Latest news with #ChicagoDepartmentofStreetsandSanitation
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Elderly Chicago resident seeks help after city tree damages her home
CHICAGO (WGN) – Velva Cox has lived in her South Side home for 50 years. At one time, her block on South Honore Avenue was filled with mature trees. 'I thought that was so pretty,' Cox said. 'That's why I wanted this house.' The block has seen a lot of changes over the years and many of those trees are now gone. Errant driver causes 1-week delay in Kennedy ramp re-opening However, the large, mature ash in front of the 79-year-old's home still remains. 'I like the tree because of the shade,' Cox said. That shade has a downside, too. One of the tree's branches now sits just inches above Cox's roof line, scraping against the shingles and apparently causing damage. 'The shingles is coming up on it and there's holes in my roof,' she said. In recent years, Cox asked the city to trim the tree, but said she was told it wasn't possible and she couldn't afford to pay to trim the tree, which is located on city property. Another $1.6M SNAP benefits stolen as 'big beautiful bill' looks to save In need of assistance, Cox contacted WGN Investigates. Less than a day after we notified the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, city crews came out and trimmed Cox's tree, as well as others on the block. 'There were multiple trees on the block that you could probably tell hadn't been trimmed in 15 years,' said the department's James Sheehan. Last year, WGN Investigates reported how the city changed the way it trimmed its trees, moving to a grid system rather than responding to resident complaints. SEE ALSO: Homeowner waits years for City of Chicago tree trim service City officials have acknowledged that some trees in need of maintenance may have gotten overlooked, but said the process has become more efficient under the new system, resulting in more trees being trimmed in more neighborhoods. 'We trimmed over 180,000 trees…a 200% increase, but there are definitely some that slip through the cracks,' Sheehan said. Officials said residents with trees that need trimming but are not in imminent danger of injuring people or property should call their alderman's office or email StreetsandSan@ Interviewed after the branch was removed, Cox said she was just thankful the work was finally done. Illinois pays $1.3M for unopened migrant shelter despite Pritzker pledge 'Thank you, Jesus, it's over,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Chicago street cleaning season returns this week
The Brief Chicago's street cleaning season begins tomorrow, with sweepers removing debris and litter from city streets through mid-November. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will post warning signs 48 hours in advance to remind residents to move their cars and avoid tickets. Residents can check the cleaning schedule on the city's website or track sweepers in real time using the Sweeper Tracker tool. CHICAGO - Chicago's annual street cleaning season kicks off tomorrow, with city sweepers set to clear debris and litter from neighborhood streets through mid-November. The backstory Starting tomorrow, sweepers will begin making their rounds across the city, removing debris and litter from the streets. The Department of Streets and Sanitation will hang warning signs 48 hours before the sweepers are scheduled to be on your street. Street cleaning season lasts through mid-November with sweepers active on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. What you can do Residents are reminded to check the schedule and be on the lookout for signs, so they can move their cars on time and avoid being ticketed. The schedule for the 2025 street cleaning season can be found on the City of Chicago website. Residents can view street sweepers in real-time using the Sweeper Tracker online tool and requests can be made to city's request line at 3-1-1. The Source The information in this report came from the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Chicago snowplows to focus on residential streets Saturday
CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation said its snowplow fleet will begin to focus on clearing residential streets on Saturday after another round of snowfall on Friday. The efforts come after another couple of inches of snow fell across the Chicago area late Friday and more snow is expected later on Saturday. What we know Since Friday afternoon, the city's salt spreading vehicles have been deployed to treat main roads to ensure safe travel across the city, especially for emergency vehicles. The city's Department of Streets and Sanitation oversees more than 9,400 lane miles of roadway. Crews also have salt at various locations across the city to ensure efficient service. What to expect A brief wintry mix is also possible south of Interstate 80 on Saturday afternoon and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service. Tonight, there is still a risk of some light snow and flurries with an additional inch possible. The NWS Chicago office said waves of snow are expected throughout Sunday as well, although there will be hours of dry weather in between. What you can do Residents are able to track the city's snowplow fleet in real time at To receive real-time weather updates and emergency notifications, residents can sign up at
