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Dear Neighbors,
After an exciting win at Wrigley Field last night, the Cubs have evened the series 2–2 against the Milwaukee Brewers—and tomorrow’s 7:08pm away game will decide who advances to the National League Championship Series! It’s been an exciting postseason so far, and we’re proud to see the energy and spirit the Cubs have brought to Lakeview. If the Cubs move on, you can view the projected schedule for the next round on MLB’s postseason website here. Go Cubs Go!
The Chicago Marathon is this Sunday, October 12th, bringing over 53,000 runners from all 50 wards and around the world through our neighborhood! Route closures begin at 6:00am, with local streets reopening around 12:00-1:00pm. Please note that Streets and Sanitation will clean afterwards, so streets may not fully reopen to vehicles until approximately 4:00pm, depending on conditions. As in previous years, Inner Lake Shore Drive will become two-way from Belmont to Briar during closures to help maintain access.
See a route map through Lakeview below and here for the full course and detailed street closures. Please help spread the word to neighbors unaware of the restrictions. Our office has been calling buildings along the route to ensure everyone has the information they need to plan ahead—thank you for helping us keep race day safe and smooth for runners, spectators, and residents alike.
I am deeply concerned by the recent unacceptable and dangerous tactics used by ICE and other federal agents in Chicago. Unmarked agents in masks have been seen using tear gas near a Logan Square elementary school and violent force on peaceful protestors at their Broadview facility, arresting individuals without warrants and taking them in unmarked vehicles sometimes without license plates, and patrolling the Chicago River with assault rifles to intimidate the public. These actions have no place in a city that values civil rights, transparency, and community safety. Here in Lakeview we remain committed to protecting our residents, and standing with our immigrant neighbors. No one should live in fear of being targeted or displaced in the city they call home.
Recently, my colleague Alderperson Jessie Fuentes was forcefully handcuffed by federal agents while calmly asking whether they had a warrant to detain a hospital patient. In response, I co-signed a City Council letter condemning these abuses of power and reaffirming Chicago’s commitment to due process and human dignity. With Alderperson Fuentes, Mayor Johnson, and Governor Pritzker, I will stand united in rejecting fear, defending our neighbors, and showing that in Chicago, we look out for one another. Read the full letter here.
For immigration rights resources, legal aid, or rapid response volunteer opportunities, visit our new Immigrant Rights and Resources Page here. We also have various Know Your Rights flyers and window signs now available for pickup in English and Spanish, secured in partnership with local nonprofit The Resurrection Project. We’ll soon be distributing 'Hands Off Chicago' yard signs—stay tuned for updates on when those arrive. See options available for pickup today here.
 
In community news, students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy recently returned from Rome, where they met fellow Chicagoan Pope Leo XIV himself! Earlier this year, the students held a 'mock conclave' at their school, electing their own 'pope' and learning about the papal election process. Their efforts caught the attention of Cardinal Cupich, who joined them for their conclave reenactment before traveling with the group to the Vatican. We’re proud to see OLMCA Wildcats representing our community all the way in Rome. Read more here.
 
Looking for fall festivities? Our neighborhood chambers of commerce have you covered with October guides packed with events in and around the neighborhood. Highlights include Halloween-themed pop-ups kicking off tonight along Clark, Lincoln Brunch Fest tomorrow, the Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl and Lincoln Roscoe Beer Stroll October 18th, Trick or Treat on Southport October 27th, and the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade October 31st. Check out full guides from the Lakeview East Chamber, Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber, and Northalsted Business Alliance to plan your month! Also see the Gallagher Way events calendar here for Boos & Brews on October 12th and more.
  
