Dear Neighbors,
Last week, I had the honor of attending the homegoing services for Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., one of the world’s most consequential civil rights leaders. Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to expanding opportunity, fighting for justice and human rights, and ensuring that more people had a seat at the table of American democracy.
Being present to pay my respects alongside so many political and faith leaders, activists, and Chicagoans was inspirational, and a powerful celebration of the extraordinary legacy Rev. Jackson leaves behind. It reminds us about the responsibility we all share to carry his work forward. It was also a reminder of how recent so much of the struggle for civil rights truly is - from the era of Jim Crow laws to the long fight to expand voting rights and the ongoing fight towards economic opportunity in our country.
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Rev. Jesse Jackson rose to prominence during the civil rights movement as a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leading Chicago’s Operation Breadbasket to advance economic opportunity and empowerment. After King’s assassination, Jackson continued that work by founding organizations such as PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition and became one of the most influential civil rights leaders in the nation.
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This past Wednesday, my office co-hosted a meeting with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) about an exciting proposal regarding much needed traffic and pedestrian safety improvements at the Lincoln/Schubert/Seminary intersection. The proposal includes a new cul-de-sac on W Schubert and bump-outs in conjunction. During the meeting, there were over 20 attendees for CDOT’s presentation and many great questions were raised and discussed with the presenting engineer. For a full summary of CDOT’s presentation, please click here. The proposal is still in the design phase and a potential starting timeline wouldn’t be until the end of spring or early summer. For any feedback or questions on the project, please contact my office at any time.
Last year, in our 2025 Year in Review, we highlighted that the 43rd Ward welcomed more than 30 new local businesses. It is exciting to see that momentum growing into this year as more entrepreneurs choose Lincoln Park to open their doors and grow their ideas. One of my personal favorites opened just last weekend: Daly’s Donuts. In hyper-local fashion, Daly’s Donuts first began selling donuts at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market and built a loyal following in the neighborhood. It is always inspiring to see local entrepreneurs take that next step from a market stand to a permanent storefront, and Daly’s Donuts is a great example of the kind of small business energy that continues to make the 43rd Ward such a vibrant place to live, work, and shop.
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Conor Daly at the opening of Daly's Donuts at 659 W Armitage Ave
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I want to remind everyone that Election Day is this Tuesday, March 17th. If you have not voted yet, early voting is happening now at the Lincoln Park Library and remains an easy way to cast your ballot ahead. If you requested a mail-in ballot and have not returned it yet, the Board of Elections is warning that there is a risk your ballot may not be counted due to delays. If you have not mailed your ballot yet, I encourage you to fill it out and bring it to one of the early voting locations. You can also bring your empty mail-in ballot with you on or before Tuesday, March 17th to surrender it and vote in person instead.
Our office and the Board of Elections generally recommend this option, and the wonderful poll workers at the Lincoln Park Library are there to help make sure your vote is properly counted. We will send a newsletter on the morning of March 17th, with additional Election Day voting information and day-off polling locations. In the meantime, you can also review the special voting newsletter we shared when early voting began for more details.
In closing, with St. Patrick’s Day weekend happening this Saturday and Sunday, I encourage everyone to celebrate safely and support the local businesses that make the 43rd Ward such a vibrant place to live and visit. Our neighborhood bars, restaurants, and small businesses work hard year-round, and this weekend is a great opportunity to shop local and show them some appreciation. Please remember to enjoy responsibly, tip your service workers, and help keep our streets clean. Taking a few extra moments to dispose of trash properly and look out for one another helps ensure that everyone can enjoy the holiday safely.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. This week marked the groundbreaking for the long-awaited 2600 N. Clark Street development, an exciting milestone for the neighborhood. The project will bring new housing to the ward, including much-needed affordable housing, along with ground-floor retail (recently announced, a brand new Fox Trot) that will help activate Clark Street. It begins at “The Maven” at 537 W. Drummond which is almost completed, and it is great to see progress moving forward, and the path to revitalizing Clark Street continuing.
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P.S. The Junior League of Chicago is an incredible impact-driven nonprofit based in the Gold Coast that empowers women to become community leaders while supporting important causes across our city. I was proud to continue my support for them at this weekend’s Junior League Chicago Gala.
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Pictured (left to right): Alderman Timmy Knudsen, Junior League of Chicago President Sarah Burns Gold Coast leader, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown and former Junior League of Chicago President Francia E. Harrington
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Early Voting is Open at the Lincoln Park Library
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Early voting is now open at the Lincoln Park Library (1150 W. Fullerton Ave)
Early voting hours at this location are:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Residents can cast their ballot at this location or at any early voting site across the city. Voters are not limited to voting within their ward and may use whichever early voting location is most convenient. View the full list of early voting locations here, and check out our non-partisan voter guide and voting FAQs newsletter here.
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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 10 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 10 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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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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The Chicago Police Department recently released its February public safety report, highlighting citywide trends from the past month. According to the report, several major crime categories, including robberies, burglaries, violent crime, property crime, and transit-related offenses, are down compared to last year, with decreases ranging from roughly 7 to 27 percent. CPD also reported recovering 652 illegal firearms in February, averaging about 23 per day.
The department also released an executive summary of its Workforce Allocation Study, a data-driven review of staffing levels and deployment designed to better align resources with public safety needs across the city. In addition, CPD has opened registration for Community Training Observation Days, which allow residents to observe portions of recruit training at the Police Academy. You can read the full update 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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Savor Lincoln Park returns as Chicago’s premier indoor neighborhood food festival, bringing together more than 25 of Lincoln Park’s top restaurants for one unforgettable evening celebrating our local dining scene.
With one ticket, guests can enjoy sample bites from each participating restaurant, explore new favorites, and experience the incredible culinary talent right here in our community.
Attendees will also have access to the event’s silent auction, featuring curated packages and experiences from some of Chicago’s top destinations. Get your tickets here, and see the full list of participating restaurants here.
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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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