Did you know that you can request a free tree planting from the City of Chicago? The City of Chicago launched the Our Roots Chicago project to expand the tree canopy in Chicago by planting 75,000 new trees throughout the city. Through that program, you can request a tree anywhere on the public parkway free of charge […]
Articles and News
Volunteer with the 40th Ward Environmental Board this Earth Month!
Posted onApril is Earth Month! What better way to celebrate than volunteering with the 40th Ward Environmental Board to make our ward and our city a greener place? What is the Environmental Board? The Environmental Board is a group of 40th Ward neighbors who work together on sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts both in the […]
City Council Round-up: April 2025
Posted onIt was an active month in City Council, with several key pieces of legislation being debated, and several exciting new pieces of environmental legislation introduced. Read on for more details! Key Legislation Green Social Housing This week and last week, the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Housing and Real Estate held joint hearings […]
Zoning Proposal: 1948 W. Peterson Ave
Posted onOn Tuesday, March 26th at 6pm, the 40th Ward office will be hosting a virtual Community Zoning Meeting regarding the property at 5308-5310 N. Damen Ave.
How to Handle Street Flooding
Posted onWith the advent of April, rainy season is officially here—which means that we may see some street flooding! Chicago’s sewer network uses an inlet control valve system—otherwise known as rain blockers—that limit water intake during heavy rainfalls to avoid overwhelming the storm water system and prevent sewage backup in basements. That means some amount of […]
March 2025 Immigration Briefing
Posted onOn Tuesday, March 18th, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights hosted an Immigration Briefing, during which immigration attorneys discussed recent federal immigration actions. If you missed the briefing, you can find a summary below, as well as ways you can get involved. Enforcement Actions Here are some of the immigration enforcement trends that attorneys […]
The 1st Pothole Patrol of 2025 is Complete!
Posted onThe 40th Ward office has completed our first Pothole Patrol of 2025! Find out more about Pothole Patrol, and some of the streets we’re prioritizing for resurfacing this year, below. What is Pothole Patrol? Each year, Ald. Vasquez drives every street in the ward with members of our team to report every single pothole that […]
Bowmanville Traffic Safety Proposal
Posted onOn Wednesday March 19th, the 40th Ward and Traffic Safety Engineers from Chicago’s Department of Transportation joined the Bowmanville Community Organization (BCO) to discuss a traffic safety along Bowmanville Avenue! Neighbors have been raising concerns about traffic safety on Bowmanville Avenue for several years now. In response to these concerns, the 40th Ward office submitted […]
Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights Report: March 2025
Posted onOn March 18th, the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (CIRR) held a meeting to report on the Committee’s work supporting immigrants and refugees. The hearing also featured testimony from the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) on federal immigration updates. The Committee also requested that the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMRR), […]
Save the Date for the Grateful Shred!
Posted onDo you have old documents or expired medications that you want to get rid of? Join us for the Grateful Shred on Saturday, April 19th, from 11:30-2:00pm at 5333 N. Western Ave! Bring up to two boxes to shred, and drop off old or expired medications. We’re also hosting a donation drive for the Friendship […]
City Council Round-up: March 2025
Posted onAt the latest City Council meeting on March 12th, members of City Council discussed a potential fur ban, voted on a settlement from a police misconduct case from 2020, and passed several resolutions, including one for Women’s History Month. Find out more below: Fur Ban We had several neighbors reach out asking Alder Vasquez to […]
Fire Safety Tips
Posted onIn the past two months, there have been several house fires in the 40th Ward. We’re sharing information from the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) on how to protect your home against fire—and what to do in case a fire does break out. Home Fire Safety Checklist Here are a few basic fire safety tips to […]