32nd Ward Newsletter April 17, 2026

32nd Ward Newsletter April 17, 2026

Dear John,

Earth Day is this Saturday. There are a number of parks in the ward where you can participate in cleanups. See below for more information on this event. There also is a separate event on Sunday for a cleanup at the Bucktown Green (1714 N. Hoyne, north of the Bucktown Wicker Park Library). See below for more info on this as well. If you've been spring cleaning, there is an event on Saturday at Blaine Elementary to recycle your electronics, kitchenware, and small furniture items and another at Cradles to Crayons for clothing, books, and more. See below for these as well as other spring cleaning links.

CPS families- School is not cancelled on May 1. The CPS agreement allows for a few hundred students and teachers to attend the General Assembly session in Springfield for a day of protest but schools are supposed to remain open with normal teaching days taking place.

Also below- there are no major updates yet on the 1111 W. Diversey project, traffic will be diverted on Damen on Tuesday for water main work at Dickens, and street sweeping next week will be going through Lincoln Park and Bucktown (see map below).

Enjoy your weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Sewer Cleaning

We regularly get calls about clogged sewers and water on the street. Although some of these are due to a clog beneath the catch basin lid that needs to be addressed by the Water Dept, many are easily cleared by taking a rake or shovel to the debris in the street (or by preventing debris build up in the first place). Our office works with the Courts to have people who have been sentenced to community service assigned to a coordinator to do tasks in the ward (such as graffiti removal). This past weekend, we had them clear a number of catch basins in the ward. Many were successfully cleared just with a rake or shovel. We’ll continue having them do this and will continue reporting the ones that have bigger problems beneath the street level to the Water Dept. If you're able to, please clean along your curb to keep the sewers flowing properly. It can be quite satisfying watching the water circle down once you clear everything off!

Before raking

After raking

April CAPS Meetings

14th Police District

Beat 1432- ZOOM ONLY

Wednesday, April 22

5:30pm

Webinar ID: 872 8264 1756

Passcode:776480

1433- April 21, 6pm

Pulaski Park

1419 W. Blackhawk

1434- April 29, 6pm

Bucktown/Wicker Park Library

1701 N. Milwaukee

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261

19th Police District-

1931- April 28, 6:30pm

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- April 23, 6:30pm

Lincoln Belmont Library

1150 W. Fullerton

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064





Recap of Beat 1921 (Irving/Damen/Belmont/river) and Beat 1922's Meeting (Irving/Southport/Belmont/Damen)-

A representative from the Office of Emergency Management/311 gave a presentation focusing on 911 vs. 311. 911 calls are for all crimes in progress, including assaults in progress up to illegally parked cars at hydrants. 311 is for city services (clogged sewers, potholes, overflowing garbage, etc). She stressed that while people may feel uncomfortable calling 911 for “lesser crimes”; both she and the police stressed calls are prioritized, so if you call because of a noise complaint, that will be responded to after a call about an in progress robbery. The police also stressed they want these calls so they know where to deploy resources.

For beat 1921 in the past two month period, there were no homicides, no shootings, and no burglaries. There were two robberies, one to a business on the 3300 block of Damen, and one to a citizen on the 3500 block of Hoyne, which is covered more below. There have been no thefts to Honda airbags or catalytic converter thefts in the past two months.

For beat 1922 in the past two month period, there were no homicides, no shootings, no robberies, and three burglaries. One of these was of an ATM, which has been an issue in the city recently. It is recommended that businesses with ATMs put a GPS tracker on them so they can be traced and possibly connected to the criminal. There have been no thefts to Honda airbags or catalytic converter thefts in the past two months.

As for the strong arm robbery in beat 1921- about several dozen neighbors came to the meeting, including the victim and his family. The victim was attacked by about 8-10 teenagers classifying themselves as the Lakeview Goons on social media. Many of the group live in or go to school in the Lakeview/North Center community areas and who have caused serious issues over several years as teenagers. There is video footage of this incident occurring that is in the hands of the detectives. The 19th District Captain, Area 3 representatives, and representative from the State’s Attorneys office attended the meeting. There are two detectives assigned to this case who have been speaking with the victim's family regularly. 

