Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Alderman Ronnie L. Mosley (21st Ward) shared no zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street safety meetings/hearings in this week’s bulletin, instead focusing on community events and resources. The newsletter highlights the May 16 “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” Parade & Carnival, SBA assistance for August 2025 flood victims (May 5–16), and upcoming monthly town halls and a “Shred & Resource Day,” plus city programs like the Jumping Jack block party initiative and various hotline/resource guides. It also notes Alderman Mosley’s participation in Phalanx Family Services’ AI Job Skills Adult Program graduation and promotes related workforce, senior/veteran, and employment resource information.

Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd Ward) shared a neighborhood alert for the J.P. Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge on Thursday, May 14 in Grant Park, including the race start/finish points and timing. The newsletter notes street closures beginning as early as May 13 at 10 a.m., with additional closures on May 14 starting at 6 p.m., and warns of increased traffic and reroutes with traffic control aides on site. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety policy items were included—this is a race/traffic notice only.

Alderman Walter “Red” Burnett (27th Ward) discusses the national “abundant housing” conversation tied to Illinois House Bill 5626 (the BUILD Initiative), arguing for more housing production and affordability through zoning flexibility, expanded ADUs, reduced unnecessary parking minimums, and transit-oriented development. The newsletter does not cite any specific 27th Ward hearings, development approvals, ordinances, budgets, or street projects for this week. It otherwise serves as a policy overview and invitation to continued work on housing reforms that support existing residents and minimize displacement.

This newsletter from Maria Hadden (49th Ward) is a re-election campaign invitation for a brunch fundraiser on Saturday, May 16 (10am–12pm) at La Choza Mexican Grill, with funds supporting community services and the ward office. It does not mention any city meetings, zoning/development, transit, housing/parking policies, budget decisions, or street safety projects, and mainly promotes the campaign event and ticket details.

Alderman La Spata (1st Ward) highlighted his advocacy at the Committee on Workforce Development for the H.R. 5664 Living Wage for Musicians Act, which would increase per-stream minimum compensation for musicians. He also discussed zoning work, including submitting a request to rezone Chicago Ave B1 properties between Ashland Ave and Wood St to B3 to allow more restaurant uses, and pointed to ongoing guidance discouraging demolition of existing multi-unit housing. Other major announcements included the May 16 wardwide Clean & Green (meeting at Haas Park, the Polish Triangle, and the 1st Ward office) and community events such as A Just Brew on May 21 and a Community Conversation on Data Centers on May 19.

Alderman Walter Red Burnett’s newsletter announces that Ward Night will take place tonight (May 12) from 5–7 PM, with a QR code provided for residents who want to meet with the alderman. The message primarily serves to address confusion about the event and does not list any specific zoning, development, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety actions or votes. Other than Ward Night and the opt-out link, no additional major announcements are included.

Alderman Walter Red Burnett (Ward not stated) is inviting residents to “Ward Night” tonight (05.11.26) to share concerns and get time to meet with the alderman via the provided QR code. The newsletter contains no other specific updates on zoning, housing, transit, streets, or budget, and does not list additional policy or development actions.

16th Ward Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman’s May 2026 newsletter focuses on resident service requests, encouraging neighbors to report issues (potholes, streetlights out, and fly dumping) through 311 or her office for timely City service follow-up. The email does not mention any specific zoning/development, housing/transit/streets policy changes, or budget/infrastructure decisions. Other items include office hours/contact info and announcements for community events/educational opportunities, SSA #3 business rebates (canopies/awnings, facade improvements, graffiti removal, and security improvements), and property tax exemption applications for the 2025 tax year.

The newsletter content provided contains only administrative text and does not include any meeting/hearing updates, policy/ordinance actions, development approvals, budget decisions, long-term transit funding, or street-safety/redesign items. It also does not list any other major announcements or events. (29th Ward Alderman Taliaferro)

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlights temporary changes tied to the Division Streetscape project: the 2026 Division Street Farmers Market will move two blocks west (between Clark and Wells) for the market season due to construction starting in June/July 2026. Hopkins also supported an ordinance amendment to the Native and Pollinator Garden Registry (O2026-0022796) raising the maximum permitted height of native gardens to 36 inches, and announced menu-fund support for the Lincoln Monument Gardens and Meadows restoration in Lincoln Park. Other updates include an announcement that 18th District Sergeant Schenk received the Commander Paul R. Bauer Award, plus upcoming events such as the SOAR Farmers Market opening May 19 and the Magnificent Mile Art Festival May 30–31.

9th Ward Alderman Anthony A. Beale invites residents to a community conversation on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 PM at the Historic Pullman Foundation Exhibit Hall about the Calumet Off the Grid planning initiative, including an urban design framework focused on connecting North and South Pullman with affordable housing, workforce development, and transit improvements; a follow-up survey will be shared. The newsletter does not mention any specific zoning, ordinance, development approvals, budget/infrastructure decisions, or street-safety actions beyond this planning presentation.

