32nd Ward Newsletter June 6, 2025

Dear Scott,

Last night, another Chicago Police Officer, Kristal Rivera of the 6th District, was shot and killed by armed gunmen while responding to a criminal incident.

We mourn for our fallen officer and for her family, friends, and CPD officers who worked with her to make Chicago a safer place every day.

The Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety (Chair LaSpata) will be holding a hearing on the effort to end many traffic stops in Chicago. The call for a hearing on City Council resolution R2025-0016752 is based on calls from the Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA). The CCPSA directs much of the policy for the CPD, and is the group that also purports to have management oversight over the Police District Councils, except when there are incidents violating City employee or residents rights. The police district councils should be held accountable by the same laws as any city employee.

You can view the Council committee meeting on the topic here. You can also participate in a CCPSA webinar on this new policy approach by registering here. Also, for an interesting read on Chicago's carjackers, see this Suntimes report.

NASCAR partial and full street closures begin June 19th and last through July 7th. See below for the full schedule and all streets impacted in the downtown area.

The Roscoe Village Market is back at Hamlin Park every Sunday morning from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm from June 8th until October 12th! Shop fresh produce, breads, pastries, cheeses, coffee, nuts, and much more! Plus, enjoy family-friendly activities and free workout classes throughout the market season.

Don't forget the shredding and personal electronics recycling event we are hosting with the BCO on Sunday morning at Burr - details below.

Have a nice weekend,

Alderman Scott Waguespack

Chicago Police Officer Kristal Rivera Shot and Killed in

6th District When Responding to an Incident

Last night, Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera, 36, was shot to death in the 8200 block of South Drexel after responding to an incident in the 6th District.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and fellow officers of our fallen Officer Kristal Rivera.

Officer Rivera and other officers chased an offender to a house on Drexel where another offender ambushed Officer Rivera and shot her with a rifle.

Police have several in custody after chasing the offenders on foot and recovered several weapons at the scene. Thank you to CPD officers, OEMC dispatchers, Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff's deputies, and officers from several districts who assisted during and after the shooting.

Officer Rivera was a 36 year old single mom of a young daughter. She was a four year veteran of the CPD in the 6th District and according to Superintendent Snelling, had already taken two guns off the street during her shift last night.

She was once quoted as saying "For me, it’s a privilege, I come from a family of serving. To help people in need, that’s my calling.”

CPD officer killed during confrontation with armed suspect: ‘She wanted to make Chicago a better place’ - CWB

Council Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Chicago Ratings Downgrades and Impact to Taxpayers

This week, the Committee on Finance held a Subject Matter Hearing to discuss a resolution regarding the impacts of the recent credit rating agency downgrades. (R2025-0014903). The meeting was pretty heated at some points when some aldermen started accusing one of our expert witnesses and 32nd Ward resident Stu Loren of being conflicted and not having expertise to testify.

“To avoid future credit downgrades and skyrocketing debt costs in the face of uncertain economic conditions, the City must engage in a serious discussion about controlling the City’s soaring pension costs, spiraling personnel costs, massive debt load, and structural budget deficit,” according to the resolution. 

Recent downgrades that the Johnson Administration claimed were due to factors other than any financial policies of their own include the Kroll Bond Rating Agency downgrade of the city GO bonds as a result of the city’s “reliance on non-recurring revenues rather than structural expenditure adjustments to resolve budgetary shortfalls.” The second watch for downgrade by Fitch dropped the general obligation bonds for housing, economic development and infrastructure projects to negative due to a “lack of substantial progress procuring permanent and high impact solutions” in our budgets. The third recent downgrade by Standard and Poor’s was due to failing to address the persistent structural imbalance.



These downgrades are not easy to accept and have been dismissed by advocates for the Johnson policies to borrow and spend beyond our means. Downgrades mean consistently higher interest rates that are eating away at our ability to provide basic services, while paying down debt and making pension payments. 

