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Dear Neighbors,
As winter weather continues, we hope everyone is staying safe and taking extra care while navigating icy sidewalks and streets. If you notice hazardous conditions, please don’t hesitate to let our office know—Department of Street and Sanitation salt spreaders are intermittently moving through the ward, and we can help direct them to the worst spots. You can also place an ice removal request directly with the City by submitting a request online .
Last night, I was honored to present Ann Marsalek—a longtime neighbor and beloved member of our community—with an honorary resolution recognizing her 99th birthday and lifetime of service. Later this month at City Council, I look forward to formally introducing this resolution and celebrating Ann’s remarkable life, deep roots in the ward, and many contributions to our community.
 
In public safety news, Michael Jenkins, the suspect in a shooting last July near 400 W Wellington, pled not guilty at his most recent court hearing. His next hearing is scheduled for February 26th. If you’re interested in following cases such as this through the court system as part of our court advocacy program, please reach out to our office to get involved.
If you're looking for a spot to watch the Bears take on the Rams in the divisional round this Sunday at 5:30pm, the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has put together a helpful game-day guide with neighborhood watch parties and specials. Go Bears! With Chicago Restaurant Week also coming up from January 23rd-February 8th, the Chamber has also shared a guide to participating restaurants and deals in the neighborhood.
 
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to get more involved in your community, several of our local schools currently have openings on their Local School Councils (LSCs) for both parent and community representatives. LSCs play a vital role in shaping school leadership and priorities, and serving is a great way to support students and families. As a reminder, applications are open now and close on Tuesday, January 20th, with elections taking place March 18th. Learn more and apply through Chicago Public Schools’ LSC Elections page . Current vacancies include:
Nettelhorst — (4 parent, 1 community rep)
Hawthorne — (1 community rep)
Tubman — (4 parent, 2 community reps)
Inter-American — (4 parent, 1 community rep)
Lake View High School — (2 parent, 2 community rep)
There are several upcoming grant opportunities coming up for residents, nonprofits, small businesses, and community groups. is accepting applications for community grants of up to $2,500 to support local nonprofit projects, due February 1st. The City of Chicago’s are also open, offering small grants up to $250K, medium grants from $300K-$5M, and large grants over $5M. Applications for small and medium grants are due February 13th, with large grants applications accepted on a rolling basis. ComEd’s program is also open, providing grants of up to $10,000 for public safety, clean transportation, and electrification projects, with applications due March 13th.
A new development proposal has been submitted for 1040 W Belmont, which would replace the current one-story commercial space occupied by Giordano’s with a five-story mixed-use building. The proposal includes two ground-floor commercial spaces, 28 residential units, and 8 parking spaces, on a site located roughly 600 feet from the Belmont CTA station. If you have thoughts or questions about this proposal, you can contact our office to share feedback, and you can learn more details on our website .
 
