| | Dear Neighbor,
This week, I continued my tour of our 35th ward schools with a visit to Murphy School in the Irving Park neighborhood. I met with Principal Schick and Assistant Principal Burton and learned about the great work that is going on there. Murphy will be celebrating its 100th anniversary later this year! I also visited Avondale-Logandale Elementary School in Avondale and met with Principal Avila and Assistant Principal Campuzano. Avondale-Logandale has a deep history of parent involvement and community partnership.
A reflection that has been striking from all of the school visits I have done so far to see how our local elementary schools now serve as important mutual aid hubs for our communities, as more residents fall deeper into poverty, as the federal government slashes public benefits, and as hostile immigration enforcement wreaks havoc on our communities. It has also been frustrating to see the amount of deferred maintenance each school is struggling with. I look forward to working with CPS, our schools, and other stakeholders to work towards solutions to some of these long-standing issues. |
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| | It is heartening to see the tremendous work our school communities have done to help our families during these difficult times. If you are interested in helping our local schools with food or clothing donations, please contact our office.
On Wednesday, I joined a press conference with Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, Alderwoman Jeylu Gutierrez, and Commissioner Jessica Vasquez to remind residents that applications are now open for property tax exemptions. Some of the most common exemptions are the Homeowner Exemption, the Senior Exemption, and the income-based Senior Freeze Exemption. |
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| If you believe you may be eligible for any exemptions and would like to set up an appointment for consultation and assistance with filling out the application, please contact our office. Our joint city and county office would be happy to assist you. Please call us Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at (773) 985-3510 or email [email protected].
Yesterday, I attended the City Council Committee on Health and Human Services meeting. During this meeting, I was happy to support Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez’s Proactive Rental Inspection Working Group Ordinance. This was a step towards adopting a citywide Healthy Homes Ordinance, which would aim to implement regular proactive inspections of rental properties to ensure that everyone has access to safe and habitable housing. You can learn more about this ordinance here.
Today, at the Committee on Finance, our request for a $5 million TIF allotment was approved for the Avondale Park Field House, located at 3516 W School in the 35th Ward. My office has been working with the Chicago Park District to widen the scope of upcoming improvements to the field house to modernize the facility with new windows, masonry work, and ADA improvements. The allotment will now go before the full City Council on Wednesday, March 18th.
Finally, I would like to remind those who can exercise their democratic right to vote in the coming days, if you have not already done so. March 17, 2026, is the primary election. The early voting location for the 35th Ward is once again NEIU El Centro, located at 3390 N Avondale. It will be open through Monday, March 16, with hours on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Monday from 9 am to 7 pm.
You can also vote on Tuesday, March 17, Election Day, at your local precinct. You can find your voting location here. If you have not yet returned your vote-by-mail ballot, you should return it to your early voting site or Election Day polling place, as it is now past the deadline for postmark.
Have a great weekend and a safe St. Patrick’s Day!
Sincerely,
Anthony J. Quezada Alderman, 35th Ward
Community Resources: Food Bank Locator and SNAP Updates Utility Billing and Relief Immigration Resources | Family Support Hotline 855-435-7693 Parking Ticket Relief Tenants Rights Resources
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| | Ward Night
Our next ward night will be Monday, March 30, 2026. To schedule an appointment to meet with the Alderman, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (773)-985-3510 during our hours of operation (9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday).
Property Tax Exemption Applications Are Now Open
Exemption application for 2025 are now open, and will likely be open for 2 months. If you are in need of assistance, please call our office to schedule an appointment to complete your exemption application. Each exemption requires different documents, so we encourage you to call ahead of your appointment to ensure you bring all required documents.
As a reminder, there are several types of exemptions, including: Homeowner Exemption Senior Citizen Exemption Low-Income Senior “Freeze” Exemption Persons with Disabilities Exemption Veterans with Disabilities Exemption
You can learn more about each of these exemptions, including eligibility requirements, on the Assessor's website at this link. You can check which exemptions you receive by entering your address or PIN at this link and clicking “Exemption History & Status.” In addition to filling for exemption for this year, you may still apply for any missing exemptions for 2024-2021. Please reach out to our office if you would like assistance checking which exemptions you receive or applying for exemptions for 2024-2021.
Upcoming Northwest Side Solidarity Network Mutual Aid Events
Diaper Giveaway March 17th 11am- 1pm 3212 W George Street Community Food Pantry March 18th 12:30-1:30pm St. Nicolai Church 3000 N Kedzie Early Voting is now underway!
Early voting is now underway across Chicago’s 50 wards and at the Early Voting Supersite in the Loop until Monday, March 16th. Voters can cast their ballot at any of the early voting locations, and folks are also able to register to vote on site. You can find more information on how to register to vote and information on voting locations on the website of the Chicago Board of Elections. The 35th Ward’s Early Voting location is, once again, be NEIU El Centro, located at 3390 N Avondale. Additionally, if you are planning on mailing in your ballot, please ensure that your ballot is returned by March 10 to ensure that it is counted, or you can reference your mail-in ballot for other ways to turn in your ballot.
Tuesday, March 17th is election day. On Tuesday, you can vote at your local polling place from 6am to 7pm. You can find your polling place here. |
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| Community Clean-up!
