■ Driver runs for Congress PAGE 6
FREE Vol. 40 No. 4
January 28, 2026 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyNews
@austinweeklynews
Mayor Brandon Johnson tours the facility at the opening ceremony of the Legler Library Food Bank on Jan. 22. TODD BANNOR
Legler Regional Library opens food pantry Staff Reporter
The Legler Regional Library in West Garfield Park has become the second public library in the nation, and the first in Illinois, to provide a full-service food pantry.
The Library-Based Food Access program celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 22, attended by elected and Chicago Public Library officials, plus staff from the Greater Chicago Food Depository — which stocks the pantry at no charge to the library. The pantry has been open in
Taliaferro says city close to a deal on new Galewood library
Chicago, CPL begins due diligence on purchasing Harlem Avenue Fifth Third Bank site By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
the Legler branch’s lower level since July with a rotating selection of protein, produce and dairy. Today, the pantry serves over 600 households a month, and anyone who comes by
After 16 years of proposals and deals falling through, Galewood is once again tantalizingly close to getting its own neighborhood library. Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) told Austin Weekly News in a recent interview that the City of Chicago made an offer for the former Fifth Third Bank property at 1725 N. Harlem Ave. He said that the property owner responded with an offer to sell the property for $2.8 million, and the city is currently doing its due diligence. Taliaferro said that period is expected to take around three months, but he asked for an expedited review.
See FOOD PANTRY on page 12
See LIBRARY on page 11
The full-service pantry in West Garfield Park is funded and stocked by the Greater Chicago Food Depository By JESSICA MORDACQ
@AustinWeeklyChi
She brings the wings to Soldier Field page 5
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