32nd Ward Newsletter June 26, 2026

32nd Ward Newsletter June 26, 2026

Dear John,


Thank you to the 19th police district and staff at Lathrop for hosting a BBQ before the CAPS meeting this week. It was good to get together with residents and hear their concerns. We have details from this and other recent CAPS meetings below.

It's going to be hot next week- make sure to take it easy and check on your family, friends, and neighbors. Don't forget to think of your pets as well. See below for a list of heat related tips.

I've also put in an update on the parking meter deal in a process that has become fraught with problems related to the City's secrecy about the whole deal as well as a bid made by the City last year.

Pride parade is this weekend- hope you enjoy the parade and we will see you out there as we walk the route and enjoy the best Pride Parade in the states!

Have a good weekend!

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Council Committee on Finance Meeting and Update on the Parking Meters Sale

Over the past few weeks, the City Council has been working to get more information from the Johnson Administration about the parking meter deal that was the subject of a heated City Council Committee on Finance meeting that took place this week.

A few weeks ago, we were told that a transfer or sale of the asset to another entity was taking place. We were also told the City lawyers and finance department would not advise the council on the deal because they had signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). A mayor signing an NDA to prevent information sharing with a council is unheard of and unethical at best. Many of us demanded details on the sale as well as what turned out to be an unknown bid placed by the Mayor on the meter deal. While some information was shared by Stonepeak and the Finance Committee on economic disclosure statements there were dozens of questions that went unanswered about the sale of the asset between two private companies, CPM and Stonepeak. Stonepeak was the highest bidder and had been working with the Johnson Administration to have the asset sale finalized by the Council. They were given deadlines by the City to complete the transfer, and each deadline was met with more requests to extend the deadlines by the City. 

After weeks of waiting without much assistance from the Administration the Finance subject matter meeting was called to bring Stonepeak to the table to answer questions. The meeting quickly turned attention to the City’s lack of cooperation and secrecy behind the wall of the NDA.

The parking meter lease was negotiated under former Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2008. That agreement leased approximately 36,000 parking meters to Chicago Parking Meters LLC for 75 years in exchange for roughly $1.15 billion upfront. Since then, the concession has generated more than $2.2 billion in revenue, while the city has remained responsible for "true-up" payments whenever meters are temporarily removed from service because of construction, festivals, or other uses. Those reimbursements exceeded $13 million last year alone.

The hearing occurred because City Council approval is required before Stonepeak can complete its purchase of Chicago Parking Meters under the terms of the original 2008 concession agreement. Stonepeak informed the committee that the company expects a council vote by July 24, after which it would either proceed with the acquisition or move on if the sale is rejected. Representatives also noted that CPM has indicated it may pursue legal action if the transfer is denied.

In the public hearing, it was revealed that the Johnson administration had submitted a $3.3 billion bid in late 2025 to buy back the city's parking meter concession, approximately $800 million more than the $2.53 billion bid submitted by Stonepeak, which ultimately won the bidding process that included the City and al least two other firms. 

The City’s $3.3 Billion bid only became public when the Stonepeak officers testified at the hearing after city officials refused to answer questions from the council members. For months, the City had refused to disclose relevant information despite our office and several agencies submitting FOIA requests for the information.

Many alderpersons then questioned why the administration had pursued such an expensive acquisition despite previously stating that buying back the meters was financially impractical and at a time when we were fighting to implement efficiencies and a 2026 budget that had to curtail excessive spending by the Administration. 

The administration has continued to refuse to release documents, financial analyses, or details surrounding its bid, citing a confidentiality agreement (NDA) signed during the bidding process with Chicago Parking Meters (CPM is the existing operator) and Morgan Stanley.

However, executives from both Stonepeak and CPM testified that the confidentiality provisions had already been waived, with Stonepeak stating the waiver took effect on June 12 and CPM CEO Dennis Pedrelli again offering to sign any additional waiver requested by the city. Despite those assurances, the city's Law Department maintained that ambiguity remained regarding the waiver and argued throughout the hearing that it could not disclose additional information without further authorization. This position frustrated committee members, who accused the administration of using the NDA to avoid public scrutiny and hiding the bid details made by Mayor Johnson. 

Aldermen specifically questioned why the City Council was never informed of the $3.3 billion offer, how the valuation was determined, how the city intended to finance the purchase, and why the administration believed the parking meter concession was worth nearly one-third more than the highest private-sector valuation. We also wanted to know who in the Administration had told Stonepeak that they were going to share it with the Council. It was eventually revealed that the mayor's staff had deliberately withheld the information from the council and the public. 

