40th Ward Alder / Father / Spouse / Chair of Immigration Committee / Chair of Progressive Caucus/ Vice Chair of Latino Caucus / Organizer / Problem Solver / Chicagoan until Chicago ends.
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This is my Sis, Catherine Sharp. It’s an honor to organize and be in community with a leader like her. @deirdre4020.bsky.social is back in town now too. See you all next week, join us!
lots of electeds and political candidates here this morning. i see congressional candidates kat abughazaleh and (evanston mayor) daniel biss, lieutenant governor juliana stratton, and chicago alder andre vasquez:
That's my alderman!
dude rocks 🤘🏽🫡
I’m grateful to be your Alder, friend!
*9/19/2025 noncooperation thread* + @mulchy.bsky.social reports seeing Congressional candidates Kat Abughazaleh & Daniel Biss (now-mayor of Evanston) +Lt Gov Juliana Stratton at the Broadview facility. ICE is here & doing a lot of damage; a LOT of ppl, electeds & regular folks are pushing back. 3/
Protest at the ICE processing center in Broadview, IL.
They expect us to show up, and I will!
3/ Here's Chicago Alder Andre Vasque at the Broadview ICE facility: bsky.app/profile/djby...
Many thanks to all of our neighbors who showed up in support of justice, democracy, and most importantly, our vulnerable populations and siblings who have been kidnapped by the federal government.
The protest crowd has started singing during a brief pause in the dispersal warnings. Of course, just as I start typing this, the warnings start up again.
Thank you @andrefor40th.bsky.social for showing up and putting yourself in harm's way to push back against ICE
This morning, I joined @andrefor40th.bsky.social and others at the #Broadview ICE Processing Center, which is being used illegally as a detainment center, as we protested the treatment and dehumanization of our undocumented neighbors. We stand in solidarity until we achieve justice for all!
We're going to be posting some recaps from e-bike-a-palooza featuring our partners very soon, but first - Alderman Vasquez (@andrefor40th.bsky.social) trying out riding in an Urban Arrow electric cargo bike, piloted by Jon from JC Lind! Could you see a cargo ebike being handy in your life?
Just 4 weeks until the October veto session! This Saturday, September 20th there are TWO transit town halls to learn about how transit is essential to all Chicagoans, learn how to get involved, and ask any questions. Join us at the Den Theatre or attend at Truman College on the North Side at noon!
TOMORROW! JOIN US for the 54th Annual Mexican Independence Day Parade! We need every Chicagoan there in support of our neighbors in need! SUNDAY 12pm-3pm, it starts at 26th and Albany!
Our ebike palooza was a huge success! We got dozens of people test riding different ebikes and micromobility, from families to commuters to everyone in between, and even got @andrefor40th.bsky.social in an Urban Arrow! We hope to see more of y'all out there on bikes out in Chicago 🥰
Tomorrow, Friday Sept 12th come to Welles Park at 5:30pm to test ride different ebikes, then afterwards at 6pm we will do a group ride through the neighborhood to see all the new infrastructure RSVP docs.google.com/forms/d/1KMn... @andrefor40th.bsky.social 🤝 @aldermanmattmartin.bsky.social
@andrefor40th.bsky.social, 40th ward alderperson & chairperson of the Committee of Immigrant & Refugee Rights encouraging Chicagoans to KNOW THEIR RIGHTS❗️ Call IL Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR) 855.435.7693 if you need assistance or report suspected sightings.
NEW: More details on Trump's Chicago immigration blitz. -230 agents arrive from LA this weekend w/ 140 unmarked vehicles -30 already arrived and are practicing crowd control with shields/flashbangs -agents will leave base daily by 5 a.m. -new no-fly zone at NSGL to keep away news choppers/drones
If you haven't been able to attend a Chicago Committee on Immigrant & Refugee Rights (CIRR) know your rights session, 19th Police District Council has a video from last week's meeting (starts at 36 minutes). Guest appearance from @andrefor40th.bsky.social:
Much love and respect to the Labor Movement especially in the times we find ourselves! We stand shoulder to shoulder here in Chicago against fascism, even when an orange conman seeks to weaponize the federal government against our great city!
The budget
Wow, that’s a ^ pretty uninformed take.
I drove all over the city for work every day and you know what works really well to prevent speed camera tickets? Not speeding
Accurate.
One Weird Trick to never getting a speed camera ticket
This is also why we can’t have nice things.
ACTUALLY what is driving the surge is DRIVERS SPEEDING.
Happy Labor Day, yall!
Much love and respect to the Labor Movement especially in the times we find ourselves! We stand shoulder to shoulder here in Chicago against fascism, even when an orange conman seeks to weaponize the federal government against our great city!
A bit over a year ago, we toured an all-electric home with @andrefor40th.bsky.social, and now all of the tax credits are ending this year! If you are able to electrify your home or add solar, now is the time 💪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyqL...
