Good afternoon neighbors,

Last week, our ward experienced two terrible losses of life. Firefighter Michael Altman died fighting a fire, and Loyola student Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed while at the park with friends. Authorities ruled the fire an arson, and the shooting a homicide. Over the weekend, police made arrests in both cases, and the suspects have been charged. Thank you to our Firefighters, EMTs, the police of the 24th District, and Area 3 detectives for their dedication to our community. Our sincerest condolences are with the families and friends of Michael and Sheridan. The deaths of these two individuals are a loss to us all.

As the investigation of Sheridan's murder unfolded over the weekend, the suspect police took into custody was identified as a recent immigrant to our country. Gun violence and immigration policy have been two of the most challenging issues facing our country and our city. Sheridan's murder has become a national story touching on these painful and difficult issues. I know that people are in pain, and tensions will be high as we work to find solutions to keep everyone in our community safe. I ask that here, in the 49th Ward, we bring compassion, patience, and understanding to debates and discussions we have with our neighbors about this in the coming weeks.  

In recent days, some of my comments about the investigation surrounding the murder of Sheridan Gorman have been circulating in conservative news cycles and social media groups. This, along with the high-profile nature of the tragedy, has led to an overwhelming number of phone calls and emails to my office. The majority of these communications are from out-of-state individuals who are angry about my comments and Chicago's sanctuary city status. Our social media pages have also been inundated with negative reviews and hateful comments. The content of the phone messages and emails that my staff and I have been receiving is explicit and disturbing. The messages and calls include threats of violence against myself, my family, and my team, including racist, misogynistic, and homophobic language. Additionally, many callers have been verbally abusive to my staff, making it difficult to serve the constituents of the 49th Ward.

To ensure we are available to the constituents of the 49th Ward and to protect the safety and wellness of my team, we have altered our operations for the remainder of this week.

Today, March 25, and tomorrow, Thursday, March 26, my office is working remotely. Further, we will be closed on Friday, March 27, and will reopen at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 30. Our hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and you can reach our office via phone at 773-338-5796 or via email at [email protected]. If you are unable to connect with a member of our team via phone, please leave a voicemail, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. My team and I are taking these precautions to ensure our safety and ability to maintain the level of service that you expect of us. I am still working as usual and will be out and about in our ward this week.

Additionally, several people called or emailed me, inquiring about the commotion outside the Ward Office yesterday. There was an anti-immigrant, anti-sanctuary city protest taking place. Counterprotestors also showed up, and police intervened to ensure both groups could exercise their First Amendment rights safely. This group has planned an additional protest outside the office on Friday. We must respect the First Amendment rights of everyone, so if you encounter this group, do not engage in anything that could escalate into physical altercations. Though they may not represent the views and values of our community, we will always respect and uphold the civil liberties afforded to everyone in our nation by our Constitution.


Have a safe and restful week, and thank you for your understanding.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden