Chicago Mayor’s Race Update: Mendoza Makes Her Case, Stanton Out, Wilson In

Photo Credit: Robert Loerzel

Latest updates to the 2027 Chicago Mayor's race!

Chicago Mayoral Race 2027 Update: John Kelly Joins the Field

 Petition circulation for the February 23, 2027 Chicago mayoral election officially began this week. The field continues to grow.

CBS Chicago has the story regarding circulating petitions [VIDEO]

From the Train Window: Red Line Work

I was on Amtrak’s City of New Orleans yesterday and looked to my left and saw some of the construction for the Red Line Extension. I was riding the former Illinois Central tracks — the same corridor many of us know as the Metra Electric line (you can see the electric wires above in the photo).

The pillars going up are part of the extension that will run southeast from about 115th & Michigan along the Union Pacific Railroad, where the next-to-last stop is planned. From there the Red Line will continue southeast to 130th Street, right in the vicinity of Altgeld Gardens.

Construction is also moving along at other points on the project, including the work starting from the current 95th/Dan Ryan terminal.

What’s your experience with the Red Line Extension so far? Are you seeing progress near your block, dealing with construction impacts, or still waiting to feel any benefit? Drop your observations in the comments.

Ninth Ward & Chicago News Roundup – Tuesday/Wednesday, June 16–17, 2026

 Juneteenth Block Party Reminder – This Thursday!

Don’t miss Ald. Beale’s 3rd Annual Juneteenth Block Party on Thursday, June 18, 2026, 10 AM – 2 PM at 34 E. 112th Pl. Music, food, games, raffles, and family fun for all 9th Ward residents. Veterans: Free Chicago VA Mobile Medical Unit services (9 AM–12 PM) with health check-ups and connections (walk-ins welcome). Full details on Ald. Beale FB / Instagram.

• Residential Night: Continues every Monday (4:30–6:30 PM at ward office). Call ahead.
• Community Cleanups: Ongoing with partners. 2026 Street Sweeping Schedule on ward09.com.
• June 23 Townhall: Canceled (confirm any updates via official channels).

No major new 9th Ward incidents in the last 48 hours. Focus remains on summer events and South Side safety.

Broader Chicago City News & Politics (Recent Updates)

• Parking Meter Deal Developments: Ongoing City Council discussions around the proposed transfer to Stonepeak Partners. Aldermen pushing for transparency. Links: NBC Chicago | Chicago Sun-Times | Chicago Tribune
• Juneteenth City-Wide: Flag raisings and preparations across Chicago, highlighting Black community progress and events. Chicago.gov Juneteenth info | WTTW coverage.
• CTA & Transit Safety / Red Line Extension: Ridership gains and crime reductions continue (systemwide serious crimes down significantly year-over-year). On the Red Line Extension (key for Far South Side access): Construction progressing with utility work and preparations; project on track for 2030 completion with new stations at 103rd, 111th, Michigan Ave., and 130th. Links: WTTW CTA Update | CTA Official RLE Page | WTTW Red Line Extension Progress
• Other City Notes: Summer festivals, recent storm recovery, and public safety efforts. Block Club Chicago for neighborhood coverage | WTTW Chicago News.

What’s happening in the 9th Ward? Share local tips, events, or concerns in the comments. This keeps ninthward.blog as your hyper-local go-to for Roseland, Pullman, Chatham, and beyond.

Stay informed and engaged—building a better future together. Follow ward09.com for official updates.

Ninth Ward & South Side News Roundup (June 15–16, 2026)

Fellow 9th Ward residents and South Side neighbors, here's the latest community and political roundup for our blog.

