47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports that the City Council Finance Committee authorized a $261 million settlement in 16 lawsuits involving former CPD detective Reynaldo Guevara. He contributed $100,000 in local infrastructure funds toward an accessible Coonley Elementary playground, and sewer upgrades and lead service line replacements are planned in Ravenswood. The Environmental Protection Committee advanced his proposal to bar City departments from buying Styrofoam and other nonrecyclable plastic foodware; the newsletter also highlights neighborhood events and services.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports the City Council approved the sale of Chicago’s parking meters to Stonepeak, including a $75 million payment earmarked for pension obligations and an additional 5% profit share projected to bring in $376 million. He also says the council delayed a vote on two competing renter-protection proposals that would create a rental registry, limit non-refundable move-in fees, and extend an eviction-court legal representation pilot, hoping for a compromise before end of October. Other items include civics discussions at Coonley Elementary and upcoming ward events such as Apple Fest (Oct. 2–4), a free community art class (Oct. 3), and a Spooky Community Bike Ride (Oct. 7).
47th Ward Alderman Maggie announces a one-day “Mobile City Hall” event on Saturday, October 17 at St Ben’s Gym (3941 N Bell) where residents can purchase city stickers and residential permit guest parking passes, get a dog license, receive a free CityKey card, and get an annual flu shot (bring proof of insurance; limited vouchers for uninsured residents). No zoning, development, housing, transit, budget, or street safety decisions were mentioned.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports that Chicago City Council unanimously passed amendments to the Chicago Ethics Code ahead of municipal elections, and he chairs the Ethics Committee; he also introduced legislation requiring audits of automated license plate reader vendors for improper data sharing and clearer paid social media disclosures. He says his office’s Youth Council met to plan the ward’s annual participatory budgeting and discussed improving e-scooter safety. The newsletter also promotes weekend events including Midnight Circus in the Parks in Welles Park, Andersonville Arts Weekend along Clark St., and the 5th annual Sustainability Fair in North Center, plus other community announcements and upcoming office hours with Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s team.
The newsletter from 47th Ward Alderman Neighbor is an invitation to a free community art class on Saturday, October 3 at 12:00 PM at the North Center Town Square, where participants will draw trees and can submit work for display at the 47th Ward Office Fall Showcase. It does not mention any zoning/development, housing, transit, budget, ordinance changes, or street-safety items.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin highlighted city action for street safety and transportation capacity, saying they and other aldermen endorsed hiring more traffic engineers, and noting a ribbon-cutting for the Winnslie Parkway expansion that added community gardens, walking paths, protected bike lanes, and raised crosswalks. He also shared updates on Welles Park grubs treatment (no field closures expected) and a planned playground surface replacement supported by $100,000 in local infrastructure funds, plus mention of Ashland resurfacing and related no-parking signage changes. Other major items include a flu vaccine clinic at St Ben’s Gymnasium (Oct. 17), free shredding (Sept. 19), and neighborhood events like DANK Haus Oktoberfest (Sept. 19) and Chicago Stars Neighborhood Night (Sun.).
47th Ward Alderman Mobile Office Hours will be held Friday, October 9 from 1–4 PM at Sulzer Library, with representatives from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s office to assist residents with federal issues including immigration, Social Security, and Medicare (appointments encouraged; walk-ins welcome). No zoning, development, budget, transit, or street policy decisions are mentioned; the newsletter is focused on constituent services.
In a 47th Ward update from Ald. Matt Martin, the main policy item is City Council’s License Committee passing legislation he introduced to replace Chicago’s outdated 1999 business licensing system with an integrated, simpler process for businesses. The newsletter also highlights upcoming City service/resource events (including Mobile City Hall with flu shots) and multiple neighborhood happenings, while noting CDOT’s projected completion of Ashland raised crosswalk work with closures through 9/14.
Other major announcements include the Ravenswood ArtWalk (Sept. 12–13) and Oktoberfest street festival (Sept. 11–13) near the Western Brown Line plaza, plus a Property Tax Appeals workshop (Sept. 24) and the 19th District council meeting (Sept. 30).
