32nd Ward Newsletter September 25, 2026

Dear John,

This weekend and October are chock full of events in the 32nd Ward.

the Bloomingdale Trail run, Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, and St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest are all this weekend; Milwaukee south of North Ave will be closed on Sunday from 10am-6pm for Meet Me on Milwaukee. See below for more fun events!

The Foundry Park project is moving forward and received a positive vote for the Tax Increment Funding required to build out or reconstruct the city infrastructure in the project boundaries. More on the project below.

The parking meter deal status is also looking good. The Committee on Finance passed the parking meter deal yesterday and while it was deferred today, we expect passage of the deal on Tuesday.

Join an in-person or virtual town hall to learn about a new state law for E-Bikes and E-Scooters on Chicago Park District bicycle paths and trails (including the Bloomingdale Trail). Three upcoming meetings take place in September and early October. See below for details.

There is a lot more in the newsletter with CAPS updates, events, and more on small business opportunities, jobs, and upcoming election information.

Have a great weekend!

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! A great reason to reflect and appreciate Hispanic and Latine history and culture that contributes to our world in so many ways. Explore and show your support by attending a variety of events throughout the city! Check them out at Choose Chicago!

Thank You for Donating Blood!

Our office once again partnered with Versiti Blood Center for a mobile blood drive. We want to shout out to all the residents who came in to donate today. The regular mobile bus was unavailable so we had to make due with the actual office. We appreciate your patience and your donations. A steady stream of people came to donate in all day.

Congrats to my staffer Elizabeth Gomez for donating for the very first time!

2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street cleaning season is in full swing. Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 8, 9, and 10 (parts of South Lakeview). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs).

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any landscaping debris should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs. Many of our clogged drains are covered in bottles, plastic bags and heavy landscaping debris that prevents good drainage. Removing plastics from the curbs and drains also helps keep our Chicago River and Lake Michigan free of the debris.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool.

Foundry Park TIF Moves Forward

The Foundry Park development passed the City Council this week. Prior to the vote, Ald. Hopkins and I asked for additional assurances from the City Departments of Planning and from Transportation on infrastructure related items we would like to make sure pass through additional scrutiny in committees with updates on the development of the larger framework of transportation and city related infrastructure in years to come. The 31 acre site was formerly home to the A. Finkl & Sons steel mill until it was demolished in 2012. The development is for a residential neighborhood with a mix of over 3,000 housing units, commercial properties, public parks, and a public riverwalk along the Chicago River. The housing units will include apartment towers, townhouses, and single-family homes. While a hotel is being considered for the site by JDL, they are not an owner or operator of a hotel and have no partners or operators in the mix at this time. Should a hotel concept move forward at any point, the developer has agreed to meet with Unite to discuss such a potential development and hospitality jobs that would be included in a hotel plan. Holding up the plan for the redevelopment of the entire site should otherwise not be contingent on an agreement that is not in place at this time. 

The Foundry Park site requires basic infrastructure paid for through a Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”) Redevelopment Agreement (the “RDA”) with the Developer. 

Infrastructure improvements will include roadway, alley, and subsurface buildout on Southport Avenue, Dominick Street, Kingsbury Street, Cortland Avenue, Dickens Avenue, and Elston Avenue. Traffic signaling, river walls and river walkways, several small parks, and the 606 Extension will also be included. Cortland has already been redesigned to include improved pedestrian walkways, bike lanes, bus stations, and roadways. 

The total amount of the TIF is roughly $201 million. Contrary to the previous plans in Lincoln Yards, the TIF cannot be used for legal or marketing purposes, or other non-infrastructure related items. 

The Cortland Bridge issue is separate from the TIF proposal passed by the City Council. Neighboring aldermen and I will be meeting with CDOT to discuss their proposals for the Cortland Bridge and share information as it becomes public. This month, Alderman Hopkins and I submitted an ordinance to allow for the removal of the landmark designation of the bridge. 

Groundbreaking for the site will be in mid October!

