Reminder: 32nd Ward Newsletter May 22, 2026

32nd Ward Newsletter May 22, 2026

Dear John,

The City of Chicago is mourning the tragic loss of Firefighter Steven Decker, a 21-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, who died in a training exercise last week. Funeral services for Chicago firefighter Steven Decker were held today. We want to thank all of the Chicago Fire Department staff who put their lives on the line every day to protect Chicagoans. Whether in a training exercise or responding to a fire or accident scene, a firefighter's work is difficult and dangerous. Please keep the Decker family in your thoughts this weekend.

At City Hall, the City Council is continuing to work on several important issues that will affect Chicago’s future. ​In the council update at the bottom of the pages, I've added my thoughts on some of these issues. We also have added an update on the Cortland bridge from CDOT, CAPS meeting updates, and various community events below.

Looking ahead to this summer, we want to congratulate all the students across the city who are graduating and on their way to high school, or moving on to college or vocational education! It's great to see all the yard signs with the different school graduates represented in the community. CPS has also put out a few milestone moments in the latest newsletter which is a great read.

Our office will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.

There will also be no black or blue cart collection on Monday. Residents should ensure all carts are accessible throughout the week, not solely on their regular day of collection.

Have a good weekend and a thankful Memorial Day as we remember and honor all of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces.


Alderman Scott Waguespack

Police Meeting Updates

14th Police District

1433- May 26, 5:30pm- ZOOM ONLY

Webinar ID: 819 6383 5107

Passcode:240728

[email protected]

14th District Twitter

14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261

19th Police District

1931- May 26, 6:30pm 

Lathrop Advancement Center

2820 N. Leavitt

1932- May 28, 6:30pm 

Lincoln Park Library

1150 W. Fullerton

[email protected]

19th District Twitter

19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064

1434 beat meeting recap (Armitage/Wood/North/Rockwell)-

There were no robberies in this beat in the past month period. There were 6 burglaries, which were largely items taken from cars. There were three auto thefts, and three thefts from autos, both of which are down from this period last year. The 14th District has burglaries and thefts from cars as a high priority mission this year, with tactical CPD cars focusing on the area between Armitage and Division, the river and Western.

1921 (Irving/Damen/Belmont/the river) and 
1922 (Irving/Southport/Belmont/Damen) beat meeting recap-

There were no robberies in beat 1921 in the past month period. There was one burglary, where the resident reported nothing was taken. There was one aggravated assault to a facility; the offender fled the scene before the police arrived. The police searched the area with negative results. There weren’t any Honda airbags taken in this beat this period. For beat 1922, there were no robberies. There were three burglaries, all to businesses. There were six Honda airbag thefts, as well as one catalytic converter theft.

Lakeview Goons update

The main topic at this meeting was an update on the robbery that happened in early April near Audubon school. The police said there are now four offenders in custody, two of whom turned themselves in this week. All four are charged with felonies (strong armed robbery and aggravated assault). All are juveniles with no previous arrest record. Since these are juveniles, no one other than the victim (who was in attendance) can attend the court hearing and no court advocates can appear to show support. A community letter may be circulated to show support and it should be noted that the State's Attorney has been heavily involved in assisting the police.

Alderman’s Area 5 Command staff meeting update

Area 5 covers several different Wards and police districts including the 14th District for Bucktown-Wicker Park. 

Commander Rivera along with the area chief and several commanders gave me a briefing on the overall status of index crimes in the area. The 14th District is doing great in terms of crime reduction for our area. Crimes like theft, motor, vehicle theft, robbery, burglaries, and assaults are all down overall. Thanks to our 14th District officers in Bucktown and Wicker Park for helping keep these numbers down.

One of the biggest issues that has been dogging every U.S. city is the theft of Honda airbags. The best way to prevent a Honda airbag from being stolen, regardless of model is to use a steering wheel lock. Thieves working in groups throughout Chicago and the entire country know Hondas require a quick popping off of the steering wheel cover and then two clicks of clips to remove a Honda airbag. 

These bags are sold to buyers on the black market for hundreds of dollars. Like many other auto parts, airbags do not have specific serial number for each individual car, making it very difficult to tie any found airbags to a particular car and theft. 

The commander of the detective division detailed his efforts in combatting these thefts and other crimes. He has created a four-person detective team in Area 5 to track and try to shut down the airbag theft team. They have been using different camera systems including license plate readers to try to track the groups who are usually using stolen cars to commit the crimes. If you have an airbag stolen, please make sure you report it via 911. Private cameras on homes or businesses have been helpful in tracking and catching a handful of offenders, but police are still working to shut down a larger criminal crew that has been working throughout the city and likely throughout the Midwest region. Again, the best way to prevent the theft of these airbags is to use a steering wheel lock. 

