Dear Neighbors,
This week brought another round of severe storms and flooding to Chicago. When storms arrive faster than water can be treated, the combined sewer system can become overwhelmed. As of early Tuesday, the Deep Tunnel system was still holding nearly 6 billion gallons of stormwater, and the McCook Reservoir was about 92% full. If you notice standing water in the street for 1-2 days after storms, that's often the system working as designed: water held on roadways is water kept out of homes and businesses. A sincere thank you to the city employees, first responders, utility crews, and public works staff working around the clock to keep Chicago safe.
Formal Complaint Letter in Response to Lincoln Avenue Shootings
By now, most of you know about the July 19th shooting on Lincoln Avenue, and that Acting Chicago Police Superintendent Fred Waller responded with a Summary Closure Order to shut down The Dime, due to its history of sourcing public safety incidents in our community. I want to explain what happens next, because it's an important step, and we need your help.
The Summary Closure Order lasts up to six months, yet it doesn't guarantee forfeiture of the bar’s actual liquor license or “public place of amusement” license (which allows large ticketed parties thrown by promoters). Therefore, once the closure ends, unless the city departments take further action, the Dime could simply reopen under new rules.
That's why my office is filing a formal complaint asking the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection and the Liquor Commissioner to fully revoke the Dime's liquor license and PPA license. As an update, the offender from the June 7th shooting, which seriously harmed a 39 year old female, has been charged. The letter, which you can read here, outlines the history of public safety incidents tied to the Dime and warns that reopening in any capacity risks more of the same.
This is where I need your help. The more names on this letter, the stronger our case. Here's how to add your signature (in-person only):
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Tomorrow, Saturday, August 1st, we will be holding our weekend office hours off-site inside the Lincoln Park Farmers Market 9–11 a.m. Stop by and sign in person.
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Until Friday, August 7th, we will be collecting signatures in person at our office at 2523 N. Halsted St. during our regular office hours.
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CARE Town Hall
On Tuesday evening, I was proud to co-host a community town hall on Chicago's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Program with community groups, as well as Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th), and Ald. Matt Martin (47th). CARE sends trained behavioral health professionals, rather than police officers, to respond to eligible mental health crises, connecting residents with the support they need while allowing officers to focus on emergencies that require a law enforcement response. It's a smart, compassionate approach that strengthens public safety and delivers better outcomes for everyone. Last year, I led a letter signed by more than 18 of my City Council colleagues urging the Mayor to continue and expand CARE citywide. As the program continues to grow, I'll keep advocating for the resources it needs to succeed.
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Visiting Flyway City at the Chicago Architecture Center
Last week, I joined colleagues from the City Council for a tour of Flyway City, a new exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Center created with Studio Gang. Chicago sits along one of North America's busiest migratory bird flyways, and the exhibit highlights practical, cost-effective ways building owners, architects, and residents can help reduce bird collisions. As a proud sponsor of Chicago's bird-friendly building ordinance, I was grateful for the opportunity to see this work firsthand. Thank you to the Chicago Architecture Center and Studio Gang for their leadership on this important issue. I encourage you to visit the exhibit and learn more about how thoughtful design can help keep Chicago a haven for migratory birds.
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Ald. Knudsen with architect Jeanne Gang, internationally known for her iconic buildings, including local favorites Aqua Tower and St. Regis Chicago
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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Ald. Knudsen & this year’s star 43rd Ward summer interns. We are grateful for the hard work of Bree & Sophia - who are off to the University of Michigan & University of Minnesota this Fall!
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Modernizing The 43rd Ward Office
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Last month, our office was proud to be highlighted nationally in a new Indigov and Granicus case study recognizing the 43rd Ward as a model for tech-forward constituent services & responsive local government. The report highlights how our office integrates Chicago’s 311 system directly into our internal workflow, allowing us to respond faster, track issues more efficiently, and proactively communicate with residents. I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team for continuing to help set a new standard for modern local government as we believe local government should be as responsive, transparent, and modern as the people it serves. I encourage you to check out the full report here.
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Rat Contraception Project - Phase 2 is Live
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Webinar: Reducing rats in Lincoln Park using rat contraception (Phase 2). The Chicago Bird Alliance, in partnership with Lincoln Park Zoo, Alderman Timmy Knudsen, and the City of Chicago, are studying whether contraception (birth control) can control rats as a wildlife-friendly alternative to rat poison. We are hosting a virtual webinar on August 4th at 6:00 PM to discuss the goals of the project and answer questions from local residents. Please join the webinar here.
