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The 2nd Ward Newsletter for August 10, 2026
In This Edition:
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National Night Out A Success
 I was thrilled to attend another excellent National Night Out last Tuesday at Soldier Field. A heartfelt thank you to the men and women of the 18th and 1st Police Districts for hosting what has become such an important and popular event for the downtown and Near North communities.
Aldermen Knudsen, Reilly, and Conway joined me for our annual tradition of sponsoring the dunk tank for "dunk-a-cop" — a fun activity for attendees that our very own Sergeant Schenk graciously participates in!
National Night Out is a nationwide event that brings together the community and law enforcement officials to strengthen police-community relationships. Thank you to all of the 2nd Ward volunteers who donated their time and energy to run the activities for children during the night.
Pictured left to right: Ald. Conway, Ald. Hopkins, Clerk Valencia, Commissioner Scott, and Ald. Knudsen
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Harvesting Futures Summer 26' Wrap-Up
 Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with youth participants in the Harvesting Futures program, where we had an authentic, high-level conversation on community development, city government, and youth leadership. The Harvesting Futures program at the Chicago Lights Urban Farm (444 W. Chicago Ave) is a youth-engagement initiative run in partnership with After School Matters. It equips local teens with career, college, and life skills through hands-on training in urban agriculture. It was a pleasure to see so many young people who truly care about making their city a better place for all and are curious to make a hands-on impact.
If you are interested in supporting the Chicago Lights Urban Farm, be sure to check out their weekly farmstand, located at 444 W Chicago Ave. Every Saturday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, from now until the end of October, the farmstand offers fresh produce for sale, where each purchase supports the Urban Farm and the surrounding community.
Thank you again to Harvesting Futures, After School Matters, and Fourth Presbyterian Church for facilitating such an inspiring and wonderful conversation.
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Recent Block Parties
This past weekend, I was delighted to attend several block parties located around the 2nd Ward, where I got to enjoy the (mostly) beautiful summer weather and celebrate the community. Thank you to those who invited me, as I always cherish the opportunity to get out and talk with residents of the 2nd Ward about the issues that matter most to them.
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Chicago Air and Water Show: August 15-16
 The Chicago Air and Water Show returns to the lakefront for its 67th iteration, taking place on Saturday, August 15, and Sunday, August 16, with a rehearsal on Friday, August 14. This event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day and will be located along the lakefront between Fullerton Ave and Oak St, with the main focal point at North Avenue Beach (1601 N Lake Shore Dr).
First held in 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show remains the nation’s largest free-admission air and water exhibition. The event draws millions of spectators annually, generating significant tourism and economic activity for Chicago businesses. It will also serve as one of Chicago's signature celebrations of America's 250th anniversary, honoring the nation's history through spectacular aerial demonstrations and military tributes while bringing together residents and global visitors.
Please note that the #72 North Avenue bus will begin and end its route at the North/Clark intersection from 5:00 am on Tuesday, August 11, to 3 pm on Monday, August 17, due to the Chicago Air & Water Show. #72 buses will not serve the North Avenue Beach terminal during this time.
During rehearsal and show days, residents, particularly those living, working, or visiting near the
lakefront, may experience:
- Aircraft demonstrations and intermittent loud noise
- Increased vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic; allow extra travel time
- Traffic control aides will be deployed to facilitate traffic around the area; motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes.
- As for any large-scale event, public transportation is encouraged, and both CTA and Metra are providing additional service for the event. For more information, visit CTA at TransitChicago.com and Metra.com.
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General 2nd Ward Infrastructure Updates
Construction season continues as crews are busy resurfacing 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.
- Inner Lake Shore Drive resurfacing from Michigan to Ohio
Status: Milling and first layer of asphalt are complete. Utility level adjustments and sidewalk concrete work are underway.
- Will include some pedestrian safety improvements for crossing perpendicular east-west streets
- Southport/Belden intersection reconstruction
Status: Most work complete. Aesthetic additions such as bollards will be added soon.
- Raised intersection installed to calm traffic and increase pedestrian visibility in all directions.
- Curb bump-outs will also be added to shorten pedestrian distance when crossing in all directions.
- Aesthetic improvements are included (protective bollards and stamped concrete accents).
- Clover Playlot Improvements*
(*For the safety of park goers, the park is closed while major renovations take place)
Status: In progress
- Lead service line replacement serving the drinking fountain occurred just before the other improvements were scheduled to begin. Lead service line replacement is considered high priority, so that work needs to be completed before the start of the other work (this is due to a 2017 program that led to the shutoff of all drinking fountains citywide until all service lines could be replaced, and their schedule runs independent of all other projects). The Chicago Park District is coordinating the delivery of the project and will provide updates on the timeline to our office in the near future.
- Pearson St parkway improvements
Status: Concrete work complete, paver restoration and finishing touches imminent
- Restoration of existing pavers and sidewalk replacement in select areas adjacent to Seneca Park
- Installation of brand-new paver-style stamped concrete along south parkway adjacent to Lake Shore Park (replacing existing sandstone gravel)
- Southport Ave resurfacing from Webster to Fullerton
- Status: Milling completed, asphalt scheduled for later this week
- Chestnut St complete lighting replacement from Mies van der Rohe to Lake Shore Drive
- Status: Final electrical work scheduled for next week, concrete restoration of remaining areas scheduled for following week
- Magnolia Ave resurfacing from Webster to Belden
Status: Water department work recently completed, awaiting update from Department of Transportation regarding asphalt date
- 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
- Huron St resurfacing from St. Clair to Fairbanks
Status: planned for this year, schedule forthcoming
- Wells St replacement of lighting fixtures on existing poles from Division to North Ave (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) - pictured below
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2nd Ward Bike the Ward Event: Sunday, August 23
Join the 2nd Ward team for our annual Bike the Ward event starting at SPF Chicago, located at 2121 N Clybourn Ave. Get ready to pedal through the streets of the 2nd Ward with fellow cyclists. This event is perfect for all cycling enthusiasts, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned rider.