While bonds are used to pay for infrastructure improvements in almost all municipalities in the U.S., there has to be transparency in the process and payment for those bonds without kicking the an down the road for future generations to bear all the burden. More recently, the Housing and Economic Development bonds to create the new Chicago housing agency were also problematic due to the lack of oversight of taxpayer funds, the massive interest to be offset for several years that would lead to taxpayers footing a higher bill on interest and principal payments, and the lack of transparency. 

Mayoral staff also blamed the City Council for rejecting the Mayor’s $300 million property tax increase in this year’s budget sessions as a reason for the downgrades when we know it was insufficient inefficiencies and cuts that were not made to the budget before asking taxpayers to double down on poor management of the City. The budget was built and passed largely on one-time fixes that the rating agencies decry as poor management as well as other factors as stated by the rating agencies. 



We can run this city better when leadership has the experience and ability to govern from the start.

Editorial: Aldermanic tempers boil as Chicago’s borrowing costs climb

Transit Bill Update 6/6/2025

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned this week without passing a governance reform/transit funding package. Minutes before the legislative deadline, the Illinois State Senate passed a bill that would rename the RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) as the NITA (Northern Illinois Transit Authority), giving it significantly more power for oversight, regional coordination, and fare-setting. The Illinois House of Representatives did not vote on the bill.

This failed proposal included a fee on every retail and food delivery in the state, a real estate-transfer tax on suburban Cook County and nearby collar counties (which already exists in the city), and a tax on rideshare. It also removed parking requirements for development near transit stations and enabled the transit agencies to build their own transit-oriented development.

Without any new funding from Springfield, the transit agencies (CTA, Metra, and PACE) will begin planning for major service cuts and fare hikes for their 2026 budget. It is still possible that the General Assembly will pass a funding package before that happens, either during the regularly scheduled veto session in the fall or if Governor Pritzker calls a special session before then. 

I will continue to update you as we hear more. Chicago’s public transit system is the lifeblood of our city’s economy and the means of transportation for more than a million people. While I appreciate the work our legislators have done in Springfield so far, it is imperative that an agreement be reached before these cuts take place.

Too late, too divided: Inside the collapse of Springfield's transit rescue - Crain's Chicago Business. "We've been clear from the very beginning that reform had to come up before funding. It's our belief that we can't ask taxpayers to put more money into a failing system, and so we wanted to address that issue, first and foremost," Welch said. "As of today, and definitely not as of May 31, our caucus had not discussed funding at all. So to receive a bill with funding mechanisms in it that hadn't been discussed was not something I would ask the caucus to consider.”

History of Transit in Chicago Region - RTA

Lawmakers offer 2 incomplete pitches for public transit and funding reform

ICE at Chicago Courthouse

This week’s ICE incursion into the immigration courts downtown turned into a melee as ICE agents, covered in masks and refusing to show any identification, took several immigrants in court for their immigration hearings, into federal custody. 

As many of these incidents spread out across the country, lawyers and their clients have proven that many are being illegally detained, being whisked away without legal representation to unknown locations. The new policy of ICE also allows ICE agents to ignore any local or state laws that any citizen or law enforcement officers are required to follow. 

Even when federal judges have dismissed a case, ICE has countered those rulings and made arrests. This undermines the laws and policies that people rely on when going to court, or being working members of society. The arrests made of those with legally obtained resident status is appalling and must be stopped.

ICE subpoenas Chicago City ID records

Missouri ‘soccer mom’ facing deportation is released from custody.

2025 Street Cleaning Calendar

Next week, street sweeping will occur in sections 8, 9, and 10 (South Lakeview). 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 landscaping debris 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. 

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Air Pollution Action Day Has Been Extended Through Friday, June 6

OEMC is monitoring conditions with the National Weather Service in Chicago, at this time Chicago’s air quality is at an unhealthy level

Canadian wildfire smoke continues to worsen air quality in several US states

Thick, heavy wildfire smoke to move into Chicago area; air quality alert issued

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Pollution Action Day for Thursday, June 5 for the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area has been extended through Friday, June 6 at midnight.

