33RD WARD WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 27, 2026 |
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Translate // Traducir // 번역하다 |
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Dear 33rd Ward Community,
I want to begin this week by sharing a note from Veronica Tirado. Today was Veronica’s last day as Chief of Staff of the 33rd Ward Office. She served our community alongside me for a total of seven years. Through our time together, Veronica has helped me and our community navigate incredible challenges, while bringing us all closer together, centering care and love for each other in every aspect of our work. Veronica wrote the following note to share with you all: |
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“Dear neighbors, After serving our ward for seven years, I will transition out of my role. This time has meant so much to me. Working alongside you has been the honor of my life. Together, we’ve built programs and policies, and as importantly, we’ve built relationships, trust, and a stronger social fabric. We’ve expanded our understanding of safety to mean care and belonging, created systems that support people as they are, and chosen solidarity with one another over indifference, and over charity. Every conversation, meeting, and moment of collective action has shaped me, and I’m so grateful to have learned from and grown with you.
Thank you for welcoming me into your lives and for the ways you show up for each other every day. This isn’t goodbye, you’ll still see me on the streets, at events, and around the neighborhood, staying connected and engaging on the work ahead. It has truly been a privilege to serve you, and I carry deep love and appreciation for all we’ve built together. “ — Vero |
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Thank you, Vero, for all you have contributed. It has been an incredible honor to work together, organize together, and care for our communities together, and I cannot wait to see her continued contributions to our beautiful city.
I also have a few announcements to share this week:
This coming Monday, March 2, Early Voting locations across all of Chicago’s 50 wards, in addition to the Early Voting Supersite in the Loop, are open for voting. You can find the closest early voting location through the Chicago Board of Elections by clicking here. You can vote at the location nearest to you. You do not need to vote at the location in your ward. Voter registration is also available on site, you can learn more about voter registration here.
The 33rd Ward Early Voting location is the American Indian Center, 3401 W. Ainslie St.
You can also download a sample ballot, to prepare ahead of time by researching candidates. Sample ballots can be accessed here.
I would also like to share important updates for mail-in ballots: The Board of Elections has made two announcements for people who have registered to vote by mail. First, please return your mail-in ballots by March 10 to ensure they are properly counted. This is to accommodate new procedures at the post office. You can also follow instructions on your mail in ballot to return your ballot in other ways. Second, the first round of Vote By Mail ballots were shipped with the previous election cycle’s ballot return envelopes, which reference two ‘A’ and ‘B’ ballots. To confirm, there is only one paper ballot for the March 17, 2026 Primary Election. Please learn more here if you have questions.
Yesterday afternoon, I met with the commissioners of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department of Water Management (DWM) for our annual Capital Improvement Program briefing. We discussed upcoming street and alley resurfacings, lighting projects, and other infrastructure improvements coming soon to our ward. We also got a chance to continue advocating for more funding for projects like these, as we are often limited in how many projects we can complete in a given year. Please feel free to reach out to our office if you are curious about the status of any construction projects in our ward. We are excited to see more improvements coming to our streets as the year goes on!
Yesterday evening, I joined the North River Commission and the Albany Park Chamber for an evening to celebrate our local business community with the Community Choice Awards. In this time of great uncertainty and incredible need, our small business community shows up every day to care for our community. It is an honor to celebrate you all! I will be introducing a resolution at the upcoming City Council meeting on March 18 in recognition of the Community Choice Awards and “highlighting our business community’s leadership in serving our neighbors and commitment to preserving the unique characteristics and vitality of our neighborhoods.”
Lastly, throughout the week, my office has made visits to the 8th grade classrooms across the 33rd ward to talk with our young neighbors about the importance of voting and to participate in PB voting. This is the final weekend to vote for projects in this year’s Participatory Budgeting Cycle! You can learn more about PB and vote on our website: www.33rdward.org. |
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I encourage you to please contact my office should you need any support, we are here to help. Our community has also organized many amazing events and opportunities for us to be together. Please review the remainder of this newsletter to learn more.
