|
Dear Neighbors,
I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing Labor Day weekend and was able to find time to recharge. I had a great time at this year's WOOGMS parade, it was great to see so many neighbors join in on this beloved tradition.
 
As a reminder, the Community Commission for Police Safety & Accountability (CCPSA) has begun its search for the next Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department and is asking residents for input on what qualities, experiences, and priorities they would like to see in the next Superintendent. You can share your thoughts in their feedback form here. CCPSA is also hosting a virtual listening session tonight at 6:30 p.m. Visit the Commission's Superintendent Search webpage for more information and to stay up to date on the process.
This week, I met with the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) to discuss concerning trends indicating an uptick in antisemitism in Chicago. Acts of hate and discrimination of any kind are unacceptable and have no place in our city. I'm grateful for the advocacy and trainings offered by JCUA — whose work fighting antisemitism, racism, and advancing justice helps strengthen and protect all of our communities. It’s imperative that we look out for one another, speak up when we see harmful behavior, and work together to ensure every community feels safe and supported.
Musky Fest is back for it's 35th year this weekend at Will's Northwoods Inn running from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13. Racine will be closed from Oakdale to Fletcher from 12:00am on Friday through 11:00pm on Sunday. For additional Musky Fest details, schedule, and band lineup, click here.
 
Next weekend, the Lakeview East Festival of the Arts returns on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20. This festival will showcase over 150 artists featuring paintings, sculptures, photography, furniture, jewelry and more. Each day will also feature two stages with live music and a kid's zone. For more information, click here.
Additionally, the Southport Neighbors Association will be having their annual Yard Sale on Saturday, September 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, click here.
 
Looking ahead, there's a new neighborhood festival coming to Clark Street this fall: Clark Street Live! On Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27 Clark will be closed between Addison and Newport for two days of live music. For more information about this new festival, click here.
Also that weekend, East Lake View Neighbors will host its annual Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, September 26 at Murphy's Bleachers. The event will feature live music, German food, and a silent auction. Click here to learn more or purchase tickets.
Later this month, the Diversey Community Coalition (DCC) will host two events regarding ComEd's proposed Substation at 1111 W. Diversey.
On Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. there will be a community update at New Life Church (1110 Lill Ave.) to share the latest on efforts to oppose the substation as currently proposed. Then, on Saturday, September 26 at 11:00 a.m. community members will gather for a rally outside the proposed substation at 1111 W. Diversey.
For those unable to attend, the DCC website includes additional ways residents can make their voices heard, including filing a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
Reliable electricity is essential to our neighborhoods, but a project of this size should undergo meaningful community review, just like any other major development. Community members have made clear that they want to see this transit-accessible stretch of Diversey used for housing, retail and other development that contributes to the neighborhood.
 
2858 N. Halsted 920 W. Diversey
Our office is seeking feedback on two new proposed zoning changes in the Ward. The first is a proposed zoning change for 2858 N. Halsted to go from a B3-2 to B2-3 to construct a 5-story, 20 unit building with retail space below. You can review the complete plans for 2858 N. Halsted on my website here.
The second is a proposed zoning change for 920 W. Diversey where the applicant is seeking a zoning change from B3-2 to B3-5 to construct a 5-story, 56 unit building with retail space below. You can review the complete plans for 920 W. Diversey on my website here.
To provide feedback on either proposal, please email us at [email protected] or call our office at 773-525-6034. Additional information on both proposals will continue to be shared in our newsletter and on our website.
 