Do not miss out on this exciting opportunity to explore the neighborhood on two wheels. Check-in will begin at 7:15 am, and participants will start lining up at 7:45 am.
Click here to register.
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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, August 11: Section 1 (Olive), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow),
Scheduled for cleaning on Wednesday, August 12: Section 2 (Blue), Section 4 (Red), Section 5 (Yellow)
Scheduled for cleaning on Thursday, August 13: Section 2 (Blue)
Scheduled for cleaning on Friday, August 14: Section 3 (Purple)
Scheduled for cleaning on Monday, August 17: Section 3 (Purple)
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18th District CompStat Report
Computer Statistics report (CompStat) is a weekly report of incidents that have 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.
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Cook County Board of Review Pre-File Appeals Now Open
 The Cook County Board of Review is now accepting pre-registration requests for all townships. Pre-registration allows taxpayers to be notified by the Board of Review of the opening and closing filing periods for their respective townships. The Pre-File Period allows all filers to submit their appeal before each township officially opens. Please be advised that the Pre-File Period will end once the respective township is open.
Click here for a list of dates and deadlines after the filing period has been determined for your respective township.
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Update on the Division Street Streetscape
I am happy to report that the Chicago Department of Transportation and the contractor have begun staging for the project. Work will break ground imminently.
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.
The outbound CTA 36/Broadway bus route will be detoured during specific stages of construction. The inbound CTA 36/Broadway bus route will not be affected. Individual bus stops may be temporarily closed or relocated to accommodate construction. For more information, please call the CTA information hotline at 773-836-7000.
Hardscape work is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving, with some landscaping work happening in the spring. Construction review meetings will be 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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SAVE THE DATE! Upcoming 2nd Ward Document Shredding and Electronic Recycling Events
Join me at my upcoming 2nd Ward Document Shredding and Electronic Recycling Events:
Gold Coast: Sunday, August 30 | 9 am to 12 pm - 1258 N State Pkwy (My Parking lot)
Streeterville: Sunday, September 13 | 9 am to 12 pm - 382 E Huron St - Northwestern University Lot (from Superior to Huron)
Lincoln Park: Sunday, September 20 | 9 am to 12 pm - 2121 N Clybourn - SPF Chicago
Additional information on each event will be published in upcoming newsletters.
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Registration for Bike the Drive Now Open
 Registration for the 25th Annual Bike the Drive is now open. The event takes place on Sunday, September 6, on Lake Shore Drive. Bike the Drive is a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance, a non-profit advocacy organization working to improve conditions for walking, biking, and public transit throughout Chicago.
Click here to learn more. Click here for volunteer opportunities.
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Clear the Shelters Event at CACC: Now through August 31
 Throughout August, adoption fees will be waived for dogs and cats as part of NBCUniversal Local's annual Clear the Shelters campaign. Residents can visit Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC) daily from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm (please arrive by 5:30 pm if you plan on adopting).
Visit 24petconnect.com/chgoall for the most up-to-date list of animals in the shelter.
Click here for more information.
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River North Residents Association Back-to-School Bash: Tuesday, August 11
Join the River North Residents Association (RNRA) for a Back-to-School Bash on Tuesday, August 11, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Enjoy crafts, music, games, and more at this free event. Please note: This is a family-friendly event for children 12 and under.
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Christmas In The Wards Back to School Bash: August 21
Join Christmas in the Wards for a back-to-school giveaway on August 21, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Malcolm X College (1900 W Jackson Blvd). Attendees will receive backpacks, school supplies, clothing, shoes, and good. This free event is open to the public.
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Destigmatizing Dementia: A Community Conversation: September 9
 Join Skyline Village Chicago and the Center for Life and Learning at Fourth Presbyterian Church for a free community event exploring ways to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia. The program features a keynote presentation by TimeSlips, an internationally recognized nonprofit that uses creativity and storytelling to strengthen connections with people living with dementia, followed by a panel discussion on the Dementia Friends movement and the GUIDE program. The program will take place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm at Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E. Chestnut St). Open to caregivers, healthcare professionals, faith leaders, people living with dementia and their care partners, and anyone interested in creating a more dementia-friendly community.
Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. To register, visit CLL: Destigmatizing Dementia – Fourth Presbyterian Church.
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Little Sisters of the Poor Chez Ste Marie Fundraiser: Thursday, September 17
 Join the Little Sisters of the Poor for Chez Ste. Marie–A Taste of France. This popular wine tasting event will take place on Thursday, September 17, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in St. Mary’s Garden (2325 N Lakewood Ave).
Sample select fine French wines, taste handcrafted hors d’oeuvres, and enjoy the dulcet sounds of the guest string quartet. All proceeds go to support St. Mary’s Home and Jugan Terrace.
Click here for more information.
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Newberry Library Exhibit Conceived In Liberty Open Through September 19
As part of America 250 programming, the Newberry’s current exhibition shows how visual artists living in the US cheered, critiqued, and satirized the country’s commitment to liberty during times of war. Conceived in Liberty: Cartoons, Caricatures, and Illustrations in the Wartime United States, 1812–1918 includes a wealth of works from the Newberry’s collection to show that dedicating a country to liberty was an idea that was immediately contested—and continues to be contested to this day. The exhibition, open through September 19, includes political cartoons, magazine illustrations, caricatures, sheet music covers, broadsides, and posters by Indigenous artists, abolitionists, anti-war dissenters, suffragists, and others.
Exhibitions at the Newberry are free and open to all. Exhibition hours are 10am-7pm Tuesday through Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday and Saturday.
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