Dear Neighbor,

I started the week with a tour of the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s facility in Little Village. This state-of-the-art facility houses food that is distributed to hundreds of local food pantries that serve thousands of families in need of food resources across Cook County. It was disturbing to learn about how food insecurity is growing across our city and county, especially after the changes to federal SNAP eligibility. 

If you or someone you know needs help with accessing food or a meal, please call our office during office hours, call 211 after hours, or visit the community resources page on our website.

I visited Kosciuszko Park on Tuesday to meet with the new Park Supervisor, Roberto Lugo, as well as the Area Manager and head of Park Security for our region. It was great to hear about the programming going on at the park, discuss capital and programmatic needs, and address public safety concerns in the area. We look forward to continuing to work with Roberto, and the team at Kos Park! 

Yesterday, I was briefed by the Chicago Park District on their planning progress for updates to the Avondale Park Fieldhouse. The District is wrapping up its planning process, and will soon put out its planned work to bid for Phase 1 of fieldhouse improvements. Phase 1 work will focus on the exterior of the building by replacing the roof and windows, making masonry repairs, and performing some minor interior repairs. Currently, the Park District is not anticipating extensive building closures or effects on programming. We are so excited for these upcoming improvements, and I was proud to have helped secure an additional $5 million in TIF funds to bring this project to fruition. We will share more details as they become available. 

My team was also briefed yesterday on another much-anticipated project, the Logan Square Blue Line Station Canopy Replacement Project. The Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Department of Transportation will soon commence work on this highly anticipated project, which will replace the existing headhouse on the north side of Milwaukee Avenue. During this project, access to the Blue Line entrance and elevator will be maintained. We are very excited to see this project commence later this summer!

Early this morning, I joined the Saint John Beachman bike bus! This weekly event is a parent-led bike caravan from Palmer Square Park to Saint John Beachman school that provides a fun and safe way for students to commute by bike to school, and enjoy time with the community. Pedestrian, cyclist, and traffic safety is a priority for our ward, and it was great to discuss ways that we can continue to make our streets safer for everyone.

Later this morning, I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker at Murphy Elementary School’s 8th-grade graduation ceremony. Congratulations to the class of 2026! We are so proud of you.

Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to our annual Logan Square Progress Pride Flag Raising event, which will be held this Monday, June 1st at 12:00 PM, at the flag pole in Logan Square proper, 3150 W. Logan Boulevard. We would love for you to join us in celebrating the beginning of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month with us here in Logan Square. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Quezada

Alderman, 35th Ward

Community Resources:

• Food Bank Locator and SNAP Updates

• Utility Billing and Relief

• Immigration Resources | Family Support Hotline 855-435-7693

• Parking Ticket Relief

• Tenants Rights Resources

Ward Updates

Upcoming Ward Nights

Our next ward nights will be on Monday, June 15 and June 29, 2026. We schedule Ward Night visits by appointment to ensure ample time for residents to discuss community concerns and opportunities with the alderman. To schedule an appointment to meet with the Alderman during Ward Night, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (773)-985-3510 during our hours of operation (9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday).

Irving Park Department of Water Management Project Updates

This week, the Department of Water Management DWM began the excavation and installation of the 8-inch water main and 36-inch sewer main on N. St. Louis Ave between W. Grace St and W. Waveland Ave. Please note that this weekend some light posts will be removed on Saturday, May 30th. Temporary lighting will be installed 8 feet off the curb to ensure visibility. Due to the narrow width of the street, the removal of these posts is required for construction operations to proceed safely.

Please see below for the anticipated work scheduled for the upcoming week.

Sewer / Water Schedule: June 1st, 2026 - June 5th, 2026

Water Management will continue the installation of the 8-inch water main and 36-inch sewer main on N. St. Louis Ave between W. Grace St and W. Waveland Ave. No scheduled water main shutdowns are anticipated this coming week, except for temporary water service outages affecting homes on the east side. Residents will be notified prior to any temporary service interruption.

Road Closures / Traffic Control:

During working hours, residential parking and through traffic will not be permitted on N. St. Louis Ave between N. Elston Ave and W. Waveland Ave.“No Parking” signs have been posted in the affected area.

