35th ward

Hundreds of petition signatures for challenger Richard Mpistolarides were invalidated, leaving him just short of the requirement, elections officials ruled Friday.

The highest-paid alderpeople will make $142,772 next year, thanks to a nearly 10 percent raise. The lowest-paid alderperson makes $115,560, by comparison.

The surcharge pulled in $120,000 from eight demolition permits over the past year, resulting in fewer demolitions, officials said. The program is an effort to slow gentrification in these areas.

More than $200 million in federal aid is earmarked for the city’s homeless shelters, direct financial assistance to struggling Chicagoans and programs that aid victims of gender-based and domestic violence.

"People will go to Andersonville, Lincoln Park, Downtown and say, 'Why is everything so clean?' ... If we want to see similar beautification efforts in Logan Square, the way to accomplish that is through an SSA," the alderman said.

The discussion will revolve around housing and gentrification issues in Albany Park and surrounding communities.

An entity affiliated with Mark Fishman — who kicked Ramirez-Rosa out of his ward office over a rent dispute — donated to Amanda Yu Dieterich's campaign.