15th Ward Newsletter for August 14, 2026

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15th Ward Newsletter | August 14, 2026

Chicago,

The end of Summer can be bittersweet for many families, but depending on who you ask, it may be a blessing or a dread. Students enjoying the summer break may not be too eager to go back to school, but parents, on the other hand, are looking forward to an empty house during the day. Regardless of which side of the school play lot fence you’re on, the first day of school is right around the corner.

One thing we’ve been dealing with throughout the Ward is the barrage of thunderstorms and heavy winds, which bring down whole trees and tree branches. Mother Nature is working overtime, and so are we. I am truly grateful to my staff for rolling up their sleeves and joining me to move large limbs from the street, cut up branches on the sidewalks, or just documenting fallen trees for forestry to pick up. Let’s hope she gives us a few days of good weather.

Lastly, I want to thank our summer intern, Marty McMullin from Canaryville. Today was his last day with the Ward Office before heading back to Urbana-Champaign for classes. Marty is an excellent intern who was quick to learn, anticipate, and provide outstanding customer service! Here’s to an incredible year downstate. Until then, I remain,

Respectfully Serving the 15th Ward,

Raymond A. López

Alderman - 15th Ward of Chicago

Partners like Larry Huggins and his organization, Christmas In The Wards, as well as City Colleges of Chicago, Black Men United, S2 City Grill, and In His Hands Resource Center, are the organizations that help bridge the gap that City government can't reach by providing thousands of free book bags, school supplies, clothing, shoes, and food to families not only in the 15th Ward, but across Chicago.

Special shout-out to Mayor Johnson and the Southside Aldermen who made the event a success!

Thank you to our friends at Midway Document Destruction for helping our 15th Ward residents and surrounding neighbors with their document destruction & electronics recycling this past Saturday, August 8th.

Though the rains cut our Chicago Lawn Pop-Up a bit short this past Thursday, the 15th Ward Team was out fielding city requests, providing city resources, and letting residents know about the huge street resurfacing project happening this fall.

Our next pop-up is scheduled at 58th and Wood St. in West Englewood next week.

See you then!

Friday morning at the West Lawn Park Fieldhouse, Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation to deliver flood-damage relief to Southwest Side families impacted by last year's historic flooding.

The law gives homeowners another tool to get help with recovery and rebuilding, especially after the Trump administration denied Illinois's requests for federal assistance.

Details on how homeowners can receive this one-time payment will be announced soon.

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Raymond Lopez was first elected to the Chicago City Council in April 2015. Since then, Raymond has been a fighter for working families by pushing for safer neighborhoods, community investment, better jobs with living wages, quality education, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Before being elected Alderman, Raymond was a blue-collar worker checking luggage as a skycap at Midway Airport. Raymond currently lives with his husband of 20 years, Hugo, in Brighton Park, where they have six rescue dogs, whom he brings to work daily!