Dear Neighbors,
A huge “Bravo!” is in order for the entire team at Steppenwolf Theatre and Purpose, which won the Tony Award for Best Play this past weekend! Having won a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year, Purpose premiered at Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre during their 2024 spring season. Afterwards, it headed to Broadway, and was nominated for six Tony awards, the most for any “Steppenwolf-incubated” play since 2008. Interviewed for WBEZ last spring, Purpose’s award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins spoke about how Chicago inspired him for the play.
While no longer playing in Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre’s productions are always expertly written and executed beautifully. Our local theater options in the 43rd Ward are a community asset, and we can all be very proud of the internationally-acclaimed art produced in our neighborhood.
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Glenn Davis accepts the best play award for “Purpose” onstage during the 78th annual Tony Awards (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
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The 19th Police District has released two community alerts this week near the ward. The addresses of the incidents are below, and click here see the full Community Alert.
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2800 block of N. Pine Grove Ave on June 9, 2025 at 11:42 PM. (Lakeview)
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2500 block of N. Sheffield Ave on June 10, 2025 at 12:05 AM. (Lincoln Park)
My office has been in constant contact with the Chicago Police Department and has requested an increase in police resources in the area. In addition to the 18th & 19th District Police, the city-wide robbery task force is aware of these trends and is working together to address them. We will continue to update the community as investigations into these robbery trends continue.
If you are planning on heading downtown to one of the many protests planned this weekend, it is important that residents are aware of safety measures they can take and the rights that all Chicagoans have when protesting. No matter your documentation status, everyone has the right to protest peacefully, and exercise our Constitutional 1st Amendment rights. For updates on street closures and other public safety related updates for this weekend, please sign up for alerts from the Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC). As we have written before, Chicago is a welcoming city. We recommend that Chicagoans know their immigration rights, regardless of documentation status.
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Seventy-five years ago in 43rd Ward history, the Old Town Art Fair began. Every year, the fair draws an estimated 30,000 art lovers, and this year will showcase over 230 artists from across the country. Join the celebration and stop by this weekend to purchase new art and support the Old Town Triangle Association. In addition to the important work OTTA does towards historic preservation and community improvement, to date, the organization has donated more than $2.5 million to over 200 different organizations.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen 🌈
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P.S. in Gratitude: For over a year our office has benefitted from an amazing intern turned Aldermanic Aide - Marie. Starting with us last summer, we convinced Marie to stay with us throughout the past year in the 43rd due to her positivity, impact with constituents and willingness to help on nights and weekends. Marie’s future is bright and I am very grateful for her service to the residents of the 43rd Ward!
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Alderperson Knudsen unveiling a new mural in the 43rd Ward, located at 450 W. Menomonee
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The Lily Pond in Lincoln Park will be opening soon! Alderperson Knudsen snapped this picture during a check-in on the pond's progress. We'll update with more info on their official opening!
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Alderperson Knudsen was honored to attend the 60th Anniversary dinner of Geja's Cafe this past Saturday. He presented them with a City Council Resolution, officially recognizing their major achievement, and engraining them in Chicago history.
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Construction Alert and Update
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Please be aware that the alley which is bounded by W. Drummond Pl/W. Wrightwood Ave (623 W Drummond Place) will be undergoing a full reconstruction with the first stages of the project starting this week and demo beginning next Monday. Please see our office's notice which went out to neighbors this week. Some parking restrictions may be in effect in the area. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office.
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2701 N. Clark Community Meeting
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On Monday – June 23rd – at 7:00 pm, our office will be co-hosting a community meeting with Park West Neighborhood Association to discuss a proposed development at 2701 N Clark St, previously Hotel Leon.
The applicant is requesting a rezoning to allow for a mixed-use development that would include commercial space – both below grade and on the ground floor – and 4 floors of residential units. The image below is a rendering of the exterior of the proposed development:
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In addition to the night's presentation, we will have a separate open house area with boards showing the presentation slides that people who cannot attend the full meeting can stop in to view, ask questions, and give feedback on from 7:00pm-8:30pm.
This community meeting will be held in-person, however the location is still being determined so it will be announced in next week's newsletter. If you cannot attend, please email our office at yourvoice@ward43.org and we will send you the presentation to review following the in-person community meeting.
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2701 N Clark St Community Meeting
Monday, June 23rd, 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: DePaul University Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Avenue, Room 120
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Know Your Immigration Rights
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Last week, Federal ICE agents detained at least 10 immigrant neighbors in the South Loop who had been told they needed to check-in at a monitoring program administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As we have written before, Chicago is a welcoming city. We recommend that Chicagoans know their immigration rights, regardless of documentation status. Several months ago when potential ICE raids began, it became clear the power of ‘knowing your rights’, when ICE leadership noted that they were not able to successfully raid businesses. This was supported by neighbors by you getting involved, including leadership of the restaurant community who stood up to protect their workers.
