32nd Ward Newsletter May 1, 2026

Dear John,

We are following the legal process of the offender charged in the shooting of officers John Bartholomew and Nelson Crespo last Saturday. Officer Bartholomew sadly lost his life and Officer Crespo is hanging on in critical condition. Services for Officer Bartholomew will be held next week.

International Compost Awareness Week starts next week. Chicago joins other communities that are raising awareness about composting and soil health.

This year’s theme is “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us”, emphasizing how compost supports healthy ecosystems and a more sustainable planet. Join in the effort to rebuild our soil by bringing your organic compost to the Lincoln/Belmont Library on Melrose (parking lot bins) or one of many other locations.

We are also sponsoring a shredding/recycling event with the Bucktown Community Organization on May 17th so prepare to load up your cars. See below for more information. And don't forget Chicago River Day is next week, as work continues to improve the health of the Chicago River. See below for more on this as well.

Finally, don't forget to file your Cook County property tax exemptions- details below- as the deadline is in two weeks.

Enjoy your weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Two Chicago Police Officers Shot in Line of Duty

Officer John Bartholomew and Officer Nelson Crespo

Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, April 25 when he was shot at Swedish Hospital. He and his partner Nelson Crespo were guarding an offender in an armed robbery who had been caught earlier in the morning. Officer Crespo was critically injured during the shooting by the offender. Officer Crespo's situation has slightly improved but he remains in the hospital. 

Officer Crespo was once part of the Wicker Park detail that served our residents and businesses for many years and was always a friendly and outgoing officer who enjoyed working the detail. We are praying for Officer Bartholomew’s family, colleagues, and friends as well as for those of Officer Crespo and for his recovery.

Visitation for Officer Bartholomew will be held next Thursday, May 7 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church. Visitation includes a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The funeral will be held Friday, May 8, also at St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, at 10 a.m.

In Memory

Chicago lost two community leaders in the last few days, Ann Sychowski of South Lakeview Neighbors and Allan Mellis of Wrightwood Neighbors, also known as the Mayor of Lincoln Park.

Ann served as a board member of the South Lakeview Neighbors for many years and was always seen engaging SLVN community members at the monthly meetings, and taking part in many of the activities in and around her neighborhood of St. Alphonsus. 

Allan was very active on development and transportation issues through his four decades of service on the board of Wrightwood Neighbors. He was actively engaged on many of the large developments in the area including Lincoln Yards and Foundry Park, the industrial zone along the Chicago River, DePaul University plans, and many more. His family was also engaged as volunteers for AFS, a non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.

It was truly a pleasure working with Ann and Allan over so many years. I enjoyed our conversations and joint efforts to continually improve their neighborhoods. They will be deeply missed for their passion and commitment to their respective communities and to improving Chicago as a whole.

Deadline to Apply for Property Tax Exemptions

Friday, May 15

When you claim exemptions on your home, you unlock savings that help lower your property tax bill. Applying online is easy and allows certain exemptions to roll over year-over-year.

You may be eligible for exemptions. Browse available exemptions and apply online today.

The most common exemptions are listed below. 

• Homeowner Exemption 
• Senior Exemption 
• "Senior Freeze" Exemption 
• Persons with Disabilities 
• Veterans with Disabilities 

If you already applied, you can check the status following these three steps. 

1. Click here, enter your PIN or address. 

2. Select "2025" in the "tax year" dropdown field before clicking "search."

3. Click on the "Exemption Status" tab in the sidebar menu. 

Apply Today

May CAPS Meetings

14th Police District

1432- May 20, 6pm

Holstein Park

2200 N. Oakley

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261



18th Police District

1811- May 5, 3:30pm

Adams Playlot

1919 N. Seminary

[email protected]

18th District Twitter

18th District CAPS- 312-742-5778

19th Police District

1921/1922- May 20, 6:30pm 

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- May 26, 6:30pm 

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- May 28, 6:30pm 

Lincoln Park Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- May 12, 6:30pm 

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

Beat 1931 CAPS Meeting Recap (Belmont/Ashland/river)-

There were no homicides nor shootings in this beat in the past two month period. There was one robbery to a store at Riverpoint Center. There were two burglaries, one to a business on Ashland and Diversey involving the ATM and the other to a residence on the 2400 block of Clybourn. There were two aggravated assaults, one road rage incident on the 1800 block of Belmont, and one in Riverpoint Center’s parking lot. There were no injuries in either case. There were three motor vehicles thefts with no pattern/dominant car and one Honda airbag theft. The police again wanted to highlight their court advocacy program, where residents can attend court cases to show support to victims of crimes and that neighbors are paying attention to the judges’ actions.

