Dear Neighbors,
This Saturday, August 8th, from 9 to 11 a.m., we'll be at the Lincoln Park Farmers Market (in front of Lincoln Park High School) holding remote office hours to collect signatures for our letter urging the city departments to permanently revoke the Dime's liquor and Public Place of Amusement licenses. If you missed the background on this effort, click here to read last week's newsletter.
Can't make it Saturday? Monday, August 10th, will be the final day to sign at the ward office. You can also print a signature sheet from our website and collect signatures from your neighbors yourself.
Budget Director Guzman Leaves City Hall
This week, Budget Director Annette Guzman announced her departure from the City after helping lead several challenging budget cycles. This loss of senior leadership follows others, including Acting CFO Steven Mahr’s resignation a week prior, and CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling’s before that. It is concerning timing for this kind of instability from the Mayor’s office, and other alders and I who led last season’s ‘aldermanic budget’ are actively preparing for the upcoming budget season. I will continue advocating for responsible and transparent budgeting that strengthens essential services while ensuring Chicago is on a more sustainable financial path for the future, especially now, with no permanent budget director or CFO in place.
National Night Out & Superintendent Search
On Tuesday, I joined residents and police officers from the 1st and 18th Police Districts for National Night Out, an annual event that strengthens police-community partnerships and brings neighbors together around our shared commitment to public safety. As we look ahead, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability is seeking public input as it searches for Chicago's next Police Superintendent. I encourage you to complete the Commission's survey and attend one of the upcoming listening sessions, including the North Side meeting, to help shape the future leadership of the Chicago Police Department.
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Ald. Conway (34); Ald. Hopkins (2); Clerk Valencia; Commissioner Scott (2nd District)
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ComEd Substation Update
Our office continues to oppose ComEd's proposed substation at 1111 W. Diversey and remains committed to advocating for this project to receive the transparency and public review it deserves. I want to thank the Wrightwood Neighbors Association for recently voting to formally oppose the proposal, joining a growing coalition of neighborhood organizations and residents who have raised concerns about placing a major utility facility adjacent to homes and near public transit in one of Chicago's most densely populated neighborhoods.
At the same time, we continue working toward a constructive solution. Our office has identified and shared several alternative sites nearby that would be a more appropriate location for this critical infrastructure while still meeting the needs of our electric grid.
Celebrating Ginza in the 43rd Ward
To close, join us this weekend to visit the Midwest Buddhist Temple's 71st Annual Ginza Holiday Festival. For more than seven decades, Ginza has brought neighbors together from across Chicago to celebrate Japanese and Japanese American culture through incredible food, traditional crafts, and live entertainment. It remains one of the 43rd Ward's most cherished traditions – I'll be there on Sunday at 1pm, and I hope to see you there!
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. Stop by tomorrow, Saturday, August 8th, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N. Cannon Dr.) for a free Community Shred Event hosted in partnership with State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and State Rep. Margaret Croke. Cook County Sheriff Dart’s office will also be collecting prescription drugs.
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This past weekend, I was honored to celebrate the life and legacy of Mable Hawkins, unveiling her new honorary street sign alongside her family. Located at the corner of Cleveland and Eugenie, this street sign reminds us of all of Mable’s contributions to the community as a business owner, one of the first black real estate developers in the area, and community pillar in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood.
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It was a pleasure joining the Small Business Advocacy Council's Young Professionals Group at DePaul University for a conversation on public service, civic engagement, and supporting our Chicago small businesses.
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Upcoming Events From the 43rd Ward Office
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Community Meeting for 754 W Belden Ave
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On Wednesday – August 12th – at 6:00 pm, our office will be hosting a community meeting to discuss a zoning map amendment request to permit a new accessible housing development, proposed by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), at 754 W Belden Ave. OTR is requesting a Type-1 rezoning from RT-4 to B2-3 to allow for a 5-story, 30-unit, fully accessible residential building. This community meeting will be held in-person at DePaul in the Arts and Letters Hall, Room 103. If you are unable to attend, our office will be sharing the presentation file in our first newsletter after the meeting. If you have any questions following reviewing the presentation, or if you would like to share your feedback on the proposal, please email our office.
