Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

March 20, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Mourning for Chicago Firefighter Michael Altman

I am heartbroken by the death of Chicago Firefighter Michael Altman, who gave his life in service to our city this week. His courage and selflessness represent the very best of Chicago.

My deepest condolences are with his wife, their young son, their growing family, and all who loved him, as well as with his fellow firefighters grieving this profound loss. The 50th Ward and the entire City of Chicago are eternally grateful for his sacrifice.

Sewer Smell Complaints

Over the last several weeks, my office has received multiple complaints about a sewer smell throughout the neighborhood. The odor has been reported across several North Side communities and is likely connected to the Deep Tunnel drop shafts along the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel. You can read more about it here.

I have been in contact with engineers at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), who maintain the tunnels, and they are committed to resolving this problem whenever it arises. If you smell a bad sewer odor outdoors, please click here to report it to MWRD. Staff typically investigate odor complaints within 24 hours.    

The drop shafts and the Deep Tunnel are an important part of our region’s water management system and serve to prevent flooding during heavy rains. Please help us notify MWRD when they are not functioning properly by reporting odors.

Street Sweeping Begins April 1

Street sweeping will soon begin for the season. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will start cleaning the streets this year on Wednesday, April 1. Sweeping runs through late-November.

You can view the schedule for the 50th Ward as an interactive map here or download a printable version on the Department of Streets and Sanitation website here. Please double-check your address on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct section.

You can also find a printable schedule for each individual sweeping section on the 50th Ward website at 50thward.org/sweeping.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact my office at (773) 262-1050 or [email protected].

Beat 2413 Police CAPS Meeting

The 24th District Police will be holding a CAPS meeting this week for Beat 2413. The meeting will be held in person at Green Briar Park, 2650 W. Peterson, this Tuesday, March 24 at 7 PM.

Beat 2413 stretches from Devon to Peterson and from Kedzie to Ridge. The CAPS meeting is a great opportunity to discuss safety concerns directly with the police and your neighbors.

For more information, please call the 24th District CAPS Office at (312) 744-6321 or email [email protected]. Find all the upcoming local CAPS meetings at 50thward.org/police.

Eid Mubarak!

Our Muslim neighbors are currently celebrating Eid al-Fitr, an important Islamic holiday marking the end of the month of Ramadan. The 50th Ward has a large and vibrant Muslim community and Eid is a very festive time in our neighborhood.

Wishing an Eid Mubarak, a very happy and blessed Eid, to all of my friends and neighbors in the 50th Ward!

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Paper Shredding and Meds Disposal

Devon Avenue Streetscape Improvement Work to Begin

Streetscape improvements are coming to Devon Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to McCormick Boulevard. Expect to see tree removals and pruning starting in the coming days, with construction scheduled to begin in May 2026.

The project is a partnership between the Village of Lincolnwood and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and should increase pedestrian safety, reduce traffic crashes, and beautify the street.

Construction is expected to begin soon, with estimated completion in spring of 2027. Please contact John Welch at (847) 675-0888 or [email protected] for any questions or comments.

Apply Now for Property Tax Exemption Savings

Property tax-saving exemption applications for the 2025 tax year are now available on the Cook County Assessor’s website. These savings could help lower your property tax bill. Visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/exemptions to apply now.

Exemptions appear on your second installment tax bill issued in the summer and can significantly lower your property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which applies to homeowners who own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. The key exemptions you can now apply for are:

• Homeowner Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year. New homeowners, first-time applicants, or those that need to reapply can now do so online.

• Senior Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Senior Freeze Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

• Persons with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption automatically renews each year.

• Veterans with Disabilities Exemption - this exemption must be filed annually.

Property tax exemptions can be applied for online at www.cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions or in one, streamlined paper application available here. To learn more, homeowners can join virtual exemptions workshops at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 25 in English or on Thursday, March 26 in Spanish. For a list of upcoming in-person and virtual outreach events, visit www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/event-list.

Become a Court Advocate

The 24 District is seeking volunteers to become Court Advocates. Court Advocates follow, attend, and track court cases that are of concern to the community. Please contact the CAPS Office at [email protected] if interested in this program.

Court Advocate activities include: 

• Tracking Key Cases: Subcommittees work with the police to monitor cases that matter most to the neighborhood. This ranges from violent crimes to "quality of life" issues such as drug dealing, problem landlords, and abandoned buildings.

• Supporting Victims and Witnesses: For many, testifying can be a source of anxiety. Having community volunteers in the courtroom provides support to victims and witnesses.

Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and stand in solidarity against crime in your community. To learn more about how you can participate, contact the 24th District CAPS Office at [email protected] or 312-744-6321.

Request a Free Tree on Your Parkway

With spring on its way, now is the time to request a tree be planted in a public parkway, free of charge. Simply call the 50th Ward Office or submit a Tree Planting Request online.

Planting trees improves air quality, prevents flooding, provides shade and cool air, and reduces pollution. The benefits of trees are numerous and of increasing importance in this age of climate change. More trees mean healthier communities and healthier lives.

Tree planting service requests are handled in the order in which they are received. Once your request is submitted, your planting site will be investigated by Forestry staff to confirm its suitability for a tree to grow. For the health of the trees, planting is typically only done in the spring and fall, with the exact timing of each season varying based on weather and ground temperatures.

Learn more about the benefits of planting trees and find answers to frequently asked questions at chicago.gov/OurRoots.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Tax Day is right around the corner. Unless you have requested an extension, you must file your Federal and State tax returns before midnight on Wednesday, April 15.

The City of Chicago is once again partnering with Ladder Up to offer free tax preparation assistance to eligible working families to help them file their taxes and receive all of the deductions and tax credits to which they are entitled. Visit www.goladderup.org for information on site locations, dates, and hours.

Income eligible families and individuals can take advantage of the free and confidential income tax assistance. Trained volunteers will assist you in completing and electronically filing Federal and Illinois tax returns, and finding out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and other tax credits.

For more information, visit www.goladderup.org/our-services/tax-assistance.

Emergency Heating Repair Program

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open to new applicants. This program provides direct assistance to income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or replace their furnace or boiler heating system. Limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enrollment will be accepted from November 1, 2025, through April 1, 2026, or until all funds have been exhausted. To apply, visit chicago.gov/ehrp, call 311, or use the CHI311 app.

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is open to Chicagoans who own and occupy a one-to-four unit residential building. Households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible to participate in the program.

If approved for the program, qualified contractors will perform the work at no cost to the homeowner, with funding provided through the Department of Housing. For more information, visit chicago.gov/ehrp. For any questions, call (312) 744-3653 or email [email protected].

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Scam Alert From the Chicago Police

Free Introductory Computer Classes

24th District Police Youth Program

17th District Police Youth Program

Become a Chicago CERT Volunteer