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Blasting Music in Your Vehicle

Can Lead to Big Fines

Your survey responses were clear: You want to be informed of little-known laws that might impact you. Here's one:

Do you like blasting music so that everyone you pass on the street and in nearby buildings can hear it? That's a violation of state and local laws prohibiting noise emissions beyond certain decibel levels and distances. The same is true if you drive a vehicle with a modified muffler that roars and disturbs or startles people along your path.

These aren't new laws. The Chicago Noise Ordinance, for example, is 10 years old. If you haven't received a ticket yet, no telling when you might.

What's the Cost?

$300.00 for a first offense.

$500.00 for a second offense committed within one year.

$1,000.00 for a subsequent offense within one year.

Beyond the Financial Costs

• Permanent or Temporary Hearing Loss: Repeated exposure to loud music or other noise pollution can damage hearing. That applies to those closest to the sound — the driver and passengers — as well as pedestrians and individuals who are accosted by the noise in their homes and offices. Fact: Sounds above 85 decibels, which was the reading in the video above, can damage the inner ear and lead to irreversible hearing loss.

• Tinnitus: Short-term or repeated exposure to noise often causes a ringing, buzzing, or roaring sound in the ears.

• Increased Stress Hormones: Noise triggers the body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This can occur even during sleep.

• Sleep Disturbances: Nighttime noise disrupts deep sleep, preventing blood pressure from dropping. In addition to harming overall nighttime rest, it affects school and work performance during the day.

• Cardiovascular Disease: Chronic exposure to loud environments increases the risk of high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks. That applies to the driver and everyone within earshot.

• Mental and Cognitive Effects: Constant noise reduces concentration, lowers productivity, and can delay children's academic learning.

Children Also Pay



• Learning Setbacks: Environmental noise (traffic or loud classrooms) impairs reading comprehension, memory, and performance on standardized tests.

• Behavioral Issues: Chronic noise exposure is linked to higher rates of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms in children.

Here to serve,

Alderman, 5th Ward

You May Be Eligible for a

$150 Visa Grocery Gift Card

Damage from the July 27 Severe Storms?

Apply for up to $500,000 in Low-Interest Loans

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are open through September 3

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) for residents and businesses impacted by the July 27, 2026, severe storms to apply for low-interest loans. There are two DLOC locations – one in the City of Chicago and one in south suburban Hazel Crest. The Chicago location will be open through Thursday, September 3.

CITY OF CHICAGO DLOC LOCATION

Chicago Public Library Pullman Branch

11001 S. Indiana Ave.| Chicago, IL 60628    

Monday          10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tuesday         12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Wednesday   10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Thursday        12 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Friday             9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday         9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sunday           Closed

Customer service representatives are on hand at each DLOC to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS), and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are working with the SBA to provide disaster loan assistance to residents impacted by the July storm. The loans will provide qualifying homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain nonprofit organizations with assistance for damages not covered by insurance.

Apply in person

Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $500,000 in low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners or renters can apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property such as appliances and furniture. Businesses and some not-for-profits can borrow up to $2 million to cover physical damages.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit organizations that have suffered financial losses as a direct result of the disaster. However, the SBA cannot offer disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for those operating small aquaculture enterprises.

You Can Also Apply Online

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is October 19, 2026. The deadline to return economic injury applications is May 18, 2027.

Note: All impacted residents, regardless of where they live, can go to any DLOC site, even if it is not their county or municipality. Each location will have a Spanish translator available.

Learn Life-Saving Skills before You Need Them



 The City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) invites residents to register for the Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) training program for Fall 2026.

CERT members train for a minimum of 27 hours of classroom training and 3 hours of hands-on practical skills in the following areas before becoming a registered volunteer:

• Disaster preparedness
• Fire safety & utility controls
• Light search and rescue
• Team organization
• Disaster psychology
• Terrorism response
• Disaster medical operations

Upon completion of the class, participants have the option to become Chicago Citizen Corps CERT volunteers and assist professional emergency services during various deployments. Past participants have played a role in emergency exercises and assisted the City of Chicago during large-scale emergencies, including the COVID-19 response, Emergency Operations Center activations, and other natural disasters. Other special events that CERT volunteers assist in are the Chicago Air and Water Show, St. Patrick’s River Dyeing, Chicago Marathon, Summertime beach safety patrols, and more.

Register by scanning the QR code on the left or by clicking this link: Fall 2026 CERT Registration. 

Check Out Online Options for Providing Input on the Search

Mobile DMV Returns to the

Fifth Next Week

The Chicago Department of Law

Is Hiring Attorneys

The City of Chicago has just announced new openings for attorneys. If you or someone you know is seeking a new position or has just passed the Illinois Bar exam, please share this information.

