32nd Ward Newsletter November 26, 2025 | | |
Greetings!
Thanksgiving is this week so our hours will be different than normal. We'll be closing early on Weds, Nov. 26th at 1 pm. We'll also be closed on Thanksgiving and that Friday, Nov. 28th. Garbage and recycling pickup will also be affected by the holiday, so make sure to keep your carts out all week for streets and sanitation crews to pick up.
Also, a reminder that winter parking bans starts on December 1st on several main streets in the City. See below for more information and always check the signs before leaving your vehicle parked for extended periods. Share this info with new neighbors so they can avoid getting into any problems with the winter tow areas.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are doing our small share in helping a communities that might not be as fortunate as others, providing meals and clothes where we can. You can too, by helping with the CPD 14th District coat drive, and 18th District toy drive, amongst many other events to help those in need. Please read below for more details and for much more on events and issues.
Have a beautiful Thanksgiving,
Alderman Scott Waguespack
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Friends and Family Honor Tony Fitzpatrick
I had the privilege to attend Tony Fitzpatrick's Celebration of Life at the Metro this week. Many of you are probably familiar with his work, his acting career, or the fact that he was a staple of the Bucktown community, including the studio and Door 24 on Damen. The stories and sounds shared by so many Chicago greats was also a reminder of some of the great people places and events in Chicago history. Family members, storytellers and musicians like Frank Catalano and Ike Reilly, Brigid Murphy, Mark Turcotte, Alex Kotlowitz, Rick Kogan recounting events with Tony in places like neighborhood favorites like Get Me High and Busy Bee, and referencing moments with Art Shay, Nelson Algren and others was a great reminder of Chicago's amazing history. Tony was a Chicago powerhouse who spent his life creating, mentoring, and generously uplifting his neighbors, friends, and community. This City lost a special person in Tony, but his spirit lives on. Below is a resolution shared about him at the event. Thank you to Joe Shanahan and Alderman Knudsen for helping that happen. I also need to acknowledge and thank his family for allowing me to participate. I'm sorry for your loss, Max, Gabby, and Michelle, but you made him proud.
City Council Resolution Honoring Tony Fitzpatrick
WHEREAS, Tony Fitzpatrick was born on November 24, 1958, one of eight children in an Irish-American family and was raised in Lombard, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Montini Catholic High School, Tony held a variety of jobs that would inform his outlook on life including working as a caddy, cab driver, bouncer and bartender; and
WHEREAS, Tony was a uniquely multidimensional artist, poet, writer, radio host, podcaster and actor using various mediums to tell stories that put him in the pantheon of some of Chicago’s most revered and beloved storytellers such as Nelson Algren, Studs Terkel and Mike Royko; and
WHEREAS, after a chance meeting with artists Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat in New York City’s Washington Square Park, he was introduced by them to a gallery owner who took interest in his work helping launch his artistic career; and
WHEREAS, Tony’s skill led to him being hired by the Neville Brothers to do the artwork for their Grammy-winning “Yellow Moon” album. He went on to design album artwork for numerous other musicians including Lou Reed and countless album covers for musician Steve Earle. His artwork for Earle’s ‘Guy’ album having been displayed in an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and
WHEREAS, Tony’s artwork can be found in some of the world’s leading art museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the National Gallery of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, among Tony’s artistic outlets was as a movie, television, and theatrical actor having appeared in films including “Married to the Mob”, “Mad Dog and Glory”, Philadelphia”, “Primal Fear”, & “Chi-Raq” as well as having had a recurring role as Jack Birdbath in the television series “Patriot”; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Tony earned the prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Actor in Prop Thtr production of Mass Murder; and
WHEREAS, Tony had a well-known passion for birds, a love that began as a young boy when his grandmother told him that “for a piece of bread you can hear God sing” — something he always remembered as a spark for his work; and
WHEREAS, while Tony employed a variety of art styles, he would be most known for his mixed-media collage work, many of which displayed his beloved birds as their centerpiece; and
WHEREAS, in 1990, Tony opened World Tattoo in the South Loop, followed by Big Cat Press, the Dime and his TF Studios located on Damen Avenue in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood.
