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The 2nd Ward Newsletter for December 22, 2025
In This Edition:
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City Offices Closed in Observance of Christmas
Please be advised that pursuant to the mandatory city holiday schedule, City of Chicago offices — including the 2nd Ward office — will be closed on Thursday, December 25, in observance of Christmas Day. Our office will reopen on Friday, December 26, 2025, at 9am.
Due to the holiday, refuse and recycling may be collected on an altered schedule. Click here to check if your service will be altered.
Happy Holidays!
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Alternative Budget Passes Council
Last Saturday, I voted with a majority of my colleagues to pass our alternative 2026 budget by a margin of 30 to 18. This budget plan prioritizes fiscal stability and efficiency at a critical juncture for our city's future, and I am proud to have worked with my colleagues towards its passage.
At a time when credit rating agencies are closely scrutinizing the city, every effort must be taken to showcase the intention of putting Chicago on a sound financial footing for the future. This budget preserves the delivery of services, avoids the job-killing "head tax", creates new revenue streams, and makes a full advanced pension payment.
At this time, it remains to be seen whether or not Mayor Johnson will veto this budget. It passed in historic fashion, becoming the first in Chicago history to be created by the City Council, not the Mayor. Should he choose to veto this budget, he will be effectively initiating a government shutdown where services will halt on January 1. Please stay tuned to this newsletter for updates.
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Curfew Discussion on Chicago Tonight
Last Thursday, I joined my colleague Ald. William Hall on WTTW's Chicago Tonight to discuss my newly-introduced "time-and-site" curfew ordinance, which will curb the teen takeovers that have done such damage in recent years. I would like to thank WTTW for covering such an important topic, and I look forward to continuing the conversation around preventing violence and furthering public safety in this critical area in the new year. We also discussed the state of budget proceedings.
Click here to view my appearance (beginning around the 7:15 minute mark).
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Ox Bar & Hearth Opens in 2nd Ward
I was pleased to join the team at Ox Bar & Hearth for a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, and am excited to see another new restaurant opening in the 2nd Ward. Ox Bar & Hearth, located at 1578 N Clybourn Ave, is another addition to the neighborhood's strong dining scene, and I was glad to learn that their kitchen uses ingredients sourced from area farms that sell at the Division Street and SOAR Farmers Markets.
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Chicago New Year’s Eve Celebration Road & Bridge Closures: Wednesday, Dec. 31st
This year, Chicago will host a live broadcast of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” with a midnight countdown and free, public event along the Chicago River. Road closures will start on Monday, December 29, at 10:00 am on Franklin St from Lake St to Upper W Wacker Dr.
Then, on Wednesday, December 31, the Orleans St bridge and Upper Wacker from Lake St to Wells St will close at 10:00 am. Street closures will go into effect on the following bridges on Wednesday, December 31 at 11:30 pm:
- Dearborn St Bridge
- Clark St Bridge
- LaSalle St Bridge
- Wabash St Bridge
- Columbus Dr Bridge
This event is free and open to the public, with no ticket registration required. Event entrances located on Wacker Dr at the corner of Lake St and Wells St will open at 5 p.m. Performances from Chance the Rapper and other Chicago acts will take place throughout the night. To learn more information, you can view the event details here.
For a full list of road closures and the event schedule, please see below.
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Recent Carjacking Arrests:
Community Alerts:
Additional High-Profile Arrests:
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18th District CompStat Report
Computer Statistics report (CompStat) is a weekly report of incidents that have occurred in the respective police district. Each district compiles a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests, and data analysis. to learn more about CompStat.
Please see the 18th District CompStat report below:
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Upcoming CAPS Meetings
There are no remaining CAPS meetings scheduled through the end of the year. The 18th District has not yet released the 2026 schedule, but it will be posted in this section of the newsletter when it becomes available.
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"Name a Snowplow" Contest Now Open
 Chicago residents are once again encouraged to create innovative snowplow names and submit them below by January 10, 2026. At the end of the contest, the Department of Streets and Sanitation will pick the top six names, and those names will represent one snowplow in each of the City’s .
Click here to submit a name.
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Mental Health Resources
NAMI Chicago
NAMI Chicago refers community members to over 700 resources through a free Helpline, open seven days a week. Hotlines are free, confidential, and open 24/7 to offer help and support to callers. Call NAMI Chicago’s Helpline at 833-626-4244, and they can connect you to whatever you need. Click here for more information.
9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Helpline
988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States. Click here for more information.
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Serve as a Poll Worker for the March 17th, 2026 Primary
 The Chicago Board of Elections is seeking poll workers for the Primary on March 17th, 2026, including bilingual election judges who speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog.
To learn more and apply, please visit the Board of Elections website.
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December Activities at Near North Library
 December is a busy month at the Near North Library! Library staff is hosting a variety of exciting events for kids, families, and adults, alongside their normal service to the neighborhood.
Click here to view their calendar of events.
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Chicago Instagreeter Walks of the Loop: Friday, December 26
Discover Chicago's unique neighborhoods during a Chicago Greeter visit, led by a friendly local. These free walks are led by welcoming volunteer Greeters who share interesting facts, insider tips, and an authentic perspective on life in Chicago.
InstaGreeter walks of the Loop begin at 11:30 am. and 1:30 pm. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E Randolph St.). Click here for more information.
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ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
 ZooLights twinkles with more than 3 million lights, hundreds of nostalgic LED displays, and festive experiences that capture the magic of the season. Enjoy strolling through the holiday light tunnel.
Take a ride on the Ferris wheel and catch great views of the skyline. The event runs from now through January 4, 2026.
Click here for more details.
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Christmas Around the World at MSI
 The 83rd annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light, at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, features more than 50 trees and displays, each lovingly decorated by community volunteers who share family and cultural traditions.
Click here to learn more.
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