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The 2nd Ward Newsletter for September 21, 2026
In This Edition:
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Lincoln Park Shredding and Electronic Recycling Event This Past Weekend
Our final shredding and recycling event this past Sunday was a great success. Thank you to everyone who braved the rain to attend our Lincoln Park Shred Event at the SPF Chicago lot. We had a great turnout, and it was nice speaking with many of you. I want to thank our partners: SPF Chicago, Newtech E-Scrap Recycling, R4 Services, the Chicago Furniture Bank, and the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
Additionally, thank you to Serve Robotics for bringing two delivery robots to assist with transporting heavy recyclables from cars to the appropriate bins.
Stay tuned for next year's shredding and recycling event announcements in my weekly newsletter.
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St. Josaphat JosaFEST 2026 A Success
On Sunday, I was delighted to join parishioners, neighbors, and friends at St. Josaphat Parish for JosaFEST 2026, which I was proud to sponsor. A little rain could not dampen everyone's spirit as attendees gathered for delicious food, live music, and good company. Thank you to St. Josaphat Parish and the many volunteers whose hard work made this wonderful neighborhood tradition possible!
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Honoring Lucien LaGrange
 Despite Saturday's rainy weather, I joined Lucien LaGrange, his family, colleagues, friends, and many supportive Streeterville residents to officially designate the 200 East block of Pearson Street as “Honorary Lucien LaGrange Way.”
The designation recognizes the remarkable contributions of the architecture firm bearing Lucien’s name and its lasting impact on Chicago’s skyline and architectural character.
Lucien, along with his fellow architects, shared stories and words about the firm's journey throughout the years.
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880 N Lake Shore Drive Celebration
 I was honored to toast the 75th Diamond Anniversary of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s two glass towers at 860-880 North Lake Shore Drive. Conceived by Mies van der Rohe and completed in 1951, 860–880 North Lake Shore Drive forever changed the language of residential architecture. The towers’ elegant steel-and-glass façades, lifted above the landscape on slender columns, established a new model for high-rise living and helped cement Chicago’s reputation as a global center of modern architecture.
Thank you to the board of trustees and other notable leaders in Chicago’s architecture community for this invitation to an esteemed event.
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2nd Ward Flu Clinic: Monday, September 28
Have you received your flu shot for this year? You are invited to join Jewel-Osco and me for the 2nd Ward Flu Clinic on Monday, September 28, at Lake Shore Park. This event will last from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and participants can get vaccines for the flu, COVID-19, shingles, RSV, pneumonia, TDAP, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, MMR, and HPV.
Click here to book a free appointment to receive a vaccine.
Thank you to Jewel-Osco, the Lake Shore Park Advisory Council, and the Chicago Park District for co-sponsoring this event to bring life-saving vaccines to the residents of the 2nd Ward.
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Street Sweeping
The Department of Streets and Sanitation continues to operate its regular street sweeping schedule. Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool.
"Sweep Around Us" — a third-party email reminder service used for street sweeping alerts — has rebranded as "We The Sweeple." Click here for more information.
Click here to find the Street Sweeping section of my website. An interactive map of all seven street-sweeping sections is included, along with the full schedule of 2026 sweeping dates. Residents are encouraged to mark their calendars for respective sweeping dates in the event that they have visitors or are out of town.
Scheduled for cleaning on Tuesday, September 22: Section 1 (Olive), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Wednesday, September 23: Section 1 (Olive), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Thursday, September 24: Section 2 (Blue)
Scheduled for cleaning on Friday, September 25: Section 2 (Blue)
Scheduled for cleaning on Monday, September 28: Section 3 (Purple)
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Smart Streets Enforcement
Please be aware that the Department of Finance is implementing Smart Street Enforcement for Street Cleaning tickets in the 2nd Ward. While members of the Department of Finance will continue to enforce parking restrictions for street sweeping, tickets will now be sent via mail rather than paper being placed on the vehicle itself.
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18th Police District Council Meeting: TOMORROW, September 22
Join the 18th Police District Council for its monthly meeting TOMORROW, Tuesday, September 22, at 12:30 pm at the 18th Police District Station, located at 1160 N Larrabee St. Street Parking is available in the adjacent parking lot south of the station. Please park in visitor spots only.
Commander Christopher Bielfeldt (or his representative) and the 18th District CAPS team will be in attendance to discuss public safety matters.
Click here to RSVP in person or here for the Zoom option.
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CCPSA September Public Meeting: September 24
 Join the CCPSA for its September public meeting, featuring a subject matter hearing on officer wellness. This meeting will take place on Thursday, September 24, at 6:30 pm at DePaul College Prep, located at 3300 N Campbell Ave.
The Commission will examine the factors impacting officer wellness, how officer wellness impacts policing, the resources currently available to officers, and best practices for identifying and supporting officers who may need assistance. The discussion will also explore officer wellness as a consideration in the search for Chicago’s next Superintendent.
If you would like to provide public comment virtually, please email [email protected] to request to speak. If requests exceed the time allotted for public comment, speakers will be selected through a random drawing. Each selected speaker will have up to two minutes to provide comment.