WHEREAS, the one constant in Tony’s endeavors was his decades of fostering and encouraging countless other artists who, like Tony, did not follow the traditional art school trajectory but whom he felt had something important to say through their work; and
WHEREAS, always the loyal friend, Tony often created artworks to help market local restaurants including Peanut Park Trattoria in Little Italy, where he would regularly be found holding court at tables that included actors, journalists, musicians, restaurateurs, academics and regular working stiffs, all of whom reveled in spending time and trading stories with Tony; and
WHEREAS, Tony also wrote several collections of poetry and books consisting of his essays, the last of which, “The Sun At The End of The Road Dispatches From An American Life” was published just weeks before his death; and
WHEREAS, a dedicated family man, his love for Michele, to whom he was married for 34 years, and for his children Max and Gabrielle, were the only things that rivaled his love of his artwork and for the City of Chicago.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this day, do hereby honor and celebrate Tony Fitzpatrick’s life and legacy; and, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to family and friends of Tony Fitzpatrick as a token of appreciation and gratitude.
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City Budget Update
The city budget negotiations are ongoing even as we head into the Thanksgiving weekend. By state law, the city has until the end of December to vote on a municipal budget. I cannot support the Johnson Administration proposal as it currently stands and this was the consensus of the Finance Committee when we voted down the Mayor’s budget last week.
Mayor Johnson’s budget is problematic in many ways. It still includes some of the highest fines and fee increases for building permits, city stickers, business license fees while retaining the highest rate of unpaid debt in decades. His inclusion of a head tax on businesses would crush their ability to grow in Chicago and deter other businesses from relocating here, neither of which we can afford. Many of us have done the homework of providing alternatives to the Mayor’s budget.
Earlier this year, the mayor's office engaged Ernst and Young (EY) to identify efficiencies that can put us on a strong, long-term financial path. They also commissioned an internal group to review some of those EY ideas and provide other options to the mayor's plans for a 2026 budget. The EY report was similar to those done in Houston, Milwaukee and elsewhere in the US, with those cities taking the EY recommendations and implementing them on a broad scale.
The mayor’s current budget was voted down last week in part because they have not responded to requests for information from the city council and public. The lack of budget hearing responses by the mayor, and the inability to implement both EY and city council recommendations we have been asking for further erodes the trust in government. The Johnson Administration budget includes just $12.4 million of nearly $1.4 billion in efficiencies identified in the EY audit.
Some of my colleagues and I have looked even deeper at these proposed EY efficiencies across procurement, fleet management and staffing structures to make sure taxpayers dollars could be spent responsibly. We demanded that we implement these options before hitting taxpayers even more. Instead, the Johnson Administration continues to campaign for a budget that is heavily reliant on more taxes, more fees, and more borrowing at a scale that pales in comparison to prior mayors. His approach does not set a course that is sustainable for Chicagoans.
I will continue working with colleagues across the spectrum to push for the savings, job growth and investments and revenue strategies that address the long-term future of our City for this generation and more. Chicago faces a historic financial challenge, and solving it requires everyone working together to craft a budget for a sustainable city.
| | Daily Residential Parking Passes for 2026 | | |
The TEAL 2025 Daily Residential Parking Permits will expire on December 31st, 2025. We are now selling the new PINK 2026 parking passes. The PINK 2026 passes can be used immediately and will not expire until December 31st, 2026. Please make sure to use up any teal ones before the end of the year as they cannot be exchanged for the pink 2026 ones, nor can you get a refund.
You can also purchase your stickers online at ezbuy.chicityclerk.com.
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Winter Overnight Parking Ban
On Monday, December 1st at 3:00 a.m., overnight parking snow route bans go into effect on many of Chicago's arterial streets. In order to ensure that the most critical roadways in Chicago are kept open to full capacity at all times, the City of Chicago enforces a Winter Overnight Parking Ban on 107 miles of vital arterial streets from 3 am to 7 am between December 1st and April 1st, regardless of snow.
A separate snow related parking ban exists for most other main streets and can be activated after there are at least two inches of snow on the street, no matter the time of day or the calendar date.
Check all signs before parking!!
Overnight Parking Ban
The City's Winter Overnight Parking Ban helps ensure public safety each winter by allowing emergency vehicles and public transportation to move freely, and reducing hazardous conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and other travelers. The ban is enforced on 107 miles of vital arterial streets from 3 am to 7 am starting December 1st through April 1st, regardless of snow.
