← Back to newsletters
Sign in Sign up for alerts

36th Ward Newsletter for September 2026

Gilbert Villegas Ward 36 📞 773-745-4636 ✉️ [email protected]
Relevance: 4/10
street_safety_or_traffic_calming transit_funding city_budget

Summary

Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward) reports that City Council passed the adjusted parking meter deal, including key concessions such as $75 million up front for pensions and profit-sharing, and also passed an expansion of the Veteran Enterprise Business (VBE) program. He also notes the City Council’s upcoming budget hearings as the mayor’s budget proposal comes forward, though no specific housing, zoning, or transit actions are detailed. Other announcements include the Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K on Oct. 4 at Hanson Park Stadium, upcoming community conversations and workshops, and community highlights including Hispanic Heritage Month events and neighborhood recognitions for West Town and Belmont Cragin.

36th Ward Newsletter for September 2026
36th Ward Newsletter:

September 2026
FEATURED EVENT
📣 JOIN US: The inaugural Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K is coming to Hanson Park Stadium!

Come together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, honor Latino Veterans and First Responders, and join in community.

🗓️ Sunday, October 4th
⏰ Doors Open 7:00 AM
🏃🏽‍♀️ Run Starts at 8:00 AM
📲 Register with the QR Codes or at https://tinyurl.com/y9y6ep5x

Dear Neighbors,

The seasons are changing, there's a fall chill in the air, and I hope you and your family are doing well! I also hope you can join us for our first-ever annual Latino Veterans and First Responders 5K run/walk. September 15th - October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month and in partnership with the American Legion Post #939 and National Louis University, we're excited to bring this new event to the community. More details can be found in the Featured Event section and below.

Fall season also means budget season in the City of Chicago. In the next coming weeks, the City Council will hear the budget proposal from the mayor. There are many issues to discuss and to be considered for the budget. My office will share news and updates as they come. As always, please feel free to call, email, or message us on social media with any thoughts and feedback you may have. 

On the horizon, our annual Trunk or Treat events will be announced soon as well. Stay tuned to our social media for flyers promoting them. We will also share invites via text message. 

Thank you as always, for allowing me to serve as your alderman. 


Sincerely,

Alderman Gilbert Villegas 36th Ward


Office Hours in the 36th Ward! ⏰
  • Monday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Please note: our offices are closed for lunch between 12:45-1:30pm Monday and Wednesday and 1:45-2:30pm Tuesday and Thursday.
 

VISIT OUR OFFICES:

⭐ 36th Ward Belmont Cragin Office
6560 W Fullerton Ave
Unit # C118 - Suite A
Chicago, IL 60707

⭐ 36th Ward West Town Office
2246 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
 


Upcoming Events in the 36th Ward:

🏃🏽‍♀️ Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K: Oct. 4 at 7:00 AM: Hanson Park Stadium

📢 12th District Community Conversations: Oct. 1 & Oct. 22: Various Locations

👵🏽 Center of Disability & Elder Law Workshop Series: Oct. 22, 1:00 - 2:30 PM | Belmont Cragin Office, 6560 W Fullerton Ave, Unit # C118 - Suite A, Chicago, IL 60707

🎃 Trunk Or Treat Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home: Oct. 23, 3:00 – 6:00pm | 6901 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
 

CONTACT THE 36TH WARD OFFICE

For all service requests and questions, call our office at 773-745-4636 or send an email to [email protected]. Please include your name, home address, and phone number so my staff can best assist you.

As a reminder, we have two 36th Ward Offices to serve our constituents: one in West Town, and one in Belmont Cragin.

We are closed for lunch from 12:45pm to 1:30pm Monday, Wednesday and 1:45pm to 2:30pm Tuesday, Thursday. Stop by to ask questions and get connected to resources!

Sincerely,

Alderman Gilbert Villegas & the 36th Ward Team
 
36th Ward Upcoming Events Flyers
POLICY UPDATES FROM ALDERMAN VILLEGAS

 

🚙 PASSED: City Council Adjusted Parking Meter Deal

Yesterday, the City Council voted 46-3 on the adjusted parking meter deal. The original 2008 deal to sell our meters, prior to my tenure and many of my colleagues', was one of the worst deals ever made.

