Our last meeting focused on break-ins at Edens Collection shopping center in the 4700 block of West Foster Avenue. Police said a group of people broke the front doors and windows of multiple businesses and stole cash registers. Businesses targeted include Smashburger, Teriyaki Madness, Jimmy Johns, Chipotle, and Tropical Smoothie Café. The break-ins occurred late at night when the facilities were closed, and no one was on-site. Offenders were caught on video surveillance systems and later apprehended.

We continued discussion of tent encampments at Gompers Park. It seemed that a collective effort by officials, including the 39^th Ward, had resolved concerns through an accelerated movement event resulting in re-location of most campers. However, the City put the move on hold last week. We will discuss the current situation at our next meeting.

Congressman Mike Quigley will attend our next meeting to address national events and the current upheaval resulting from tariff implementation, mass firings and closure of federal agencies, and resistant efforts being taken across the country.

Jon Litwin will discuss our joint efforts with Mayfair Park Advisory Council to raise funds to create a memorial garden celebrating the decades of voluntary community service by Wally Eliasen.

Finally, we will welcome and introduce Jennifer Molina.   Jennifer recently moved to Mayfair and loves the community.  She has graciously offered to serve as our Treasurer and to coordinate Membership activities.

Our next meeting will be held via Zoom at 6:30pm on Thursday, April 10. See contact information at the notice elsewhere in this Newsletter.

2025 Meeting Schedule

Mayfair Civic Association meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of every month. No meetings are held in January, July, or August. These are the remaining dates for 2025. These are suggested meeting dates and topics, subject to any comments you may provide, but will be followed in the absence of alternative suggestions. Our Board generally meets quarterly as determined by Board members and until further notice held via Zoom at 6:30pm.

April 10 Zoning & Development	September 11 Traffic & Parking	December 11 Holiday Party
May 8 Mayfair Park	October 9 Elections
June 12 TBA	November 13 Annual Party Planning

The following are some highlights from Alderman Nugent’s newsletters and other communications.

Accelerated Moving Event on March 5

The Accelerated Moving Event (AME) at Gompers Park on March 5 was a positive step in finding permanent housing for the residents of the encampment and connecting them with wrap-around services. 

At the AME, encampment residents met with teams from the Department of Family and Support Services, and housing service providers to learn about free support services available to them and, most importantly, secure housing. Staff are trained in a trauma-informed engagement approach, ensuring encampment residents are met with sensitivity toward their own unique circumstances, needs and wishes. AME participants virtually toured and selected available apartment units, completed applications, and began selecting furniture for their new homes. Participants were also connected with case managers who will continue to support them throughout their move-in process and thereafter. Outreach teams will continue to visit Gompers daily, ensuring  those who participated in the AME are housed, which could take up to 90 days. 

Since September 2024, Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement (CARE) and Opioid Response Teams have visited Gompers Park. These teams include EMTs, Social Workers, and Recovery Coaches. Department of Family and Support Services Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) teams have worked diligently to find people living at Gompers housing on a rolling basis. Since February 14th, the HOP team has led weekly Assessment and Resource Days, offering services like shelter placement, Coordinated Entry System enrollment, disability verification, evaluations for substance use treatment, mental health support, help obtaining vital documents, and food assistance. Other partners include: The Salvation Army and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center who have visited the encampment two and three times a week, respectively. The Night Ministry provides outreach and a health van weekly. The Chicago Department of Public Health and the Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) harm reduction team have been on-site once a week. Additionally, Thresholds has provided mental health-focused outreach on a referral basis. Thank you to all of our partners who have done meaningful work at Gompers Park.

Outreach teams will continue daily engagement at Gompers to support residents connected to housing and to assist any new individuals intending to sleep at the park. This will include bi-weekly case conferences with all partners and will continue until every person has a clear path to stable housing. Across the city and the northwest side, we need more shelter beds and affordable housing. In the 39th Ward, we have the Marine Corps facility on Foster that is now a family shelter as a part of the City’s One System Initiative. My office also works with all developers to ensure affordable housing is included in their plans when seeking community support for new housing developments. Together, with the Department of Family and Support Services, other city departments, and nonprofit organizations we are committed to providing compassionate support every step of the way, from AME to move-in day and beyond.

With the culmination of services through the AME, the Chicago Park District will also begin work on several projects at Gompers Park that have been put on hold due to the encampments. Beginning this spring, though late fall, the Park District will restore the Lagoon, build the Nature Play Space that was a winning Participatory Budget project from 2022, and resurface the basketball parking lot on Pulaski Avenue. Additional work is planned for the baseball diamond at Little Gompers following this year’s baseball season. Signs with additional information on the location and timeline of each project will be posted well in advance of the construction start date. Finally, relocation, not removal, notices will be posted in the next few weeks by the Chicago Park District at Little Gompers Field before baseball season begins on April 1. Finding housing for the unhoused and park restoration can coexist.  I know there is a lot of frustration about how long it took to get this AME, including the setback from the original date of February 24, 2024. I share your frustration. My hope is that this AME proves to be as successful as past AMEs. Since 2020, nearly 750 unsheltered individuals have moved into housing through AMEs across the city. The Inspector General found that 94% of encampment residents who attended an AME secured housing and 83% retained their housing after placement, according to an August 2023 report.

