Chicago Alderman Newsletter Tracker

Alderman La Spata reports that the Finance Committee will vote on ordinances to advance the Congress Theater development and to enforce MBE/WBE hiring transparency, while the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety passed a resident‑based reporting ordinance creating a parking enforcement task force and a real‑time dispatch system. The city will not expand sidewalk delivery robots beyond the current pilot, and two water‑main sewer lining projects will run Feb. 13‑14 with lane closures and detours. Office closures for Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day are scheduled, and the 2026 Wicker Park Bucktown Neighborhood Guide will be unveiled tomorrow.

Alderman Matthew J. O'Shea of the 19th Ward announces the Eat & Earn promotion at Joey's Red Hots and Top Notch Beefburgers on Feb. 10, with future dates Feb. 17, 24, and 26, to raise funds for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s Get Behind the Vest Campaign, which supplies replacement vests for officers. The office also highlights the Illinois Secure Choice retirement program, available to all workers, and invites residents to view employment opportunities on the ward’s website. No zoning, policy, or budget actions were reported in this issue.

Alderman Brian Hopkins of the 2nd Ward highlighted a Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce meeting where business development and the 2026 city budget were reviewed. He also advanced a bridge‑closure ordinance (2‑102‑110) to the full council, requiring CDOT to present traffic‑impact plans for long‑term bridge work, and secured a CAWS reclamation study resolution to fund further waterway cleanup. Additional notes include the office closure for Lincoln’s birthday, upcoming primary election details, and community events such as a spring shred and movies in the park.

Alderman Desmon Yancy is hosting a Zoom CAPS meeting on February 11 to address car vandalism concerns. No policy changes, development approvals, or budget decisions were announced. The newsletter otherwise contains no additional major events.

Alderman William E. Hall of the 6th Ward announced that the Hearts & Harmony Luncheon, co‑hosted with Mather, will take place from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, correcting a prior 10:00 AM time error. The event is now fully booked and registration is closed due to overwhelming community interest. Hall thanked residents for their enthusiasm and looked forward to future 6th Ward events.

On February 9, Alderman Timmy Knudsen of the 43rd Ward announced the start of demolition at 2600 N Clark, clearing the site for a five‑story mixed‑use development that will add 48 apartments—including 10 regulated affordable units—ground‑floor retail, a widened sidewalk, and a new loading zone to improve traffic flow. The council is also moving forward with a rat birth‑control pilot resolution and updated e‑bike/e‑scooter policies, while the alderman’s letter to Mayor Johnson urges prioritization of bridge closures to ease transit congestion. Additional updates include early voting dates for the 2026 primary, new parking enforcement options via 311, and community event highlights in Lincoln Park.

The newsletter announces a History & HerStory conversation at St. James Community Church on February 15, featuring former U.S. Senators Carol Moseley Braun and Roland Burris. No zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget meetings or policy changes are mentioned. The event is open to the public and aims to inspire community reflection and unity.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward highlighted a community zoning meeting at Pierce Church where residents provided feedback on a proposed development for 44 affordable housing units, and she announced ongoing review of zoning change requests for the 26th Ward. She also spoke on WTTW about immigration enforcement accountability, led a safety walk on Lawndale following a recent sexual assault, and will participate in Winter Walk Chicago to support the homeless. Additional events include a tree‑planting day on April 25, a C3 Housing Fair on March 7, a Repair Day on March 26, and a community resource fair on February 28.

Alderman Nicole T. Lee announced upcoming zoning hearings for 3363 S. Morgan (video) and 3237 S. Parnell on Feb 17, and reminded residents of the City Council meeting on Feb 18 and related committee sessions. She also highlighted ongoing street resurfacing and ADA‑compliant corner work on Wentworth and water/sewer replacement projects that will affect traffic and parking, and noted the upcoming Vote‑By‑Mail application deadline for the March 17 primary. Additional community updates included ICE/CBP store compliance concerns, the Lunar New Year celebration, and the launch of a free Constituent Education Resource Card for museum visits.

Alderman Jim Gardiner reports that the 45th Ward’s Six Corners development continues, with new amenities such as Northwestern Hospital and a Pita Inn slated to open in December 2026, and he highlights a video update on the project. He also notes that the CTA Blue Line must enhance safety measures by March 19, 2026 to retain federal funding, and the Chicago Park District has launched a citywide participatory budget program to fund local park projects. The ward office will be closed on February 12 for Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, and Beat meetings are scheduled through March for community safety discussions.

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.

