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Dear Neighbor,
Spring is in full swing, and so is your ward. Read on for Earth Day recaps, a Hermosa Town Hall update, zoning news, and a little Chicago history as we head into May Day. |
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Welcoming City Ordinance Violation Complaints
Since City Council passed my COPA Amendment Ordinance on March 18, 2026, my office has received a number of inquiries regarding how and where to file complaints regarding CPD violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance. I want you to have all of the information you need to hold our government staff accountable to upholding both the TRUST Act and WCO. If you have any questions or concerns, know that you can reach out to my office. We will advocate on your behalf, and if a complaint is filed, identify where in the process your case is. |
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Earth Day Clean UpThis Earth Day, our ward showed up across Humboldt Park, Mozart Park, and Park 514 under one theme: Our People, Our Planet. It was cold and windy, and more than 80 volunteers showed up anyway, including youth from our local high schools and the Chicago Park District team, to clean our green spaces and lay down mulch for our trees. After the work was done, we celebrated with food, environmental resources, and a full afternoon of cultural programming featuring Aztec dancers, Puerto Rican bomba, a salsa lesson, and a DJ. It was a cleanup that turned into a block party, and that feels exactly right. Thank you to the Earth Day Committee for organizing another memorable Earth Day clean-up, and a huge shout-out to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School students and staff for supporting our efforts |
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Tree Planting in Hermosa If you missed last Saturday or just want to keep the Earth Month momentum going, join us tomorrow, Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 am to 12 pm at 2121 N. Keeler for tree planting in Hermosa, in collaboration with Openlands & 35th Ward Alder Anthony Quezada. You can still register to volunteer at bit.ly/treeplanting26 |
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Hermosa Town Hall On Thursday, we held our Hermosa Town Hall at our beautiful Mozart Park, and the community showed up in full force. Residents stayed for every presentation and came out ready with thoughtful and direct questions. That kind of engagement is exactly what this work is built on. We covered community safety, 311 and service requests, participatory budgeting, and our community-led zoning process. We also shared that since 2023, our office has stewarded over $5.5 million in investments for our ward’s portion of Hermosa, including over $1.31 million in infrastructure improvements and $4.2 million in TIF funding to upgrade the field house at Hermosa Park. Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vásquez, Congresswoman Delia Ramírez, and the office of State Rep Lilian Jiménez joined us to give residents a fuller picture of what their elected officials are working together. Our Barrio Services team was also on the ground, entering over 30 service requests during and after the event. Hermosa: Thank you for showing up. This is your ward, and we’re proud to serve you! |
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Community Zoning Update This week, our office hosted a community zoning meeting on a proposed development at 3265 W. Armitage, on the former St. Augustine's parking lot. The developer proposes rezoning the site from B3-1 to B2-3 to construct a 31-unit mixed-use building with ground-floor commercial space. The proposal includes six affordable units at 60% AMI and a commitment to work with local businesses on the retail space. At Wednesday's meeting, the development team presented their proposal and heard initial feedback from neighbors. That community input is not a formality in our ward; it shapes what gets built here. We want to keep hearing from you. If you have thoughts on this project, fill out our zoning feedback form. Your voice matters in this process. |
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Community Safety Town Hall
Safety in the 26th Ward is built by the people who live here, and we want you in the room. Next Wednesday, April 29, from 6 to 7:30 pm, we are hosting a Community Safety Town Hall at the CHA Scattered Sites Office, 1402 N. Kedzie. Join us for a review of crime data across Logan Square, Humboldt Park, and West Town, plus updates from our violence prevention partners, CCPSA, and 14th District leadership. RSVP at bit.ly/safety26.
