Dear Neighbors,
As smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to impact air quality across Chicago, our office is working remotely today due to the air quality alert, but we will still be open for Saturday Office Hours tomorrow, July 18. Please take precautions outdoors, especially during strenuous activity, and check in on elderly friends and neighbors who may need additional support.
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City Council Passes Ald. Knudsen’s Prediction Markets Ordinance
This week, the Chicago City Council unanimously passed an ethics ordinance I introduced in May to ensure that City employees may not use non-public government information to place bets on online prediction markets. Prediction markets, such as Kalshi and Polymarket, allow users to wager on the outcomes of future events, from elections and policy decisions to economic indicators and world events. While existing ethics laws prohibited City employees from misusing confidential information in many contexts, they did not explicitly address these rapidly expanding platforms. With Wednesday's unanimous vote, more than 30,000 City employees, elected officials, and appointees are now prohibited from using non-public information obtained through their official roles to participate in prediction markets or other event-based contracts, or from sharing that information with others for use in those markets. I am proud of this new law, which makes Chicago the first major city in the country to explicitly close this ethics gap for municipal employees.
Treatment, Not Trauma: Expanding CARE Across Chicago
Every Chicagoan deserves access to compassionate, effective mental health care, especially during times of crisis. That's why last year, I was proud to lead a successful City Council letter calling on Mayor Johnson to fully fund and expand the CARE program, Chicago's non-police crisis response initiative that dispatches mental health professionals and paramedics to certain behavioral health emergencies where a law enforcement response may not be necessary. As CARE continues to expand citywide, I want to help residents better understand when and how this important resource can be used, and why it is an important part of our public safety network. I encourage you to attend the Treatment Not Trauma Northeast Town Hall on Tuesday, July 28, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at Broadway United Methodist Church. There will be a resource fair beginning at 6:00 p.m. and after, I'll be joined by Ald. Andre Vasquez (40), Ald. Matt Martin (47), Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), community partners, and Police District Councilors to further elaborate on the CARE program.
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Celebrating 25 Years of the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit & the Life of Allan Mellis
At this week's City Council meeting, I was proud to join Alderman Bennett Lawson in introducing a resolution celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit. I'm grateful to former 43rd Ward Alderman Vi Daley and former 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney for their vision in launching a program that has brought public art to neighborhoods across Chicago for a quarter century. Congratulations to the Chicago Sculpture Exhibit on this remarkable milestone.
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Additionally, I was honored to recognize the extraordinary life of Allan Mellis, affectionately known as the "Mayor of Lincoln Park." Allan helped establish the Lincoln Park Branch Library, preserved our neighborhood's history, and dedicated decades of service to our community. The 43rd Ward is a better place because of him, and his legacy will endure for generations.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. Did you know? The colorful murals beneath the Fullerton Underpass at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Shore Drive were created in 2017 by Chicago artist Renee Robbins in partnership with the Chicago Public Art Group. Inspired by everything from the cosmos to ecosystems beneath Lake Michigan, this mural is worth a regular visit. Watch this week’s full interview with Renee Robbins about the mural on Good Day Chicago here.
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Celebrating Intern Appreciation Week at City Hall! Thankful for Sofia, our City intern, and Bree, our Mikva Challenge intern, for their hard work, fresh perspectives, and commitment to the 43rd Ward.
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Selfie with Alderwoman Samantha Nugent (40) and City Clerk Anna Valencia
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Celebrating the dedication of the new Garibaldi Plinth Plaza! This historic site has been transformed into a beautiful public space featuring rotating sculptures, thanks to a partnership with the Chicago Parks Foundation and Chicago Sculpture Exhibit.
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Welcoming 43rd Ward's newest restaurant located at 2630 N Clark St: Muhajir! It is one of the best meals I have had in a long time, and I recommend you book a table to try it soon.
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Modernizing The 43rd Ward Office
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Last month, our office was proud to be highlighted nationally in a new Indigov and Granicus case study recognizing the 43rd Ward as a model for tech-forward constituent services & responsive local government. The report highlights how our office integrates Chicago’s 311 system directly into our internal workflow, allowing us to respond faster, track issues more efficiently, and proactively communicate with residents. I’m incredibly proud of our small but mighty team for continuing to help set a new standard for modern local government as we believe local government should be as responsive, transparent, and modern as the people it serves. I encourage you to check out the full report here.
