Maria Hadden

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward issued a weather alert for severe thunderstorms expected tonight, advising residents to stay informed, take shelter, and report hazards to 311. The notice includes safety tips for handling lightning, avoiding downed power lines, and post‑storm reporting. No meetings, policy changes, or development updates were mentioned in this edition.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward highlighted a town‑hall meeting held on March 4 and a CTA Red Line construction notice at Morse L, affecting transit service. The ward also announced demolition at 1224 W Loyola Ave and ongoing Loyola University construction at 6347 N Broadway, along with a street‑lighting project on Chase and Paulina that will close sidewalks for two to three weeks. Other key updates included the memorial for Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the first 49th‑Ward town hall, and detailed information on the March 17 primary election and early voting.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reported a town‑hall meeting at Sullivan High School and a committee hearing on Peoples Gas rate increases. She also noted ongoing demolition at 1224 W Loyola Ave, CTA Red Line construction at Morse L, and a street‑lighting project on Chase and Paulina that will close sidewalks for a few weeks. The newsletter highlighted community events such as the memorial for Rev. Jesse Jackson, International Women’s Day celebrations, and various local cultural and volunteer opportunities.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reminds residents of the upcoming March 17 primary election, detailing early voting dates, locations, and vote‑by‑mail procedures. The newsletter provides resources for voter registration, ID requirements, and instructions for returning ballots, including secure drop‑box options. It also invites community members to serve as election judges and offers contact information for the ward office.

The 49th Ward newsletter, issued by Alderwoman Maria Hadden, announces that early voting for the March 17 primary election opens on March 2 across all 50 wards, with specific locations in the 49th Ward at Willye B. White Park. It also details updated vote‑by‑mail rules, including postmark deadlines and secure drop‑box options, and invites residents to become election judges. No zoning, housing, transit, or budget matters are addressed in this edition.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden reports that the 49th Ward will host a virtual public hearing on March 6 for the City of Chicago Department of Water Management to discuss lead service line replacement loans, and Mayor Brandon Johnson will hold a budget town hall on March 5 to review the city’s approved budget. The ward continues to bolster public safety with 24/7 police on Howard L. and ongoing CP4P initiatives, while residents should note demolition at 1224 W Loyola, Chicago Fire filming no‑parking restrictions, and a street‑lighting project on Chase and Paulina. Additional updates include early voting for the March 17 primary, SNAP work‑reporting changes, and a range of community events such as the March 4 town hall, the 49th Ward’s own town hall, and various cultural and volunteer opportunities.

Alderman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward announced that the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy will hold a hearing on March 3 to review Peoples Gas’ rate‑increase filing, and that the City Council’s March 18 meeting will address budget matters. She also highlighted recent policy actions: the city’s substitute hemp‑derived product ordinance, the failed mayoral veto override, and the COPA investigative‑jurisdiction ordinance for Welcoming City violations. Additional updates included the Shoreline Advisory Board’s first meeting, the Green Homes Chicago intake period, and the expansion of the citywide food‑scrap drop‑off composting program.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reports that the Department of Water Management has begun a 75‑day sewer lining project west of N Greenview Ave, a key infrastructure investment. The ward also announced the upcoming splash pad renovation at Willye B. White Park and scheduled a town‑hall on March 4 to discuss community priorities. Additional updates include a city council resolution honoring Black History Month, parking restrictions for Chicago Fire filming, and a reminder of the March 17 primary election.

On February 18, the 49th Ward will attend the City Council meeting to discuss upcoming zoning and development matters, including Loyola University's demolition permits for 1224 W Loyola Ave, which the ward has urged to consider community benefits. The ward also announced infrastructure updates: a DWM sewer‑lining project on N Greenview Ave and the planned splash‑pad conversion at Willye B. White Park, with a public voting period ending February 27. Additional updates include new SNAP work‑reporting requirements, a Green Homes Chicago intake period, and reminders about the March 17 primary election.

On February 18, the 49th Ward will host a City Council meeting, and a town hall is scheduled for March 4. The alderwoman announced that Loyola University has received demolition permits for 1224 W Loyola Ave, and the Chicago Park District will convert Willye B. White Park’s spray pool into a splash pad in 2026. The Department of Water Management will begin a 75‑day sewer lining project on the west side of N Greenview Ave, and SNAP will now require work reporting for benefits effective February 1.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward announced the first town hall of the year on March 4 at Sullivan High School, inviting residents to discuss city updates and community resources. The office also highlighted a demolition permit for 1224 W Loyola, a planned splash‑pad upgrade at Willye B. White Park, and a DWM sewer rehabilitation project, all of which involve development approvals and infrastructure spending. Additional events include Black History Month celebrations, volunteer opportunities, and a new ICE tracker map for the ward.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reported attending committee meetings and the first Urban Forestry Advisory Board meeting, and highlighted a hearing on federal operations. The ward is preparing for a DWM sewer rehabilitation project that will line sewers west of N Greenview Ave, a budgetary infrastructure effort. The newsletter also announced the upcoming splash pad at Willye B. White Park, a new Velvet Rose Tattoo Club, and a Protect RP community gathering at New Field Elementary, among other community events.

Alderman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward announced the release of the Mayor’s draft Five‑Year Blueprint on Homelessness, a housing‑focused policy that will guide Chicago’s emergency services, housing, and community‑cohesion efforts. She also noted that the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy will hold its first hearing of 2026 on February 3, and that the City Council will meet on February 18 to discuss a range of municipal matters, including a new ordinance granting COPA investigative authority over Welcoming Ordinance violations and the recently passed hemp‑ban ordinance. Additional updates include a scheduled hearing on Peoples Gas’s rate‑hike request in early March, a city‑wide EV charging survey to guide future infrastructure, and a reminder of the expanded Food Scrap Drop‑Off program.

On January 24, 2026, Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reported that the City Council’s first meeting of the year was held, with additional policy items to be released later. The ward’s infrastructure update highlighted the Department of Water Management’s 75‑day sewer‑lining project on N Greenview Ave, which may require lane closures. Other key announcements included the 400 Theater opening feedback period, the launch of the Snow Squad volunteer program, and new SNAP work‑reporting requirements effective February 1.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reports no upcoming meetings or policy changes on zoning, housing, transit, or budget. The newsletter focuses on the National Weather Service’s extreme‑cold watch, urging residents to stay warm, use warming centers, and keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Additional reminders include checking on vulnerable neighbors, using 3‑1‑1 for well‑being checks, and the office’s remote hours.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward announced that the Housing Committee approved several missing‑middle projects—selling city‑owned lots for $1 to developers building 3‑ and 4‑unit buildings—and opened a public comment period on the Mayor’s 5‑Year Homelessness Blueprint. She also highlighted the upcoming City Council meeting on January 21 for public comment, the Department of Water Management’s sewer rehabilitation project, and the 400 Theater opening feedback window, all of which involve development approvals and infrastructure spending. Other key announcements were the 5th Annual MLK Jr. Day Middle School Basketball Tournament, the 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Breakfast, and a volunteer snow‑shoveling program.

The 49th Ward’s alderwoman Maria Hadden notes that the Department of Water Management will begin a 75‑day sewer‑lining project on N Greenview Ave (Nov 24 2025‑Jan 2026), and that CTA’s 36 Broadway and 151 Sheridan bus routes have new schedules effective Dec 21. A Shared‑Cost Sidewalk Program opens Jan 12 to repair cracked sidewalks, and the alderwoman has returned to office after medical leave. Other highlights include a Rogers Park Library movie screening, a January 15 blood drive, and several community volunteer opportunities.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reports that the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy (EPE) secured the passage of Green Social Housing through full City Council and referred the Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance to the Committee on Zoning, while the Shoreline Advisory Board appointees were approved and its first meeting convened. EPE also held a series of subject‑matter hearings in March, May, June, July, and September on topics ranging from public‑health environmental enforcement to single‑use plastics and ComEd summer preparedness. Additional updates highlighted outreach events such as quarterly Northside Green Mixers, the launch of EPE’s social media pages, and a preview of 2026 initiatives.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward reports no meetings, policy changes, development approvals, budget decisions, transit changes, or street redesigns in this newsletter. She reflects on a challenging 2025, thanks constituents, and announces a year‑in‑review video and staff highlights. The office will be closed until January 7, 2026, with staff development on January 5.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden of the 49th Ward explains her decision to vote no on the 2026 budget, citing concerns that the alternative revenue proposal relies on debt collection, speculative revenue estimates, and management‑ordinance changes that would alter oversight of infrastructure and police spending. She argues the proposal could create a mid‑year shortfall, erode public trust, and shift the fiscal burden onto low‑income residents. The newsletter also notes the ward office’s holiday closure, staff planning days, and a call for a fresh start in 2026.