Daniel La Spata

Alderman Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) announced that this week’s City Council will vote on expanding accessory dwelling units citywide, affirming residential composting, and approving last‑mile logistics facilities, and he is also working on a gender‑based‑violence hearing with Ald. Rossana Rodriguez‑Sanchez. A virtual zoning meeting is set for October 6 to review updated plans for 2240 N Milwaukee following the Greater Goethe Neighborhood Review, and the 1st Ward will host a Meet Me on Milwaukee event this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other events include a public‑safety commission meeting on September 25, an older‑adult safety presentation on September 26, and a Shakespeare Blood Oath performance at Eckhart Park on Saturday.

Alderman La Spata of the 1st Ward reports that the city’s Mid‑Year Budget Hearings and a September 22 Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety hearing will address budget priorities and speed‑camera enforcement recommendations, while a virtual zoning meeting on Oct. 6 will review updated plans for 2240 N Milwaukee. He notes that the Committee on Finance approved a $90 million settlement of 176 police‑related suits, and the city is evaluating a tavern license application amid safety concerns. Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Meet Me On Milwaukee event, and the 1st Ward Office will share further details on the tavern and zoning matters as they arise.

Alderman Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) announced that the Mid‑Year Budget Hearings begin today and that the CTA will host three budget town halls in mid‑September to discuss transit funding and budget priorities. He also highlighted a virtual community meeting on October 6 to review updated zoning plans for an 80‑foot, 50‑unit mixed‑use redevelopment at 2240 N. Milwaukee, and noted concerns over the planned 2027 closure of the Cortland Ave Bridge and the need for alternative safe routes. Additional items include a public survey on EV charging infrastructure, a call for volunteers for the Meet Me On Milwaukee event, and community events at the West Town Library.

On September 22 the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will hold a hearing to review recommendations on speed‑camera enforcement, a key policy issue affecting safety and equity in the 1st Ward. Earlier this month Alderman La Spata hosted the first car‑free “Meet Me on Milwaukee” pedestrian pilot, a street‑safety redesign that drew community participation and highlighted the ward’s commitment to safer streets. The alderman also thanked residents for their input on the Equity in Enforcement Survey and announced a tree‑planting initiative to restore canopy across the ward.