August 22nd, 2025

Dear Neighbors, 

In the 43rd Ward office, we continue to brainstorm ways to help residents access other levels of government. A few ways we have done this are creating Saturday office hours, monthly meet and greets with city departments, office hours with our school board representative, property tax appeal seminars, and more.  

In this spirit, on Wednesday we hosted Mayor Brandon Johnson for “A Day in the Ward.” To take advantage of having the Mayor in the 43rd Ward, we showcased small businesses, non-for-profits, and cultural institutions. These are organizations that grow through, or in some cases, rely on, city funding; accordingly, direct access with the Mayor’s office is a huge benefit. It was an honor to show off the strengths of our community while spotlighting the needs: 

First, we stopped at Abrah, our community’s new Ukrainian bakery by the owners of Soloway Coffee. Artur, Abrah’s owner, explained to the Mayor his gratitude and luck that the 43rd Ward became his family’s home after leaving Ukraine at the beginning of the war. He expressed the importance of Chicago’s status as a welcoming city, and how his experience is evidence of the richness our immigrant communities bring to our neighborhoods. On this stop, we were also joined by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, who we thanked for their integral support of the 43rd Ward business community. 

We thank Artur and the Abrah/Soloway team for their lovely hospitality.

Second, we stopped at Junior Chef’s Kitchen, a learning space dedicated to teaching children cooking and nutritional skills that they can take into the rest of their lives. Notably, Junior Chef’s Kitchen was the recipient of a Community Development Grant from the Mayor’s Office in 2023, which allowed them to open, grow, and expand. The Mayor was joined by his leadership team such as Deputy Mayor of Business, Kenya Merritt, Deputy Mayor for Education and Youth and Human Services, Khari Humphries, and Deputy Commissioner for Small Business Development, Mary O'Connor. We took the opportunity to show the impact of small business grants in the 43rd Ward, and pitch for more. 

Thank you to Junior Chef’s Kitchen owner Niki Cordell, who calls Lincoln Park home and is opening up her second location in the West Loop.

Third, we stopped at Church of our Saviour to highlight the almost-completed new facility for the nonprofit, Care for Friends.  Through this new facility, Care for Friends will extend their operations serving Chicagoans experiencing homelessness through a holistic approach, including a northside hub for meals, clothing, medical services, and an expansion into specialized clinic health services.

Thank you to Care for Friends Executive Director Hope Pavich for providing Mayor Johnson & Homelessness Chief Soto with a tour they will not forget.

To complete the Day in the Ward, we brought Mayor Johnson to one of our nation’s gems, the Lincoln Park Zoo. Our Zoo is one of the last remaining free zoos in the world, made possible through public-private partnerships. It has an average yearly attendance of over 3.5 million, which is more than any other cultural institution in Chicago, and drives revenue to our nearby small businesses. At the Zoo, we were joined by civic and nonprofit leaders for a roundtable discussion around urban wildlife and connecting local students to nature.

Also this week, I had the opportunity to “break ground” with other Chicago officials on the new “Concourse D” at O’Hare International Airport. Construction has begun on the $1.3 billion investment project, which will add 19 new gates and generate around 3,800 construction jobs in the process. To echo what I told ABC7 on Monday, this is a monumental project as O’Hare is what keeps Chicago’s economic engine running. The growth and success of the nation’s busiest airport fills our hotels, restaurants, and boosts revenue in Chicago. 

This project is estimated to be done by 2028, and will help respond to O’Hare’s growth. Already in 2025, O’Hare has seen an increase in fliers, making it well on its way to passing the 80 million visitor record set in 2024. If you are curious in learning more about the expansion, or want to see photos of Concourse D, check out the official site here. 

Finally (we have a lot to cover this week, so thank you for sticking with me!), I want to give a huge ‘thank you’ to our crews at the Chicago Park District, Office of Emergency Management, Chicago Police Department, and Streets and Sanitation for keeping our lakefront safe and clean for residents and the thousands of people who visited the 43rd Ward for the Air and Water Show last weekend. 

Sincerely,

Alderperson Timmy Knudsen 

This Tuesday marked the end of our “Summer Walk Series”, which included six Infrastructure Ward Walks, and three Public Safety Walks with the 18th and 19th District Police. During these nine events, I had a wonderful time connecting with members of the community ‘after hours’ to hear directly about the issues impacting us most. Thank you to all community members who joined a walk this summer!

On Tuesday, Alderperson Knudsen released a press release and interviewed with CBS, calling on USPS leadership to remedy a parking problem that has been prevalent in the Northeast corner of the 43rd Ward. 

