32nd Ward Newsletter May 29, 2026

Dear John,


Working in conjunction with the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, we are happy to announce a new farmers market opening at Walsh Park next week, Thursday, June 4th with the Wicker Park Farmers Market also being in full swing. The Roscoe Village Farmers Market also starts at Hamlin Park next weekend on June 7th. More on both of these markets below.

Also included in the newsletter is information on the Chicago elected school board, Wellington Greenway, Maifest, Do-Division Fest, AARP June meeting, and many more events coming up in the community.

Several pools are opening late this year due to rehab work on pools. Visit the CPD page for swimming pools and call ahead to check on the construction completion dates and opening hours. Also, if you are heading to Chicago's beaches, please take extra care with kids and watch for all of the warnings in each. Beaches are already packed with thousands of people, so please be aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on anyone entering the water. North Avenue beach has a no swimming advisory notice today and beachgoers are advised to take extra precautions.

Be safe and have a good weekend!

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber State of the Ward

1st and 32nd Wards

Alderman LaSpata and I spoke at the WPB State of the Ward breakfast covering issues from our wards and city hall. The issues we covered included the dreaded parking meter deal, new businesses opening in the neighborhood, mixed use developments like Foundry Park, and more.

Thanks to the WPBCC and our great hosts at Libertad Sur, where you can enjoy their atrium and outdoor seating space. This is the same space as the former Las Palmas and is now operated by the owner's son. Thanks to the staff, WPBCC, businesses, and residents who joined us for the q&a this week.

When it comes to restaurants, our office is happy to work with these new businesses to get them up and running as quickly as possible. Here are some new businesses that we mentioned, a few in Wicker Park/Bucktown- The Best New Restaurants in Chicago and some in Lakeview and Wicker Park/Bucktown- 7 Recent Chicago Bar and Restaurant Openings to Know.

Alcott College Prep Show Their Advocacy

Last week, students from Alcott College Prep organized a walk-out based on concerns they have as Chicago teens. They stopped by my office to share their voices about nationwide issues that they feel directly impact them. Seeing Chicago youth invest in democracy is always inspiring.

June CAPS Meeting



14th Police District

1433- June 16, 6pm

Pulaski Park

1419 W. Blackhawk

1434- June 24, 6pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library

1701 N. Milwaukee

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261



19th Police District-

1921- June 17, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1922- June 17, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- June 23, 6:30pm

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- June 25, 6:30pm

Lincoln Belmont Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- June 9, 6:30pm

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

18th Police District Council Survey
WE WANT YOUR VOICES TO BE HEARD! 

ISSUE – Recent appointments by Mayor Johnson to the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (Commission), combined with requirements for the composition of the 7-person Commission as required by Chapter 2-80 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (Ordinance) has resulted in two YOUTH Commissioners representing 100% of North Side residents for the next four years on the Commission.

Under the Ordinance, the Commission is granted important public safety responsibilities, including but not limited to, playing a central role in selecting and removing the Police Superintendent, Police Board members, and the COPA Chief Administrator, as well as setting Chicago Police Department Policies.

Per Ordinance requirements, the Commission requires at least two Commissioners that are North Side residents, two Commissioners that are South Side Residents, two Commissioners that are West Side residents, and one additional Commissioner that can be appointed from either the North Side, South Side or West Side. Among these 7 commissioners, 2 commissioners must be between the ages of 18 and 24 years old (YOUTH Commissioners).

The North Side, as defined by the Ordinance, has approximately 1,000,000 residents. For the next four years, the North Side will be appointed both of the mandated Youth Commissioners, while the remainder of Chicago residents will be represented by five non-youth adults with experience required by the Ordinance for non-youth adult Commissioners. 

This survey asks whether you think this fairly represents the voice of North Side residents in making important public safety decisions.  

Two Minute Survey: Is it fair that 1 million North Side Chicago residents will be represented (per the Ordinance's requirements of two North Side residents) by two Youth Commissioners on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability?

TAKE THE 18th Police District Council SURVEY- The Results of this survey will be accumulated, presented to the decision-makers, and shared with all those responding.

More about the 18th Police District Council

2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street cleaning season has begun. Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 7, 8, and 9 (parts of South Lakeview). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs).

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any landscaping debris should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool. 

Elected School Board and the Candidates for

November 2026 Election

We are attaching a few links here for the candidates and background on the upcoming Chicago School Board elections that you should vote on this November 3rd. The board members determine what shows up on our tax bills for the education system in Chicago and we encourage you to review the candidates in your area and learn more about the impact they will have on you- whether you are a CPS parent or not. The November election will also include candidates for Chicago police districts. 