Thank you for doing this work with me. |
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In solidarity, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez 33rd Ward Alderperson |
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Office Closure Notice: The 33rd Ward Office will be closed on Monday, March 2 in recognition of Pulaski Day. We will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, March 3. |
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33RD WARD OFFICE INFORMATION |
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Address: 4747 N Sawyer Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10am - 5pm; Friday 10am - 4pm Phone: 773-840-7880 www.33rdward.org / Connect with us and access resources by clicking here. |
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Event details are listed in the newsletter below. March 2 — Final Day to Vote in the 33rd Ward Participatory Budgeting! - Vote March 2 — Early Voting at Ward Locations begins - Learn More and Register March 9 — Neighbor Night at the 33rd Ward Office; Appointments available by email at info@33rdward.org from 4:30-5:30pm; Ward Office Open House at 5:30pm March 17 — Voting Day for the Democratic Primaries - Register March 23 — Neighbor Night at the 33rd Ward Office; Appointments available by email at info@33rdward.org from 4:30-5:30pm; Ward Office Open House at 5:30pm March 30 — Senator Guzman’s Legislative Townhall Series (Virtual), 6-7pm, Register
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Immigrant Rights and Deportation Defense Resources: If you see immigration enforcement or suspect immigration enforcement, first call the Family Support Network (FSN) at 855-435-7693. We encourage you to save this number in your phone. Sign up for the ICE Alert System: bit.ly/ILEyesOnICE Follow our local rapid response social media: @northwestsiderrt on Instagram 33rd Ward Resource Page at www.33rdward.org/immigration-resources
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VOLUNTEER WITH THE WARD OFFICE |
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Volunteer with the 33rd Ward OfficeJoin us in strengthening our community! We are excited to offer a range of community engagement opportunities with our office. Whether you’re passionate about connecting neighbors or eager to make a positive impact, we’d love for you to volunteer with us. Help us build bridges and foster a stronger, more connected community. Your involvement can make a real difference.
Our office maintains several programs for neighbors to come together to care for each other and to learn about resources available to our communities. You can sign up to volunteer with our office by filling out our volunteer form by clicking here. |
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Local Mutual Aid, Donation Drives, and Food Distribution2025 Mutual Aid Map | NRC Albany Park Map | 33rd Ward Map |
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Neighbor NightNext Neighbor Night: Monday, March 9 at 4747 N Sawyer Ave
Upcoming: Monday, March 23
Join the 33rd Ward Office for our upcoming Neighbor Night hosted at our office at 4747 N Sawyer Ave. Neighbor Nights offer appointments with the Alderperson between 4:30-5:30pm by appointment only. Call or email our office for an appointment at 773-840-7880 or info@33rdward.org. Beginning at 5:30 we will have a ward office open house. All are welcome to join.
The Neighbor Nights are an effort by the 33rd Ward Office to create opportunities for organizations in our ward to teach neighbors about their work and help people get involved. Meetings with the alderwoman are available by appointment only by emailing info@33rdward.org. |
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Participatory Budgeting - Voting Open Through March 2!We are excited to announce that the voting for this year’s PB ballot is now open! Our deep gratitude goes out to the dozens of neighbors that helped us through the past several months to produce this thoughtful and detailed ballot!
You can vote online at our website, www.33rdward.org/VotePB, or by visiting our office during business hours to fill out a paper ballot. Help us spread the word! |
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Community Driven Zoning and Development
Please follow our Facebook and other social media accounts for the most up to date notices on public meetings and input surveys regarding zoning changes in the ward. You can also regularly check our Zoning page on our website by clicking here. |
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Current Proposals in Review3446 W Irving Park – Project Website Status: Community Review Application Type: Type 1 Change Request: B3-1 to B2-3 |
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INFRASTRUCTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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The snow and ice are melting! As we eagerly await Spring, the melting of the snow has exposed a whole winter’s-worth of trash, debris, and yard waste. You can report any major debris or trash collection issues to 3-1-1 or give our ward office a call for assistance.
We also appreciate all of the outreach we are receiving about neighbors wanting supplies to start helping to clean up. If you are in need of large trash bags or trash grabbers, please do reach out.