Beat 1434 CAPS Meeting Recap (Armitage/Wood/North/Rockwell)

There were two robberies in the past two month period, which is down from three the last period, and down from eight this time last year. One robbery back in February was of a wallet and laptop, the other in April was of a bike tire.

There were 29 burglaries, which is up from ten. This is largely due to the recent trend citywide of airbags being taken from Hondas. Thirteen of the 29 burglaries were of Honda airbags. Ten of the others were items taken from cars (items taken include tools, backpacks, laptops, purses, a wallet, and a gun). Please make sure to never leave anything in your car, even loose change. Three of the remaining burglaries were to businesses, two were of packages, and one to a garage.

There were two criminal sexual assaults, both of which were domestic, and both of which resulted in arrests.

There were ten thefts from autos, which is down from 17. The difference between theft from autos and burglaries from autos is that burglaries use force, where as theft is due to a window being open, door being unlocked, etc. Of the ten, four were of airbags, 2 were catalytic converters, two were license plates, and the last two were tools and a guitar.

There were twelve auto thefts, which is down from 22. Of these, only six were successful, with three of the failed attempts being of Hondas, so it is possible these were attempts to take the airbags, rather than the car itself.

The 14th District still has a limited amount of club devices to give away to Honda owners in the District. Please call them at 312-744-1261 to make sure they still have them in stock. They are working on purchasing more to give away. They have already given away over 100 to District residents.

2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street cleaning season has begun. 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 17, 18, and 19 (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 leftover landscaping debris from winter months 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

The Water Department is installing a new 8-inch water main on Greenview between Fullerton and Altgeld. It is estimated that this project will be completed by late June 2026 with restoration to follow.

DWM will begin outreach as part of the Lead Service Line Replacement Program to replace lead water service lines for all residents within the limits of the newly installed water main. Restoration will follow, including full-width street resurfacing along with repair of damaged parkways and sidewalks.  In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a crew member on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. Please see below for general information and the tentative schedule for the week ending 5/8/2026 (All field activities are weather dependent).

Monday 5/4/2026, DWM crew will work on source connection at Altgeld and Greenview; the water will be shut down on Greenview from Altgeld to Montana; all residents were informed, and a PSA letter will be sent.

Status: DWM crews will continue installing the 8” ductile iron water main on Greenview to replace the existing one.

Full project info-

​What You Need to Know During Construction

• Traffic: If they need to close or limit traffic during construction for safety reasons, you will always be able to reach your home or business. Outside of working hours, a travel lane will be left open for local traffic only.

• Parking: They will post “No Parking” signs as needed during work hours (generally 7am-4pm). Parking outside of those hours will be allowed, but cars will need to be moved by the start of the next workday. They will try to preserve as much parking space as possible.

• Service transfers: They will give you 24-hour notice when they will have to temporarily interrupt water service to transfer water to the new main and you will need to start flushing your water system (instructions on reverse). However, in the event of an emergency shutdown during construction, they may not be able to give you prior warning.

Possible Fence Removal

• DWM does everything possible to preserve homeowner improvements within the public right of way when doing infrastructure work. Any homeowner added improvements including fencing, landscaping etc. shall be removed by the individual homeowner prior to the water main installation. DWM does not assume responsibility for damage to privately installed parkway improvements, including sprinkling systems, fences, flower beds and shrubbery.

Should you have any questions or concerns, you can call any of the following numbers:

• 24-Hour City Service and Information Line: 311
• 32nd Ward Office: 773-248-1330
• DWM Office of Public Affairs: 312-744-6635
• [email protected]

What You Need to Know Following Construction:

Work involving the water system like water main installation or repairs can dislodge small particles of contaminants, including lead, which can affect your drinking water. Ingesting lead can have significant health risks. For more information about the health effects of lead, go to www.CDC.gov/nceh/lead or www.epa.gov/lead/learn-about-lead.

Use Recommended Flushing Practices

Studies show that flushing water through your pipes is an effective approach to lowering lead levels and exposure. Click here for information on flushing.

Register for Free Filter Set

Out of our commitment to providing our residents with the highest quality water, the Department of Water Management is offering single family houses and buildings with two apartments a free water filter set- a pitcher and six cartridges NSF-certified to remove lead if any is present in drinking water. Buildings with three or more apartments are not eligible at this time. Please visit www.chicagowaterquality.org today and register for your free water filter set. Enter your address and zip code and the set will be shipped to you completely free.

Possible Tree Removal

DWM does everything possible to preserve trees when doing infrastructure work. However, due to IEPA regulations concerning the separation of underground infrastructure and public safety concerns should a tree become unstable because of underground work, it is sometimes necessary to remove trees. In consultation with the Department of Streets and Sanitation’s Forestry Division, we make the decision on tree removal on a situational basis. You will be notified in advance if it will be necessary to remove trees during this project.  