Parking Meter Deal Passes City Council 
Finance Committee

Next Step Full City Council Passage on Tuesday

The City Council Finance Committee passed the 3rd Amended Concession Agreement of the parking meter deal yesterday. Today, Finance Chairman Dowell and I used a standard parliamentary procedure to defer and publish the ordinance to allow any alderman that needs more time to read it the opportunity to do so and ask questions that they may have missed in previous meetings. The deadline to pass the ordinance is September 30th. Almost every alderman is in favor of the deal. The amended agreement includes several new aspects of the deal (listed below). I believe this is a very good deal for the City, especially since we were working from a deficit. After a failed bid by Mayor Johnson late last year that was not made public or heard in the City Council an NDA was signed that prevented information sharing with the Council. We were able to eventually get through the NDA and were given a short window to negotiate a new deal. Under the leadership of Finance Chairman Dowell, Alderpersons Lee, Villegas, and Burnett Jr. and I worked with our attorneys and financial advisers to craft a deal that all parties (City, CPM, and Stonepeak) agreed to move forward on.

The original deal to privatize the parking meters, passed in 2008, has been much maligned in the years since. Stonepeak attempted to buy the City’s parking meters earlier this year, but the proposed deal stalled amid objections from alders. 

The terms of this agreement include:

• Omni Sale: A commitment from Stonepeak to sell Omni Air international, a company that provides long haul deportation flights for the Department of Homeland Security. That sale will be confirmed via a certified document, following federal approvals. Stonepeaks’ ownership of Omni sparked concern among the City Council earlier this year, given the role Omni has played in ICE operations that have severely impacted Chicago residents. 
• Transfer Fee: A transfer fee of $75 million to the City at the closing of the sale. Any future transfer will require that the City receive an additional transfer fee of 2 percent of the sale price. Any revenue from the current or any future transfer fee will be directed to the City’s pension liability.
• Profit Sharing: Profit sharing for the City equal to 5 percent of CPM’s net operating income annually. This is expected to yield $376.2 million for the City of Chicago over the course of the remainder of the agreement. That revenue will also be directed to the City’s pension liability.
• Future Transfer Procedure: A future transfer procedure that requires that in any future transfer of the asset, the Chief Financial Officer will have 30 days to review the approval request from CPM and submit a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will then have up to 90 days to consider the approval request and approve or disapprove the proposed transfer.
• Temporary Event Closure: A temporary event closure plan allowing that for seven annual events, the usual hourly threshold for closure payments from the City will be increased from six hours to 10 hours. If closure payments are due for any of these events, the payments will be made by the City from available settlement credits or, if credits are unavailable, from convenience fee or reserve meter revenue.
• EV Charging: CPM and the City will examine establishing certain non-metered blocks as potential electric-vehicle charging stations. Once such blocks are designated by the City, CPM will operate these blocks, and the revenue generated will be shared between the City and CPM.
• Enforcement Staff Protections: The Concession Agreement will include a section prescribing appropriate standards for treatment of the enforcement staff, both internally and in interactions with motorists.
• Chicago Residency: CPM will be required to ensure that at least 50 percent of its employees and the employees of LAZ working on the metered parking system are Chicago residents. CPM also will be required, in connection with its annual reports on this requirement, to specify the percentage of such City residents who are residing in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of the City (as identified under rules promulgated by the City's Department of Planning and Development pursuant to Section 2-92-390 of the Municipal Code).
• Data Sharing: CPM will be prohibited from sharing its information about users of the system with immigration enforcement authorities. 
• Meter Overpayment: CPM will be prohibited from collecting parking fees from motorists parking at metered spaces while such spaces are temporarily closed, or during time periods outside the hours of operation for such spaces.

Ald. Waguespack, who was one of just five alders to vote against the parking meter deal in 2008, has been the loudest critic of the deal ever since. “This deal always seemed iron clad and impossible to change–but through these negotiations, we were able to break it open and make significant changes. I am certain that is absolutely the best pathway we could get, and I’m proud to support it. I urge my colleagues to do the same.”

October CAPS Meetings



Please keep an eye out for your neighbors. If you see an open garage door, let your neighbor know. Adding a motion sensor or camera to your gangway or alley area helps keep it lit and safe.

