3659 S. Halsted | Chicago, IL 60609 | 773.254.6677

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February 1st, 2026 

Dear neighbors, 

Congratulations to The McGaune Magic Basketball Team who wonTeam won second place in Saturday’s tournament! Way to go Magic! 

Last week was a rough one across the city and right here in the 11th Ward with the freezing cold temperature causing water line and main breaks. Thanks to those residents who saw these incidents happening and immediately called 311 and our office so that Department of Water Management teams could be deployed to make emergency repairs. I know that repairs never go as quickly as we would like, and it always comes with some inconvenience to nearby residents with shutoffs to water service while repairs are made. I learned something last week that I thought was worth sharing – the Department of Water Management is required to obtain permits before their work can begin in digging up the ground. This may seem counterintuitive in an emergency situation but the permits provide for utilities to be marked for safety reasons. We appreciate the hard work of these crews who worked in the freezing cold and through the night to get service back up and running. Hopefully, we won’t have any more. If there are, call or email the ward office for constituent service assistance. 

Today marks the start of Black History Month. The Zhou B Art Center opened the second annual Black History Festival of the Arts at the end of January. The exhibition runs through mid-March. I was fortunate to help open the exhibition again this year and encourage all to visit. Check their website for more information about other events related to the festival.

Tomorrow is Groundhog Day. Which way do you think the weather will go? I’m hoping he doesn’t see his shadow as I think we’ve had more than enough winter this season.

On Friday morning, I attended the sentencing hearing for Alphonso Joyner, who murdered Woom Sing Tse, a member of our community beloved by his family and friends. Many may recall that four years ago in December, Mr. Tse was out for a walk to pick up a newspaper when he was shot 20 times by Joyner on west 23rd Place across the street from Haines Elementary School. He was found guilty of first degree murder in October and on Friday was sentenced to 65 years in prison. I am grateful to the 9th District Police, Area 1 Detectives, the Chinatown Neighborhood Watch and the Cook County State’s Attorneys for all of their work to bring this case to a close successfully. Nothing can bring Mr. Tse back and his loss will no doubt be felt for many, many more years, but I hope this brings some measure of closure for Mrs. Tse and the whole Tse Family. Throughout the trial and on the day of sentencing, the courtroom was filled with members of the community, friends and family. 

It’s been a week since VA Hospital ICU Nurse Alex Pretti was killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis as he tried to help a woman who was sprayed with a chemical agent. Like the rest of the country (and probably the world), I saw a man who was sprayed, tackled by multiple agents, and then shot in the back ten times. I believe the presence of ICE agents makes communities less safe. They are increasingly detaining citizens and legal residents. In the days since Alex Pretti’s death, I’ve watched coverage of ongoing, peaceful, protests in Minneapolis and around the country including here in Chicago. I worry about what is happening to our country that armed and masked officers are terrorizing our communities without regard to the safety of the people around them. My heart breaks for Alex Pretti’s family and all who knew him. He did not deserve to die like or to have his name sullied by those who want the world to believe his killing was justified. It was not. I agree with President Barack Obama, what’s happening should be a “Wake-Up call for every American.”

Today marks the start of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program better known as the ‘SNAP’ program. New SNAP work requirements apply to more people. If you or someone you know is a SNAP recipient, you can check to see what requirements you’re subject to, are meeting or may be eligible to get an exemption from work requirements, here. Additional information about the changes can be found here.

Our Chicago Park District holiday tree recycling program statistics have come in, 23,500 trees were recycled this year, up 1,500 trees from last year. Thank you to everyone who supported this climate initiative. 

Public Safety

CPD released a YouTube video regarding the string of commercial robberies that affected our area. 

Honda Civic airbags are reportedly being stolen. Police are encouraging Honda owners to use anti-theft devices to discourage your vehicle from being targeted. 

This Week in City Council

In this week’s Joint Meeting of the Committee on Police and Fire and the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights, we considered an update to the powers of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to include investigating allegations of CPD violations of the Welcoming Cities Ordinance. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling issued a statement in support of the amendment, saying it would “further transparency.” I am a member of the Committee on Police and Fire and attended the joint meeting. I voted in support of the amendment and it will be voted on by the full City Council later this month. 

Upcoming in City Council 

The next City Council meeting is on Wednesday, 2/18/26 at 10AM. 

Around the Ward 

We had a residential development project approved for 2606 S Peoria St. Right next to the Stevenson Expressway, the new project will add additional housing to the area conveniently located next to Palmisano Park! 

We have an upcoming Zoning Meeting for 3237 S Parnell on Tuesday, February 17 at 5:30PM. 