2026 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street cleaning season has begun. Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 5 and 6 (parts of Roscoe Village and Hamlin Park). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs).

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any landscaping debris should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool. 

Wellington & Oakdale Greenway Work to Begin

The work on the Wellington & Oakdale Neighborhood Greenways will begin this week. The purpose of this project will be to provide safer bike routes and promote safer vehicle speeds. Please be aware of no parking signs. CDOT could not provide specific dates for the project, but as we know more, we'll let you know. Any questions about the project, feel free to reach out to our Chief of Staff Paul Sajovec - [email protected] or call 773-248-1330.

Water Main Project

Greenview, Fullerton to Altgeld

Update 5/22/26

Tentative schedule for the week of May 26 (All field activities are weather dependent) -

• Work progress may slow down as operations approach the alley area due to the large number of existing services and utility facilities located there. Relocation of some facilities may be considered as an option.

• DWM crews will continue installing the new 8” ductile iron water main on Greenview to replace the existing water main.

• While the crew is working on the water main, all the private drains on the east side of Greenview will be replaced to comply with IEPA requirements. Up to today, nine addresses have been replaced, as they are crossing the new water main, from clay to a 6” ductile pipe.

• The crew is trying to keep the work site as tidy as possible. Cold patch has been applied to the dug areas.

• Up to date, 57% of the work has been completed (in the water main phase of the project). 

In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a Water Department supervisor on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately. 

Street and Alley Repaving

These streets or alleys are set to be repaved in the near future. Generally, they will be milled down, followed up by the repaving 2-3 weeks later, weather depending.

Alley resurfacing

• Montana between Montana/Fullerton/Western/Oakley
• Charleston between Charleston/Dickens/Western/Oakley
• McLean between McLean/Armitage/Western/Oakley
• Wrightwood between Wrightwood/Altgeld/Southport/Wayne
• Bosworth between Bosworth/Greenview/Wrightwood/Altgeld
• Altgeld between Altgeld/Fullerton/Greenview/Janssen
• Addison between Addison/Cornelia/Oakley/Bell
• Wellington between Wellington/Lincoln/Lakewood

Street resurfacing

• Medill from Oakley to Western
• Charleston from Oakley to Western
• Cortland from Damen to Hoyne
• Wellington from Honore to Seeley

Cortland Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project Update

The Cortland Street Bridge over the North Branch of the Chicago River has been closed to vehicular traffic since September 22, 2025, as part of the Cortland Street Capital Bridge Rehabilitation project. This project was initiated to extend the service life of the more than century-old bridge and ensure its long-term safety.

The Bridge was originally constructed in 1902, when regular inspections and other federal requirements were not necessary. As a result, the bridge was constructed in a way that made certain areas nearly impossible to inspect and maintain.

Closing the bridge to vehicular traffic has allowed for a more thorough assessment of the bridge in areas that were not previously accessible. These inspections identified additional issues that were not included in the original scope of work. While this type of discovery is not uncommon in rehabilitation projects, the findings in this case are significant elements and require a more

detailed engineering review and analysis before a revised project approach is determined. That assessment is expected to be completed in June. Following that, CDOT can share a more detailed update on next steps.

In the meantime, sidewalks will remain open for pedestrian and bicycle access. Ongoing work includes bridge pier protection, bridge house stabilization, bridge painting, and seawall repairs.

We recognize the impact this closure has on traffic in the surrounding area and we are working carefully on next steps to minimize disruptions while maintaining public safety.

Diversey Substation Issue

Over the past weeks, we have been following and supporting Alderman Knudsen on the community concerns surrounding ComEd’s proposed electrical substation at 1111 W. Diversey Parkway.

The ComEd substation calls for construction on the old Mini lot that houses a defunct substation. Alderman Knudsen has been taking into consideration the scale, location, and potential impacts given its proximity to homes, schools, and public spaces. In April, he submitted a formal request to the City’s Zoning Administrator for a Written Interpretation of how this project should be classified under Chicago’s zoning framework. In response, the Zoning Administrator did not issue a definitive determination, citing a lack of sufficient project-specific information from ComEd. While the letter notes that substations have historically been treated as “Minor Utilities,” it also makes clear that the City does not yet have enough detail to fully evaluate this proposal and leaves the door open for further review if additional information is provided.   

He also formally requested that the Department of Buildings and the Chicago Department of Transportation place an administrative hold on any demolition permits until a clearer zoning determination is made. He has more info here.

Invitation to the 2027 Budget Engagement Roundtables

Please feel to share your insights about the upcoming 2027 budget by attending one of three Budget Engagement Roundtables. Click on the event you'd like to attend to register!

