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Dear Neighbors,
Our hearts go out to the Bartholomew family as they laid fallen CPD officer John Bartholomew to rest today. I attended the visitation last evening and am keeping his loved ones and the entire Department in my thoughts during this difficult time.
I also attended the Chicago Police Department's 65th Annual Recognition Ceremony this week, which honors the heroism and service of officers across the city. The stories of bravery, leadership, and dedication to keeping our communities safety were particularly moving, and served as a powerful reminder of the commitment shown by our police officers each day.
It was a great week meeting with 44th Ward residents — young and old! Earlier this week, I met with eighth grade civics students at Nettelhorst Elementary to speak about what it means to be an alderman, and I then joined our wonderful older adults at Bristol Apartments to celebrate May birthdays and Mother's Day. Recently, I was a guest on the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast. In the episode, which came out this week, I discussed my long history in the ward, some of our successful developments, and how Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) can assist with addressing the housing shortage we are facing. You can listen to the full episode here.
As a reminder, our 44th Ward Shredding event is happening tomorrow at the Ward office (3223 N Sheffield) from 9am-12pm. In addition to papers, we will also be accepting old electronics to recycle! You can find more information on the flyer below.
  
In public safety news, the Chicago Police Department continues to see reports of air bag thefts from Hondas in the area. CPD officers have noted, however, that visible anti-theft devices such as steering wheel clubs have proven to be an effective deterrent, with many of the protected vehicles often being passed over even when neighboring cars were targeted.
I would also like to remind everyone of the 19th Police District Council meeting happening here in the 44th Ward this Wednesday, May 13th at Chicagoland Community Church. The focus of this meeting will be CARE (Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement). You can find additional information below or on their website here.
We are approaching the final weeks of the Central Lakeview Neighbors annual plant and flower sale! Proceeds of this sale go towards beautification projects in the neighborhood. If you haven't already, you can submit your order form here by May 22nd.
 
I was saddened to hear of the loss of Xavier "Avi" Yparraguirre, the restauranteur behind Maison Marcel and Le Petit Marcel in Lakeview East. I'm grateful for the hospitality he brought to the neighborhood for so many years, and am thinking of his friends, family, and the teams at Maison Marcel and Le Petit Marcel.
 
This Sunday is Mother's Day and there are many wonderful ways to treat all of the moms and mother figures in your life right in our neighborhood. The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has curated a list of local shops, florists, restaurants, and activities here. I would also like to thank my own mother, Jane, for all of her love and support. I look forward to celebrating with her this weekend!
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Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
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AIRPORT SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT & JOB FAIR - MAY 12TH
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2026 GREEN MIXER - MAY 14TH
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HAWTHORNE SCHOOL MOVIE NIGHT - MAY 15TH
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SAINT ANDREW PARISH CHILDREN'S GARAGE SALE - MAY 16TH
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NETTELHORST KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE - MAY 20th
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WOOGMS MEMORIAL DAY PARADE - MAY 25th
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NETTELHORST FARMERS MARKET - NOW THRU OCT 31
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MERLO LIBRARY - APRIL PROGRAMS
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- Family Story Time - 5/9, 10:00am-10:30am (0-5 years)
- Tactile Art Night - 5/11, 4:00pm-6:00pm (13-19 years)
- Cozy Crafting - 5/11, 5:30pm-7:00pm (13 years and up)
- Recording Studio Certification for Teens - 5/12, 4:00pm-5:30pm (13-19 years)
- Play Time - 5/14, 11:00am-11:45am (0-5 years)
- Power Up Thursdays - 5/14, 3:30pm-5:30pm (grades 7-12)
- Click for all program details
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TUBMAN PLAYGROUND - DONATION PAGE
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CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL - DONATION PAGE
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LAKEVIEW DOG PARK - DONATION PAGE
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FREE VIRTUAL LEGAL SEMINARS (NEXT ON MAY 20th)
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ST ANDREW'S SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION
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To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the form here.
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PUBLIC SAFETY & 19th DISTRICT WEEKLY REPORT:
April 27th - May 3rd
Secretary of State Scam Texts Alert:
Fraudulent texts claiming to be from the DMV or the Illinois Secretary of State are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. If you get a message like this, it’s a scam. Follow the steps here.
Vehicle Theft Tactic Alert:
We want to make neighbors aware of a vehicle theft tactic that has been seen in other cities and may become more common here. Thieves are targeting newer “push-to-start” vehicles by using technology to capture and amplify the signal from a key fob—sometimes from outside a home—to unlock and start the car in seconds. From other cities' observations, this is more likely to occur when vehicles are parked close to a residence and when key fobs are stored near doors or windows facing the street. To help protect your vehicle, consider keeping your key fob farther inside your home, using a signal-blocking pouch, or parking further away.
Local Public Safety Statistics:
My office is in regular contact with the 19th Police District about crimes that have occurred recently in our area and that are reflected in the statistics below. The majority of 19th District crimes have occurred outside of our ward. The 19th District also includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Uptown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Bricktown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square.
Please view our website's public safety page here for both proactive measures to stay safe before crimes occur, and also how to respond in the event of a crime.
In order to stay safe, please find the most relevant key safety tips below, and the full list of CPD's safety tips here:
-General
-Personal
-Robbery-specific
-Vehicle-specific
Below you'll find Week 18's CompStat breakdown of crime in the 19th District.
Please note, these statistics are a reflection of the entire 19th District. The boundaries are from Lawrence Ave to Fullerton Ave, from the Chicago River to the Lake.
Here are the key points:
- Year to Date, Robberies are down 32%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 are down 28%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is up 16%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 is up 36%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 35%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 22%
- Year to Date, Thefts are up 16%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 5%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are up 11%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 2%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website here.
See full report below:
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MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE RESOURCES
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SCOOTER REPORTING
Please click here to submit a scooter removal request and here for Divvy bike removal. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean. By contract, shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request.
Please contact our office directly if you see illegal/dangerous activities on green Lime scooters (riding on the sidewalk, two people sharing one scooter, etc). We are able to work with Lime to potentially administer fines, suspensions, or bans if you can include a photo/video of the behavior, and a time and location.
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See below for ongoing construction and infrastructure projects in our neighborhood and on our website here!
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UPCOMING ALLEY RESURFACINGS
The following projects were slightly delayed. Resurfacing will occur approximately 2-3 weeks after grinding has occurred. We will send updates once we receive them.
- NS alley between Lakewood, Henderson, Racine, School
- NS alley between Lakewood, Melrose, Racine, School
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REPORTING POTHOLES
Please report any potholes you see by entering in all requests through the 311.Chicago.Gov website for those in the street or alley. If possible, be sure to upload images as well so crews are able to identify the exact location.
For more severe potholes that may need immediate attention, please reach out to my ward office either by email ([email protected]) and include the location and images of the pothole or by calling the office at (773-525-6034).
If your vehicle was damaged due to a pothole, you may be entitled to a financial claim here.
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW, JOE? - MAY
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GARBAGE & RECYCLING
You can find your full garbage and recycling pick up schedule here.
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See below for a list of job fairs, networking events, and more!
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THE CITY IS HIRING
Looking for a job? Try working for the City! Click here to see the full list of job openings currently seeking applicants.
Local government employment opportunities:
- City
- City of Chicago
- Chicago Public Schools
- Chicago Transit Authority
- Park District
- County
- All - Cook County
- Cook County State's Attorney
- Cook County Sheriff's Office
- State/Other
- State of Illinois
- Secretary of State of Illinois
- PACE bus system
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44th WARD 2026 COMMUNITY MEETINGS
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