| Happy Friday Neighbors!
April is here and with it comes not only showers, but Earth Day events! In the 40th, we will have park clean ups and our Good, Shredder, Best Shred Event on the 18th, so make sure to gather all of your shred-worthy items (and your campaign mail, I bet) to bring on over to our ward yard at 5333 N Western! There is a 2 box maximum, and please make sure to not include any spiral bound notebooks in your boxes. You can also recycle medications, hard-to-recycle items, and donate items to neighbors in need! Check out the flyer below for more info on that.
April is also National Volunteer Month! Whether it’s volunteering to clean up your local park or helping us out at the front desk, we will always have opportunities for you. I’d also encourage our neighbors to volunteer at the Friendship Center, Nourishing Hope, Centro Romero, or any of the amazing organization in the ward –– they could all use the help!
Chag Sameach to all who celebrate! I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Passover filled with joy.
Yours in Service and Community, 
Andre Vasquez |
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Winnemac Park Ballfield Opening Postponed!The opening celebration of the new Winnemac Park Ballfield has been postponed! Chicago Park District identified some drainage issues that necessitate minor repairs. We hope to have a new date to announce soon! |
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Apply for the 40th Ward Summer Internship!
The 40th Ward is currently accepting applications for college students interested in interning with the 40th Ward Office for 2026. This is a paid 10-week, 35 hour/week program from June through August. Interns must be residents of the City of Chicago and must have completed at least one quarter or semester of college in an accredited program in the Spring of 2026. Interviews for this position will be held in April. Apply today!
The 40th Ward will also be hosting one fellow through Mikva Challenge's MSF program for a recent high school graduate. Learn more and apply on Mikva’s website. Applications for MSF should not be directed to the 40th Ward Office. |
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I-Cash at Ward Night
Join representatives from Treasurer Michael Frerichs' Office during Ward Night on Monday, April 6th at the 40th Ward Office (5620 N Western Ave) from 4:30pm to 6pm to check if you have unclaimed property!
Since 2015, the Treasurer’s Office has returned over $2 Billion in assets (cash and value of returned shares). The State Treasurer is holding more than 5 billion dollars in unclaimed funds for Illinoisans. The State holds these lost funds until they are claimed by either the original owner or their heirs. Property is returned at no cost with the proper identification. Learn more at illinoistreasurer.gov/ICASH. |
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Emergency Family Planning Workshop
Join the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (CIRR) for a virtual event geared toward community members affected by recent immigration enforcement activities or interested in learning how to create a family emergency plan and how to prepare a temporary guardianship agreement in case of ICE detention. |
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City Sticker Amnesty Month
City Clerk Anna Valencia is bringing back Amnesty Month during the month of April. Their office is waiving City Sticker late fees and back charges to drivers from Wednesday, April 1 to Thursday, April 30, 2026. They will also be offering amnesty at three Saturday Mobile City Hall events and on the City Clerk’s 24/7 online store! Learn more at chicityclerk.com/AmnestyMonth. |
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Big, Shredder, Best Shred Event!
On Saturday, April 18th, we're hosting a Bears-themed shred event at 5333 N. Western Avenue from 11:30am-2:00pm (or until trucks are full)! Bring up to two boxes to shred (no spiral bound notebooks, please). You can also recycle any expired or unused medications with the Cook County Sheriff's Office and hard-to-recycle materials with the Mobile CHARM center (check out cookcountyil.gov/CHaRMCenter for a list of accepted items).
Our friends at the Friendship Center will also be accepting donations of cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and kitchen items, so we encourage you to donate any of these items if you're able to help our neighbors in need! |
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On the Blog
2026 Street Sweeping Map Now Available: Street sweeping began this week! Check out our website for a schedule of when your street will be swept. How to Handle Street Flooding: in light of the rain this week, check out our blog for tips on how to handle flooding on your block!
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| Open for Feedback: 5636-40 N. Ashland RezoningFeedback is open now for the rezoning request at 5636 - 40 N. Ashland to allow for a new construction. If you weren’t able to make the meeting, you can view a recording and submit feedback before April 14th! |
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| | Construction Updates
Check out some of the major construction projects going on in the ward this week! |
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| Lincoln Avenue StreetscapeThe second and final phase of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape Project is nearing the finish line! Contractors are currently working on punchlist items. The installation of the Western/Ainslie traffic signal has been delayed due to a car accident that damaged a mast arm. While contractors assess the situation and alternatives, installation is on hold and traffic operations in the intersection will remain as is. |
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| | Ashland Resurfacing & Traffic SignalConstruction on Ashland Avenue from Montrose to Foster is once again underway! Bus pads are completed, and crews are currently working on concrete median work from Foster to Ridge, and installing catch basins from Lawrence to Foster. The installation of the Ashland and Berwyn traffic signal is also in progress, and contractors expect that the signal should be operational in the next 2-3 weeks. |
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| Chicago’s Largest Playdate Check out Chicago’s Largest Playdate this weekend for a free, family-friendly event designed for children ages 3–5 and their families. With a nature-based theme, the City's Largest Playdate celebrates both the Week of the Young Child (April 11–17, 2026) and Earth Day (April 22, 2026), and offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with Chicago families in a fun, welcoming environment. Families can look forward to:
🖍️ Fun games and creative activities 🎒 Application support resources 👋 Special guests, including Southpaw (The mascot for the Chicago White Sox) 🚆 Free CTA passes for the first 300 families Register by scanning the QR Code on the flyers or by visiting ChicagoPlaydate.eventbrite.com. |
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| Urban Gardening Workshop
On Monday, April 6 at 6:30 PM, the Budlong Woods Library is hosting Start Growing 2026 with Urban Habitat Chicago at 5630 N. Lincoln Ave! Join Mike from Urban Habitat Chicago for an urban gardening workshop. Learn about low-cost ways to get started and receive expert tips for growing seeds and transplanting your starter plants. Whether you have a backyard plot or a sunny balcony, you’ll discover how to make the most of your space. For absolute beginners or any curious gardeners. Each participant will take home a small pot with seeds to kickstart their gardening journey! While here, be sure to visit our Budlong Woods Seed Library. To register, stop by the branch or call 312-742-9590. |
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| CFD Career Exploration Course
On April 8 from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, The Chicago Fire Department is is hosting a Career Exploration Course at Malcolm X College, 1900 W Jackson Blvd RM 4415. RSVP here! |
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City-Wide Earth Day Parks Cleanup
The Chicago Park District is excited to host the 2026 Citywide Earth Day Parks Clean-Up on Saturday, April 18. We invite residents from across Chicago to participate in caring for their neighborhood parks. Each year, thousands of volunteers come together to help clean and beautify parks throughout the city. This event is a wonderful opportunity for residents to connect with neighbors while supporting the green spaces that serve our communities. Volunteer registration is now open! Residents can find a park and register to volunteer at ChicagoParkDistrict.com/Earth-Day. |
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Chicago Clean and Green Day of Action
The City's annual Clean & Green Day of Service will take place on Saturday, April 18. On this day, residents, school groups and community organizations throughout the City team up to clean and beautify areas in their neighborhood. All volunteer groups, large and small, are welcome to participate. They can 311 to register their group and the Department of Streets and Sanitation will lend the brooms, rakes, shovels, and bags for the clean-up projects. Registration is open until Monday, April 13. To register, call 311! |
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Free Comics and Creatures Class
Green Briar Park is hosting a Comics and Creatures class from Apr 3, 2026 - Jun 5, 2026 at 2650 West Peterson Ave. Ages 9-13 are welcome, and class is free. Develop and design unique characters to create stories, comics and zines! Use your own characters as a jumping off point to design and sew 3D stuffed fabric figures, monsters and more! Use fabric and basic sewing techniques to embellish your one-of-a-kind plushies with stitching, buttons and sequins. Register Here! |
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CSBG Scholarship Program
Turn Ambition Into Action: Apply for the CSBG Scholarship! Undergraduate, Graduate, Vocational and Trade School Students are eligible. The 2026 program continues DFSS’s longstanding commitment to making higher education accessible for Chicago’s working families. The CSBG Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to income-eligible Chicago residents pursuing higher education. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 and may be applied toward tuition and institutional fees for the Fall 2026 semester/quarter, and additional resources such as financial education and personal development. Eligibility requirements include: Be a City of Chicago resident with valid supporting documentation Meet the program income guidelines Be enrolled at least part time in an education institution or trade program for the Fall 2026 semester/quarter
APPLY BY MAY 6, 2026 at chicago.gov/scholarship! |
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Hi Neighbors,
Last night, I attended the much-anticipated Special Hearing with the Commission and Superintendent Snelling. The meeting lasted an hour and a half, yet only 30 minutes were allocated for questions directed to the Superintendent.
