|
August 24, 2025
Dear neighbors,
I dropped off my first born to university this week, cheers to all the parents doing the same! I can report that the blubbering mess I thought I would be, never manifested. I shed a few tears, after I said goodbye and made it back to my car. I am sad he isn't home but admit that I am so excited for him to start this next chapter into adulthood. For those in the same boat, we'll get through this. Being from the 11th, we have an added advantage of housing so much good food that eventually the kids start missing their favorites and have to come home to eat it!
Thank you to everyone who turned out for the Greater Bridgeport and South Loop Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting and tour of the historic Schulze and Burch Biscuit Co. factory! Congratulations on a standout event. I got to join a group of 80 for a first-in-100 years tour of the historic baking facility. They manufacture the second largest amount of toaster pastries next to Kellogg. Thank you to Schulze and Burch for allowing us access for the event and for your hospitality. For those who didn’t make the tour, you can still smell the pastries on the wind when you’re down by 35th and Morgan at all hours of the day, including third shift.
It was another busy weekend in the ward with the Pui Tak Christian School hosting their backgrounds to school block party, Kidacial Mass family bike ride, the McKinley Park Development Council's Riverfront Development Bike Tour and the Autumnal celebration hosted by the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Chinese Culture Association. I was also happy to spend some time at McGuane Park on Saturday with the Chicago Dragons Athletic Association's Back to School event.
Saturday evening, members of the 9th District Police and I joined family and friends of Gaby Ochoa, the woman who was killed near Palmisano Park last weekend while attempting to complete the sale of items made on the online platform “Offer Up”. More than 60 of her family and friends gathered to remember her with a balloon release and candle light vigil. This was an absolutely senseless loss and we all pray that the guilty parties are brought to justice. On behalf of the 11th Ward, I offered our condolences and prayers to her loved ones. Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward to any information leading to an arrest in the case. More on this topic below in our Public Safety section.
Armour Pool remains open until August 31, as one of the outdoor pools that was chosen to stay open longer to beat the summer heat. While I commend that investment in the community, it’s concerning to me that we haven’t figured out how to keep all pools open through Labor Day, especially given the heat we’ve seen through this summer. We need to see this happen from Chicago Park District leadership next summer and beyond.
For residents in the vicinity of the Eleanor Boat house, the old People's Gas Site as Eleanor and Loomis will soon begin environmental remediation. A community meeting to be held in early September to discuss.
Public Safety
Offerup Murder
As more details have been released regarding the tragic murder that happened last week over the course of a purchase gone wrong through the sales application “Offerup,” we are still hoping that the perpetrator will be located by information obtained through the app. It’s also come to my attention that there is a total lack of “Safe Internet Purchase Exchange” locations in the city which often have 24/7 video surveillance, and can be places like business parking lots or police stations, while you can always use CPD locations. I’m looking into improving signable, additional locations, and figuring out how we can make internet sales exchanges more safe in the city. If you’re using Offerup, the locations they provide as safe meetup locations are all way outside city limits, which is extremely unhelpful. It's also often very easy for minors to sell things online, especially on Offerup, so monitor your children’s internet usage around these topics and look for how they might be leaving themselves vulnerable.
Residential burglaries, gang activity
You may have seen that the 9th District issue a community alert regarding residential burglaries targeting the elderly where the offenders are targeting elderly victims by either creating a situation to get the victim to exit the residence (stating they struck victim's garage door with their vehicle), distracting the victim from entering their residence (engage in conversation) or waiting for victim to exit while additional offenders enter the residence and remove items. The offenders also targeted a residence where the victims were out of town. Please be aware at all times and do not hesitate to call 911 if anyone suspicious comes to your door.
Residents have shared social media posts showing gang members in our ward. We are aware and have shared the information with the 9th District so that they can continue to pay special attention to these areas. You can help by reporting suspicious activities by calling 911 or reporting bent street signs to 311 or our office at 773-254-6677.
Around the Ward
11th Ward Job Fair
Announcing the 11th Ward Job Fair, happening on September 24. Commissioner John P. Daley and I join the Chamber of Commerce, and SSA #13 Stockyards Industrials in presenting a job fair at the Bridgeport Art Center with job recruiters from city departments as well as private businesses.
Amazon at 2424 South Halsted
Amazon’s new 112,000 square-foot Bridgeport Delivery Station at 2424 South Halsted launched in early August.
Amazon plans to bring at least 200 full-and-part-time jobs to the site by this fall that offer competitive pay and benefits on the first day of employment. For additional information about hiring and benefits at the Amazon, please visit: https://hiring.amazon.com
The facility will be operational 24-hours-a-day. Pursuant to the Planned Development, Amazon will route truck and van traffic to the site’s entrance on Halsted. The primary employee and visitors entrance is on Corbett.
In addition to new career opportunities, the Amazon leaders are excited to partner with the community to support initiatives that are important to the neighborhood including the funding of a new mural along the Halsted Viaduct in partnership with the Greater Bridgeport & South Loop Chamber of Commerce and providing more than 500 backpacks with school supplies for back to school events across the ward.
Pools Open Through August 31
Armour Pool will remain open through August 31, please double check pools are open before heading to other pools, because schedules are subject to change.
Attention residents on 30th–31st Union Ave
If you haven’t already, please sign up for the City’s Lead Service Line Replacement program. This is a valuable opportunity to remove lead pipes at no cost to you while the city is already doing related work nearby. Reach out to the ward office with any questions.
Graffiti and Sign Issues
Graffiti and bent signs continue to pop up around the ward. Please help keep our community clean and safe by reporting graffiti and bent street signs. You can do so through the 311 app, emailing our office or calling us at 773-254-6677. Please provide our office with the location of the graffiti (an address is best) and what it’s on (building, fence, sign, etc).
Infrastructure updates
A new sewer improvement project began on July 28 to upgrade critical infrastructure in our community. Work will take place in the following areas:
- S Canal St: from W 31st St to W 33rd St
- W 33rd St: from S Canal St to S Normal Ave
- S Normal Ave: from W 33rd St to 50 feet south of W 33rd St
- W 33rd St: from S Emerald Ave to S Wallace St
Construction is expected to be completed by November 2025. Please note: No parking or through traffic will be allowed during working hours (7:00 AM-4:00 PM). Once the sewer main installation is complete, Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) work will follow in the same areas.
You may be noticing no parking signs around the neighborhood for construction work. We’ve been requesting advanced notice for construction projects for months without receiving good information. Please know that we are working to secure accurate information on projects so that we can share it with you, our constituents. With any construction project we realize there will be inconveniences and an impact on your daily life, our goal is to minimize those while work to improve our infrastructure takes place - and to give you a heads up. We rely on city departments to provide the information we can share with you.
Housekeeping
35th Street Parking Changes
Time restrictions have been removed to now allow residents to park along 35th Street throughout the day between Ashland and Western.
White Sox and Event Residential Parking decals and passes
Decals and passes are available for pickup at the ward office.
Summer Hours
We are operating with Summer Hours until August 29, 2025. On Fridays during the summer we are open 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
Have a great week.
Nicole
| 
