40th Forward Newsletter
Words from Alderperson Vasquez
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Happy Friday Neighbors,
Let's start with some good news: People's Budget results are in! A record-breaking 2,219 neighbors voted on how we should spend $1 million in infrastructure funds this year, and the winning project was new accessible playground equipment for Chappell Elementary! Neighbors voted to spend around $398K on new infrastructure, so we're also hoping to fund some of the runner up projects, including rapid rectangular flashing beacons on Lawrence and Washtenaw and Peterson and Maplewood, and a mural under the River Park viaduct.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to cast your vote in this year's People's Budget! This is one of the most direct opportunities for neighbors to have a voice in how your tax dollars are spent, so we are deeply grateful to those of you who voted! Also, a huge shout-out to our People's Budget Committee, who reviewed all of this year's proposals, and ranked them to choose our final ballot. We couldn't do it without you!
You can learn more about the winning projects and the People's Budget process as a whole below, or ! In the meantime, we have $602K to spend in repairs. We're currently going through repair requests to determine which ones to submit for the year, so if you there's a sidewalk, street, curb, or alley in your neighborhood that needs repairs, to our office!
Next Monday, our office will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During a moment when we are all seeing in real time the federal government's abuse of its citizens––including the horrific death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis last week at the hands of an ICE agent––Martin Luther King Jr.'s moral clarity and courage in the face of state oppression feels as urgent now as it ever has. I hope all of us can carry his example––as well as the many other folks who marched, boycotted, and protested with him whose names aren't as widely known––as we meet what's coming this next year. We can't choose the time we're living in, but we can choose how we respond. We can choose to confront injustice with courage, and to respond to cruelty by showing up for our neighbors, over and over again, for as long as it takes.
On that note: last November, a neighbor of ours was detained by ICE at his workplace. The family is currently raising funds to pay for legal expenses and help cover basic expenses after losing a major chunk of their income. If you'd like to contribute, you can the family has set up!
Hoping all of you and your loved ones stay warm during this wintry weather, and enjoy your long weekend!
In Solidarity and community,
Andre Vasquez
Alderperson, 40th Ward
40th Ward Office Hours:
Monday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-5pm
Friday: phones and appointments only!
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Top Stories
2026 People's Budget Results Are In!
A record-breaking 2,219 40th Ward neighbors voted in this year’s People’s Budget, and the results are in!
The winning project was Chappell Elementary accessible playground equipment! Congratulations, Chappell!! Neighbors voted to spend 39.86% of the $1 million in funds on new infrastructure projects, so we're also hoping to be able to fund rapid rectangular flashing beacons at Lawrence and Washtenaw and Peterson and Maplewood, as well as a mural at the River Park viaduct.
Thank you so much to everyone who participated! For more information on the winning projects, visit .
Recycle Your Holiday Lights!
Don’t let broken holiday string lights tangle up your holidays––recycle them with the 40th Ward Office! Drop off your nonworking holiday string lights between now and January 31st, and Reduce Waste Chicago will take them to be properly recycled. Be sure your lights are separated from other decor and are free from other packaging (no plastic bags, please!). Drop them off at our office at 5620 N Western from Monday–Thursday, 10am–5pm.
Joint Committee Meeting to Discuss CPD Involvement with ICE
Join us on Tuesday, January 27th, 1pm at City Hall (121 N LaSalle, 2nd Floor) for a Joint Meeting of the Committee on Immigrant & Refugee Rights (CIRR) and Police & Fire (CPF) meeting to discuss gaps in the Welcoming City Ordinance!
Last July, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights held a hearing to investigate the Chicago Police Department's (CPD) involvement in a mass detention on June 4th. At the hearing, it became clear that neither the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) nor the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) had initiated an investigation, due to lack of clarity on what agency is responsible for investigating violations of the WCO. At the Joint Meeting, we will discuss legislation to clarify the investigative process for potential violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance, and other mechanisms to ensure that any reports of cooperation between city agencies and immigration enforcement agents is investigated, promptly and thoroughly.
40th Ward Office Closed on Monday, 1/19!
Our office will be closed on Monday, January 19th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Ward night will also be cancelled. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th. In the meantime, you can leave us a voicemail at 773-654-1867 or submit a request via .
In the News
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Construction & Development Updates
Zoning Proposals
2415 W Peterson
Feedback is now open until January 19th for a rezoning request from B3-2 to C1-2 for 2415 W Peterson Ave. to allow for usage as a cannabis dispensary by Eagle Dispensaries of Illinois, LLC. Learn more about this project by watching the and !
Construction Update
Western Avenue Brown Line Project
The CTA's contractor intends to work both during the day and overnight for the next couple of weeks to take advantage of the warmer weather and to complete their work impacting Western Ave. This work is expected to be some of the last work by the CTA to impact traffic on northbound Western Ave around the El station.
- Week of 1/12: Crews will rebuild the easternmost lane and sidewalk along Western, in front of the bus turnaround. This will bring Western down to one lane northbound.
- Week of 1/29: Crews will rebuild the concrete pavement of the bus turnaround itself. They will also work in the middle of Western Ave to strengthen the track structure overhead.
Once work is complete, the CTA will be able to reopen the bus turnaround for normal operations, ending the bus detour that has impacted the #11 and #49B routes for several months.