Alderman Nicholas Sposato of the 38th Ward reminds residents that early voting for the March 2 primary will be held at Hiawatha Park and West Belmont Library, with extended hours through March 17. The ward office will be closed on February 12 for Lincoln’s birthday, reopening February 13, and the newsletter highlights a rescue dog, free English classes at Messiah Church, a local Peruvian restaurant, and several job openings. Residents are also encouraged to donate to St. Cyprian Food Pantry and to check the ward’s website for additional resources.

Ald. Andre Vasquez announced that the ward office will meet with CDOT, DWM, and utilities later this month to decide which residential streets, sidewalks, and alleys will receive Menu‑funded repairs, and the ward will also host two Ward Night meetings on Feb. 9 and 23 to discuss community concerns. The ward is advancing street‑safety projects, with the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape nearing completion and temporary lane closures for new traffic lights and bike‑lane adjustments, and Ashland Avenue resurfacing is underway between Foster and Ridge. Other highlights include a student walk‑out protest against ICE, a February immigration briefing, and community events such as the Andersonville Coffee Crawl and the 6311arts art exhibit opening.

Ruth Cruz, Alderwoman of the 30th Ward, highlighted the opening of a community food pantry and the Heat Ordinance requiring landlords to maintain heating, underscoring her focus on housing and resident well‑being. She also called for new members to join the Community Zoning Committee, encouraging residents to shape future zoning and development decisions. The newsletter promoted several community events—including Senior Bingo, Lotería, and a Paczki day—alongside resources for veterans, utility assistance, and other neighborhood support programs.

On February 6, Alderman Anthony J. Quezada of the 35th Ward attended Transit Equity Day with CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen and other transit advocates, discussing the recently passed Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act and strategies to improve transit access and reliability in the neighborhood. He also joined the signing of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ICE On Notice executive order and visited the Northwest Side Solidarity Network’s food distribution operation, highlighting community efforts to address poverty and immigration enforcement impacts. Additional updates include plans to collect donations for the NSSN, an upcoming rent party supporting tenants affected by deportation, and several community events such as the Hermosa Know Your Rights workshop and the CPkD participatory budgeting process.

On February 6, Alderman Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward highlighted a meeting at the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce where he and fellow aldermen reviewed business development issues and the 2026 city budget. He also reported on the ongoing Fletcher (Hoyne‑Oakley) water‑main replacement project and announced the opening of a Restore, Reinvest and Renew (R3) funding opportunity for community‑led solutions. Other key items included Black History Month library events, a warning about Honda air‑bag thefts, office closures for Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day, and information on applying for Vote‑by‑Mail ballots.

Alderwoman Angela Clay of the 46th Ward highlighted the panel discussion on zoning and the passage of the Broadway Upzoning ordinance, a key policy change aimed at encouraging mixed‑use development and housing near transit. The newsletter also noted emergency sewer repairs on Broadway that will close the street for several days, and announced the closure of the temporary family shelter at the American Islamic College. Additional events include Black History Month celebrations, a DuSable Museum Day with a Legacy Award, a mobile DMV event, and various community resources such as SNAP work‑requirement updates and free art‑institute admission.

Alderperson Jessie Fuentes of the 26th Ward highlighted a Community Zoning Meeting at Pierce Church where residents discussed future site use, and shared feedback on a proposed 44‑unit affordable housing development at 3251 W. Division, while outlining the ward’s zoning intake process. She also referenced the city’s Welcoming City ordinance and Mayor Johnson’s executive order to document federal immigration enforcement misconduct, underscoring the ward’s commitment to community safety and accountability. Additional updates included a safety walk on Lawndale following a recent assault, a Winter Walk event in Humboldt Park, a tree‑planting day in Hermosa, and various community resources and job opportunities.

Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward announces that early voting for the March 17 primary begins February 12 at the new Election Supersite and the Board of Elections Office, with extended hours until March 8 and March 16. He invites residents to join him in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14 and notes upcoming CAPS meetings, a Taylor Swift‑themed art installation at Pioneer Court, and a seniors feedback survey for the 2027 Area Plan on Aging. The newsletter also lists numerous traffic closures and construction projects in the ward, including filming restrictions, Bally’s Casino utility work, CTA station reconstruction, and bridge construction updates.

Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez’s February 6, 2026 newsletter highlights the opening of the 33rd Ward Participatory Budgeting ballot, urging residents to vote on community infrastructure and service projects through March 2. The ward also reports several zoning approvals—3240 W Lawrence Ave, 3039 W Irving Park, and 3446 W Irving Park—alongside ongoing community‑driven zoning reviews and a Chicago Parks District PB initiative. Additional updates include a Winter Mercadito vendor fair, Neighbor Night appointments, new SNAP work‑requirement rules, and various local events and resources.