Next week, Alders will meet to discuss credit downgrades and options for revenue (for a schedule of upcoming meetings, click here). These are necessary conversations that need to be happening year-round -- not just during budget season -- in order to make responsible decisions about our city's budget deficit and the impact on working families across our city. Just this week, there were two important developments related to our city's fiscal health.
On Tuesday, Fitch downgraded Chicago's financial outlook to negative. Despite the Mayor assuring City Council that his irresponsible, short-sighted borrowing plan wouldn’t impact Chicago's credit outlook, that’s exactly what happened. Tuesday's negative update means it will cost the city more to borrow money, which inevitably and unfairly gets passed on to taxpayers.
Crain's reported yesterday that Mayor Johnson's administration is also spending millions of taxpayer dollars on consultants to look for ways the city can save money. After raising taxes and fees on working families last budget session, we should be enlisting existing city staff instead of outsourcing these recommendations.
|
Veteran Benefits Information
Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State
June 4th, 10am-3pm
If you are a veteran and want to learn more about available benefits, please stop by the 3rd floor of Harold Washington Library (400 S. State) on June 4th from 10am-3pm. A representative from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) will be available to help veterans obtain benefits and answer any questions you may have. The VBA provides educational, healthcare, and housing resources to enrolled military veterans. Visit the VBA website to learn more about the VBA's services.
|
8 N. Morgan Construction Update
Prep work for the building at 8 N. Morgan was scheduled to begin this week, weather permitting. Piling mobilization is scheduled to begin May 30th, and the pile installation will begin on June 6th. A sidewalk canopy will be installed on June 23rd. All dates are weather permitting. Contractors have been in touch with impacted buildings for vibration monitoring.
Pile driving will take 12-15 business days, weather permitting, and is planned to occur between 8am and 5pm. With any questions for the construction team, please email Alex Najem.
|
Green City Market
900 W. Monroe
Saturdays 8am-1pm, starting May 3
My team and I enjoyed meeting with neighbors on Saturday at the Green City Market West Loop market. This year, the market has moved to the 900 block of W. Monroe, between Peoria and Sangamon.
|
My team will be joined by the team from State Rep. Morris' office to answer questions you may have about state services! Stop by the 34th Ward table from 9am to 11am and learn more about the office's work. Also this weekend - get four tickets to Brookfield Zoo by mentioning you saw this in the newsletter!
|
2025 Street Sweeping Schedule
Street sweeping started April 1st, and the schedule is live! Find a map and scheduled dates here. Be sure to move your vehicle on your posted street sweeping dates to avoid getting ticketed or towed.
|
Join the Department of Environment for a community conversation on Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)!
The City of Chicago wants your feedback on how green infrastructure can improve your neighborhood. Learn about GSI, explore interactive resource stations, and share your thoughts on urban greening efforts in your community!
|
West Loop Historic Plaques Project
Local West Loop historian Connie Fairbanks is looking to connect with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places/Illinois Landmarksto install identifying plaques.
To see the landmarked buildings, please visit her website. If you a connection at these locations, please contact Connie.
|
If you live in a historic building in The West Loop and have some historical information about your building you would like to share, please reach out to Connie to learn the process of installing your very own historic plaque!
|
2025 Beat Meeting Schedules
Please join my team at upcoming CAPS meetings with the 1st and 12th Police Districts. CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meetings are a great opportunity to meet with police, neighbors, and my team about local safety initiatives. To find your beat, click here. I hope you can join us at these meetings!
There are two beat meetings scheduled for next week, both on Wednesday, June 4th in the 1st District.
- Beat 112: Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 3:00pm
- Beat 114: Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 at 5:30pm
- Maggie Daley Park Field House - 337 E. Randolph St.
|
Camera Registration Program
When a crime occurs, Police Officers and Detectives canvass the area looking for evidence to determine what occurred. Video footage can greatly assist in their efforts.
If you have a private security camera that captures the public way and you are interested in assisting in an investigation in the event of a crime in your neighborhood, you can register your camera with the Chicago Police Department.
|
By registering your camera, you are simply allowing the Chicago Police Department to contact you in the event of a crime in your area. CPD will not have direct access to your camera system and cannot access camera footage without your consent. This is a free and voluntary program. Learn more on the program website.
|
Speed Camera Installations
I'm excited to share that automated speed cameras are planned for installation at the following locations:
- on Racine, between Harrison and Lexington
- on Desplaines, between Jackson and Monroe
- on Jefferson, between Jackson and Monroe
- on Michigan, between Monroe and Van Buren
These locations were chosen because of their proximities to parks and schools. Installation dates have not yet been scheduled, but I will provide updates when they are planned.
|
Please note: the Roosevelt Road Bridge project is scheduled to begin Stage 2 on May 29th-30th, weather permitting.
|
34th Ward Infrastructure Updates
2025 Sidewalk Improvement Repair Projects
- Completed: ADA tripping hazard at 1 S. Clinton
- Completed: Tripping hazards at 1000 W. Adams
- Completed: ADA tripping hazard at 900 W. Adams
- Completed: Tripping hazards at 1069-73 W. Vernon Park
- Completed: Tripping hazards at 108-46 S. Peoria (Mary Bartelme Park)
- Completed: Tripping hazards at 940 W. Madison
- Completed (punch list items to follow): Tripping hazards at 200-298 S. Sangamon
- Completed (punch list items to follow): Tripping hazards at 1011-1121 W. Vernon Park
- Completed (punch list items to follow): Tripping hazards at 1131-41 W. Vernon Park
- Starting soon: Tripping hazards at 837 S. Carpenter
- Starting soon: Tripping hazards at 202 S. Carpenter
|
If you have any questions regarding these or any other infrastructure projects here in the 34th Ward, please reach out to Dan from my office at 312-744-6820 or via email to dan@ward34.org.
|
NASCAR Local Impact Updates
The NASCAR construction schedule is now live, and has been adjusted in response to feedback from neighbors:
- NASCAR activity in Grant Park starts June 19th, 16 days before the event and 10 days later than in 2024.