As leaves begin to drop, please help keep our streets and storm drains clean and safe. Residents are encouraged to bag fallen leaves or reuse them as mulch rather than sweeping them into the street, which can clog sewers and cause flooding or ice in the winter. To request a yard waste pickup for bagged leaves via 311, click here. See more guidance from Streets and Sanitation here. Thank you helping us keep Lakeview beautiful this fall season.
We would like to shoutout and encourage parents and teens to explore My CHI My Future—the City’s one-stop platform for thousands of youth-focused programs, jobs, and free events across Chicago. From after-school activities to summer jobs, it’s a great way for young people to connect, learn, and grow safely in their communities. Visit the page here or download their mobile app to find youth opportunities near you.
Finally, as a proud Loyola Rambler, I want to take a moment to reflect on the passing of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, whose wisdom inspired generations of students and Chicagoans alike. Sister Jean reminded us that no matter our age or circumstance, we can all “wake up with purpose” and bring kindness, gratitude, and joy into our daily lives. May her legacy continue to guide us as we carry her spirit forward in our community. Read Loyola's tribute to Sister Jean here.
Please note that our office will be closed on Monday, October 13th in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day. Our office will reopen at 9:00am on Tuesday, October 14th.
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Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
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SHOP FOR SCHOOLS FUNDRAISER - THRU TODAY
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LINCOLN BRUNCH FEST - TOMORROW
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FREE VIRTUAL LEGAL SEMINARS (NEXT ON OCT 15th)
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LIVE MUSIC IN SPACE PARK - OCT 16th
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CORNELIA ARTS BUILDING OPEN - OCT 17-18th
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TUBMAN ELEMENTARY FALL FEST - OCT 18th
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CANNED FOOD DRIVE - OCT 25th
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LAKEVIEW EAST LITTLE MONSTERS CRAWL - OCT 25th
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COOK COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUND - DUE OCT 31st
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LITTER CLEANUP COMPETITION VERSUS PHILLY - THRU OCT 31st
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OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL WILDCAT DEN - THRU SCHOOL YEAR
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LAKEVIEW DOG PARK - DONATION PAGE
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FREE EXERCISE CLASSES FOR SENIORS
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NETTELHORST FRENCH MARKET - THRU NOVEMBER
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CHICAGO FURNITURE BANK NONPROFIT - 44th WARD DISCOUNT
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To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the form here.
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PUBLIC SAFETY & 19th DISTRICT WEEKLY REPORT:
September 29th - October 5th
Virtual Safety Event Oct 15th, 7:00pm - Protecting Kids Online
Saint Andrew School invites you to an important virtual presentation in partnership with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). These presentations are designed to provide both parents and students with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Please register here.
Beat Meeting Flyer - Oct 21st 6:30-7:30pm
Please see a flyer and agenda here for the next meeting beat 1925, which covers the northeastern part of our ward. See our full public safety page here for all beat meeting dates and locations.
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 public safety page here 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 here:
-General
-Personal
-Robbery-specific
-Vehicle-specific
Below you'll find Week 39'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 27%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 are down 33%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is down 6%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 is up 17%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 26%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 42%
- Year to Date, Felony Thefts are down 12%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 17%
- Year to Date, Misdemeanor Thefts are down 12%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 36%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are down 41%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2024 they're down 15%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website here.
See full report below:
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MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE RESOURCES
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SCOOTER REPORTING
Please click here to submit a scooter removal request and here 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 here!
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CTA WORK - ADDISON TO GRACE THRU SEPT-OCT
Please see a flyer linked here for upcoming work on the Red Line tracks north of the Addison station, on the CTA structure west of the area between 3636-3740 N Wilton.
During work periods, access to under ‘L’ areas will be restricted, particularly for residents who park east of the tracks between 3636 – 3740 N. Wilton. Alternative parking will be provided for those residents who currently have private, dedicated parking on their property. Residents on the west side of the tracks with N. Sheffield addresses between 3709 – 3763 will be able to access their garages/parking spaces via the alley.
To perform this work, there will be temporary street closures on Waveland between Sheffield and Wilton, and Grace St. between Sheffield and Wilton. There will be overnight work during work periods.
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ALLEY RECONSTRUCTION ALERT
10/10 update:
CDOT has informed us of delays in this alley reconstruction project. See a letter earlier this month from CDOT to our office here for more details. We apologize for these delays. Work resumed on 9/22. We anticipate this project to be completed by the week of October 20th, weather permitting.
CDOT's progress has been slowed due to utility lines not previously documented, required bracing around utility poles, and scheduling gaps with subcontractors.
Please be aware of noise in the neighborhood due to construction. In accordance with the Chicago Municipal Code, the Public Building Commission (PBC) is granting permission to the Contractor to begin the workday at 6:00AM and to end the workday at 7:00PM, Monday through Friday; 8:00AM to 5:00PM on Saturdays (if needed); and 9:00AM to 5:00PM on Sundays (if needed) for the duration of the project.
If you have any questions on this alley resurfacing, please reach out to our office for more details.
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HALSTED ARTERIAL RESURFACING
Halsted Arterial Resurfacing - North Halsted St. from N. Clark St. to W. Waveland Ave.
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has begun saw cutting and electrical operations for the upcoming resurfacing of Halsted Street. The resurfacing has been completed with asphalt. The final street markings will be completed this week and next week, weather permitting. The rainbow crosswalks are expected to be repainted by the end of the year once the project is complete. Neighbors should be able to park on nights and weekends within the work area.
This work is part of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Arterial Street Resurfacing - North Area Project, in the 44th Ward. Bigane Paving Co. is the general contractor for this project and Wight & Company is providing resident engineering services for the Chicago Department of Transportation.
The project includes ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.
Please be mindful of temporary “No Parking” signs as required for the activity listed above. These temporary signs restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.
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TREE TRIMMING
Area Grid Tree Trimming – Wednesday, October 15th
Weather and staff permitting, the Bureau of Forestry will be conducting tree trimming in the 44th Ward. The below grid and addresses will have their parkway trees trimmed:
1000 W Wellington
2800 N Racine
As a reminder, in the spring of 2023 the Bureau of Forestry switched to a grid-based system for tree trimmings in place of accepting requests for individual tree trims. This system allows for more of our City's urban canopy to be maintained.
Please be alert of no parking signs posted on the above blocks for this date as the equipment will occupy the public way.
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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 street or alley. 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 here.
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TIPS FROM TOMMY K - SEPTEMBER
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GARBAGE & RECYCLING
Recycling pick-ups for the 44th Ward are occurring the week of October 13th. You can find your full garbage and recycling pickup schedule .
Please note there will be NO refuse collection on Monday, October 13th due to Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day. All city-collected refuse will be serviced Tuesday thru Friday. Alley pickups may be a day behind, with curb pickups as scheduled. Residents should ensure all black refuse carts are accessible throughout the week of collection, not solely on their regular day of collection.
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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 here to see the full list of job openings currently seeking applicants.
Local government employment opportunities:
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44th WARD 2025 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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