Read all about Leni's Vision for the 48th Ward.

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Education

Environment

Health and Public Safety

Housing

LGBTQ+ Rights

Reproductive Rights

Small Business and Economic Development

Transportation

Secured over $2 million in funding for pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements around every school in the 48th Ward, including safer crossings, traffic calming, and other investments through our Vision Zero plan.

Created two new playgrounds for our children: the Senn Park Nature Play Space and the Goudy Sensory Playlot.

Advocated for fully-funded public schools including social workers, librarians, nurses, and special education instructors.

Drove the process for an $8 million turf field project at Senn High School.

Promoted Local School Council elections; every Chicagoan over the age of 17 has the right to vote in their LSC, regardless of citizenship or whether or not they have a child enrolled in the school.

Fully funding Chicago Public Schools by working with our state legislators to increase CPS’ share of the Evidence-Based Funding formula so our schools receive the resources they need and can further enact smaller class sizes, diverse programming, and keep schools open in every neighborhood.

Continuing advocacy for a long-overdue gymnasium at McCutcheon Elementary, the only school in the state without one.

Strengthening partnerships between schools and the community–including with Loyola University Chicago–so our schools are not just places to learn during the day, but community assets. This could look like expanded after-school programming, youth employment opportunities, and connections between neighborhood organizations and academic institutions.

Reestablished the Chicago Department of Environment for the first time in over a decade, creating a dedicated city agency to lead climate policy and sustainability initiatives.

Supported the Hazel Johnson Cumulative Impacts Ordinance, which would strengthen protections against new industrial polluters, especially in low-income, frontline, and impacted communities to give them an equitable say in their futures.

Advanced cleaner, more sustainable buildings by supporting the City’s transition toward net-zero emissions buildings, including new energy efficiency standards for new construction, including at The Carmen–a new geothermal apartment building in the 48th Ward.

Expanding composting, recycling, and waste reduction by expanding a citywide composting program to sustainably use the food waste that constitutes up to 50% of our landfills.

Preparing the 48th Ward for a changing climate. As extreme weather like stronger storms, heavier rainstorms, and flooding becomes more common, I’ll continue working with the Department of Environment, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and other regional partners to strengthen our shoreline, modernize stormwater infrastructure, and make our neighborhoods more resilient against new climate patterns.

Reimagining DuSable Lake Shore Drive by fighting for a redesign that does more than just move cars. We need a dedicated bus lane on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. I also support creating more green space, improving stormwater management, and building more connected infrastructure to bring more pedestrians and cyclists to our city’s greatest resource, Lake Michigan.

In the past year, violent crime in the 48th Ward is down 28% and robberies are down 39%.

We have had zero traffic fatalities in the 48th Ward three years in a row.

Building on my work to help pass the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA) at the state level, I’ve supported Treatment Not Trauma and expanded the CARE crisis response program so more mental health emergencies are handled by trained clinicians instead of sworn police officers whenever appropriate.

Expanded support for youth service providers, workforce development programs, housing initiatives, and neighborhood organizations that address the root causes of violence before it occurs.

Fully implementing public safety reforms by working alongside the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), community organizations, and health care providers to ensure programs like CARE and the Peacebook Working Group have the funding, staffing, and operational support they need.

Expanding investments in violence prevention strategies that we know work, including youth employment programs, restorative justice, workforce development, and shifting from government-operated programs to community-based providers.

Continuing to work with our District Councillors under the Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance to improve communication between residents and CPD, increase foot and bike patrols, and build trust through collaboration with community partners.

Supporting data-driven strategies that reduce violence and improve emergency response — I opposed spending millions of dollars on ShotSpotter because the evidence simply didn’t show it was making our communities safer.

Here’s how I’ve delivered:

Upzoned Broadway, bringing our vision for a pedestrian-friendly corridor with thriving businesses and Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) to a crucial thoroughfare in the heart of our ward.

Passed the Green Social Housing Ordinance, the largest investment in affordable housing and economic development in Chicago history. Green Social Housing allows the City of Chicago to build permanently affordable, mixed-income housing that is sustainable, community-led, and responsive to the needs of Chicagoans, compared to the older model of phasing out affordable units to become market-rate after about 30 years.

Secured crucial funding for an 100% affordable housing development that will provide nearly 100 new homes at 5853 N Broadway.

Protected and preserved affordable housing for our most vulnerable neighbors by negotiating the transfer of the San Miguel Apartments to a nonprofit housing developer.