Several alderpeople criticized the administration for making what they viewed as a financially reckless offer without Council involvement or any public transparency. Had the bid gone through, it could have also triggered a potential downgrade to our credit rating when we were already seeing the Administration take on substantial municipal borrowing without having a plan to do much other than kick the can down the road. 

As more information came out during the meeting, Stonepeak’s director spoke to the idea of working with the city to reduce future "true-up" costs by relocating or replacing parking meters where possible. 

Stonepeak also had to address questions about their ownership of dozens of other entities, including a tie to another airline that owns Omni Air International, a contractor that has operated deportation flights for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other energy-related investments. Stonepeak acknowledged those concerns, stating it was attempting to divest Omni Air and emphasizing that some acquisitions predated current political situations. 

The hearing also helped us understand how the City had requested at least two extensions for time to undertake due diligence only to run the clock out before punting to the City Council for what amounted to an immediate need to vote.  

At the request of a couple aldermen, Stonepeak executive Rob Kupchak gave the Council a timeline during which city officials instructed the company not to discuss the transaction with alderpeople because the administration wanted to "control the narrative" surrounding the deal. That testimony further intensified criticism that the administration had intentionally limited information available to City Council during its oversight of the proposed transaction. This creates more issues with any opportunity for the City to buy the meters back in the future. 

Several possible paths forward emerged during the hearing. One option is for the City Council to approve Stonepeak's acquisition as negotiated. Another is to reject the transaction and seek additional concessions from Stonepeak before reconsidering approval. 

Another possibility is for the city itself to purchase the concession but it raises questions regarding the bidding process, financing, the city's credit capacity, as well as ethics and legal issues now made apparent by the non-disclosure shenanigans. At one point, Alderman Nugent asked our city lawyer about the NDA and if he had ever seen or advised the City to implement such a thing in his three decades of work for the City and the answer was No.

So, the administration’s refusal to release supporting documents, their ambiguity on assertions that confidentiality restrictions still exist, and others testimony suggesting City Hall deliberately limited information to the council is problematic. The public needs transparency and accountability to get a full public explanation of how the Johnson Administration arrived at its valuation, as well as why they believed spending $800 million more than the highest competing bidder was in the city's best interest.  

Overall, the hearing results demonstrate that Mayor Johnson has put the city council into an even worse position than we were in 2008. The meter sale will take more time to unravel as we try to find out what is behind the Mayor’s NDA, and what the taxpayers might be on the hook for once we learn all the facts. In the meantime, we will be working to find the best path forward that avoids doubling down on the myriad of problems created by the Johnson Administration on the latest meter deal. 

July CAPS Meeting



14th Police District

1432- July 22, 6pm

Holstein Park

2200 N. Oakley

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261



18th Police District

1811- July 7, 3:30pm

St. James Church
2101 N. Fremont

[email protected]

18th District Twitter

18th District CAPS- 312-742-5778

19th Police District

1921/1922- July 15, 6:30pm 

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- July 28, 6:30pm 

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- July 23, 6:30pm 

Lincoln Park Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- July 14, 6:30pm 

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

Beat 1921 (Belmont/River/Irving/Damen) and Beat 1922 (Damen/Irving/Southport/Belmont) Recap-

In the past month long period, there were no homicides, shootings, or robberies in beat 1921. There was one burglary of an ATM on the 3600 block of Western. There were six Honda airbag thefts, no catalytic converter thefts, and four motor vehicle thefts. I signed on as a co-sponsor to an ordinance that passed this month that goes after shops (auto repair, pawn shops, etc) that accept airbags from anyone other than licensed dealers. Shops must also keep the receipts on where they got airbags. Those who break these rules can be fined between $2000 and $4000 per offense.

There were no homicides or shootings in beat 1922 this period. There was one attempted robbery on the 1800 block of Grace where the offender demanded the victim’s wallet and phone, but fled in a vehicle without getting anything. There was a reported burglary, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding of a family member taking something without asking. There were three motor vehicle thefts.

For an update on the Lakeview Goons robbery case- there have now been a total of 6 juveniles arrested, including the most recent one being arrested at their high school (De Paul Prep). Five have been charged with robberies, one with aggravated battery. Previously, they didn’t have records, so the police said know their names, having pictures, etc, helps them be on the lookout for them and serves as a deterrent. Thank you to all who those, including students, who helped the police identify these people. I have also reached out to the States Attorney’s office to let them know my concern on this case.

Beat 1931 (Belmont/Ashland/River) Recap-

In this beat for the past month long period, there were no homicides or shootings. There was one robbery of a person leaving the Walgreens at Belmont and Paulina. There were no burglaries in this beat, which is down from the five in the last period. There was one catalytic converter theft on the 2800 block of Leavitt, and four Honda airbag thefts beatwide.

