Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

May 15, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Mourning the Loss of Engineer Steven Decker of Engine 71

I visited the Engine 71 fire house today to pay my respects and share our community’s condolences for the loss of Chicago Fire Department Engineer Steven Decker, who tragically passed away after suffering a medical emergency during a training exercise yesterday.

Our first responders are all heroes. They put their lives on the line every day to keep our community and our city safe. We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. Please join me in keeping Engineer Decker’s family and all who knew and served alongside him in your thoughts and prayers. 

Register Now - Rogers Park Township Property Tax Appeal Help

Limited appointment slots are still available! Rogers Park Township property owners can register now for one-on-one property tax appeal assistance at the 50th Ward Office. Meet directly with analysts and get help filing your appeal this Tuesday, May 19 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Reserve your spot now!

I am partnering with Commissioner Josina Morita and the Cook County Assessor’s Office to offer in-person appeal assistance to help you lower your property tax bill. Please bring your most recent tax bill or have your Property Index Number (PIN) available when you come to the Ward Office.

Rogers Park Township encompasses the area of the 50th Ward that is north of Devon Avenue. The appeals period is open until Monday, June 1. You can file an appeal at our upcoming outreach event or online at www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/online-appeals.

The assessment of your home is one of the most important factors in determining how much you will pay in property taxes, so it is very important that you file an appeal. If your appeal is accepted, changes to your property's assessed value will be reflected in the second installment property tax bill you receive next year in late 2027.

For any questions, please contact my office at (773) 262-1050 or contact Commissioner Morita’s Office at (312) 603-6383.

Deadline to Apply for Property Tax Saving Exemptions

TODAY is the deadline to apply for property tax-saving exemptions for the 2025 tax year. Visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/exemptions to apply now. Exemption applications are due by end of day on Friday, May 15.

Exemptions appear on your second installment tax bill issued in the summer and can significantly lower your property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which applies to homeowners who own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. The key exemptions you can now apply for are: 

• Homeowner Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year. New homeowners, first-time applicants, or those that need to reapply can now do so online.

• Senior Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Senior Freeze Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

• Persons with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Veterans with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

   

Property tax exemptions can be applied for online or in one, streamlined paper application available here. To learn more, visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/exemptions.

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to promote mental wellness and support those affected by mental health conditions. Founded by Mental Health America in 1949, the month has become a chance to “turn awareness into action” and take steps to improve your personal mental health.

Everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health, and maintaining good mental health is vital to overall health and well-being. It is never too soon to seek help. Take action by checking on your mental health with a free, quick, anonymous test at screening.mhanational.org. 

Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month and how you can take action at mhanational.org/mental-health-month.

Help Keep Our Neighborhood Clean

The weather is getting nicer and our neighbors are out enjoying the community. Please help keep our neighborhood clean and welcoming. Remember to clear any accumulated garbage around your property. Cleaning debris is not only the neighborly thing to do, but it keeps the street drains clear and could prevent flooding.

This is the time of year when we all want to enjoy the outdoors, so please do your part to keep our neighborhood neat. If we all work together, we can keep the 50th Ward clean, green, and beautiful!

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Upcoming 50th Ward Summer Events

New SNAP Requirements as of May 1

Changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) took effect on May 1, introducing new federal work and volunteer requirements that impact eligibility for food assistance benefits. These changes are affecting thousands of Illinois residents who may now face adjustments to their SNAP eligibility.

If Chicago residents have lost their food benefits, support and resources are available: 

• Speak with a Food Depository Benefits Specialist to discuss your case: 773-247-3663.

• Contact the Illinois Department of Human Services Help Line: 1-800-843-6154.

• Visit jobreadyil.com or serve.illinois.gov to find job training and volunteer opportunities that can help you meet SNAP work requirements and maintain eligibility.

• To find a food bank near you, visit: www.chicagosfoodbank.org.

For more information, visit www.abe.illinois.gov.

Sign Up for Street Sweeping Alerts

Street sweeping has officially started and will continue through late-November. You can view the schedule for the 50th Ward as an interactive map here or download a printable version on the Department of Streets and Sanitation website here. Please double-check your address on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct section.

You can find a printable schedule for each individual sweeping section on the 50th Ward website at 50thward.org/sweeping.

You can also sign up for street sweeping alerts with We the Sweeple, a third-party website that pulls information from the publicly available sweeping schedule on the Streets and Sanitation website. Visit www.WeTheSweeple.com to sign up for email alerts when street sweeping is scheduled on your block.

Please note, the site is not affiliated with the City of Chicago, so please always double-check with the official schedule.

Become a Court Advocate

The 24th District is seeking volunteers to become Court Advocates. Court Advocates follow, attend, and track court cases that are of concern to the community. Please contact the CAPS Office at [email protected] if interested in this program.

Court Advocate activities include: 

• Tracking Key Cases: Subcommittees work with the police to monitor cases that matter most to the neighborhood. This ranges from violent crimes to "quality of life" issues such as drug dealing, problem landlords, and abandoned buildings.

• Supporting Victims and Witnesses: For many, testifying can be a source of anxiety. Having community volunteers in the courtroom provides support to victims and witnesses.

Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and stand in solidarity against crime in your community. To learn more about how you can participate, contact the 24th District CAPS Office at [email protected] or 312-744-6321.

Summer Jobs for Chicago Youth

The Chicago Youth Works (CYW) application portal is now open. Chicago Youth Works — formerly One Summer Chicago — reflects the City’s continued investment in expanding youth employment opportunities and strengthening pathways to long-term career success for Chicago’s young people.

The City's goal is to hire 29,000 young people (ages 14-24) through paid summer opportunities. Interested youth can apply online at ChicagoYouthWorks.org. The application deadline is May 29, but interested youth should apply early to increase their chances of receiving a job offer.

Summer employment will be a minimum of 6 weeks starting in June and conclude in late July or early August, dependent on the employer the young person is hired through. Youth ages 14-15 will have access to stipend paid opportunities while youth and young adults ages 16-24 will be paid an hourly wage.

SBA Disaster Declaration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved a disaster declaration for the severe storms and flooding that impacted six counties in northeastern Illinois from Aug. 16–18, 2025. This declaration will allow homeowners, renters, businesses, and certain non-profit organizations to apply for low-interest loans to help cover damages not covered by insurance.

The declaration includes the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. These areas qualify for both physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) through the SBA. 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 for physical damages.

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.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Friday, May 15. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Wednesday, December 16.

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Indo-American Center Open House

Garden Society Annual Plant Sale

24th District Police Senior Movie

Camp Courage

Dance Show at Indian Boundary

Senior Health and Resource Fair