Brian Hopkins

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlighted the Clybourn Metra Station redesign survey and ongoing Division Street streetscape work, including wider sidewalks, improved crossings, lighting and landscaping; other ward infrastructure projects include resurfacing and pedestrian improvements. The ward and Chicago Park District split $150,000 for Clover Playlot upgrades, and Hopkins co-sponsored a resolution to reinstate the City-Cook County Violence Against Women Task Force; Chicago Marathon street closures are scheduled for October 11.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced a CDOT-permitted crane lift on Schiller Street, between Dearborn and State, on October 15, 2026, to install a new HVAC unit. Westbound traffic will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; parking will be prohibited on both sides of the block, and south-side pedestrian access will be restricted.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlights City Council legislation affecting parking and debt limits, including a vote to transfer parking meter ownership (with $75 million upfront and revenue sharing) and an ordinance requiring 60% Council approval before the city takes on additional debt. He also notes the Foundry Park redevelopment agreement that passed the Committee on Finance, which sets aside $201 million in TIF funding for new streets, parks, and a riverwalk as well as related public infrastructure, while urging additional transportation/infrastructure items be studied. Other major items include the Chicago Marathon street closures on Oct. 11, expanded Chicago CARE team hours, and a vaccine clinic at Lake Shore Park, plus a Clybourn Metra station redesign survey and Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo through Nov. 1.

In Alderman Brian Hopkins’ 2nd Ward newsletter, he outlines negotiations around Chicago’s 2027 budget after a projected $882.4 million deficit, urging Mayor Johnson to commit to no property tax increase and no head tax/job-growth tax while protecting essential services like library funding and positions. The newsletter also flags Smart Streets ticket enforcement for street-cleaning tickets (mail instead of paper notices), plus a 18th District Community Conversation session on September 30 and several ongoing/in-progress infrastructure projects including CDOT’s Division Street streetscape work. Other announcements include a Mobile DMV clinic co-hosted in the ward, a Streeterville SOAR cleanup for Good Neighbor Week, a free 2nd Ward vaccine clinic at Lake Shore Park today, and major events like Chicago Marathon street closures on October 11 and multiple neighborhood association happy hours/fundraisers in late September and early October.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) notified residents that “Good Behavior” will be filming in Gold Coast on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with parking restrictions and two short periods of full street closure/traffic control. The notice also states the Chicago Police Department will supervise traffic control, with details to contact the location manager or the Chicago Film Office for questions. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety policy changes were announced in this newsletter.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced a community vaccine clinic with Jewel-Osco on Monday, September 28, 2:00–6:00 p.m. at Lake Shore Park, offering flu, COVID-19, shingles, RSV, pneumonia, TDAP, and multiple other vaccines by free appointment. The newsletter does not mention any zoning, housing, transit, budget, policy changes, development approvals, or street safety/utility projects; it only highlights the clinic and its co-sponsors.

In Alderman Brian Hopkins’ 2nd Ward newsletter, key upcoming public-safety and community meetings include the 18th Police District Council Meeting (Sept. 22), the CCPSA public meeting on officer wellness (Sept. 24), and the 18th District Community Conversation first session (Sept. 30). The newsletter also notes Smart Street Enforcement changes for street-cleaning tickets (mailed instead of paper on vehicles) and highlights ongoing infrastructure work such as Division Street streetscape Phase 1 and Clover Playlot improvements. Other major announcements include a Sept. 28 2nd Ward flu clinic and vaccine event at Lake Shore Park, plus community events like the RNRA “I Love River North” happy hour (Sept. 29) and SOAR’s Farm-to-Table to Pier celebration (Oct. 1).

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced a Walk-Up/Drive-Thru Paper Shredding and E-Recycling event on Sunday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 2121 N Clybourn Ave (SPF Chicago), with drop-off and drive-through instructions included. The newsletter does not mention any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety hearings or policy changes, and highlights co-hosts including Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlights a number of upcoming public events, including a Lincoln Park document shredding and electronic recycling event on September 20, plus JosaFEST (Sept. 19–20), Oktoberfest in Old Town (Sept. 18–20), and a 2nd Ward flu clinic at Lake Shore Park on Sept. 28. He also notes Smart Street Enforcement changes for street-cleaning tickets (mailed rather than placed on vehicles), and provides infrastructure updates such as ongoing CDOT’s Division Street streetscape work (construction review meetings weekly, buses detoured in stages). Other major announcements include the Near North Library’s temporary closure through Sept. 26 and community remembrance for 9/11 at Lake Shore Park, along with upcoming public safety meetings (Coffee with the Commander on Sept. 17 and the 18th District Council meeting on Sept. 22).

