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2026 Alternative Budget Update

This week, I joined 25 of my colleagues in offering an alternative 2026 budget to Mayor Johnson. This plan closes the budget gap without relying on the Mayor’s proposed corporate head tax, which would discourage job growth. Instead, we identified additional efficiencies and savings. We also emphasized two core principles: avoiding borrowing for operating expenses and making full pension payments to meet our obligations.

The Finance Committee’s 25 to 10 vote against Mayor Johnson’s revenue package makes it clear that my colleagues and I are seeking a more balanced approach to the budget.

Chicago’s budget challenges were not created overnight, and solving them will require growing our city through more jobs and more affordable housing. The Mayor rejected this proposal, and I will continue working with my colleagues toward a responsible and sustainable budget that protects taxpayers and supports economic growth.

Canal Viaduct Rehabilitation

Phase III begins December 15th

Phase III of the Canal Viaduct Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to start on December 15th, weather permitting. This phase will continue the viaduct rehabilitation on Canal above Union Station between Madison and Adams.

Two northbound lanes will remain open and pedestrian access will be maintained on the west sidewalk. For additional information, please visit the CDOT project site.

Serve as a Poll Worker for the March 17th, 2026 Primary!

The Chicago Board of Elections is seeking poll workers for the March 17th, 2026 Primary, including bilingual election judges who speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, and Tagalog. To learn more and apply, please visit the Board of Elections website.

Overnight Parking Ban

December 1 - April 1, 3am-7am

The City's winter overnight parking ban is now in effect along 107 miles of main streets across Chicago, in addition to the Snow Route parking ban that applies to additional streets any time there is more than 2 inches of snowfall. 

Please be mindful of posted signage to avoid getting ticketed or towed.

Help shape the Chicago Inspector General's project priorities for 2026!

OIG is accepting feedback through December 31, 2025.

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published two draft documents that share details of proposed projects under consideration for 2026. Both documents are posted on OIG’s website for public review and comment.

• Click here to read the 2026 Public Safety Draft Annual Plan
  • OIG’s Public Safety section works to improve the effectiveness, accountability, and transparency of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago’s police accountability agencies.
• Click here to read the 2026 Audit and Program Review Draft Annual Plan
  • OIG’s Audit and Program Review section conducts independent, objective analyses and evaluations of City programs and operations.

Community feedback helps OIG prioritize projects for the coming year to align with what is of most concern and importance to all Chicagoans. OIG invites you to explore both draft plans and encourages you to provide your feedback by taking the community feedback survey at igchicago.org/survey.

Know Your Rights

The City has created a "Protecting Chicago" website to connect neighbors with resources and information about their immigration rights in Chicago. Please click below to be connected with the City's new "Protecting Chicago" site.

• Request a 'Know Your Rights' training or find one happening soon
• Connect with ICIRR's Family Support Network
• Sign up for text alerts for verified nearby ICE sightings
• Find an upcoming event from the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Visit participating businesses on Madison through January and enjoy deals as part of State Rep. Jawaharial Omar Williams' Turkey Trot! 

CDOT Electric Vehicle Survey

The Chicago Department of Transportation is asking residents to share their feedback on their Electric Vehicle and Mobility Infrastructure initiative through a short community survey. Click below to take the share your thoughts.

West Loop Historic Plaques Project

The West Loop is steeped in history. In fact, we have 19 historical designations, but only two plaques: Old St. Pat’s- National Register of Historic Places plaque and The Jackson Boulevard Historic District- Chicago Landmark plaque. 

To see the rest of the designations, please visit Connie Fairbanks' website.

If you live in a historic building in The West Loop and have 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!

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.

500 W Madison Crane Lift

On Saturday, December 6, a crane lift will take place on Clinton St on the west side of Ogilvie Transportation Center from 8am - 5pm. During the lift, vehicular, pedestrian, and bike traffic will be prohibited on the east side of Clinton St from Washington St to Madison St. Flaggers will be in place and signs will be installed on both ends of Canal St to alert drivers and pedestrians of the closure ahead. During the lift, vehicles will be rerouted onto Washington St to Wacker Dr and back onto Madison St.

Lake Street Bascule Bridge Rehabilitation

Closure started 9am on 10/6

The full street and sidewalk closure on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is in effect and will last until January 2028. During the closures, access to nearby buildings and residences will be maintained for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Eastbound traffic will be rerouted south on Des Plaines, east on Washington, north on Franklin, and east onto Lake St. Westbound traffic will be rerouted south on Wacker, west on Madison, north on Jefferson, and west onto Lake St. Click here for the full detour map. During this work, CTA Green and Pink lines will operate normally until September 2026. The work on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to be completed in January 2028. 

• Wacker Drive Pedestrian Path: Starting today (12/4), the north-south pedestrian crosswalk on Wacker Drive will be shifted into a protected closed lane on Wacker Drive.
• Lake Street Bridge Lifts:  A bridge lift is tentatively scheduled for 12/12/25 to move the crane barge to the south side of the bridge.

The CDOT project website will be updated with the most up-to-date information on construction, and you can learn more here.

With any ongoing questions about this project, please reach out to the CDOT project team.

State / Lake CTA Station Upgrade

CDOT and CTA continue work to transform the 108-year-old CTA train station at State & Lake. The work will affect the CTA bus routes listed here. Lake St has been reduced to one lane at the site, and State St has been reduced to one lane in each direction between Wacker Dr and Randolph St.

The CTA train station will remain open until January 5th. The new station is expected to be finished in 2029, weather permitting.

Halsted Street & Chicago Avenue Bridge Project

The Halsted St / Chicago Ave project is underway. Crews have removed existing street lighting, traffic signals, signage, and bus shelters. Viaduct removal is underway along the north leg of Halsted and the east end of Chicago Ave.

Demolition of the Chicago Ave bridge will continue over the next month. In areas where demolition is complete, crews will begin constructing new bridge piers. Crews will implement measures to minimize disruptions as much as possible, but noise and dust are inherent to the bridge demolition process.

Full closure of the Chicago Ave Bridge began September 29. The current detour map can be found here. The full project is expected to be completed by the end of the year 2026.

Bridge Repairs

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. Stage 1 traffic configuration was implemented at the end of April, and is on schedule to be completed by December.

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.

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 reconstruction.

Update: November 13, 2025

The partial opening of Canal Street, from Adams Street to Jackson Boulevard, is projected to occur by the end of this year.  Traffic will be staged to safely align with other adjacent ongoing construction projects on Canal Street.  Pedestrian access to both sides of Canal Street will be open for use at this time.

The project is anticipated to be completed in February 2026. 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:

• City of Chicago
• Cook County

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.

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!

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