As we head into football season, the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce has put together lists of neighborhood bars where you can cheer on your favorite college and professional teams. From team-specific watch parties to game day specials, there's no shortage of great local bars to catch a game at. Check out both the college and professional lists on the Chamber's website.
The Cubs are back in town this weekend and will be hosting the Pirates and the Braves for back-to-back series from Friday, September 11 through Wednesday, September 16. Please be mindful of parking restrictions, and any residents who experience any issues are encouraged to contact the Cubs Game Day Hotline at 866-4-CPD-TOW.
Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset tomorrow, marking the Jewish New Year. To celebrate, Chabad of East Lakeview's Shofar in the Streets event returns. Rabbi Dovid and volunteers will blow the Shofar at various locations Lakeview throughout the day. Shanah Tovah to all who celebrate!
Finally, tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We remember the lives lost, honor the courage of first responders, and reflect on the spirit of unity and service that followed. We will never forget.
|
|
Have a great weekend,
Alderman Bennett Lawson
|
|
Upcoming Resurfacing
Streets:
The summer street resurfacing schedule is now complete. We are waiting for updates on the fall schedule from CDOT. We hope to have more information soon.
Alleys:
Wellington, Broadway, and Oakdale:
As part of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Capital Alley Program, the North/South and East/West section of the alley bordered between Clark, Wellington, Broadway and Oakdale will be undergoing reconstruction for much needed alley improvements.
The schedule for this project is below. Please note that all dates are tentative due to any weather delays that may occur.
Phase-1 (East/West Leg): Complete!
Phase-2 (North/South Leg):
- Sawcut/Removal – 09/08 to 09/11
- Frame/Stone/Pour – 09/14 to 09/23
- Cleanup/Open Alley – 09/24 to 09/25
If you have any questions on this alley resurfacing, please reach out to our office for more details.
|
|
Divvy Bikes & E-Scooters
We are excited to share that we now have a total of 26 E-Scooter & Divvy Bike docking stations in the 44th Ward!
|
|
Divvy for Everyone Program
The Divvy for Everyone Program provides a full year of bikeshare access for just $5 for income-qualified residents.
To learn more about this program, click here.
|
|
Reporting Scooter & Divvy Bike Removals
If you see Divvy Bikes or E-Scooters that are not properly returned to a docking station, please report this to 311 here. By contract, shared bike and scooter companies must remove their property within two hours of a 311 removal request. We appreciate your assistance in helping keep our neighborhood clean.
|
|
Chi Street Work Portal
Have questions about street work happening in your area?
The Department of Transportation has a tool called the Chi Street Work Portal where you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street.
|
|
Garbage & Recycling
The next recycling pick-up for the 44th Ward is the week of September 14. You can find your full garbage and recycling pick up schedule here.
Recycling information is now also available through Chicago's Recycle Coach App. To learn more about the app, click here.
|
|
To submit a small business for our weekly shoutout, please complete the form here.
|
|
19th District Weekly Report:
August 31- September 6
My office is in regular contact with the 19th Police District about crimes that have occurred recently in our area and that are reflected in the statistics below. The majority of 19th District crimes have occurred outside of our ward. The 19th District also includes the surrounding neighborhoods of Uptown, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village, Bricktown, Ravenswood, and Lincoln Square.
Please view our website's public safety page here for both proactive measures to stay safe before crimes occur, and also how to respond in the event of a crime. In order to stay safe, please find the the full list of CPD's safety tips here, as well as tips for personal safety, robberies, and vehicles.
Below you'll find Week 36's CompStat breakdown of crime in the 19th District.
Please note, these statistics are a reflection of the entire 19th District. The boundaries are from Lawrence Ave to Fullerton Ave, from the Chicago River to the Lake.
Here are the key points:
- Year to Date, Robberies are down 39%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 are down 25%
- Year to Date, Aggravated Battery is up 5%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 is down 12%
- Year to Date, Burglaries are down 43%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're down 38%
- Year to Date, Thefts are up 6%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 15%
- Year to Date, Motor Vehicle Thefts are up 25%, and compared to the same 28-day time period in 2025 they're up 33%
For a list of crime definitions, please see CPD's website here.
See full report below:
 |
|
|
Upcoming Meetings
Community Meetings With CPD (‘Beat Meetings’):
