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The 2nd Ward Newsletter for October 9, 2026
In This Edition:
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City Offices Closed Monday In Observance of Columbus Day
Note: Due to the upcoming Columbus Day Holiday, this newsletter is being sent today, Friday, October 9, instead of Monday, October 12.
All City of Chicago offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Columbus Day. Please note that garbage and recycling pickup is likely to be delayed by up to 24 hours for the remainder of the week. My office will reopen with our normal business hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 13. If you need to file a service request, please respond to this email with your request for my office to action on Tuesday. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.
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Committee on Public Safety Meetings
On Wednesday, the Committee on Public Safety held a joint committee meeting with the Committee on Police and Fire to hear from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) regarding their Annual Safety Report. The OIG presented current data on 9-1-1 calls and the Chicago Police Department's statistics to provide transparency to the public. Click here for an interactive dashboard to view the findings of the annual safety report.
On Thursday, the Committee on Public Safety met to discuss R2026-0028875, which calls for the reinstatement of the City of Chicago and Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force for the second phase of operations. I was proud to be a co-sponsor of this resolution, alongside Ald. Peter Chico and championed by Ald. Silvana Tabares. Katie Dunne with Chicago77 Charities presented the task force's findings and the violence reduction dashboard, which you can view here.
Click here to watch the ABC7 segment with some of my remarks.
It is clear that further work needs to be done to eliminate domestic violence, and this task force is a critical step towards making this progress. Thank you to Chicago77 Charities for speaking at this week's meeting and presenting on the progress of this task force.
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SOAR Farm-To-Table Event Last Week
Last week, I was delighted to attend the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents' (SOAR) Farm-To-Table annual fundraiser, where passionate community members showed up to support SOAR and all the hard work they do to keep Streeterville engaged and connected. It was a pleasure to speak with the dedicated team at SOAR and to celebrate the organization.
I was also delighted to perform alongside my band, Dr. Bombay, and add some musical entertainment to cap off a perfect night of celebration.
Thank you to the SOAR board for inviting me and for organizing such a wonderful event.
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Meeting With Girl Scouts at British International School Monday
On Monday, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Junior, Brownie, and Daisy Girl Scout troops at the British International School - Lincoln Park. To obtain their Democracy Badge, scouts are required to learn more about local government and meet with their elected official, which will encourage them to vote and become civic leaders in their community. I was happy to help these hardworking scouts receive their Democracy Badge and answer their questions about how the Chicago City Council operates. It was wonderful to see so many young voices so engaged in learning about how their government works for them and how they can get involved.
Thank you to the British International School and the Girl Scouts for organizing this event and for hosting me.
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Clover Playlot Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening
Last Friday, I was pleased to join students from St. Josaphat School, Principal Nel Mullens, and Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating improvements at Clover Playlot.
The Chicago Park District and my office (through annual ward infrastructure funds) split the $150,000 cost of major improvements that were completed last week. The upgrades include a brand-new Gaga Ball court (the very first in the Chicago Park District system), artificial turf in flood-prone areas, removal of dead trees, and refreshed hardscaping along the walking path (including new pavers and decomposed granite).
Another improvement separate from this project was the lead-service line replacement that served the previous drinking fountain. The new water fountain will be installed shortly.
I welcome neighbors to enjoy the refreshed and improved Clover Playlot and thank our partners at the Chicago Park District for working diligently to complete this project while we still have the weather to enjoy it!
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Osteria Gilberto Ribbon Cutting
Congratulations to the team at Osteria Gilberto for opening in Lincoln Park at the corner of Webster and Magnolia, 1244 W Webster. My team joined the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce to formally welcome the new business to the ward. You can find their delicious menu and make a reservation on their website here. Buon appetito!
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Chicago Marathon Street Closures: October 11
 Please be aware that the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 11, 2026. To accommodate the marathon, there will be temporary street closures and traffic restrictions.
Streets in the 2nd Ward will be closed to traffic starting at 6:00 am on October 11 and will reopen by 2:00 pm at the latest as more than 55,000 participants pass through the area. Below is a list of streets within the 2nd Ward that will be affected by these closures.