Signage is permanently posted along the affected routes. The Department of Streets and Sanitation also posts flyers on cars parked on the streets affected by the parking ban as an additional reminder before restrictions begin.
Cars left parked on these designated roadways obstruct the path of snowplows and prevent routes from being fully plowed and salted when it snows. Violators of the parking ban will be towed and face a minimum $150 towing fee, a $60 ticket, and a storage fee of $25 per day. Vehicles in violation of the ban will be towed to Pounds 2 (10301 S. Doty Ave.) or 6 (701 N. Sacramento).
Two-Inch Snow Parking Ban
A separate snow related parking ban exists for another 500 miles of main streets and can be activated after there are at least two inches of snow on the street, no matter the time of day or the calendar date. While the 2” inch snow ban is not activated often, motorists who are parked there when it snows could receive a ticket or find that their vehicle has been relocated in order to facilitate snow clearing operations.
| | Local Businesses Running Food Drives! DONATE! | | |
Know Your Rights Info & More!
Alderman Scott Waguespack hosted a community training in Lakeview with local elected officials from different jurisdictions including Congressman Mike Quigley, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz, State Senator Graciela Guzman, State Representatives Jaime Andrade and Ann Williams, and our Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen. If you missed it, you can watch the entire event online HERE. Whistles, Hands Off Chicago, and Protect Chicago signs
are back in our office!
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Electric Vehicle Charging Grants and Rebates
Senator Feigenholtz has sent out a reminder that the 2026 CEJA EV Charging grant is now open for grant applications. This grant is for fast charging systems across Illinois and is estimated to be $20 million. Funding will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information and to review the application materials before that time, see the grants submission portal here.
Also, the EV Rebate Program is open again for applications. Please see any additional updates on the EV Rebate program webpage.
Electric Fueling Station Locator - at the Alternative Fuels Data Center
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CTA Train Attack Update
For years, the CTA has been languishing on addressing public safety concerns, with ridership calling for increased security and police presence. The latest attack on a young woman named Bethany MaGee, led to her almost dying from an attack by Lawrence Reed who poured gasoline over MaGee while on the train and set here on fire. Reed is in jail awaiting trial on federal terrorism charges. MaGee is still recovering from this brutal attack on the blue line train.
CWB has covered the story from the beginning.
The bottom line is that under the Illinois Safe-T Act, Reed was out free. He had over 70 past arrests and had been released in August after severely beating a woman social worker. A Cook County prosecutor objected to his release by Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez. State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke confirmed that her office wanted Reed detained. At the time, the judge said, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the state’s attorney wants me to.”
This attack shows the need for several immediate changes to keep people safe in our public transportation system and throughout the City. First, amend the Safe-T Act before another person meets the same fate. Second, it also reiterates the need to improve safety on our bus and rail system while encouraging disinterested bystanders to jump in and help a person in distress on the CTA or elsewhere and third, fix the electronic monitoring fiasco in Chief Judge Evan's office that was formerly maintained in part by the Cook County Sheriff but taken over by Chief Judge Evans.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Bethany to help with the costs of medical care and this is what the family has shared publicly. Our prayers are with Ms. Magee as she recovers from her ordeal.
On November 17, Bethany MaGee was riding a CTA train in Chicago when she was attacked. She is currently hospitalized with the severe burns she sustained, and she is receiving treatment under the excellent care of her medical team.
In response to the countless requests for a way to help, our family is setting up this GoFundMe on Bethany’s behalf. Many of her immediate medical expenses are covered by insurance and a victims fund, but with such a long road ahead of her, the freedom from financial worries would be a tremendous blessing. No gifts are expected, but any that are given will go directly to Bethany.
We also want to do what we can to respect her privacy. This will be her story to tell—or not to tell—in the future. We ask that we not be contacted with media inquiries or requests for further information or medical updates, as our priority at this time is making sure that we love Bethany well and give her the support she needs.
What we can say, is this: Bethany is a beloved daughter, sister, sister-in-law, granddaughter, niece, and aunt. She is a good friend. She is sensitive, caring, intelligent, and imaginative. She loves living in Chicago, and her gentle spirit makes her a favorite with every pet she meets. She enjoys playing tabletop and video games with her community, and she is quick to include others in conversations and make them feel welcome. She is kind.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we are so grateful for the chance to celebrate at Bethany’s side. Thank you for keeping her and our family in your prayers.
