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This Week In Photos: Mayor Visits Flooded Neighbors, Chicago Heat Wave And More

PHOTOS: Take a peek at life in the city through the eyes and lenses of the Block Club Chicago staff.

Colin Boyle and Block Club Chicago Staff

9:33 AM CDT on Jul 28, 2023

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) and representatives of FEMA meet with West Side neighbors to assess damage and impact of recent flooding in Austin on July 25, 2023.

CHICAGO — It’s a scorcher this week. We hope you are staying safe and cool!

See what Block Club Chicago reporters captured while covering the neighborhoods this week.

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) and representatives of FEMA meet with West Side neighbors Lorri and Lorriel Lockhart to assess damage and impact of recent flooding in Austin on July 25, 2023.

Austin neighbors look on while Mayor Brandon Johnson, Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) and representatives of FEMA meet with neighbors to assess damage and impact of recent flooding in Austin on July 25, 2023.

Read more: West Siders Beg City, Feds For Help After Floods Devastate Community: ‘We Lost Everything’

Housing advocates hold a press conference at City Hall before the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate hold a hearing on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Read more: Will City Hike Taxes On Pricey Home Sales To Fight Homelessness? Supporters Optimistic

Aide Ortiz, 17, received help through the Parents as Partners Program at Metropolitan Family Services Midway Center in West Lawn.

Midway Center staff at the ribbon-cutting event for the newly expanded health center in West Lawn.

Read more: Southwest Side Family Services Center Expands With $4.5 Million State Grant

Chief the “aldercat” hunkers down at his usual Rogers Park corner of Greenview and Farwell avenues on July 11, 2023.

Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman pets Chief the “aldercat” at his usual Rogers Park corner of Greenview and Farwell avenues on July 11, 2023.

Read more: Meet Chief, The ‘Aldercat’ Who Rules Rogers Park

The Chicago skyline is hardly visible through hazy conditions as air quality remains unhealthy in Chicago’s Kenwood community area on July 25, 2023.

Read more: At-Risk Chicagoans Urged To Stay Indoors As Wildfire Smoke Leads To Another Day Of Poor Air Quality

Members of both Bethel Mennonite Community Church and the Working Family Solidarity organization hold a prayer vigil for “Justice at ABLA Homes” on in Chicago on July 20, 2023.

Members of the Bethel Mennonite Community Church and the Working Family Solidarity organization hold a prayer vigil for “Justice at ABLA Homes” on Chicago’s Near West Side July 20, 2023.

Read more: Mayor Can Still Stop Billionaire’s Soccer Team From Taking Over Public Housing Land, Activists Say

Sand sculptor David Rotter at work on one of his sandcastle creations.

Read more: Meet The Sandcastle King Of Montrose Beach

About 500 neighbors turned out for a community meeting July 27, 2023 to hear about plans to turn the Broadway Armory into a temporary migrant shelter.

Read more: Broadway Armory’s Senior Center Won’t Close As 250 Migrants Move Into Gym Shelter

Jean Dubuffet’s Monument with Standing Beast, seen on July 24, 2023, is moving to the Art Institute of Chicago after standing outside of the Thompson Center for 40 years.

Read more: ‘Snoopy In A Blender’ Sculpture Moving From Thompson Center To Art Institute

Crowd walks in memory of victim killed in hit-and-run at Broadway and Winona Street.

Read more: After Fatal Uptown Hit-And-Run, Neighbors Demand Safer Crosswalks

Environmental activist Hazel M. Johnson is the focus of a new six-episode audio docuseries, “Help This Garden Grow,” which explores her decades of work to organize South Siders, public housing residents and all Chicagoans for cleaner air and water.

Read more: Podcast Explores How Hazel Johnson Started A Movement For Environmental Justice In Chicago

A migrant family arrives for their stay at Roger Park’s Super 8 Motel, 7300 N Sheridan Rd.

Read more: Rogers Park Motel Becomes Migrant Shelter Housing 250 People

Construction crews at Darwin Elementary in Logan Square.

Read more: Darwin Elementary’s $10 Million Renovation Is Underway

Ayla, 5, shows off Disney princess dresses at Uppie Yuppy, an indoor kids play area at 4835 W. Irving Park Road in Portage Park on July 24, 2023.

Read more: Uppie Yuppy Kids Play Area Coming To Six Corners

Tacombi, a nation-wide Mexican restaurant, recently opened in the West Loop at 126 N. Peoria St., as seen on July 24, 2023.

Read more: Tacombi Taco Chain Opens Restaurant In Fulton Market

Good Night John Boy, a disco-themed dance club and bar, opens Thursday at 905 W. Randolph St., in the West Loop.

Read more: Good Night John Boy Brings ’70s Vibes To Fulton Market

A sunflower blooms in Englewood on July 26, 2023.

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