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Flyer made and distributed by OTR, not the 43rd Ward Office
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Modernizing The 43rd Ward Office
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Last month, our office was proud to be highlighted nationally in a new Indigov and Granicus case study recognizing the 43rd Ward as a model for tech-forward constituent services & responsive local government. The report highlights how our office integrates Chicago’s 311 system directly into our internal workflow, allowing us to respond faster, track issues more efficiently, and proactively communicate with residents. I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team for continuing to help set a new standard for modern local government as we believe local government should be as responsive, transparent, and modern as the people it serves. I encourage you to check out the full report here.
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ADU Ordinance Now in Effect
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As of April 1, the City’s ordinance to legalize Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), is officially in effect. 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.
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MWRD issues Overflow Action Alert
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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 31 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 31 Compstat.
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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.
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Summer safety strategies along our beach front are in full swing and I remain in constant communication with our 18th and 19th Chicago Police District (CPD) commanders advocating for heightened safety measures. As many more neighbors and Chicagoans take to the beaches to enjoy the warmer weather, CPD has confirmed the following actions:
Thank you to our police officers and our ward’s CPD leadership for keeping our beaches and lakefront safe. Through strong communication, partnership, and the above actions, the 43rd Ward will continue to be a welcoming and safe place to enjoy the summer season. Also, every summer I like to refamiliarize myself with CPD’s summer safety tips which are a great way to keep you and others in our community safe. To read the full list, click here.
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Ald. Knudsen Urges Johnson & CDOT to Prioritize Bridge Closures and Offer Alternative Traffic Congestion Plans
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"The ongoing closure of river bridges (especially the Cortland Bridge) has created major traffic strain and frustration for residents and businesses alike. Alongside seven other aldermen, I sent a letter to Mayor Johnson urging his administration and CDOT to prioritize this bridge issue. My office will continue pushing for clearer communication, smarter coordination, and the fastest safe timeline possible to get these bridges reopened." -Ald. Timmy Knudsen
Alderman Knudsen supported a proposal from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins requiring the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to present a detailed traffic plan before closing any bridge for more than 30 days. The plan must outline how congestion will be reduced — including detours, parking adjustments, and other mitigation strategies. Our office also received a letter back from CDOT, outlining steps they are taking to help reduce traffic congestion and delays for 43rd Ward residents. You can read it here.
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Interactive Ward 43 Parking Zone Map
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Our office has created a parking zone map to help residents better understand where residential parking zones are located throughout the ward. For several streets, a Residential Parking Permit may not be required. Some areas may instead be free parking, pay-to-park, school zones, or tow and loading zones that restrict parking during certain hours.
While the map can be helpful for general reference, posted signage is always the most reliable indicator of parking rules. We encourage residents and visitors to carefully check street signs when parking to confirm the applicable restrictions.
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Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) and the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are reviewing damage from these severe storms and asking that residents who have been impacted submit an initial damage assessment to help determine if the County, along with partners at OEMC and at the state level can pursue any options for additional assistance for residents. Reporting damages to emergency management is voluntary. It is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. To fill out a survey, please click here.
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Support Local Animal Rescue at SAYv’s 6th Annual Yappy Hour
SAYv Animal Organization is bringing its 6th Annual Yappy Hour to Lincoln Park! Join fellow animal lovers on Sunday, August 16, from 12–3 PM at Bad Apple Lincoln Park for a fun, dog-friendly afternoon benefiting SAYv’s efforts to rescue homeless cats and dogs throughout Chicagoland.
Guests can meet adoptable dogs, learn more about cats looking for their forever homes, and enter a raffle featuring exciting prizes. Tickets are $25 and include one drink ticket plus bar snacks and appetizers, with proceeds supporting SAYv’s rescue efforts and helping provide medical care, supplies, and second chances for animals in need.
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Sunday mornings, 11am-1pm
6/14, 7/12, 8/2 & 8/23
Meet Jennie in the LPHS parking lot
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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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.”
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E-Scooters and E-Bikes Policy Updates
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Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides.
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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.
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