Beat meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) and are an opportunity to speak directly with CPD officers about your neighborhood. The officers review incidents that have occurred as well as an overview of crime statistics. Find your beat here and view the beat meeting schedule below or in our ward calendar.
19th Police District Council
The 19th Police District Council holds monthly meetings. To view all upcoming meetings, you can visit the 19th Police District Council website here.
The next meeting is:
Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Topic: Conversation with Jens Ludwig, Director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
600 W Fullerton Pkwy.
|
|
|
CPD Superintendent Search
Following the retirement of Superintendent Larry Snelling, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has begun the process of identifying candidates to serve as the next Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The Commission is conducting a 120‑day nationwide search and will recommend three finalists to the Mayor.
Community Input Opportunities:
- Complete the CCPSA Community Input Form to share what qualities and priorities you want to see in the next Superintendent.
- Attend an upcoming listening session. The Municipal Code requires the Commission to hold at least four public hearings across the city—on the North Side, South Side, and West Side
—to gather recommendations from Chicagoans before selecting candidates.
Upcoming Listening Sessions:
|
|
To learn more about this process, please visit CCPSA's webpage dedicated to the Superintendent search.
|
|
|
Other Public Safety Alerts
|
|
|
Charity Scam Alert:
The Chicago Police Department has seen an increase of "charity scams" in the area. In these cases, scammers utilize emotional pressure and fake urgency to persuade you to donate for a cause such as youth sports or gun violence victims. These individuals will offer to set up a small donation on your phone, but then take thousands of dollars.
It is important to never hand your phone to someone you don't know. If you believe that you are witnessing concerning behavior, call 911.
|
|
|
Mental Health Response Resources
|
|
If someone is in a mental health crisis, NAMI, Thresholds, and Trilogy provide resources and mobile crisis response in which a mental health professional can be dispatched.
This can be done instead of, or in conjunction with calling 911. If calling 911, you can ask for a CIT officer to be dispatched as they have additional mental health response training.
|
|
LAKE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL CAR WASH FUNDRAISER - SEPT. 12
|
NETTELHORST BIKE TUNE UP FUNDRAISER - SEPT. 12
|
|
THIRD SPACE FILM SCREENING - SEPT. 17
|
|
SNA YARD SALE
- SEPT. 19
|
LAKEVIEW EAST FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS - SEPT. 19-20
|
|
RACE TO WRIGLEY - SEPT. 20
Register HERE by noon on 9/19
|
GENDERCOOL GALA- SEPT. 24
|
|
ELVN OKTOBERFEST - SEPT. 26
|
CLARK STREET LIVE
- SEPT. 26 & 27
|
|
TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE - OCT. 3
|
|
|
On Sunday, October 11, Chicago will welcome runners and spectators from around the world for the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
|
|
Towing and Street Closures:
- No parking is allowed on the Chicago Marathon course. Towing of vehicles on the course will begin at 1:00am on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- The Chicago Marathon will involve extensive street closures on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Streets in your neighborhood may be closed to traffic starting at 6:00 a.m. and continuing to 4:00 p.m.
|
|
Merlo Library - Upcoming Programs
|
|
Merlo Library (644 W Belmont) has a wide range of events each week for babies, kids, teens, and adults.
Click here to view all of Merlo's upcoming events, and see below for events this coming week.
|
|
Click here for a full list of Chicago farmers markets.
Wrigleyville Night Market at Gallagher Way
The Night Market at Gallagher Way is back on select Thursdays from 4-8pm in July and August. To view the full schedule, click here.
|
|
Nourishing Hope (3945 N Sheridan), formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a robust Chicago nonprofit providing food, mental wellness counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance, to our neighbors in need.
To learn more about their programs, click here.
|
|
Deliver fresh groceries to your neighbors!
- Sign up for a Home Delivery Driving shift with Nourishing Hope to deliver 8-10 orders. Driving shifts begin at their Hub warehouse at 5151 N. Ravenswood at 10:30am.
- You can learn more and register for shifts here.
|
|
Donation Pages & Volunteer Opportunities
|
|
TUBMAN PLAYGROUND
|
|
CHICAGO ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL
|
|
PET WEEK - SEPT. 8-13
|
|
WATER WORKS APPLICATION
(Accepting applications through 9/11!)
|
COMMUNITY PARKING PROGRAM
AT SAINT JOSEPH
|
|
MAKE YOUR BUILDING
BIRD-FRIENDLY
|
BEAT FACILITATOR APPLICATION
|
|
The City is Hiring
Looking for a job? Try working for the City! Click here to see the full list of job openings currently seeking applicants.
Local government employment opportunities:
|
|
|
|
|
