Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

May 21, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Condemning the San Diego Mosque Shooting

I am devastated by the horrific shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that claimed the lives of three innocent people. Schools and places of worship should be safe spaces where people can learn, gather, and pray in peace. They should never become scenes of terror or violence. I condemn this hateful attack in the strongest possible terms and urge our elected leaders to take meaningful action to keep all of our communities safe.

At this time, there are no known threats to our community. However, out of an abundance of caution, local law enforcement is providing additional attention around mosques and other places of worship.

Outdoor Office & Ice Cream Social - June 4

The first 50th Ward event of the summer is coming up! Join us for free ice cream and outdoor office hours outside the Northtown Library. Celebrate the summer together with Alderman Silverstein and your neighbors on Thursday, June 4 from 4:30-6:00 PM at Pratt and Western.

Meet your alderman, discuss any needed city services, and enjoy ice cream together with your neighbors (dairy-free options will also be available).

We have a full summer planned with lots of great community events. Find one that works for you at: 50thward.org/summer. I hope to see you all out in the Ward!

Rogers Park Township Property Tax Appeal

I held a property tax appeal outreach event for Rogers Park Township at my office this week, together with Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita and the Cook County Assessor’s Office. We were able to help dozens of local residents file their appeals and possibly lower their property tax bills.

If you were not able to make it, you still have time to appeal your assessment. Rogers Park Township property owners can file an appeal online at www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/online-appeals until Monday, June 1.

Rogers Park Township encompasses the area of the 50th Ward that is north of Devon. If your appeal is accepted, changes to your property's assessed value will be reflected in the second installment property tax bill you receive next year in late 2027.

For any questions, please contact my office at (773) 262-1050 or contact Commissioner Morita’s Office at (312) 603-6383. 

Jewish American Heritage Month at City Hall

At Council this week, I introduced a resolution recognizing May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The Chicago metropolitan area is home to roughly 300,000 Jewish men, women, and children, making us one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. As the only Jewish alderman on the City Council, it was a distinct honor to represent my people at City Hall.

We were joined by representatives of many Jewish organizations who work tirelessly on our behalf. I am extremely grateful to all these organizations for their constant partnership and everything they do for the 50th Ward, the City of Chicago, the United States, and the world.

Anti-Jewish hate continues to roil our city, and Jewish residents of Chicago are disproportionately impacted by hate crimes. Highlighting the rich and unique Jewish culture and the contributions of Jewish Americans to our city is one of the greatest ways to combat the rising wave of antisemitism.

You can read the full text of the resolution here. Wishing a happy Jewish American Heritage Month to everyone!

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

May is also Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a yearly celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The 50th Ward has a large and vibrant Asian American population who has had a tremendous impact on our neighborhood. I was very pleased to co-sponsor a resolution honoring this community at City Council on Wednesday.

May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

You can learn more about this important commemoration at asianpacificheritage.gov. Wishing a happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to the entire 50th Ward!

Happy Eid al-Adha!

This week, many of our neighbors will celebrate Eid al-Adha, an important Islamic holiday. The 50th Ward has a large and vibrant Muslim community and Eid is a very festive time in our neighborhood.

I would like to wish a joyous Eid to the 50th Ward’s entire Muslim community. Eid Mubarak!

Happy Shavuot!

The Jewish holiday of Shavuot begins tonight. I want to wish the 50th Ward’s Jewish community a very happy holiday! Chag sameach!

My staff will be working remotely on Friday, May 22, and the Devon Avenue office will be closed. Please call (773) 262-1050 or email [email protected] for help with any City services. 

Memorial Day

This Monday is Memorial Day. This is an important holiday that commemorates our American heroes who gave their last full measure of devotion in service of their country. I would like to pay my respects to the fighting men and women of the United States military who made the ultimate sacrifice and express my gratitude to the families of the fallen.

The Chicago Memorial Day Parade will be this Saturday, May 23. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11 AM at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Street), and the parade will begin at noon along State Street.

The 50th Ward Office will be closed in commemoration of the holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26 at 9 AM. There will also be a change to garbage pickup this coming week due to the City holiday. Addresses which are typically picked up on Mondays and Tuesdays will be collected on Tuesday or Wednesday. Please make sure your garbage is outside on both of these days to ensure it is collected.

Learn more about Memorial Day at the US Department of Veterans Affairs website here.

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Upcoming 50th Ward Summer Events

Sign Up for Street Sweeping Alerts

Street sweeping has officially started and will continue through late-November. You can view the schedule for the 50th Ward as an interactive map here or download a printable version on the Department of Streets and Sanitation website here. Please double-check your address on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct section.

You can find a printable schedule for each individual sweeping section on the 50th Ward website at 50thward.org/sweeping.

You can also sign up for street sweeping alerts with We the Sweeple, a third-party website that pulls information from the publicly available sweeping schedule on the Streets and Sanitation website. Visit www.WeTheSweeple.com to sign up for email alerts when street sweeping is scheduled on your block.

Please note, the site is not affiliated with the City of Chicago, so please always double-check with the official schedule.

Uniting Voices Chicago at Indian Boundary

Does your child love to sing? Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir) is hosting a Discovery Day for students entering 3rd grade and up who are interested in joining the Rogers Park Neighborhood Choir for the 2026–27 season.

The discovery day will be on Wednesday, June 3 from 4-5 PM at Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W Lunt Ave. Students can stop by to complete a voice placement. The Rogers Park Neighborhood Choir offers instruction twice a week at Indian Boundary Park, offering three ensembles for varying ages and musical experiences. Tuition is income-based to ensure access for all families.

To learn more or sign up, visit www.unitingvoiceschicago.org/join.

Summer Jobs for Chicago Youth

The Chicago Youth Works (CYW) application portal is now open. Chicago Youth Works — formerly One Summer Chicago — reflects the City’s continued investment in expanding youth employment opportunities and strengthening pathways to long-term career success for Chicago’s young people.

The City's goal is to hire 29,000 young people (ages 14-24) through paid summer opportunities. Interested youth can apply online at ChicagoYouthWorks.org. The application deadline is May 29, but interested youth should apply early to increase their chances of receiving a job offer.

Summer employment will be a minimum of 6 weeks starting in June and conclude in late July or early August, dependent on the employer the young person is hired through. Youth ages 14-15 will have access to stipend paid opportunities while youth and young adults ages 16-24 will be paid an hourly wage.

Become a Court Advocate

The 24th District is seeking volunteers to become Court Advocates. Court Advocates follow, attend, and track court cases that are of concern to the community. Please contact the CAPS Office at [email protected] if interested in this program.

Court Advocate activities include: 

• Tracking Key Cases: Subcommittees work with the police to monitor cases that matter most to the neighborhood. This ranges from violent crimes to "quality of life" issues such as drug dealing, problem landlords, and abandoned buildings.

• Supporting Victims and Witnesses: For many, testifying can be a source of anxiety. Having community volunteers in the courtroom provides support to victims and witnesses.

Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and stand in solidarity against crime in your community. To learn more about how you can participate, contact the 24th District CAPS Office at [email protected] or 312-744-6321.

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Indo-American Center Open House

Urban Nature Walk & Talk

Camp Courage

CityArts Program

Dance Show at Indian Boundary