In a 47th Ward update, Ald. Matt Martin reports on recent Environmental Protection Committee discussion of flood-mitigation efforts, including sewer main replacements, stormwater-diversion tunnel work in Albany Park, expanding CPS stormwater-retaining school yards, and adding more permeable “green” alleys. He also notes a projected $882 million budget gap for 2027 and says the full mayoral budget proposal is expected next month, with opportunities for public feedback. The newsletter highlights upcoming events including Bike the Drive (Active Transportation Alliance) and a community Spooky Bike Ride on Oct. 7, plus Sept. 19 shredding day, art and Oktoberfest events, and ward street/sidewalk work such as CDOT Ashland resurfacing and raised crosswalk construction.
In the 47th Ward, Ald. Matt Martin announced a zoning approval to allow a 4-story residential building with three family-sized homes at 3642 N Ashland, with agreed sustainable features. He also listed development proposals that will be reviewed by the Zoning Advisory Council in September (including a 6-unit condo at 1410–12 W Warner and a 4-story mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial and three homes at 3636 N Ashland) and noted CDOT’s planned Ashland resurfacing work, including seven raised crosswalks and a bus pad at Ashland and Wilson. Other highlights include back-to-school and Youth Council events at Chase Park, a free Sept. 19 shredding day, and upcoming community events such as Oktoberfest (Sept. 11–13) and the Ravenswood Art Walk (Sept. 12–13).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin’s newsletter focuses on upcoming community and citywide sessions, including a Town Hall on proactive rental inspections (Aug. 27) and a Safety Meeting on the search for the next Police Superintendent (Aug. 26). It also shares practical neighborhood updates—Cook County’s release of 2025 second-installment property tax bills due Oct. 1 (online, mail, or at banks) and a deadline to apply for SBA storm-damage loans by Sept. 8—along with notes on city construction such as Western Brown Line bus return (Aug. 23) and pending Ashland raised crosswalk/bus pad work.
Other major announcements include the Thirsty Ears classical street music festival (Aug. 22–23), Shakespeare in the Park (Aug. 22), and Shredding Day (Sept. 19), plus several neighborhood events listed throughout August and September (e.g., Oktoberfest, Dog Days, and Bike the Drive).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports urging City and State transportation officials to expedite safety improvements on Irving Park (a State-controlled road), especially at crossings near Greenview and Janssen, after a fatal crash and related traffic-safety concerns; he also highlights Ward Night In conversations including speed humps and other street-safety issues. He additionally notes ongoing CDOT/CTA work affecting transit and streets—returning bus service to the Western Brown Line turnaround on Aug. 23, and projected raised crosswalk and bus-pad construction at Ashland and Wilson next week—as well as a slated shredding/electronics recycling event on Sept. 19. Other announcements include Dine in Solidarity for immigrant-owned businesses on Clark Street (Aug. 14–16), Safety Listening Sessions for the next Chicago Police Superintendent (Sept. 2), and multiple community events including Thirsty Ears (Aug. 22–23), Saigon Jazz Revival (Aug. 29), and Bike the Drive (Sept. 6).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin highlights CDOT/CTA-related transit and safety items, including Ashland Ave street closures and the planned raised crosswalks plus a bus pad at Ashland/Wilson, along with a CTA #78 route change beginning August 23. The newsletter also notes construction timelines affecting pedestrian access and bus turnaround operations, and mentions other safety-focused efforts in the ward related to expanding safer routes for students near the Western and Irving Park e-scooter safety area.
Additional announcements include the Ravenswood Feel Good Fest and Lincoln Square Cat Tour on August 8, a Ravenswood bike ride for the Riley O’Neil memorial fund, a 47th Ward book drive, and a September 2 listening session for the next Chicago Police Superintendent.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reported plans for a new public plaza at Lincoln & Berenice and urged residents to complete a survey on the near-final design. He also discussed 19th Police District Council deliberations over alternative response to parking-related 911 calls, criticizing the Johnson administration’s proposal to narrow the pilot and cut its staffing; his office’s legislation would use city finance “parking enforcement aides” instead of police for these calls.
