💻 From Under the El
It’s another cold one, Chicago. Anyone else feel like this winter is never-ending? But while we’re all speed-walking with our shoulders up around our ears, one West Side neighbor ran toward danger — rushing into a burning apartment building to help get people out. And on a totally different “this is what progress looks like” note, Chicago just hit a nine-year low in traffic deaths. It’s Monday. Let’s get to some good news.
⏰ tl;dr
A Good Samaritan on the West Side ran into a burning building to help evacuate residents before firefighters arrived, likely helping prevent an even more serious disaster
Chicago recorded a nine-year low in traffic deaths. That’s progress worth protecting
Cupid’s Undie Run is back! This silly “mile-ish” run raised over $3.5 million for charity last year. Let’s do it again
🌻 What’s Going Right In Chicago Today
🚒 West Side neighbor runs into a burning building to help people still inside
A quick-thinking Good Samaritan helped get residents (including elderly neighbors) out as a fire tore through a West Side apartment building.
When he saw smoke pouring out of a West Side apartment building, Jonathan Cobbin didn’t wait around for someone else to be brave. He ran in and helped evacuate residents before firefighters even arrived on scene.
I was riding past on my scooter, and I saw the smoke coming out the top of the building, and I didn't see nobody evacuating. Someone in the building had buzzed me in. They buzzed me in. I ran through each floor, and banged on everybody's door, and told them the top floor is on fire, and everybody started evacuating.
While two people were taken to the hospital, things likely would have been far worse if it weren’t for Cobbin’s heroic actions and real care for his neighbors.
🚘 Chicago hits 9-year low in traffic deaths
Fewer people died on Chicago streets last year, a concrete sign that safety work can move the needle.
Chicago traffic deaths are down: The city recorded just 100 last year, the lowest total since 2016. It’s also a 46% reduction since 2021, when 186 people died in traffic accidents (one of the city’s peak years). A drop like that shows real progress that comes from unglamorous work: safer street design, traffic calming measures, education, and enforcement.
“It’s been an incredible accomplishment. We’re really proud to be leading the nation in terms of reducing traffic fatalities on our streets.”
However, there’s still work to do. In 2017, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel enacted Vision Zero, a plan to completely eliminate traffic deaths by 2026. Obviously, we aren’t there yet. And bond funding for the program is in danger of being cut by tens of millions over the next few years. To maintain the momentum we’ve gained, Chicagoans can work with their alderpeople and other city officials to support Vision Zero.
Image source: National Public Housing Museum/Google Maps
📈 The National Public Housing Museum is getting national love
A Chicago museum centered on public housing residents’ stories is being recognized as one of the country’s standout new museums.
If you haven’t been yet, consider this your nudge: The National Public Housing Museum is being celebrated nationally, ranked No. 3 on USA Today 10Best’s Best New Museums for 2026. It’s a museum built to correct the record, showing public housing as real lives, real communities, real history. And honestly, Chicago creating the place for that story to live feels… right.
“We’re very proud of the accomplishment. To actually have a space where people can come and really see the full vision, and all of the exhibits and stories we’ve been working on with residents and preservationists to pull together to create the museum, it’s definitely been a big year for us.”
The museums on the list were selected by an expert panel, USA Today editors, and, finally, the public, who voted on finalists.
You can visit the National Public Housing Museum in Little Italy, at 919 S Ada St., Wednesday through Sunday.
🍎 South suburban pantry reopens — bigger, brighter, and better built for the moment
Respond Now’s Chicago Heights pantry is back open in a renovated space, at a time when more neighbors may need help.
Respond Now reopened its renovated Chicago Heights pantry, expanding space and improving the setup so it works better for real people in real need. The timing matters: The reopening lands just as federal SNAP rule changes are expected to make benefits harder for some residents to maintain, meaning pantries could see more demand.
The $2.1 million renovation project revitalized the 30-year-old building with a larger food pantry space, a new conference room, nicer bathrooms, and more. Donors, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and a grant secured by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly funded the improvements, which began in 2023.
To be able to provide a community center that is, you know, new and fresh, speaks to the importance of the community. I think it’s an important thing for the neighborhood and community we live in that, we’re saying, everybody here may be living in poverty, but everybody is important.
🗓️ Eye On the Chi
Feeding Our Neighbors & Donate Warm Clothes
Spend a few hours helping distribute food and collecting warm clothing.
When: Feb. 27, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 4600 S Greenwood Ave
Cupid’s Undie Run
A “big party” and run. Show up half-naked (on purpose) to raise money to help end neurofibromatosis (NF).
When: Feb. 28, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Sluggers Sports Bar
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