Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

January 9, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Condemning the Minneapolis Shooting

I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the shooting of Renee Nicole Good during an ICE operation in Minneapolis. My thoughts are with her loved ones and with the community members who are grappling with the fear and trauma caused by this incident.

This shooting is a deeply troubling example of the harm caused by ICE’s aggressive enforcement tactics. ICE must be held fully accountable for its actions, and the public deserves complete transparency about what happened and why.

Shared Cost Sidewalk Program - ONE DAY ONLY, January 12

Is your sidewalk cracked or broken? If so, now is your chance to get it fixed through the . The program opens ONE DAY ONLY this Monday, January 12 from 6 AM to 10 PM, or until it meets capacity. Please apply as soon as possible as the program operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is extremely popular. To apply, call 311 or use the website or mobile app.

The Shared Cost Sidewalk Program is a popular service in which residents share the cost of sidewalk repair with the City. Property owners will pay a price per square-foot for new sidewalk that is well below what a private contractor would charge. The scope of the program may include the main walk, the existing courtesy walk (which runs perpendicular from the main sidewalk to the curb) and existing landing steps (the small strip of concrete sometimes found adjacent to the curb).

For more information, please visit the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) website . For any questions, contact CDOT at (312) 744-1746 or email [email protected].

Holiday Lights Recycling

Do you have non-working strings of holiday lights? Recycle them at the 50th Ward Office instead of throwing them out! I am proudly partnering once again with Reduce Waste Chicago to collect holiday lights through the end of January. Drop yours off during normal business hours at 2949 W. Devon.

Last year, we were able to divert thousands of pounds of lights from landfills, and this year we are looking to do even more! Separate lights from any other decor, garland, or wreaths before dropping them off and avoid plastic bags or cardboard packaging. Always try replacing bulbs and fuses first before recycling your lights.

Christmas Tree Recycling

Help protect the environment by recycling your old Christmas tree! Trees can be dropped off at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western, and dozens of other locations throughout the city until Saturday, January 17.

The mulch that is created from recycling Christmas trees is used in local parks to protect and nourish plants and soil. Mulch is also available to Chicago residents—free of charge—at six park locations, including Warren Park.

Only live/natural trees without flocking are accepted (no garlands or wreaths). Because the trees are mulched, all tinsel, ornaments, lights, and stands must be removed. Plastic bags used for transport should also be removed before putting trees in the stalls.

The City of Chicago recycles thousands of Christmas trees every year, diverting hundreds of thousands of valuable organic material from landfills. With your help, this year can be even more successful! For more information and a map of all the recycling locations, click .

2026 Police CAPS Meeting Schedule

As we begin a new year, I would like to re-emphasize the importance of being proactive with safety and engaging with our local police. The police hold regular CAPS meetings where the public can speak directly with beat officers and address safety concerns in a public forum. I encourage everyone to attend your local meetings and get to know the officers who are tasked with keeping us safe.

The CAPS beat meeting schedule for 2026 is still being finalized but will be available soon at . The 50th Ward includes five police beats:

• Beat 2411 - Between Howard and Pratt

• Beat 2412 - Between Pratt and Devon

• Beat 2413 - Between Devon and Peterson

• Beat 1711 - Peterson Park

• Beat 2011 - South of Peterson

Find your police beat . 

PLEASE NOTE: The 24th District holds CAPS meetings every other month. The local beat facilitators also hold community meetings in each intervening month. No police officers will be in attendance at the community meetings, but they will help keep the lines of communication open and will serve as valuable opportunities to discuss safety concerns with your neighbors.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Skate In the Parks

Enjoy a fun winter of skating in the parks! The Warren Park ice rink, and outdoor ice rinks across the city, are now open for the season. Pre-registration is required for all programs, including open skate sessions. Register online .

Admission is free, and skates are available for rental. For questions, please contact Warren Park at (773) 761-8663. For more information and a list of all ice rink locations, visit the Park District website .

