Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

June 12, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Severe Weather Update

Chicago experienced several bouts of extreme weather this week, going straight from dangerous heat to heavy rainfall and severe winds. The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation tracked more than 5,000 storm-related hazards across the city, including downed trees and blocked roadways.

I want to express our gratitude to our Ward Superintendent, Nabil Aldugom, and to all of the Forestry crews who have been working around the clock to help our city clear away all the debris. I also want to thank all the 50th Ward residents for your patience as crews continue the work. If you know of any tree emergencies that have not yet been addressed, please report them to my office.

Forestry’s priority right now is emergencies, such as uprooted trees, branches on power lines, and trees blocking streets. Tree debris cleanup will commence when all of the emergencies are relieved. Please make sure to report debris locations to my office or to 311, so Forestry can respond as efficiently as possible.

Ice Cream Social & Outdoor Office Hours - Lunt Playlot Park

Get ready for a fun summer in the 50th Ward! Join us on Tuesday, June 16 for free ice cream and outdoor office hours. We will be at Lunt Playlot Park at 2239 W Lunt Ave from 4:30-6:00 PM.

Meet your alderman, discuss any needed city services, and enjoy ice cream together with your neighbors (dairy-free options will also be available).

We have a full summer planned with lots of great community events. Find one that works for you at 50thward.org/summer. I hope to see you all out in the Ward!

HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program

As I announced last week, the City of Chicago is now taking applications for the HomeGrown Purchase Assistance Program—a new initiative to help eligible residents buy a home by providing assistance for down payments and closing costs. The program offers grants up to $70,000 for low to moderate income homebuyers.

Part of the requirements to participate in the program is to complete a homebuyer education course prior to closing. I have been working with the Department of Housing (DOH) to ensure that courses are offered on dates that work for all 50th Ward residents, including weekdays. DOH has assured me that more events will be added to the list so there is no barrier for any applicants.

To apply for the HomeGrown program, visit a delegate agency site at www.resurrectionproject.org/homegrown or www.NHSChicago.org.

Homebuyer counseling courses are offered by Housing Counseling Centers available here. For more information, visit www.chicago.gov/homegrown or contact (312) 744-3653.

Sharing the Road

With summer here, we are seeing more and more people on bikes and scooters. Cycling is healthy, environmentally friendly, and an amazing way to enjoy our neighborhood.

I just want to share some reminders so everyone can be safe. Bicycles and electric scooters may not be driven on the sidewalk in Chicago. It is dangerous for both pedestrians and cyclists. Motorists also need to be aware of bicycles and scooters on the street and accord them the same rights and protections as other vehicles.

If everyone is careful, we can all enjoy our community. Looking forward to sharing a safe and active summer with all my 50th Ward neighbors!

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

Upcoming 50th Ward Summer Events

Lake View Township Property Tax Appeals

Lake View Township is now open for property tax appeals through the Cook County Assessor’s Office. The assessment of your home is one of the most important factors in determining how much you will pay in property taxes. The good news is that you can appeal your valuation and potentially lower your taxes.

Lake View Township encompasses the area of the 50th Ward that is south of Devon and east of Western. The appeals period is open until Monday, July 13. You can file an appeal online at www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/online-appeals.

If your appeal is accepted, changes to your property's assessed value will be reflected in the second installment property tax bill you receive next year in late 2027.

For any questions, please contact the 50th Ward Office at (773) 262-1050 or contact Cook County Commissioner Morita’s Office at (312) 603-6383.

Events at the Northtown Library

English Conversation Class for Beginners

Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 AM–12:00 PM

Are you an English language learner looking to practice your spoken English? Or are you currently taking our English Class for Beginners and looking for more help? Join us on Saturdays for our English Conversation Class from the Indo American Center! Each class is a drop-in session and no advance registration is required. For ages 6 and up.

Adult Book Discussion: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Saturday, June 13 at 2:00–3:00 PM

Join us for a discussion of Beloved by Toni Morrison. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Toni Morrison's Beloved is a spellbinding and dazzlingly innovative portrait of a woman haunted by the past. For adults.

All events are located at the Northtown Library at 6800 N. Western. For more information, contact (312) 744-2292 or northtown@chipublib.org.

Legion Park Herbalist Walk

Join the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society for a walk in Legion Park with Alex Williams, a clinical herbalist and co-founder of First Curve Apothecary. The walk will be on Saturday, June 13 from 10 AM to 12 PM. Participants will meet at the Legion Park entrance to the north of 3040 W Bryn Mawr Ave.

The walk will feature a brief history of Legion Park and the surrounding area. Then you will learn about ethical foraging and wildcrafting, and gain a better understanding of how to use local plants and mushrooms for food or medicine. The walk will end with an opportunity to sample or purchase some of the tinctures, bitters, teas and extracts that First Curve Apothecary produces. 

Click here to register for the Legion Park walk and for more information on the itinerary and cost.

Sign Up for Street Sweeping Alerts

Street sweeping has officially started and will continue through late-November. You can view the schedule for the 50th Ward as an interactive map here or download a printable version on the Department of Streets and Sanitation website here. Please double-check your address on the map to make sure you are looking at the correct section.

You can find a printable schedule for each individual sweeping section on the 50th Ward website at 50thward.org/sweeping.

You can also sign up for street sweeping alerts with We the Sweeple, a third-party website that pulls information from the publicly available sweeping schedule on the Streets and Sanitation website. Visit www.WeTheSweeple.com to sign up for email alerts when street sweeping is scheduled on your block.

Please note, the site is not affiliated with the City of Chicago, so please always double-check with the official schedule.

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Summer Butterfly Club

Movie in the Park at Indian Boundary

Pet Adoption Event With CACC

Camp Courage