A Chicago area Air Pollution Action Day is declared when weather conditions are such that widespread ozone and or particulate levels are expected to be at or above the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category of the Air Quality Index for multiple days. Active children and adults, especially people with pulmonary or respiratory disease such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor activity. For additional information visit AirNow.gov.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Keep outdoor activities short.
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

For Chicagoans without access to properly ventilated and safe indoor conditions, please utilize public libraries, senior centers, Park District facilities, and the Cultural Center, during hours of operation or the six community service centers open on Friday, June 6 from 9am-5pm:

• Englewood Center – 1140 W. 79th Street
• Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave.
• King Center – 4314 S. Cottage Grove
• North Area Center – 845 W. Wilson Ave.
• South Chicago Center – 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
• Trina Davila Center – 4312 W. North Ave

For locations visit Cooling Centers - Map | City of Chicago | Data Portal. Residents can also contact 3-1-1 for the nearest location and hours via 311.chicago.gov or the CHI311 app. Note: Only the Park District facilities listed on the data portal provide access to air conditioning, as some facilities are not air-conditioned.

Outreach workers are encouraging unhoused residents to accept shelter or seek respite indoors and are providing masks for those who remain outdoors.

Well Being Checks

It’s important to check on relatives, neighbors, seniors, and our vulnerable population. If you are unable to make contact, you can request a well-being check by downloading the CHI311 app, visiting 311.chicago.gov, or calling 3-1-1. If there is a medical emergency call 9-1-1.

Chicago OEMC App

For air quality, safety and preparedness information, residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App. The public safety tool provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, weather information and more in the palm of your hand. Users will also have access to current forecasts, radar, and other weather-related information as well. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or visit the website at Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notices, issues affecting businesses or events:

• CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5 
• CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 

For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook(@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911).

Public Safety Section

Lincoln Park Sewer Main Project #7158

Weekly Update

Project Status:

Concrete for the street base should be completed by early next week. Milling will be late next week to early the week of the 16^th. Paving including asphalt should be completed by June 20th with landscape work to follow. Work on the sidewalks has already begun.

Kennedy Rehabilitation Update

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90/94) from the Edens Expressway (I-94) junction to Ohio Street, a stage change is scheduled to take place beginning, weather permitting, Saturday, May 31.

Under the new configuration, traffic leaving downtown Chicago will be able to use both the express and local lanes to continue to I-90 and O’Hare International Airport. Since the final year of the Kennedy project started in March, drivers leaving downtown had to stay in the local lanes to access the airport.

To facilitate the stage change, starting at 11 p.m. Saturday, May 31, the reversible express lanes will close. At midnight the outbound Kennedy will be reduced to one outbound lane from Addison Street to Montrose Avenue and intermittent ramp closures also will take place between Addison Street and Montrose Avenue. The lanes and any ramps that were closed overnight will reopen by 10 a.m. Sunday, June 1, when the new traffic pattern will be in place.

In the new configuration, the outbound lanes will shift slightly to the left on to the new pavement between Addison Street and Montrose Avenue. The reversible express lanes will remain open in the outbound direction, with two mainline outbound lanes closed at a time. The reversible mid-gate entrance and exits will remain closed.

The new configuration will allow work to begin on the right lanes of the outbound expressway and is estimated to remain in place through mid-July.

The change to the work zone is occurring roughly a month ahead of schedule, part of an effort to stage the project and ramp closures to help accelerate construction. Additional ramp closures for varying durations will be required to complete the project, which remains on pace for an overall completion by Thanksgiving. Details, schedules and impacts to traffic will be shared in advance, closer to the individual closure dates. ​

As a reminder, to accommodate ongoing bridge rehabilitation and ramp repairs, the following ramps are scheduled to close, weather permitting:

Thursday, June 5

• Ontario Street to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks.
• Division Street to outbound Kennedy, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks. ​ ​

Monday, June 9

• Outbound Kennedy to North Avenue, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks. ​ ​
• Outbound Kennedy to Fullerton Avenue, anticipated to reopen in approximately two weeks. ​ ​

Current ramp closures:

• Ogden Avenue to outbound Kennedy is closed, anticipated to reopen the week of June 9. ​ ​
• Outbound Kennedy to Ohio Street is closed, anticipated to reopen the week of June 9. ​ ​
• Armitage Avenue to outbound Kennedy is closed, anticipated to reopen the week of June 9. ​ ​

Motorists should follow the posted detours.

