April 10th, 2026

Dear Neighbors, 

Please join our bi-annual “Shred Event” this Sunday, April 12th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. This Shred Event will include paper shredding, electronic recycling, and prescription drug take-back by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. Shred is the perfect way to kick off spring cleaning in an environmentally friendly manner. This fact is well-known to 43rd Warders, as our last Shred Event recycled 6,400 pounds of paper and collected 65 pounds of prescription drugs. We hope to see you there! 

CPS Student IDs Now Double as Library Cards

Chicago Public Schools students can now use their school IDs as library cards at the Chicago Public Library, giving them immediate access to books, online materials, tutoring, and study spaces without additional sign-up. Libraries are cornerstones of healthy neighborhoods, and this initiative builds on the access goals of Chicago’s “81 Club” program.  During the city budget process, several of us stood up for library funding, and I look forward to continuing to do so with other city programs that make our city services easier to use for residents.

Amnesty Month: City Sticker Relief Returns  

Recently, City Clerk Anna Valencia announced April as “Amnesty Month 2026.” Until the end of the month, Chicago drivers can purchase their City Vehicle Sticker without any late fees or back charges, making it easier to get back into compliance and avoid costly penalties. Since its inception, the Clerk’s amnesty program has proven to work; for example, last year’s program helped more than 15,000 residents get back into compliance and generated over $1.6 million in revenue for the city.

A Busy Week in the 43rd Ward 

Earlier this week, we kicked things off with our fourth Mobile Office Hours with the Veterans Affairs Commission of Cook County, helping connect veterans with substantial services and resources they are eligible for. From there, we hosted a Meet and Greet with our Ward Superintendent John from Streets and Sanitation, where residents were able to ask questions and talk through the everyday issues we hear about most. Finally, I connected with engaged residents at two HOA meetings and talked about leadership with local Cub Scouts during their Civic Day of Action.

See you this weekend during the return of Chicago EXPO, Saturday hours, or the Shred Event! 

Sincerely, 

Alderperson Timmy Knudsen

P.S. Did you know that your library card allows you to check-out not only books, but also a collection of thousands of LP’s (vinyl records)? I’m starting with Bon Iver, with memories of Pitchfork 2023. Place a hold on chipublib.org and have new music shipped directly to our Lincoln Park Library branch. 

 Click here to see the block-by-block April and May schedule

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.

A proposed ComEd substation at 1111 W. Diversey has raised important questions about size, location, and community impact, especially given its proximity to homes, schools, and transit. While the project is currently classified as a “minor utility” and permitted by right, our office, alongside neighboring alders, has formally requested a zoning review to determine whether it should instead undergo a more rigorous “major utility” approval process. We are continuing to push for transparency, proper community engagement, and a project that aligns with our neighborhood’s character and transit-oriented development goals. Read more here. 

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

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 14 Compstat.

For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 14 Compstat.

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. 

A report of a charity scam has been reported to our office taking place on Deming Place between Lakeview and Hampden on 4/8/26. The offender’s tactics include approaching individuals with a tap to pay device and requesting donations for a fabricated charity. Please express caution if you find yourself in a similar situation and immediately contact the Chicago Police Department and your bank should you experience this theft. In addition, our office recommends:

• Do not tap your phone or card on a stranger's device.

• Verify the amount before completing any transaction.

• Never hand your phone or card to someone else.

• Research organizations before donating, even if they seem legitimate, as noted in the FBI's warning on charity fraud.

• Report suspicious activity to the FBI or local police.

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Nature Boardwalk undergoes periodic prescribed burns. The Nature Boardwalk prairie ecosystem is burned 100 feet at a time and will be monitored at all times. Active burn areas will be surrounded by water or a low-trimmed grassy area to keep fire contained. Staff will oversee the process and will have water sources nearby. Along with smoke, flames, and Horticulture staff, guests may also see Chicago Fire Department personnel & emergency vehicles.  

LPZ does prescribed burns as part of its management of Nature Boardwalk. Fire is a natural part of the renewal process for grasslands, and prairies benefit from occasional burns. Burning the prairie ecosystem helps native seeds germinate and gets rid of invasive plants. It’s a natural, ecological restoration process. As with everything at Lincoln Park Zoo, the prairie burn is being conducted with animal safety in mind. For example, logs used by local turtles and other wildlife will not be affected. You can learn more about the prescribed burns here. 

• DePaul Buildings Byrne Hall, Cortelyou Commons Advance Toward Landmark Status
• City To Invest $300 Million In 15 Affordable Housing Projects From North To South Side
• City Program For New Coach Houses/Basement Units Is Live. Check Your Property
• Mercadito Expanding To Lincoln Park With Tacos, Tequila And $35 Bottomless Brunch
• Cult brand Baggu to open second Chicago store in Lincoln Park
• Lincoln Station Bar and Grill set to reopen this week more than 2 years after massive fire
• NYC's viral PopUp Bagels sets opening date of first location in Chicago in Lincoln Park
• Rendering Revealed For Lincoln Park Accessible Housing Development
• Lincoln Park Zoo adopts two young Sichuan takin brothers
• Vendors burdened by rising costs as Chicago farmers market season ramps up
• Schneider Deli opens on Halsted Street in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood
• Watch Lincoln Park Zoo Spring Egg-Stravaganza
• A Mating Showdown: What To Expect When A Rhino at Lincoln Park Zoo Is Expecting
• 25 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend

RANCH Triangle is now offering $1,000 grants to nonprofit organizations whose work benefits residents of the RANCH community. To be eligible, an organization’s work must benefit RANCH residents, though the organization does not need to be located within the neighborhood. Interested non-profits can email RANCH at [email protected] for more info. Applications must be submitted by June 5, 2026.

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. 

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.”

Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides. 

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.

43rd Ward Office Hours: M-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 10am-12pm

 773-348-9500 | [email protected] | 2523 N. Halsted St.

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