40th Forward Newsletter
Words from Alderperson Vasquez
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Happy Friday Neighbors,
I hope you and your loved ones are staying warm today! Our office is closed tomorrow, January 23rd, due to extreme cold, as are Chicago Public Schools. If you or someone you know needs a place to stay warm, you can check out a list of warming centers below!
I have been out sick for much of this week, so I tuned into City Council virtually this week! You can read more about what happened this month .
Speaking of City Council: next Tuesday, we are hosting a joint meeting of the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the Committee on Police and Fire to discuss legislation to clarify and strengthen the investigation process for violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance.
Earlier this month, I attended a CCPSA listening session, where hundreds of Chicagoans shared their frustration and testimony of witnessing CPD appearing to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement agents, in violation of the Welcoming City Ordinance. As we found out last year in our hearing about CPD's involvement in a , the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is currently not investigating Welcoming City Ordinance violations, due to a lack of clarity in the municipal code around who has jurisdiction over this area. Last year, we introduced legislation to clarify the investigative process for Welcoming City Ordinance violations, as did Alderperson Jessie Fuentes, so we'll be discussing that legislation in next week's meeting.
For me, it's pretty simple: we can’t call ourselves a Welcoming City if we have no process for investigating and holding accountable the people who violate our Welcoming City laws. Chicagoans should be able to trust that our local law enforcement aren’t helping the federal agents that have terrorized our neighborhoods for the past year. And they can’t trust that if we don’t have a clear process for accountability. This legislation is just one step in ensuring that we firm up that process, but it's an important one, so I hope you'll tune in and make your voice heard! If you want to attend to give public comment, you can find out how at .
Lastly: we heard from a neighbor in Ravenswood whose mother was recently detained by ICE. If you'd like to help the family cover their legal expenses, you can .
Stay warm this weekend, and as always, please reach out to us if you need anything!
In Solidarity and community,
Andre Vasquez
Alderperson, 40th Ward
40th Ward Office Hours:
Monday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday: 10am-5pm
Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-5pm
Friday: phones and appointments only!
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Top Stories
40th Ward Office Closed Friday!
Both our office and Chicago Public Schools will be closed tomorrow due to extreme cold weather! We will continue to work remotely, so please leave us a voicemail at 773-654-1867 or submit a request at 40thward.org/contact if you need anything!
40th Ward Warming Centers
The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued an Extreme Cold Watch in effect until noon on Saturday, January 24th, with possible wind chills as low as -30° to -35° below zero. We recommend that neighbors stay indoors! if possible For neighbors who don't have access to heat, you can find a full list of warming centers in the ward above, and .
Recycle Your Holiday Lights!
Don’t let broken holiday string lights tangle up your holidays––recycle them with the 40th Ward Office! Drop off your nonworking holiday string lights between now and January 31st, and Reduce Waste Chicago will take them to be properly recycled. Be sure your lights are separated from other decor and are free from other packaging (no plastic bags, please!). Drop them off at our office at 5620 N Western from Monday–Thursday, 10am–5pm.
Joint Committee Meeting to Discuss CPD Involvement with ICE
Join us on Tuesday, January 27th, 1pm at City Hall (121 N LaSalle, 2nd Floor) for a Joint Meeting of the Committee on Immigrant & Refugee Rights (CIRR) and Police & Fire (CPF) meeting to discuss gaps in the Welcoming City Ordinance!
Last July, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights held a hearing to investigate the Chicago Police Department's (CPD) involvement in a mass detention on June 4th. At the hearing, it became clear that neither the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) nor the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) had initiated an investigation, due to lack of clarity on what agency is responsible for investigating violations of the WCO. At the Joint Meeting, we will discuss legislation to clarify the investigative process for potential violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance, and other mechanisms to ensure that any reports of cooperation between city agencies and immigration enforcement agents is investigated, promptly and thoroughly.
Apply for a DPD Grant by February 13th!
Apply for a Department of Planning and Development grant by February 13th! Both Community Development Grants (CDG) and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grants are available. CDGs are available at three funding levels to support local commercial and light manufacturing projects via Small (up to $250,000), Medium ($300,000 - $5 million) and large grants ($5 million and up). NOF provides grants up to $250,000 for business and property owners to pay for the construction or rehabilitation of properties that support new or expanding businesses or cultural assets. Learn more about both grants at Chicago.gov/NOF
On the Blog
- : Check out our latest City Council roundup for updates on the hemp ban, the curfew ordinance, and our next Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting!
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Construction & Development Updates
Construction Update
Western Avenue Brown Line Project
The CTA's contractor intends to work both during the day and overnight for the next couple of weeks to take advantage of the warmer weather and to complete their work impacting Western Ave. This work is expected to be some of the last work by the CTA to impact traffic on northbound Western Ave around the El station.
- Week of 1/29: Crews will rebuild the concrete pavement of the bus turnaround itself. They will also work in the middle of Western Ave to strengthen the track structure overhead.
Once work is complete, the CTA will be able to reopen the bus turnaround for normal operations, ending the bus detour that has impacted the #11 and #49B routes for several months.
Asphalt is complete between Foster and Ridge! Repaving for Ashland Avenue from Montrose to Foster will pick up again in Spring when the asphalt plants reopen. The signage crew has also started work in Phase 1 (from School to Montrose) and will move to Phase 3 (Foster to Ridge) later in the season. For more on details and timeline, .
The concrete bike medians are complete along Pratt Boulevard! Remaining activities include installing signage for the new concrete bike medians and modifying striping in a few sections.