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85423074235?

pwd=G6zLhc1ajoQvGVTNBeGGt1lk1DU×Fw.1&jst=2

Meeting ID: 85423074235

Password: 220371

Dial in: +1 312-626-6799

Phone Passcode: 220371

We have another Zoning Meeting this upcoming Monday at 6:15PM for 3363 S Morgan. 

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84209289428?pwd=Ne3nsaBjg5UzDEqAxq17kWJczz8tTa.1&jst=2

Meeting ID: 842 0928 9428

Password: 560225

Dial in: +1 564-217-2000

Phone Passcode: 560225



Does your organization support community-based work across Illinois?

The next funding opportunity for the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (#R3) Program is now open. Apply by March 6, 2026.

Do you have a love story or special moment from a visit to O’Hare Airport? Submit to a contest for a chance to win $500! 

This year the CPS School Food Survey will be a part of the District’s Winter Survey, this 10-minute survey is an opportunity for families to share their thoughts on CPS’s school meals. https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8657216/CPS-Winter-Survey-SY26

Have a great week! 



Alderwoman Nicole Lee 

Vote By Mail!

You may now apply online to Vote By Mail for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election– click here to get started!

To apply online, please enter your first and last name (no middle name), address (Street Direction and Street Name) and five number zip code to proceed. Please do not leave any spaces after the numerical value in the online form.

You will be asked to choose one Political Party ballot type for the upcoming election: Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Non-Partisan (referenda only). Per Illinois Election Code, voters may only choose one ballot and cannot vote multiple Party ballots.

Prefer to always vote from the comfort of your own home? You may also apply online to join the Vote By Mail Permanent Roster ahead of the next election –click here to join the Permanent Roster!

You may request to have your Vote By Mail ballot sent out of city or state, but not out of the country. Choose your best option for delivery in Step 3 of the Online Application. You may choose to receive your Vote By Mail ballot in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, or Tagalog in Step 4.

You may also choose to join the Accessible Vote By Mail Program in Step 3. This program allows voters with disabilities to access and mark their ballots through an online system and then print out their ballots and mail in those ballots. Please note: You will not receive a ballot in the mail. Voters with disabilities will access and mark their ballot electronically – this is not online voting.

When you apply online to Vote By Mail, the Board will send you emails:

• When your ballot is mailed to you,
• When the Board receives your Ballot Return Envelope, and
• When your ballot has been processed and counted.

The Board will tentatively start mailing ballots by Feb 5, 2026. All Vote By Mail ballots come with postage-paid Ballot Return Envelopes.

When you receive your Vote By Mail ballot, you may return it through standard US mail and must postmark it before or on Election Day, March 17, 2026. You may also submit the Ballot Return Envelope in a secured drop box at any Chicago Early Voting site before and on Election Day.



Questions? Learn more here or call 312-269-7967 or email [email protected]

Sign Up to Be an Election Judge!

• You must be a US citizen and a registered voter in Cook County - and you can earn up to $230 for your service. Being bilingual is especially helpful.
• High School Juniors and Seniors can also apply. Do you know a student with a GPA above 3.0 and an interest in government? Let them know they can serve as an election judge and see how democracy works from behind the polling place curtain.
• You can go to pollworker.chicagoelections.gov or call 312-269-7984 to learn more and apply.

Wentworth AR Construction Project:

A Street Resurfacing & ADA compliant corners project between Cermak and 24th Pl on Wentworth began in October and will take approximately 3 months to complete.

• Street resurfacing operations will commence once ambient temperatures reach 45 degrees, and it's weather permitting.

Ongoing Project - Water Main, Sewer Main & Lead Service Line Replacement Project:

Schedule: 1/26/2026 - 1/30/2026 (Weather Permitting)

The most updated schedule for this project (Halsted to Wentworth) has all underground work and concrete road base being completed by late April 2026.

One lane open in each direction (east and west) during construction hours from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Northernmost westbound lane between Lowe and Wallace is permanently closed due to pipe and hydrant installation. Impact on traffic is low from 7am to 9am but we will keep monitoring.

• North side of Pershing from Lowe to Canal - Continue pipe installation.

• North side of Pershing from Stewart to Wentworth - Conflict with ComEd resolved by changing WM alignment. Expected to start in 4-6 weeks

• South side of Pershing from Emerald to Union - WM installation completed. Testing and disinfection completed. Final connection completed. Cbase complete.

• South side of Pershing from Union to Lowe - WM installation complete. Testing and disinfection completed. Final connection delayed due to utility conflict. Cbase partially completed.

• West side of Lowe from Pershing South - WM installation and testing completed.

• North side of Pershing (Halsted to Emerald) - Abandonment at Emerald completed. Abandonment at Halsted completed. Abandonment at NEX of Union expected to be completed in mid-January 2026. Cbase partially complete.

• Water Shutdowns - No water shutdowns this week.