I would like to commend Chicago Animal Care and Control for closing out 2025 with a record-breaking year for adoptions, along with the highest number of transfers to rescue partners in the agency’s history. This incredible milestone reflects the power of community support and collective effort to get animals into safe, loving homes. If you’d like to support their lifesaving work, you can donate much-needed supplies .
Tomorrow is the last day to recycle trees through the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation's Holiday Tree Recycling Program . Trees can be dropped off at 27 designated city sites, and will be chipped into mulch for reuse in parks and neighborhoods—free mulch pickup is available at 6 of the sites, including nearby at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park and Margate Park in Uptown. Please remember to remove all lights, ornaments, stands, and bags before drop-off.
The Lakeview East Dive Bar Classic is back starting February 9th, offering a fun way to beat the winter blues while supporting some of our neighborhood’s most iconic bars. Hosted by the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, the event invites participants to visit 10 local dive bars over three weeks, complete a photo scavenger hunt, and earn a coveted “I Dive Bars” t-shirt. Learn more and register online .
Please note that new SNAP work requirements take effect on February 1st, requiring most adults ages 18–64 to work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to remain eligible, unless they qualify for an exemption. Beyond SNAP, seniors age 60+ can access a wide range of additional supports—including meals, social services, and virtual and in-person programs—through the City’s "Chicago Seniors Connected" initiative. You can learn more about managing SNAP benefits and explore other senior resources .
As winter wear and tear shows up on our streets, please help us keep tabs on potholes when you see them. Potholes can be reported both through 311 (photos are always helpful), and also don’t hesitate to contact our office so we can flag them as well. Your reports make a real difference in keeping our streets safer for everyone.
I would like to take a moment to reflect on the passing of Rick Garcia, a towering figure in Chicago’s LGBTQ+ movement whose lifelong advocacy helped secure lasting civil rights protections for our community. Rick’s courage, coalition-building, and unwavering commitment to justice shaped the city and state we know today, and his impact will be felt for generations. In recognition of his extraordinary life and legacy, I have introduced a resolution for this month’s City Council meeting to honor Rick Garcia and ensure his contributions are formally remembered.
Our office will be closed on Monday, January 19th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a time to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy and his call to serve our communities with justice, compassion, and dignity. See a list of relevant citywide tributes, cultural exhibits, and volunteer opportunities . We will reopen at 9:00am on Tuesday, January 20th.
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Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
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LAKEVIEW DOG PARK - DONATION PAGE
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FREE LEGAL ADVICE - TOMORROW
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FEE WAIVED ADOPTION EVENT - JAN 18th
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OLMCA OPEN HOUSE - JAN 25th
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APPLY TO BE A CHICAGO FARMER'S MARKET VENDOR - JAN 30th
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ANNOYANCE THEATER LIVE PODCAST - EVERY SUNDAY
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NETTELHORST 2D RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER - EVERY THURS
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ART INSTITUTE FREE ADMISSION - WEEKDAYS THRU FEB 27th
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ST ANDREW EARLY LEARNERS PROGRAM - JAN 20-MAR 13th
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FREE VIRTUAL LEGAL SEMINARS (NEXT ON JAN 21st)
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LAKESHORE FITNESS STUDENT ART CONTEST - DUE JAN 31st
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MERLO LIBRARY - JANUARY & FEBRUARY PROGRAMS, ALL AGES
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- Tummy Time - Tuesdays 1/6-2/17 Except 1/27, 10:30am (0-5 months)
- Baby Time - Thursdays 1/8-2/26 Except 2/12, 10:30am & 11:30am (6-23 months)
- Family Story Time - 2/14, 10:00am (0-5 years)
- Lego Club - Tuesdays 1/6-2/24, 3:30-4:30pm (4-13 years)
- Uno Tournament - 2/7, 2-4:30pm (11+)
- Photography Scavenger Hunt - 1/27, 4:00pm
- Crafts - 1/26, 2/1, 2/9 various times
- Monthly Book Club - 1/17, 2/21, 3:00pm
- Painting - 1/27, 2/24, 11:00am
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APPLY TO BE AN ELECTION JUDGE - ROLLING BASIS
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Amex Shop Small Grant Program | Grants Up to $20k | Due TODAY |
To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the .
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PUBLIC SAFETY & 19th DISTRICT WEEKLY REPORT:
January 5th - January 11th
Local Public Safety Statistics:
My office is in regular contact with the 19th Police District about crimes that have occurred recently in our area and that are reflected in the statistics below. The majority of 19th District crimes have occurred outside of our ward. The 19th District also includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Uptown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Bricktown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square.
Please view our website's for both proactive measures to stay safe before crimes occur, and also how to respond in the event of a crime.
In order to stay safe, please find the most relevant key safety tips below, and the full list of CPD's safety tips :
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Below you'll find Week 2's CompStat breakdown of crime in the 19th District.
Please note, these statistics are a reflection of the entire 19th District. The boundaries are from Lawrence Ave to Fullerton Ave, from the Chicago River to the Lake.
Here are the key points:
- Year to Date, Robberies are down 43%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 are down 62%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is down 33%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 is down 31%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 9%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 31%
- Year to Date, Thefts are down 47%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 30%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are up 31%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're up 42%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website .
See full report below:
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19th DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING - JAN 28th
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MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE RESOURCES
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SCOOTER REPORTING
Please click to submit a scooter removal request and for Divvy bike removal. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean. By contract, shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request.
Please contact our office directly if you see illegal/dangerous activities on green Lime scooters (riding on the sidewalk, two people sharing one scooter, etc). We are able to work with Lime to potentially administer fines, suspensions, or bans if you can include a photo/video of the behavior, and a time and location.
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See below for ongoing construction and infrastructure projects in our neighborhood and on our website !
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REPORTING POTHOLES
Please report any potholes you see by entering in all requests through the 311.Chicago.Gov website for those in the or . If possible, be sure to upload images as well so crews are able to identify the exact location.
For more severe potholes that may need immediate attention, please reach out to my ward office either by email ([email protected]) and include the location and images of the pothole or by calling the office at (773-525-6034).
If your vehicle was damaged due to a pothole, you may be entitled to a financial claim .
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TIPS FROM TOMMY K - JANUARY
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GARBAGE & RECYCLING
Recycling pick-ups for the 44th Ward are occurring the week of January 19th. You can find your full garbage and recycling pickup schedule .
Please note that in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Streets and Sanitation crews will be off on Monday. They will be working overtime the rest of week to accommodate pickups. Crews may be 1-2 days behind schedule for alley pick up. Curb pick ups will occur on Wednesday as normal.
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See below for a list of job fairs, networking events, and more!
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THE CITY IS HIRING
Looking for a job? Try working for the City! Click to see the full list of job openings currently seeking applicants.
Local government employment opportunities:
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44th WARD 2026 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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