Sponsored and passed the 48th Ward Low Affordability Community Designation (LAC) to stimulate the construction of mixed income housing where we need it most, incentivize at least 20% on-site affordable housing, and grow the property tax base to help stabilize property taxes and the rental market.

Addressed homelessness directly by securing housing for nearly 200 people previously living in tents on the lakefront in the 48th Ward.

Building Chicago’s first Green Social Housing development right here in the 48th Ward.

Modernizing Chicago’s building practices through single-stair reform and changes to elevator codes, following examples seen in New York City and Washington State.

Working with state legislators to lift the ban on rent control and repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act of 1997, establishing the possibility of rent control for Illinois Residents.

Created more inclusive workspaces by promoting initiatives like Hire Trans Now and connecting local businesses with training and resources that reduce barriers to employment for transgender and nonbinary Chicagoans.

Partnered with city leaders to improve safety and support by hosting Know Your Rights workshops and working alongside the Chicago’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs and the Transfemicide Working Group to address violence and discrimination in housing, health care, and employment.

Expanded visibility and inclusion through initiatives like Drag Story Time, neighborhood Pride celebrations in Edgewater, and our No Hate in 48 campaign.

Celebrated LGBTQ+ history and leadership through projects like Elise Malary Plaza, honoring the legacy of activist Elise Malary, a Black trans woman; and recognizing trailblazers like Lori Cannon, who supported our community throughout the AIDS crisis and beyond.

Supported the Peirce Pride Parade and worked alongside principals to ensure teaching LGBTQ+ history in all of our schools is implemented and supported with proper funding, in accordance with state law.

Preventing LGBTQ+ homelessness through increased supports for affordable housing in the 48th Ward as well as supportive services and Housing First programs that ensure stability for people of all backgrounds.

Supported the Bodily Autonomy Ordinance which legally protects anyone seeking or providing abortions and gender-affirming care within city limits.

Voted for the city’s purchase of the Greyhound Bus Station, ensuring that Chicago remains a critical access point and a safe haven for individual autonomy.

Before joining the City Council as your Alderwoman, I organized with Indivisible Illinois alongside groups such as Planned Parenthood, Personal PAC, the Chicago Abortion Fund, and NOW to pass of HB40 in 2017 and the Reproductive Health Act in 2019, ensuring that abortions would remain legal in Illinois even with the fall of Roe v. Wade.

Blocking any effort to roll back abortion access and working with city and state leaders to ensure patients and providers remain protected.

Supporting organizations doing this work by partnering with advocacy, grassroots, and mutual aid partners to ensure Illinois can meet the growing demand for reproductive health care.

Connected local businesses to more than $12 million in grants and financial assistance for 48th Ward businesses.

Revitalized our commercial corridors by improvements to streetscapes, beautification projects on Clark St and Broadway, and bringing additional foot traffic to the ward.

Partnered with our Chambers of Commerce to grow signature neighborhood events like the Edgewater Music Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and other community celebrations that bring thousands of people to our neighborhood all year long.

Modernizing City Hall’s building processes by supporting the Cut the Tape initiative to simplify permitting, reduce unnecessary regulations, and make it faster to open a business, renovate a storefront, or build new housing.

Investing in complete commercial corridors across ward boundaries so streetscapes, lighting, landscaping, and outdoor dining opportunities are consistent across major stretches on the Northside.

Achieved three consecutive years with zero traffic fatalities in the Ward by making Vision Zero more than a slogan. We’ve implemented pedestrian safety improvements through curb extensions, refuge islands, raised crosswalks, and safer street designs.

Expanded Chicago’s bike grid by adding new bike lanes and safety improvements on Broadway and Clark Street and completing projects like the Berwyn Greenway.

Brought 12 new Divvy stations to neighborhoods throughout the ward.

Improved public transit access by celebrating the opening of the new Peterson-Ridge Metra station; cutting the ribbon on three fully accessible CTA Red Line stations at Argyle, Berwyn, and Bryn Mawr; and working alongside CTA to create new community spaces beneath the Red Line.

Completing a connected network of protected bike lanes so every resident can safely bike across the 48th Ward and elsewhere in the city.

Continuing Vision Zero until traffic deaths and serious injuries are eliminated not just in our ward, but citywide.

Expanding bus priority improvements on major corridors, especially along the 22, 36, and 147 routes, which all serve our ward.

Leveraging new state funding through the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) to make transit systems safer, cleaner, and more reliable by investing in modern technology, station improvements, and data-driven violence prevention strategies like transit ambassadors on buses and trains.