Map- CPS Map - Find Your CPS Board Member Representative

Map - to find your district representative- use the map to find your candidates. The ward boundaries are not the same as these school board districts. Via Chalkbeat

Map from RPubs

• Here are the 51 people who filed to run for Chicago Board of Education
• 51 candidates are running for Chicago’s first fully elected school board (for 21 seats)
• Candidates line up for Chicago Board of Education as petitioning filing period opens

What is the Elected School Board? 

The Board Members (both the elected and the appointed Members) and the appointed Board President will all serve for two-year terms which begin January 15, 2025. 

Candidates submitted at least 1000 signatures similar to what Aldermen have to do in the autumn for the February municipal election. More information about the process can be found on the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website. Successful legal challenges to petitions could mean some candidates may not make it on the ballot. 

Responsibilities of School Board Members

CPS has a budget of more than $9 billion, which is used to serve over 325,000 students across 634 schools. Governing this organization is a tremendous responsibility for the Board Members selected to lead. Board Members fulfill a number of specific key responsibilities, including, but not limited to:

• Hiring and evaluating the CEO
• Establishing the direction, goals, and priorities for the district
• Approving district policies
• Approving purchasing decisions, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements
• Approving the district budget and capital improvement plan
• Approving the school year calendar
• Approving school continuous improvement plans, school actions, and school charters and contracts
• Approving the dismissal of probationary appointed teachers, contract principals and tenured teachers, and non-probationary educational support personnel 

Wellington & Oakdale Greenway Work to Begin

The work on the Wellington & Oakdale Neighborhood Greenways will begin this week. The purpose of this project will be to provide safer bike routes and promote safer vehicle speeds. Please be aware of no parking signs. CDOT could not provide specific dates for the project, but as we know more, we'll let you know. Any questions about the project, feel free to reach out to our Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec - [email protected] or call 773-248-1330.

Water Main Project

Greenview, Fullerton to Altgeld

Update 5/29/26

Tentative schedule for the week of June 1 (All field activities are weather dependent) -

• Please expect Greenview to be closed as early as Tuesday on 6/2/26, north of Fullerton. The alley entrance will be closed, heading east on Greenview. DWM has coordinated with the Walgreens on the NW corner of Fullerton telling customers to use the Fullerton entrance or the alley entrance off Ashland.
• Work progress may slow down as operations approach the alley area due to the large number of existing services and utility facilities located there. Please be advised tree removal will be onsite at some point removing trees. Only trees that absolutely have to be removed for the project will be.
• DWM crews will continue installing the new 8” ductile iron water main on Greenview to replace the existing water main. Expect a water outage on 6/2/26 from noon-5pm. DWM has coordinated & notified all the affected residents of this upcoming process.
• DWM crews will continue installing the new 8” ductile iron water main on Greenview to replace the existing water main.
• While the crew is working on the water main, all the private drains on the east side of Greenview will be replaced to comply with IEPA requirements. Up to today, twelve addresses have been replaced, as they are crossing the new water main, from clay to a 6” ductile pipe.
• Up to date, 68% of the work has been completed (in the water main phase of the project). 

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a Water Department supervisor on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. 

Kennedy Express Lanes Overnight Closure Tonight

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that fiber optics line work will require an overnight full closure of the Kennedy Expressway's reversible express lanes. The closure will go into effect, weather permitting, 10 p.m. tonight, May 29, to 10 a.m. Saturday.

The closure is necessary to make final connections to communications lines that were replaced in March that relay traffic information and other data along the expressway system. ​

The public can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Alternate routes are encouraged. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Traffic Alerts: Maifest & Do Division

With many festivals, concerts, and athletic events this weekend, the City of Chicago is advising residents and visitors to be aware of street closures, additional crowds, increased traffic, and to plan accordingly. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is reminding residents and visitors of security measures in place and stresses the importance of always being aware of your surroundings and to report suspicious activity to on-site event security or by calling 9-1-1.  
 

Maifest Chicago 

Friday, May 29, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 12:00 p.m. – 10 p.m. 

The free German festival celebrates the arrival of spring and takes place in Lincoln Square, 4521 N. Lincoln Avenue. For details, visit: MaifestChicago.com. 

Do Division 

Friday, May 29, 5 – 10 p.m., Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, 12:00 p.m. – 10 p.m. 

The West Town music festival is located on Division Street between Damen and Leavitt. For details, visit: 

westtownchamber.org/do-division 

Chicago OEMC App – Know Before You Head Out 

For safety and preparedness this Summer, residents and visitors are encouraged to gear up and download the new Chicago OEMC App. The public safety tool provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, CHI Safe Walk, weather information and more in the palm of your hand. Users will also have access to current events and forecasts, radar, and other weather-related information as well. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC. 

