Dear Neighbor,

On Saturday, February 21, a house fire displaced 22 people from their homes in Logan Square here in the 35th Ward. Community members have organized a fundraiser to support our neighbors, who lost all of their belongings and need emergency funds. Please consider donating to the community GoFundMe to support the impacted families.

This past Tuesday, I visited Darwin Elementary School and met with Principal Daniel De Los Reyes. Darwin Elementary is an amazing school that I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years, both as a County Commissioner and now as Alderman. Darwin prides itself on its academic excellence, dual-language program, unique incorporation of art and murals, and strong engagement from parents and local community-based organizations, including Palenque LSNA. Over the coming weeks and months, I will be visiting every elementary school in the 35th Ward to learn about the needs of our students and our aging school infrastructure.

On Wednesday, I attended one of my most anticipated meetings of the year — our annual Capital Improvement Project (CIP) briefing. This meeting brings together representatives from city departments to discuss upcoming infrastructure improvement projects planned for the year in our ward. My office is planning to host a webinar to share project details, along with other improvement projects, very soon. In the meantime, I wanted to highlight some of the main projects slated for construction later this year:

• Arterial Street Resurfacing (Hermosa and Logan Square): On W. Fullerton Avenue, between N. Lockwood and N. Kimball Avenues (this project will include curb-to-curb resurfacing of the road, pedestrian safety improvements, and ADA sidewalk crossing improvements)

• Water Main Line and Lead Service Line Replacement (Irving Park): On N. Kimball, N. Bernard, and N. St. Louis Avenues, from W. Addison Street to N. Elston Avenue (this project will include full resurfacing of the impacted streets during the restoration phase)

• Sewer Main Line Replacement (Irving Park): On W. Waveland Avenue, between N. Central Park and N. Kimball Avenues (this project is anticipated to start in early April and will include full resurfacing of the impacted streets during the restoration phase)

These neighborhood improvement projects will improve traffic and pedestrian safety, strengthen stormwater management, and ensure access to safe drinking water for our families. We look forward to sharing more information with affected residents and businesses as it becomes available.

On Thursday morning, I joined parents, students, and educators outside of ASPIRA Business and Finance High School in Avondale in the 35th Ward in response to the news that ASPIRA did not have sufficient funds to complete the school year.

Our school families deserve certainty, not last-minute disruption. Chicago Public Schools set a deadline for ASPIRA to demonstrate it has secured sufficient funding to complete the school year, and unfortunately, ASPIRA did not provide sufficient evidence that it is financially solvent.

I am working to help ensure CPS rolls out a clear public contingency plan that guarantees credit transfers, on-time graduation for seniors, organized transitions for students that prevent learning loss, and clarity for staff regarding payroll and benefits. If you are a parent of an ASPIRA student, or know a parent who is concerned about what is happening, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (773) 985-3510 or by email at ward35@cityofchicago.org.

On Thursday, I hosted students from a political science class from Lake Forest College at the Lucy Gonzalez Parsons affordable housing building to talk about my trajectory into public service, the role and responsibilities of being an alderman, and the challenges facing our nation. Later in the day, I spoke with parents at Diversey Daycare to connect them to the services and resources our office provides, as well as Know Your Rights materials.

Finally, earlier today I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Belmont Tavern, located at 3405 W. Belmont Avenue. The 35th Ward Office wrote a letter of support for Belmont Tavern during the application phase, and it received a $250,000 community development grant from the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. The tavern had been closed for over 25 years and had not seen activation until this year. We are excited to see Belmont Tavern reopen and join the growing economic development in Avondale!

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Anthony J. Quezada

Alderman, 35th Ward

P.S. Please note that in observance of Pulaski Day, the 35th Ward and 8th District office will be closed on Monday, March 2, and will reopen at 9 am on Tuesday, March 3. Similarly, the Department of Streets and Sanitation will be closed on Monday, and there will be no refuse service on Monday, March 2. Refuse service will resume on Tuesday, March 3. To see the updated refuse collection schedule for your address, visit this link. 

Community Resources:

• Food Bank Locator and SNAP Updates

• Utility Billing and Relief

• Immigration Resources | Family Support Hotline 855-435-7693

• Parking Ticket Relief

• Tenants Rights Resources

Ward Updates

Early Voting In The Wards Begins March 2nd!

This coming Monday, March 2nd, early voting will begin across Chicago’s 50 wards and at the Early Voting Supersite in the Loop. Voters can cast their ballot at any of the early voting locations, and folks are also able to register to vote on site. You can find more information on how to register to vote and information on voting locations on the website of the Chicago Board of Elections. The 35th Ward’s Early Voting location will, once again, be NEIU El Centro, located at 3390 N Avondale. Additionally, if you are planning on mailing in your ballot, please ensure that your ballot is returned by March 10 to ensure that it is counted, or you can reference your mail-in ballot for other ways to turn in your ballot.

Barry CTA Substation Update

The contractor has decided to complete terracotta work on the north side of the substation, meaning that the sidewalk reopening will unfortunately be delayed until the completion of this work. This is to ensure that all work is completed before the sidewalk is reopened, instead of opening the sidewalk and then closing it once again. The station is still on track for substantial completion later in March.

Chicago Park District Participatory Budgeting

The Chicago Park District (CPkD) is launching a Citywide Participatory Budget (PB) process to deepen community engagement, increase transparency in public spending, and strengthen resident trust in park planning and resource allocation.

