32nd Ward Newsletter March 9, 2026

32nd Ward Newsletter March 9, 2026

Dear John,

Due to the need to put in a new water main connection at Dickens and Damen, all northbound and southbound through traffic on Damen will be detoured during daytime hours. Department of Water crews will re-open streets in the overnight hours. The closure is effective this week and will be fully re-opened by Friday afternoon. See below for more details. Please continue to support our local businesses on Damen and Dickens this week!

The next election is March 17th. See below for early voting information and how to drop off your ballot. 


Have a good week,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

March CAPS Meetings

14th Police District

1432- March 18, 6pm

Holstein Park

2200 N. Oakley

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261





19th Police District

1921/1922- March 18, 6:30pm (meeting time has been changed)

Police Auditorium

2452 W. Belmont

1931- March 24, 6:30pm (time and location change)

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- March 26, 6:30pm (date, time, and location change)

Lincoln Park Library

1150 W. Fullerton

1933- March 10, 6:30pm (meeting time has been changed)

Illinois Masonic Hospital

836 W. Wellington

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

Early Voting- Ward Locations

You can vote at any of these locations!

Vote By Mail Reminder

The United States Postal Service cannot guarantee your Vote By Mail return ballot envelopes will be postmarked the same day that you mailed it. Any ballot postmarked after Election Day on March 17 cannot be accepted. USPS recommends voters take additional precautions and mail their completed Vote By Mail Ballot at least one week (March 10) before Election Day.

Returning your ballot close to Election Day (March 17)? You have options!

• Drop your ballot off into any of 52 Secure Drop Boxes located at all Early Voting sites in Chicago – even on Election Day!
• Starting February 12 at the New Voting Supersite at 137 S. State St.
• Starting March 2 at all 50 Ward Early Voting Sites across the city
• Go to the post office counter and request a manual postmark
• Deliver your ballot directly to 69 W. Washington St. – either at the First-Floor lobby drop box or in the 6th Floor office

All qualified ballots properly postmarked by Election Day (March 17) and received up to 14 days after (March 31) will be processed and counted for the 2026 Primary Election. The Chicago Board of Elections will send you an email when it receives your ballot return envelope, and again when your ballot has been processed and counted.

Please Note: Precinct polling places on Election Day do not have drop boxes. Precinct election judges cannot accept Vote By Mail ballots, and VBM ballots returned at precinct polling places will not be processed. Voters instead can use any of 51 Vote Centers open on Election Day to return their Vote By Mail ballot, including the new downtown voting Supersite at 137 S. State St.

Don’t risk a late postmark on your ballot – take any of the steps above to make sure your vote counts!

For more information, click here.

Water Main Project Update 3/9/26

Dickens, Damen to Avondale

DAMEN REROUTE

The water main on Dickens from Avondale to Damen is being reconstructed after the water main, which is over 100 years old, needs to be rebuilt due to the deteriorating state of the newer home pipe connections over the past couple decades. Crews will also be installing new copper connections and removing lead service lines. 
One crew will be on Dickens and Damen intersection Monday, March 9 through Wednesday, March 11 installing the new water main. From Thursday, March 12 Friday through March 13, crews will be testing and doing any corrective work on installations at the Dickens & Damen intersection.

A second crew will also be on Dickens between Wolcott & Avondale working west from Monday, March 9 through Friday, March 13 with lead service replacements and main installation work continuing on Dickens for several more weeks.

Water Service Interruptions:

There will be a scheduled water main shutdown on Monday, March 9 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. DWM will provide advance notice prior to any service interruptions. Affected areas include Dickens between Wolcott and Honore, and Wolcott between Dickens and Armitage.

STREET CLOSURE / TRAFFIC DETOUR:

Northbound/Southbound traffic detour at 2062 N Damen Ave

Effective March 9, 2026 through March 13, 2025 but may extend beyond those hours if necessary. However, the intersection will not be closed overnight on any day. Detour Northbound Damen to Westbound Armitage to Northbound Western to Eastbound Fullerton, and back to Northbound Damen.

Southbound traffic reverse. Damen Ave will be opened for traffic at the end of work activities each day.

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

Fletcher Water Main Project Update 3/6/26

One crew will be working on the remaining private drains this week. Other than these, restoration of the street, sidewalks, and parkways will be starting. The street will have a concrete cap until the asphalt plants open in the spring.

Chicago Park District

Spring Program Registration

In-Person Registration:

Parks begin in-person registration on Saturday, March 14, or Monday, March 16. Check a park's date: 2026 Spring Program Registration Dates by Park. In-person registration is available if spots remain after online registration has begun. 

Churchill Park Movies in the Park

Help us pick this year’s Movies in the Park lineup! Each summer, the Bucktown Community Organization brings three free movie nights to Churchill Park in June, July, and August. Now it’s your turn to help choose what’s on the big screen. Share your favorites and help shape this season’s movie nights for the whole neighborhood.

Final day to submit is Wednesday, March 11th. Click here to vote.

2026 Savor Lincoln Park

Savor Lincoln Park returns as Chicago’s premier indoor neighborhood food festival, bringing together more than 25 of Lincoln Park’s favorite restaurants under one roof for an unforgettable evening of food and drink. With one ticket, guests can sample a wide variety of bites and beverages, discover new favorites, and enjoy Lincoln Park’s delicious dining scene.

Wednesday, March 18

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Theater on the Lake

2401 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.

Click here for details and tickets!

Grab your favorite morning brew and join in for the great company and conversation. This event is hosted in partnership with the Lincoln Park Chamber, Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber and Small Business Advocacy Council.

Wednesday, March 18

8:30 - 10:00 a.m.

Athenaeum Center

2936 N. Southport

City News

• 2026 Illinois Primary Election Voter Guide
• In Chicago, Primaries Can Decide Winners. So Why Is Turnout Low?
• Animal Control Boss Defends Record as Volunteers, Alders Sound Alarm Over Euthanasias, Conditions
• Opinion: The Zoning for Foundry Park Must Not Serve as a Blank Check
• Council Votes to Divest Chicago’s Finances From Fossil Fuels
• Chicago City Council Committee Discusses Peoples Gas Rate Hike Proposal
• City Council Committee Gets Tough on Cruelty to Animals
• People’s Gas Holds Firm on Proposed $202M Price Hike at City Hall Hearing
• A Guide to St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago: 43 Parades, Parties, Family Fun and More

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]