Given this opportunity, with a new seller interested, it was crucial to use our leverage to get a better deal for the City of Chicago; this included:

✅ $75 million up front for our pensions
✅ 5% profit share from the annual net income ($367 million over 57 years)
✅ 2% of the sale price if sold again in the future
❌ Vendor cut business ties with DHS
❌ Firm will not sell driver data to third parties

The City of Chicago should utilize every tool at its disposal to chip away and reclaim the parking meters for our city. This is not the end, but it is a step in the right direction.

I am grateful to my colleagues who fought for these provisions and rightfully acknowledged this moment to obtain something positive from one of the worst deals made by a previous administration.

Read more about it here. 

🇺🇸 PASSED: Expansion of the Veteran Enterprise Business (VBE) Program

The City Council passed an expansion of the Veteran Enterprise Business (VBE) program. This legislation expands the city departments that Veteran-owned businesses and contractors can do business with.

I am proud this passed and grateful to my colleagues for their continued support of Veterans and our community.

You can learn more about the VBE program and apply for your certification at: https://tinyurl.com/2dkh7jav
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Yesterday, I joined Cook County and our local community organizations to highlight federal changes affecting Medicaid coverage for our immigrant neighbors.

To be clear - those being affected are lawfully present in the United States under humanitarian protections, including refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking. It also includes our Ukrainian community, who had to flee their homeland due to the ongoing war. 

We should not be turning our backs on people who come here seeking safety and a better life. I urge everyone to stay updated and connected with local partners who are sharing more information as we get it. 

Please follow and connect with: 

➡️ Selfreliance Association
➡️ Cook County Health
➡️ CountyCare
➡️ Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
➡️ MIRA: Middle Eastern Immigrant & Refugee Alliance
➡️ Refugeeone
➡️ Syrian Community Network
➡️ World Relief Chicagoland
Celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at CICS Belden’s Hispanic Heritage Play Streets Event! ⭐️

Our 36th Ward fall interns joined in the games, music, food, and festivities. We also shared information about the Latino Veterans & First Responders 5K on October 4 at Hanson Park Stadium.
🌟 West Town was officially named the coolest neighborhood in Chicago! And Time Out ranked it the 18th coolest neighborhood in the world! ✨

I’m not surprised! West Town’s history is rooted in generations of German, Polish, Italian, Ukrainian, and Russian immigrants, followed by Puerto Rican, Mexican, and African American communities. That diversity has helped create the incredible culture, food, arts, and local businesses that make West Town special. 

But being “cool” isn’t just about the restaurants, shops, and nightlife; it’s about the people and small businesses that give our neighborhood its character.

Let’s celebrate the recognition and keep supporting the local businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and community members who make West Town what it is. ❤️🏙️

🗞️ Full story here: https://tinyurl.com/2jc9d5xv
Belmont Cragin is now Chicago’s largest Latino neighborhood, with nearly 58,000 Latino residents, according to a new UIC Great Cities Institute report.

As a proud representative of Belmont Cragin, I welcome this recognition of the families, businesses, and community who make our neighborhood a vibrant part of Chicago.

Our community is growing, and with that growth comes an opportunity to invest, create opportunities, support our local businesses, and build an even stronger Belmont Cragin for generations to come!

🗞️ Full story: https://tinyurl.com/3vywvbnu
Congratulations to Bridgeport Records 312 for opening up your second location in the 36th Ward!

Neighbors, check out Onion Records located at 1812 W. Chicago Ave! 

Cheers to them and good luck with the new venture! 🎶
RESOURCES
PROMOTING COMMUNITY SAFETY

- Our office works closely with the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff's Office to respond to crimes and keep our residents safe.
- As a reminder, always CALL 911 whenever you see a crime or suspicious activity occurring. That is the only way for CPD to know when & where to target their responses.
- Attend a community meeting with your Police District! At the bottom of this email, you will find the CAPS Police Beat Meeting Schedules for the 11th, 12th, 16th, and 25th Police Districts. Find your Police District & Beat here: operations.chicagopolice.org/FindMyDistrict
POLICE BEAT MEETING
SCHEDULES FOR 2025:
11th, 12th, 16th, and 25th Districts
11th District Schedule:
12th District Schedule:
16th District Schedule:
25th District Schedule:
Twitter
Facebook
36th Ward Website
Instagram






This email was sent to [REDACTED]
why did I get this?        
36th Ward Alderman · 6934 W Diversey Ave · Chicago, Illinois 60707 · USA