| | Dear Neighbor,
Happy International Workers’ Day! Today, millions of people around the world will march in solidarity with one another, celebrating the achievements and contributions of the global labor movement. Here in the United States, people are taking action to stand up against the onslaught of attacks on working people, immigrants, and our democracy. This morning, I joined community members in Logan Square to celebrate. |
|
|
| Just this week, the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act that has helped secure democratic representation and protected Black and brown voters from disenfranchisement for decades. And today, 2 million low-income Americans will lose access to food benefits through SNAP. All the while, billionaires get record tax breaks, and ICE violently separates families in our neighborhoods.
In the words of the great American revolutionary and slavery abolitionist Frederick Douglass, “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” That quote is a constant reminder to me that the future we need and deserve will not be given to us; we must build it together.
Last Saturday, my office organized a tree planting event in Hermosa in collaboration with Openlands, 26th Ward Alder Jessie Fuentes, 8th District Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez, and Nixon Elementary School. Our group of volunteers planted 20 trees across the neighborhood. Hermosa was identified as a high-priority area for tree planting due to its relatively low canopy coverage and air quality concerns. Trees help provide shade and reduce summer utility bills, combat the urban heat island effect, and make ecosystems for different species.
If you are interested in having a tree planted in front of your home, please reach out to my office at (773) 985-3510 or [email protected] for assistance with a request through the Bureau of Forestry. |
|
|
| On Monday, I joined Palenque LSNA’s Youth Leadership Institute Youth Program to talk with their new class of leaders. We had a great discussion about public service, my time growing up in Logan Square, and many of the issues facing young people in our city. |
|
|
| On Tuesday, I completed my tour of schools in the 35th Ward with a visit to Nixon Elementary School. The 35th Ward Office has had a great relationship with Nixon Elementary over the years, having worked hand-in-hand with them on several playground improvement efforts, including after a devastating fire in the playground, our yearly Hermosa Halloween vaccine clinic and celebration, and, most recently, our tree planting event. I’m excited to continue our work to support the school community and neighborhood. |
|
|
| Later that day, my office hosted a zoning meeting for a proposed rental housing development at 3231-65 N California. This was our second meeting regarding this proposal, which featured a revised proposal that incorporated community feedback. I am thankful to all of the community members who turned out to share their thoughtful feedback. Our office is accepting feedback on the revised proposal until May 15, 2026. You can find more information on the proposal and how you can weigh in in the Policy Updates section of the newsletter. |
|
|
| As previously mentioned, starting Friday, May 1, there are changes to SNAP benefits eligibility. New work requirements for adults aged 18-64 without dependents under 14 are required to engage in 80 hours of work or volunteering monthly to avoid losing benefits. Certain exemptions exist for people with disabilities, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness. If you or someone you know has questions regarding your eligibility, I encourage you to please visit www.abe.illinois.gov or speak with a benefits specialist with the Illinois Department of Human Services at 773-247-3663. Please call our office if you need assistance.
On Thursday, I was visited by members of Unite Here Local 1, the union that represents more than 15,000 hospitality workers in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Two of the members who visited the office work in our Chicago Public Schools (CPS) lunchrooms. CPS lunchroom employees are currently negotiating a new contract. Currently, lunchroom attendants start at an hourly rate of approximately $16.48 per hour. The lunchroom attendants we spoke with shared the struggles that they have been facing in the workplace, with more vacancies, filling in for multiple positions, and struggling to make ends meet with the increased cost of living. The employees who feed our kids every day shouldn’t have to struggle to put food on their own table.
We also had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming contract fight for many Chicago hotel workers. On September 1st, the collective bargaining agreements for roughly 5,000 hotel workers, including hundreds in the 35th ward, will expire. At a time when the Chicago hotel industry has seen record demand for hotel rooms in Chicago in 2025, the hotel workers deserve a fair contract.
|
|
|
| Happy Mayday!
Sincerely,
Anthony J. Quezada Alderman, 35th Ward
Community Resources: Food Bank Locator and SNAP Updates Utility Billing and Relief Immigration Resources | Family Support Hotline 855-435-7693 Parking Ticket Relief Tenants Rights Resources
|
|
| | Street Sweeping Season is Underway!
The Department of Streets and Sanitation’s 2026 street cleaning season is now underway across Chicago. Please be mindful of permanent posted parking restrictions on arterials streets and for scheduled parking restrictions on residential streets. You can find the 2026 street sweeping schedule here. Additionally, you can use our website’s resource map tool, by selecting the street sweeping filter, to see the map and scheduled sweep dates for residential street cleaning.
Ward Night
Our next ward night will be Monday, May 4, 2026. To schedule an appointment to meet with the Alderman, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (773)-985-3510 during our hours of operation (9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday).
Property Tax Exemption Applications Are Now Open
Applications for property tax exemptions are still open until May 15th. You can learn more about each of these exemptions, including eligibility requirements, on the Assessor's website at this link. You can check which exemptions you receive by entering your address or PIN at this link and clicking “Exemption History & Status.” In addition to filling for exemption for this year, you may still apply for any missing exemptions for 2024-2021. Please reach out to our office if you would like assistance checking which exemptions you receive or applying for exemptions for 2024-2021.