- Columbus Dr between Monroe St and Grand Ave
- Grand Ave between Columbus St and Dearborn St
- Dearborn St between Grand Ave and Jackson Blvd
- LaSalle St between Jackson Blvd and Stockton Dr
- Stockton Dr between LaSalle Dr and Fullerton Dr
- Sedgwick St between Webster Ave and North Ave
- North Ave between Sedgwick St and Wells St
- Wells St between North Ave and Wacker Dr
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of streets that will be closed; it is a list of streets in our immediate area. For a full list of street closures and their approximate reopening times, click here. Access to other streets in the area not directly on the course may be affected during this timeframe.
The towing of vehicles along the course and other posted No Parking zones will be enforced beginning at 1:00 am on Sunday, October 11. Vehicles remaining on the street will be ticketed and towed to the nearest auto pound. For inquiries about towed vehicles, call 312.744.4444.
If you have any questions, please contact the Chicago Marathon by emailing office@chicagomarathon.com or visit chicagomarathon.com for more information about the event.
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Street Sweeping
The Department of Streets and Sanitation continues to operate its regular street sweeping schedule. Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool.
"Sweep Around Us" — a third-party email reminder service used for street sweeping alerts — has rebranded as "We The Sweeple." Click here for more information.
Click here to find the Street Sweeping section of my website. An interactive map of all seven street-sweeping sections is included, along with the full schedule of 2026 sweeping dates. Residents are encouraged to mark their calendars for respective sweeping dates in the event that they have visitors or are out of town.
Scheduled for cleaning on Tuesday, October 13: Section 3 (Purple), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Wednesday, October 14: Section 3 (Purple), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Thursday, October 15: Section 6 (Green)
Scheduled for cleaning on Friday, October 16: Section 6 (Green)
Scheduled for cleaning on Monday, October 19: Section 7 (Brown)
Please note that due to the Columbus Day city holiday on Monday, October 12, there will be no street sweeping or garbage pickup. City services will resume on Tuesday, October 13.
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Smart Streets Ticket Enforcement
Please be aware that the Department of Finance is implementing Smart Street Enforcement for Street Cleaning tickets in the 2nd Ward. While members of the Department of Finance will continue to enforce parking restrictions for street sweeping, tickets will now be sent via mail rather than paper being placed on the vehicle itself.
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18th District Community Conversation 2nd Session: Wednesday, October 21
Each year, the Chicago Police Department hosts Community Conversations throughout the city to engage with Chicagoans in the creation of their district’s strategic plan for the following calendar year.
The 18th District is having its Community Conversation Second Session on Wednesday, October 21, at Park Community Church (1001 N Crosby) at 5:30 pm.
Click here to learn more.
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CCPSA Accepting Applications for Youth North Side Commissioner: Now through October 18
 The District Council Nominating Committee is now accepting applications from young adults residing on Chicago’s North Side to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). The application period is open through October 18, 2026.
Under the CCPSA Ordinance, at least two Commissioners must reside on the North Side, two on the South Side, and two on the West Side. The ordinance also requires two Commissioners to be between the ages of 18 and 24 at the time of appointment.
Click here to learn more.
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18th District CompStat Report
The Computer Statistics report (CompStat) is a weekly report of incidents that occurred in the respective police district. Each district compiles a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests, and data analysis.
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Recent Carjacking Arrests:
Community Alerts:
Additional High-Profile Arrests:
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Updated 2026 Chicago Police CAPS Meeting Schedule
The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) Beat community meetings are a key part of the Chicago Police Department's strategy of partnerships and problem-solving. These meetings are held in person, with the option to participate remotely, and are an excellent way to communicate with the officers who patrol your beat and to engage with and meet your neighbors.
The entirety of the 2nd Ward falls inside the 18th District. Click here to find which beat you reside in. You may also call 312-742-5778 or email CAPS.018District@chicagopolice.org for more information about the 18th District CAPS office.
Please note that no further Zoom meetings have been scheduled for 2026.