Click here to register via Zoom.
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18th District Community Conversation 1st Session: Wednesday, September 30
Each year, the Chicago Police Department hosts Community Conversations throughout the city to engage with Chicagoans in the creation of their district’s strategic plan for the following calendar year.
The 18th District is having its Community Conversation First Session on Wednesday, September 30, at Park Community Church (1001 N Crosby) at 5:30 pm. The Community Conversation Second Session will take place on Wednesday, October 21, at 5:30 pm.
Click here to learn more.
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Apply to Become a CAPS Community Leader
The Chicago Police Department is accepting applications from the community to become a Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) community leader. A CAPS Community Leader is a community resident who partners with the Chicago Police Department to strengthen community relationships, promote engagement, support problem-solving efforts, and help build safer, stronger neighborhoods.
Click here to learn more.
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CCPSA Accepting Applications for Youth North Side Commissioner: Now through October 18
 The District Council Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from young adults residing on Chicago’s North Side to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). The application period is open through October 18, 2026.
Under the CCPSA Ordinance, at least two Commissioners must reside on the North Side, two on the South Side, and two on the West Side. The ordinance also requires two Commissioners to be between the ages of 18 and 24 at the time of appointment.
Click here to learn more.
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18th District CompStat Report
The Computer Statistics report (CompStat) is a weekly report of incidents that occurred in the respective police district. Each district compiles a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests, and data analysis.
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Recent Carjacking Arrests:
Community Alerts:
Additional High-Profile Arrests:
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Updated 2026 Chicago Police CAPS Meeting Schedule
The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Beat community meetings are a key part of the Chicago Police Department's strategy of partnerships and problem-solving. These meetings are held in person, with the option to participate remotely, and are an excellent way to communicate with the officers who patrol your beat and to engage with and meet your neighbors.
The entirety of the 2nd Ward falls inside the 18th District. Click here to find which beat you reside in. You may also call 312-742-5778 or email [email protected] for more information about the 18th District CAPS office.
Please note that no further Zoom meetings have been scheduled for 2026.
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Construction and Development Updates
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State & Elm Building Construction
This month, the construction project at the former Barnes and Noble at State and Elm will begin caisson foundation drilling, which is expected to continue for the next three to four weeks. Upon completion of the caisson work, the construction team will proceed with the installation of the project's earth retention system. Trucking activity will remain ongoing as materials are delivered to the site and excavated soil is removed. The construction team has been coordinating these operations to minimize impacts on the surrounding neighborhood whenever possible. Over the coming months, site activity will continue to increase as foundation and excavation work progress. If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
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Northwestern Medicine Construction Website
For those who live in Streeterville near the Northwestern Medicine site bounded by N Fairbanks Ct, E Huron St, N McClurg Ct, and E Erie St, or those who are just interested in the latest construction updates, the project team is maintaining a regularly updated construction information website. The project, which has not yet received approvals beyond site preparation, is currently in a subterranean demolition phase. Multiple levels of blast-proof basement were left behind by the former Lakeside Veterans Affairs structure. Because they were built to withstand bomb blasts, the current demolition phase is quite disruptive. Vibration and dust monitors are located in and around the site, and, if certain thresholds were to be crossed in either category, work is brought to a halt until the issue is resolved. Please click here to visit the website.
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General 2nd Ward Infrastructure Updates
Construction season continues as crews are busy resurfacing streets and alleys, building pedestrian safety improvements, and replacing street lighting. Here are some highlights of ongoing or upcoming infrastructure improvements in our ward. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. My office always stands ready to answer questions about these or any other infrastructure projects in our ward and to receive your suggestions for future consideration.
- Clover Playlot Improvements*
(*For the safety of parkgoers, the park is closed while major renovations take place)
- Status: Paver work commenced this week and expected to last two weeks. Entire project expected to be complete by early October 2026, weather permitting.
- Removal of dead trees
- Installation of artificial turf in areas prone to flooding
- Refreshed decorative hardscaping along the existing walking path (new pavers and decomposed granite finishes).
- Construction of a brand-new Gaga Ball court
- Chestnut St complete lighting replacement from Mies van der Rohe to Lake Shore Dr
- Status: Update sent to local property managers to share with residents. Recent wet weather has pushed this a few more days from last update.
- The delay in restoration was due to the contractor's identification of vaults underneath several locations that required a special spread footing foundation before concrete could be repoured. While the city approved the new foundation four weeks ago, the custom anchor rods needed for the foundation were delayed. They have now arrived and are expected to be installed shortly, with final concrete to be poured soon thereafter.