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) issued a special edition Patriot Day/Day of Remembrance message marking the 25th anniversary of September 11, commemorating the victims and first responders and noting the long-term health impacts on those exposed. The newsletter also links readers to Chicago firefighter reflections and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum’s 25th anniversary materials.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) did not report any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings/hearings or policy/ordinance actions in this newsletter. Instead, he updates residents on Mexican Independence Day city events from September 11–16, including downtown traffic enforcement/possible street closures, OEMC’s Emergency Operations Center monitoring, and access points such as Halsted/Washington and Halsted/Jackson, with guidance to allow extra travel time and use NotifyChicago alerts.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced a Paper Shredding & E-Recycling event on Sunday, September 13 at 382 E Huron (Northwestern Parking Lot), with instructions for vehicle entry/exit and limits on the amount of documents for shredding. The newsletter does not report any zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety meetings or policy changes, and mainly highlights this community event co-hosted by Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, 2nd Ward Committeeman Tim Egan, and Northwestern University.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced a planned Lake Shore Drive Bridge closure from September 10–16, with the bridge shut nightly from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am for CDOT center break trimming and electrical testing; traffic is rerouted via E Wacker Dr, N Columbus Dr, and E Illinois St and CTA bus routes #134/#135/#136 will follow the detour. The newsletter otherwise contains no listed zoning, housing, budget, transit service changes, or street-safety redesign items—just the overnight bridge work and the referenced permit link.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) did not report any zoning, development, housing, transit, or budget hearings, policy changes, or infrastructure decisions in this newsletter. The main announcement is the Gold Coast Neighbors Association’s annual block party, Evening on Astor, on September 9 (5:30–9:00 pm), with street closures on N Astor St (E Division to E Goethe) and E Scott St (N State Pkwy to N Stone) from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, plus details on wristbands and events like food trucks and a performance from The Redhead Piano Bar.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) says he will introduce an ordinance at the Sept. 23 City Council meeting to repeal the Cortland Bridge landmark status, aiming to help mitigate North Side traffic congestion by enabling revisions to the bridge construction, timeline, and traffic plan. He also highlights ongoing CDOT/ward infrastructure work, including the Division Street streetscape (underway) and several street resurfacing and pedestrian-safety improvements. Other announcements include City office closures for Labor Day (Sept. 7), the Sept. 9 Evening on Astor block party with a related street closure, the Sept. 6 Bike the Drive Lake Shore Drive closure, and public safety/community meetings such as the CCPSA superintendent search meeting on Sept. 10.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) reports a delay to CDOT’s Southport street resurfacing between Webster and Fullerton after a paving machine caught fire from overheating and became inoperative. The east side of Southport from Belden to Fullerton remains incomplete, and CDOT expects the project to be finished next week after procuring replacement parts; no injuries were reported. No other zoning, housing, transit, budget, or policy actions were mentioned in this newsletter.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) reminds residents of a community meeting tonight, September 2 at 6:00 PM at Northwestern Medicine’s Feinberg Pavilion (Room A) or via Zoom, where Northwestern will provide an update on the proposed new medical tower in Streeterville and address traffic mitigation, construction logistics, and final design. The notice also includes a change in meeting location from prior sessions.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) reports that the Lake Shore Drive Bridge is stuck in an open position due to heat-related issues, affecting traffic as the Spirit of Chicago passes. The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Fire Department are working to fix the malfunction and restore traffic flow, and residents are urged to use alternate routes and follow NotifyChicago alerts. No zoning, housing, transit, budget, or street-safety policy meetings or approvals are mentioned.

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) highlights a Whole Foods lease for the former Treasure Island site at 1639 N Wells St, with design and permitting underway toward a future opening. He also discusses statewide and city-related e-bike/e-micromobility rules, including Governor JB Pritzker signing SB 3484 and Hopkins’ efforts for Class 3 electric bike registration, plus public-safety and infrastructure updates such as the Division Street streetscape work, ongoing street/lighting projects, and a Near North Library closure (Sept. 7–26). Other major items include the CCPSA police superintendent search meeting (Sept. 2), the 18th Police District Council meeting (Sept. 22), and events like Evening on Astor (Sept. 9) and the Chicago Jazz Festival (Sept. 3–6).

Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) announced that CDOT resurfacing of Southport from Webster to Fullerton will begin early next week, after interim work including private lead service line replacements, catch basin repairs, and sewer structure realignments. Crews will intermittently close and redirect traffic and post “No Parking” signs during resurfacing, with traffic and parking expected to return to normal soon. The newsletter otherwise mainly requests residents’ patience and thanks them for accommodating the construction schedule.