Alderman Nicole T. Lee (11th Ward) reports that the Zoning Committee resumed regular meetings and began working through backlogged items, and she attended a joint City Council meeting on police overtime, CPD’s Early Intervention System, and the quarterly audit of the Office of Public Safety Administration, supporting appointments to the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability. She also lists upcoming committee meetings in advance of the May 20 City Council meeting, and notes planned public safety and traffic-related hearings including Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and Public Safety. Other major items include CPD Officer John Bartholomew’s funeral, an update that CDPH is returning tens of millions in COVID-19 grant funds, ward zoning meetings on May 18 at 3540 S. Halsted and 3834 S. Ashland, and construction/street-closure updates for the Wentworth resurfacing/ADA project and Pershing water/sewer work.

Alderman Jim Gardiner’s 45th Ward newsletter includes a community meeting item about a proposed 6-flat development in Portage Park, plus links to local news such as drug and armed robbery reports on the CTA Blue Line. The remainder focuses on constituent services and resources (e.g., composting education/food scrap drop-offs, 311/Express Permit Program guidance, veteran/senior support information, and ward “Beat Meetings” dates), alongside general City and national political updates (e.g., Mayor Johnson actions related to Bears relocation and other Chicago policy headlines). Other major announcements/events mentioned include the 5th Annual Windy City Hot Dog Fest (May 29) and an invite-only soft opening for the Obama Presidential Center.

Alderwoman Maria Hadden (49th Ward) highlights local updates including ongoing SNAP benefit changes that began May 1, a May 15 deadline to apply for Cook County property tax exemptions, and street sweeping starting for the season. She also promotes a May 14 Chicago Citywide Green Mixer and notes a short-term DOT lighting project on Chase and Paulina with temporary no-parking tow-zone restrictions. Other announcements include a May 10 Mercadito, May 15 Healthy Hearing event at Northwestern, Howard Street Carnaval (May 16), and Red Line Jazz Project performances starting May 21.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th Ward) shared Mother’s Day wishes and thanked local teachers and nurses during National Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week. The email also promoted community resources (including a donation link for St. Cyprian Food Pantry), street-sweeping/library/park district/schools info, and a local business/job postings, with a pet rescue highlight for “Rescue Me” dog Tiana. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, policy, development, or street-safety meetings or decisions were mentioned.

In Alderperson Andre Vasquez’s 40th Ward newsletter, major zoning and development outreach includes a virtual meeting on Monday, May 11 at 6pm with DPD to discuss a zoning change request for 1940 W Foster (B1-2 to B2-3) tied to redevelopment of the former police station, plus an open feedback period for a special use permit support request related to Step 3 Sober Living at 5155 N Oakley (feedback due May 19). The newsletter also highlights housing/street capital work: the ribbon cutting for the new 37-unit “Haven on Lincoln” non-congregate bridge housing shelter, ongoing construction and traffic-signal/streetscape updates along Lincoln Avenue, and Ashland resurfacing and sidewalk/bumpout improvements with lane closures. Other announcements/events include the 40th Ward Development Town Hall (May 12), Chicago River Day (May 9), CCPSA District 20 meeting on public safety/policing (May 11), and various community events such as Memorial Day flag setup volunteering and Centro Romero’s health fair (May 19).

Alderperson Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) issued a public safety alert: as of May 8, 2026, the 24th District and SWAT were responding to a mental health crisis at Winchester and Hood, with the area sectioned off and neighbors asked to avoid the scene. The newsletter does not report any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street policy actions, developments, or funding decisions.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) highlights a federal policy effort: a hearing on Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s Living Wage for All Act to raise the federal minimum wage to $25, plus a post-shooting “Meet Your Block” walk where neighbors reported safety issues like inadequate lighting, missing signs, and abandoned vehicles. The newsletter also notes the 26th Ward’s ongoing zoning change review process and that the Connecting Neighborhoods Solidarity Bike Ride will be held on May 16. Other ward announcements include the May 15 deadline for property tax exemption applications, an ALSO Peace Walk on May 23, and resources such as the Jumping Jack block party program (opening April 15) and construction alert updates.

Alderman Anthony J. Quezada (35th Ward) highlighted upcoming and ongoing infrastructure work: CDOT will begin the Fullerton Avenue arterial resurfacing project between Kimball and Lockwood, with a community meeting on May 12 at 6:00 pm, and CDOT also plans California Avenue resurfacing from Byron to Montrose starting June 8. The Department of Water Management continues sewer and lead service line work in the Irving Park area and plans additional water main work on St. Louis/Elston/Grace, with service interruptions noted during connections. He also announced zoning community meetings and feedback deadlines, including a May 19 meeting on a Belmont Avenue zoning change request (2739–2743 W. Belmont) and an ongoing feedback period for a California/Melrose zoning map amendment ending May 15. Other major items include a May 9 kickoff for the Logan Square Farmers Market, a Chicago River Day volunteer event, and the May 8–14 Know Your Rights Town Hall and Workshop.

Ald. Angela Clay (46th Ward) reports zoning approvals on May 6 for projects at 3611 N. Halsted (enabling 190 new homes total, including 38 affordable units) and 918 W. Eastwood, with City Council passage expected May 20. She also announces Residential Permit Parking moving forward for a one-year trial on Dover (between Montrose and Lawrence) and updates a major Racine water main replacement (including lead service line work) beginning next week. Other major items include plans for Ward Night Out on May 13, the Uptown Connects Resource Fair on May 21, and the return of the Uptown Farmers Market Wednesdays; the newsletter also highlights SNAP work requirement changes and upcoming citywide business/workforce resources.