32nd Ward Newsletter April 25, 2025

Dear Scott,

We are saddened at the loss of Chicago firefighter Captain David Meyer who was killed while fighting a garage fire set by an arsonist on Wednesday morning. Captain Meyer served Chicago for 28 years as a firefighter. He leaves behind his wife, three daughters, and his son.

Chicago Fire Department Media stated that Captain David Meyer of Truck 29 died as a result of injuries from a fire Wednesday morning in the Austin neighborhood. The Office of Fire Investigation, assisted by the ATF, has determined the fire was from arson and police have charged a man in the death of Captain David Meyer.

Also in the newsletter today:

• Park clean up events are still taking place this weekend and the Friends of the Parks have a quick mapping tool to show which parks could use an extra hand if you have time to help spruce up your local park.
• A public transportation update regarding funding
• The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) looks to remove police traffic stops - use the survey included in the update to provide your input
• Street takeover in Lakeview and CPD actions
• Infrastructure updates
• Families are now welcome to start applying for the District’s free early learning opportunities
• CPS High School Students: Career-training Programs Accepting Applications for the 2025–2026 School Year, Chicago Builds and Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy
• High School and College Job Fair in four days, and more

Have a good weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Public Transportation Funding Update

The $770 million transit fiscal cliff faced by the RTA, CTA, Metra, and Pace has not yet been resolved in Springfield. For the last several months, state legislators have been holding hearings on potential structural reforms and funding solutions to resolve the crisis. Throughout this process, many legislators have made clear that reforms must come before new revenue.

One proposal for reform would combine the region’s transit agencies into one superagency and another strengthens the RTA’s oversight of the service boards. If no agreement is reached before the end of the current legislative session, the transit agencies will have to begin planning for steep service cuts (and likely fare increases).

The Chicago Transit Agency released a plan to demonstrate a potential scenario that would eliminate service entirely from several train lines and slash the number of bus routes. I will continue to update you as we hear more from Springfield.

2025 Street Cleaning Calendar

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 13, 14, and 15 (Lincoln Park and Bucktown). Click on the map above to see your section's schedule.

Please be on the lookout for signs and make sure to move your vehicle on your scheduled day (south and east sides of the street are normally done on the first day, north and west on the second; please watch for signs). Sweepers will do more than one pass on the block in their initial cleaning but will not come back to clean sections outside of their officially scheduled day.

Please take the time to help clear the curb in front of your property to keep the sewers flowing well. Any leftover landscaping debris from winter months should be bagged and put in the alley by your trash cans. Please do not sweep landscaping debris into the street. Piles of leaves and heavy garbage also clog the sweepers and will cause significant delays. Other large objects like branches and metal will also damage the sweepers, so please remove them from curbs.

Residents can view street sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool. 

Public Safety Section

Street Takeover in Lincoln Park

The street takeover that happened last weekend at Ashland and Diversey is one of several that have happened on the northside over the past year. My office has been in communication with the 19th Police District on this. They will be increasing their presence and also will be working with CPIC (Crime Prevention and Information Center) to try and prevent these events from occurring. CPIC is tracking social media and watching camera footage to let the police know if cars are heading their way. Unfortunately, it is hard to know where these will take place until the street takeover starts. Be on the lookout for cars gathering at spots such as gas stations and parking lots and call 911 if you see this activity.

Additionally, the offenders remove their license plates making it hard to track vehicles, although CPD does try to track them through the City camera system.

The police have created a unit that tries to track incidents and have a rapid response, but as you can imagine, it is hard to infiltrate ever changing apps and technology that different groups use to notify their friends and spectators where they are going next. Many of them are from the suburbs and have been coming to Chicago and other cities across the US for years. Every city has tried new methods and new laws to combat the problem.

The recent ordinance passed by City Council allows police to impound cars with up to $10K in fines, if they can catch them during or after the fact (by tracking cameras). Spectators following the drivers have also caused significant problems and will often disperse at high speeds endangering even more people in surrounding areas. This article explains some of what the police did in response to a previous takeover.

When police arrive at the incidents, they have to have a larger group response to try to put a stop to the sometimes violent groups. While some have been arrested, they often scatter at high speed which often prohibits safe police pursuit. New police pursuit policies also all but prohibit chases during these incidents.

Any additional technology measures we would like to see would have to pass all sorts of legal tests before CPD could use them since the City is under scrutiny for any traffic stops or countermeasures to the violent activity.