One juvenile has been arrested in this crime and is being charged with a felony; there is no court date assigned yet. The police are still trying to identify the other offenders.  In order to build a solid case for the prosecutors, the police do need witnesses to come forward and identify the others in the video. 

If you or anyone in your family knows anything about this crime/those involved, please call Area 3’s Robbery/Burglary Team at 312-744-8263 and tell them you are calling about the strong arm robbery on the 3500 block of N. Hoyne. When this does go to trial, residents can also take part in the court advocacy program, where neighbors attend to show up at court to show support for the victim and witnesses. The State’s Attorney representative in attendance also said she is communicating with the leadership in the SAO office about the community concerns on this case.

The 18th Police District Council is pleased to announce a special guest speaker for the meeting on April 28th at 6pm:

Anne McCord Rogers

Special Victims Bureau Chief

Cook County State's Attorney Office

The Special Victims Bureau oversees cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, hate crimes, crimes against children and other violent crimes involving vulnerable victim populations, including children, seniors, and disabled individuals.

The meeting will be held at The Anti-Cruelty Society at 157 W. Grand Avenue. Their in-door parking lot is accessible from Wells Street, just south of Grand Avenue.

The District Councilors will provide updates and Commander Bielfeldt from the 18th Police District, or his representative, will attend to comment on safety trends and answer questions.

Please try to attend as this will be an interesting meeting!

Click here to attend in person and if you'd rather zoom, click here.

2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street cleaning season has begun. Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 12, 13, and 14 (Lincoln Park and Bucktown). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs).

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any leftover landscaping debris from winter months should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool. 

1111 W. Diversey Substation Update

For residents in the area of 1111 W. Diversey, I joined Alderman Knudsen and Alderman Lawson in a request to the city zoning administrator on a Formal Letter of Written Interpretation regarding the proposed ComEd electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Pkwy (former Mini car dealership). The department is still working on the response and we will share it when it is prepared. The substation would work similar to the substation near our office at 2663 N Clybourn providing ever increasing needs for power to an ever increasingly dense area of Chicago.

Our letter (outlined below) calls for clarification as to whether the proposed facility qualifies as a “Minor Utility” under MCC 17-17-0103-L defined as a utility use that has “few if any impacts on the surrounding properties”, or whether it instead constitutes a “Major Utility” under MCC 17-17-0103-K defined as a utility use with “significant land use impacts on the surrounding areas.” Based on our understanding of the elements, we believe that the proposed facility raises substantial questions under these definitions and contest the classification of “minor utility.” Given the significance of this project and its potential long-term impact on the surrounding neighborhood, a clear and thorough interpretation

is necessary to ensure proper application of the Zoning Ordinance.

Water Main Project Update 4/17/26

Dickens, Damen to Avondale


Work Progress & Tentative Schedule – Week of April 20th, 2026

Continuing LSLR & Service Transfers on Dickens (during service transfers or LSLR’s replacements; temporary water service interruption may occur for affected addresses.

Tuesday (4/21/26)- Side connection at NE corner of Damen & Dickens. Northbound Damen traffic will be shifted to the west side. Water service will be interrupted on the east side addresses of Damen from Dickens to Webster from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

Wednesday (4/22/26): Side connection at NW corner of Winchester & Dickens  

Thursday (4/23/26): Final connection at Dickens & Honore

Friday (4/24/26):  Cleaning and prep for demobilization

Water Service Interruptions: 

No scheduled water main shutdown (except Damen) unless if there is any emergency. DWM will provide advance notice before any service interruptions.

Traffic & Parking Impacts:

No parking will be allowed within the active work zone during construction hours.

