The 34th Ward office will be closed on Monday, January 20th in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
 

Throughout the winter, frigid temperatures might cause potholes. If you notice any near you, please report them to my office with the address, size, and any other information that might help identify the pothole.
 

Conversation with the Commander

Morgan Street Cafe, 111 S. Morgan

January 27, 11am-12pm

 

Please join 12th District Commander James Baier and me for an upcoming Conversation with the Commander at Morgan Street Cafe. 


This is a great opportunity to discuss local safety initiatives and how we can work together to improve public safety. Hope to see you there!
 

City Council Updates

 

At Wednesday's City Council meeting, I introduced an ordinance that would establish Council oversight of all Mayoral appointees to the Chicago Board of Education. My common-sense legislation will bring CPS into alignment with every other sister agency of the city, including the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Housing Authority, and the Chicago Park District. Providing City Council oversight of Mayoral appointments to the Board of Education is not only good government, but it's also becoming increasingly necessary and urgent for our students’ future. I look forward to discussing this more at the Committee on Budget and Government Operations, and you can read more on this ordinance here.

 

I also voted to table amendments to the Welcoming City Ordinance. If someone has been convicted of a violent crime, and is undocumented or in the asylum process, they should be deported. However, this would have allowed those merely arrested for low level offenses to be deported, even if they haven't had the opportunity to go before a judge. This would only embolden those who want to go door to door in our communities and make arrests based on the suspicion that someone is undocumented. The proposed changes would have also been in violation of the Home Rule Authority granted by the Illinois Constitution, because this is superseded by the Illinois TRUST Act, the State’s version of the Welcoming City Ordinance. I didn't vote for these amendments because they violate a principle that is the bedrock of our nation - that people are innocent until proven guilty.
 

Stay Safe and Warm!

 

Though we're enjoying a break from the bitter cold, temperatures are expected to drop again later this weekend. 

 

When temperatures are 32 degrees or below, warming areas are open at six centers across the City from 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. A 24-hour warming center is open at the Garfield Center, located at 10 S. Kedzie. Chicago Parks and Libraries also serve as warming centers during extreme cold.

The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) sends important severe weather notifications to neighbors who opt in. Sign up here.

 

OEMC also has a list of important winter weather tips to keep yourself and your neighbors safe and warm this winter. 
 

Chicago Restaurant Week

January 24th - February 9th

 

Chicago Restaurant Week is back! Whether you're trying out Veganuary at Native Foods or wanting to check out The Exchange after it was featured on The Bear, there is something for everyone to enjoy among this year's participants. For a full list of participating restaurants, click here.
 

Holiday Tree Recycling

January 11-25, 2025

 

Is your goal for the new year being more sustainable? Or are you just stumped thinking about how to dispose of your Christmas tree? The Department of Streets and Sanitation is partnering with the Chicago Park District for another season of Holiday Tree Recycling.

  • Grant Park
    • 900 S. Columbus Drive
  • Sheridan Park
    • 910 S. Aberdeen Street

Please remove all ornaments, tinsel, and lights before dropping your tree off. For more information, please visit the ChicagoRecycles website.
 

Stay connected with the 34th Ward on social media! 

 

Alderman Conway can be found at the links below or with the @AldConway handle on the following platforms.
 

Apply for your CityKey card online!

 

The Office of the City Clerk is excited to announce the completion of a first-of-it's kind CityKey online platform, giving residents another way to get their free CityKey card! Chicagoans can now apply for a CityKey online and once their information verified, they can receive your CityKey card through the mail. 

Applicants will need to upload the proper documents along with a passport-size photo, the steps can be found in the Applying for your CityKey section. Read more and apply for your CityKey here.

City Clerk 2025 Pricing Updates
 

 

Backyard Compost Bin Giveaway

 

Backyard composting is a rewarding way to reduce your household waste, and the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) is offering FREE backyard compost bins to help Chicago residents get started!

DSS will provide up to 20 compost bins for residents in each of the City's 50 wards. Requests may be made using an online form, and city staff will deliver the bin to your door. To be eligible, you must live in the City of Chicago in a single-family home or building with 4 dwelling units or less.

 

Learn more about backyard composting and request a FREE compost bin here.
 

Winter Parking Restrictions

 

From December 1st to April 1st, the City's overnight parking ban is in place on snow routes. This allows snow plows and emergency vehicles to move easily along affected streets. Be mindful of posted no parking signs so you don't get ticketed and towed and so we can create less hazardous winter road conditions for our neighbors.

This is in effect daily from 3am-7am whether it snows or not, and you should also avoid parking in areas with posted Winter Parking Ban signs when snowfall is over 2 inches.

 

To see a map of streets impacted, click here. Visit the Streets and Sanitation website to learn more. You can also track the locations of snow plows here.
 

Help Shape OIG’s Project Priorities for 2025
 The Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published two draft documents outlining details of over 50 proposed projects under consideration for 2025. OIG invites you to read the plans and take the Community Feedback Survey to provide your feedback here.
 

South Loop Farmers Market

Roosevelt Collection

Saturdays (1/11-3/29), 9am-1pm

 

The South Loop Farmers Market location at Roosevelt Collection is a vibrant place to enjoy this winter indoor market with friends & family. Support small businesses, engage with the community, and explore South Loop's premiere retail destination.

 

Learn more about the market here.
 

2025 Beat Meeting Schedules

 

Mark your calendars for 2025 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 in the new year!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crane Lift

 

For a crane lift at 125 S. Jefferson on 1/25/25, there are planned closures of Jefferson and Adams throughout that weekend:

  • Full closure of Jefferson from Monroe to Adams from Friday 1/24 to Sunday 1/26.
  • Adams from Clinton to Halsted will be closed for periods of 2-3 hours at 7pm on Friday 1/24 and 8am Sunday 1/26. The rest of the weekend, Adams will be open as usual.
 
 

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.

 

Week of 1/20

  • Continue gas main Installation in Wabash between Van Buren and Ida B. Wells (9am-4pm M-F)

Week of 1/27

  • Continue gas main Installation in Wabash between Van Buren and Ida B. Wells (9am-4pm M-F)
  • Finish gas service installation in Wabash between Adams and Jackson (9am-4pm M-F)
  • Begin gas service installation in Wabash between Van Buren and Ida B. Wells (9am-4pm M-F)
 

Coco Delivery Service

 

Coco, a personal delivery device operator, began deploying their devices in a pilot service area encompassing parts of the 34th Ward. Cocos are always controlled by a professionally trained pilot when in the public right of way. To learn more about the Coco program, please click here.
 

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. 

 

Access to the east sidewalk of Canal Street between Adams and Jackson and the entrance to Union Station/222 South Riverside will be limited but maintained at night.  The entrance will remain open during the day with brief intermittent closures occurring on the east sidewalk. 

 

Beginning January 6th, prep work will start for the segment of the Canal project between Jackson and Van Buren, and demolition work is scheduled to begin the week of January 13th. This will be nighttime work, approximately between 8pm and 4am. Night demolition is scheduled to begin on January 20, 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:
 
 

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.
 
 

Volunteer at the Art Institute of Chicago! 

 

The Art Institute is now accepting applications for their Winter Training Cohort for the Volunteer Program and is looking to fill positions for Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Volunteer Program activates the Ryan Learning Center, primarily supporting programs and spaces for young people and the adults connected to them. Click here for more information about how to apply.
 

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!