9th Ward Specifics

• Alderman Anthony Beale continues steady service: Residential Nights, Juneteenth events w/ VA health resources, street sweeping schedules, and streetscape improvements. Alderman Beale's Official Site
• Pullman National Historical Park events highlight our heritage. Friends of Pullman

Broader South Side Stories

• Back of the Yards: Ongoing concerns after recent mass shootings; community intervention groups active. Positive development with United Yards project. → Block Club: Back of the Yards Shootings
• Storm Damage & Recovery: Recent powerful storms (June 10–11) caused widespread downed trees, power outages, and damage, hitting South Side areas including near the 9th Ward. Cleanup continues amid more severe weather possible this week. 
• Block Club: Storms & Outlook 
• NWS: June 11 Outbreak

Other Notes:

• Woodlawn housing pressures near Obama Center. South Side Weekly
• Hyde Park Academy student protests. South Side Weekly
• CTA Red Line Extension potential benefits.  Project Impacts

Citywide Political Notes

Bears Stadium: Momentum toward Hammond, IN continues. South suburban officials note possible South Side benefits but many prefer keeping the team in Illinois. Multiple sites under review.

• Chicago Tribune
• NBC Chicago

Ongoing city budget and safety efforts shape resources for our wards, including storm resilience.

What are your thoughts? Share 9th Ward experiences or tips below. Stay engaged and resilient.

Or feel free to send an e-mail if that's more comfortable for you. The address is in the sidebar.

Compiled as of June 15–16, 2026. 

9th Ward & Chicago News Roundup (Weekend Recap) #Ward09

Trying something a little different today. I'm offering this look at the past weekend's news using A.I. Let me know if you like this format and if you do, I will do this more often. Perhaps post more frequently with links like these.

Now let's get to it.

Red Line Extension meetings this month

 CTA is hosting meetings on the South Side to discuss what to expect when construction begins on the extension. There will be three of these meetings this month.

You are encouraged to register: Click this link to RSVP.

March 10, 2026

Altgeld Gardens Community Youth Center

951 E. 132nd Street

5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

March 11, 2026

Another Chance Church

9550 S. Harvard Ave

5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

March 12, 2026

Visions Odeum & Events

11901 S. Loomis St. 

5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

h/t Concerned Citizens of Chatham

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!
 

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.

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. 

19th Annual Silas Purnell College Expo

Hosted by the Chesterfield Community Council and sponsored by among others Seaway/Self-Help FCU.

19th Annuel Silas Purnell College Expo

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Tuley Park Fieldhouse

501 E. 90th Place

For more information

chesterfieldcommunitycouncil.org

chesterfield @ ameritech.net

(773) 651-3958

Follow Chesterfield Community Council on Facebook

 Oh and how about this for an added bonus. Are you interested in becoming a Morehouse Man?

On brining the National Guard to Chicago, for or against

Unfortunately, I hadn't been on top of the discussion regarding Pres. Trump sending the National Guard to Chicago as I should've been. It proved to be part of the contentious back and forth between the President and Gov. J.B. Pritzker especially and our ineffective Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Rich Miller wrote a column about the dynamics of the battle between Gov. Pritzker and Pres. Trump. One question to be asked if whether or not Gov. Pritzker could ever call the President to lower the temperature? Just bear in mind our Governor is running for re-election next year and may run for President in 2028.

One other comment I may add is that there were within at least the past 20 years been calls from people in some south side neighborhoods asking for the National Guard to come in. Often I've been opposed to this at least because of the idea that our neighborhoods could be under martial law.

The National Guard is a dramatic solution as opposed to requesting more law enforcement resources to come into these crime hotspots. Over the years I do believe some neighborhoods had the benefit of the Cook County Sheriff coming into crime hotspots. So this is where my support would go more than bringing in the National Guard short of an outright insurrection.

Meanwhile the President is opting to send the National Guard and federal law enforcement resources to Memphis, Tennessee.

Another focus of the contention was the Presidents emphasis on expelling undocumented aliens from this county. Chicago is a sanctuary city and I've always supported expelling especially violent criminals and support those efforts.

In the news in the past week was that ICE was pursuing an undocumented alien and was killed by an ICE agent. He was said to have resisted arrest and attempted to run down the pursuing ICE Agents.

Let's start a discussion here. Would you like the National Guard to come to our neighborhoods? Would you like more law enforcement resources in our neighborhoods (city, county, state, & federal)?

Lime scooters on the sidewalk

I wanted to share an update, at least not from Chicago Like a Local but just to share some of the pics I took recently. These were taken this month perhaps not long after seeing that video you saw on this blog most recently.

