Early voting started on February 12

The image you see is the back of a sample ballot mailed to voters from the Cook County Democratic Party. The sample ballot itself shows you the slated or endorsed candidates for the county party. 

As far as early voting to be able to vote in all Chicago wards that's not available until March 2, 2026. Before then you have to go to site in downtown Chicago, the voting supersite located at 137 S. State Street.

Oh wait how many of you remember the old CVS which was formerly an Osco Drug store right on the northest corner of State & Adams? No excuse if you take the CTA Red Line, just get off at Jackson and then exit the station on Adams Street.

However, if you want to do early voting closer to home in the 9th Ward, then on March 2, 2026 you can go to Palmer Park as you see above at 201 E. 111th Street. If nothing else you can take the 111 CTA Bus there. Presumably any of these sample ballots will have the nearest early voting site to you printed on it depending upon your address.

Of course what I would suggest is checking the ChicagoElection.gov site to check for other early voting locations throughout the city. Especially once that becomes available in all Chicago wards for 2026.

Happy Presidents Day!
 

9th Ward Community Meeting Schedule #Ward09

 Hat-tip Concerned Citizens of Chatham

Bear in mind the meeting coming up this month on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 which features the Chicago Water Department. All meetings held at the Pullman Presbyterian Church located at 550 E. 103rd Street.

The year's schedule for all community meetings are below.

Recent 34th State Rep. District Mailers

 Nothing particularly new this time, just these mailers from candidate Aja Kearney. Remember I shared a mailer from another candidate last year for one Cleopatra Cowley. Both are running to succeed state Rep. Nick Smith who's retiring in 2027.

The primary election first and foremost is coming March 17, 2026. I need to find out about early voting.

This first mailer is more introductory for those who want to know her background. She wants us to know she's a union member and a small business owner.

Preservation Chicago: Roseland’s South Michigan Avenue Commercial District

 First and foremost, Happy New Year. I mark this almost one month in 2026 and allow me to share this history video regarding the Roseland neighborhood.

[VIDEO] We see a history lesson in this video highlighting Roseland's history as a settlement for Dutch immigrants and even as a station on the Underground Railroad. Never heard of that in your history class well here's a link learn about it.

And then the current story and what led up to it. The loss of manufacturing jobs in this part of the city led to disinvestment in Roseland. However, would the future look up with that Red Line extension being built in the next decade or so?

I'd like to see an updated Roseland history video discussing the Red Line extension.

Update on the Shedd School property

Photo shot March 2025

I'm sorry to say I missed the meeting with regards to Shedd School, however, upon Googling found that this was hosted by CPS and found this recent update. Shedd is among three other closed schools where there were bids and plans for these properties.

BlockClubChi:

The potential buyer for the old Shedd Elementary building at 99th and Indiana Ave. is the Peace for Preston Foundation, led by Dionne Mhoon, the mother of slain Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston. Two years ago, Mhoon launched a GoFundMe to support the foundation and raise money for a community center in honor of her daughter. Mhoon’s bid for the old Shedd school is $25,000.

Elected school board member Carlos Rivas said Wednesday he was Preston’s college counselor in the 2015-16 school year when he worked at Noble’s UIC College Prep.

“She was such a determined young lady and graduated from Illinois State in three and a half years because of her determination,” Rivas said. “She had such a bright life ahead of her, and she did so much for her community.”

“I am so incredibly proud that we’re going to be honoring her and using this building in this way for the Peace for Preston Foundation,” Rivas added.

There was some interest in the old Shedd school in 2017 from a private Christian school and another buyer, but neither bid had the backing of the local alderperson, according to South Side Weekly.

The board resolution says Peace for Preston wants to offer youth recreational programming, educational programming, youth mentoring and counseling, mental health support, job readiness and vocational training, wellness programs, and access to health care support, as well as GED and financial literacy courses.

Check out this list of closed schools that are up for bid. Perhaps you have a solid plan for these properties.

Here's the listing for Shedd.

Community meeting: Former Shedd Elementary School - TONIGHT

 Just saw this today via Concerned Citizens of Chatham. How many you already know about this? This meeting is with regards to the shuttered Shedd School property.

This meeting is happening tonight at Harlan Community Academy High School - 9652 S. Michigan between 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Set your clocks back an hour

Credit 94thepoint.com

 Fall is here and it's that time to set your clocks back an hour. Daylight saving time is ending on November 2, 2025. And never fear, we'll have to reverse the process again on March 8, 2026 at which point spring is around the corner again.

Tribune Editorial: A hardheaded rethinking of the Red Line Extension is needed now

RLE Extension Project

 I've seen articles about the cost of the Red Line Extension, and now this recent Chicago Tribune editorial. Here's an excerpt:

In the meantime, though, the Trump-induced uncertainty surrounding the project, combined with the push in Springfield this month to reform the Chicago area’s transit agencies and infuse them with more revenue as they face budget shortfalls, should resurface the lingering and legitimate questions about the wisdom of the Red Line Extension. Even if that nearly $2 billion is restored, the overall project cost that now sits at $5.75 billion — an ungodly $1 billion per mile, about twice what an above-surface train line should cost — is impossible even for fervent transit advocates to justify.

We’ve spoken in recent weeks to officeholders with a keen interest in the initiative, among them state Rep. Kam Buckner and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, both of Chicago. What we heard from both — and they clearly reflect how many others in local and federal government feel — is disbelief and consternation about how high the RLE cost has gotten but fatalism, too, that Chicago simply can’t afford to say no to $2 billion in federal cash.

Buckner, who knows this part of the city well, went beyond criticizing the eye-watering price tag to questioning whether extending the Red Line from its current 95th Street terminus south to the city limits makes practical sense. The neighborhoods through which that extension would run simply are hollowed out, and while project advocates hope the line will galvanize development and repopulation, there’s plenty of reason to be highly skeptical. The risk of a new $5.75 billion (or likely higher when all is said and done) train line that serves just a smattering of riders is high.

We understand the point of view that so much federal help is politically difficult to refuse, but we also disagree with it. A project that only a few years ago was penciled at $3.7 billion now requires even more than that total in financing from the Chicago Transit Authority and other local resources — and that’s after the $2 billion in federal cash.

Even if city officials are able to reverse the Trump administration’s decision, does the RLE make sense anymore given the cost?

Read the whole thing. 

Commissioner Larry Rogers: Hyde Park Township Property Tax Appeal Forum

Hat-tip Chesterfield Community Council

Commissioner Larry Rogers of the Cook County Board of Review - that body that hears appeals of property tax assessments is hosting the Hyde Park Township Property Tax Appeal Forum which will be follwed by a dedicated Q&A session.

• Discover Customer Care Center
  8560 S. Cottage Grove
  Oct. 27, 2024 at 6:00 PM
  Stay Informed text EZJoin to (872) 345-4747