Dear Neighbors,
This week former 43rd Ward Alderperson Edwin Eisendrath (in office 1987-1993) went viral on social media for giving his jacket to a man sleeping on the CTA. The video, which you can watch here, has been viewed millions of times. It wasn’t until after Ald. Eisendrath’s students at DePaul sent him the video that he became aware his act of kindness had been filmed. In his heartfelt interview with Block Club Chicago, Ald. Eisendrath said “[he] was sprawled across three uncomfortable seats, his jeans were ripped, shoes too big for his feet, and it was cold out, he was clearly in need, so I gave him my coat.” We rise by lifting others, and I encourage you to never hold back from small acts of kindness.
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Last night the 43rd Ward office hosted our monthly “Community Meet and Greet” series at Alcott Elementary featuring Elected School Board Representative Ellen Rosenfeld. During this event, we focused on issues impacting 43rd Ward schools and families such as CPS growth, funding and equity. In addition, Ellen gave a behind-the-scenes look at the work happening on the new school board, which will transition to being fully elected in a few years. I am proud to consider Ellen a friend and leadership partner on all issues related to our local schools and the whole CPS system. So far this year we have hosted Community Meet & Greets on public safety, small business advocacy and education - and look forward to announcing our next event in the series.
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Finally, this week, I voted ‘yes’ on the Green Social Housing (GSH) ordinance, which passed City Council by a 30-18 vote. In short, this ordinance creates a city-run non-profit entity that is able to directly invest in the private development of environmentally-friendly housing projects that include affordable units. GSH can bring a variety of benefits such as:
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Acting as an innovative funding mechanism for private developers when additional outside capital is needed to make a project’s financing feasible. In consulting with local developers in the 43rd Ward on this ordinance, they made clear that when city affordable housing requirements are triggered, many projects are not able to secure adequate financing and full development stalls.
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A more balanced mix of affordable housing throughout Chicago, as a GSH eligible project would require at least 30% of a development’s units to be affordable on-site. In more affluent wards such as the 43rd, there is a history of developers opting to build their required allotment of affordable units “off-site”, e.g., in other neighborhoods, for a lower cost. This option has led Chicago affordable housing options to be geographically concentrated; whereas, I believe a more balanced affordable housing stock provides (i) the ability to live where one works, (ii) a gradual reduction of Chicago’s economic and racial segregation, and (iii) long-term city growth.
GSH should not be viewed as a silver-bullet to solving Chicago’s affordable housing problem; however, it creates a tool to make a piece of affordable housing financing easier (and costs nothing unless it is used). As someone who voted to delay GSH a few weeks ago for more negotiation time, I applaud my colleagues for their partnership to improve the ordinance. For the Mayor’s full statement on GSH, please click here.
Happy Mother’s Day to all 43rd Ward ‘moms’, including my own! This weekend, and always, I appreciate and honor you. Check-out the new Klein’s Bakery (1134 W. Armitage) for beautiful Mother’s Day cakes.
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Alderperson Timmy Knudsen
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P.S. Care for Friends, a nonprofit that’s been serving Chicago’s unhoused community for over 50 years, is hosting an open house for their brand-new Community Center at 530 W. Fullerton. Each year, Care for Friends connects with more than 12,500 individuals across 25+ wards, providing meals, healthcare, clothing, job support and most importantly, a sense of belonging. Join neighbors on Saturday, May 17 from 3:00 – 5:00 PM. Walk through the space, hear from the people behind the mission, and see how this new “homebase” will help meet a growing need in our city.
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Meeting with 43rd Ward middle school students for a discussion about local government and its impact on the community.
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May 1st marked the start of Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultural traditions and contributions of AAPI Chicagoans. From museum exhibitions to culinary festivals, and everything in between, there are events taking place across Chicago this month - see a detailed list here.
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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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In 2023, the City moved to a grid style trimming schedule. This has led to crews being able to double the amount of trees they are able to trim in a year. Crews are typically in the 43rd Ward every Tuesday, and signs should be posted informing residents of the work up to 48 hours in advance. Weather and staff permitting, the below blocks are where trimming will occur during the week of May 12th, 2025.
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N16 W04
1800 N Howe
600 W North Ave
1800 N Hudson
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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 18 Compstat.