Name a Snowplow Contest

The Department of Streets and Sanitation has launched the fourth annual “You Name a Snowplow” contest. Chicago residents are once again encouraged to create innovative snowplow names and submit them to by January 10, 2026. Residents will pick the top six names, and those names will represent one snowplow in each of the City’s six snow districts.

Signage for the winning names will be installed on the snowplows, and residents who submitted the winning names (earliest time stamp when there are multiple submissions) will be offered a photo opportunity with the named snowplow along with City swag. 

Submit your snowplow name now at . Voting on the finalists will begin on February 1, 2026.

Health Insurance Coverage Help

Open Enrollment is happening now, and there is still time to find the health plan that works best for you and your family. Enroll by January 15, 2026.

Need help reviewing your options? Get Covered Illinois offers free, local help through certified Navigators and Brokers who can walk you through the process step by step.

For any questions or support, call the Customer Assistance Center at 1-866-311-1119 or visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov to start shopping, comparing, and enrolling today.

Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program

Applications for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program for tax year 2025 are now available on the Cook County Treasurer’s Office website. The deferral program allows income-eligible property owners aged 65 or older to "borrow" money from the state to cover their property taxes. This program operates as a loan with a simple annual interest rate of 3%, providing financial relief to eligible seniors. Applications must be submitted before March 1.

The program allows deferring up to $7,500 annually in property taxes. If the bill is greater, the homeowner is responsible for paying the difference. Deferred taxes are paid when the property is sold, or upon the death of the participant.

Find more information about the program at the Cook County Treasurer’s website . The Treasurer's Office has also created a to explain the program.

Primary Election Update

A Midterm Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, March 17. Voter registration for the election is currently open, and Vote By Mail applications are now being accepted.

You can register to vote , in person on Election Day, at an early voting site, or . for more information about registering to vote.

Vote By Mail applications are now available online . The Board of Elections will begin mailing Vote By Mail ballots in February and you will be able to return your ballot by mail or using one of the secure drop boxes that will be in place at every early voting site.

PLEASE NOTE: You will not automatically receive a new vote by mail ballot unless you are already on the permanent vote by mail roster. If you want to vote by mail and are not on the permanent roster, you must apply again now. To join the Vote By Mail Permanent Roster, click .

For more information about the upcoming election visit .

Stay Warm This Winter

Now that the weather is getting colder and winter is here, several programs are open to help residents pay their heating and electric bills. Visit to find a program that helps you. For assistance applying, visit a local .

Programs now available include:

1. Heating and Electricity Assistance – The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides a one-time benefit toward a household’s heating and/or electric bills.

2. Cash Assistance for Renters – Provides a cash benefit to renters whose heating costs are included in their rent.

3. Furnace Assistance – Supports Cook County homeowners with free furnace repair or replacement if their heating systems are not working properly.

4. Water Assistance – Helps eligible Chicago homeowners receive a monthly discount on their water bills.

The programs are managed by the Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA). For more information, visit . For flyers in multiple languages, click .

Winter Parking Restrictions

The City’s winter parking restrictions are now officially in effect until April 1. Nothing has changed this year. The 50th Ward does not have any overnight parking ban routes, but we do have several streets where parking is prohibited when there are at least two inches of snow on the ground. 

If you live on a main street, please check for posted signs and avoid parking when it snows, so critical routes can be fully plowed and salted. For more information, visit the City’s snow command website . For a complete list of parking ban streets throughout the city (all in other Wards), click .

Emergency Heating Repair Program

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open to new applicants. This program provides direct assistance to income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or replace their furnace or boiler heating system. Limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enrollment will be accepted from November 1, 2025, through April 1, 2026, or until all funds have been exhausted. To apply, visit , call 311, or use the CHI311 app.

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is open to Chicagoans who own and occupy a one-to-four unit residential building. Households earning 80% or less of the (AMI) are eligible to participate in the program.

If approved for the program, qualified contractors will perform the work at no cost to the homeowner, with funding provided through the Department of Housing. For more information, visit . For any questions, call (312) 744-3653 or email [email protected].

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Owl Walk at Park 538

Volunteer English Speakers Needed

Serve as an Election Judge