Join us at 10 or 11 this morning as we march and rally together on Labor Day against Donald Trump’s unAmerican agenda! 10am at Adams and Des Plaines 11am at 151 N Des Plaines! See you there!
Another handy graphic, worth saving, for the looming invasion of Chicago.
Let’s check the boxes for all the bike infrastructure we have done in the 40th Ward, shall we? #bikethedrivechicago @atalliance.bsky.social
At Bike the Drive 2025, organized by Active Transportation Alliance, I had the distinct privilege of talking to Randy Neufeld, who helped organize the very FIRST Bike The Drive! Here is how the first one happened and Randy’s vision for it! @atalliance.bsky.social youtu.be/fJetHT7YYW4?...
At Bike the Drive 2025, I ran into Interim @chicagocta.bsky.social President Nora Leerhsen and we talked transit for a sec - check it out!
Join us tomorrow morning at 6:30am at Argyle and Francisco to ride with us for BIKE THE DRIVE!!! @balupuppy
40thWard.org/contact
Here at the Board of Education with colleagues and Chicagoans who care about the future of our city and public school system!
FYI!!:
Oooh a POLICY town hall
both @aldermanlaspata.bsky.social and @andrefor40th.bsky.social spoke at the Chicago BikePAC launch event last week
Join us TONIGHT from 6-8pm at Whiskey Girl Tavern (6318 N Clark) for our Quarterly Townhall where we will be discussing our Policy and Legislative work! We want to hear from you so stop on by!
Have you been curious about an ebike, but wanted to try one out and talk to owners? Join our first ever event, an e-bike-a-palooza with the 40th & 47th wards, where you can test ride ebikes, learn how they can fit into your life, and get biking tips! ⏰ 5:30p - 7:30p Fri Sept 12th 📍 Welles Park
On the mic: @andrefor40th.bsky.social hyping up Lincoln Ave Bike Lane Great event from @chicagotrailcoach.bsky.social BikePAC.org
Granville is setting a new standard for Chicago greenways. Look at these diverters! And it even feels calmer in my experience. Thank you @leniann.bsky.social and @andrefor40th.bsky.social!
Budget 201: Lets talk about the current CPS Budget challenge, shall we? It’s a 7 minute long video, but worth the view! : www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDRX...
And heck, stop on by even if you aren’t a 40th Warder!!!
FYI. @andrefor40th.bsky.social
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!: Join us on Tuesday August 26th from 6-8pm at Whiskey Girl Tavern (6318 N Clark) ! This is a GREAT way to learn more about city government and how we can make our city better!
This Commentary by Joe Ferguson and Daniel Anello lays it out very clearly. CPS being made to take on a $175M pension payment that the city should be covering will lead to very bad decisions and an even worse outlook for our Public School System. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/12/o...
Campaign Catch Up: Week 1 - It was a fun ride to accompany @catsharpforcook.bsky.social as her campaign kicked off! If you’re interested in helping Cat get on the ballot and win, stop by the campaign office at 2555 W Lawrence or go to her website to sign up at CatherineSharp.com !
@seiulocal73.bsky.social has already seen hundreds of their workers laid off and now are being excluded from CPS budget deficit conversations. They deserve a seat at the table. I stand with our SEIU 73 members!
Happy Birthday, Hip Hop! 52 Years ago, at a party in the South Bronx, a young Jamaican DJ by the name of Kool Herc began spinning at a party in a rec center and sparked an American Born cultural phenomenon that has taken over the world. Hip Hop has transformed us and continues to. Happy 52nd Bday!
🩷🩵 Be grounded in the people here. If you see folks walk away, support the people here. The folks who attack are broken. To our youth, we're sorry. We're going to do the best possible to support you... I’m going to have your back! ~Ald Andre Vasquez @andrefor40th.bsky.social at rally for trans lives
Started off the day with Maggie O’Keefe and 40th Ward Dems talking to neighbors and getting Dems on the ballot! Then joined @andrefor40th.bsky.social at today’s Unite for Trans Youth Lives rally at Federal Plaza. Our trans siblings are under attack and we need to rise up and fight back!
Yesterday was a great day for Team Cat! Running for office is never about just one person. It requires the effort of neighbors, coming together to help get the word out. To help Cat win, we need YOUR help too! Sign up to volunteer at www.mobilize.us/neighborsfor... #CatforCook #CatSharpforCook
I’m Guatemalan and American, just like our sister Congresswoman Delia Ramirez. Let’s talk about double standards and dog whistles, shall we? @ramirez.house.gov @delia.bsky.social
TONIGHT! JOIN US for our Best of 40th bash at 4740 N Western from 5:30-7pm. I’d love to see you (YES, YOU) there!