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE I

Weds, June 3rd, 2026

Malcolm X College

1900 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60612

Resource Fair: 5:00 PM

Roundtables: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE II

Saturday, June 6th, 2026

Harry S. Truman

1145 W. Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 6064

Resource Fair: 9:00 AM

Roundtable: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

BUDGET ENGAGEMENT ROUNDTABLE III

Tuesday, June 16th, 2026

Kennedy-King College

6301 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60621

Resource Fair: 5:00 PM

Roundtable: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Roscoe Village Community Garage Sale

Get ready to clear out your clutter, find amazing bargains, and connect with neighbors at the Roscoe Village Community Garage Sale!

Saturday, June 6th

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Rain or Shine!)

$20 to Register

Last year, over 60 households participated—and we’re aiming for even more this year! Whether you’re selling or shopping, it’s a great way to meet neighbors and discover hidden treasures.

Ready to sell? Register today to get your home on the official map and help us advertise the event far and wide.

Deadline to register is May 31st.

Let’s make this year’s sale the biggest yet!

Join us for Porchfest Lakeview on May 31st, from 1pm-5pm, a neighborhood music festival featuring local musical acts performing across front porches throughout Lakeview. Enjoy an intimate live music experience while connecting with neighbors and supporting local musicians. Click on the flyer above for more info.

Movies in the Park Summer Lineup

Network Night at

Bitter Pops

Tue. June 23, 5:30 - 7:00pm

Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce invites you to enjoy light refreshments, engaging conversations, and the chance to meet fellow members from a wide range of industries—all in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Network Nights is your place to connect, exchange ideas, and grow your business together.

Register here!

City Council Meeting Update

The Council was given the task of reviewing the parking meter deal this week as the sale of the meters to Stonepeak Infrastructure was announced. Unfortunately, since the Johnson Administration put in their own bid in January, they announced that due to restrictions in the meter deal they now have to recuse the Law and Finance Departments from giving the City Council assistance or share information on the bid and state of the meter deal during the review process. This now limits the Council's ability to gather information from our own city administration due to yet another ridiculous meter mistake. 

While I will continue to review the sale, it is likely that the sale can move forward with the ironclad meter deal staying in place. Two previous mayors and several attorneys have worked to amend or break the parking meter deal in favor of the City, to no avail. The parking meter arbitration that I wrote about in previous newsletters solidified the argument that we are stuck with a bad deal when even the Covid pandemic changes the City made were reversed and could not break the ironclad meter deal. 

This week, the Council also approved new steps to strengthen voter protections and improve election security, as part of ​a​n ordinance that purports to assist the election boards of the City and State and creates another large advisory council. 

I am continuing to work with a growing group of aldermen to support practical ​budget solutions that focus on public safety, a strong economy, and accountability for taxpayers. 2027 Budget hearings will take place later this fall but we are already preparing for 2027 as we continue to push for implementation of legislative priorities passed in last years budget. As budget talks continue in the coming months, I will keep fighting for policies that protect essential city services and make sure residents see results from their government.​ 
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The tipped wage ordinance passed this week after a compromise ordinance between council sponsors on each side of the debate and the restaurant industry. After hearing from many restaurant workers and restaurants impacted by the tipped wage ordinance passed a couple years ago, the Council reversed course and voted to pause the tipped wage ordinance. In April, Mayor Johnson vetoed an agreement to pause the tipped wage phaseout after two years. The new compromise extends the original four year phase-out by two years. 

The median tipped restaurant worker in Illinois earns 75% more than the current Chicago minimum wage of $16.60/hour, or about $28.48 an hour. The minimum wage in Chicago is $16.60 per hour for employers with 4 or more employees. Tipped workers (workers who receive tips as part of their wage, like restaurant servers) have a minimum wage of $12.62 for employers with 4 or more employees. If a tipped worker’s wages plus tips do not equal at least the full minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference. There is no “sub-minimum” wage in Chicago. Illinois law guarantees a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour for workers 18 years of age and older. An employer where gratuities are paid to employees, may pay 60% of the minimum wage to its employees. 

Other data that was relevant to deciding on the issue was the closure of 496 Chicago restaurants in the first half of 2025. Even though many new ones opened, by the end of the year Chicago was in the negative column. Restaurant employee numbers are about 12,800 under where they were prior to Covid as restaurants continue to struggle with the ability to hire as multiple new Chicago laws and food prices impact the industry. 

The compromise was a good approach that continues to ensure the minimum wage is paid while keeping Chicago restaurants in business. 