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May Day Office Closure and Solidarity Our office will be closed on Thursday, May 1 in observance of International Workers Day, and for us that is not just a day off. Chicago is the birthplace of May Day, TWICE. On May 1, 1886, workers, including many immigrants right here in our city, walked off the job demanding an eight-hour workday, and the events that followed at Haymarket Square shook the world. Then, on that same date in 2006, Chicago led again when over 500,000 immigrants and allies filled our streets for the Day Without an Immigrant. It was the largest general strike in decades, and it started here. Two moments, 120 years apart, both born in this city, both saying the same thing: we built this place, and we keep it running. That fight is not over. I am proud to lead an office that stands with workers, unions, and immigrants because this ward was built by people who work hard and deserve to be treated with dignity. May Day is a reminder of who we are and who we work for. |
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In Solidarity,
Alderperson Jessie Fuentes |
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Community Safety Town Hall: 4/29 |
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Property Tax Exemption Applications Are Open |
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Cicero Land Study - Virtual Community Meeting : 4/29 |
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Connecting Neighborhoods: Solidarity Ride - 5/16 |
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Jumping Jack Program opens: 4/15 |
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The Jumping Jack Program is limited to residential block parties within Chicago. Events on private property, parks, forest preserves, schools, libraries, or churches; private parties; birthdays; community events; and festivals are not eligible. Applicant must reside on the block where the Block Party is taking place.
If completed correctly, applicants will receive an immediate auto reply confirming their request. If no confirmation is received, the application was not submitted.
To avoid errors, applicants should: Complete the application on a computer using Google Chrome. Manually fill in each field. Auto fill can cause errors. For the block party address, add a period after the street direction (N., S., E., or W.). Press SUBMIT at the end of the application. Applicants will receive an approval or denial email once processed. Jumping Jacks are available Saturdays and Sundays only. Demand is highest on Saturdays, so consider Sundays. The program will not operate on Saturday, July 4. Only one request per block per season will be approved. Multiple requests from the same block will be denied. Approved block parties receive one Jumping Jack for four hours. Delivery is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with pickup between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Specific time requests cannot be accommodated. If the wrong date is selected, email JumpingJack@cityofchicago.org for instructions. Last-minute changes will not be honored. Requests must be submitted through the registration portal. Email requests will not be accepted. Must obtain a permit from their Aldermanic Ward office to hold a block party. Requests are first come, first served.
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Immigration Rights Resources |
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| Construction season has begun! Don't forget to check out ChiStreetWork for updates on upcoming work in your neighborhood. |
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The 26th Ward's zoning process requires anyone requesting a zoning change to first complete a zoning intake form. After review, they present their request to the Zoning Advisory Committee and answer questions. In some cases, they may also present at a community input meeting. |
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We are currently reviewing zoning change requests for the following properties. |
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Humboldt Park Patriots Enrollment |
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LoSAH Upcoming Events 4/26 |
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Trina Davila April Events |
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Taller de Cuidadania: 5/2 |
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Small Business Speaker Series 5/7 |
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Expungement Workshop 5/18 |
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Street Outreach Mixer: 5/21 |
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Empodérate de tu futuro: 5/28 |
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48th Puerto Rican People’s Day Parade: 6/13 |
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Free Senior Legal Services |
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Bilingual Foster Homes Needed |
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| Every child deserves a safe and loving home. 💙 Association House’s Foster Care Program ensures that children in our community are cared for, supported, and connected to families who will walk with them toward healing and stability. Learn more about becoming a foster parent or supporting the program at
👉 associationhouse.org/foster |
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| Seniors 60+ — Need help at home?
The City of Chicago offers free chore services to help you stay safe and independent: Light help like cleaning, laundry, errands, or personal care after an illness One‑time heavy‑duty fixes like deep cleaning, clutter removal, moving furniture, or major tidying Find eligibility info and how to apply on the City’s Help In Your Home page. Or call 312-744-4016 or email aging@cityofchicago.org for more help |
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Domestic Violence Resources |
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CEDA Utility Relief Programs |
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Seniors Community Care Program |
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Cannabis Expungement Project |
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| New Leaf Cannabis Expungement Project is a network of 17 nonprofits that helps anyone ever charged with a cannabis offense anywhere in Illinois clear eligible cannabis and non-cannabis cases from their record.
Our services are free.