SHAKMAN EXEMPT 

Deputy Corporation Counsel - Finance and Real Estate Division

Deputy Corporation Counsel - Revenue Litigation Division

SENIOR ATTORNEYS (ACC Supervisor and Chief) 

Four (4) divisions are hiring:

Employment Litigation, Special Federal Litigation, Torts, Real Estate 

MID-LEVEL ATTORNEYS (ACC III)

Five (5) divisions are hiring:

Constitutional & Commercial Litigation, Torts, Employment Litigation, Special Federal Litigation, Collections, Ownership and Administrative Litigation

ENTRY to MID-LEVEL ATTORNEYS (ACC I and II)  

Two (2) divisions are hiring: 

Legal Information and Prosecutions, Building and License Enforcement 

For more information, contact:

Shelley A.D. Sandoval 

Director of Attorney Recruitment & Professional Development  

City of Chicago Department of Law 

2 N LaSalle St., Suite 560 

Chicago, IL 60602 

312-742-0335 

Or visit:

www.cityofchicago.org/law  

Leverage the City of Chicago's

Job Search Resources

The City of Chicago has created an online resource for those searching for positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. You can find these opportunities listed year-round on the Careers page on the City's website. I encourage job seekers to take advantage of this terrific resource.

Get Free Health Screenings

During Your Birth Month

Hyde Park Farmers' Market

Has Expanded Its Hours!

What Else Is Going on in the Fifth?

Tonight...

South Merrill Community Garden

7030 S. Merrill Avenue

Other Merrill Garden Programs to Support Your Wellness

Sound Healing

TOMORROW!

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

18+ years only

Bring yoga mat, water, blanket,& journal

Breathe, Hum & Move

Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.

Text: (773) 844-1374

to RSVP

Belly Dancing Fitness

Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.

Text: (773) 844-1374

to RSVP

Every Thursday: Walk at the OPC

Walk at Your Pace at the Obama Presidential Center

The Obama Center has launched a weekly exercise program called "At Your Pace," in partnership with Peace Runners 773, a non-profit organization that advocates for health equity.

Each session begins at Jackson Park Field next to Home Court with a guided warm-up, followed by a group walk or run. The route travels through the OPC campus and surrounding park. There's no performance pressure. You can take breaks whenever you need to, and move in a way that feels right for you.

August 20 and every Thursday until October 8, 2026

9:15 a.m. Check in/Registration

9:45 a.m. Dynamic Warm-Up

10 a.m. "At Your Pace" Program

11 a.m. Cool Down

The "At Your Pace" program is free, and registration is optional.

Run from Prostate Cancer on August 30

Interested in Learning to Garden?

Mark Your Calendar for Commissioner Lowry's Annual Health & Resource Fair

Have Fun While Making a Difference

Join Session 2 of the South Shore

Community Wealth Forum

South Shore has tremendous assets, tremendous people, and tremendous potential. Real Men Charities, Inc. invites you to:

Come learn. Come connect. Come prepared to build.

Space is filling up!

Registration is FREE, but RSVP is required.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW:

Summer's Not Over.

There's Still Time to Enjoy
FREE Museum Days

Summer Schedules

• Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 24-27 and 31 and Sept.1-2, 8-10, 15-16, 20-23, and 27-30; griffinmsi.org.

• Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 26 and Sept. 8-10 and 14-15; adlerplanetarium.org.

• Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Thursdays (July 30 and Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27) from 5 to 8 p.m.; artic.edu.

• Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 13 and 27 and Sept. 7 and 24; chicagohistory.org.

• Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents every Wednesday (July 29 and Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26); fieldmuseum.org.

• Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S. Morgan St. Free admission on the third Friday of each month (July 31 and Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28); heritageasianart.org.

• Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays (July 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25) from 5 to 9 p.m.; Every Tuesday through Aug. 25, the MCA hosts a free contemporary jazz concert. mcachicago.org.

• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Free for Illinois residents on Aug. 24-26, and Sept. 8-11, 14-18, 21-25 and 28-30; naturemuseum.org.

• Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Free for Illinois residents from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 28 and Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 26; sheddaquarium.org

Always Free, Always Cool:

Our Local Libraries

REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 1. CLICK HERE

Guess who the Celebrity DJ is!

Come enjoy Alderman Yancy rocking the house.

HBCU RUN & BRUNCH

Saturday, September 19, 2026

📍 RAINBOW BEACH

⌚ RUN 6.2 MILES or RUN OR WALK 3.1 MILES

🧇 BRUNCH ON THE YARD IS BACK! - IF RUNNING ISN'T YOUR THING, REGISTER TO PULL UP!

REGISTER HERE!

Another Popular HBCU Event

Scholars, their parents/guardians, and youth leaders are invited to attend the annual HBCU College Fair hosted by Imani Pearls Community Development Foundation (IPCDF), the nonprofit arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated^®, Chi Omega Omega Chapter.

Learn what is required to apply to prestigious HBCUs. The fair will include:

• College representatives from various HBCUs providing on-site information about their institutions
• A college-planning resource corner
• A chance for seniors to enter a book scholarship raffle

Pre-register at www.ipcdf.org/events.

Music the Way You Like It: FREE!

Do You Know Your Beat Police Officers?

Find out firsthand what's happening in your police district—and let them know what's happening in your area of the district. Attend 2nd or 3rd District Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Learn more.

WANT A FREE BACKPACK?

If you couldn't attend our Back-to-School Celebration and would like a free backpack, simply drop by the Fifth Ward office at 2230 East 71st Street.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have plenty on hand.

Are you a nonprofit organization with a program or event that will benefit Fifth Ward residents?

Please send your information and flyer at least two weeks in advance to [email protected]

ALWAYS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FIFTH!

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