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a Water Department supervisor on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. Please keep workers safe - slow down near work areas!

Water Main Project Update

Fletcher, Hoyne to Oakley

All the concrete work on site is completed. Asphalt and landscaping will be completed in the next 45 days or so. The asphalt plant recently opened up and the mixes are being tested for compliance. The contractors have also started up landscaping for the season.

Vote for your Favorite Legacy Businesses in WPB!

Help the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce for their 4th Annual Legacy Business Celebration returns on May 13th from 6 - 8 PM at The Den Theatre!

They want to hear from YOU about your favorite businesses that have been serving Wicker Park Bucktown for 15+ years!

Fill out this poll, featuring over 100 legacy businesses located within the SSA #33 boundaries!

Deadline: April 24th

Chicago Park District 2026 Earth Day Clean-Up

The Chicago Park District is excited to host the 2026 Citywide Earth Day Parks Clean-Up on Saturday, April 18. The Chicago Park District invites residents from across Chicago to participate in caring for their neighborhood parks.

Each year, thousands of volunteers come together to help clean and beautify parks throughout the city. This event is a wonderful opportunity for residents to connect with neighbors while supporting the green spaces that serve our communities.

Volunteer registration is now open! Residents can find a park and register to volunteer here.

Volunteers may assist with activities such as:



• Litter pick-up
• Leaf raking
• Tree mulching
• General park beautification
  

This event will take place rain or shine, and volunteers of all ages are welcome. Thank you for helping us spread the word and your continued support of the Chicago Park District.

Helpful Environmental Info

April is Earth Month. It also is a prime spring cleaning month. Here are some helpful links if you are looking to get rid of clutter around your house or are just looking to become more earth friendly.

Hard to recycle items and here

Items that can be reused

Reduce Chicago popup events

Charities that offer free pickups

The Wasteshed (art and school items to be donated)

Furniture donations

Shipping materials

Paint recycling

Hazardous materials

Food scrap drop off

Lincoln Belmont Library Composting Site

The City of Chicago offers a citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, and all Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at one of 33 locations across the city– for FREE! We have one of these sites right here in the 32nd Ward at the Lincoln Belmont Library at 1659 W. Melrose.

Composting keeps food scraps out of landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and recycles nutrients that enrich soil. Since the City's program started in 2023, over a million pounds of food waste has been diverted from landfills.

The program is free and open to all Chicago residents. To get started, residents can sign up at chi.gov/composting and watch a short instructional video. Residents can then start collecting their household food waste and bring it to the green carts at their selected drop-off site as often as needed. Accepted materials include all types of food scraps, including meat, bones and dairy. Non-food waste is not accepted. DSS collects the food waste, and it is transported to a local facility in Chicago where it’s processed into nutrient-rich compost.

MWRD Rain Barrels

Rain barrels capture rainwater from your roof and save it for later use. Rain barrels can help prevent basement backups, street flooding, and sewer overflows by keeping rainwater out of the sewer system.

You can use rain barrel water to:

•   Wash your car
•   Water your lawn or garden
•   Clean work boots, tools, and bikes

Rain barrel water is naturally free of chlorine, lime, and calcium and some gardeners swear their plants prefer it! 

Click here for more information.

Stop by in your car, and volunteers will unload personal electronics, office/industrial equipment, kitchenware, small furniture items, and more. We work with tech recycling and charity partners to either recycle or donate items to Chicagoans in need! Click here for more information.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

10:00 AM  2:00 PM

Blaine Elementary Parking Lot

3828 North Southport

Summer park programs and day camp sessions are now available to view online.

Chicago Park District summer day camp and program registration opens online on Monday, April 20 at 9 a.m. at parks located WEST of California Ave. Online registration for parks EAST of California Ave. opens on Tuesday, April 21 at 9 a.m.