The police are not allowed to give immediate chase and the drivers typically continue the dangerous driving onto sidewalks, and the intersections they are taking over, so it is both dangerous and difficult for police to stop the cars and crowds. In order to prevent the illegal activity, we are exploring alternatives with the department to use other technologies that could tag or immobilize the vehicles of the owners committing the illegal acts.

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) Looks to Remove Police Traffic Stops

The CCPSA Commission is looking to institute additional rules on the CPD to prohibit certain traffic stops. The proposals would become part of the Consent Decree. The department has a lengthy set of general orders for traffic stops and the proposed 15 page directives would be incorporated into new rules for stops.

CCPSA: Link to CPD's April 2025 draft traffic stops policy. CPD Traffic Stops Policy

CCPSA's April 21, 2025 response to CPD's draft policy. The Commission's response includes both a policy markup and a memo from Commissioners detailing their recommendations on various policy topics. CCPSA Response to CPD Policy

The CCPSA recommends ending stops for some violations like:

• a missing or improperly displayed front license plate
• displayed registration sticker that has expired within one year
• improper license plate fastening or positioning, where the license plate is otherwise clearly displayed
• improper rear-license-plate illumination
• one non-functioning headlight, tail light or brake light, during daylight hours, as long as the vehicle has at least one functioning headlight, tail light, and brake light
• operating a vehicle with a loud sound system

You can add your input here, or in writing to CPD, and the Commission.

CPD’s KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TIPS 

Deadly Lincoln Park shooting:

25-year-old woman charged with first-degree murder

Temporary Closure Notice from the Wicker Park Bucktown Library

Bucktown-Wicker Park Library, 1701 N Milwaukee, will be closed to the public and staff from Monday, May 5^th through Saturday, May 17th, reopening on Sunday, May 18th due to installation of new carpeting. All programming and meetings will be canceled for that week. If you have any questions, call the library at 312-744-6022

Lincoln Park Sewer Main Project #7158

Weekly Update

Status: (In progress, water/sewer side only: 99% complete)

The CDWM sewer crew has demobilized from the working area. All portapotties, trailers, and barricades have been picked up from the site. All but a handful of the houses are complete for the LSLR side of the project and are awaiting on tree removals so that this work can be done. Once these are done, restoration will start and is expected to be completed by early June. Restoration will be starting on Janssen, Altgeld, and Greenview by early May.

Each year, Alderman Waguespack works with the Chicago Department of Transportation to identify and allocate funding for the resurfacing of streets and alleys in the Ward. The following list includes streets and alleys currently scheduled for resurfacing work over the next three weeks.

Streets Projected Grind

Wrightwood (Lakewood to Racine) 5/5/2025

Dickens (Leavitt to Hoyne) 5/7/2025

Alleys

Dickens (Armitage, Wolcott, Honore) 5/6/2025

Wellington (George, Hoyne, Seeley) 5/7/2025

School (Melrose, Damen, Wolcott) 5/7/2025

Cornelia (Roscoe, Hoyne, Hamilton) 5/8/2025

Alleys Projected Paving

Oakdale (George Ashland Greenview) 4/23/2025

Get your tickets now and join us for Give to Grow Night on Saturday, May 3rd from 7-10 PM at Pizzeria Serio – Adults only. Our parent-driven fundraiser is a great time to connect with parents, alumni, community supporters, faculty, and staff - all for the benefit of Jahn School of Fine Arts students and programs. Invite friends and family to an evening of food and refreshments, music and socializing, and an opportunity to give to Jahn through a live donation appeal. 

Tickets include $25-$75 food and drink packages to keep you fed and your drinks full all night. Purchase tickets at the link: https://G2G2025.givesmart.com.

Chicago Public Schools Opens Applications for Preschool 2025-26 Programs

Families are now welcome to start applying for the District’s free early learning opportunities

For Chicago Public School (CPS) families interested in exploring the District’s free full-day preschool program for four-year-olds and half-day preschool program for three-year-olds applications are open, on the Chicago Early Learning website and application portal. 

More than 90 percent of CPS preschools meet ExceleRate Illinois' Gold Circle of Quality, with the remaining earning the silver and bronze awards. All sites meet federal, state and local education standards. 

CPS offers families a choice of high-quality preschool programs for all four-year olds as well as a limited number of part-day programs for three year olds in 372 elementary schools, with the goal of improving educational options and social outcomes for all children, particularly those with the greatest needs. CPS partners with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) which provides childcare services at community-operated locations from birth to age 5.