Who knew that there is a bike rack in front of Harlan High School at 96th/Michigan. And anyone who is done with the scooter actually locked it to the rack. There aren't too many bicyclists up and down Michigan Avenue unlike some of the more pedestrian heavy corridors of the north side or even the Loop. So I'm thinking locking scooters on these racks in front of Harlan would be no big deal.

In front of Harlan High School

Now these other shots are basically no-nos as far as what to do when you're done with these Lime Scooters. As discussed in the Chicago Like a Local video.

Next level squatting pt. 3 - moving in with them

 

[VIDEO] This is related to the other two entries. According to this ABC 7 report the alleged squatters involved in the other two stories had found another home to occupy. Of course I have to admit it took some guts to bring a few friends and move into this house - which March Velasquez expected to place on the market.

And, I'm wondering if there is any attorney's reading this blog. Are the police correct that this is a civil matter and they just can't kick any trespassers off a property? What does Illinois law say about situations like this?

Update to the story about "next-level squatting"

 

[VIDEO] You saw a story about this last month about a squatter who was able to produce some documents showing that they owned the home although the address shown on documents was actually in the south suburbs.

A good conclusion that squatter was removed from the property and arrested. She's being charged with burglary, fraud, obstructing identification, and trespassing.

The couple who sought media attention for this is doing work on the house and clean-up, and expect to put this house back on the market soon.

Thanks to media attention the couple got a call from a detective who said they were taking a closer look at this. I don't know about you, but this was a bit sketchy anyway.

The Red Line extension: It's starting

Red Line Extension

Via Block Club Chi: 

With preliminary work underway, transit officials say the long-awaited Red Line Extension is set to break ground early next year.

The $5.7 billion, 5.6-mile Red Line Extension project would move the south end of the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street. The CTA plans to build stations at 103rd and 111th streets near Eggleston Avenue, at Michigan Avenue near 116th Street and at 130th Street near the Altgeld Gardens public housing project.

Officials with the CTA and contractor Walsh-VINCI Transit Community Partners updated neighbors on the project Thursday during a Meet the Contractor session at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 211 E. 115th St. in Roseland.

Groundbreaking is set for early 2026, and the project will be split into six zones, said Rob Cheeseman, construction manager for the project with Walsh Construction and senior project manager for Walsh-VINCI.

The project is said to be in it's design phase and currently prep work such as demolition, utility relocation, and soil sampling is underway. A lot of buildings were condemened in the areas where the extension is to be built.

Construction will begin in the middle of the route. Crews will start from 106th Place to 118th Street — including two new stations at 111th Street and Michigan Avenue — then from 99th Place to 106th Place along Eggleston Avenue, with a new station at 103rd Street.

From there, crews will complete the remaining segments from north to south:

• The existing 95th Street-Dan Ryan terminal to the Interstate 94/Interstate 57 interchange.
• Interstate 94 to 99th Place.
• 118th Street to 120th Place, including a bridge over the Metra Electric tracks.
• 120th Place to 132nd Street, including the new 130th Street-Altgeld Gardens terminal.

 Also

Much like the North Side’s Red-Purple Modernization project, two bridges for the Red Line Extension will incorporate pre-cast segments that will be built off-site. This will allow construction to be completed in a “much faster fashion” than traditional methods, Cheeseman said.
...
One resident asked project leaders to prioritize plant life along the extension route and at the four new Red Line stations.

The CTA and construction teams will return to neighborhoods near the new stations for public input sessions later this year, and residents can share their ideas for greenery, benches and other aspects of the station developments, said Tammy Chase, CTA director of communications.

I can't believe it, it's starting and very soon! 

Block Club Chi: 1 In 5 Chicagoans Will Lose Access To CTA, Pace, Metra If State Doesn’t Fund Public Transit, RTA Says

transitchicago.com

Any concerns about this current transit fiscal crisis? 

The Regional Transit Authority oversees Metra, Pace, and the Chicago Transit Authority and they're sounding the alarm over funding gaps. In what ways could this affect the CTA?