This year, improvements to the Summer Day Camp registration process will include a new map feature that allows families to view nearby Day Camp options and identify alternatives if their first choice is full; improved registration checklist, including step-by-step guidance to help residents prepare in advance; and new icons to flag high-demand camps and encourage families to plan backup options. Learn more about the registration process by viewing this Webinar! 

Visit the this page to plan a memorable summer in the parks!

Important Changes to SNAP Benefits. Take Action Now!

The federal government passed a new law that makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Link in Illinois. Follow these steps so you don’t lose your food and grocery benefits:

1) Update your information: Report any changes in your income or changes to your household to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

2) Review work requirements: Find out if you need to be connected to a job, volunteer opportunity or education & training program for at least 80 hours per month. If you qualify for an exemption, apply for one.

3) Stay informed! Get the latest updates and share this information with family and friends.

Don’t wait until your benefits stop. Take action today!

Support is available. No one should go hungry because of paperwork. Visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository to get help managing your benefits or to sign up for SNAP today.

CPS Spring Capital Meetings

ComEd Low Income Discount Program

ComEd’s newest affordability initiative, the Low Income Discount (LID) program, launched Jan. 1, 2026, to provide income-based percentage discounts on monthly electric bills. Approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2024, LID is designed to help ComEd customers keep their electricity costs within 3–6% of household income to help income-eligible customers manage their energy bills.

LID comes at a critical time as nationwide capacity constraints—due to surging demand for electricity and limited expanding supply—continue to drive up energy costs for customers. With more than one-third of ComEd customers classified as low income, LID reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our leading reliable service remains affordable for all. Learn more about how the program will roll out in 2026 by scanning the QR code below.

Jumping Jack Program NOW OPEN!

The Chicago Department of Aviation is pleased to share that registration for the 5th Annual Airport Small Business Summit and Job Fair is now open!

Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP and explore additional details about the workshops below:

From 8 a.m. to noon, the Small Business Summit will welcome small business owners to participate in engaging workshops and network with fellow vendors.

9 A.M. – 10 A.M.

Navigating the DBE and ACDBE Programs Post-recertification

The Chicago Department of Procurement Services will provide updates on Illinois’ DBE and ACDBE certification process and answer questions on how businesses can participate in the programs moving forward.

10:15 A.M. – NOON

Concessions 101 + Networking

Get ready for all the exciting concessions opportunities coming to Chicago’s airports in 2026! The CDA Concessions team will present an overview of the concessions programs at O’Hare and Midway International Airports, and review what makes a great concessions proposal.

10:15 A.M. – NOON

Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) RFP Overview + Networking

Learn about the CDA’s upcoming ORAT RFP. Understand how the City's Mentor/Protege Program can help emerging firms gain experience under established prime consultants. The session will include time for networking between prospective prime and sub-respondents.

JOB FAIR

From noon to 4p.m., the Job Fair will connect attendees directly with hiring businesses and organizations for on-the-spot hiring alongside skill-building sessions.

12:30 P.M. – 2 P.M.

Aviation Career Pathway Program (ACPP)

Explore careers in aviation through this accelerated 90-minute Aviation Career Pathway Program. Participants who complete the session will receive a certificate of completion.

12:30 P.M. – 1 P.M.

Five Tips to Land Your Next Career

Build confidence for your next opportunity in this 30-minute motivational session led by CDA staff.

And that's only the first half of the summit! Learn more and RSVP here!

City News

• Major Funding Package for Long-Delayed Lathrop Homes Redevelopment Clears Council
• Mayor Johnson Appointments Face Scrutiny Amid Harassment Allegations
• 2 New Bucktown Gyms Will Offer Training, Hangout Space for Neighbors of All Ages
• This Spring Is the Wettest the Chicago Area Has Seen in More Than 40 Years
• What Can Homeowners Do to Reduce Flooding?
• 18 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day in Chicago
• Alders Call for Hearing on Delays in Critical Public Safety Technology Procurement
• Chicago Alders Keep Tipped Raises and DCASE Boss

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]