The MaGees
Upcoming CAPS Meetings
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14th Police District
1434- November 26, 6pm
Wicker Park Fieldhouse (CHANGE IN LOCATION)
1425 N. Damen
caps.014district@chicagopolice.org
14th District Twitter
14th District CAPS- 312-744-1261
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19th Police District-
1931- November 26, 6:30pm
Boys and Girls Club
2915 N. Leavitt
caps.019district@chicagopolice.org
19th District Twitter
19th District CAPS- 312-744-0064
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Package Reminder as We Enter the Holiday Season
Packages: In past years, there have been thefts of packages that were left on porches. If you are receiving packages, make sure you have them sent to a location where you or someone you trust will be available to receive them (such as your office). If you are going to be out of town, make sure to arrange for someone to receive your package. You can also have them delivered to an Amazon or UPS locker.
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Better Streets for Buses Plan Public Meetings
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have established the City’s first comprehensive framework plan to improve street infrastructure for public bus service: the Better Streets for Buses Plan.
This plan lays the groundwork for ongoing bus infrastructure improvements by establishing a network of corridors to prioritize, and a toolbox of street treatments to consider as solutions. The Better Streets for Buses Plan does not assign specific street treatments to corridors, but feedback gathered through the outreach process will help guide future bus priority improvements citywide. You can find more details here.
Community members are invited to share feedback through in-person and virtual public meetings, as well as smaller discussion groups with key stakeholders. You’ll get a chance to see different street design options, tell the CTA what works best for your community, make sure we understand the things you currently like and dislike about the parts of the corridor you use most, and weigh in on tradeoffs around how street space is used. This is a great opportunity to help shape the future of bus travel on your streets!
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Avondale-Logandale Elementary School:
Monday, December 1, 2025
5:30 – 7pm
3212 W George Street Chicago, IL 60618
More information/RSVP here
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Washington Park Refectory:
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
5:30 – 7pm
5531 Russell Drive Chicago, IL 60637
More information/RSVP here
Virtual Meeting:
Monday, December 8, 2025
6 – 7:30pm
More information/RSVP here
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Fletcher (Hoyne to Oakley) Water Main Project Update 11/24/2025
1st crew will be working on Fletcher east of Leavitt to Hoyne.
2nd crew will be working on Fletcher east of Oakley to Leavitt.
Monday (11/24/25) to Wednesday (11/26/25):- Chlorination
Thursday (11/27/25) - Holiday
Friday (11/28/2025): TBD
Water Service Interruptions:
No scheduled water main shutdown unless if there is any emergency. DWM will provide advance notice before any service interruptions.
Traffic & Parking Impacts:
No parking will be allowed within the active work zone during construction hours.
In addition to contacting our office with questions, residents can look for a crew member on the street wearing a white hard hat to have questions answered immediately.
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Semi-Truck Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our
Lady of Guadalupe
The Semi-Truck Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is taking place on Saturday, November 29. This event brings together truck drivers from across the Midwest to celebrate their faith and heritage.
The convoy will begin staging at 15th Street and Western Avenue at 10:00 am, takeoff at 12pm, and proceed along throughout the city. This may cause traffic disruptions. Below is a copy of their route map.
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Board of Review Property Tax Appeal Seminar
The Board of Review is pleased to announce a second informational seminar for the residents of Jefferson Township!
On December 1, 2025, at 5:30 PM, join Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele in partnership with elected officials of Jefferson Township for an informational seminar on how to appeal your property taxes.
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N. Knox Ave.
You will hear directly from a member of the District 2 team on how and when to file an appeal to the Board of Review.
Attendees may arrive at 5:30 PM to meet with an analyst to answer questions and pre-file an appeal. A presentation will begin at 6:00 PM, with analysts available throughout the event to assist with appeals and questions. The event will end at 7:30 PM.
Click here to register for this event.
Please bring your PIN Number, located on your property tax bill and questions.
The Cook County Board of Review has officially opened the tax year 2025 session. Property owners may Pre-File an Appeal of their 2025 property taxes with the Cook County Board of Review now, OR you can wait until the property value has been finalized by the Assessor and file an appeal when Jefferson Township 30-day appeal period opens.