Chicago Parents & Voters! Take This Survey About the Future of Our School Board!

The first-ever fully elected school board will be voted on this fall, and WBEZ wants to hear from you! Inform their candidate questionnaire and school board voter guide by telling them what issues are affecting you and your family, and what questions you have for the candidates.

International Compost Awareness Week

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 3-9, is an education and awareness campaign celebrated worldwide!

Composting is a powerful way to reduce waste, improve soil health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Did you know that through the City of Chicago’s Food Scrap Drop-Off program, you can get your household food scraps composted for free? This thriving program has over 8,800 households participating and has diverted 1,554,000 pounds of food scraps from landfills to composting since its inception in 2023.

Thanks to a partnership with Chicago Public Libraries, the program has recently expanded to a total of 33 drop-off locations. Learn more and sign up today!

Check out the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition’s ICAW 2026 Calendar of Events for opportunities to learn more about composting taking place in our area and across the state.

We have one of these composting sites right here in the 32nd Ward at the Lincoln Belmont Library at 1659 W. Melrose. There is another site nearby at 2460 W. Cortland.

Composting keeps food scraps out of landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and recycles nutrients that enrich soil. Since the City's program started in 2023, over a million pounds of food waste has been diverted from landfills.

The program is free and open to all Chicago residents. To get started, residents can sign up at chi.gov/composting and watch a short instructional video. Residents can then start collecting their household food waste and bring it to the green carts at their selected drop-off site as often as needed. Accepted materials include all types of food scraps, including meat, bones and dairy. Non-food waste is not accepted. DSS collects the food waste, and it is transported to a local facility in Chicago where it’s processed into nutrient-rich compost.

Chicago River Day

Ventra makes it easy to ride CTA, Pace, and now Divvy. Whether it's the trip before or after your bus or train ride, Ventra connects you across the region, making your journey seamless.

How to retrieve your $5 Divvy credit:

• Enroll: Riders must have a registered Ventra account and an active Divvy account.
• Sign up: Riders should first sign up for the promotion at VentraChicago.com.
• Purchase: Once enrolled, riders can buy a qualifying 30-day CTA/Pace pass.
• Check your email: Riders will receive a unique $5 Divvy promotional code via email within 24 hours of their purchase.
• Redeem and ride: Riders then enter the code into their Divvy app to claim their credit and start riding!

Senior Helpers Events

Senior Helpers Chicago is the premier provider of in-home senior care. They offer tailored home care services ranging from companion care for seniors who need daily assistance to in-depth specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s and other chronic diseases in the area. Find out more about their services at seniorhelpers.com.

Upcoming Library Events

ABC Swap: (Anything But Clothes) Swap!

Saturday, May 9, 2026 

12:00PM – 2:00PM

Bucktown-Wicker Park, 1701 N. Milwaukee, (312) 744-6022

What is an ABC Swap?  

It's a community stuff swap where we'll swap Anything But Clothes! This is a community event aimed at reducing waste. You can dispose of unwanted items and leave with something new-to-you! Show up with items (or empty-handed) and take whatever you want! 

What can I bring? 

Anything but clothes! Think kitchen gadgets, electronics, decor, pet supplies, toys, books, and more! Anyone is welcome! Please be respectful of neighbors and only bring items you would proudly gift to a friend. Bring a box or bag of gently used or new items that you'd like to gift. No dumping! 

What shouldn't I bring?

Please do not bring any damaged, broken, expired, unhygienic, or soiled items. Also avoid items that would be difficult to transport like a mattress.  

Medicare 101

Thursday, May 21, 2026

6:00PM – 7:00PM

Lincoln Belmont, 1659 W. Melrose, (312) 744-0166

Join us for an education only seminar on Medicare.

Medicare is changing and it’s important to review your options annually. Whether you are currently on Medicare or aging into Medicare, learn about the new Medicare rules, options, and enrollment opportunities.

City News

• Chicago Inks New Deal With Ernst & Young to Pursue Savings in City Budget
• Aldermen Press Johnson Administration Over New Budget Consulting Contract, Revenue Projections
• The ‘Lakeview Goons’ Have Been Harassing Locals for Years — Will Police Be Able to Stop Them?
• WGN Investigates- How Was Alleged Chicago Cop Killer Free to Commit New Crimes?
• Ex-federal Prosecutor Tapped to Be Chicago's Next Watchdog
• Game Plan for Bears Stadium Bill Still in Play
• City Council Members Demand Answers on Budget Outlook; New Poll on 2027 Mayoral Race
• SNAP Food Assistance Cutoffs Begin Friday in Illinois — What You Need to Know
• 19 Things to Do Outside in and Around Chicago This May

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]