California Avenue Arterial Resurfacing Project

The Chicago Department of Transportation has notified the 35th Ward Office of an upcoming infrastructure upgrade. CDOT will be resurfacing California Avenue, from Byron Street to Montrose Avenue, a portion of which lies in the 35th Ward. Work is tentatively scheduled to commence on June 8, 2026. 

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above.  These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.  All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed September 30, 2026.

Fullerton Avenue Arterial Resurfacing

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) will soon begin work on a Fullerton Road Arterial Resurfacing Project, between Kimball Avenue and Lockwood Avenue. Alderman Anthony Quezada was proud to have secured some of the funding for this resurfacing project when he was our 8th District Cook County Commissioner, and is elated to see this work commence.

This project will include the resurfacing of the roadway, installation of curb extensions at some intersections, and renewed traffic lane striping.  During construction, parking restrictions will be posted for milling and paving operations on the street, and when sidewalk and curb work is actively being performed.

On Tuesday, May 12th, the 35th Ward Office hosted a community meeting with local residents and businesses and CDOT to discuss the project and anticipated impacts. We look forward to continuing to share more information as it becomes available, and plans for the stretch are finalized. Currently, the project is in its final design stages and utility coordination. CDOT anticipates that construction will commence in early summer!

Upcoming Paseo Prairie Garden Work Days

The Friends of Paseo Prairie Garden will be hosting upcoming volunteer work days. Each work day will be held from 10am-11:30am at Paseo Prairie Community Garden, located at 2614 N Kedzie, and volunteers can assist with weeding, trash pickup, watering and planting.

Upcoming dates:

Sunday May 31st

Saturday June 6th

Sunday June 14th

ChiArts Grant Program

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events is launching its application process for its 2026 ChiArts Grant Program. This grant has two program focuses, and offers support for General Operating Expenses of Project Specific Grants for Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits of all sizes. You can learn more on the program website. The deadline for program applications is June 3rd.

Divvy for All - Chicago Program Highlight

The Chicago Department of Transportation has partnered with Divvy to provide accessible memberships for qualifying City residents 16 years of age or older. Divvy for Everyone provides a $5 annual membership, the option to pay with cash, and an option to keep the membership through a LISC-supported credit-building program. In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must show proof of annual household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (family of 4 is $96,450). To apply and find more information, you can register here Divvy for Everyone or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment with the Divvy outreach team.

Upcoming CDOT Pave Dates

The Chicago Department of Transportation has informed our office of the following anticipated paving dates (weather and equipment permitting) for these former 35th Ward PB winners!

Grace Street, between California and Francisco- June 1st

Dickens Avenue, between Tripp and Kildare- June 1st

Alley bound by George/Diversey/Whipple/Sacramento- June 8th

Policy and Zoning Updates

Support for Zoning Map Amendment Request for 3458 W Belmont

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the 35th Ward Office held a community meeting at the Avondale Park Club Room to gather feedback on a zoning map amendment request for 3458 W Belmont Ave. The applicant is seeking to rezone this vacant lot from the existing C1-1 District to a B2-2 District, in order to build a new 3-story (with basement) residential building with 3 dwelling units and 3 parking spaces to be located within a garage.

At the meeting, applicants presented their proposal and residents had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. In line with our Community-Driven Zoning and Development process, the 35th Ward Office accepted feedback for two weeks following the meeting. The majority of the feedback received was in support of the proposal, so Ald. Quezada has advised the applicant that they have his support to file their Zoning Map Amendment application.

Accepting Feedback on Zoning Change Request at 2739-2743 W. Belmont Avenue

On Tuesday, May 19, the 35th Ward Office hosted a meeting at the Brands Park Club Room to gather feedback on a zoning change request for 2739-2743 W. Belmont Avenue. The applicant owns three lots at 2739-2743 W. Belmont. It is a unique lot configuration as there is a body shop on 2739 W. Belmont, a 3 flat on 2741 W. Belmont (the body shop is also on this lot to the rear), and a 2 flat on 2743 W. Belmont. The applicant is seeking a zoning change from M1-1 to B2-3 to replace the body shop with a 3.5-story 6-flat while preserving the existing 3-flat and 2-flat. You can view the presentation from the meeting here. 

