Chicago now has a budget in spite of Mayor Johnson, not because of him. We have more work to do to improve this framework in the new year, like moving away from a reliance on backloaded borrowing. I look forward to working on this in 2026.

Happy Hanukkah! I'm wishing neighbors who celebrate a joyful and bright holiday!

One of the highlights of the season! 🎄🎁 Christmas in the Wards brings joy to kids across Chicago, including right here in the 34th Ward. Grateful to the staffers, sponsors, community partners, Huggins family, and volunteers who make this holiday magic happen every year.

The National Weather Service is forecasting sub-zero windchills across Chicago this weekend. In today's newsletter, learn more about how you can keep yourself and neighbors safe during severe cold. app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

Grateful to the Chicago Department of Procurement Services for hosting the 2nd Annual Veteran Business Enterprise Day. Honored to join CPO Sharla Roberts & so many Veteran-owned businesses building and growing here in Chicago. If you’re a Veteran, my office is here to help!

The Mayor says his new head tax won't hit "mom & pops." Sounds like an admission that his old version would have. Hard to trust the revision when the math keeps getting ignored. If Mayor Johnson is wrong (he is), taxpayers will pay the price. Let's dive into the math. ⬇️

In today's newsletter, learn about important public safety & budget updates and the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council's 'Light Up The Park' celebration happening tomorrow (12/6)! app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

Beginning tomorrow, December 1, Chicago’s overnight parking ban will be in effect on 107 miles of main streets daily from 3-7am until April 1. More streets have parking bans any time 2 inches+ of snow accumulates. Be mindful of posted signage to avoid getting towed! ⬇️

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving!

In today's newsletter, learn about Thanksgiving Parade impacts, opportunities to give back this winter, and upcoming holiday celebrations. app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

While the Mayor pushes for more taxes and borrowing, there's $1 billion+ in recent unpaid debt to the City that could help close the budget gap. We need to implement savings and work to collect unpaid bills before asking taxpayers for even more.

Greektown was glowing tonight as students from our Greek American schools joined us to light the local Christmas tree & fill the street with holiday cheer. Thanks to @ilsecofstate.bsky.social, Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation, Greektown SSA, & Consulate General of Greece for their support.

In today's newsletter, read about tomorrow's annual Millennium Park Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, including local traffic impacts and how to enter the park for the celebration.🎄 app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

West Loop historian Connie Fairbanks is on a mission to install info plaques at notable local buildings! I was proud to join for the installation of a sign at 728 W. Jackson, the former site of Hart, Schaffner & Marx, a clothier operating since 1887 (& a favorite of @barackobama.bsky.social)!

Today, the Finance Committee will be asked to approve an eye-popping $3.8B in new debt — the largest one-day authorization in Chicago history. Taxpayers deserve answers before the city puts even more borrowing onto the credit card.

With SNAP and Medicaid cuts, more families are at risk this season. Grateful to partner with great organizations to provide 1,000 coats & Thanksgiving turkeys to neighbors in need. Huge thanks to 12th District Police, Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club, Jewel-Osco, Commissioner Scott, & Teamsters Local 705.

In today's newsletter, read about my upcoming Coat & Turkey Giveaway and a food drive & giveaway with the Skinner Park Advisory Council: app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

From one veteran to all who have served, thank you. Thank you to my fellow veterans and all those who participated in today’s Veterans Day Commemoration at Soldier Field.

Had a great time serving Mr. Greek Gyros to heroes at today’s Veterans Day Luncheon at Renaissance Court Senior Center! Proud to have partnered with Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County to help veterans connect with the important resources available to them.

Honored to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps with a wreath laying this morning alongside the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Marine Corps vets Alderman Gilbert Villegas & former Ald. James Balcer. The Marine Corps is a very important part of the Department of the U.S. Navy 😉

Thanks to the neighbors who stopped by Chicago World Language Academy for this morning’s fall Shred-A-Thon! Always appreciate the partnership of Commissioner Michael Scott, Jr., Rep. Jawaharial “Omar” Williams, Rep. Yolonda Morris, and Sen. Lakesia Collins to bring events like this to our community.

Looking forward to the 34th Ward Shred-A-Thon on Saturday, November 8th! Visit World Language Academy (1340 W. Harrison) from 9am-11am to drop off up to 2 boxes of documents to shred and electronics to recycle. Read more in today's newsletter! app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

Proud to have Merit School of Music in the 34th Ward as they continue their great work expanding access to music education for students across Chicago. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/1...

I can’t wait to find the next multimillion-dollar taxpayer project buried in the Mayor's fine print. From the Department of You Can't Make This Up:

Join the 34th Ward team at our Coat and Turkey Giveaway on Saturday, November 15th at the Teamster City Auditorium! Coats from Mr. Dad's Father's Club & the 12th District Police Department and turkeys from Jewel-Osco will be available from 11am until 1pm while supplies last.

If we want to snuff out smoking and protect the health of transit riders, including thousands of kids whose school bus is the CTA, we need data-driven enforcement like i called for earlier this year. I appreciate this story by @leighgiangreco.bsky.social on where & when complaints happen.

