1st Ward Newsletter | March 10, 2026
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Dear neighbors,
This week you're hearing from the 1st Ward Chief of Staff Nick who is leading the office while the Alderman is on paternity leave. We have a lot in the works at the ward office as we prepare the Alderman and our team for a successful and busy season of community engagement and policy work when he returns. That means a full schedule of proactive meetings and discussions with City and agency staff, along with research, writing, and outreach to community stakeholders.
Let's do a grab bag:
- We received over 200 responses to our participatory budgeting survey already! If you have not filled it out yet, please do, we love hearing from neighbors about their infrastructure priorities.
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- Many of you may have seen reports of Waymo cars surveying Chicago’s streets as the State considers legislation that could license autonomous vehicles in the city. Our staff are researching the issue, but for now, residents with strong opinions should contact their State elected officials, as the matter may be decided at the State level and preempt local licensing authority. Find your State representative or senator here!
- I am working with our community violence prevention partners and the 14th District to address public safety concerns in Logan Square. Residents have been reporting gang graffiti throughout the area roughly bounded by Shakespeare, California, Armitage, and Humboldt. These reports are helpful, as they allow us to make a bulk graffiti removal request through our ward superintendent. We are also aware of shots fired near Altgeld and Rockwell. This is an ongoing investigation. Our 14th District CAPS sergeant recommends that neighbors attend tomorrow's (March 11) Beat 1431 meeting taking place at 6:00 p.m. at Haas Park.
If you ever hear gunshots, call 911 immediately with as much information as possible, then call or email our office so we are aware of the issue. These 911 calls help us advocate for more resources to respond to any potential incidents of gun violence. We always share actionable information with our neighbors when it does not compromise investigations.
- I am currently researching the City's investment strategy to find more structural budgeting solutions, because the City Treasurer's statement shows that the City earned more than $300,000,000 in 2025, and the City's recent depository hearing showed that the City held $2,100,000,000 in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2025. At first glance, this appears to be an increase compared to $1,900,000,000 cash and cash equivalents across all functions at the end of 2024, but we await the City's midyear audit to confirm this. We want to know: how are these investment returns accounted for in the budget, and where could excess returns be structurally rolled back into the budget?
That's all I have for this week, in the meantime, enjoy spring training and the World Baseball Classic.
Be well,
Nick
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P.S. Click here to open this newsletter in another tab!
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In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
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Swing by the West Town Library (1625 W. Chicago) on Wednesday, March 25 for a free hot meal distributed by Islamic Relief USA! Meals will be available beginning at 3:00 p.m. and will be distributed until all are claimed.
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Credit Downgrade
You may have recently seen that unfortunately the City's bond rating was downgraded, in advance of the City's first General Obligation issuances of the year. According to their bond documents (available via MuniOS), the City expects to make at least two other General Obligation issuances in 2026, in Q3 for the Housing and Economic Development plan, and in Q2 for infrastructure development and refunding purposes. For the current sale, the City prepares to issue more than $500,000,000 in taxable General Obligation bonds to finance operating expenses (retroactive fire pay and police settlements) and other appropriate taxable uses authorized by ordinance, as well as more than $290,000,000 in tax exempt General Obligation bonds for suitable infrastructure purposes.
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The Logan Square Arts Festival is back! Interested vendors (food trucks/merchants/artisans) can apply here. Visit www.logansquareaf.com to stay updated.
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The Mayor’s Office of Community Safety invites you to Work, Wellness and a Safer Chicago: A People's Plan Job Readiness Fair.
Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Location: Humboldt Park Fieldhouse - 1440 N Humboldt Blvd
These events function as a bridge between unemployment or underemployment and sustainable employment by aligning individual readiness with employer needs and community workforce goals. By combining job preparation services with direct hiring opportunities, the initiative supports equitable access to employment while strengthening local talent pipelines for employers and increasing access to opportunities for economic mobility.
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Virtual 1st Ward First Look
Monday, March 30, 2026 (RSVP! via [email protected])
- 1619 N Artesian: Applicant proposes to rezone existing non-conforming 4-unit residence, to add a 3rd floor and redistribute the units throughout the building. 1st Ward Office provided initial review on development possibilities involving the existing structure as is, while also assessing the initial proposal for a third floor addition. (received February 2026)
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Expediting Zoning Cases
The 1st Ward Office has recently had a number of zoning inquiries in which work by the 1st Ward Office hastened licensing review, or resulted in administrative processes rather than Zoning Board of Appeals or Zoning Map Amendment processes. Here are three proposals which could have been placed on our case list, but received faster review due to our advocacy:
- 1054 - 1056 N Ashland: May not need a zoning map amendment following advocacy to the Department of Planning and Development, to help establish a cafe at an existing mixed use building.
- 1846 N Western: 1st Ward Office worked with a business owner of a photography studio to clarify zoning use, avoiding Zoning Board of Appeals.
- 1738 - 1740 W Division: 1st Ward Office worked with Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to advocate for the existing zoning to suit a use for a proposed pet food retail use at this location.
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