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The Chicago City Council unanimously confirmed David Glockner as Chicago’s next Inspector General. OIG appointments are for a four-year term. Glockner served for 24 years with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, with 11 of those years as chief of the criminal division. He took part in the convictions of former Illinois Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich. He was the Chicago Office SEC Regional Director, working on regulatory compliance and cybersecurity. He also served as Chief Compliance Officer for Citadel LLC and moved to Exelon to clean up that company in the wake of scandals. Our Ethics and Government Oversight Committee unanimously approved Glockner who moved on to a full vote of approval at the City Council. During Committee he answered questions about the independence aldermen hoped to see in his position specifically related to the Mayor’s office. Glockner believes he will have full independence to investigate all aspects of city government. He committed to speeding up the timeline of city investigations and focusing the OIG's audit powers on risk related issues and working to improve efficiency in the delivery of city services. 

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Opportunity for City Owned Bus Terminal Moves Forward

For the last several years, the intercity bus terminal at 630 W. Harrison was on the chopping block as developers looked to sell off the outdated terminal. The City has been working to purchase the property and redevelop it into a modern facility. 

Yesterday, City Council voted to move ahead with expanding the boundaries of the Canal/Congress Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to incorporate the station into the TIF. Busses from all over the region drop off passengers at this facility, including students coming to and from our state universities who are dropped off at unsafe locations like under the viaduct on the Clinton side of the terminal. 

The funds from the Canal Congress TIF will be used to purchase and rebuild the facility. Having a city owned terminal that can be a revenue generator while providing a safer location for all passengers arriving or departing Chicago is a benefit to the city and our whole region. I’m glad to see the City taking on this project and keeping the bus terminal open for years to come. 

Here is some more information on the recent history of the terminal issues and the possibilities for the new station (via Joe Schwieterman at DePaul University) as the City moves forward with the project. 

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I voted no on the ordinance to block only police officers with alleged ties to extremist groups from sensitive areas of city information because I believe it should cover all City departments and elected officials, not only the police. We know extremists are trying to take over libraries, school boards, and other agencies throughout the United States. An all-encompassing, all employees of the city ordinance would have done more to prohibit any possible activity.

The ordinance originally was a ban on all City employees in any department. I supported that ordinance because of its broad reach. The original ordinance was then completely watered down to exclude aldermen, other city employees, or any appointed or elected officials on any board, leaving only the police department on the list; that is not good enough. If we’re fighting extremist groups, then why not cover all the other tax-funded roles in the city? A majority of aldermen, including me, wanted the original ordinance that covered anyone employed by the City.

The administration said that they didn’t want to be challenged by employees accused of extremism or for being part of a group that fell into that category. Many aldermen were rightly upset and voted against the weakened version of the ordinance. An additional substitute ordinance was again entered into the debate that again included all departments in hopes of getting the City Council on board. The substitute was opposed by the administration and blocked by a handful of aldermen.

There is ample evidence that there are City employees, who are not police, that have been let off the hook for extremist activities over the years. Death threats, assaults on staff, and other extreme activities have been allowed to go on without consequences. The original more wide ranging ordinance covering all employees would have helped root them out and ban the activity in the same way as police.

I support legislation that allows a stronger path for the Law Department, HR, Board of Ethics, and Inspector General to take action against any City employees who are participating in extremist groups. I believe most residents of Chicago would support this as well.

I voted on the principle that all employees and appointed/elected officials should be held accountable for extremist activities. Voting for this ordinance weakened our ability to hold all employees accountable. The hope of the no vote message was to force the Council to negotiate to include a new ordinance that includes all employees citywide. Put simply, we would have either gone back to negotiate or it would pass, so either outcome would have been better for the City. 

Despite that setback trying to hold everyone accountable, I continue to fight against racism and hate across the whole city -not only the police department, but all departments, agencies and employees and hope you would join in that effort. 

City News

• How Would a Sale of Chicago’s Parking Meters Affect Drivers?
• Final Vote Set for Scaled-Back Effort to Honor Rev. Jesse Jackson With New Push to Protect Voting Rights
• City Council Approves Compromise That Freezes Hourly Pay for Tipped Workers
• City Council Approves $54.7m Tax Break to Jump-Start United Center Development
• State’s Attorney Vows to Target ‘Serious Crimes’ on CTA with New Transit Task Force
• Chicago’s Top Cop, City Council Target Parents of Kids in Teen Takeovers
• Cook Co. Sending Out Millions in Property Tax Refunds After Year-Long Delay
• Still Waiting for That Library Book You Put on Hold? Driver Shortage Is to Blame
• Why Is There a Helicopter Flying Over My Neighborhood Every Night?
• Call Your Mother — Serving a Hybrid New York-Montreal Style Bagel — Opens 1st Chicago Shop
• Ukrainian Village, Bucktown Apartment Proposals Approved by City Council
• Good News for Gardeners: Native Plants on Parkways Can Grow to 36 Inches Under New City Rule
• Cadillac Dealership Coming to Lincoln
• Bailey Surprises City Council, Apologies to Chicago

Alderman Scott Waguespack

2657 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 248-1330

[email protected]