Thank you to the partners and providers who made today’s AME possible, and for their continued work to support the unhoused population in Chicago. If you, or anyone you know is at risk of homelessness, please call my office at 773-736-5594 or call 3-1-1 to learn about available support options.

Visit and Subscribe!

Visit https://aldermannugent.com/ to subscribe to Alderman Nugent’s newsletter and learn about what she’s doing for the 39th Ward. My office is open Mondays from 9am to 7pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 3pm. While the office is open for walk-ins, appointments are encouraged. We ask that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Please reach out should you have any questions, comments, or concerns at 773-736-5594 or via email at Ward39@CityOfChicago.Org.

In the Neighborhood

The Quilt Connection hosts Spring Craft Fair and Spring Bazaar

CAPS Meeting for Beat 1722

CAPS meetings for Beat 1722 are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is on May 21 at 6:30pm in the Community Room of the 17th District Police Department at 4650 N Pulaski. A full schedule of meetings for the year can be found here.

The primary purpose of the beat community meeting is to allow beat residents, other community stakeholders and police to discuss chronic problems on the beat and to engage in problem solving using the CAPS five-step problem-solving process. Beat community meetings provide an opportunity for police and community residents to exchange information about conditions in the neighborhood, to identify crime and disorder problems, and to develop strategies to combat those problems. The meeting also provides an opportunity for police and community to get to know one another.

For upcoming meeting info, or if you have questions or comments, please contact the CAPS office at 312-742-4588, or email caps.017district@chicagopolice.org. Learn about the Office of Community Policing at https://home.chicagopolice.org/community-policing-group/.

We reconvene this month following our annual holiday break.  We hope you all had pleasant holidays.     

Our last meeting focused on continuing efforts to develop the Weber Spur and issues and concerns regarding the homeless encampment in Gompers Park.      

We also discussed the proposed memorial garden to be installed in Mayfair Park to recognize and celebrate the many years of tireless community service by Wally Eliasen. We are teaming with Mayfair Park Advisory Council to raise funds to make this a reality. We welcome contributions of any size and will provide details at our February meeting.

We held an informal holiday party at the Irish American Heritage Center Pub following the Thwack Dance performance of Oratorio at Mayfair Park field house on Thursday, December 12.

Our next meeting will be held via Zoom at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 13. See contact information at the notice elsewhere in this Newsletter. We will seek input regarding community issues and needs for planning action during 2025. Hope to see you on Zoom.

2025 Meeting Schedule

Mayfair Civic Association meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of every month. No meetings are held in January, July, or August. These are the remaining dates for 2025. These are suggested meeting dates and topics, subject to any comments you may provide, but will be followed in the absence of alternative suggestions. Our Board generally meets quarterly as determined by Board members and until further notice held via Zoom at 6:30pm.

February 13 Planning	May 8 Mayfair Park	October 9 Elections
March 13 Kedvale Playlot/Gardens	June 12 TBA	November 13 Annual Party Planning
April 10 Zoning & Development	September 11 Traffic & Parking	December 11 Holiday Party

Wanted: The MCA is looking for a treasurer and membership manager

If you or someone you know has accounting skills and would like to get more involved and contribute directly to your neighborhood, Mayfair Civic Association is looking for a new treasurer and membership manager. Those interested can contact MCA President Ron Duplack at rduplack@rieckcrotty.com. Thank you for your support!

Membership Meetings

Here are some details from recent meetings of the Mayfair Civic Association.

Thanks to the neighbors, as well as to the offices of Alderman Nugent for Ward 39 and Congressman Mike Quigley for attending.

Updates from Congressman Quigley

Dana Fritz from the office of Congressman Mike Quigley was in attendance for the November 14 meeting. At the time, the Congressman was hoping to wrap up on the House appropriations bill, which included a number of projects specific to the 5th District, including funding for the much-anticipated Weber Spur Trail. In light of the changes to the administration, concerns were raised by attendees about the possibility of already-approved funds not being disbursed in efforts to cut spending. However, Mr. Fritz said that he was confident that items in the appropriations bill will get funded.

Homeless encampment at Gompers Park

Attendees at the November meeting raised their concerns about the homeless encampment with Congressman Quigley’s office, with the hope of getting assistance with funding for an Accelerated Moving Event (AME). At the time of the meeting, they had been told that there was no additional money available to fund an AME in 2024. Dana Fritz, a representative for the Congressman’s office in attendance, said that they wanted to help but cautioned that Congress doesn’t often move quickly on anything, and it was unlikely that they could provide any solutions in the short timeframe that people were aiming for. However, Congressman Quigley has been working to increase affordable housing for the district, including a project with Mercy Housing and another from the prior year with the Irving Park YMCA.

