Chicago is under an Extreme Heat Warning from June 21st at 10am through June 23rd. During weather emergencies like this, it's important to take steps to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe. Stay hydrated, limit time outside, and call 3-1-1 to request a wellbeing check for a neighbor. Cooling centers will be open across the City, including at libraries and park fieldhouses, and you can find a map here.
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City Council Updates
On Wednesday, I introduced a resolution calling on the CTA to increase transparency, enforce their smoking ban, and install permanent, experienced leadership.
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Also at this week's City Council meeting, my colleagues and I passed a curfew ordinance that would grant the Superintendent authority to enact a curfew in anticipation of large gatherings. We need to give Police more tools to address public safety across our communities, and I'm disappointed the Mayor plans to veto this.
Mayor Johnson introduced a grocery tax this week, a proposal that would most greatly impact the folks who can least afford it. The way the Mayor introduced this tax increase was clearly meant to conceal its purpose, and hiking taxes on working families while prices rise - without looking for meaningful savings in our own spending - just isn’t good governance.
The zoning amendment to allow an adult-use cannabis dispensary at 105 W. Madison passed at Wednesday's City Council. Last year, my colleagues and I passed an ordinance I introduced that reduced distance requirements for dispensaries from a school in the Central Business District, cutting red tape that prevented dispensaries from opening in much of the Loop. I'm proud to have supported this investment in downtown that fills a vacant retail space at Madison and LaSalle and creates 25 new jobs. Listen to my remarks at this week's Committee on Zoning here (the timestamp is 2:24:20).
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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.
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This week, my team will be joined by a representative from ComEd from 8am-11am who can share more about why customers are seeing increased bills starting this summer and how to apply for the ComEd customer relief fund. To learn more about this program, please visit ComEd's website.
Also this Saturday, stop by the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council table for a pup cup!
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Daley Plaza Farmers Market
- 50 W. Washington
- Thursdays, May 22 - October 23 (No market June 19)
- 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
South Loop Farmers Market
- Night Market: 150 W. Roosevelt
- Thursdays, June 12 - September 25
- 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
- The 34th Ward team will be at the Night Market from 5-7 on June 26th.
- Printers Row: 632 S. Dearborn
- Saturdays, May 24 - November 1, (No Market Sept. 6)
- 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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Filming Impacts - Road Closures
Filming for 'Ultraviolet' is underway. Though filming notices are typically included in the 'Traffic Impacts' section, I wanted to bring a few overnight street closures to your attention.
- June 22nd - June 23rd
- State from Randolph to Ida B. Wells (11pm-5am)
- June 23rd - June 24th
- Lake from Wacker to Halsted (10pm-5am)
- Union from Fulton to Wayman (1pm-6am)
- June 24th - June 25th
- Franklin from Wacker to Van Buren (8pm-5am)
Intermittent traffic control and no parking zones will be in place during filming on nearby streets, so please refer to the notices below for a complete list of impacts.
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World Language Academy Local School Council
Would you like to support a school community in making improvements and creating joyful learning experiences for students and families? Then you should apply for the community representative role on the Chicago World Language Local School Council! To learn more about LSCs and how to apply click here and to see if you are in our school boundary click here. If you have questions, please email Principal Leung.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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 no beat meetings scheduled for next week.
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Traffic Stop Survey
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (the Commission) are working together to create a unified traffic stops policy that could be added to the Consent Decree.
This policy will define how CPD conducts traffic stops, how officers are trained and held accountable, and how the policy will be evaluated.
Both CPD and the Commission have submitted draft versions to the Office of the Attorney General and the Independent Monitor Team. Now, the City of Chicago is working to finalize a policy—and community input is essential to that process.
This is your chance to review the draft policies and help shape how traffic stops should work in our city.
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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.
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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.
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8 N. Morgan Construction Update
Prep work for the building at 8 N. Morgan began at the end of May. 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.
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Speed Camera Installations
Automated speed cameras are planned for installation at the following locations:
- on Racine, between Harrison and Lexington
- on Desplaines, between Jackson and Monroe
- Installed - warning tickets will be issued until July 14th.
- 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 will be shared as they are available.
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Please note: the Roosevelt Road Bridge project is currently working on Stage 2. Once stage 2 is completed, CDOT crews will start stage 3 with an estimated duration of 4 weeks to complete.
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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: Tripping hazards at 1011-1121 W. Vernon Park
- Completed: Tripping hazards at 1131-41 W. Vernon Park
- Starting soon: Tripping hazards at 837 S. Carpenter
- Starting soon: Tripping hazards at 202 S. Carpenter
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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.
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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.
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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 2025, and since stage 1 was implemented, the contractor removed part of the existing deck within stage 1 limits. Next week the existing beams located within stage 1 limits will be removed at nighttime.
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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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Work is underway for the Canal Street Viaduct demolition.
Update: June 20, 2025
Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues.
The contractor will be installing the structural steel for the viaduct above Union Station, and there will be 3 weekend closures needed to complete the installation. During weekend closures, Canal between Jackson and Van Buren will be closed. Each closure will begin at 9:00PM on Friday, and end at 5:00AM Monday:
- 06/20/2025-06/23/2025
- 06/27/2025-06/30/2025
- 07/11/2025-07/13/2025
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.
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The City of Chicago and Cook County are hiring! View their respective job posting sites below:
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Preschool Openings at FXW for 2025–26!
The Frances Xavier Warde School (FXW), located on the campus of Old St. Patrick’s Church, currently has limited openings for the 2025–2026 school year.
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FXW is proud to have many families from the neighborhood as part of their diverse and welcoming community. Reach out with any questions or start your application today.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Helping Cats Near You
4th Sunday of every month, 4pm - 6pm
Details here.
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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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