14th Police District

1433- October 20, 6pm

Pulaski Park

1419 W. Blackhawk

1434- October 28, 6pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library

1701 N. Milwaukee

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261



19th Police District-

1921- October 21, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1922- October 21, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- October 27, 6:30pm

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- October 22, 6:30pm

Lincoln Belmont Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- October 13, 6:30pm

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

Beat 1434 (Armitage/Wood/North/Rockwell) Recap

There were five burglaries this past month long period, which is down from eight the last period. Auto thefts are up from six to eleven; there was no particular model targeted. Theft from autos went down from six to five; three of these were catalytic converters; the other two were items left in the car. There was one robbery of the Walgreens on North and Campbell of body wash and skin care products. There was one call of shots fired on the 1900 block of Oakley; this was determined to have been not bonafide.

Beat 1432 (Western/Armitage/River) Recap

Burglaries were down from six to four. One on the 2300 block of Oakley was an attempted; the offender fled when they saw someone inside. Two were unlawful entries (a bedroom window was open open in one case, and a rear door was open in another); please make sure that your windows and doors are always locked, especially if you are not at home. One was of a restaurant, but nothing was missing. There was one robbery on the 2100 block of Leavitt. Auto thefts were down from four to three. Thefts from auto was up from three to seven; three of these were of license plates; always make sure your plates are there as they can be used in other crimes. There was one catalytic converter theft. There were two shots fired calls; no evidence was found in either case (ie no shell casings, nothing hit, etc).

Beat 1932 (Ashland/Lincoln/Fullerton) Recap

There were seven motor vehicle thefts in this beat. All were either Hyundais, Hondas, or Acuras. Hyundais are the older models who have not updated their software to the antitheft software. The Acuras and Hondas are ones with keyless fobs where the offender is reprogramming them. There are ways to prevent this, including keeping your key fob far away from where your car is parked.

There were six thefts, three of which were shoplifting. The others were of bikes including from shared garages. If you live in a place that uses a shared garage, please make sure all residents know to keep the door locked at all times and to not let anyone into the building that they don’t personally know.

There were six burglaries, largely to garages that had been left open.

There was one reported shooting on the 1100 block of Wrightwood, but the person shot said they were guessing the address; there was no evidence on site that it happened there, and no one with the victim would speak to the police. There was one battery on the 2500 block of Greenview, where three high school students attacked another student. There was one assault, where a person threatened someone’s dog.

Police Community Conversations

The Chicago Police Department will soon be hosting Community Conversations throughout the city. These conversations are an opportunity for Chicagoans to participate in the creation of their district’s strategic plan for the following calendar year. The valuable feedback provided by participants at these conversations is used to develop community-driven crime reduction strategies, as well as community engagement priorities, and is an integral part of the Chicago Police Department’s implementation of the various reforms outlined in the consent decree. Each flyer below is for a particular police district in the 32nd Ward- 14, 18, and 19. Click here for more information.

Second installment property tax bills are now available and must be paid to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office by Thursday, October 1, 2026. Homeowners should check the lower-left corner of their bill to make sure all eligible exemptions are included, such as the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions. If an exemption is missing, you may apply for a Certificate of Error through the Cook County Assessor’s Office to correct the bill and receive the savings you qualify for.

Lincoln Ave Water Project (43rd Ward)

There is a Water Project currently in the 43rd ward that borders the 32nd at Lincoln/Diversey/Racine. Here is the latest update:

Project Status

• Water main construction is ongoing. Pipe installation is anticipated to finish this week in the intersection of Lincoln, Diversey, and Racine.
• Water Service Replacements are completed along Lincoln Avenue 
• Concrete base is being installed along the water main trench along North Ave. 
   

Parking Restrictions

• “No Parking” signs will be posted on both sides of the street during construction hours (7:00 AM – 4:00 PM) where work is being performed.

Traffic and Lane Closures

• With the road closure in effect, local traffic will have limited access. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained for the duration of the closure.

Scheduled Water Shutdowns 

• There are no currently scheduled water main shut downs. 
• Service replacements are anticipated to continue this. The contractor will coordinate with the individual residents/businesses on the time and duration of their individual water shutdowns.

Pipe Installation

• Pipe installation will be continuing within the Lincoln, Diversey and Racine intersection. 
  

Water Service Transfers / Lead service Line Replacement (LSLR)

• Service line replacements will be scheduled with the impacted residences and businesses.
  

