Dear Chicago,

“The problem with common sense is that it isn’t common.”

We have all heard that saying a thousand times over.  And yet it still seems to elude political circles from City Hall to Washington, D.C.  Over and over we see situations in neighborhoods across our great city that make us question: what are we doing in Chicago?

Street takeovers, teen takeovers, and scooter/moped maniacs driving everywhere but on the streets.  And let’s not forget about the illegal businesses, vendors, backyard restaurants and secret house nightclubs.

The solution is simple: enforce the law!

However, more and more our police and other city departments are being told by City Hall NOT to enforce the law.  NOT to engage the participants.  NOT to issue citations or building closures.

We can draw only one logical conclusion if enforcement is withheld.  Mayor Johnson and his ilk enjoy the madness.  It gives them cause for more money for friendly organizations responsible for quelling the problems.  By that logic, the Fire Department should be paying arsonists to set fires in order to ensure firefighters have work in the future.

Johnson and his enablers hide behind words like “supporting our youth” or “investing in safe space;” however, that is a ruse for their true goal of subversion & grift.

Thankfully, real Chicagoans see through the fog of deflection.  Common sense will prevail one day soon when we restore sanity back to City Hall.

🚓🚨 National Night Out - 007 🖤💙

I began the evening by heading to Hamilton Park for the 7th Police District's National Night Out. Special thanks to Alds. Moore (17) and Coleman (16) for participating, Commander Lewis Courts for his leadership, and to all those who attended, making the event impactful!

🚓 🚨 National Night Out - 009 🖤💙

Next stop: Armour Square Park for the 9th Police District's National Night Out. Special thanks to Alds. Lee (11) and Coleman (16), State Rep. Mah (25), and Commissioner Daley (11) for participating. Special thanks also to Commander Joseph Mark, his officers, and all those who not only showed up but showed out!

🚓 🚨 National Night Out - 008 🖤💙

The evening concluded at West Lawn Park for the 8th Police District's National Night Out. Great seeing Alds. Quinn (13), Moore (17), Tabares (23), and State Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar (22) supporting our officers. Special thanks to Commander Bryan Spreyne and his team for their incredible work in building police-community partnerships in 008.

We help all kinds in the 15th Ward, especially our four-legged friends that escape from their backyards!

Thanks to my friend Jenny, this young pup was brough to my office, scanned for microchips and held safe until Chicago Animal Care and Control could pick her up. Thank you, Rubio!

Found wandering near 65th and Damen, if she is yours, please contact CACC to retrieve your fur-baby.

🐾 After a great day, I got a call from our friend Robert about this young cutie running around the 15th Ward’s #WestEnglewood community.

🐾 Sadly, as friendly as she was, she had neither a tag nor a chip. I brought her to

Chicago Animal Care and Control where the staff gave her vaccinations & checked her out.

🐾 If she looks familiar or is your pup, please visit the shelter to retrieve her!

Alderman Waguespack, Alderman Knudsen, Alderman Silverstein

and I welcomed the first cohort of the JUFChicago’s Sanabel participants to the Chicago City Council. Their visit in Chicago is led by Kav Ha’zinuk Program Director Yotam Eitan and Sanabel Program Director Zahra Barakat. The delegation includes 15 participants from  currently completing their third year in the program. They began in Sanabel in 10th grade at age 15 and are now finishing 12th grade as they transition to the next stage of their lives. During the visit, participants shared their meaningful experiences in Sanabel, the skills and tools they have gained, and shared experiences of life as a minority population within Israel.

Our Chicago Youth Works team went to the Chicago History Museum. It is so important that we educate each other on the struggles that made this city the most American of American cities!

It was a beautiful night for the Pierogi Stumble 5K. This race falls on the eve of Pierogi Fest, the third-largest event in the State of Indiana.

This is the last year of the current race configuration. I can’t wait to see what Calumet College has in store for participants next year!

⏱️ 35:00

This Fourth of July celebrates the Semiquincentennial—250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Our American history spans from a daring experiment in democracy to a lively nation created by dreamers, innovators, and ordinary families.

Our story has been shaped by everyone!  🎆❤️🤍💙🎆

To commemorate the occasion, I am proud to provide 15th Ward residents with these limited-edition reusable bags. Get yours at the 15th Ward Office or at any of our summer neighborhood pop-ups.

I want to thank United Protection Agency for stopping by the 15th Ward Service Office to share their goals within the greater #Englewood community. Located in the 15th Ward, they provide a wide array of services to local businesses & community organizations such as crisis intervention, CVI & de-escalation, and therapeutic intervention.

Residents on the 6100 and 6200 blocks of S Marshfield in the 15th Ward’s #WestEnglewood community informed me local vagrants piled multiple garbage bags along the block, tore into them looking for anything of value that could be sold for drugs. This is a different example of how addiction can hurt communities. I’m thankful to Ward Sup Michael P. and our Streets and Sanitation laborers that came to the area first thing today to clear this unexpected situation.

Illegal Trailer at 57th / Marshfield

Viaduct Cleared at 58th / Winchester

Tree Removal at 61st / Wood

Tree Trim and Bent Sign at 62nd / Wood

Bent Sign at 62nd / Wood

Sinkhole on 63rd St

RPP Coming to 59th / Richmond

Sign Repair on 55th Street

Dead Tree at 55th / Mozart

Abandoned Vehicle at 59th / Mozart

Abandoned Vehicle at 56th / Winchester

Back of the Yards Library Summer Programs

If you witness any criminal activity or notice suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, please report it immediately. Call 911 first to ensure a timely response from the Chicago Police Department, and then notify the 15th Ward Office at (773) 823-1539 so we can follow up and provide support where needed. Your vigilance and cooperation play a vital role in keeping our community safe. Together, we can make the 15th Ward a safer place for all.

OEMC Job Opening!

2026 CONSTRUCT Infrastructure Academy

Chicago’s Food Scrap Drop-Off Program makes it easy for residents to compost food waste and reduce what goes into our landfills. Items like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells can be dropped off at designated neighborhood sites at no cost.

This simple step helps cut down on odors and pests, reduces methane emissions, and supports the production of compost used in parks and green spaces across the city.

I encourage residents of the 15th Ward to participate by bringing food scraps in a reusable container and following posted site guidelines. Together, we can keep our neighborhoods cleaner and make Chicago a more sustainable city.

Drop Off Map