You will be notified when your township is open for appeals. You are not required to submit comparable properties as evidence with your appeal. The Board of Review will provide the latest and most accurate data to substantiate your appeal.
Please visit www.cookcountyboardofreview.com for information on how to file an appeal online or by mail.
| Cook County Assessor Property Tax Virtual Workshop | |
As homeowners in Cook County receive their 2024 Second Installment Tax Bills (tax bill) in the mail they are encouraged to look at the bottom left corner to ensure that the correct exemption(s) are applied.
If a homeowner believes they are entitled to an exemption that is not reflected on their tax bill, they can apply for what is called a Certificate of Error. The Certificate of Error process provides homeowners an opportunity to redeem missing exemptions for up to three years in addition to the current tax year. Homeowners can now apply for the 2024, 2023, 2022, and 2021 tax years via forms available online.
As a reminder, homeowners are responsible for paying the entirety of the tax bill to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office by December 15, 2025. If the Certificate of Error application is granted, either a corrected tax bill or a refund for the difference will be issued.
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A reminder as we approach Thanksgiving that there is a new food composting location in the 32nd Ward at the Lincoln Belmont Library at 1659 W. Melrose. All Chicago residents are welcome to drop off their household food scraps for composting at any of the 33 locations across the city– for FREE! Click here for more information including a full list of sites in the city.
This Thanksgiving, encourage your guests to help you keep food scraps out of the trash by setting up a food scrap collection container near your trash and recycling containers (think: mini-sorting station). A small bucket or a large bowl or pot in a highly visible location will do the trick.
Be sure to add a sign to the container so your guests know what goes where. Download and print one of our fun new Thanksgiving-themed food scrap collection signs from our webpage (scroll down to the Resources section) or get creative and make your own!
| | Holiday Sustainability Guides! | | Want your group gatherings to be more eco-friendly? From the invitations to the food to the decor, this Sustainable Party guide has some hot tips for minimizing environmental impact and waste, and can also save you money and storage space in the process. Even if you’re not throwing the party, there is also a section on being a sustainable guest. Be sure to check it out! | | There are plenty of ways to show love for family and friends while minimizing your waste and overall environmental footprint! This sustainable gifting guide will give you some great Chicago-specific ideas that can save you money and support local sustainable businesses over big box stores. Learn more here! | | Lakeview and Roscoe Village Winter Events
and Gift Guides | |
Lakeview Holiday Gift Guide:
- Our curated neighborhood shopping guide encourages our community to shop local! SSA 27 is sponsoring a raffle with over $2,000 worth of prizes. To enter, all you have to do is shop at a local business and submit the receipt! More info in the gift guide.
- Lakeview Holiday Gift Guide
Roscoe Village Holiday Gift Guide:
| | 14th Police District Coat Drive | | 18th Police District Kids' Coat and Toy Drive | | Chicago Vs. Philly Cleanup Results | |
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We collectively removed 1,850 bags of litter, totaling nearly 7 tons! That's enough volume to fill 12 dump trucks.
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We brought people together and built community! There were about 586 volunteers on the Chicago side, and 987 volunteers total.
- There were a total of 59 group cleanups that contributed their totals, many of which would not have happened without this competition.
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98 Chicagoans participated independently, meaning they picked up litter on their own time, outside of any group cleanup events. These people really helped us clinch the win!
- Top litter pickers on the Chicago side received a variety of great prizes from Chicago Fire, the Shedd Aquarium, the Chicago Tool Library, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, and Cira.
| | City of Chicago Office of Inspector General Survey | | |
The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published two draft documents that share details of proposed projects under consideration for 2026. Both documents are posted on OIG’s website for public review and comment.
Click here to read the 2026 Public Safety Draft Annual Plan
- OIG’s Public Safety section works to improve the effectiveness, accountability, and transparency of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago’s police accountability agencies.
Click here to read the 2026 Audit and Program Review Draft Annual Plan
- OIG’s Audit and Program Review section conducts independent, objective analyses and evaluations of City programs and operations.
Community feedback helps OIG prioritize projects for the coming year to align with what is of most concern and importance to all Chicagoans. OIG invites you to explore both draft plans and encourages you to provide your feedback by taking the community feedback survey at igchicago.org/survey.
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Alderman Scott Waguespack
2657 North Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-1330
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