Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Alderman Andre Vasquez (40th Ward) issued a traffic alert for the funeral of Chicago Police Officer John G. Bartholomew, warning of partial road closures and severe congestion on May 7 (11 a.m.–9 p.m.) and May 8 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.). Expected closures include segments of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Sheridan Rd, Bryn Mawr, and Lawrence Ave, with CTA bus reroutes on #136, #147, and #151; details for visitation (May 7) and the funeral (May 8) are also provided. The newsletter’s main update is the transportation/traffic impact, with additional information to follow from the alderman’s office.

In the 48th Ward, Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth highlights upcoming construction and neighborhood infrastructure work: DWM will hold a community meeting on May 12 (6:30pm) about planned water main replacements at Sheridan & Bryn Mawr this summer, and the City is beginning spring construction on the Elise Malary Plaza that will permanently close Catalpa Street between Clark and Ashland (public meeting tentatively May 23). The newsletter also notes ongoing safety/streetscape work including bump-outs from the 2024 T-Intersection Safety initiative, plus CDOT’s Ashland resurfacing updates (signal complete; remaining sewer/landscaping/curb work ongoing with possible single-lane closures). Other major items include detailed May 7–8 traffic and parking impacts for Officer John Bartholomew’s funeral services, and ward/community announcements such as upcoming events (Older Americans Month activities and a Centro Romero health fair) and a June 3 Illinois Housing Blueprint listening session.

Alderman Jason C. Ervin’s May 2026 newsletter mainly promotes community programs and events in/around the 28th Ward, including Chi Youth Works summer jobs applications (deadline May 29), a Tulip Giveaway (May 6), and multiple Mother’s Day and health/community fairs. It also highlights neighborhood/resource opportunities such as a Second Chance Resource Fair (May 12) and various workshops and events (including an Airport Small Business Summit & Job Fair at UIC on May 12). No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street policy/hearing items or development approvals are mentioned in the newsletter text provided.

Alderman William Hall (6th Ward) shared that the 6th Ward community responded to the Walgreens closure, and he said the office is working with partners and potential replacements to restore services and strengthen the neighborhood. The newsletter does not describe any specific zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings or policy/ordinance actions. It primarily emphasizes staying engaged and hopeful as work continues to bring services back.

16th Ward Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman’s May 2026 newsletter focuses on encouraging residents to report city service issues—such as potholes, streetlights out, and chronic fly dumping—by submitting a request through 311.chicago.gov or the CHI 311 app or by calling 311. The newsletter also promotes accessing city resources, including property tax exemption applications (2025 tax year) and related senior/veteran resources, plus general ward service-office contact information and office hours. Other noted items are “Save the Date” community events, including an “Ice-Free Zone Digital Sign” and an educational opportunities registration link.

In Alderman La Spata’s 1st Ward newsletter (May 5, 2026), he says he met on matters including new grocery store developments, and appeared at the Committee on Housing and Real Estate to discuss state and federal policy impacts—especially rising home insurance rates. He also noted that tomorrow’s first Zoning Committee meeting in months will include nearly 80 zoning items. Other announcements include the 1st Ward Office’s annual Clean & Green on May 16 and community survey/event links related to the first fully elected school board race, West Town library programming, and Hot Shots Sports summer activities.

The newsletter from Alderman [name not provided] for [ward not provided] announces Ward Night on October 5, 2026, inviting residents to meet with the alderman and share concerns or feedback (QR code provided to schedule time). No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings, policy changes, development approvals, or spending decisions are described in this message.

Alderman’s 29th Ward newsletter (dated May 5, 2026) mainly highlights a citywide initiative: Chicago is introducing a free “Recycle Coach” app to connect residents with hyper-local waste and recycling information. No zoning, development, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety hearings/ordinances are mentioned in this message, and there are no other specific major events or approvals included in the provided text.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) reported co-hosting a community meeting on redevelopment at 201 E Walton St and supporting a zoning change to convert the Sonesta Extended Stay Suites back to its original 221-unit residential use, with renovations and added amenities. He also said his City Council work will amend the Native and Pollinator Garden Registry parameters (heard in Environmental Protection and Energy on Monday, May 11), and he highlighted CDOT spring bridge lifts beginning along the Chicago River. Other major updates include the start of National Small Business Week through May 9, a ribbon-cutting for Illinois Secretary of State’s new downtown Business Services Center at 160 N LaSalle St, a St. Jude Police Memorial March attendance, and upcoming community events such as Good Memories Choir’s spring concert (May 5) and an Alzheimer’s/dementia education event at the Near North Library (May 15).

No specific District 4A zoning/development/housing/transit/budget meetings, ordinances, approvals, or street safety actions are mentioned in this newsletter from the 46th Ward Office. The main announcement is a District 4A Town Hall on May 5, 2026 (6:00–7:30 PM) at Greeley Elementary School about screen use and educational technology in PreK–8 classrooms, aimed at informing Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policy recommendations. Otherwise, it primarily provides RSVP information and links to the ward’s social media channels.