Asphalt is complete between Foster and Ridge! Repaving for Ashland Avenue from Montrose to Foster will pick up again in Spring when the asphalt plants reopen. The signage crew has also started work in Phase 1 (from School to Montrose) and will move to Phase 3 (Foster to Ridge) later in the season. For more on details and timeline, .
The concrete bike medians are complete along Pratt Boulevard! Remaining activities include installing signage for the new concrete bike medians and modifying striping in a few sections.
We’re now in the final stretch of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape! Furniture and signage has been installed, and crews are currently working on electrical and site furnishing items in the Ainslie Plaza. CDOT has also temporarily closed the northern turning lane from Ainslie to Western heading south. This change is necessary while CDOT completes the installation of new traffic lights and adjusts signal timing to align with recent improvements to the turn lane and bike lanes.
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Community Events & Opportunities
See below for upcoming events in our ward! To view all upcoming and past events, visit our .
'Come Back, Little Sheba' at American Blues Theater
On Thursday, February 5 @ 7:30 PM, American Blues Theater is offering a limited number of free tickets to Ward 40 residents to their production of William Inge's Come Back Little Sheba.
Email [email protected] with the subject line “40 for WARD 40" to reserve your free tickets. Ward 40 address required. Tickets subject to availability. Maximum of 2 tickets per household.
2026 Chicago Farmers Market Season
Apply now to be part of the 2026 Chicago Farmers Markets season! Chicago farmers markets run from May through October in neighborhoods across the city. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is on the lookout for passionate producers and creators of handmade and natural goods to join the farmers market vendor community. Showcase your craft, connect with your neighbors, and grow your business!
Apply at to secure your spot — the deadline is Friday, January 30th!
Apply to be an Election Judge!
The next election in Chicago will be the March 17, 2026 Midterm Primary Election, and the Chicago Board of Elections is looking for election judges! Election Judges are paid to manage the precinct polling place and assist voters, including:
- Arriving at 5am on Election Day to set up equipment;
- Opening the polls on time at 6am on Election Day;
- Issuing the correct ballots to each voter and help voters with registration and other questions, from 6am–7pm
- Completing all reports after the polls close.
Apply online at !
Last Chance to Recycle Your Tree!
The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, in partnership with the Chicago Park District, is hosting their annual Holiday Tree Recycling Program at 27 locations throughout the city including Warren Park (6601 N Western Ave). Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their natural holiday trees inside the designated tree recycling corral at each location from 6am to 11pm. Please remove all tinsel, lights, ornaments, tree stands, and plastic bags from your tree before placing it in the corral. .
Consumer Fraud and Scam Awareness Information Session
On Monday, January 26th from 6-7:30 PM, the Budlong Woods Library (5630 N Lincoln Ave) is hosting an informative presentation featuring Community Justice Center North and the on how to prevent and report fraud in today’s digital world. Learn practical tips to safeguard your personal information and avoid common traps like identity theft, online scams, and consumer fraud.
Spieleabend | Game Night Stammtisch Open Haus
On Friday, January 16th from 7:00 PM, DANK Haus is hosting Spielabend Stammtisch at 2nd Floor Brauhaus Room, 4740 N Western Avenue. The event will include a fun-filled evening of classic German and American board games like Mensch Ärgere Dich Nicht, Malefiz, Scrabble, and Uno—perfect for players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned board game enthusiast or just looking for a relaxing night out, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind and connect with others! RSVP at !
Celebrating Edgewater's Theaters
From January 17, 2026 to December 31, 2026, Edgewater Historical Society is featuring a new exhibit titled Celebrating Edgewater's Theatres. The exhibit is a historical narrative of the development of theatre in Edgewater over the past 100 years and the establishment of this community as an important hub counting more than 50 theatres, which have contributed to the diverse and vibrant life in Edgewater.
Northside Catholic Elementary Schools Expo
The Northside Catholic Elementary Schools Expo will be taking place on Thursday, Jan. 22nd from 5-7pm at DePaul College Prep (3333 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618). Discover more than 15 Catholic elementary schools serving Chicago’s northside neighborhoods. Learn about academic and extracurricular programs, faith-based environments and more. Free and open to the public.
Social Media Mastery
On Monday, January 26th from 1–2pm, join the Uptown Business Center for a Social Media Mastery Workshop at HAIBAYO (1132 W Argyle St). This hands-on workshop is designed specifically for local business owners looking to stand out on social media in 2026, and will cover essential strategies like content planning, platform selection, and effective community engagement to increase brand awareness and drive foot traffic. Whether you're in the restaurant, retail, or service industry, this session will give you the tools to thrive. The Instagram app downloaded on your phone is required for this workshop. !
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Community Safety
Public Safety Trends
Overall, violent crime was down 24.7% in the 40th Ward in 2025 compared to 2024, and the 40th Ward remains in the top 10 safest wards! Citywide, violent crime is down 22.7%. See below for a breakdown of citywide and 40th Ward statistics across all categories.
We will share numbers for 2026 later this month, once we have a full month of data!
To learn more about crime trends, visit the city's
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Ward Snapshot
Last night, the Committee on Immigrant Refugee Rights team hosted a partner appreciation event at Uvae Kitchen, where we got to celebrate the incredible people who partnered with us in supporting our immigrant and refugee community this past year!
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