The Trash People of Logan Square and the 35th Ward Office will be hosting a community clean-up on Saturday, March 21st at 10:30am beginning at Fireman’s Park, located at 2809 N Kimball Ave. Come meet neighbors and help keep our community clean. Equipment will be provided for participants, please register here. |
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| | CLCF Scholarship
The Chicago City Council Latino Caucus Foundation (CLCF) has given over $1 million of scholarships to deserving young people. This year CLCF is providing forty $5,000 scholarships to qualified students who are college-bound or currently an undergraduate from across Chicago. Students can apply online via the Caucus’ website at https://www.ccclatinocaucus.org/about-scholarships. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 10th, 2026 at 11:59pm. |
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| Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) applications open Monday, April 1 for the Kennedy/Kimball TIF District!
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor will roll out the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program for applications in the Kennedy/Kimball TIF district on Wednesday, April 1 at 9am.
The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own.
Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply.
Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf and do not have to be repaid.
DPD and SomerCor will host an informational webinar to review program requirements and the application process.
SBIF Informational Webinar 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 | Register For additional information, visit www.chicago.gov/sbif.
Hermosa Community Tree Planting Day
The 35th Ward Office is working with Openlands, an organization that works to protect our natural areas and our tree canopy, the 26th Ward Office, the Office of Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez, and Nixon Elementary on a tree-planting day on April 25th. We are working to identify Hermosa-area residents who are interested in having a tree planted in front of their home at no cost. Trees help our communities by reducing the urban heat island effect, cleaning the air, and absorbing rainwater.
The Hermosa neighborhood area has been identified as a high-priority area for tree planting, given its relatively low canopy coverage. On April 25th, we will come together to take action for our community!
If you are a Hermosa resident who would like a tree planted in front of your home or would like to lend a hand volunteering on April 25th, please email [email protected]. If you would like a tree planted in front of your home, but you do not live in the Hermosa community, please contact the 35th Ward Office for assistance at [email protected] or by call/text at 773-985-3510. |
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| | Committee on Health and Human Services - CACC Director Vote
This Tuesday’s meeting drew more attention than usual as the committee was voting to appoint Susan Capello as the permanent Executive Director of Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC), after she served as interim director for the past three years.
Leading up to this vote, Alderman Quezada met with community advocates, organizational stakeholders, residents, and the interim director to better understand the challenges facing the CACC. After careful consideration, he voted in favor with his colleagues to appoint Susan. Additionally, the largest animal shelters in Chicago, PAWS Chicago, the Tree House Humane Society, and the Anti-Cruelty Society supported the appointment of Susan and recognize that many of the issues currently faced by CACC are the result of systemic underfunding.
CACC is not funded at levels comparable to peer cities such as Houston, New York, and Los Angeles. Only recently has the CACC received a modest budget increase. In fact, CACC has historically been among the least funded municipal impoundment facilities among peer cities. Despite these challenges, in 2025, CACC saw the highest adoption year in history, with 3,626 cats and dogs placed into homes, representing a 20% year-over-year increase and an improved transfer rate to local shelters and rescue partners, all while there have been increases in intakes year over year.
Alderman Quezada looks forward to working with his colleagues to ensure the department has the funding it needs, that volunteers receive the support they need to support the mission of the CACC best, and that our furry friends have a dignified experience and find a home. |
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| Summer Youth Opportunities |
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| Chicago Youth Works
Chicago Youth Works is a centralized hub for youth summer and year-round job and program opportunities. It also has more information for employers who are interested in participating in the program by hosting youth at their workplaces. You can find more information on their website. |
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| Upcoming Community Events |
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| Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Virtual Deep Tunnel Tour
On Tuesday, March 17th at 2pm, sit back, relax and travel back in time to early Chicago to see how the Chicago River was reversed and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how MWRD cleans used water; descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch the electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River. See goats and sheep at work maintaining native prairie landscaping and more! Click here to register. |
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| | | 35th Ward Office Phone Number: 773-985-3510 35th Ward Office Email: [email protected] DSS recycling and garbage schedule: chicagorecycles.org Parking Zone Lookup: http://smartchicago.github.io/zone-parking/ Snow Plow Tracker: https://plow-tracker-chicago.hub.arcgis.com/ Street Sweeping Schedule: 2025 Street Cleaning Schedule Street Sweeper Tracker: www.cityofchicago.org/sweepertracker Street Sweeper “We The Sweeple” App: https://www.wethesweeple.com/Elected Official Lookup: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html Backyard service rodent abatement: (312) 746-5230
35th Ward Staff Scott Jaburek - Chief of Staff Alberto Cuevas - Ward Superintendent Sara Rodriguez - Neighborhood Services Director Chas Sirridge - Policy Director Juan Cardenas - Neighborhood Services Advocate
Employment Opportunities
The Illinois Department of Human Services is hiring! Check out open positions as of March 2nd here.
People’s Gas is also hiring! You can find open positions in the region on their website. |
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| LOSAH Center of Hope Accepting New Clients
The LOSAH Center of Hope community mental health clinic is now accepting new clients for individual, couples, and family therapy! Sessions are available in-person and virtually via telehealth. Clients must live in the service area - please enter your address into this link to see if you fall within our service area!
This contact form can be used to request services for yourself or a loved one, and for community partners to refer a client. LOSAH is available by phone at (773) 433-1995 if you have questions or need support. |
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| Public Safety (CAPS) Meetings CAPS meetings are an opportunity for residents to meet with the Community Engagement officers of their local police districts to discuss public safety concerns in their neighborhoods. The 35th ward includes portions of the 14th, 17th, and 25th districts of the Chicago Police Department. Visit the CPD website to find your beat.
CAPS Beat 2524 Thursday, March 19th at 6:30pm at Kosciuszko Park 2732 N Avers |
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