin a street lighting project on N Maplewood Ave, between Devon and Albion. This project was authorized as part of my Aldermanic Menu program and is part of my commitment to improving our local infrastructure.

New and improved street lights are coming to these blocks. Piggyback lights will be installed, replacing the unsightly old poles and offering greater visibility for enhanced pedestrian safety.

The work is scheduled to begin in early-September, weather permitting, with restoration to follow after the project is completed. During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required.

More details about all the upcoming local infrastructure work and recent Aldermanic Menu selections can be found on my website at 50thward.org/infrastructure or in the map below:

Improving the infrastructure of the 50th Ward is one of my chief priorities as Alderman, and I have focused on every section of the neighborhood. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Beat 2011 Police CAPS Meeting

The 20th District Police will be holding a CAPS meeting this week for Beat 2011. The meeting will be held in-person at the 20th District Station, 5400 N. Lincoln, this Tuesday, September 8 at 7 PM.

Beat 2011 stretches from Peterson to Foster and from Western to the North Shore Channel. The CAPS meeting is a great opportunity to discuss safety concerns directly with the police and your neighbors.

For more information, please call the 20th District CAPS Office at (312) 742-8770 or email [email protected]. Find all the upcoming local CAPS meetings at 50thward.org/police.

Property Tax Bills Due October 1

After a delay, Cook County finally mailed out second installment property tax bills this week. Bills are also available online at www.cookcountytreasurer.com. To find your bill, click on the purple box labeled “Your Property Tax Overview” then enter your PIN or address. Bills are due on Thursday, October 1.

Please check your bill and make sure all relevant exemptions are listed. They should be on the bottom left of your bill under the “Tax Calculator” section. The key exemptions listed on your tax bill are:

• Homeowner Exemption - Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy the property as their principal place of residence.

• Senior Citizen Exemption - Most senior homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they are 65 years of age or older and own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence.

• Senior Freeze Exemption - Must meet the requirements for the Senior Exemption and have a total household annual income of $65,000 or less in the calendar year 2024. 

If you are missing an exemption you are entitled to, call the 50th Ward Office for help.

Property owners can pay their bills online from bank accounts for no added fee. Credit card payments will include a processing fee. You can also print your bill and bring it to any Chase Bank branch, a community bank where you have an account, or to the Treasurer’s office at 118 N. Clark Street to pay.

Arts on Devon Festival

It was wonderful to join so many of my neighbors for Arts on Devon this weekend! It was great to enjoy the live music, dancing, performances and local art while celebrating the incredible diversity and creativity that makes the 50th Ward such a special place.

Thank you to all the local residents who came, and thank you to Rogers Park Business Alliance and Devon Avenue SSA #43 for hosting!

Happy Labor Day!

This Monday is Labor Day. This is an important holiday in which we pay tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. You can learn more about the history of Labor Day at the US Department of Labor’s website here.

There will be a change to garbage and recycling collection this upcoming week. All city-collected refuse and recycling will be serviced Tuesday through Friday. Residents should ensure all black and blue carts are accessible throughout the entire week, not just on their regular day of collection. You can confirm your collection day at chicagorecycles.org.

The 50th Ward Office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday at 9 AM. If you need assistance with any City Services while the office is closed, please call 311. Have a very happy Labor Day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward