Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Ald. Nicole T. Lee (11th Ward) provided an update on her campaign to stop the proposed Amtrak Midwest Maintenance Facility from moving into the ward, including postponing a second community meeting (rescheduled when more information and the full development team are available), sending FOIA and letters to federal officials, and noting that a foundation building-permit filing is currently on hold for zoning review. She also shared upcoming City Council committee dates and other ward events, including office hours and municipal/public safety updates. Other announcements include mural and back-to-school events in the ward and street/construction notices such as Emerald Ave. repaving, work on S. Parnell Ave., and Peoples Gas environmental remediation at 2730 S. Eleanor St.

Alderman Jim Gardiner’s 45th Ward newsletter highlights CTA bus service improvements on routes #85 Central and #91 Austin, along with a Portage Park Neighborhood Bikeways Network update selecting four new bikeways for construction in fall 2026. Other ward announcements include a reminder about Cook County Board of Review pre-filed property tax appeals for the 2026 tax year, opportunities for community service hours in his office, and ward office pickup items (e.g., fire-safety window decals, “SLOW DOWN”/“CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR DOG” signs). The newsletter also promotes upcoming 2026 beat meetings and various community/business/school resources and events in the ward.

Alderman Matthew J. O’Shea (19th Ward) is promoting the Community Connections Committee’s Black Business Month celebration at the 95th Street Farmers Market on August 30, 8:00 am–1:00 pm at 1835 W. 95th St, including DJ music and pop-ups from Black-owned businesses. The newsletter also highlights a live jazz quartet performance honoring Captain Walter H. Dyett on August 30 (2–3 pm) and a Garden Club talk on September 2 about preserving green spaces and protecting pollinators.

Alderman Michelle A. Harris (8th Ward) highlighted the community’s Back-to-School Jamboree at Jesse Owens Park, featuring free haircuts and styling, fresh produce, treats, activities, and back-to-school giveaways. The newsletter also thanks community partners, sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and 8th Ward families for attending and wishing students a safe, successful school year. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, policy changes, or street safety items were mentioned.

This newsletter from Ald. Ronnie Mosley (71st Ward) is an invitation to “Join Us This Tuesday,” directing recipients to RSVP and donate links (ActBlue) and to follow on social media. No meetings, hearings, zoning/development/housing/transit/budget decisions, or policy/ordinance updates are mentioned; it also contains standard email and organization contact information.

In Maria Hadden’s 49th Ward update, the main announcements include a community survey results timeline for the St. Ignatius Campus proposal (survey closed Aug. 23) and city infrastructure work such as CDOT’s planned green alley construction (starting Sept. 14) and a water main replacement on Estes (between Ridge and Clark, with a proposed water shutdown around Sept. 2). Other ward service items include a scheduled ComEd outage Sept. 1 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) for repairs/vegetation work, plus free smoke detectors and steering wheel clubs available through the ward office, and a property tax assessment appeal deadline of Sept. 1. The newsletter also promotes upcoming community events (e.g., the Aug. 30 Rogers Park Library summer reading farewell party and the Sept. 13 Shred-a-Thon) and fall youth/student resources like reduced CTA/PACE fares for K–12 students (75 cents per ride) and free required student vaccines offered through CDPH.

Alderman William Hall (6th Ward) shared details for a free Pop-Up Weekend in the 6th Ward, including Friday evening pickleball at Tuley Park and a Saturday juice-and-paint event at The Woodshop (registration required for the limited 20 spots). The newsletter does not mention any zoning, development, housing, transit, budget, or street safety hearings, policy changes, or infrastructure spending decisions.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) announced that four new bikeways have been selected for Portage Park, with a new bike lane and three greenways expected to begin installation this fall on Berteau, Long, Hutchinson, and Central. He noted the project was chosen using community feedback and is intended to calm traffic without eliminating existing parking. Other items include a reminder about a vaccination clinic registration, a donation option for St. Cyprian Food Pantry, a local business highlight (General Design Jewelers), and job application information from area public safety departments.

In Alderwoman Angela Clay’s 46th Ward newsletter, the top housing/development items include a North Side community meeting on proactive rental inspections (Aug. 29) and updates on a proposed zoning change for 4531 N. Clark (feedback through at least Sept. 14), plus an American Islamic College development update at 640 W. Irving Park. The newsletter also highlights ongoing street and infrastructure work—CDOT residential resurfacing on multiple streets, continued alley reconstruction work near Malden/Magnolia/Leland/Lawrence, and traffic/safety projects such as modernized traffic signals at Leland & Sheridan (expected by Oct.–Nov.) and new streetlights along Sheridan Road and Beacon Street. Other major announcements include the Aug. 29 Edna Johnson Way unveiling, Ward Night Out (Aug. 31), Senior Fest (Sept. 17), and a Senior Sock Hop (Sept. 24).

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) highlights a 9/3 community meeting about a proposed zoning change at 3601 W. Cortland St. that would convert the vacant Teen Challenge building into a residential affordable housing development, and discusses ongoing community safety efforts addressing Division Street disturbances. The newsletter also notes the Mayor’s executive order requiring city contractors to disclose certain large federal/law enforcement contracts and allegations involving wage theft, civil rights, and excessive force. Other updates include free mammograms and health screenings running through Sept. 4 at the Humboldt Park Boathouse, the ribbon-cutting for Humboldt Park’s new football field, and Fiesta Boricua on Sept. 5–6.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced that CDOT resurfacing of Southport from Webster to Fullerton will begin early next week, after interim work including private lead service line replacements, catch basin repairs, and sewer structure realignments. Crews will intermittently close and redirect traffic and post “No Parking” signs during resurfacing, with traffic and parking expected to return to normal soon. The newsletter otherwise mainly requests residents’ patience and thanks them for accommodating the construction schedule.

In Alderman Brian Hopkins’ 2nd Ward newsletter, there are no listed zoning, development approvals, housing/transit policy actions, or budget/hearing items. The main infrastructure updates are planned Inner Lake Shore Drive resurfacing starting as early as next week (E Lake Shore Dr to Ohio St, with later permanent markings) and Chestnut sidewalk restoration beginning Monday, August 31. Other announcements include Hopkins’ 2nd Ward Paper Shredding & E-Recycling event on Sunday, August 30, and the Lakeside Market grand opening at 680 N Lake Shore Dr.

Anthony J. Quezada, Alderman of Chicago’s 35th Ward, highlights upcoming ward outreach and major property-tax help: a Polish-language property tax pre-filing workshop with the Cook County Board of Review (11 AM–1 PM at St. Hyacinth Basilica) and instructions that second-installment bills are now available online. The newsletter also points to zoning/policy feedback: a request to lift the liquor moratorium for a new taproom at 3658 W Wrightwood and a call for resident submissions to the ward’s 2027 participatory budgeting process, alongside ongoing infrastructure/streets work including the Megamall Plaza construction progress, water/sewer project updates (with a Sept. 1 water shutdown), and Fullerton Ave arterial resurfacing. Other updates include a Divvy for Everyone accessibility program highlight, a Belmont Blue Line ETOD survey (through Aug. 31), upcoming food and community events, and CAPS beat meetings on Sept. 3 (Beats 1411 and 2522).

In the 47th Ward, Ald. Matt Martin announced a zoning approval to allow a 4-story residential building with three family-sized homes at 3642 N Ashland, with agreed sustainable features. He also listed development proposals that will be reviewed by the Zoning Advisory Council in September (including a 6-unit condo at 1410–12 W Warner and a 4-story mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial and three homes at 3636 N Ashland) and noted CDOT’s planned Ashland resurfacing work, including seven raised crosswalks and a bus pad at Ashland and Wilson. Other highlights include back-to-school and Youth Council events at Chase Park, a free Sept. 19 shredding day, and upcoming community events such as Oktoberfest (Sept. 11–13) and the Ravenswood Art Walk (Sept. 12–13).

Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) highlights a City Hall meeting featuring a Taiwan youth delegation: on Aug. 24, Reilly welcomed 12 Taiwanese university students as part of the OCAC 2026 Taiwan Youth and Overseas Expatriate Bridging Program. The newsletter also lists 42nd Ward updates including upcoming ward events (Chicago House Music Festival, Panda Fest, and Navy Pier fireworks) and several transportation/streets changes and construction notices (CDOT/CTA-related closures, sewer rehab start with CIPP work into Jan. 2027, and menu-funded resurfacing on multiple streets).

Alderman Ginger Rugai’s 19th Ward newsletter focuses on community events, especially the 32nd Annual Y-Me Softball Tournament on August 29, 2026 at St. Christina Fields and Mt. Greenwood Park, with survivor recognition at 2:00 pm. It also lists upcoming events including “Meet Captain Walter H. Dyett,” a live jazz quartet performance on August 30 at Walker Branch, and a Garden Club of Morgan Park–Beverly Hills presentation on green spaces on September 2.

33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez highlights proactive rental inspections (PRI) work with the Mayor’s Office and community groups, including a final North Side community meeting on Aug. 29 (10:00–11:30 a.m. at Truman College) and a related survey. The newsletter also announces ward-led zoning/liquor moratorium feedback for lifting restrictions on a portion of Montrose Ave to allow a new license application, and provides housing-related events like the Aug. 31 Bickerdike Apartments waitlist opening and ongoing rental resource updates. Other major items include health-focused back-to-school guidance, Narcan/drug test strips and overdoses resources, and upcoming community events such as an Albany Park flooding meeting (Sept. 2) and a blood drive (Sept. 12), plus notices for road/area construction and an alley reconstruction project starting July 29 (details provided).

In this 9th Ward newsletter, Alderman Anthony A. Beale does not report any specific zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings/hearings or policy/ordinance changes. The main announcement is a Disaster Loan Outreach Center by the SBA at the Pullman Branch of the Chicago Public Library for storm-related assistance, along with information on local hiring/training and the Printers Row Lit Fest (Sept. 12–13) and related family events.

In Alderman Scott Waguespack’s 32nd Ward newsletter, he notes upcoming street closures for the Bucktown Arts Fest and “Meet Me on Milwaukee,” shares CAPS and beat meeting crime concerns (including thefts from cars and shots-fired incidents in nearby beats), and provides the 2026 street cleaning schedule updates. Other major items include a diaper drive with Share Our Spare (through Sept. 20) and several neighborhood/community events (including Bucktown Arts Fest this weekend, Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend on Aug. 29, Retro on Roscoe volunteer sign-ups, and the Sept. 6 Bike the Drive fundraiser).

In the 40th Ward, Ald. Andre Vasquez announced an upcoming Policy Town Hall on Monday, Aug. 31 (6–8pm) covering city legislation including affordable housing, transit, public safety, and the city budget, and he flagged ongoing traffic impacts at Argyle/Western tied to DWM sewer work. The newsletter also lists residential and alley resurfacing, plus ongoing plaza and street-safety construction updates, including curbs/planters at Elise Malary Plaza and raised crosswalk installation on Ashland Avenue. Other major events include Bike the Drive planning (Sept. 6), JASC’s 80th Anniversary Block Party (Aug. 30), and several community gatherings and wellness/environmental events in early September.