The RTA contends this impending crisis was caused by “decades of underfunding” from the state. Seventeen percent of the agency’s operating budget comes from the state — a significantly lower portion than in other major transit systems. In New York, 28 percent of its regional transit authority’s operating revenue comes from the state. It’s 44 percent in Boston and 50 percent in Philadelphia, according to the RTA.

The lack of state funding, combined with the end of federal aid provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left the system in a precarious position, the RTA said.

If the cuts occur, the most drastic changes would be felt in Chicago, where the CTA would be forced to shut down half the city’s “L” lines and eliminate nearly 60 percent of bus routes, cutting bus access for 500,000 Chicagoans and leaving “260,000 city workers without a reliable way to commute,” according to the RTA release. The frequency of both train and bus service on remaining lines would be reduced by 25 percent.

If this happened, the CTA would go from the third-largest transit system in the country to having fewer bus routes than Madison, Wisconsin, or Kansas City, Missouri, according to the RTA.

“Public transit is what helped shape the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs as we know it today — it is why and how millions of us call this region ‘home,'” CTA acting President Nora Leerhsen said in a statement. “The results of a 40 percent service reduction are unconscionable, and no decisions about our service future will be made without community input.”

It seems, the state and city finds a way to make it work financially and service resumes under current levels. Of course, there are other issues I would like CTA to address such as safety and even how some riders are smoking on the trains.

Having to rely on transit at the current time cutting services would be inconvenient for me. Of course what bus routes would be cut if CTA isn't funded. And I already take for granted (at least over the years) the headways of the Red Line during the day at least. How infrequent would service on the L be once it's budgeted accordingly?

Stormy Kara: Metra's Massive Makeover

 

[VIDEO] While we wait to begin construction of the CTA Red Line extension to 130th Street, at least Metra our suburban commuter rail service is making some improvements to Metra Electric stations on the south side.

I witnessed construction on the 103rd Station in Rosemoor over the past summer. My curiosity was peaked what did they have in mind. I like the idea of a more inviting station and without having to go under the railroad viaduct to board a train.

It appears that's what they have in store for other south side stations such as 79th and 87th. And I can't wait for you to see what's planned at 95th. That's another station that was due for a makeover and it appears there will be an entrance off the street and perhaps they'll use that long - seemingly abdoned building adjacent to the streets. Thankfully will utilize it's position right next to Chicago State University.

My question is how many of you use the Metra Electric line to get to where you need to go? Do you like these improvements?

Sun-Times: CTA launching 'Frequent Network' bus service on some routes that will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner

CTA

 Old news but the longtime President of the Chicago Transit Authority - Dorval Carter - had retired in January. Many viewed him as the main problem as far as improving service on the rails and the buses. 

Then this recent article from the Sun-Times which affects many south side bus routes:

The Chicago Transit Authority said it will launch “Frequent Network” bus service that will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner beginning later this month.

Buses on eight routes will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends beginning March 23, the CTA said in a news release.

The first routes to be part of the network are the J14 Jeffery Jump; No. 34 South Michigan; No. 47 47th Street; No. 54 Cicero; No. 60 Blue Island/26th; No. 63 63rd Street; No. 79 79th Street; and No. 95 95th Street.

The program is expected to increase service by at least 25% on the J14,  No. 34, No. 47, No. 60, and No. 95 routes, the transit agency said.

...

The service will be added to another 12 routes by the end of the year, the CTA said.

The riders who thought this was good news had often complained about waits for buses. It seems to be an ongoing complaint over the years about service, the wait times for a bus or train. Another issue was safety and I have my own story about that.

If you're a frequent CTA rider do you think this is a good development? Are you riding any of those routes above and have any experience with long waits for service? 

Clean out your closets for Rosemoor Community Association, Inc

We're almost at the end of February and Saturday is the first day of March. Time to start thinking about Spring Cleaning. Here's a flyer below for more information on the Rosemoor Community Association fundraiser. 

Feel free to call them for more info at 773-264-0783

E-mail them at connect@rosemoorchicago.org

Visit their website at www.rosemoorchicago.org