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Memorial Day Weekend launched the start of our "Team Fridays" which will alter office hours to 9am-2pm every Friday through Labor Day in order to commit time to weekly staff development and goal setting from outside the office.
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To view the full June schedule, click here. To view the full July schedule, click here.
Avoid a ticket or tow order by signing up for email street sweeping alerts. And on weekdays, from 9am to 2pm, this Sweeper Tracker map will show real-time locations of city street sweepers.
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Juneteenth Office Closure & Refuse Information
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The 43rd Ward office will be closed Thursday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. We will reopen on Friday, June 20th at 9am. Saturday Office hours will not be affected.
In addition, there will be no refuse collection on Thursday, June 19, 2025. All city- collected refuse will be serviced Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Residents should ensure all black refuse carts are accessible throughout the week of collection, not solely on their regular day of collection. Similarly, residents should ensure all Blue Recycling Carts are accessible throughout the week of collection.
You can learn more about the history behind Juneteenth here, check out official City of Chicago DCASE events here, and check out a multitude of events around the Chicagoland area here.
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43rd Ward Volunteer Corps
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The new 43rd Ward-wide volunteer program through the VCDP is always looking for new members. If you know someone who may be interested in learning about volunteer experiences in our community, please send them this email and have them fill out a simple form here.
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Crime, and safety remain top of mind for our community. Each week, the 18th and 19th District post Compstat numbers that reflect changes in indexes for key crimes. As a reminder, these statistics represent 100% of the 18th & 19th Police Districts; accordingly, they represent an area much larger than our ward.
For 18th District (south of Fullerton) Week 23 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 23 Compstat.
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We work closely with the 43rd Ward’s local CAPS districts, which include the 18th (Near North) and 19th (Town Hall) Police Districts. Our office is in frequent contact with officers from both of these districts and their local CAPS officers, who host a variety of community forums and events including beat meetings, informational settings, and expert panel discussions, as well as sending out community alerts when a pattern of crime is detected.
Beat Meetings are part of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy and an excellent way to hear directly from CPD about your neighborhood. Meetings are held in the evenings every two months. Click here and find out your Police District and Beat number.
2025 43rd Ward CAPS Meetings
Beat 1811 (5 PM) & 1813 (6 PM): July 8th, September 2nd, & November 4th.
Beats 1811 and 1813 meet at St. James Lutheran Church located at 2050 N Fremont St. They are in the basement of the Church and you should enter through the northernmost door on Fremont St.
Beat 1812 (5 PM) & 1814 (6 PM): July 10th, September 4th & November 6th.
Beat 1812 and 1814 are hosted at Wintrust Bank located at 100 W. North Ave. The meetings are hosted on the 2nd Floor of the bank. Elevators are on site.
Beat 1824 (6 PM): July 17th, September 11th, and November 13th.
Beat 1824 meets at 1201 N Clark St in the Clark St Apartments.
Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): August 5th, October 7th, and December 2nd.
Beat 1932 is hosted in the sanctuary at New Life Church located at 1110 W Lill Ave.
Beat 1935 (6:30 PM): June 18th, August 20th, October 15th, and December 17th.
Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.
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Commercial Business Safety Tips & Robbery Safety Tips
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18th District Traffic Stop Policy Meeting
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19th District Council Meeting
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If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
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The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, 24/7, confidential service that provides support and connections to resources for those in distress. Call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org/chat to start a chat with a trained listener.
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Some areas of Chicago are covered under the CARE program, which connects trained mental health professionals to 911 callers experiencing a mental health crises. Mental health professionals can respond to calls with on-site support, help directing the caller to mental health care and follow-up calls. See those areas here.
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Chicago area support resources for mental health crises can be found here.
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The Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers offer care that provides support for emotional, traumatic, or behavioral difficulties. All Mental Health Centers provide outpatient mental health services for adults, children and adolescents including intake/screening, individual therapy, group therapy, case management, and medication management (same-day medication appointments). Support is based on needs identified by the consumer, including goals, objectives, and specific mental health services. These services are provided free of charge to all Chicagoans.
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Chicago and suburban Cook County residents can access 2-1-1 and get connected to critical health and social services. 2-1-1 is a free, local, 24/7/365 service that connects all Cook County residents to essential health and social service support and information during times of non-emergency crisis and for everyday needs.
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Old Town Art Fair Volunteers
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The Old Town Art Fair is looking for volunteers. This year marks the 75th anniversary of this historic, world-class festival that could not take place without amazing community volunteers. Please consider helping out. There are three gate volunteer shifts each day: Saturday at 12:15 - 3:30 pm, and 3:15 - 7:00 pm (6:00 pm on Sunday) their greatest need! Experienced volunteers are asked to consider signing up to be "captains." All volunteers get free admission. Please reach out to volunteer@oldtownartfair.org for more info.
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I wanted to alert you to filming for the feature film “Ultraviolet” that will be taking place in your wards. Attached for your reference, please find the notification leaflets that the production will distribute to residents and businesses in the affected areas. They will be filming inside and outside of the Ambassador Hotel.