Street Sweeping season will officially begin on April 1st. Our Ward Superintendent will be providing updated sweeping schedules and maps before the start of the season on April 1. Stay tuned for that update. |
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ChiStreetWorksWondering what construction is taking place near you? Try the ChiStreetWork tool which allows you to view all the construction work happening anywhere in Chicago. The ChiStreetWork tool allows you to view all the active and permitted construction work taking place near you. You are also able to opt into updates to receive real-time notifications related to construction work. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RESOURCES |
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Ring Camera RefundsPeople are returning Ring cameras over mass surveillance concerns after Ring began partnering with firms looking to use camera footage for immigration enforcement. Ring camera owners have been able to successfully request refunds on cameras, even if they were purchased several years ago. |
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Lutheran Social Services Mobile Crisis Response TeamExperiencing a mental health crisis? Be prepared in case you or someone you know needs immediate support. LSSI’s Mobile Crisis Team offers free, confidential help 24/7 and can come to you anywhere on Chicago’s north and northwest sides. Call 833-610-5774 (press 1) to speak with a trained professional who can help guide next steps. |
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Senator Graciela Guzman’s Legislative Townhall Series (Virtual)The last Monday of every month, from 6-7pm Upcoming Dates: March 30, April 27, May 25 Register for Zoom Link
State Senator Graciela Guzman's monthly legislative town halls are back! Her team will be hosting these meetings every last Monday of the month from now until May. Join them from 6-7 via Zoom to hear what they are up to in Springfield, express your opinions, and work to shape the future of our state. *Spanish Translation Available* |
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Gather Together Free Meal Neighbors cooking and eating together each 2nd Friday 5:30pm - 7:00pm Located in Christ Lutheran Church basement, 4541 N Spaulding |
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Our 33rd Ward Office maintains resources pages on our website as a helpful starting point for anyone that needs support. We are also available by phone call or email to help you explore any options that work best for you.
If for any reason our office is unavailable, please call 2-1-1 or visit www.211metrochicago.org. 2-1-1 is a hotline that is staffed 24/7 by trained resources navigators to help you find information and programs related to a wide variety of needs including utility billing relief and housing assistance. |
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Albany Park Mutual Aid - Free StoreLocated at 3000 W. Lawrence
Hours: Mondays 5-9pm, Wednesdays 5-9pm, Saturdays 12-4pm
You can learn more about Albany Park Mutual Aid, support their work, or find help at www.albanyparkmutualaid.com. |
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The 33rd Ward Office Has a Notary on Staff
If you are in need of notary services, our team is happy to help. Please reach out to info@33rdward.org or give us a call at 773-840-7880 to set up an appointment. |
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Free Narcan and Drug Test Strips Available at Our Ward Office
They are available free of charge by visiting our office at 4747 N Sawyer Ave. |
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Free Gun Safety Locks Available at Our Ward OfficeLocks are available free of charge by visiting our office at 4747 N Sawyer Ave. |
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Connect with our local Chamber of CommerceSign up for the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce newsletter by clicking here. |
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Connect with our local schoolsConnect with our local schools by accessing a list of schools on our website by clicking here. |
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Monthly Newsletter for “Service Members, Veterans, their Families, and Supporters”We are happy to feature the following community-managed resources guides for service members, veterans, their families, and supporters including events and services for veterans in Chicago and surrounding municipalities. Please email: dbmontoya12@yahoo.com to be added to their monthly emails. You can view this month’s updates, a calendar, and fliers by clicking here. |
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Meet our 33rd Ward Office Staff Veronica Tirado-Mercado, Chief of Staff John Cruz Barcenas, Deputy Chief of Staff Jonathan Nagy, Director of Communications and Policy Rebecca Rios, Director of Infrastructure and Zoning Abraham Espino, Neighborhood and Business Services Coordinator Camila Garcia, Neighborhood Services Intake Coordinator Ariana Aguilar, Neighborhood Services Representative Eric Ramos, Ward Superintendent
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