We’re now in the final stretch of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape! Furniture and signage has been installed, and crews are currently working on electrical and site furnishing items in the Ainslie Plaza. CDOT has also temporarily closed the northern turning lane from Ainslie to Western heading south. This change is necessary while CDOT completes the installation of new traffic lights and adjusts signal timing to align with recent improvements to the turn lane and bike lanes.
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Community Events & Opportunities
See below for upcoming events in our ward! To view all upcoming and past events, visit our .
2026 Chicago Farmers Market Season
Apply now to be part of the 2026 Chicago Farmers Markets season! Chicago farmers markets run from May through October in neighborhoods across the city. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is on the lookout for passionate producers and creators of handmade and natural goods to join the farmers market vendor community. Showcase your craft, connect with your neighbors, and grow your business!
Apply at to secure your spot — the deadline is Friday, January 30th!
Apply to be an Election Judge!
The next election in Chicago will be the March 17, 2026 Midterm Primary Election, and the Chicago Board of Elections is looking for election judges! Election Judges are paid to manage the precinct polling place and assist voters, including:
- Arriving at 5am on Election Day to set up equipment;
- Opening the polls on time at 6am on Election Day;
- Issuing the correct ballots to each voter and help voters with registration and other questions, from 6am–7pm
- Completing all reports after the polls close.
Apply online at !
 Saturday Hours at Secretary of State (REAL ID)!
Avoid the TSA’s new $45 REAL ID penalty! Thanks to expanded Saturday hours announced by the Illinois Secretary of State and the Cook County Clerk, Illinoisans now have more weekend options to get required documents and a REAL ID before Feb. Visit to learn more.
Consumer Fraud and Scam Awareness Information Session
On Monday, January 26th from 6-7:30 PM, the Budlong Woods Library (5630 N Lincoln Ave) is hosting an informative presentation featuring Community Justice Center North and the on how to prevent and report fraud in today’s digital world. Learn practical tips to safeguard your personal information and avoid common traps like identity theft, online scams, and consumer fraud.
Admissions Open House - Families Together Cooperative Nursery
On Saturday, January 24 from 10am to noon, Families Together Cooperative Nursery School is hosting an Admissions Open House at 1500 W. Elmdale Ave. Chicago, IL. Bring the whole family to play in the classrooms; learn about our play-based, emergent curriculum; get to know our families and teachers; and get a “feel” for the school!
Celebrating Edgewater's Theaters
From January 17, 2026 to December 31, 2026, Edgewater Historical Society is featuring a new exhibit titled Celebrating Edgewater's Theatres. The exhibit is a historical narrative of the development of theatre in Edgewater over the past 100 years and the establishment of this community as an important hub counting more than 50 theatres, which have contributed to the diverse and vibrant life in Edgewater.
Open House at St. Matthias
Please join St. Matthias on Sunday, January 25th from 9-11am at 4910 N. Claremont Avenue for their next Open House. Learn about their PreK-8th grade International Baccalaureate programming, diverse learner programming, athletics, the SMS Community, and more! Learn more at stmatthiasschool.org
Social Media Mastery
On Monday, January 26th from 1–2pm, join the Uptown Business Center for a Social Media Mastery Workshop at HAIBAYO (1132 W Argyle St). This hands-on workshop is designed specifically for local business owners looking to stand out on social media in 2026, and will cover essential strategies like content planning, platform selection, and effective community engagement to increase brand awareness and drive foot traffic. Whether you're in the restaurant, retail, or service industry, this session will give you the tools to thrive. The Instagram app downloaded on your phone is required for this workshop. !
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Community Safety
Public Safety Updates
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released body-worn camera footage for the police-involved shooting in Arcadia Terrace on December 9th. , but please be cautious in viewing, because the content is graphic. If you are in need of support, you can call NAMI Chicago’s Helpline at 833-NAMI-CHI for a free and confidential resource that provides a listening ear, guidance and connection to the right mental health and social service resources.
See below for COPA's official statement:
On December 9, 2025, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) notified COPA of a fatal officer-involved shooting. Preliminary information indicates this incident began when two on-duty CPD officers were investigating a call regarding a stolen vehicle. Officers observed a dark colored sedan pulling alongside the stolen vehicle and viewed two individuals attempting to enter the stolen vehicle. Both officers approached and ordered the individuals to stop. One of the individuals fled on foot, while the other attempted to re- enter the dark colored sedan. A struggle ensued between the officer and individual attempting to enter the sedan. The officer discharged his firearm once while the individual was driving away, striking the individual. The officer was briefly dragged by the vehicle, which then collided with an unoccupied parked vehicle. The individual struck was transported to the hospital and pronounced deceased. The officer was also taken to the hospital in good condition. Two weapons were recovered on scene.
COPA serves as the designated agency for the City of Chicago authorized to release video and other materials per the Consent Decree and the City’s Video Release Policy. Related to this officer-involved shooting, COPA has released to its website: body-worn cameras (BWC), third-party video, OEMC Transmissions, Tactical Response (TRR), ISR (Investigative Stop) and Traffic Crash reports, which can be viewed by visiting: https://www.chicagocopa.org/case/2025-0006070/
Anyone with information or video footage related to this incident is urged to contact our office at 312-746-3609 or by visiting ChicagoCOPA.org.
Public Safety Trends
Overall, violent crime was down 24.7% in the 40th Ward in 2025 compared to 2024, and the 40th Ward remains in the top 10 safest wards! Citywide, violent crime is down 22.7%. See below for a breakdown of citywide and 40th Ward statistics across all categories.
We will share numbers for 2026 later this month, once we have a full month of data!
To learn more about crime trends, visit the city's
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Ward Snapshot
I had the honor of speaking at the Rally for Democracy at Federal Plaza this past Tuesday.
It was a pleasure to join some of my colleagues at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Interfaith Breakfast!
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