If you are interested in setting up an appointment with our office for assistance, please give us a call at 773-985-3510. |
|
|
|
| Upcoming Paseo Prairie Garden Work Days
The Friends of Paseo Prairie Garden will be hosting upcoming volunteer work days. Each work day will be held from 10am-11:30am at Paseo Prairie Community Garden, located at 2614 N Kedzie, and volunteers can assist with weeding, trash pickup, watering and planting.
Upcoming dates: Sunday May 3rd Saturday May 9th Sunday May 17th Saturday May 23rd Sunday May 31st |
|
|
| Policy and Zoning Updates |
|
| Currently Accepting Feedback on Zoning Map Amendment Request for 3231-65 N. California Ave./2752-62 W. Melrose St.
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the 35th ward office hosted a community meeting to gather feedback on a zoning map amendment request for 3231-65 N. California Ave./2752-62 W. Melrose St. This proposal was previously presented at a community meeting on October 14, 2025. It originally consisted of two five-story multi-family buildings at the north and south ends of the property, and 26 three-story townhomes between them, for a total of 152 residential units and 126 parking spaces. Access to the site was provided from California as well as from the alleys along the south and east sides of the property. In response to community feedback, the applicant revised the project to reduce the number of units, increase the parking ratio of units to parking spaces, and eliminate access to the property from the alleys to the south and east of the property. Specifically, the changes include: Replacement of the north multi-family building with 14 three-story townhomes, reducing the total number of units from 152 to 105, a 31% reduction in density. Parking for 112 cars is now proposed, resulting in an improved parking ratio from the prior 83% of the number of units to 107%. To address a concern with drop-off activity on Melrose, the entrance to the Melrose/California multi-family building was moved to California, with a loading zone proposed in front of the main door on California. Elimination of access to the property from the east-west alley (Riverview Parkway) and the north-south alley, with the dedication of the 8 feet of the property adjacent to Riverview Parkway, is still proposed to expand that roadway to 16 feet. One bicycle parking space per unit is still included. Twenty-one affordable units are included in the development, including 8 affordable townhomes.
At the community meeting, the applicant presented their proposal and residents had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. In line with our Community-Driven Zoning and Development process, the 35th Ward Office will accept additional feedback until 5pm on Friday, May 15. At the end of this two week period, the Alderman will decide whether he supports the project based on the feedback received.
You can view the presentation from the meeting and a traffic study for the project here. You can provide feedback here. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (773) 985-3510. |
|
| Summer Youth Opportunities |
|
| Chicago Youth Works
Chicago Youth Works is a centralized hub for youth summer and year-round job and program opportunities. It also has more information for employers who are interested in participating in the program by hosting youth at their workplaces. You can find more information on their website.
35th Ward Aldermanic Internship The 35th Ward office will be hosting a summer intern through the Chicago City Council Summer Internship Program. This is a paid, full-time, 10 week program for currently enrolled students, where interns will get hands-on experience in city government by assisting the neighborhood services team. Tasks will include: Community Outreach / Canvassing for events, construction projects, and programs, Email communication between various City Departments, Connecting residents to vital services, Surveying the community for service needs, Engaging in research, Website Development, Social Media support, And tabling events.
If you are interested in applying for this internship opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter to Sara at [email protected]. |
|
|
| Upcoming Community Events |
|
|
|
|
|
| | 35th Ward Office Phone: 773-985-3510 35th Ward Office Email: [email protected] DSS recycling and garbage schedule: chicagorecycles.org Parking Zone Lookup: http://smartchicago.github.io/zone-parking/ Snow Plow Tracker: https://plow-tracker-chicago.hub.arcgis.com/ Street Sweeping Schedule: 2026 Street Cleaning Schedule Street Sweeper Tracker: www.cityofchicago.org/sweepertracker Street Sweeper “We The Sweeple” App: https://www.wethesweeple.com/Elected Official Lookup: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html Backyard service rodent abatement: (312) 746-5230
35th Ward Staff Scott Jaburek - Chief of Staff Alberto Cuevas - Ward Superintendent Sara Rodriguez - Neighborhood Services Director Chas Sirridge - Policy Director Juan Cardenas - Neighborhood Services Advocate
Food Resources
May Schedule for Northwest Side Solidarity Network Events - 3000 N Kedzie Ave
Thursday May 7th Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm Free Groceries: 12:30-1:30pm
Thursday May 14th Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm Car Seat Inspections: 10am-12pm
Wednesday May 20th Free Groceries: 12:30-1:30pm Free Adult Health Screenings 10am-1:30pm
Thursday May 21st Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm
Thursday May 28th Free hot meals to-go: 12:00-1:30pm
Employment Opportunities
The Illinois Department of Human Services is hiring! Check out open positions here.
People’s Gas is also hiring! You can find open positions in the region on their website.
The City of Chicago is hiring for several positions. You can find these positions at www.cityofchicago.org/jobs.
To find open positions at the Chicago Park District, please visit this link. |
|
|
|
| Public Safety (CAPS) Meetings CAPS meetings are an opportunity for residents to meet with the Community Engagement officers of their local police districts to discuss public safety concerns in their neighborhoods. The 35th ward includes portions of the 14th, 17th, and 25th districts of the Chicago Police Department. Visit the CPD website to find your beat.
Beat 1413 ZOOM ONLY MEETING May 6th at 6pm - Zoom Link Beat 1411 - the Art Colony 2630 W Fletcher May 7th at 6pm Beat 2522 - Blackhawk Park 2318 N Lavergne May 7th at 6:30pm |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