Through this initiative, residents, park users, and community stakeholders will be invited to submit specific park improvement ideas for parks across the city. CPkD will evaluate the ideas for viability and then group the ideas submitted into broader project categories. Community members will then vote on which broader categories they would most like the Park District to prioritize for funding initiatives.

The winning category or categories will guide how CPkD allocates the PB capital funds. Projects submitted by individuals within the winning category will be evaluated for the feasibility of the proposed scope and the availability of funding to complete the project. As many feasible projects as possible will be implemented with the funding available. Following a PB model ensures that implemented park improvements reflect the collective priorities of Chicago’s communities. For more information and to submit a project idea, visit the Chicago Park District’s PB page.

Hermosa Community Tree Planting Day

The 35th Ward Office is working with Openlands, an organization that works to protect our natural areas and our tree canopy, the 26th Ward Office, the Office of Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez, and Nixon Elementary on a tree-planting day on April 25th. We are working to identify Hermosa-area residents who are interested in having a tree planted in front of their home at no cost. Trees help our communities by reducing the urban heat island effect, cleaning the air, and absorbing rainwater.

The Hermosa neighborhood area has been identified as a high-priority area for tree planting, given its relatively low canopy coverage. On April 25th, we will come together to take action for our community!

If you are a Hermosa resident who would like a tree planted in front of your home or would like to lend a hand volunteering on April 25th, please email scott@ward35.org. If you would like a tree planted in front of your home, but you do not live in the Hermosa community, please contact the 35th Ward Office for assistance at ward35@cityofchicago.org or by call/text at 773-985-3510.  

Notice of Public Hearing- City of Chicago Department of Water Management Public Water Supply Loan Project

The City of Chicago Department of Water Management will hold a virtual public hearing on March 6, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. CST, to receive public comment regarding its  intent to apply for loans from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Public Water Supply Loan Program (PWSLP) for Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) activities. The funds shall be used for lead service line replacement projects and associated activities directly connected to the identification, planning, and replacement of lead service lines.  

The public hearing is being held in accordance with the State of Illinois Rules for Public Water  Supply Loans, Part 663.330. The public hearing can be accessed through the following link:  chicago.gov/dwmph or by phone at: 1-872-222-6918, Phone conference ID: 928 190 406#  The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on the Project Plan and IEPA’s Preliminary Environmental Impacts Determination for proposed projects. 

Based on the 2025 City of Chicago Lead Service Line Replacement Plan, the replacement  strategy is focused on scaling up operations to meet a mandatory state replacement  schedule, prioritizing disadvantaged communities, and utilizing specific programs  throughout the city. The annual target starting in 2027 is approximately 8,300 LSLs per year  with a cumulative replacement goal of 41,500 replacements by the end of the 5-year period  (2031). The Project Plan and the IEPA’s Environmental Impacts Determination are available  for inspection online at: chicago.gov/dwmph.  

The City of Chicago Deputy Commissioner, Lead Service Line Replacement Program,  Michael Grillo, will receive written comments for a period of 10 days following the public  hearing at: watermanagement@cityofchicago.org or chicago.gov/dwmph or by phone at 312-744-6636. 

Ward Night

Our next ward night will be Monday, March 9th, 2026. To schedule an appointment to meet with the Alderman, please email us at ward35@cityofchicago.org or call us at (773)-985-3510 during our hours of operation (9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday).

Upcoming Community Events

On Monday, March 2nd, the Koz Park Advisory Council is having their second annual Pulaski Day Happy Hour at Central Park Bar at 2924 N. Central Park. Patrons can enjoy half-price drinks from 5–7pm and free pizza compliments of the Kosciuszko Park Advisory Council. It's a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and hear from local leaders about the significance of Polish-American Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski. We'll have a toast to Pulaski at 6pm and Bar Bingo at 7pm.

Kosciuszko Park is Logan Square's largest park, named for another Polish-American hero, Thaddeus Kosciuszko.

Constituent Resources

35th Ward Office Phone Number: 773-985-3510

35th Ward Office Email: ward35@cityofchicago.org

DSS recycling and garbage schedule:  chicagorecycles.org

Parking Zone Lookup:   http://smartchicago.github.io/zone-parking/  

Snow Plow Tracker: https://plow-tracker-chicago.hub.arcgis.com/

Street Sweeping Schedule: 2025 Street Cleaning Schedule

Street Sweeper Tracker: www.cityofchicago.org/sweepertracker

Street Sweeper “We The Sweeple” App: https://www.wethesweeple.com/Elected Official Lookup: https://chicagoelections.com/en/your-voter-information.html

Backyard service rodent abatement: (312) 746-5230

35th Ward Staff

Scott Jaburek - Chief of Staff

Alberto Cuevas - Ward Superintendent

Sara Rodriguez - Neighborhood Services Director

Chas Sirridge - Policy Director

Juan Cardenas - Neighborhood Services Advocate

Public Safety (CAPS) Meetings

CAPS meetings are an opportunity for residents to meet with the Community Engagement officers of their local police districts to discuss public safety concerns in their neighborhoods. The 35th ward includes portions of the 14th, 17th, and 25th districts of the Chicago Police Department. Visit the CPD website to find your beat.

CAPS Beat 1411 Art Colony 2630 W Fletcher Thursday March 5th 6:00pm

CAPS Beat 2522 Blackhawk Park 2318 N Lavergne  Thursday March 5th 6:30pm