https://chiwardboard.com/news.html Chicago news about the city services ChiWardBoard measures, each linked to the ward-by-ward 311 times and its source. en-us Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:19:29 GMT https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-21-the-proposed-2027-city-budget-adds https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-21-the-proposed-2027-city-budget-adds Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Reports differ on how many crews: WTTW says 28, other outlets citing the mayor's office say 5. Streets and Sanitation runs the city's rat baiting. The budget still needs City Council approval. Sources: WTTW (https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/21/johnson-touts-176b-proposed-budget-2027-let-us-plant-seeds-fair-chicago), Hearing schedule (https://40thward.org/2026/10/october-city-council-roundup-fy27-budget/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-13-orkin-ranks-chicago-the-no-2 https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-13-orkin-ranks-chicago-the-no-2 Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT The list counts Orkin's own residential rodent treatments from Aug. 9, 2025 to Aug. 9, 2026. It measures pest control business, not rats or city response. Source: Orkin (https://www.orkin.com/press-room/los-angeles-rattiest-city-again-2026). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-03-the-city-says-crews-filled-its https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-10-03-the-city-says-crews-filled-its Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT More than 30 CDOT crews worked the blitz, aiming for over 5,000 potholes in a day. Sources: City of Chicago (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2026/october/pothole-repair-blitz.html), Sun-Times (https://chicago.suntimes.com/transportation/2026/10/03/chicago-potholes-repair-blitz). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-28-the-city-s-inspector-general-finds https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-28-the-city-s-inspector-general-finds Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT The audit covered July 2023 to July 2024 and did not measure rat populations. Streets and Sanitation says it has made improvements since. Sources: Office of Inspector General (https://igchicago.org/publications/dss-rat-abatement-audit/), WTTW (https://news.wttw.com/2026/07/29/chicago-can-t-keep-trying-poison-its-way-out-rat-problem-watchdog-report). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-27-storms-on-july-27-brought-more https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-27-storms-on-july-27-brought-more Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT By the next morning OEMC had nearly 2,000 tree emergency reports and another 725 reports of tree debris. Sources: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/27/flooded-basements-downed-trees-again-plague-chicago-after-heavy-storms-monday/), WTTW, reposted by MWRD (https://mwrd.org/news/chicago-area-cleaning-after-powerful-storms-cause-flooding-and-downed-trees-wttw). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-01-after-the-june-storms-311-logged https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-07-01-after-the-june-storms-311-logged Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Cole Stallard said crews mark non-emergency tickets complete and note the tree for later work, so a closed ticket can mean the tree is still there. The 8th Ward had the most open requests, over 580. Source: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/01/south-siders-still-waiting-for-tree-cleanup-after-june-storms-but-city-departments-are-overwhelmed/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-28-from-january-2021-to-february-2026 https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-28-from-january-2021-to-february-2026 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Claimants asked for $1.6 million in all, CBS News Chicago found in City Clerk records. The clerk's office says it receives claims but does not decide payment. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/s-cottage-grove-pullman-potholes/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-23-city-crews-had-filled-more-than https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-23-city-crews-had-filled-more-than Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT The city says it reaches a pothole reported to 311 in 4 to 10 days on average. A CDOT deputy commissioner said wet weather had slowed patching. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-potholes-road-resurfacing/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-09-cdot-replaced-890-light-poles-in https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-04-09-cdot-replaced-890-light-poles-in Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT As of March 20, 2026, it had replaced 176. CDOT said yearly totals vary. The city has more than 334,000 light poles. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/rusty-light-pole-car-damage-bucktown-chicago/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-26-the-inspector-general-found-that-311 https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-26-the-inspector-general-found-that-311 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT The audit says the "average" completion times the city publishes are medians, and that a closed request can hide that nothing was done, as with a pothole left unfilled because of road construction. 311 gets 2.2 to 2.3 million requests a year. Sources: Office of Inspector General (https://igchicago.org/publications/311-service-request-audit/), Chicago Sun-Times (https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2026/02/26/chicago-311-system-poor-response-city-hall-inspector-general-deborah-witzburg), CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-inspector-general-audit-311-service-request-system). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-18-city-council-settled-a-suit-over https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-18-city-council-settled-a-suit-over Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT CBS News Chicago put the total cost to taxpayers at over $3 million, including $1.6 million in legal fees. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/andrea-santiago-lawsuit-chicago-van-wrongfully-towed-2018/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-13-a-rat-birth-control-pilot-in https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-02-13-a-rat-birth-control-pilot-in Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT The study began in August 2025 with Lincoln Park Zoo, the Chicago Bird Alliance and the 43rd Ward office. Ald. Timmy Knudsen led the pilot. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-rat-birth-control-pilot-program-lincoln-park). Ward 43: https://chiwardboard.com/ward-43.html https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-01-09-the-shared-cost-sidewalk-program-took https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2026-01-09-the-shared-cost-sidewalk-program-took Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Residents typically pay $1,000 to $2,400 for an average mid-block property, according to the program. Applications were first come, first served. Source: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/01/09/need-your-sidewalk-fixed-applications-open-monday-only-for-citys-shared-cost-program/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-12-12-the-snow-season-s-first-weeks https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-12-12-the-snow-season-s-first-weeks Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMT A WBEZ and Sun-Times analysis counted Nov. 1 to Dec. 10, 2025. Nearly 11,500 came after the Nov. 29 storm. Snow complaints are not one of the services ranked here. Source: WBEZ (https://www.wbez.org/weather/2025/12/12/chicago-kicks-off-snow-season-record-311-calls-ice-uncleared-sidewalks-roads). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-07-13-rat-complaints-to-311-fell-from https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-07-13-rat-complaints-to-311-fell-from Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMT The mean time to complete a rodent request fell from about 11.5 days in 2021 to 5.3 days in 2024. Source: Chicago Tribune, via Yahoo News (https://www.yahoo.com/news/country-rattiest-city-chicago-sees-090000439.html). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-06-24-neighbors-of-dean-park-in-wicker https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-06-24-neighbors-of-dean-park-in-wicker Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT Requests on May 2, May 28 and June 17 each led to baiting. CBS News Chicago counted 862 rat complaints from the West Town community area in the first half of 2025. Sources: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/24/wicker-park-neighbors-fight-atrocious-rat-problem-in-dean-park-but-so-far-the-rats-are-winning/), CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/park-chicago-west-town-community-rats/). Ward 1: https://chiwardboard.com/ward-1.html https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-05-14-abc7-found-43-400-rat-complaints https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-05-14-abc7-found-43-400-rat-complaints Wed, 14 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT That was 6.6% below the yearly average for 2022 to 2024. Streets and Sanitation said it is increasing staffing and deploying more crews. Source: ABC7 Chicago (https://abc7chicago.com/videoClip/16393192/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-02-19-city-council-approved-rules-letting-police https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2025-02-19-city-council-approved-rules-letting-police Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMT The rules target unlicensed car flippers. Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) said reporting the cars as abandoned has no effect because they are sold or moved before seven days pass. Source: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/19/car-flippers-beware-city-approves-crackdown-on-unlicensed-sellers-gobbling-up-street-parking/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-11-21-street-lights-on-marquette-road-in https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-11-21-street-lights-on-marquette-road-in Thu, 21 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT CDOT said it replaced worn overhead wire and checked the circuit, and named weather and trees touching wires as possible causes. The lights were dark again when CBS News Chicago visited. Source: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/streetlights-out-chicago-woodlawn-neighborhood/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-11-20-streets-and-sanitation-s-commissioner-told https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-11-20-streets-and-sanitation-s-commissioner-told Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMT Commissioner Cole Stallard said the department may also try carbon dioxide to kill rats in their holes. Source: WBBM Newsradio (https://www.audacy.com/wbbm780/news/local/chicago-streets-and-sanitation-address-rat-problem). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-10-23-tree-trims-rose-118-after-the https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-10-23-tree-trims-rose-118-after-the Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMT Streets and Sanitation stopped taking tree trim requests through 311 except for emergencies. As of September 2024, crews had finished 119 of 800 grids. Source: Block Club Chicago, from Illinois Answers (https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/10/23/a-new-city-tree-trim-strategy-produces-big-results-not-everyone-is-on-board/). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-08-09-more-than-6-000-sanitation-code https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-08-09-more-than-6-000-sanitation-code Fri, 09 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT South Shore residents described garbage piling up on their streets. The area had 350 reported violations in 2023 and 651 in 2021. Sources: WBEZ (https://www.wbez.org/environment/2024/08/09/south-shore-residents-are-fed-up-with-garbage-on-their-streets), Chicago Sun-Times (https://chicago.suntimes.com/environment/2024/08/11/garbage-south-shore-streets). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-07-18-the-city-s-forestry-bureau-got https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-07-18-the-city-s-forestry-bureau-got Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMT More than 3,200 were completed by Thursday morning, July 18, Streets and Sanitation said. Source: NBC 5 Chicago (https://nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicagos-bureau-forestry-slammed-with-service-calls-severe-weather-outbreak/3494311). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-03-07-cdot-crews-filled-more-than-143 https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-03-07-cdot-crews-filled-more-than-143 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT The city said February alone saw more than 93,000, up 63% from February 2023, with up to 25 crews working seven days a week. Sources: CBS News Chicago (https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-potholes-warm-weather/), Chicago Sun-Times (https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2024/03/07/chicago-department-transportation-143-000-potholes-repair-2024-transportation-city-hall-traffic-cars). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-03-06-the-inspector-general-said-the-city https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-03-06-the-inspector-general-said-the-city Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT OIG said that approach hurt the long-term cost, safety and equity of city services, citing city data that majority white North Side areas were more likely to file 311 complaints. Source: Office of Inspector General (https://igchicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Advisory-Concerning-the-Citys-Complaint-Based-Approach-to-City-Services.pdf). https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-01-08-the-shared-cost-sidewalk-program-took https://chiwardboard.com/news.html#n-2024-01-08-the-shared-cost-sidewalk-program-took Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMT Residents typically paid $600 to $1,500, and older residents and people with disabilities got 50 percent off. Source: Block Club Chicago (https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/01/08/want-the-city-to-split-the-cost-of-your-broken-front-sidewalk-bill-applications-are-open-monday-only-2/).