- State Pkwy resurfacing from Scott to Schiller
Status: Project start is pending on spot curb and gutter replacement on the 1300 block of State Pkwy
- Dickens Avenue resurfacing from Clifton to Racine
Status: Requested early in 2026 but on hold while fiber optics (Lumen) project is completed
- If still necessary after fiber optics restoration, will be done in 2027
- Huron St resurfacing from St. Clair to Fairbanks
Status: Driving surface has been milled; scheduled to be paved in the following month
- Inner Lake Shore Drive resurfacing from E Lake Shore Dr to Ohio (completed)
- Southport/Belden intersection reconstruction (completed)
- Pearson St parkway improvements (completed)
- Southport Ave resurfacing from Webster to Fullerton (completed)
- E. Chicago sidewalk replacement (completed)
- Wells St replacement of lighting fixtures on existing poles from Division to North Ave (completed)
- Magnolia Ave resurfacing from Webster to Belden (completed)
- Wabash Ave resurfacing from Huron to Superior (completed)
- State Pkwy resurfacing from Schiller to Burton (completed)
- McClurg Ct resurfacing from Ohio to Ontario (completed)
- Delaware Pl resurfacing from Clark to LaSalle (completed)
- Blackhawk St resurfacing from Sedgwick to Larrabee (completed)
- Magnolia/Belden detached pedestrian bump-outs (completed)
- Schiller between LaSalle and Clark: center line striping (completed)
- Alley apron and sidewalk replacement on North Ave from LaSalle to the western alley (completed)
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Update on the Division Street Streetscape
Phase 1 work is underway (center lane work). There has been a short work stoppage resulting from a delay in soil testing results. Once these results are received, which is expected any day, the project team can proceed with the next phase, sewer work.
These streetscape improvements have been designed by the Chicago Department of Transportation in close cooperation with community representatives and my team. Highlights include:
• Roadway geometry improvements
• Full-width roadway resurfacing
• New wider paver sidewalks
• New curb and gutter
• New street lighting
• ADA ramps and crosswalks
• New pavement markings and signs
• Tree plantings and landscaping
• Site furnishings
Throughout construction, Division Street will remain open to motorists and pedestrians, and access to businesses and residences will be maintained. During the final stage of construction, westbound traffic will be temporarily detoured. Please watch out for parking restrictions for equipment staging on nearby streets.
Construction review meetings are being held weekly by CDOT when construction is underway. These meetings are open to the public and provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to ask questions and coordinate concerns regarding construction.
For additional information, please call the Department of Transportation at (312) 744-5900 or visit the project website here.
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Alderman Hopkins' Mobile DMV (by appointment only)
 Alderman Hopkins and IL Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias are hosting a 2nd Ward Mobile DMV event this week, Wednesday, September 23, at Lake Shore Park (808 N Lake Shore Dr.). Appointments are available between 10 am and 2 pm.
This is a great opportunity to do business with the Secretary of State's Office for Driver’s License – Standard and REAL (First time*, Renewal*, Duplicate, Corrected); State ID Cards – Standard and REAL (First time, Renewal, Duplicate, Corrected); Vehicle Registration Stickers; and Organ & Tissue Donor & Voter Registration (With processing of a Driver’s License or State ID).
Appointments are required; click here to reserve one. Appointments are first-come, first-served, so make sure to sign up as soon as possible, as they are limited!
Click here to find the list of services offered (AND required documents needed) at the Mobile DMV event
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Pet Blessings and Adoption Event at First St. Paul's: Saturday, October 3
First St. Paul's Chicago (1301 N LaSalle Dr.) is having an adoption and pet blessing event on Saturday, October 3, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Stop by for complimentary dog and cat treats and a blessing for your furry friend.
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Near North Library Temporarily Closed: Through September 26
 Please be advised that the Near North Library branch, located at 310 W Division St, is closed until September 26 for building maintenance. Book Drop will remain closed until its reopening, and holds for this location will be rerouted to the Lincoln Park Branch, located at 1150 W Fullerton, for pickup.
Click here to find your closest Chicago Public Library branch.
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Chicago Lights Tutors Needed
 You can make a difference in a child's life by volunteering as a tutor for just 90 minutes one night a week! Students are paired 1:1 with caring adult mentors and supported through innovative resources, mindfulness practices, and career development that help prepare them for higher education and future careers.
The tutoring year runs September 28, 2026, to May 12, 2027. Tutoring occurs on Mondays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm via Zoom, or in person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:00–7:30 pm at the Gratz Center inside Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E. Chestnut)
To volunteer, please apply here. For more information, visit the Chicago Lights website or email the Tutoring Program.
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C3 Fall Conservation Corps Training
 The Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) collaborates with partners across the city to inspire and fund lasting change through grassroots community organization and climate action. C3 is planning and beginning info sessions for its Fall 2026 Sustainability Leadership Training, which is virtual and focused on the food systems in Chicagoland.
Classes are pay-what-you-can (including $0) and are weekly for 8 weeks. You can learn more and register here.
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RNRA "I Love River North" Happy Hour: September 29
 The River North Residents Association will be hosting an "I Love River North" Happy Hour on Tuesday, September 29, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at F1 Arcade, located at 1 W Grand Ave. Tickets start at $40, which includes appetizers, two beverages, and a $5 donation to the Healthy Schools Campaign.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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SOAR Farm to Table To Pier Celebration: October 1
 Join the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR) on Thursday, October 1, to celebrate SOAR and the Farmers Market at Harry Caray’s Navy Pier, located at 700 E Grand Ave. This annual celebration will take place from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm, and will include cocktails, appetizers, a seated dinner, and lots of surprises!
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.
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