The newsletter also highlights upcoming community events (including the Dim Sum 5K and a 47th Ward Youth Council back-to-school event on Aug. 27) and notes construction updates like continued Western Brown Line/CTA bus service preparations and late-stage Ashland arterial resurfacing.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin announced community feedback efforts for a new public plaza planned for a City-owned parking lot near Martyr’s Live (event July 30 at 5 p.m.), and noted upcoming sewer work at Ainslie/Claremont that will fully close the intersection for about four weeks starting July 27. He also shared that the 19th District Council will hold a meeting on the Parking Alternative Response Team (PART) pilot ordinance and discussed ongoing CTA/Brown Line area construction and related bus service/streetscape work (including Ashland resurfacing and restriping). Other items include book donations to the Bezazian Library sale (Aug. 8–Sept. 9), the Andersonville Vintage Market (July 26) and other August neighborhood events (e.g., Dim Sum 5K on Aug. 1 and Feel Good Fest/Ravenswood bike tour on Aug. 8), plus congratulations to the Chicago Rowing Varsity Girls team for 4th place at the Henley Royal Regatta.
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports that City Council unanimously passed his proposal to reduce bottlenecks and speed up the development of 100% affordable housing, and he also notes a vote on the proposed sale of Chicago’s parking meters to Stonepeak Partners was called off and may return in September. He announces plans to hold an open house July 30 to discuss converting an underutilized City-owned parking lot at Lincoln & Berenice in North Center into a public space, and mentions upcoming infrastructure work updates including final layers and restriping on Ashland (by July 22–end of July) and ongoing Western Brown Line and plaza work. Other major items include postponing the July 18 shredding/electronics recycling event due to air quality and encouraging residents to attend Ravenswood On Tap (July 18–19).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports that the City Council Housing Committee passed his ordinance to speed up and reduce the cost of City-funded affordable housing developments, including new public reporting and removal of duplicative occupancy approvals. He also notes upcoming zoning reviews, including a request for a 6-story, 95-unit mixed-use building at 4730–52 N Clark to be considered by the Zoning Advisory Council, and support for a separate zoning change to allow a new 2-flat at 2128 W Eastwood. Other highlights include street closures for the Square Roots festival July 10–12 and continued CTA/road work updates (Western Brown Line area construction and Ashland resurfacing).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin’s newsletter mainly focuses on storm-forestry work and city services—Chicago Bureau of Forestry crews are continuing storm cleanup and expanding a grid-based inspection approach, and residents can request free lead testing kits via 311. It also shares 4th of July safety and office-closure updates (office closed July 3), plus local events including the North Center 4th of July Parade and Navy Pier’s sanctioned fireworks on July 4. Other major announcements include a July 18 kids’ winter clothing drive and electronics/paper shredding event, an MWRD-related recycling day, and notices on upcoming community events (e.g., Square Roots and Movie in the Parks) and neighborhood transit/streets updates (Western Brown Line and Ashland resurfacing).
47th Ward Ald. Matt Martin reports on an earlier hearing on the proposal to allow a new parking meter operator (Stonepeak Partners) after a prior 2008 deal, noting the city’s limited grounds to reject the sale and ongoing questions about Stonepeak’s financial and reputational background. He also highlights the recent ribbon-cutting for the Western Ave Brown Line plaza and farmers market lot rehab, alongside a Cities Council op-ed advocating small-dollar donor matching for aldermanic candidates and upcoming ward services/events including Ward Night at Timber Lanes (July 22), Loose Parts Palooza for the Welles Park Nature Play area (July 18), and the Chicago Pride Parade (June 28) plus the North Center Garden Walk (June 29) and Argyle Night Market (starting July 2).
In the 47th Ward, Ald. Matt Martin highlights City Council’s purchase of the Greyhound terminal building to support its continued operation during a one-year transition to a new operator, and he also discusses his proposal for “guard rails” on officers’ use of AI when drafting reports. He further notes upcoming CDOT street resurfacing in multiple corridors and accelerated ward-funded street repaving, plus No Parking restrictions during grinding work.
Other major items include a condolence after a Uptown shooting and reminder resources for domestic violence, Ward Night and a water-infrastructure event at Sulzer Library, and community notices including free shredding/electronics recycling on July 18 and several upcoming neighborhood events (e.g., Lincoln Square Architecture Tour June 20 and North Center Garden Walk June 28).