"For over a year, my office has received daily reports of illegally parked Postal Service vehicles along the Clark street corridor. Often, there are more than 12 trucks illegally parked. This is not only a nuisance, but it is also causing immediate safety concerns for the hundreds of children walking to schools nearby. Cars are blocking pedestrian crosswalks, fire hydrants, and stop signs daily. We have consistently offered to work with USPS leadership collaboratively, but they have shown a lack of communication or care about the issue. As Alderman, I will not let my residents be put at risk, particularly our local students, and I demand a solution from USPS immediately.” - Alderperson Timmy Knudsen

To view the full block-by-block August schedule, please click here. To view the September schedule, please 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.

For any new DePaul Students, my office has compiled a list of answers to some of our most asked FAQs. From parking questions, how to vote in Chicago, and more - this site aims to be a one-stop-shop for new residents. See you around the neighborhood!

The 43rd Ward, 44th Ward, and 46th Ward have heard from neighbors, and seen on the news, that this year’s Air and Water Show caused damage to several buildings across our Wards. This includes reports of broken windows and cracked walls. In response, our office signed onto a letter with Alderpeople Clay (46) and Lawson (44) to the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, requesting answers on how this occurred and what future safeguards can be put in place. Read the full letter here.

Memorial Day Weekend launched the start of our "Team Fridays" which altered 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. For the last week of August (8/25-8/29) the 43rd Ward Office will close at 2pm everyday. Following Labor Day, our office will return to a 9am-5pm schedule during the week. Saturday Hours will also not be occurring on August 30th.

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 33 Compstat.

For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 33 Compstat.

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): 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): 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): September 11th, and November 13th. 

Beat 1824 meets at 1201 N Clark St in the Clark St Apartments.

Beat 1932 (6:30 PM): 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): October 15th, and December 17th. 

Beat 1935 is hosted at Chabad East Lakeview located at 615 W Wellington Ave.

• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

• 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.

• 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. 

• Chicago area support resources for mental health crises can be found here.

• 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. 

• 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.

• Chicago Mayor Johnson, aviation officials break ground on new O'Hare airport concourse
• Where to Eat Along Armitage Ave. in Lincoln Park 
• Rosé Soirée at Summer House in Lincoln Park
• This Secret Japanese Cocktail Bar Pop-Up Returns to Lincoln Park this September—Bringing Japan’s Cocktail Scene to Chicago
• Chicago, Cook County issue disaster proclamation after July flooding
• The Best New Restaurants in Chicago, August 2025 (Cafe Yaya) 
• The 20 best restaurants in Chicago right now (John's Food and Wine, N. 13) 
• New kids in town: Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes two new goat brothers
• Postal parking problem in Lincoln Park has neighbors worried about pedestrian safety

We are excited to announce Chicago's new Recycle Coach education app, bringing local waste and recycling information directly to city residents! The new mobile and smartphone app, available to the City via a partnership with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Recycle Coach, advises residents on waste and recycling schedules, and proper waste management to decrease contamination at material recovery facilities, increase the diversion of materials from landfills, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Chicago residents may use the Recycle Coach widget (HERE) to receive customized waste and recycling information specific to where they live, including: 

The City of Chicago offers a citywide Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, and all Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at one of 20 locations across the city– for FREE! Composting keeps food scraps out of landfills, reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and recycles nutrients that enrich soil. Thank you for helping to meet Chicago’s climate action goals and building healthy soil! 

The Lincoln Park Farmers Market’s 44th annual season is up and running! The Lincoln Park Farmers Market’s 44th annual season is up and running! In 2025, the market will run on Saturdays from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, for a total of 31 consecutive weeks, through to Saturday, November 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, rain or shine. The much-loved neighborhood market is located in the parking lot of the Lincoln Park High School, 724 W Armitage Ave, just east of the intersection of Armitage Ave and Halsted St.

Have questions about street work happening in your area? The Department of Transportation has a wonderful tool to look up street work in your area called the Chi Street Work Portal. Here you can input an address and see all surrounding permits for projects on that street. The map is also interactive, allowing residents to view the real permits, view projects in other areas of the City, and see which type of work is being done on your street. 

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.”

Please click here for updated guidance and rules from CDOT on Scooter and E-Bike rides. 

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.

43rd Ward Office Hours: M-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri: 9am-2pm & Sat 10am-12pm

 773-348-9500 | yourvoice@ward43.org | 2523 N. Halsted

unsubscribe from future communication