For the past six months, District Councilors and I have been meeting with CCPSA staff and Vice President Angel Rubio Navarijo, working intentionally to shape the questions we believed needed to be asked. We collaborated with community organizations, subject matter experts, and policy experts to ensure those questions were thoughtful and meaningful. In the end, however, we were given roughly one question per Commissioner. That outcome felt underwhelming on the Commission’s part and performative on the Superintendent’s.
During the discussion, Commissioner Wortham and Superintendent Snelling repeatedly referred to Rapid Responders and community members as “people described as protesters.” Let’s be clear: neighbors organizing with whistles to warn others about ICE presence in their communities are not “protesters.” The fact that none of the Commissioners corrected this framing was deeply frustrating and dismissive of the communities most impacted by the Midway Blitz.
Superintendent Snelling did reference the executive order, stating that he has it and is waiting for the Mayor’s review. However, it has now been 60 days since the order was issued, and previous public statements that CPD did not need to change how it handles these interactions directly contradict that position. Quite frankly, this is unacceptable.
The work continues. I, along with other District Councilors, remain committed to getting clear answers to the questions we worked so hard to put forward—whether they were addressed in the hearing or not.
In other news, we’re hearing increasing reports from neighbors about airbag thefts from Hondas. This is happening across the city. Similar to catalytic converter thefts, these incidents occur quickly and are difficult to trace.
In conversations with the 20th Police District, we’ve learned that steering wheel locks (“clubs”) will be distributed at a series of events in the coming months. While these devices are not foolproof, they can serve as an effective deterrent. Please keep an eye out for these upcoming events! If your airbag is stolen, remember to file a police report—these reports help draw attention to areas that are being impacted more heavily and can support targeted responses.
Yours in Service,
Deirdre O’Connor |
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Fraudulent DMV Penalty Text Scam
Scammers are relentlessly targeting Illinoisians with fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the Illinois Secretary of State or DMV. These official‑looking texts are designed to frighten you into giving up your personal and financial information by threatening license suspension, registration holds, fines and even legal action. If you receive a message like this, it’s a scam! Don’t click any of the links. Don’t reply. Don’t provide personal or financial information. Delete the text Report the scam to: [email protected]
The only texts the Secretary of State’s office sends are appointment reminders––they will NEVER text you asking for money or personal information. |
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Public Safety Trends
Overall, violent crime is down 9.1% in the 40th Ward for the year so far compared to last year! Citywide, violent crime is down 8.9%. See below for a breakdown of citywide and 40th Ward statistics across all categories. |
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Thank you to the incredible Department of Family and Support Services team for dedicated work to help unhoused residents in River Park! |
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It was a pleasure joining Amundsen High School students for an immigration panel discussion this past week! |
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Thank you to everyone who made it out to the Environmental Board’s Induction Cooking event at the Chopping Block! |
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