If you have additional questions regarding this or other filming in Chicago, they may contact the City of Chicago Film Office at 312-744-6415.
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North Ave Underpass Mural
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The world could use more joy and beauty right now! You can donate HERE.
We have a fundraising goal of $50,000. Any funds we raise in excess will be donated directly to the Lincoln Park Conservancy, an organization that is dear to my heart and that will be collecting and managing the funds and maintenance of the project. Chicago Public Arts Group has helped us navigate the process, coordinate the budget and is overseeing the permitting process and other tasks as needed.
During the design process we decided one side should represent the city during the day and the other in the evening. Help us showcase wildlife in the city as well as the urban and natural landmarks we know and love in Lincoln Park!
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Our office is proud to partner with State Rep. Omar Williams for a Shred Event on June 28th from 10am to 1pm.
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Click on the image to enlarge the event schedule for Wrightwood Neighborhood Association's (WNA) events this summer!
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Chicago Commission on Human Relations Stand Up To Hate
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Our mission to serve Chicagoans remains unchanged. You Have Rights. Use Them. Report hate and discrimination to the CCHR.
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Free Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors for Seniors
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If you are a Chicago senior citizen and a homeowner of a single-family home, the Chicago Fire Department offers the Chicago Seniors at Risk Program (CSARP). The Fire Department will come to your home to do an accidental fall and fire safety assessment and install a free smoke detector. Please call 312-747-6691 for more information.
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An award winning documentary film about the fiscal collapse of New York City in 1975
will be screened in the 43rd Ward at the Chicago History Museum on July 1. Drop Dead City is the riveting film about the events surrounding New York's brush with bankruptcy. Here is the information about the film including a trailer.
General Admission: $10 | Student Tickets: $5 (All proceeds benefit the Chicago History Museum)
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The Mayor’s Youth Commission is a City of Chicago formal advisory body of up to 40 Chicagoans between the ages 14 and 19 who are passionate about issues that impact youth. These commissioners advise the Mayor and City leaders, represent their peers and communities, and learn about policy and projects within the City of Chicago. The Youth Commissioners meet on a monthly basis to collaborate and positively impact Chicago’s future. Commissioners are paid a yearly stipend for their work. The 2024-2025 Youth Commission New Ideas Booklet will be launching in May 2025. Looking to get more information about the program and how to fill out a quality application? Click here and enter the password: r8NP4!kX
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The Chicago Fire Department is proud to announce the return of Camp Courage, a three-day summer camp program running June 23 – July 30, 2025, at six locations across the city. This exciting initiative offers young participants a unique opportunity to explore careers in firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS) through engaging, hands-on activities including:
- Fire safety and EMS procedures
- CPR and basic life support
- Fitness and team-building exercises
- Mentorship from CFD professionals
The Camp Courage application can be accessed on the attached flyer.
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Night Out in the Parks activates parks across the city with robust cultural events – bringing neighbors together to laugh, dance, sing, and learn. The Chicago Park District, in partnership with local artists and organizations, presents over 600 engaging events and performances to amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy of our city in every neighborhood and enhance quality of life across Chicago. As always, Night Out in the Parks will showcase local artists, focus on activating nature spaces via art and music, and establishing parks as places to experience and appreciate the City’s local culture.
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On July 1st, the minimum wage will rise to $16.60 an hour and $12.62 an hour for tipped workers. Additional enforcement provisions of the Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, and a scheduled enhancement of the Fair Workweek Ordinance requirements will also go into effect. To view informational flyers, Frequently Asked Questions, and public notices on Chicago’s labor laws, visit Chicago.gov/Labor Standards.
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Annual Summer Roll on Wednesday, June 18th from 5:00-8:00pm! Lincoln Common is literally rolling into summer Wednesday, June 18th! Join us for a wheely good evening of roller skating*, live music, and more on the plaza!
Roller skates will be provided at no cost. Summer Roll is free and open to the public. Food and drinks are for purchase.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Parking Enforcement via 311
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The Department of Finance (DOF) announced that City residents now have the option of reporting the following parking enforcement violations:
- Bus Lane Parking
- Commercial Loading Zone
- Commercial Vehicle Parked on a Residential Street
- Disabled Parking
- Fire Hydrant Parking
- Residential Parking
- Rush Hour Zones
- School Safety Zones
- Vehicle Parked in Bike Lane
- Other (Semi-trucks parked on streets, etc.)
Neighbors can report parking violations by calling 311, using the CHI311 app, or through the 311 website. The request type is “Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review.”
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I want to keep spreading the good word of how powerful a tool CHI 311 is to address non-emergency services in our Ward. Via the CHI 311 website and mobile app, you can:
- Create new service requests and check the status of existing requests (such as on timing and completion).
- Snap a photo of an issue to submit it with a request to improve location accuracy.
- Get local and relevant information/tips regarding the 43rd Ward including visibility into what other requests are being made in your neighborhood. The free CHI 311 mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and may be downloaded in the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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