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Community Meeting for 754 W Belden Ave
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On Wednesday – August 12th – at 6:00 pm, our office will be hosting a community meeting to discuss a zoning map amendment request to permit a new accessible housing development, proposed by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), at 754 W Belden Ave. OTR is requesting a Type-1 rezoning from RT-4 to B2-3 to allow for a 5-story, 30-unit, fully accessible residential building. This community meeting will be held in-person at DePaul in the Arts and Letters Hall, Room 103. If you are unable to attend, our office will be sharing the presentation file in our first newsletter after the meeting. If you have any questions following reviewing the presentation, or if you would like to share your feedback on the proposal, please email our office.
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Flyer made and distributed by OTR, not the 43rd Ward Office
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ADU Ordinance Now in Effect
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As of April 1, the City’s ordinance to legalize Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), led by Alderman Bennett Lawson and supported by my office, is officially in effect. In just the first two days, the City received 88 applications, an encouraging early sign that residents are ready to take advantage of this long-awaited change. Expanding access to ADUs is an important step toward addressing Chicago’s housing shortage and creating more flexible, affordable living options in our neighborhoods.
If you have ever considered adding an ADU, whether to create additional income or keep family members close, now is a great time to explore your options. You can enter basic information about your property to see how many units you may be eligible for and learn how to get started. The site also includes an interactive map that allows you to look up eligibility by address. I was proud to support this effort, and I encourage you to learn more, share this opportunity with neighbors, and explore how this program can help expand housing options across our city.
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The Recycle Coach app is a simple, all-in-one tool to help you manage trash, recycling, and waste services in your neighborhood. It helps residents stay organized, recycle correctly, and keep up with local services. With Recycle Coach, you can:
- Get personalized trash and recycling pickup reminders
- Look up how to properly dispose of items with the “What Goes Where” tool
- Find drop-off locations for hard-to-recycle materials
- Stay updated on service changes and holiday schedules
- Learn about local recycling events and programs
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MWRD issues Overflow Action Alert
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Crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th & 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Week 30 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 30 Compstat.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts. Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number, and click here for a larger and printable version of the graphic.
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Summer safety strategies along our beach front are in full swing and I remain in constant communication with our 18th and 19th Chicago Police District (CPD) commanders advocating for heightened safety measures. As many more neighbors and Chicagoans take to the beaches to enjoy the warmer weather, CPD has confirmed the following actions:
Thank you to our police officers and our ward’s CPD leadership for keeping our beaches and lakefront safe. Through strong communication, partnership, and the above actions, the 43rd Ward will continue to be a welcoming and safe place to enjoy the summer season. Also, every summer I like to refamiliarize myself with CPD’s summer safety tips which are a great way to keep you and others in our community safe. To read the full list, click here.
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Ald. Knudsen Urges Johnson & CDOT to Prioritize Bridge Closures and Offer Alternative Traffic Congestion Plans
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"The ongoing closure of river bridges (especially the Cortland Bridge) has created major traffic strain and frustration for residents and businesses alike. Alongside seven other aldermen, I sent a letter to Mayor Johnson urging his administration and CDOT to prioritize this bridge issue. My office will continue pushing for clearer communication, smarter coordination, and the fastest safe timeline possible to get these bridges reopened." -Ald. Timmy Knudsen
Alderman Knudsen supported a proposal from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins requiring the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to present a detailed traffic plan before closing any bridge for more than 30 days. The plan must outline how congestion will be reduced — including detours, parking adjustments, and other mitigation strategies. Our office also received a letter back from CDOT, outlining steps they are taking to help reduce traffic congestion and delays for 43rd Ward residents. You can read it here.
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Interactive Ward 43 Parking Zone Map
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Our office has created a parking zone map to help residents better understand where residential parking zones are located throughout the ward. For several streets, a Residential Parking Permit may not be required. Some areas may instead be free parking, pay-to-park, school zones, or tow and loading zones that restrict parking during certain hours.
While the map can be helpful for general reference, posted signage is always the most reliable indicator of parking rules. We encourage residents and visitors to carefully check street signs when parking to confirm the applicable restrictions.
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Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) and the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are reviewing damage from these severe storms and asking that residents who have been impacted submit an initial damage assessment to help determine if the County, along with partners at OEMC and at the state level can pursue any options for additional assistance for residents. Reporting damages to emergency management is voluntary. It is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. To fill out a survey, please click here.
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It's time to bring your furry friends out to have a ball on Thursday, August 6th! It will pawsitively be a good time with our friends Scout Veterinary Urgent Care.
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Sunday mornings, 11am-1pm
6/14, 7/12, 8/2 & 8/23
Meet Jennie in the LPHS parking lot
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street. The map is also interactive, allowing residents to view the real permits, view projects in other areas of the City, and see which type of work is being done on your street.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations: Bus Lane Parking, Commercial Loading Zone, Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street, Disabled Parking, Fire Hydrant Parking, Residential Parking, Rush Hour Zones, School Safety Zones, Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane, Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.) Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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E-Scooters and E-Bikes Policy Updates
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Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides.
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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