Final Connections and Restoration

• No connections or restoration scheduled.

Thank you to Alderman Knudsen's office for providing the update!

Park District Electric Scooter/Bike Meeting

Join an in-person or virtual town hall to learn about a new state law impacting micromobility and share your ideas for new rules for micromobility vehicles on Chicago Park District bicycle paths and trails. “Micromobility” refers to small vehicles intended for personal use that allow people to commute short distances (such as E-bikes and E-scooters). The Park District is looking to get feedback on rules for these devices on Chicago Park District bicycle paths and trails. Note- this applies to the Bloomingdale Trail.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Clarendon Park, 4501 N. Clarendon Ave.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

5:30 – 7:00 pm

Ellis Park, 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

12:00 – 1:30 pm

Virtual

Annual Bloomingdale Trail Run

Registration is now open for the annual Bloomingdale Trail Run on Saturday, September 26. This is a fun, family-friendly event with a timed 5k and 1/4-mile and 1/2-mile dashes for young runners. Click here to register.

For FREE kids dash, use code: FREEKID2026

For $10 OFF, use code: BLOOMINGDALETRAIL26SAVE10

Bucktown Apple Pie Contest

Join us for the annual Bucktown tradition by participating in the apple pie contest. Bake 2 identical apple pies. You will select one to be graded by our esteemed panel of judges. Not a baker? No problem! Pie slices are $5 each, so you can participate this way too. There will also be a whipped cream pie eating contest for kids 12 and under. Click here for more details.

Sunday, September 27, 3-6pm

Leavitt Street Tavern, 2345 N. Leavitt

St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest

Get ready to raise your steins and don your dirndls—St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest is back and bringing a taste of Germany to the heart of Chicago! From September 25-27, this legendary 24th annual festival transforms the intersection of Lincoln/Southport/Wellington into a buzzing Bavarian beer hall, complete with live oompah bands, frothy brews, and mouthwatering bratwursts.

Expect a weekend packed with German food, craft beer from local and international breweries, and nonstop entertainment—including stein-holding contests, polka dancing, and an epic Sunday “Kinderfest” for the little ones. Whether you’re a beer aficionado, a pretzel enthusiast, or just here for the vibes, St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest is the place to be.

So dust off your lederhosen, gather your fest crew, and prost to one of Chicago’s most beloved fall traditions!

Fri, September 25, 2026 | 5:00pm to 10:00pm

Sat, September 26, 2026 | Noon to 10:00pm

Sun, September 27, 2026 | Noon to 7:00pm 

Admission:

Friday: $10

Saturday: $10

Sunday: $5 suggested donation

This Sunday!

Wake Up With Your Pup

Sept. 27 | 9-11am

Have a lazy Sunday at the Southport Low-Line Plaza. Join the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce for free treats for you and your pup! Enjoy complimentary coffee, donuts, savory treats, doggy treats and accessories. Learn more here.

Funded by Special Service Area 27.

Sustainability Market 2026

Bring your unwanted items for reuse, repurposing, or specialty recycling. Click here for more information including items being collected.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Northcenter Town Square

4100 N. Damen Ave.

Bucktown 5k Race & Street Closure

The Bucktown 5k is back! Please remember that this event has rolling closures. Please read the information for street closures and route information, which will include towing of cars. Also note that the during the race, there will be portions of the area that are blocked off from traffic so please plan accordingly.

Holstein Park

Pumpkin Patch

Saturday, Oct 3, 2026

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Holstein Park, 2200 N. Oakley

Celebrate the season with a perfect afternoon in the park at this family-friendly event. At the Chicago Park District’s Pumpkin Patches and Harvest Fests, everyone will enjoy a fun-filled day. Click here for more info.

Lakeview and Roscoe Village

Shop for Schools Fundraiser

Come support your school by shopping at your favorite stores! 20+ participating retailers will donate 15% of pre-tax sales during normal business hours on Oct. 6-8. The Chamber will donate additional funds to each of the FIVE top-earning schools! Tell your friends and family to get out there and shop! Click here for more information including participating businesses and schools.