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Construction and Development Updates
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State & Elm Building Construction
This month, the construction project at the former Barnes and Noble at State and Elm has begun caisson foundation drilling, which is expected to continue for the next one to two weeks. Upon completion of the caisson work, the construction team will proceed with the installation of the project's earth retention system. Trucking activity will remain ongoing as materials are delivered to the site and excavated soil is removed. The construction team has been coordinating these operations to minimize impacts on the surrounding neighborhood whenever possible. Over the coming months, site activity will continue to increase as foundation and excavation work progress. If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
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Northwestern Medicine Construction Website
For those who live in Streeterville near the Northwestern Medicine site bounded by N Fairbanks Ct, E Huron St, N McClurg Ct, and E Erie St, or those who are just interested in the latest construction updates, the project team is maintaining a regularly updated construction information website. The project is currently in a subterranean demolition phase. Multiple levels of blast-proof basement were left behind by the former Lakeside Veterans Affairs structure. Because they were built to withstand bomb blasts, the current demolition phase is quite disruptive. Vibration and dust monitors are located in and around the site, and, if certain thresholds were to be crossed in either category, work is brought to a halt until the issue is resolved. Please click here to visit the website.
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General 2nd Ward Infrastructure Updates
Construction season is winding down. Crews are putting the finishing touches on streets and alleys, building pedestrian safety improvements, and replacing street lighting. Here are some highlights of ongoing or upcoming infrastructure improvements in our ward. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. My office always stands ready to answer questions about these or any other infrastructure projects in our ward and to receive your suggestions for future consideration.
- Chestnut St complete lighting replacement from Mies van der Rohe to Lake Shore Dr
- Status: Concrete restoration complete; asphalt restoration expected by end of month
- State Pkwy resurfacing from Scott to Schiller
Status: Project start is pending on spot curb and gutter replacement on the 1300 block of State Pkwy
- Dickens Avenue resurfacing from Clifton to Racine
Status: Requested early in 2026 but on hold while fiber optics (Lumen) project is completed
- If still necessary after fiber optics restoration, will be done in 2027
- Southport/Belden intersection reconstruction
- Status: Cleanup of the asphalt debris on the new stamped concrete of the intersection is being coordinated with CDOT. Bollard installation is also expected in coming weeks.
- Huron St resurfacing from St. Clair to Fairbanks (completed)
- Inner Lake Shore Drive resurfacing from E Lake Shore Dr to Ohio (completed)
- Pearson St parkway improvements (completed)
- Southport Ave resurfacing from Webster to Fullerton (completed)
- E Chicago sidewalk replacement (completed)
- Wells St replacement of lighting fixtures on existing poles from Division to North Ave (completed)
- Magnolia Ave resurfacing from Webster to Belden (completed)
- Wabash Ave resurfacing from Huron to Superior (completed)
- State Pkwy resurfacing from Schiller to Burton (completed)
- McClurg Ct resurfacing from Ohio to Ontario (completed)
- Delaware Pl resurfacing from Clark to LaSalle (completed)
- Blackhawk St resurfacing from Sedgwick to Larrabee (completed)
- Magnolia/Belden detached pedestrian bump-outs (completed)
- Schiller between LaSalle and Clark: center line striping (completed)
- Alley apron and sidewalk replacement on North Ave from LaSalle to the western alley (completed)
- Clover Playlot Improvements (completed)
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Update on the Division Street Streetscape
Phase 1 work is underway (center lane work). Sewer work has begun.
These streetscape improvements have been designed by the Chicago Department of Transportation in close cooperation with community representatives and my team. Highlights include:
• Roadway geometry improvements
• Full-width roadway resurfacing
• New wider paver sidewalks
• New curb and gutter
• New street lighting
• ADA ramps and crosswalks
• New pavement markings and signs
• Tree plantings and landscaping
• Site furnishings
Throughout construction, Division Street will remain open to motorists and pedestrians, and access to businesses and residences will be maintained. During the final stage of construction, westbound traffic will be temporarily detoured. Please watch out for parking restrictions for equipment staging on nearby streets.
Construction review meetings are being held weekly by CDOT when construction is underway. These meetings are open to the public and provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to ask questions and coordinate concerns regarding construction.
For additional information, please call the Department of Transportation at (312) 744-5900 or visit the project website here.