For 19th District (north of Fullerton) Week 18 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): May 15th, 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): June 3rd, 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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19th District Camera Link Initiative
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They are also launching two brand new safety initiatives. First, they’re going door-to-door encouraging businesses and residents to register their security cameras with CPD. This does not give the police access to your footage, but it will help them quickly identify where cameras are located, the direction they face, and who to contact if an incident occurs. You can sign up here and see their flyer here.
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Old Town & Lincoln Park Earth Day
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On Saturday, May 10 from 9am-12pm, join our community-wide day of beautification in the parks. Meet at Ella Jenkins Park @ 333 West Wisconsin Avenue. Kids, families, dogs, & friends are welcome. Supplies & refreshments will be provided- projects include gardening, painting, planting, mulching, and more. No cost to participate- RSVPs requested
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Lincoln Park Farmers Market
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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.
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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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It's YOUR Park Day on May 31st!
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Join the Chicago Parks Foundation for our 10th Annual It's Your Park Day on Saturday, May 31st! It's YOUR Park Day is a big community cleanup event that kicks off our volunteer season every year. Dozens of parks will pitch in across the city with park improvement activities. This is a free, fun, family-friendly event. Host or Volunteer: Sign up now to host an IYPD event, or register to volunteer at our growing list of participating parks. Learn more about both options below and help us make IYPD 2025 our biggest volunteer day yet!
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43rd Ward Filming Notices
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Please see filming notices for filming that will occur in the 43rd Ward in the coming days or weeks.
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Gold Coast Neighbors Association, along with their sponsor partners, look forward to welcoming neighbors to the "Toast to the Coast" Spring Fundraiser. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers, and live music.
Details of the next Toast to the Coast:
Date: May 15, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: The Casino Club
Click here to register. For more information click here.
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Vehicle Violation Debt Relief
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- The debt relief period is April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.
- Penalties and fees temporarily waived for eligible parking, standing, compliance, and automated speed and red light camera violations that are paid in full by June 30, 2025.
- Penalties and fees eligible for waiver include but are not limited to late payment penalties; collection costs; and returned check, default, tow, storage, and boot fees with limited exceptions.
- With a few exclusions, eligible violations include tickets for which a Notice of Final Determination has been issued on or before December 31, 2023.
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This year's Sheffield Garden Walk is July 19-20th, but it's never too early to round up volunteers! Sheffield Neighborhood Association is looking for volunteers and sponsors for this years events.
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Free Admission for Soccer & Softball at DePaul
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DePaul Athletics announced that admission for all regular-season soccer & softball contests at Cacciatore Stadium will be free admission moving forward. The Blue Demons piloted a free admission program for DePaul softball this season and after an overwhelming success, will permanently put the program in place for men’s soccer, women’s soccer and softball.
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Join Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church on May 12th at 7pm for a Queer Sacred Space Salon!
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Save the date! This year, the annual Friends of the Chicago River's Chicago River Day will be held on Saturday, May 10th from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. To learn more about the event and register, visit their website here.
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Sunday, June 08, 2025 from 07:30 am - 01:30 pm CDT
ST. TERESA OF AVILA CHURCH PARISH CENTER
1950 N. KENMORE AVE
CHICAGO, IL 60614
Register here.
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Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County
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Are You a Veteran Living in Cook County?
If so, the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County (VACCC) is here to deliver comprehensive support—faster, fairer, and closer to home. This isn’t just about VA benefits. It’s one-on-one help with your full benefits picture, plus direct services to meet life’s urgent needs. We’re eliminating delays, cutting through red tape, and reaching Veterans directly in their communities.
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Lend your voice to Chicago’s first Urban Agriculture Plan. Over the next few years, Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) and Chicago Community Gardeners Association (CCGA), will be focusing their efforts on co-creating an urban agriculture plan. The purpose of this survey is to receive community feedback on what focus areas should be included in the urban agriculture plan. We endeavor to shift policy to reduce red tape in the City to be more supportive of individuals, organizations and businesses growing food, medicine, flowers, and other pollinator habitats within the city; identify challenges within departments of the City of Chicago and sister agencies to better serve growers; and encourage improved resources.
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Interested in joining CPD? Check out one of their hiring and recruitment events, or apply through CPD's website. Scan the QR code to learn more.
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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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