Each spring and fall, about five million birds (of 250 bird species) migrate through Chicago. These birds are often attracted to building lights and lighted glass areas, sometimes with fatal outcomes. While lights can distract birds from their migration paths, bird fatalities are more directly caused by the amount of energy they waste flying around and calling out in confusion. The exhaustion can leave them vulnerable to other urban threats.

Good light reduction practices significantly lower fatalities. Multi-story buildings can save many birds by turning off decorative lighting from 11 PM until daylight each day from March 15 to June 15 for spring migration, and again from August 15 to November 15 for fall migration. Tenants are also encouraged to turn off lights or draw blinds during these periods.

What You Can Do to Help

• Turn off exterior decorative lighting, including lights on antennas, logos, clocks, and other displays or illuminations.

• Use timers effectively to ensure light is only used when needed.

• Install motion-sensitive lighting.

• Use lower-intensity lighting where possible.

• In outside public areas where light is needed for public safety, avoid “light trespass” by using light fixtures that direct the light down where it is needed, instead of horizontally and/or upward.

• Use desk lamps or task lighting for security desks/work stations rather than overhead lights.

• Use “zone capable” interior lighting systems that allow selected rather than all areas of an interior space to be illuminated.

• Draw curtains or blinds to reduce any light escaping.

Click here for more information on the Lights Out program.

Early Voting and Elections Judges

Early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins October 1 at the Downtown Voting Supersite at 137 S. State and the Chicago Board of Elections Offices at 69 W. Washington, 6th Floor. Additional early voting sites in all 50 wards open October 19. The 32nd Ward site will be at the Bucktown Wicker Park Library at 1701 N. Milwaukee, but Chicago voters can vote at any city early voting site.

On Election Day, polls are open 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Find your assigned precinct polling place here.

Click on the flyers below if you want to serve as an election judge.

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce

Presents: Storefront Improvement Webinar Series -

New Starting Date!

Your storefront is the first impression a passerby forms before making a decision to enter or keep walking. How is your storefront at grabbing attention, and what kind of statement does it make? This 3-part webinar series is presented by Retailworks, Inc., an award-winning commercial interior design, display, branding, and consulting firm.

If you registered for the original start date you are automatically enrolled for the new date


Register Below:


9/29 - Storefront Design Pt. 1

10/13 - Storefront Design Pt. 2

11/10 - Quick Holiday Decor Tips

Additional City Resources for You & Your Family


These services are provided free of charge to all Chicagoans.



Family & Maternal Health

CDPH WIC Clinics

Pregnant Or Recently Had A Baby?

Healthy Children, Let’s Prevent Lead Poisoning

Preventive Care & Clinics

Need a Vaccine? Immunization Clinics

Free Prostate or Breast Cancer Screening During Birthday Month

Mental Health & Wellness

Mental Health Clinics

Healing Arts Chicago

Environmental & Lifestyle Health

Check Air Quality Near You

Quit Smoking

Community & Other Services

More Services: chicago.gov/health

See a Problem on Your Block? Call 311.

311 is Chicago’s non-emergency service line. It connects you to City services for issues that affect your block, your home, or your health.

By Phone: Dial 3-1-1 from any phone in Chicago.

Online: Visit the official 311 portal

City News

• Chicago City Council Postpones Action on Parking Meter Sale
• Chicago City Council Pushes Vote on Parking Meter Sale Deal to Next Meeting
• Final Vote on Chicago Parking Meter Sale Kicked to Next Week
• ‘Deal of the Century’: Sale of Chicago Parking Meters to Investment Firm Advances
• Mayoral Allies Stall Measure That Would Make It Harder for City to Take On More Debt
• City OKs $200M for Foundry Park, Including for 606 Trail Extension, at Lincoln Yards Site
• Key City Panel Backs $202M Subsidy for New Development on Lincoln Yards Site
• Chicago City Council to Consider Renter Protections, Police Misconduct Settlements
• Chicago City Council to Take Up Renter Rules, Data Centers Proposal
• Chicago City Council Weighs Renewing CTA Police Contract Amid Drop in Crime
• Register to Vote or Snag Birth, Marriage Records for Free or Reduced Fees at Library Event
• Chicago School Board Election 2026 Voter Guide
• 27 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Armitage County Fair and More 

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]