Since the meeting, an AME has been scheduled to begin on the week of February 24, 2025! However, concerns remain about the consequences of the AME; Adam Gianforte with the group 39th Ward Neighbors United has shared the following about the AME:

There’s an AME (accelerated moving event) scheduled for the end of February. This is great news! The problem is that these AME’s are usually paired with enforcement of no-camping ordinances to force out anyone left after the AME. There are some loud voices in the neighborhood advocating for this. We don’t want anyone to be forced to accept housing or shelter that isn’t a good fit for them, and we’re also really concerned about the long term implications. Until we have more long term solutions to ending homelessness in Chicago, we can’t displace folks from parks.

We want Ald. Nugent to focus on housing people, not criminalizing them or forcing them out of our community now or in the future.

More information from the group about the AME and proposed action can be found on their Facebook page.

A Nadig Newspapers article states that there have been three fires in the park reported since January 30; the article includes additional information about curfew enforcement with a previous AME. The Gompers Park Athletic Association might not use the baseball field this season due to concerns about safety near the camping. For the Alderman’s response to the scheduled AME, see below.

Here are some photos of the fires and garbage left behind.

The following are some highlights from Alderman Nugent’s newsletters and other communications.

Accelerated Moving Event scheduled for Gompers Park homeless encampment

Alderman Nugent sent the following update on January 23, 2025:

I have received a letter from the Department of Family and Support Services and Mayor Johnson’s leadership team committing to begin the process for an Accelerated Moving Event (AME) at Gompers Park beginning the week of February 24, 2025. 

An AME matches people with available housing, resources, and safeguards to help prevent an individual from becoming unhoused again. This process takes time and results from previous AMEs have been positive. You can read more about pathways to permanent housing and support and AMEs in the City of Chicago’s Annual Report on Homelessness. 

Since September 2024, Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement (CARE) and Opioid Response Teams have been visiting Gompers Park. These teams include EMTs, Social Workers, and Recovery Coaches. Department of Family and Support Services Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) teams have been helping people living at Gompers find housing. Last month, three individuals accepted shelter at the newly opened men’s shelter in Rogers Park. 

As we approach the AME at Gompers Park, I will share information as it becomes available. Opportunities to support and donate to those housed through the AME will be offered closer to the date.  

I want to thank the Department of Family and Support Services, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and other City Departments for their help during this process.

More information about the homeless encampment in Gompers Park is available in the previous issue of this newsletter.

Mayfair Public Library improvements

During the November Mayfair Civic Association meeting, Alderman Nugent’s office said that they were working hard to get funding and secure new property for the Mayfair Public Library. Additional details about this project were provided in the previous issue of this newsletter.

2025 municipal budget

Alderman Nugent opposed the $300MM property tax increase proposed by Mayor Johnson’s 2025 budget. At the November Mayfair Civic Association meeting, neighbors raised concerns about the budget reducing funding for the consent decree, though the Mayor’s Press Office later put out a statement addressing these concerns and clarifying the Mayor’s intent to honor the consent decree requirements. Final discussions and voting records are available on the video of the City Council meeting on December 16, 2024.

Alderman Nugent said the following on December 16, 2024:

Today I voted “No” on Mayor Johnson’s 2025 Budget. 

While I am grateful that this budget will not rely on a property tax increase, spending is still too high across the board, and the delay of a $40 million loan payment will likely have detrimental impacts on the city’s credit rating and ability to borrow in the future.

We could have balanced this budget using unspent eligible American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and finding efficiencies — not deferring loan payments and taxing industries vital to our economy.

As Aldermen, we must make sound financial decisions that meet our obligations and set us on a stable path forward. To me, this includes resources for first responders, funding for critical infrastructure and city services, investing in our neighbors and communities, and honoring our pension and debt commitments.

Throughout this budget process, your feedback has been appreciated. Thank you for calling and emailing my office with your thoughts and suggestions. My staff has informed me of concerns, which I brought with me to City Hall each day.

Visit and Subscribe!

Visit https://aldermannugent.com/ to subscribe to Alderman Nugent’s newsletter and learn about what she’s doing for the 39th Ward. My office is open Mondays from 9am to 7pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 3pm. While the office is open for walk-ins, appointments are encouraged. We ask that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Please reach out should you have any questions, comments, or concerns at 773-736-5594 or via email at Ward39@CityOfChicago.Org.

In the Neighborhood

CAPS Meeting for Beat 1722

CAPS meetings for Beat 1722 are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. The next meeting is on March 19 at 6:30pm in the Community Room of the 17th District Police Department at 4650 N Pulaski. A full schedule of meetings for the year can be found here.

The primary purpose of the beat community meeting is to allow beat residents, other community stakeholders and police to discuss chronic problems on the beat and to engage in problem solving using the CAPS five-step problem-solving process. Beat community meetings provide an opportunity for police and community residents to exchange information about conditions in the neighborhood, to identify crime and disorder problems, and to develop strategies to combat those problems. The meeting also provides an opportunity for police and community to get to know one another.

For upcoming meeting info, or if you have questions or comments, please contact the CAPS office at 312-742-4588, or email caps.017district@chicagopolice.org. Learn about the Office of Community Policing at https://home.chicagopolice.org/community-policing-group/.