New Leaf is state-funded and was formed after the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was passed in 2019. |
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City of Chicago - Know Your Rights Guide |
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The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) provides this Rights Card to protect you during interactions with law enforcement or immigration officials. 📞 Family Support Hotline:
Call 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY (1-855-435-7693) for assistance in English, Spanish, Korean, or Polish. ✅The right to remain silent. ✅The right to refuse answering questions without legal representation. ✅The right to contact an attorney or organization for help. Print and carry this card to assert your rights and ensure your safety in uncertain situations. For more information, visit www.icirr.org/family-support |
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Intake for People Experiencing Homelessness |
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| 🏠 24/7 Intake Location for People Experiencing Homelessness
For single adults in need of shelter, the Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC) offers:
✅ Open 24/7 with a 200-person capacity
✅ Meals, showers, laundry, and shelter placement services
✅ On-site assistance and 3-1-1 shelter requests available around the clock
📍 Location: 2241 S. Halsted St. (S Halsted St. & W 23rd) |
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Court-Based Rental Assistance Program |
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Chicago Senior Risk Assessment Program |
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| The Chicago Seniors At Risk Assessment Program provides free fire/fall safety assessments for individuals ages 65 or over and those with a disability.
Chicago Fire Department members will assess the home for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as other fire and fall hazards.
Call to schedule an appointment. Phone: (312) 747-6691 |
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Chicago Rents connects landlords with tenants through various housing subsidy programs, offering guaranteed rent, vacancy filling, and personalized support. Created in response to COVID-19, it centralizes property partner relationships and helps Chicagoans in need of housing. If you are a landlord interested in joining the Chicago Rents program, you can click here to apply. |
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COPA Commission Advisory Committee Application |
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CCPSA Commission Meeting—4/30 |
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12 District Police Oversight |
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The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) has introduced a new and improved interactive calendar, which you can click here to access. One of the key features of this calendar is the inclusion of the yearly meeting calendar for both the Commission for Public Safety and your Local District Councils. By simply visiting this website, you can find the dates, times, and locations of all scheduled meetings. 14th Police District Council Join elected District Councilors to work for better police accountability, restorative justice, and evidence based approaches to public safety. See their schedule here. |
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| Explore careers at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. |
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| Aligned candidates will be excited about supporting a community of founders, manufacturers, and industry leaders committed to commercializing hardtech solutions. They'll be inspired by creating economic opportunity locally while deploying solutions to impact the world. They'll come with energy and enthusiasm to join a team during a moment of growth and bold new ideas. Is that you or someone you know? |
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| Casa Central has several openings in both our teaching and nursing that are critical in our programs and they may be of interest to our residents. Teaching Positions: Nursing Positions: |
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What if your everyday work directly protected public health, improved our waterways, and helped millions of people across Cook County? At the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), that’s exactly what you do. What if you could build a stable, rewarding career and make a meaningful impact on your community at the same time? At the MWRD, you can—and that’s what makes it such an exceptional place to work. |
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| Greater West Town Project is offering a Shipping and Receiving Training Program with full-time classes that run for 12 weeks. Illinois residents who are 18 years old or over and low-income eligible can train at no cost. For 33 years, Greater West Town programs have successfully equipped community residents with in-demand job skills and placed them in jobs in industry with recent wages averaging $18-20 per hour. Apply here. |
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| Chicago Board of Elections is HIRING!
Various full-time positions avilable.
Apply by sending your resume to HR@CHICAGOELECTIONS.GOV
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| Are you a skilled and passionate healthcare professional looking to make a meaningful impact in the community? Humboldt Park Health (HPH) is seeking dedicated Physicians and Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) to join our team.
View open position HERE |
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| Click Here to view and apply for Chicago Department of Public Health jobs |
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If you know someone looking for reproductive justice resources in Chicago, they can go to this Department of Public Health resource page to use the City’s digital community resource directory. There is also a free talkline (1-888-493-0092) where operators are available to share information on various reproductive justice options. |
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| If you need assistance with a city service, let us know! You can submit your request through our website, by giving us a call, or submitting a request directly to 311.chicago.gov. Our team is here to provide the support you need and ensure our community thrives. |
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Requirements:
HS diploma or equivalent