• Pipe Installation - ongoing between Lowe and Parnell (North side of Pershing)

• Final Connections and Concrete Cap - Completed on the south side of Pershing between Halsted and Lowe.

Ongoing Project - Lead Services Line Replacement (LSLR):

• 3000 - 3100 S Union Ave.
• Restoration will start upon all the LSLR projects completion.

Sewer Project

A Sewer Project is estimated to begin in September 2025 between 3500-3900 S Parnell, with work expected to take approximately one year to complete.

• Jan 20 to end of April – Water service replacements along Parnell Ave.
• Feb to June: Replace sewer main along Parnell Ave.
• October to December: Construction @ 35^th intersection.
• Spring 2027: Street restoration/landscaping.

Access for residents will be maintained throughout the project. Parking may be restricted during the daytime between 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.



• 35th St & Parnell - a full closure of the intersection and detour of eastbound and westbound 35th St. traffic.
• Once the work at 35^th and Parnell is completed, the contractor will mobilize to 39^th and Parnell and begin installing sewer south to north until they connect to this structure they're installing at 35^th Street.

Sewer Main & Lead Service Line Replacement

Completed: 1/12/26 – 1/16/26

• DWM continued mainline sewer on W 33^rd St from S Emerald Ave to S Union Ave.
• DWM installed new Manhole in the intersection of W 33^rd St and S Union Ave.

 Schedule: 1/19/26 – 1/23/26

• Due to an emergency sewer repair, DWM will be temporarily demobilizing from the project site to address a collapsed sewer at a different location. DWM will be remobilizing back to 33^rd and Union once the emergency repair has been completed (Updates to come soon).
• Meade to be working in the intersection of 33^rd and Union to raise existing Com-Ed package in the intersection.

Road Closures / Traffic Control:

• The intersection of S Union Ave and W 33^rd St will be closed until further notice to allow Meade to safely work in the intersection to raise Com-Ed’s duct.

• During working hours, no residential parking will be allowed on W 33^rd St between S Emerald and S Lowe Ave (No Parking Signs have been posted).

Schedule: 10/1/2025 - 1/30/2026

Full Closure of 33rd Street at Emerald Ave. for sewer repair.

No parking or traveling during working hours (7 am - 4 pm). Upon completion of the sewer main installation, LSLR replacement will follow.

Most Recent Updates - 1/23/2026

• Peoples Gas’s contractors are continuing activities for the environmental cleanup project at 2730 S. Eleanor Street.

• We began hauling soil offsite from the western portion of the site in trucks on January 12^th. Hauling from this area is expected to continue. This activity may include noise from trucks, excavators, and concrete breaking.

• Electrical power was connected to the site this week, and the temporary generator is now turned off and will be removed from the site.

• 24 hour air monitoring is taking place and will continue during all intrusive activity.

• During the upcoming two weeks, in addition to the ongoing soil removal, soil sampling with drill rigs and delivery and installation of two 30-foot tall silos will take place, as our contractor prepares to set up a grout batch plant. 

• As a reminder, if you have questions about this project, please contact the Peoples Gas project number at 877-380-0522.



• We will post a red flag on the fence at the site entrance in the unlikely event that all remediation work on the site is stopped due to on-site, real-time air monitoring readings that remain elevated following implementation of mitigation measures (in accordance with our EPA-approved Air Monitoring and Fugitive Emissions Management Plan). Note that our plan is already designed to prevent air-quality-based health risks to site workers or the public, and the red flag would be posted for visual communication to the community.

11th Ward

School and Parish Information

The 11th Ward office is happy to announce has a free ‘Constituent Education Resource Card’ available to residents wishing to visit select museums and zoos in the Chicagoland area. Constituents can reserve our Constituent Education Resource Card on a first come first serve basis (more instructions below), to visit any of the following museums in 2026:

• Adler Planetarium
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Brookfield Zoo
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• Chicago Children’s Museum
• Chicago History Museum
• Dusable Museum of African American History
• The Field Museum
• Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Museum of Science and Industry
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
• Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
• John G. Shedd Aquarium

Only one group of up to four (4) can reserve the pass at a time. The pass must be picked up and brought back to the 11th Ward Office. Constituents need to call for an appointment to come to the office to pick up the pass before visiting the museums. We recommend calling two business days before your scheduled visit.

It is strongly recommended that families utilizing the card contact the museum they plan to visit to learn if pre-registration is required to visit. 

9th District Police District Council & Beat Meeting Schedules

The office has extended hours on Monday nights until 7:00 p.m., is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00am - 12:00 pm, if it's a holiday weekend, the office will

be open the following Saturday and/or Monday.

Alderwoman Lee will be happy to see residents on Monday nights from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. If you'd like to make an appointment, please call the ward office at 773.254.6677.

11th Ward Office| 3659 South Halsted Chicago, IL 60609 | 773-254-6677