All scheduled work is subject to change due to multiple factors, including inclement weather. In that event, schedules will be updated and shared with the public.

The public should expect significant delays and allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.

Throughout construction, traveling during non-peak hours, taking alternative routes and utilizing public transportation, including the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line and Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest Line, as well as Pace, are recommended.

For more information, visit https://idot.illinois.gov/projects/Interstate-90-Kennedy-Bridge-Study. The website features project details, maps, photos and fact sheets. The public can email questions to DOT.KennedyRehab@illinois.gov. For systemwide traffic and road conditions, visit www.gettingaroundillinois.com. You also can follow IDOT on Facebook and X.

On Sunday, June 8th from 9am – noon, the Bucktown Community Organization (BCO) along with Alderman Scott Waguespack will be hosting a shredding event to include onsite destruction and recycling of documents and personal electronics. Additionally, the Cook County Sheriff's Office will be on hand as part of their Prescription Drug Takeback program to safely dispose of your old Rx’s.

As a special part of the free Shredding Event, stop by the BCO tent to meet members of the BCO Board, learn more about upcoming events in the neighborhood like the Bucktown Garden Walk and Movies in the Park, and get your raffle ticket to win a rain barrel compliments of Commissioner Garcia and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Come by with any papers and electronics that you would like to have securely destroyed and recycled. There is a limit of 2 boxes/containers per household and we ask that you please remove all heavy-duty staples, paper clips, metal fasteners, and rubber bands ahead of time.

Don’t let your paper and electronic data fall into the wrong hands and don’t let your old Rx’s contaminate our water. Come out and get Shredded!

Save the Date for a Public Meeting on the Wellington Greenway June 30th 6:00 p.m. at Illinois Masonic Community Room

Events in 32nd Ward parks (click flyer above for more info)-

Churchill Park (1825 N. Damen)

June 21- Movies in the Park- Inside Out 2

July 12- Movies in the Park- The Sandlot

August 18- Movies in the Park- Wicked

Park 567 (1801 N. Milwaukee)

July 23- Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz

Walsh Park (1722 N. Ashland)

July 26- Hirde with Alpha and the Princes of Futa

August 5- Movies in the Park- Wicked, sing a long version

August 16- La Cantera & Friends

Holstein Park (2200 N. Oakley)

August 1- Circus in the Parks

Wrightwood Park (2534 N. Greenview)

August 2- Movies in the Park- Twister

Hamlin Park (3035 N. Hoyne)

August 11- Movies in the Park- Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend

Kick off summer with a focus on you! Celebrate the season of sunshine at Lincoln Park Health & Wellness Weekend featuring free outdoor workout classes, mini-spa services, giveaways, and more.

Health & Wellness Showcase featuring free mini-spa services

Open and free to public featuring free mini-spa services including chair massage, mini facial, ear acupuncture, skin treatment, brow & lash consultation, and more.

Saturday, June 7 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Lincoln Common Plaza, 2335 N. Lincoln

Free Outdoor Workout Classes

Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8

Click here to sign up for classes.

NASCAR STREET CLOSURES JUNE 19th to July 7th

City News

• Bucktown’s Long-Neglected Shuffleboard Court Restored and Open to All
• Chicago’s Grocery Tax Was Slated to End in 2026. Now, Mayor Wants to Keep It Going
• ‘Young, Vibrant and a Hard Worker’: CPD Officer Killed in South Side Shooting Identified
• Air Quality Alert Remains in Effect for Chicago Area Due to Canadian Wildfire Smoke
• Aviation Analyst: How a DoorDash Driver Ended up on a Chicago Tarmac
• Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend — Ribfest Chicago, Blues Festival and More