Various schools across the District will be hosting open houses and reading nights the Week of April 8 to offer families the opportunity to learn more about preschool offerings. Community members can browse this calendar to explore events by date and choose which schools they would like to visit.

The District's preschool programs meet all federal, state and local education standards and all schools are engaged in continuous quality improvement. Preschool programs are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze Circle of Quality on an annual basis as determined by ExceleRate Illinois, which conducts an independent evaluation. Ninety-three percent of CPS preschool programs met the Gold Circle of Quality for instructional quality during the last evaluation cycle and the remainder earned the silver and bronze awards.

More information about CPS Preschool programs is available on the District’s website. Parents may also call the Chicago Early Learning Hotline at 312-229-1690 for application support in both English and Spanish.

CPS High School Students: Career-training Programs Accepting Applications for the 2025–2026 School Year

These opportunities equip Chicago high school students with the skills, certifications, and real-world experience needed for success in high-demand fields. The CPFTA and Chicago Builds have application deadlines approaching so read up on them now if your student is interested.

Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA)

A two-year training program for current high school sophomores interested in careers in public safety, law enforcement, fire science, and criminal justice.

Eligibility:

• Must live in Chicago and be a current 10th grader
• Strong attendance and GPA recommended
• Weekly training from September to May
• Includes physical exam, background check, and recommendation letters

 Application Deadline: Friday, May 2, 2025

 Apply: CPS.edu/CPFTApplication

Chicago Builds

A hands-on, citywide construction training program for rising 11th and 12th grade CPS and charter students interested in the building trades.

Program Highlights:

• Earn up to 5 high school credits
• Gain technical and industry certifications
• Union exam prep, paid summer internships, dual credit options
• Specialized training in carpentry or electricity (Level II)
• Program site: Dunbar Vocational Career Academy

 Application Deadline: June 2025

 Info sessions (in-person & virtual): Now through May 7

 Apply & learn more: CPS.edu/ChicagoBuilds

Vehicle Violation Debt Relief Program

April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025

This program allows all motorists, regardless of income, to resolve eligible violations at a reduced cost, by paying only the base fine—with penalties and fees fully waived—as long as full payment is made by June 30, 2025.

Eligible violations include:

• Non-meter parking tickets and standing violations.
• Compliance violations (e.g., expired registration, no City sticker, or missing license plate).
• Automated speed and red-light camera tickets.
• A Notice of Final Determination must have been issued on or before December 31, 2023.

Additional program features:

• Tickets currently enrolled in a payment plan are eligible, if paid in full by June 30, 2025.
• Seizure-related fees (towing, storage, booting, etc.) are also waived with limited exceptions.
• Exclusions include expired meter tickets and any violation where the City has filed a case in court or has initiated administrative proceedings to collect the debt.

No application is required—eligible tickets have been adjusted and will reflect the applicable waivers until June 30, 2025. To learn more about these programs and to search or pay for tickets, visit: www.Chicago.gov/VDR or call (312) 744-7275 (Monday – Friday, 7 AM–7 PM).

City Sticker Amnesty Program

The Office of the City Clerk is bringing back City Sticker Amnesty Month. This means the City Clerk's office is waiving City Sticker penalties to make it easier for Chicago drivers to come into compliance during the month of April. Visit one of the City Clerk or Department of Finance locations to purchase a City Sticker with no late and back fees from Tuesday, April 1 to Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Click here for more information.

Helpful Environmental Info

April is Earth Month. It also is a prime spring cleaning month. Here are some helpful links if you are looking to get rid of clutter around your house or are just looking to become more earth friendly.

Hard to recycle items and here

Items that can be reused

Reduce Chicago popup events

Charities that offer free pickups

The Wasteshed (art and school items to be donated)

Rebuilding Exchange (furniture donation)

Hazardous materials

Food scrap drop off

Community Clean Up Events

(click on images for details)

City News

• Alderman: Chicago Mayor Lacks Plan for Shortfall That Could Top $1.5 Billion
• Street Takeover with Fireworks in Chicago's Lakeview Community Has Neighbors Demanding Action
• Chicago FBI Warns Violent Online Network, Known as 764, Is Targeting Minors
• 15-year-old Charged with Bucktown Armed Robbery, Second Holdup Reported in Humboldt Park
• Aldermen spurning Mayor Brandon Johnson’s new budget working group: ‘It points to a larger problem’
• Will Chicagoans Warm to Giardiniera, Deep-Dish, and Hot Dog-Flavored Potato Chips?
• Chicago’s Best Slices of Pizza (including a few in the 32nd Ward)