OEMC will issue any alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies.  Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notices and issues affecting businesses: 

• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5 
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 

Invitation to the 2027 Budget Engagement Roundtables

Please feel to share your insights about the upcoming 2027 budget by attending one of three Budget Engagement Roundtables. Click on the event you'd like to attend to register!

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE I

Weds, June 3rd, 2026

Malcolm X College

1900 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60612

Resource Fair: 5:00 PM

Roundtables: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE II

Saturday, June 6th, 2026

Harry S. Truman

1145 W. Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 6064

Resource Fair: 9:00 AM

Roundtable: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE III

Tuesday, June 16th, 2026

Kennedy-King College

6301 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621

Resource Fair: 5:00 PM

Roundtable: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Roscoe Village Community Garage Sale

Get ready to clear out your clutter, find amazing bargains, and connect with neighbors at the Roscoe Village Community Garage Sale!

Saturday, June 6th

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Rain or Shine!)

$20 to Register

Last year, over 60 households participated—and we’re aiming for even more this year! Whether you’re selling or shopping, it’s a great way to meet neighbors and discover hidden treasures.

Ready to sell? Register today to get your home on the official map and help us advertise the event far and wide.

Deadline to register is May 31st.

Let’s make this year’s sale the biggest yet!

Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Showcase

Kick off summer with a focus on you! Celebrate the season of sunshine at the Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Showcase. This event is FREE and features 30+ local businesses offering free mini-treatments, exclusive giveaways, and more.

Pick up a Health & Wellness Passport when you arrive for details and your chance to win a Health & Wellness Weekend Swag Bag!

Saturday, June 6

8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Lincoln Common Plaza

2335 N. Lincoln

Click here to learn more!

Join us for Porchfest Lakeview on May 31st, from 1pm-5pm, a neighborhood music festival featuring local musical acts performing across front porches throughout Lakeview. Enjoy an intimate live music experience while connecting with neighbors and supporting local musicians. Click on the flyer above for more info.

Movies in the Park Summer Lineup

Network Night at

Bitter Pops

Tue. June 23, 5:30 - 7:00pm

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce invites you to enjoy light refreshments, engaging conversations, and the chance to meet fellow members from a wide range of industries—all in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Network Nights is your place to connect, exchange ideas, and grow your business together.

Register here!

Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is hiring part-time Traffic Control Aides (up to 200 positions), starting salary $25.54/hr. The job posting is open through July 31. The job posting can be found here: www.Chi.gov/oemcjobs

Additional City Resources for You & Your Family


These services are provided free of charge to all Chicagoans.



Family & Maternal Health

CDPH WIC Clinics

Pregnant Or Recently Had A Baby?

Healthy Children, Let’s Prevent Lead Poisoning

Preventive Care & Clinics

Need a Vaccine? Immunization Clinics

Free Prostate or Breast Cancer Screening During Birthday Month

Mental Health & Wellness

Mental Health Clinics

Healing Arts Chicago

Environmental & Lifestyle Health

Check Air Quality Near You

Quit Smoking

Community & Other Services

More Services: chicago.gov/health

See a Problem in Your Block? Call 311.

311 is Chicago’s non-emergency service line. It connects you to City services for issues that affect your block, your home, or your health.

By Phone: Dial 3-1-1 from any phone in Chicago.

Online: Visit the official 311 portal

City News

• Chicago Board of Ethics Names 8 Alderpeople, 71 Total Employees Who Filed Ethics Statements Late
• 4 More Teens Charged in Attack Tied to ‘Lakeview Goons,’ Alderperson Says
• Illinois Lawmakers Approve Bill to Regulate E-Bikes, Scooters
• Red Line Subway Closing for First of Four Weekends of Repairs
• Caught on Video: Armed Thieves Steal Airbag in Broad Daylight as Humboldt Park Resident Watches from Window
• Mayor Brandon Johnson Keeps Trying to Convince Chicagoans They’re Wrong to Want ShotSpotter Back
• Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Olusimbo Ige Resigns, Mayor's Office Says
• CDPH Health Commissioner Voluntarily Returned Tens of Millions of Dollars in COVID-19 Grants to the Federal Government
• How Senior Centers Ensure Chicago’s Older Adults ‘Don’t Get Comfortable with Isolation’
• Gov. Pritzker: No Discussion with Mayor's Office About Latest Bears Proposal
• Chicago Public Library Brings Back Popular Summer Reading Program for Adults
• 28 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Do Division Fest, Hot Dog Fest, and More
  

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]