Join me for a fall shredding event this Saturday, November 8th, from 9am-11am at Chicago World Language Academy alongside Ald. Walter Redmond Burnett! ♻️ We'll be shredding documents and accepting electronics for recycling in the parking lot off of Congress and Loomis. Hope to see you there!

Big thank you to Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council and all the volunteer traffic aides on Madison for helping keep our Trick-or-Treaters safe & well-supplied with candy last night! And thank you to Ferrero and Cone Gourmet Ice Cream for providing the candy and space to make it happen! 🎃🍬

“The candy’s moving pretty fast, if you don’t come by and look around, you could miss it!” Thank you to Ferrero for providing the candy and Cone Gourmet Ice Cream for hosting us at yesterday’s trick or treating on Madison Row.

In today's newsletter, read about our recent Know Your Rights Event, resources from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Trick or Treating. app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

Proud that even as the smallest ward in Chicago, the 34th ranks #3 citywide for building permits issued this year. We’re creating jobs, building housing, and driving investment right here in our community.

I joined Good Day Chicago on @fox32chicago.bsky.social this morning to discuss the frustrating concurrent bridge closures across the City. These projects should’ve been staggered to keep Chicago moving! www.fox32chicago.com/video/1731229

Join West Central Association on Friday, October 31st for Trick or Treating on Madison from Morgan to Elizabeth!🎃🍬 My team and I will be handing out candy with the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council at Madison and Aberdeen from 3-6pm. Hope to see you there!

Great to see the many folks who joined us at Whitney Young High School to discuss how we can show up for our neighbors when ICE is in our community. Thank you to Ald. Burnett for co-hosting & @latinospro.bsky.social & the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois for a powerful, informative session.

We’re just one day away from our Know Your Rights Workshop with @latinospro.bsky.social and Ald. Walter Redmond Burnett! Join us at Whitney Young at 6:30pm on Oct. 27 to learn more about your rights and resources when interacting with ICE in our neighborhoods.

In today's newsletter, read about the fun fall events happening this weekend across the 34th Ward with the Chicago Park District, Skinner Park Advisory Council, and the Little Italy Chicago Neighborhood Association: app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

Please join Ald. Walter Redmond Burnett and me for a Know Your Rights workshop on October 27th at 6:30pm to learn more about your rights and resources when interacting with ICE in our communities. Register in advance: bit.ly/kyr2734

The Mayor's Jobs Tax would hit approximately ~32.9% of Chicago's private sector workforce! The Mayor framed this as a tax on big corporations but this will impact smaller local companies and 1/3 of Chicago's private sector workforce. Put another way? It's a tax on jobs. Math👇

To paraphrase what I said on @fox32chicago.bsky.social: “We need to grow the size of the city and that starts with housing growth & job growth, and this budget puts obstacles in front of both.” Initial budget takes from Budget Chairman Jason Ervin & I: www.fox32chicago.com/video/1725568

Chicago builds things & builds them best💪 Honored to join @chicagodpd.bsky.social & @worldbizchicago.bsky.social at mHUB to celebrate our award-winning manufacturers. As Immersive Tech Pro Mark Wren said: “Chicago’s the best place to test products because we’re the most diversified economy.”

Seems the 5th Floor pled the 5th. The Mayor’s Office’s lack of cooperation in this investigation and rejection of the Inspector General’s recommendations is demoralizing and disregards the transparency and accountability Chicagoans deserve. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/15/m...

Thanks to CDOT’s SAFE (Streets Are For Everybody) Ambassadors for joining us today to share resources on active transportation and safety! Looking forward to more great SAFE partnerships in the 34th Ward.

As a parent, I can’t imagine my own kids witnessing what students at World Language Academy in the 34th Ward saw yesterday. The ICE detention outside their school was terrifying. I met today with parents and CPS leaders on how we can support the community and share resources www.icirr.org/fsn

The Racine Blue Line @chicagocta.bsky.social station is now open and fully accessible! I appreciate the dedication of the CTA to improving station access throughout our community.

Tomorrow, a federal judge will hear arguments on whether the National Guard can be deployed in Illinois, and I'm hopeful the ruling will mirror the decision in Portland. @cnn.com

Thanks to Fredricka Whitfield for having me on @cnn.com for this important conversation about the disturbing, un-American actions we’re witnessing by ICE agents in Chicago.

The Lake Street Bridge will close at 9am on Monday, October 6th until January 2028. In today's newsletter, learn about planned detours and upcoming overnight work. app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...

G’mar Chatima Tovah. Wishing an easy and meaningful fast to neighbors observing Yom Kippur.

Masked ICE agents with military rifles dragging people into vans because of their skin color. Mothers & kids detained at the airport after a Sunday at the lakefront. If it weren’t happening down the block, I’d say this isn’t America. But it is. Know your rights. Chicago.gov/KYR

In today's newsletter, read about September's City Council meeting and upcoming construction on the Lake Street Bridge. app.indigov.com/pub/outreach...