JOIN US TONIGHT to celebrate the Best of the 40th Winners and support Alder Andre Vasquez! We look forward to seeing you at the Dank Haus terrace, one of the best views in the whole ward! secure.actblue.com/donate/top40
Super excited to support Cat Sharp for Cook! I am supremely confident in what she can do in the roll, her ability to show up for those who need it most, and to deliver results for the 12th District! Check out the video and join the campaign!
A question I get often, given the moment we find ourselves in, is “what do we do?” Here are my thoughts and what keeps me moving forward.
Dim Sum and then some at Argyle and Broadway, organized by Chinese Mutual Aid Association!
Today, an intern by the name of Angelique Guzman (remember the name) made my cry in our front office. Angelique, our future is in good hands with leaders like you!
if you are the kind of person who gets excited about municipal budget data, i have great news
thank you Pooja for pointing out the new report
Look at them manzanas!
The Mid Year Budget Report for the City of Chicago that @andrefor40th.bsky.social got added to the municipal code during last budget season is now live! Text: www.chicago.gov/content/dam/... with associated data dashboard: public.tableau.com/app/profile/...
I’m with you in spirit! We just increased by 2x
This content is more Tik Tok appropriate, which you can follow on Tik Tok at @andreforchi
✅ HUGE WIN: Today, Chicago City Council voted unanimously via voice vote to eliminate parking minimums adjacent to CTA and Metra rail and bus lines! This is a victory for more affordable transit oriented development and safer streets citywide!
Yep. Protected bike lane coming
The budget work i get to do is my favorite! It is also extremely frustrating that City Council doesn't anything by way of programmatic metrics, detailed department and cross-department project budgets, and / or fiscal impact statement type documents. We changed that last budget cycle via ordinance!
Officials in @mayorofchicago.bsky.social's administration rejected the ordinance but agreed to fund 3 more staffers for COFA, more than doubling its size. Now all eyes are on the tiny office to see how big a role it can play to help the city close its likely $1B+ budget gap... (5/5)
COFA was supposed to be Chicago's version of the NYC Independent Budget Office, which has 50 full-time staffers and pumps out dozens of reports each year. ibo.nyc.gov/content/ Instead, COFA has rarely had more than 2 staffers and its work has been uneven at best. (3/5)
Alders including Ameya Pawar created the City Council Office of Financial Analysis (COFA) back in 2013 so they could have an independent check on financial projections coming out of the mayor's office (and prevent another Parking Meter Deal). (2/5)
New from me: An obscure, perennially resource-starved oversight office is set to take center stage in the Chicago City Council's effort to wrest more control over the city budget-making process. They face a mighty task. (1/5)
Between seeing Superman with the family, meeting so many great folks at Local Progress, a successful Progressive Caucus event, reconnecting with some of my Latino Caucus colleagues and connecting with our NYC council colleagues this weekend, my cup runneth over. So much hope!
Had a banger time today at the Progressive Caucus fundraiser with 1st Ward United folks. Was great to see @andrefor40th.bsky.social as always - and we gotta get more Alders posting here!
“The wrong response is the reflexive one: to say Democratic socialism … is a menace that will destroy us. Democratic socialism is a response to the failure of the system to equitably provide opportunity for people who are willing to work for it.”
It was a pleasure meeting @bradlander.bsky.social at the @workingfamilies.org event at @localprogress.bsky.social today! I look forward to talking about the NYC Independent Budget Office as we look to bring more budget transparency to Chicago!
my transit people, there will (unless it is canceled or rescheduled) a quarterly CTA hearing due to @andrefor40th.bsky.social in the Committee on Transportation and Public Way on July 30th at 10:30am at Chicago City Council Chambers chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Meeting/?mee...
The same systems and tools that we are watching in action now will be the same ones used to then go after other vulnerable populations. This is a moment where we all need to organize, support each other, and endure.
The pic. Looks. Pretty. Walkable.
Also, I’m a pedestrian at times too. I walk, even when it rains.
You can invite. I would be busy
Thanks for the feedback.
That is supposed to be addressed, as I named that as a big concern by the car wash
Doing what you suggest there isn’t going to incentivize more CTA rides. It makes sense in theory and where it would balance that, I don’t see this stretch accomplishing that.
I’d have to look at the plans regarding that stretch. If you fill out the form, we can have the team check out: 40thWard.org/contact
There’s a design that we are looking at. We had a community meeting about it some months ago
Drivers, just like cyclists, and pedestrians, are neighbors, and many neighbors do all of the above.
*whether it would
I mean that where it would be the walk area further encroaching onto the bike/car area, or cutting the trees to pave over and create sidewalk on the existing width, neither is a feasible option.
Yeah, that wouldn’t work at all.
I’m trying to recall if there’s a modest improvement around some of the bends, but there wasn’t the ability to create a full sidewalk there.
No room for either without cutting trees, which isn’t going to happen.