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ADU Ordinance Now in Effect
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As of April 1, the City’s ordinance to legalize Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), led by Alderman Bennett Lawson and supported by my office, is officially in effect. In just the first two days, the City received 88 applications, an encouraging early sign that residents are ready to take advantage of this long-awaited change. Expanding access to ADUs is an important step toward addressing Chicago’s housing shortage and creating more flexible, affordable living options in our neighborhoods.
If you have ever considered adding an ADU, whether to create additional income or keep family members close, now is a great time to explore your options. You can enter basic information about your property to see how many units you may be eligible for and learn how to get started. The site also includes an interactive map that allows you to look up eligibility by address. I was proud to support this effort, and I encourage you to learn more, share this opportunity with neighbors, and explore how this program can help expand housing options across our city.
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The Recycle Coach app is a simple, all-in-one tool to help you manage trash, recycling, and waste services in your neighborhood. It helps residents stay organized, recycle correctly, and keep up with local services. With Recycle Coach, you can:
- Get personalized trash and recycling pickup reminders
- Look up how to properly dispose of items with the “What Goes Where” tool
- Find drop-off locations for hard-to-recycle materials
- Stay updated on service changes and holiday schedules
- Learn about local recycling events and programs
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Crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th & 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Week 28 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 28 Compstat.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts. Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number, and click here for a larger and printable version of the graphic.
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Summer safety strategies along our beach front are in full swing and I remain in constant communication with our 18th and 19th Chicago Police District (CPD) commanders advocating for heightened safety measures. As many more neighbors and Chicagoans take to the beaches to enjoy the warmer weather, CPD has confirmed the following actions:
Thank you to our police officers and our ward’s CPD leadership for keeping our beaches and lakefront safe. Through strong communication, partnership, and the above actions, the 43rd Ward will continue to be a welcoming and safe place to enjoy the summer season. Also, every summer I like to refamiliarize myself with CPD’s summer safety tips which are a great way to keep you and others in our community safe. To read the full list, click here.
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Ald. Knudsen Urges Johnson & CDOT to Prioritize Bridge Closures and Offer Alternative Traffic Congestion Plans
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"The ongoing closure of river bridges (especially the Cortland Bridge) has created major traffic strain and frustration for residents and businesses alike. Alongside seven other aldermen, I sent a letter to Mayor Johnson urging his administration and CDOT to prioritize this bridge issue. My office will continue pushing for clearer communication, smarter coordination, and the fastest safe timeline possible to get these bridges reopened." -Ald. Timmy Knudsen
Alderman Knudsen supported a proposal from 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins requiring the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to present a detailed traffic plan before closing any bridge for more than 30 days. The plan must outline how congestion will be reduced — including detours, parking adjustments, and other mitigation strategies. Our office also received a letter back from CDOT, outlining steps they are taking to help reduce traffic congestion and delays for 43rd Ward residents. You can read it here.
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Interactive Ward 43 Parking Zone Map
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Our office has created a parking zone map to help residents better understand where residential parking zones are located throughout the ward. For several streets, a Residential Parking Permit may not be required. Some areas may instead be free parking, pay-to-park, school zones, or tow and loading zones that restrict parking during certain hours.
While the map can be helpful for general reference, posted signage is always the most reliable indicator of parking rules. We encourage residents and visitors to carefully check street signs when parking to confirm the applicable restrictions.
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Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) and the City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) are reviewing damage from these severe storms and asking that residents who have been impacted submit an initial damage assessment to help determine if the County, along with partners at OEMC and at the state level can pursue any options for additional assistance for residents. Reporting damages to emergency management is voluntary. It is not a substitute for reporting damage to your insurance agency and does not guarantee disaster relief assistance. To fill out a survey, please click here.
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Sunday mornings, 11am-1pm
6/14, 7/12, 8/2 & 8/23
Meet Jennie in the LPHS parking lot
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street. The map is also interactive, allowing residents to view the real permits, view projects in other areas of the City, and see which type of work is being done on your street.
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations: Bus Lane Parking, Commercial Loading Zone, Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street, Disabled Parking, Fire Hydrant Parking, Residential Parking, Rush Hour Zones, School Safety Zones, Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane, Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.) Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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E-Scooters and E-Bikes Policy Updates
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Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides.
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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