5th Ward

As part of our 2023 Election Coverage, Streetsblog Chicago sent a questionnaire out to every candidate running for alderperson.

Local alderman Leslie Hairston also discussed transportation plans for the Obama Presidential Center.

Once the sun comes out, we'll surely see lots of people, including plenty of families and kids, enjoying these safer, traffic calmed streets again.

This loop is perfect for local residents who'd like to get physical activity by walking or jogging laps, and a good set-up for children and families to go on bike rides.

The driver who opened their door in cyclist Luster Jackson's path was not cited.

It was no surprise that read that Hairston opposes pedestrianizing streets in Jackson Park. She’s shown time and time again that she prioritizes easy driving above all other transportation modes.

[The Chicago Reader recently launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership allows Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We syndicate a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website or in print. The paper hits the streets on Thursdays.]

As we recently reported, 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston experimented with participatory budgeting process in 2013 but won’t be holding a PB election this year. However, it turns out that Hairston will still allow constituents to have some input on how the ward’s $1.3 million in discretionary “menu” funding is spent. Last year, only about one in 500 ward residents  voted in the budgeting election.

As we’ve recently reported, the 49th Ward is holding its fifth participatory budgeting election this year, the 45th Ward is holding its second, and the 22nd Ward is taking the process for a spin for the first time. However, the 5th and 46th wards, which experimented with PB last year, won’t be taking part.