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Dear Neighbors,
During this holiday season, our office was glad to pitch in by gathering and donating toys to Toys for Tots. Thanks to the generosity of neighbors who dropped off new, unwrapped gifts, we were able to support the 48th Annual Chicagoland Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade’s mission of making sure every child has a present to open during the holidays.
We were also glad to spend time at several wonderful events in our local schools this past week, celebrating students, families, and community. It was great to join Principal Davlantes at Hawthorne for the PTA’s student holiday craft fair and to see the creativity and hard work of Hawthorne students on display. We also stopped by Third Space, where Inter-American hosted its Mercadito Artesanal, featuring handmade items, tamales, coffee, and delicious Mexican hot chocolate—made even more special by the work of FELE (Familias en La Escuela) and a little help from Santa along the way.
  
In public safety news, the next court hearing in the battery case involving Leon Jackson is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, December 16th at 9:00am. We were grateful to see so many neighbors turn out at the last hearing to show their support for the victims, and send a message that community presence matters. Our office will continue working closely with the State’s Attorney’s Office and staying engaged with residents as this case moves forward through the court process. Please reach out for details if you would like to participate via Zoom.
We also want to remind residents that the final 19th Police District Council meeting of the year is happening tomorrow. This meeting will be a chance to both learn about the work of the 19th District Mutual Aid organization, as well as help them sort clothing for care packages supporting migrants and neighbors in need. You can view the flyer here for full details, RSVP here, and view their wish list here if you would like to donate an item.
On Monday, we look forward to joining local partners including the Japanese Cultural Center, to celebrate the groundbreaking of improvements at John Kelly Park. These upgrades will honor the historic legacy of Lakeview’s Japanese American community, which played a vital role in shaping the neighborhood’s cultural history, while also delivering new pathways, seating, and thoughtfully designed landscape and signage elements for the community to enjoy. We hope to see many neighbors there as we mark this meaningful milestone together.
If you’ve walked near Wrigley lately, you know the holiday season is in full swing! The Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce and our local businesses have transformed the neighborhood through their Wrigleyville Wonderland program, with more than 25 holiday-themed pop-up bars, festive decor, special events, and more all within a short walking distance. It’s a great time to bundle up, explore, and support small businesses close to home.
 
One of our neighborhood associations, East Lake View Neighbors, is now accepting applications for its Community Grant Program, which will award grants of up to $2,500 to local nonprofit organizations working to address important issues in the neighborhood. Eligible projects may focus on areas like education, social services, public safety, arts and culture, environmental initiatives, green space, technology, and broader community enhancement. Applications are due February 1st, 2026, and we encourage eligible organizations serving East Lakeview to consider applying here.
In legislative news from City Hall, this week my ordinance legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—basement units, attic units, and coach houses—in single-family home zones across 20 wards passed through City Council. Some may recall that in September, we passed an ordinance allowing ADUs citywide in all multi-unit residential, business, and commercial areas, and this new law builds on that progress by expanding these housing options into single-family neighborhoods as well. We will continue working to expand eligible areas ahead of these changes taking effect on April 1st, 2026. Expanding our housing supply is one of the most effective ways to help drive down costs and increase affordability, and we will keep pursuing policies that make it easier for more people to find a home in our city.
As an update on the City budget, I continue to have serious concerns with parts of the Mayor’s proposal, including borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars for operating expenses, bringing back the head tax, and failing to make our full advance pension payment to support the Chicagoans who have spent their lives working for the City. There are several components of the proposal I support such as the sports betting tax, cigarette tax, and tax on large social media companies. However, as long as these measures remain tied to other fiscally irresponsible items, I cannot support the budget as a whole, which is why I signed onto an alternative budget proposal as mentioned last week. Conversations are ongoing, and the City Council and the Mayor are scheduled to meet several times next week to work toward a middle ground and pass a budget ahead of the December 31st deadline. To date, our budget survey has shown significant opposition to the Mayor’s proposal. It remains open, and we encourage residents to continue sharing their feedback by filling it out here.
I also voted against a proposed hemp ban because the legislation was overly broad and would have banned THC drinks, which many adults rely on to replace alcohol, manage anxiety, and make healthier choices. We heard from consumers and businesses about the need for a more thoughtful approach, including carve-outs for beverages, lotions, and pet products. I felt this ordinance was rushed and would have benefited from targeted protections, including banning sales to those under 21, preventing marketing to youth, and restricting sales at gas stations, without shutting down local breweries that produce these beverages. The ordinance has since been amended to include an exemption for THC drinks and will continue to be refined before returning to the City Council. I will keep neighbors updated as this issue moves forward.
As you make holiday plans for the weeks ahead, we wanted to share several timely guides from local partners. Chicago Environmentalists has put together a helpful Sustainable Gift Guide here with practical tips for a more eco-friendly holiday season. This includes reducing waste, choosing experience-based or secondhand gifts, and reusing gift wrap and bags. And if you’re looking to ring in 2026 close to home, the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has also published a New Year’s Eve guide here highlighting local celebrations across Lakeview, Wrigleyville, and Northalsted, with options ranging from prix-fixe dinners to bar crawls and live entertainment. Also be sure to check out the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce's local gift guide here for offerings on the west side of the neighborhood.
 
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the Nourishing Hope Toy Drive hosted by the Cubs during Winterland at Gallagher Way. As an update, from Monday through the end of Winterland on December 31st, the Nourishing Hope stand will transition to collecting non-perishable food items and diapers to support local families throughout the winter months. We encourage neighbors to continue participating if they can and help spread hope this season.
As a reminder, property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of homes and businesses, creating a safe, passable path for neighbors. Businesses and larger apartment or condo buildings may face fines of up to $500 per day for noncompliance. If you see uncleared sidewalks, you can report them to the City here.
Please note that Clark street will be closed from 8:00am-8:00pm from Cornelia to Addison on Saturday, December 13th for T-Box. Additionally, Cornelia and Eddy will be closed from Clark west to the alleys as also occurs on game or event days.
Our office will be closed December 24th–26th and December 31st–January 2nd. We will reopen after the holidays on Monday, January 5th.
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