The police also wanted to notify people who have fobs for keyless entry for their cars to keep their fobs at a long distance from their doors and windows (advised distance at least 15 feet) so that people can’t access the signal to steal your car. There are also signal blocking containers you can keep your fob in. Click here for more theft prevention tips.

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

In the past month long period, there were no homicides, shootings, or robberies in this beat. There were 18 burglaries, all of which were to cars. 13 of the 18 were of Honda airbags. The 14th Police District has given out 180 clubs; the City is looking into getting more. There were six motor vehicle thefts. There were 2 thefts from autos, which is down from 11.

Beat 1932 (Ashland/Lincoln/Fullerton) Recap-

There was one robbery on this beat which is down from 3 last period. This robbery did result in an arrest. A man attacked a store clerk at the Shell on the 2800 block of Ashland. The offender hit the clerk in the head with a broom handle, took items without paying, and ran out. He came back later and the clerk identified him to the police who made the arrest after a foot chase.There was also a catalytic converter theft on the 1400 block of George.

There were two burglaries, one of two bikes from a garage, and the other attempted to take mail after someone in the building buzzed him in. If you live in a multiunit building, please make sure to never buzz anyone in that you weren’t expecting.

This is the time of year when there can be an increase in garage thefts. Make sure that all your doors are locked. Put in motion sensor lights and trim any hedges around your garage. Make sure that you have your address on the back of your garage so that emergency services can find your property if they go down the alley. Make sure to lock up items in your garage, such as your bike; if a burglar does get in, this can help give another layer of protection. Bikes are one of the most stolen items. You can register your bike with the police here. In the event that your bike is stolen, you can also check the stolen bike registry here.

The police said they are still having issues with the funeral/tap to pay scam in the area, specifically on the 2400 block of Lincoln. This is a scam where people ask others to make tap-to-pay donations for an event such as a loved one’s funeral, a fundraiser, etc, asking for a low amount, but then charging them large amounts, sometimes over a thousand dollars, once they get the victim’s phone.  A reminder to never use tap to pay to donate money to someone you don’t know, and never hand your phone over to someone you don’t know. Legitimate organizations will not refuse cash and will be able to refer you to a website to donate after you do research. If you see anyone engaging in this scam, please call 911 and give a description of the offenders and location to the police.

Hearing on the Chicago Police Department 
Consent Decree

This hearing provides an opportunity for residents, stakeholders, and community organizations to share their perspectives and experiences regarding the Department's ongoing reform efforts and implementation of the Consent Decree.

The virtual public hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you are interested in participating or would like additional information, please click here.

If you would simply like to join the hearing via Zoom, please use the link below:

Zoom Link

phone: 13126266799,,96173711584#

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 16, 17, and 18 (parts of Bucktown). 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.

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

Water Main Project

Greenview, Fullerton to Altgeld

Update 6/26/26

Tentative schedule for the week of June 29 (All field activities are weather dependent) -

•  Following the two-day chlorination process, the water was tested, passed all required tests, and is now approved for service.

• The team began transferring services from the old water main to the new water main.

• Approximately 99% of the overall piping work has been completed. Only side connections are still required.

• Service transfers to the new water main will continue. In addition, there are four LSLR addresses that still need to be completed.

• One catch basin will be installed.

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a Water Department supervisor on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. 

Chicago Pride Parade

Sunday, June 28, 11 a.m.

The Pride Parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Sheridan and Broadway and will proceed south on Halsted, east on Belmont, south on Broadway, and east on Diversey to Sheridan for disbanding. For complete details on the parade, street closures, and more, visit PrideChicago.org.

Street Closures:  Residents, attendees, and participants should anticipate street closures as early as 7:30 a.m. for participant staging areas and parade route closures beginning as early as 8:30 a.m., or as the crowd dictates for safety issues, including Irving Park and Wellington at Broadway and Addison, Grace, and Roscoe at Halsted. Streets are expected to fully reopen by 4 p.m. or when deemed safe to do so. 2026 Chicago Pride Parade Map

Pedestrian Crossings:  Safely cross the event at the following locations:

· Addison at Halsted

· Cornelia at Halsted

· Buckingham at Halsted

· Briar Place at Broadway

· Wellington at Broadway

As always, it is advised to check weather conditions and plan accordingly. Cooling buses, if needed, will be available at the following locations:

· Addison west of Halsted

· Roscoe west of Halsted

· Belmont east of Broadway

· Wilton north of Belmont

· Waveland between Broadway and Halsted

· Belmont westbound between Halsted and Clark

Parking Restrictions:

Public transportation is highly recommended. Parking restrictions in the area, which will be in effect and strictly enforced, will begin at 2:00 a.m. Sunday, June 28 for the assembly area at Sheridan and Broadway and the parade route. Parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the area, so drivers are urged to read signage before parking. To locate a towed vehicle, call 3-1-1.

OEMC issues alerts and notifications needed to keep residents and attendees up to date on weather conditions and emergencies. You can sign up for alerts here. For additional information on emergency preparedness information, and to download the OEMC app, visit their website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. 

Summer's Here

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) monitors weather conditions 24/7 with the National Weather Service (NWS) from the City’s Operations Center and issues alerts for advisories, watches, and warnings for extreme situations. If conditions warrant, an extreme heat warning will be issued by the NWS when the following triggers are met:  

• Peak heat index is expected to reach 100° to 105° for three consecutive days 
• Peak heat index is expected to exceed 105°-110°F for at least two consecutive days  
• Peak heat index is forecasted at 110° or higher for one day.  

Once issued, the city’s emergency response plan is activated.  

To receive the latest updates on heat/storm advisories and weather emergencies, residents can register for the City’s emergency alert notifications at NotifyChicago.org, check OEMC’s social media pages, tune in to local media or download the Chicago OEMC App.  

Cooling Centers Locations

Residents can contact 3-1-1 for the nearest location and hours. Note: Only the Park District facilities listed on the data portal provide access to air conditioning, as some facilities are not air-conditioned.  

Seniors are also welcome at any of DFSS’s 21 senior centers. DFSS partners with OEMC to use robocalls to inform seniors of key information regarding how to stay safe during extreme weather. Visit Chicago.gov/Seniors for senior center locations.  

During hours of operation, residents can also find relief in one of the City’s Chicago Public Library locations, City Colleges of Chicago main campus locations, Chicago Park District fieldhouses, as well as pools and splash pads located throughout the city, visit chicagoparkdistrict.com. Also, the Chicago Police Department’s 22 district stations are available 24 hours for relief from the heat and to be connected with shelter.  

Well-Being Checks 

When the temperatures climb to extreme levels, it is important to check on relatives, neighbors, seniors, and our vulnerable populations. If you are unable to make contact, you can request a wellbeing check by downloading the CHI311 app, visiting 311.chicago.gov, or calling 3-1-1. If there is a medical emergency due to a heat related illness, call 9-1-1.  

The Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) advises property owners and building managers to check their electrical and cooling equipment to make sure it is in working order. On days when the heat index exceeds 80°F, certain residential buildings must provide air conditioning in all apartments or have an air-conditioned indoor common gathering area known as a cooling center. For additional information on the 2022 Cooling Ordinance visit Chicago.gov/cooling. 

Smart911 

Create a Smart911 profile now to include vital information to share with first responders if needed. A new feature has been added to include if you have air conditioning in your home or apartment for heat emergencies. This is useful information for first responders if they are responding to vulnerable residents, particularly seniors. To edit your profile or sign-up, visit Smart911.com. 

Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notices, issues affecting businesses or events: 

• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5   
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3   

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Volunteer for Burger Fest in 
Roscoe Village

Volunteers play the very important role of running the beverage tents at our street festivals! Volunteering at Burger Fest (July 17-19) is a great opportunity to help the community and have a fun time! After your shift, you will receive a free drink ticket and free t-shirt. Volunteers must be 21+. Click here to sign up.

The Bucktown Garden Walk is just a few weeks away, and we need volunteers to help make this annual Bucktown event a success. We are looking for community members to take 2-hour shifts at the Bucktown Community Organization table, as well as assist with light setup and tear-down.

Volunteering is a meaningful way to give back to your neighborhood, support community life, and help ensure another successful Garden Walk for Bucktown. Your time and support truly make a difference. Click here to sign up to volunteer.

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

Immigrant Rights

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)

Protecting Chicago (English)

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

• Crain's Commentary: 29 Council Members Sought to Get Chicago to Live Within Its Means
• Why Is Mayor Johnson Keeping Secrets About the Parking Meter Deal?
• Tribune Editorial: Mayor Brandon Johnson Almost Threw Away $800 Million of Chicago’s Money in Massive Parking Meter Blunder
• Mayor’s $3 Billion Parking Meter Offer Was $800 Million More Than the Next Highest Bid, Investor Says
• Stonepeak Reveals $2.53B Offer for Chicago Parking Meter Lease — Far Below City’s Bid
• Chicago Reportedly Bid $3.3B to Buy Back Parking Meters, Aldermen Demand Answers
• Why You're Seeing More Officers on the CTA: Curbing Smoking, Loud Music, Fare Evaders, and More 
• City Shelter, Local Rescues Beyond Capacity with Cats — and Kitten Season Isn’t Over
• 28 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend: Pride Parade, Ida B. Wells Festival, and More
• 11 Chicago Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know in June

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]