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Streets and Sanitation Fall Leaves Tips and Tricks
 As the fall season approaches, the Department of Streets and Sanitation encourages all Chicagoans to do their part and assist in keeping leaves out of the streets, curbs, and gutters.
Remember to remove leaves that fall into the street in front of your house, and consider using them as mulch in your yard. DSS encourages you to bag leaves and call 3-1-1 for a yard waste pickup. Please keep in mind that sweeping leaves into the street is a violation of the Municipal Code, and doing so can clog the sewer system and lead to flooding.
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2026 General Election: November 3, 2026
The 2026 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and I encourage you to make a plan to vote. The Chicago Board of Elections offers several easy ways for Chicago voters to cast their ballots:
- Downtown Early Voting – Voters may now cast their ballots at the Chicago Voting Supersite (137 S. State Street) or the Chicago Board of Elections Offices (69 W. Washington Street).
- 50 Ward Early Voting – Beginning October 19, 2026, voters may cast their ballots at the designated Early Voting Center in their neighborhoods, or at any one of the Board’s 52 universal Early Voting sites.
- Election Day Voting – On November 3, 2026, all 1,292 precinct polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m., in addition to 51 of the Board’s universal Vote Centers. Check for acceptable ID forms to bring to the polls.
- Register to Vote – Voters should check chicagoelections.gov to register or update their information.
- If a voter chooses to register to vote through a deputy registrar, Illinois Secretary of State branches and other qualifying state agencies, library branch offices, by mail, or the Chicago Board of Elections Office at 69 W. Washington Street, that deadline is Tuesday, October 6.
- From Wednesday, October 7 through Monday, November 2, “grace period” registration is available at the Chicago Board of Elections Office at 69 W. Washington Street or in person at any active polling place at the time of casting a vote.
- Online voter registration remains available through Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Voters who need to register after that online deadline must do so in person at an Early Voting location or at the polls on Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, with certain identification requirements.
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Clybourn Metra Stop Redesign Survey
 As part of the Metra Clybourn Station Feasibility Study, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is looking for feedback on the redesign of the Clybourn Metra Station, located at Clybourn and Armitage. This station is a major hub for commuters, and IDOT wants to hear how you think it can be improved for future riders.
Click here to take the survey and share your ideas with IDOT.
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Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo: Now through November 1
 Lincoln Park Zoo's 12th Annual Fall Fest is in full swing now through November 1. This free, family-friendly event has a great lineup of activities that include roasting s’mores, watching professional pumpkin carvers, picking your own pumpkin, and catching live music and entertainment as you explore decorated gardens in autumn color.
Click here for more details.
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Celebrate Face Your Fears Day at 360 CHICAGO: Tuesday, October 13
 360 CHICAGO, located at 875 N Michigan Ave, is hosting National Face Your Fears Day on Tuesday, October 13, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a lineup of playful challenges for guests ready to confront their phobias.
Guests can face the heights on TILT, Chicago's highest thrill ride, get a free tattoo, meet snakes and spiders, cross paths with a roaming clown, peek into their future with a Tarot reading, or take on a shot of Malört.
All activities except TILT are included with general admission. Tickets available at 360CHICAGO.com
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The Service Club of Chicago’s 136th Annual Gala: Saturday, October 17
 Join the Service Club of Chicago for an unforgettable evening of Hollywood glamor and Bollywood energy at its136th Annual Gala on Saturday, October 17, at 6:00 pm, at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E Monroe St). Proceeds from the gala directly support the Service Club of Chicago’s Philanthropic Grant Fund, providing grants to organizations making a meaningful difference in our community.
Click here for event details.
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State Rep. Croke Pumpkin Giveaway: October 24
 State Representative Margaret Croke’s office is hosting its sixth annual Pumpkin Giveaway and Canned Food Drive. The drive will take place at the Lincoln Central Association’s annual neighborhood Halloween party, Howler at Bauler, on Saturday, October 24th, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Bauler Park (501 W Wisconsin). If you bring a canned good to donate, you will receive a free pumpkin in return. All proceeds will go to the Nourishing Hope food pantry.
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