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Dear Neighbors,
It's time for another Pride Parade weekend here in the 44th Ward! Whether you are marching, watching, or attending other festivities, there are many opportunities to celebrate this weekend filled with love and unity here in the community. Celebrating its 55th year, the Chicago Pride Parade theme this year is Free to Be, a reminder that no one is truly free until everyone is free to be.
The parade will kick off at 11:00am on Sunday, June 28th, from Grace & Broadway. The parade will then continue south along Broadway, then Halsted, east along Belmont to Broadway, then south to Diversey. For additional information on the parade route, viewing areas, crossing points, and more, please visit the Pride Chicago website here. You can view a list of street closures and CTA reroutes on my website here. For additional information and ways to celebrate, check out the Pride Information section of our newsletter below.
We are proud to be home to the oldest Pride Parade in the U.S. and I'm grateful to the Chicago Police Department, city departments, and local organizations who have have been working behind the scenes for months to ensure a safe and joyful event.
 
While the Pride Parade is a safe, peaceful, and joyous celebration, we know that the night following the parade presents challenges. Last year my office gathered feedback from the community and have been working with the City departments, parade organizers, and community groups to address these concerns this year. Stay tuned for a Pride Special Alert that will be sent with additional information following a press conference I'll be joining with CPD tomorrow afternoon.
This weekend also includes a full schedule at Gallagher Way. On Friday night, Guster will perform as part of the Budweiser Concert Series. On Saturday, OUT at Gallagher Way will begin at 11:00am with free, family-friendly activities including voguing classes and performances by the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus and Rock and Roll Playhouse, followed by another concert that evening -- Bertha: Grateful Drag. For more information on events at Gallagher way, click here.
 
This week, I was glad to attend the ribbon cutting for Tilly's Bagel (3162 N Broadway) and welcome them to the 44th Ward. Known for their "Chicago Style" sourdough bagels, they have a diverse menu including both savory and sweet bagels, and even feature a rotating bagel of the week. Be sure to stop by and check out this great addition to our small business community.
Our office continues to engage in a Court Advocacy Program for the highest-priority cases that affect the community, including the case of Leon Jackson. Jackson's repeated offenses, including randomly striking pedestrians, have impacted many residents. We will be attending Leon Jackson's court hearing on July 2nd, and neighbors who wish to attend via Zoom can email [email protected] for more information. A strong community presence at these hearings can help show the judge how seriously our neighborhood takes this case.
Nothing is more important to me than the safety of our residents, and I share the concerns expressed by many of you regarding this individual and similar situations. We encourage everyone to be mindful of their surroundings and to immediately call 911 to report any troubling behavior.
Construction will continue at the Nettelhorst playground through the summer. In order to have all major construction on the playground completed by August 24th, work will continue daily. There may be some minor work, primarily landscaping and painting, that extends into the school year, but any necessary work will be done over the weekends. We will continue to share updates as we receive them, but we urge neighbors to be mindful of signage around the area. You can find a larger version of the plans on my website here.
Earlier this week, the trees that line the Cubs Camry Lot were cut down as part of a demo permit that was previously issued by the City. The approval for the demolition on the House of the Good Shepheard site is separate from the proposal to amend the Cubs Planned Development in order to increase the number of parking spaces they are allowed. A decision on that proposal has not yet been made, and I am carefully reviewing the constituent feedback we received through our survey, as well as through email and phone communications.
I joined colleagues in a panel discussion hosted by Chicago's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) focusing on the importance of Aldermanic engagement in strengthening small businesses and their surrounding neighborhoods. It was great to connect with neighborhood business development centers from across the city and have such an important conversation.
I attended the ComEd Diversey Substation meeting last Monday where community members had the opportunity to share their thoughts with ComEd. I will continue to work closely with the 43rd and 32nd Ward offices, as well as our state legislators, to ensure that resident feedback is heard. To learn more about this proposal, click here.
Our office will be holding a community meeting on the proposed development at 1040 W Belmont on Thursday, July 9th at 6:00pm via Zoom. The development team will present their latest plans and take questions from residents. To receive the Zoom information, please email our office at [email protected]. You can learn more about the proposal on our website here.
Please note our office will be closed next Friday, July 3rd, for Independence Day.
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Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
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Upcoming Alley Resurfacing
Several streets, alleys, and alley aprons will be resurfaced this week.
Streets:
- Pine Grove from Surf to Diversey - Resurfacing date is 7/2
- Hawthorne from Broadway to Lake Shore - Resurfacing date is 7/6
- Cornelia from Lakewood to Racine - Resurfacing date is 7/7
Alleys:
- E/W alley between Belmont, Cambridge, Briar, and Pine Grove - Resurfacing date is 7/7
- E/W alley between Buckingham, Halsted, Aldine, Clark - Resurfacing date is 7/6
- N/S alley between School, Racine, Melrose, and Lakewood - Resurfacing date is 7/7
- E/W alley between Wellington, Mildred, Halsted, and Oakdale - Resurfacing date is 7/6
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Wellington/Oakdale Greenway
You can find the updated proposal for the Wellington/Oakdale Greenway below and on our website here.
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Divvy Bikes & E-Scooters
We are excited to share that we now have a total of 26 E-Scooter & Divvy Bike docking stations in the 44th Ward!
Reporting Scooter & Divvy Bike Removals
If you see Divvy Bikes or E-Scooters that are not properly returned to a docking station, please report this to 311 here. By contract, shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean.
