As we continue working to maintain peace and safety across our neighborhoods, Alderman Raymond Lopez reminds all 15th Ward residents to adhere to the City of Chicago’s Noise Ordinance and Youth Curfew Ordinance:

🔇 Noise Ordinance – Quiet Hours

Sunday through Thursday: 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM

Friday and Saturday: 11:00 PM – 8:00 AM

Please be respectful of your neighbors by keeping noise levels down during these designated hours. Violations may result in enforcement action and fines.

⏰ Youth Curfew Ordinance

Minors 12 and older: 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM (daily)

Minors under 12:

• 8:30 PM – 6:00 AM (Sunday through Thursday)

• 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM (Friday and Saturday)

Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that minors are indoors during curfew hours. Compliance helps promote safety and accountability in our communities.

Let’s work together to keep our neighborhoods respectful, safe, and welcoming for all.

Dumping Cleaned up on 5900 block of South Honore

Damaged Sign Fixed on 6500 block of South Wood Street

Dumping Cleaned up on 3100 block of West 63rd Street

Signs Damaged at 64th St / Richmond St

Debris Removed on 51st St / Western Ave

Damaged Sign at 50th Pl / Oakley Ave

Dumping Cleaned up on 4800 block of South Seeley

Debris Cleaned Up on 49th St / Hoyne Ave

Car Towed on 4400 block of South Western Ave

Sign Damaged at 45th St and Justine St

Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Day) at the 15th Ward Office

If you witness any criminal activity or notice suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, please report it immediately. Call 911 first to ensure a timely response from the Chicago Police Department, and then notify the 15th Ward Office at (773) 823-1539 so we can follow up and provide support where needed. Your vigilance and cooperation play a vital role in keeping our community safe. Together, we can make the 15th Ward a safer place for all.

Alderman Raymond Lopez has issued a clear directive to remove dibs throughout the 15th Ward. In coordination with this directive, the Ward Superintendent and City garbage crews have been actively sweeping neighborhood streets to remove items used to improperly reserve public parking spaces.

These efforts are ongoing and will continue across the ward to ensure fair access to street parking, improve public safety, and keep our blocks clean and accessible for all residents. Alderman Lopez remains committed to consistent enforcement and maintaining orderly, respectful use of public streets.

As your Alderman, I want to remind 15th Ward residents that you may now apply online to Vote By Mail for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election. Vote By Mail offers a convenient and secure way to participate in our democratic process from the comfort of your home. Voters may select one ballot type—Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Non-Partisan (referenda only)—as required under Illinois law.

Ballots are expected to begin mailing in early February and include prepaid return envelopes. Voters can return their completed ballot by mail or place it in a secure drop box at any Chicago Early Voting site by Election Day. Options are also available for permanent Vote By Mail enrollment, accessible voting for individuals with disabilities, and ballots in multiple languages.

For more information or to apply, please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website or contact the Board directly at 312-269-7967.

Notice to Constituents: Scheduled Ventra Outage and Pace Fare Collection

Please be advised that Pace has scheduled maintenance on the Ventra fare collection system beginning 11:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026, through 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

During this maintenance window, all Pace services will continue to operate on their normal schedules. However, no fares will be collected on Pace fixed-route buses or Pace On Demand services during the outage period.

For Pace ADA Paratransit and Dial-a-Ride customers, please note the following important details:

• Reservations made on Friday for a Saturday trip may still be pre-paid using Ventra at the time of reservation.

• Reservations made before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday for a trip on Sunday or later cannot be pre-paid using Ventra. Payment for those trips must be made in cash or with a ticket at the time of boarding.

• Subscription trips occurring on Friday or Saturday are not affected and may continue to be paid through Ventra as usual.

My office is sharing this information to ensure residents can plan accordingly and avoid any inconvenience. If you have questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

in Brighton Park and Back of the Yards

Local School Councils (LSCs) play a vital role in shaping the future of our neighborhood schools by giving parents and community members a direct voice in school governance. Serving on an LSC is an opportunity to help select school leadership, support student success, and strengthen accountability at the local level.

The application period to become an LSC candidate is open, parents and community members may submit their nomination materials. All applications must be completed and submitted by 3:00 p.m. on January 20, 2026. Election Day is March 18, 2026, when all LSC elections across Chicago will be held.

In addition to candidates, Chicago Public Schools is also seeking 2,000 paid election judges to help administer the 2026 LSC elections—an excellent way to support civic participation in our schools. Application workshops are available for parents and community members who would like assistance completing nomination forms.

For questions or additional information, please contact the Office of Local School Council Relations (OLSCR) at 773-553-1400 or [email protected]. Your involvement matters, consider participating and helping shape the future of our schools.

Applications are now open for the 2026 Exelon Foundation STEM Academy and Boys to STEM Academy summer programs. These free, week-long, residential programs are designed to inspire and empower the next generation of STEM leaders through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math careers.

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 15, 2026

Families and students are encouraged to apply early and take advantage of upcoming information sessions to learn more about program eligibility, curriculum, and the application process.

STEM Academy Information Sessions

January 20 | 6:00–6:45 PM (CT)

March 3 | 5:00–5:45 PM (CT)

Boys to STEM Academy Information Sessions

January 20 | 5:00–5:45 PM (CT)

March 3 | 6:00–6:45 PM (CT)

The Exelon Foundation also offers a limited number of STEM Ambassadors who can attend local community events to share program details and answer questions.

For additional information, application materials, and promotional flyers (available in English and Spanish), please contact our office or visit the Exelon Foundation STEM Academy webpage.

We encourage families, educators, and community organizations to share this opportunity and help connect students with this exceptional STEM experience.

2026 CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy

Alderman Raymond Lopez is pleased to share that the Chicago Park District is offering a new round of Veteran and Military Programs this winter, running from early January through mid-March. These programs provide veterans and active-duty service members with opportunities to stay active, build community, and support overall wellness through professionally led recreational and fitness activities at local park facilities.

All equipment is provided, and programs are offered in a supportive, welcoming environment. Registration is required, and participants must provide proof of military service. Veterans and service members interested in participating are encouraged to register in advance and contact the program coordinators for additional details.

Chicago’s Food Scrap Drop-Off Program makes it easy for residents to compost food waste and reduce what goes into our landfills. Items like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells can be dropped off at designated neighborhood sites at no cost.

This simple step helps cut down on odors and pests, reduces methane emissions, and supports the production of compost used in parks and green spaces across the city.

I encourage residents of the 15th Ward to participate by bringing food scraps in a reusable container and following posted site guidelines. Together, we can keep our neighborhoods cleaner and make Chicago a more sustainable city.