32nd Ward Newsletter April 10, 2026

Dear John,

Thank you to all the residents and businesses who are helping with the spring cleanup efforts. I want to remind everyone about proper yard waste disposal- if you have large volumes of yard waste it should be placed in paper lawn garbage bags and left in your alley for pickup. Please call our office or 311 to alert the Department of Streets and Sanitation to have our Ward Superintendent assist with the pickup. Please let wet debris dry out first and do not overload bags.

The street sweeping schedule is attached below, and we recommend adding it to your calendar. Watch for the posted ORANGE street sweeping signs on your street as your portion of the ward sweeping is scheduled for parking restrictions. 

The next phase of the Lathrop Homes redevelopment is being voted on this upcoming Monday and will move the project another step forward toward construction of 309 new/rehabbed, mixed income units on the south end of the site.

The units would be spread across one newly constructed building and seven rehabbed​ buildings. The​ powerhouse will be structurally repaired, the smokestack will be repointed and rebuilt,​ and the interior would be built out by a future tenant once identified. Other amenities​ would include landscaped courtyards and off-street parking.


Related Midwest and Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation were selected by the Chicago​ Housing Authority (CHA) in 2010 to be the master developer for the Lathrop Homes​ redevelopment through a CHA Request for Qualification. As part of the CHA’s Plan Forward​ initiative, once complete, Lathrop Homes is to produce 1,116 units of mixed-income​ housing, and approximately 75,000 square feet of retail/commercial space. 


The ordinance would approve the issuance of $100 million in Multi-Family Mortgage​ Revenue Bonds, the execution of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment​ Agreement for $40 million, of which $36.5 million will be ported from Addison South TIF. It​ will also authorize the City to transfer Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit (Donation Tax​ Credits) proceeds generated by the sale of these tax credits for the project.

Enjoy your weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

April CAPS Meetings

14th Police District

1433- April 21, 6pm

Pulaski Park

1419 W. Blackhawk

1434- April 29, 6pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library

1701 N. Milwaukee

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261

19th Police District-

1921- April 15, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1922- April 15, 6:30pm

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- April 28, 6:30pm

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- April 23, 6:30pm

Lincoln Belmont Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- April 14, 6:30pm

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

Saturday Night Attack - Roscoe Village

Last Saturday, an incident took place outside of Audubon Elementary with at least ten high school age males attacking a teenager simply walking back from work in the Roscoe Village neighborhood at about 8:45-9 p.m. There is some video of the attack, and CPD is looking for any additional video footage from the community. The brutal attack may be related to other acts committed by the group over the last couple years. The victim is doing well and was able to defend himself against the ten offenders who kicked and punched him, but a similar attack will only be prevented by holding the offenders accountable.


One of the offenders, a 16 year old, was caught by neighbors, brought in by CPD and was charged with robbery. If you have any video footage that helps identify any other individuals within the large group of males who were roaming in the area of Audubon Elementary, Belmont and Leavitt or Addison and Damen in the early evening, please share with the detectives on the case via the 19th District at [email protected]. The next CAPS meeting will be 1921- April 15, 6:30pm in the Police Auditorium at 2452 W. Belmont.

Tap to Pay Scam Reminder

This is a scam where people ask others to make tap-to-pay donations for an event such as a loved one’s funeral, a fundraiser, etc, asking for a low amount, but then charging them large amounts, sometimes over a thousand dollars, once they get the victim’s phone.  We have been alerted to this happening in the area around the Bucktown/Wicker Park library. A reminder to never use tap to pay to donate money to someone you don’t know, and never hand your phone over to someone you don’t know. Legitimate organizations will not refuse cash and will be able to refer you to a website to donate after you do research. If you see anyone engaging in this scam, please call 911 and give a description of the offenders and location to the police.

April is National 9-1-1 Education Month and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 12-18

During April, OEMC highlights the public safety role our personnel perform every day, 24/7 for the well-being of Chicagoans. Whether it’s providing lifesaving CPR instructions, texting crime victims who are unable to talk to provide first responders with needed details; or coordinating public safety and traffic for large events, OEMC works behind the scenes to ensure the safety of Chicago residents and visitors.

9-1-1 Education Month – Tips for calling 9-1-1

OEMC reminds Chicagoans to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. When calling 9-1-1, you should always remember the 5 W’s:

1.    What’s happening or what type of service do you need?

2.    Where is your location? Be as specific as possible and provide an exact address, intersection or provide a landmark.

3.    Who are the offenders, can you provide a description? Are you the victim or someone else?

4.    When did the event occur or is it happening now?

5.    Weapons – are there weapons involved and what is it? A gun, knife, bat, brick, etc.

Smart 911 Safety Profile

In an emergency, seconds count and OEMC urges residents to create a Smart911 profile. The free and secure service allows individuals and families to sign up online, with the Smart911 app or the Chicago OEMC App. By filling out a safety profile for you and your household, residents can provide critical information to 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers during an emergency.

Smart911 safety profiles can include pertinent information that can help first responders provide a more personalized response, such as:

·       Emergency contact information

·       Medical history, including medications and medical conditions.

·       Home or apartment layouts, access points and utility information

·       Number of people and pets in your home

·       Provide automobile information for first responders in the event of an accident or stolen vehicle.

·       Residents can opt-in to share their home surveillance camera footage with the Chicago Police Department in the event that a crime occurs at their residence or neighborhood.