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Chi Street Work Portal
Have questions about street work happening in your area?
The Department of Transportation has a tool called the Chi Street Work Portal where you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street.
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Garbage & Recycling
Beginning on Monday, June 29th, please ensure that trash bins are accessible all week as your exact day of service may vary due to the Fourth of July holiday.
The next recycling pick-up for the 44th Ward is the week of July 6th. You can find your full garbage and recycling pick up schedule here.
Recycling information is now also available through Chicago's Recycle Coach App. You can learn more about the app here.
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To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the form here.
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19th District Weekly Report:
June 15th - June 21st
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 the full list of CPD's safety tips here, as well as tips for personal safety, robberies, and vehicles.
Below you'll find Week 25'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 40%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 are down 44%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is up 3%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 is down 30%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 35%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 41%
- Year to Date, Thefts are up 11%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 19%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are up 14%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 22%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website here.
See full report below:
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Upcoming Meetings
Community Meetings With CPD (‘Beat Meetings’):
Beat meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) and are an opportunity to speak directly with CPD officers about your neighborhood. The officers review incidents that have occurred as well as an overview of crime statistics. Find your beat here and view the beat meeting schedule below or in our ward calendar.
19th Police District Council
The 19th Police District Council holds monthly meetings. To view all upcoming meetings, you can visit the 19th Police District Council website here.
The next meeting is:
Tuesday, June 30th 6:30 PM
Topic: The role community resources play in creating safer neighborhoods with representatives from Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) and 211.
Sulzer Library
4455 N Lincoln Ave.
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Other Public Safety Alerts
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Honda Air Bag Thefts:
The Chicago Police Department continues to see reports of air bag thefts from Hondas in the area.
CPD officers have noted, however, that visible anti-theft devices such as steering wheel clubs have proven to be an effective deterrent, with many of the protected vehicles often being passed over even when neighboring cars were targeted.
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Illinois Secretary of State & DMV Scam Text Scams:
There continues to be a rise in fraudulent text messages that claim to be from the Illinois Secretary of State or DMV. These texts often use urgent language, threaten license suspension, registration holds, or legal action in an attempt to trick you into clicking a link or paying an alleged fine. Learn more on the Illinois Secretary of State website here.
Vehicle Theft Tactic Alert:
We want to make neighbors aware of a vehicle theft tactic that has been seen in other cities and may become more common here. Thieves are targeting newer “push-to-start” vehicles by using technology to capture and amplify the signal from a key fob—sometimes from outside a home—to unlock and start the car in seconds. From other cities' observations, this is more likely to occur when vehicles are parked close to a residence and when key fobs are stored near doors or windows facing the street. To help protect your vehicle, consider keeping your key fob farther inside your home, using a signal-blocking pouch, or parking further away.
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Mental Health Response Resources
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The theme for Pride this year is Free to Be Proud.
It is intentional and declarative. Pride has never just been about celebration — it is about visibility, dignity, resilience, and the right to exist safely and authentically. It is a reminder that no one is truly free until everyone is free to be.
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Pride Parade Route
The parade begins at Grace & Broadway at 11 am, and will then travel the 2-mile parade route south on Broadway; then south on Halsted; then east on Belmont; then south on Broadway; then easy on Diversey to Cannon Drive.
For more information, visit the Pride Chicago website here.
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CTA Reroute & Street Closures
You can find a complete list of street closures, a larger version of the CTA reroute map, and additional Pride Parade information on our website here.
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LAKEVIEW EAST CHAMBER - GUIDE TO PRIDE
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OUT: FAMILY-FREINDLY CELEBRATION - JUNE 27
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BERTHA: GRATEFUL DRAG -
JUNE 27TH
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CACC CAT ADOPTION EVENT -
JUNE 27
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DINE OUT ON BROADWAY -
JULY 10-12, AUGUST 21-23
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Merlo Library - Upcoming Programs
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Merlo Library (644 W Belmont) has a wide range of events each week for babies, kids, teens, and adults.
Click here to view all of Merlo's upcoming events, and see below for events this coming week.
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- Baby Rave (registration required) - 6/30, 11:00am-12:00pm (0-5 years)
- LEGO Club - 6/30, 3:30pm-4:30p (4-13 years)
- Pride Cookie Decorating - 6/30, 3:30pm-5:30pm (13-19 years)
- Lake View Explorer's Club: Kids' Karaoke Party (registration required) - 7/1, 1:30pm-2:30pm (6-13 years)
- Micro-RPG Wednesdays (registration required) - 7/1 5:00pm-7:00pm (13 years & up)
- Play Time - 7/2, 11:00am-11:45am (0-5 years)
- Power Up Thursdays - 6/25, 3:30pm-5:30pm (13-19 years)
- Click for all program details
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Celebrate summer reading with the Chicago Public Library
Click here to view summer reading lists, events, and activities for kids, teens, and adults.
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Click here for a full list of Chicago farmers markets.
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Donation Pages & Volunteer Opportunities
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TUBMAN PLAYGROUND
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CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL
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CYBER SAVVY SENIORS
(Next on: 6/29 covering Internet 101)
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CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP
(Next on: 7/15)
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SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHICAGO YOUTH
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MAYOR'S YOUTH COMMISSION: YOUTH SUMMIT - JULY 25
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BACP LABOR LAW UPDATES - EFFECTIVE 7/1
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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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OEMC - Accepting Applications Through July 31st!
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