The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation is far more than its iconic big blue sanitation trucks. It is the backbone of Chicago’s beautification and the engine that helps keep our city clean and sustainable, including preparing citywide locations for special events year-round. With an anticipated 50,000 visitors coming to town for the Democratic National Convention in August, our dedicated staff is busy trimming trees, removing debris from public spaces and beautifying neighborhoods from West Pullman to Rogers Park so we can showcase our world-class city and all it has to offer on a global stage.
But most importantly, our work doesn’t start or end with the DNC. We’ve been the unsung heroes of Chicago, the men and women responsible for keeping our city clean since the first garbage collectors, then called scavengers, were appointed in 1849.
Known to most Chicagoans as “Streets and San,” the department’s foundation is built on hard work. Day in and day out, the more than 2,000 staffers uphold this call to action to provide services we cannot live without. Whether we are collecting garbage and removing graffiti or trimming trees and sweeping streets, we keep this city moving and shining, and that won’t change during the DNC.
We know that no city can host this event alone, and though Chicago is the epicenter of the convention, its impacts will reverberate throughout the state. This all-hands-on-deck approach has created opportunities for new cross-department and government collaboration.
In partnership with the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation, we’re removing graffiti throughout the business district, citywide event spaces, Lower Wacker Drive, and our major expressways and buildings, making space to showcase local artists through streetscapes and murals.
The Streets and Sanitation bureau of traffic services continues to work closely with the Chicago Police Department to meet anticipated transit demands during special events and plans to monitor closely during the DNC week. As we count the weeks until the convention, we will work with our city partners on strategies that will allow for the smooth flow of traffic, minimizing travel disruptions so residents and visitors enjoy summertime Chicago.
We’re also partnering with the Chicago Park District to keep our beautiful green spaces and the surrounding areas free from waste and weeds, ensuring the city’s parklands are ready for their moment in the spotlight.
To uphold our city’s commitment to its climate action goals, our recycling and forestry staff members have been meeting with convention planners to ensure this event reflects our commitment to people-first governance focused on community engagement. Their sustainability work includes both planning for recycling and waste diversion and strengthening our urban tree canopy by planting hundreds of new trees across our city to help ensure a greener, more resilient Chicago.
Together with the Laborers’ International Union of North America and Chicago Public Schools, we onboarded 70 recent CPS graduates as general laborer trainees to help boost our cleaning efforts this summer. Following the program, trainees will be union members, providing them with opportunities for future employment and enhancing our city’s positive youth engagement.
We aren’t new to this. Chicago has a long and successful track record of hosting large-scale events including 25 Democratic and Republican conventions. With all eyes once again on our city, the work of Streets and San and the countless city departments and agencies is a long-term investment that will uplift the incredible people and places that make up our beautiful and diverse city.
So, the next time you see a Streets and San worker out there making magic happen, remember we are doing more than cleaning a street or trimming a tree. We are building the stage upon which Chicago’s next chapter will unfold.
Cole Stallard is commissioner for the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
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