All Smart911 profiles are private. Your profile will only appear to the call taker for the duration of a 9-1-1 call. To join the Smart911 community to protect the ones you love, residents can create a free safety profile by visiting Smart911.com or by downloading the Smart911 App. For additional information click Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Chicago OEMC App

Residents are encouraged to download Chicago OEMC App as a public safety tool providing alerts, weather reports and radar, preparedness tips, see street closures for events and even share your location with a friend through CHI Safe Walk. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores. To immediately download, click HERE or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC.

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 10, 11, and 12 (South Lakeview and Lincoln Park). 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. 

Sewer Cleaning

We regularly get calls about clogged sewers and water on the street. Although some of these are due to a clog beneath the catch basin lid that needs to be addressed by the Water Dept, many are easily cleared by taking a rake or shovel to the debris in the street (or by preventing debris build up in the first place). Our office works with the Courts to have people who have been sentenced to community service assigned to a coordinator to do tasks in the ward (such as graffiti removal). This past weekend, we had them clear a number of catch basins in the ward. Many were successfully cleared just with a rake or shovel. We’ll continue having them do this and will continue reporting the ones that have bigger problems beneath the street level to the Water Dept. If you're able to, please clean along your curb to keep the sewers flowing properly. It can be quite satisfying watching the water circle down once you clear everything off!

Before raking

After raking

Water Main Project Update 4/10/26

Dickens, Damen to Avondale

Work Progress & Tentative Schedule – Week of April 13th, 2026

Continued LSLR & Service Transfers on Dickens. During service transfers or LSLR replacements, temporary water service will be out for subject addresses.

Water Service Interruptions:

No scheduled water main shutdown unless if there is any emergency. DWM will provide advance notice before any service interruptions.

Traffic & Parking Impacts:

No parking will be allowed within the active work zone during construction hours.

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a Water Department supervisor on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. 

Chicago Park District 2026 Earth Day Clean-Up

Chicago Park District Earth Day

The Chicago Park District is excited to host the 2026 Citywide Earth Day Parks Clean-Up on Saturday, April 18. The Chicago Park District invites residents from across Chicago to participate in caring for their neighborhood parks.

Each year, thousands of volunteers come together to help clean and beautify parks throughout the city. This event is a wonderful opportunity for residents to connect with neighbors while supporting the green spaces that serve our communities.

The Chicago Park District greatly appreciates your help sharing this opportunity with constituents in your ward.

Volunteer registration is now open! Residents can find a park and register to volunteer here.

Volunteers may assist with activities such as:



• Litter pick-up
• Leaf raking
• Tree mulching
• General park beautification
  

This event will take place rain or shine, and volunteers of all ages are welcome. Thank you for helping us spread the word and your continued support of the Chicago Park District.

Helpful Environmental Info

April is Earth Month. It also is a prime spring cleaning month. Here are some helpful links if you are looking to get rid of clutter around your house or are just looking to become more earth friendly.

Hard to recycle items and here

Items that can be reused

Reduce Chicago popup events

Charities that offer free pickups

The Wasteshed (art and school items to be donated)

Furniture donations

Shipping materials

Paint recycling

Hazardous materials

Food scrap drop off

Lincoln Belmont Library Composting Site

The City of Chicago offers a citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, and all Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at one of 33 locations across the city– for FREE! We have one of these sites right here in the 32nd Ward at the Lincoln Belmont Library at 1659 W. Melrose.

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.

MWRD Rain Barrels

Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof and save it for later use. Rain barrels can help prevent basement backups, street flooding, and sewer overflows by keeping rainwater out of the sewer system.

You can use rain barrel water to:

•   Wash your car
•   Water your lawn or garden
•   Clean work boots, tools, and bikes

Rain barrel water is naturally free of chlorine, lime, and calcium and some gardeners swear their plants prefer it! 

Click here for more information.

In addition to rain barrels, the MWRD also offers free tree saplings. Click here for more information on this program.

Stop by in your car, and volunteers will unload personal electronics, office/industrial equipment, kitchenware, small furniture items, and more. We work with tech recycling and charity partners to either recycle or donate items to Chicagoans in need! Click here for more information.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

10:00 AM  2:00 PM

Blaine Elementary Parking Lot

3828 North Southport

Wicker Park Green Fest

April 11th

12 - 3 PM

@ Wicker Park (1425 N Damen Ave)

Wicker Park Green Fest is a family-friendly celebration of sustainability happening on April 11 from 12–3 PM in Wicker Park. Join the community for an afternoon filled with sustainability-focused vendors, music, hands-on activities, delicious food, and a fun! With activities for all ages and plenty of opportunities to learn, shop, and connect, Green Fest is a joyful way to celebrate the planet and greener living together.

New Americans Initiative!

CIRR April Upcoming Events

City News

• Mayor Johnson Appointments Face Scrutiny Amid Harassment Allegations
• Chicago Teachers Union wants May Day off so students, teachers can protest; new CPS CEO says no
• Chicago Cultural Affairs Nominee Advances Amid Praise, Concerns About Department
• Average Tax Refund for 2026 Is up More than $350 Compared to 2025, IRS Says
• Flooding in Chicago Is Getting Worse. Here's Why.
• Illinois Residents to Receive Free Entry on One Day of the Week at Obama Presidential Center Museum
• Chicago Park District Promises ‘Reforms' to Summer Camp Registration, Addressing Parent Frustrations
• Candy Hall of Fame Building a Sweet New Home on Chicago’s Mag Mile
• Kenya Merritt’s DCASE appointment advances as alderpersons voice concerns about whistleblower lawsuit

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]