1st Ward Newsletter | September 29, 2026
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Hi neighbors,
You may have seen that the City Council voted today to approve the sale of the parking meter concession agreement to Stonepeak Partners and that I was a yes vote on that. Off the bat, I will note that this was a deliberated drawn out negotiation and yes, I did read the full agreement and associated exhibits. The truth of this agreement lies somewhere in the middle of the political rhetoric. It doesn't fully address the failures of the original contract nor was Council legally in a position to do so. It is however substantially improved, with up front revenue to the city ($75 million); annual profit sharing (5% net operating income); improved labor conditions for workers associated with our meters; and divestiture from Omni Air International (and any similar company), which had profited from some of the most detestable ICE deportation flights. It also assures the city of a share of the sale of this concession agreement at any point in the future.
Many wrote to the office suggesting the city should have moved stronger to buy the parking meter concession back. I found myself, through a lot of research, disagreeing with this position. I've learned a lot about our reserve powers related to the meters and found that Council has far from exhausted how they can be used to benefit Chicagoans. I also want to point out that unless we were paying essentially in cash we would have had to issue bonds to pay for the agreement, functionally doubling the cost to conservatively five billion dollars. At that point, it would be hard to guarantee that the city would even break even over the next 50 years.
School Updates: Fans of great schools should check out the Pritzker Back to School Bash this Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. over at A.N. Pritzker Elementary. Also, in case you missed Darwin Elementary's Noche Latina this past Saturday you can still donate at this link! As of this typing they are 73% of the way to their goal; let's push them past 100%!!
Mark your calendar now for October 25th: the spooky conclusion to the 2026 Meet Me On Milwaukee season!
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Alderman La Spata
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In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
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The final Meet Me on Milwaukee of 2026 takes place on October 25! We're seeking volunteers to sign-up for 3-hour shifts on each event day. Volunteers will be responsible for setting up barricades, guarding intersections, redirecting drivers, providing information to attendees, disposing of litter, and more. Volunteers will also receive a free Meet Me on Milwaukee shirt. Register below!
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Join Ald. La Spata and City Clerk Anna Valencia for a CityKey printing event tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1510 N. Claremont. The Chicago CityKey is an optional, valid, government-issued ID card available to Chicago residents for free! Additionally, you can use it as a Chicago Public Library card, a CTA Ventra card and a Chicago Rx prescription drug discount card.
This event is by appointment only. Make your appointment here! Learn more about the documents you will need to apply for your CityKey at bit.ly/Apply_CK.
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Join Ald. La Spata for a blood drive and free vaccine clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the West Town Library! Walgreens will be offering the following vaccines:
- Flu & COVID
- Adult routine vaccinations (RSV, shingles, pneumonia, tdap, and hepatitis B)
No registration is required to receive a vaccine. Insurance is required. To donate blood, please make an appointment here.
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This October, Chicago is going up against Philly AND Los Angeles in a cross-country Clean-Off competition, to see which city can pick up the most litter! Led by Cleanup Club Chicago (tag us here) on the Chicago side and supported by many other local cleanup orgs, the winning city will have bragging rights, and the top litter pickers will be eligible for cool prizes. Anyone can participate by cleaning up litter within Chicago city limits, whether it’s with an organized group cleanup or on your own. Chicago beat Philly last year, and we need your help to do that again in 2026!
To join this competition, you will need to submit your litter picking hauls through an online form so the organizers can tally up the results. For more details and updates, please visit www.chicagoenvironmentalists.org/the-clean-off and follow @cleanupclub_chicago on Instagram!
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The Wicker Park Garden Club is celebrating Wicker Park and Tree Appreciation Day this Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with a tree walk taking place between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Kids and dogs are welcome!
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See all the October events taking place at the West Town Library here!
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Each fall, the Chicago Police Department hosts Community Conversations across the city. These meetings give residents an opportunity to help shape their district’s strategic plan for the coming year.
Feedback gathered during these sessions informs community‑driven crime reduction strategies and guides future engagement priorities. For more information about Community Conversations—including details on sessions in other districts and registration for interested residents—please visit www.chicagopolice.org/community-conversations/
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The LIHEAP Priority Period 1 opens this Thursday, October 1st! During October, applications will be prioritized for:
- Older adults age 60 and over
- Families with children age 5 and under
- Households with a person with a disability
- Households that are disconnected or facing imminent disconnection
The income limit has increased this year, which means more households may be eligible to apply. ustomers can apply for assistance in several ways:
 Apply online at CEDAorg.net/Bills Visit a CEDA Partner Intake Site – locations and contact information are available at CEDAorg.net/Sites Call a Partner Intake Site to ask about applying remotely by phone
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The Wicker Park Senior Citizens Club is looking for seniors (ages 60+) interested in socializing with friends and neighbors over group activities such as bingo, card games, board games and more. The club meets weekly on either Fridays or Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., respectively. Participation is free!
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