- Impact to Michigan Avenue (Ida B. Wells to Jackson) reduced by 5 days
- The total build time for the race is 25 days, a 42% reduction since 2023.
More information on the local impacts of the 2025 NASCAR race can be found here, including a full list of street and sidewalk impacts.
|
Ashland/I-290 Expressway Viaduct Work
Stage 1 traffic is currently being implemented on Ashland Av from Flournoy St to Jackson St to facilitate the reconstruction of the west side of the Ashland Ave bridge. In this stage, traffic configuration will consists of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave.
A detour plan for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Van Buren St will be implemented to send traffic to WB Jackson Blvd, SB Laflin St, then WB Van Buren St. A detour plan will also be implemented for the restricted left turn lane from Ashland Ave to Congress Parkway to send traffic to EB Harrison St, NB Wood St, then EB Congress Parkway. In addition, that the west side sidewalk of the bridge will be closed, and pedestrians will be detoured to east side sidewalk of the bridge.
Stage 1 will remain in effect until the west side of the bridge is reconstructed. Following this, Stage 2 will be implemented to reconstruct the east half of the bridge. During Stage 2, traffic configuration will also consist of two lanes southbound and one lane northbound on Ashland Ave. The project is anticipated to be complete late Spring 2026.
Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
For road construction updates and general travel information please visit IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois website.
|
Peoples Gas Main Replacement - Wabash from Monroe to Balbo
Peoples Gas (PGL) is continuing a major infrastructure upgrade project along Wabash from Monroe to Balbo as well as on Harrison from Michigan to Wabash. This gas main replacement project is part of PGL’s ongoing efforts to modernize its system in order to ensure continued safe and reliable service to the City of Chicago.
The work hours may vary throughout the project, but we currently anticipate working from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction hours you will be able to expect traffic in each direction maintained through our work zones. This gas main installation will at times impact access to garages and/or loading docks so they ask that any deliveries or driveway access needed during work hours be communicated to on-site personnel with advance notice to the extent possible to allow access to be accommodated with minimal delay.
|
Traffic Management: Tribune and U-Haul Demolition
- Monday-Friday truck traffic will be focused from 9am – 4pm to avoid the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours. Once trucks are on-site, they will be on private property and not in the public right of way.
- Weekends will be used for heavy hauling and will limit truck traffic from 8:00am – 8:00pm.
|
- Traffic entrance and exit as noted in the above diagram (please note, barging material as shown, is not an option at this point). If more entrances and access become available, Brandenburg will consider editing said plan.
- Brandenburg has a scale set up onsite and random trucks leaving the site will be weighed to verify optimal capacity and to adhere to city trucking load limits.
- This plan will be modified as conditions in the field dictate.
|
Work is underway for the Canal Street Viaduct demolition.
Update: April 22, 2025
Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues.
The Canal Street east sidewalk will remain closed between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard for approximately 2 months. During this time, Chicago Union Station can be accessed from the west sidewalk of Canal Steet as well as all building entrances available between Clinton Street and the Chicago River.
The project is anticipated to be complete in fall of 2025. If you have any questions, please email the project email address at CDOTCanalProjects@gmail.com.
|
The City of Chicago and Cook County are hiring! View their respective job posting sites below:
|
Apply for the ComEd EV Rally
ComEd is excited to announce the return of its signature summer program for young women, the ComEd EV Rally. Young women from across northern Illinois can now apply to participate in this summer event, a competition that challenges 45 teen girls to build and race high-tech, electric-powered go-carts.
|
The application is open to any female Illinois resident between the ages of 13 and 18. Applications are available on the ComEd site and the application will close on Sunday, June 1.
Participants will be notified in June that they were selected for this once-in-a-lifetime program, and the program will culminate with the participants racing their vehicles at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
|
Summer Movies at Mary Bartelme Park
Mark your calendars for five exciting movies brought to you by the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council! All movies begin at dusk. For the full 'Movies in the Parks' schedule, click here.
- June 16: Raiders of the Lost Ark
- June 23: Homeward Bound
- July 14: Mean Girls
- July 29: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
- August 19: Top Gun
|
West Loop Wine Walk
June 6th, 4pm-7pm
Madison from Carpenter to Ada
Join West Central Association for their first-ever Wine Walk on Madison Row! Stroll along Madison Row as 14 local businesses offer wine tastings, small bites, giveaways, and in-store specials.
For tickets and more information, click here.
|
Volunteer with Hope's Table!
The Hope’s Table ministry is designed to serve the needs of Chicagoans who are homeless or hungry and is sponsored by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple.
|
Saturday morning services typically include serving hot meals and food to go, distributing clothing, and connecting guests with legal support through DePaul University’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program. Grace Episcopal Church partners in many ways, most visibly by providing space at 637 S. Dearborn. To volunteer or donate, please contact their volunteer coordinator.
|
Helping Cats Near You
4th Sunday of every month, 4pm - 6pm
Details here.
|
Discuss how to help community cats through TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), what to do with kittens, ongoing colony management, preventing nuisance issues and much more!
|
|
.png)
.png)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