In line with our Community-Driven Zoning and Development Process, we will accept feedback for two weeks until June 5, 2026 at 5pm. Alderman Quezada will use this input to decide on the proposal. You can provide feedback on the proposal here. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] or call (773) 985-3510.

Summer Youth Opportunities

Chicago Youth Works

Chicago Youth Works is a centralized hub for youth summer and year-round job and program opportunities. It also has more information for employers who are interested in participating in the program by hosting youth at their workplaces. You can find more information on their website.

Upcoming Community Events

Unity Park Upcoming Events

Yoga in the Park 2636 N Kimball Ave Sundays, starting May 10th through August 30th 10-11am.

Night Beams - Saturday May 30th 7-10pm

Miles for Migraine Chicago

The National Headache Foundation invites the 35th Ward community to join Team NHF at the Miles for Migraine Walk, Run, Relax event in Chicago on Saturday, June 6th, 2026. Community members can run the 5K, walk the 2-mile route, or simply attend the Relax portion of the event while helping raise awareness and support for people living with migraine and headache disease. This fun, family-friendly event welcomes friends, families, advocates, veterans, and pets as we come together to build community and reduce stigma around invisible illness. Join Team NHF!

Constituent Resources

35th Ward Office Phone: 773-985-3510

35th Ward Office Email: [email protected]

DSS recycling and garbage schedule:  chicagorecycles.org

Parking Zone Lookup:   http://smartchicago.github.io/zone-parking/  

Snow Plow Tracker: https://plow-tracker-chicago.hub.arcgis.com/

Street Sweeping Schedule: 2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street Sweeper Tracker: www.cityofchicago.org/sweepertracker

Street Sweeper “We The Sweeple” App: https://www.wethesweeple.com/Elected Official Lookup: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html

Backyard service rodent abatement: (312) 746-5230

35th Ward Staff

Scott Jaburek - Chief of Staff

Alberto Cuevas - Ward Superintendent

Sara Rodriguez - Neighborhood Services Director

Chas Sirridge - Policy Director

Juan Cardenas - Neighborhood Services Advocate

Food Resources

On May 1, nearly 120,000 neighbors in Illinois lost their SNAP benefits due to new work requirements and other eligibility changes. This is the largest drop in SNAP participation in our state’s history, and we know local hunger is rising.

No one should have to worry about putting food on the table while navigating these changes. If you or someone you know relies on SNAP, take action to protect your benefits or reconnect to SNAP today. You might qualify to apply for an exemption from the new work requirements. There are also free resources like Job Ready Illinois and Serve Illinois to help you connect to job training, work, and volunteering, if you are not exempt.

Visit SaveOurSNAP.org for resources or contact the Illinois Department of Human Services at 1-800-843-6154 to talk to someone about your benefits."

35^th Ward Food Access Sites

Chicago Hope Inc.

2505 N Kedzie Blvd

Regular Program Hours:

Monday- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Thursday- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

New Community Covenant Church
2649 N Francisco Ave  

Regular Program Hours:

Wednesday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Friday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

St Sylvester Parish

2915 W Palmer St

Regular Program Hours:

Wednesday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Life Impacters Foundation
2100 N Kildare Ave  

[email protected]

Regular Program Hours:

Monday 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Wednesday 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

May Schedule for Northwest Side Solidarity Network Events - 3000 N Kedzie Ave

June Community Dinners  

Date: 6/4, 6/11, 6/18, 6/25  

Time: 12- 1:30 pm

Location: 3000 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Community Food Pantry

Date: June 4^th & June 17^th

Time: 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Location: St Nicolai United Church-Christ at 3000 N Kedzie Ave

Employment Opportunities

The Illinois Department of Human Services is hiring! Check out open positions here.

People’s Gas is also hiring! You can find open positions in the region on their website.

The City of Chicago is hiring for several positions. You can find these positions at www.cityofchicago.org/jobs.

To find open positions at the Chicago Park District, please visit this link.

Public Safety (CAPS) Meetings

CAPS meetings are an opportunity for residents to meet with the Community Engagement officers of their local police districts to discuss public safety concerns in their neighborhoods. The 35th ward includes portions of the 14th, 17th, and 25th districts of the Chicago Police Department. Visit the CPD website to find your beat.

Beat 2522, 2318 N Lavergne, Thursday June 4th at 6:30pm