The 46th Ward Office newsletter mainly announces a community event: the 3rd Annual Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at Clarendon Park in the 46th Ward, with school supply drop-offs starting June 1. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings or policy actions are mentioned; the focus is on sponsorships, volunteering, resource tables/activations, and donations (with last year’s results listed). Other details include outreach via the provided signup/interest forms and social media links for updates.

Aldermanic Office of the Third Ward’s 3rd Ward e-news highlights community events including a Town Hall meeting on May 21 and a dog vaccine clinic on June 25, plus a 2nd District police alert about burglaries from vehicles in the area. Other announcements include International Compost Awareness Week (May 3–9) and information about the City of Chicago’s free Food Scrap Drop-Off composting program (expanded to 33 locations) and a Greater Bronzeville 5K Run/Walk/workforce solutions grant webinar.

Alderman William Hall of Chicago’s 6th Ward reminded residents of a 6:00 PM community meeting tonight to discuss proposed plans for a new laundromat at the “Old Ooh Wee” location near 83rd & Wabash. The agenda includes a developer presentation, community response, and a community vote, held at 8000 S. Michigan. The newsletter otherwise mainly serves as this announcement and provides the event details.

Alderman Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward e-newsletter does not report any specific zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget hearings, nor any housing/parking/transit/s street policy votes or approvals this week. The main ward items are neighborhood service and enforcement updates (tree debris cleanup, 50th Street resurfacing, a sewer cave-in response, hazardous structure demolition, and towing/chop shop and illegal activity enforcement), plus events and civic announcements like a Chavez renaming ballot pickup and a new Thursday intern, and general updates on the Chicago Park District veteran/military programs and the Food Scrap Drop-Off composting program.

47th Ward Alderman Maggie’s newsletter mainly promotes EcoFest, a free sustainability festival at Welles Park on Saturday, May 30 (10 AM–2 PM) with 60+ participating organizations, including recycling/composting resources, native seed giveaways, a climate action fair, and an eco-friendly market. The email does not mention zoning, development approvals, housing, transit/budget policy changes, or street safety decisions; it highlights event logistics and community partners instead.

In her 26th Ward newsletter, Ald. Jessie Fuentes highlights a Community Safety Committee meeting and a planned Community Safety Town Hall with the 14th District Commander, along with community updates on SNAP benefit changes and local violence-intervention programming. The newsletter also promotes upcoming ward/community events including ALSO’s Peace Walk (May 23), a Peace Walk t-shirt design contest for youth, and a Connecting Neighborhoods Solidarity bike ride (May 16), plus a Hermosa neighborhood tree-planting effort and May Day office closure. It also notes a May 15 deadline for property tax exemption applications and provides information on CDOT street work/other public notices and program updates.

Alderman William Hall (6th Ward) invited residents to attend a May 4 gathering at the closed Walgreens (8620 S. Cottage Grove) at 9:30 AM to make community voices heard. The newsletter did not mention any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety policy actions or approvals, and it included breakfast bites at the event.

In Alderman Nicole T. Lee’s 11th Ward newsletter, she highlights upcoming City Council and committee activity, including a May 5 Joint Committee on Budget and Police and Fire subject matter hearing on CPD overtime data and EIS implementation, and a May 7 Health and Human Relations committee meeting where she will present an ordinance to disaggregate Asian demographic data across city health and family support programs. She also announces two ward zoning meetings on May 18 at 3540 S. Halsted and 3834 S. Ashland, and notes ongoing Sox Residential Parking enforcement information updates for public notice. Other major updates include neighborhood street/utility work and closures (e.g., Wentworth resurfacing/ADA corners; lead service line and water/sewer projects near Pershing and Donovan Park), plus community events like a June 3 ward town hall and SNAP benefit-change information and food assistance resources.

Alderman Jim Gardiner’s Ward 45 newsletter highlights his attendance at a hearing related to the arraignment of the suspect charged in the killing of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew, and he notes the ongoing investigation and related local public-safety updates. The rest of the update focuses on constituent and community services—especially help resources for Ward 45 infrastructure issues and public safety beats—along with acknowledgments such as the success of the Annual Back the Vest pancake breakfast raising over $12,000 for bulletproof vests. Other announcements include Beat Meeting schedule dates for 2026, Cook County/Chicago policy stories in the “Chicago Politics” section, and reminders about 311 storm/flood reporting, local business and grant resources, and upcoming community events like Cinco de Mayo.

Alderman William Hall (6th Ward) invites residents to a community press conference and gathering tomorrow at 8620 S. Cottage Grove in response to the closure of Walgreens, with breakfast bites provided (9:30 AM). The newsletter does not mention any zoning, development, housing policy/ordinances, budget votes, long-term transit funding/service changes, or street safety projects, beyond this community event.