Chicago City Wire

Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) is facing renewed questions about his residency after an incident in which his office ejected a reporter from a publicly advertised community meeting. 

This week, the Chicago Contrarian reignited the conversation about Sigcho-Lopez's residency on social media. 

“Ald. BS Lopez is fond of mentioning his demand the First Amendment is protected but tossed a reporter from a community meeting focusing on a business in his crime-ridden ward,” the Chicago Contrarian said this week in a post on X. 

Byron Sigcho Lopez's car. | Byron Sigcho Lopez / X.com

“He then lied about it.”

“Even Byron doesn't want to live in his neighborhood.”

The post references a Feb. 21 meeting at Cooper Dual Language Academy in Pilsen, where Sigcho-Lopez’s chief of staff removed a Block Club Chicago reporter while allowing two other journalists from Spanish-language TV outlets to remain. 

The meeting, focused on the controversial reopening of Caminos de Michoacan bar, was listed as “public” in four separate notices, according to Block Club, and attended by several city officials—including police and business regulation representatives. 

Experts in media law and government transparency warned the move may have violated the reporter’s First Amendment rights, sparking citywide debate about press access and public accountability.

Now, attention has also shifted back to Sigcho-Lopez’s residency—an issue that has dogged the Democratic Socialist Alderman since his first run for office in 2019. Critics point to his frequent presence at a condo owned by his wife, Loreen Targos, at 20 North State Street, Unit 601, in the Loop. She purchased the unit in 2010 for $173,000 and lived there long before marrying Sigcho-Lopez.

That condo, located 4.7 miles from the couple’s other property at 1901 W. 21st St. in Pilsen—which they bought in 2018 for $550,000—came under the spotlight after photos surfaced showing Sigcho-Lopez standing outside the Loop property. In the images, he holds up parking tickets next to his white Toyota Prius, which displays stickers that read “BLM,” “No Racist Police” and “Bernie Beats Trump.”

(Byron Sigcho Lopez's property at 1901 W. 21st St. in Pilsen.)

The photos, taken far outside the 25th Ward that Sigcho-Lopez represents, sparked criticism for what some called performative complaints about parking enforcement.

Sigcho-Lopez has previously faced formal challenges to his residency. Prior to his 2019 election, opponents alleged he falsified claims about his time living in the ward and instead resided at his wife’s downtown condo.

Despite the objections, Sigcho-Lopez prevailed in the City of Chicago Electoral Board hearing and won the open race to succeed outgoing Alderman Daniel Solis. He has served since May 2019.

During the 2018 Electoral Board hearing, objectors claimed Sigcho-Lopez had not lived at the required 25th Ward address for a full year. They alleged he misrepresented a second-floor apartment at 1813 S. Carpenter St. as his residence, despite spending most of his time elsewhere.

“The candidate lacked the one-year required residency in the 25th Ward, falsely alleging residence at 1813 South Carpenter Street, Chicago, Illinois, such that the Statement of Candidacy executed on November 18, 2018, was false and fraudulent,” the allegations recorded by the Electoral Board noted in hearing records.

Sigcho-Lopez testified that he moved to the second-floor apartment on July 30, 2018, after previously residing at 1740 W. 21st Place. He claimed the Carpenter apartment, owned by friend Martha Herrera, was his home—even though he slept on a couch and kept his belongings packed during the day.

“I would sleep on the couch, with my blankets and pillows that would be rolled up and tucked away when I was not sleeping there,” Sigcho-Lopez said, according to the Electoral Board hearing. 

The objector to Sigcho-Lopez’s candidacy accused the candidate of maintaining “a fake residency, alleging the 1813 S. Carpenter address, at best, was little more than a mail drop intended to preserve the candidate's 25th Ward residence.” 

The objector also noted “that the only logical conclusion is that a newlywed would be staying with his new bride at her condo, in this case 20 N. State Street, outside the 25th Ward, and that the stated reasons for not staying there, another roommate, cramped, location, lack of parking, etc. were a sham.”

Indeed, testimony revealed Sigcho-Lopez spent increasing time at his wife’s condo after their Sept. 8, 2018, wedding. Electoral Board records note that by December 2018, he was reportedly only staying at the Carpenter apartment one or two nights a week. He cited sleeping at his campaign office and occasionally staying at the Loop condo as reasons.

Nevertheless, Sigcho-Lopez insisted that he maintained his Carpenter Street address as his primary residence.

The couple’s Pilsen property includes two second-floor units and a ground-floor storefront totaling 3,175 square feet. Though purchased in September 2018, they didn’t move in before the election due to construction issues. 

“Because of problems revealed post-purchase and required rehab, they did not expect to move in until spring 2019,” hearing records show.

Carlos “Charlie” Rodriguez, a longtime resident of the building’s first floor, testified during the hearing that his mother owns the property and that Sigcho-Lopez did not live in the second-floor unit. He said he rarely saw Sigcho-Lopez at the address and never believed he lived there.

“I knew the candidate was receiving mail at the house,” Rodriguez said. “But I was curious why, because I didn’t believe he lived there.”

Rodriguez added that when he asked Sigcho-Lopez about the mail, the candidate explained his house was being repaired and he needed an address for mail delivery—but made no claim about residing at the Carpenter address.

While the residency dispute was ultimately resolved in his favor, Sigcho-Lopez continues to court controversy. 

In 2024, he participated in a protest against the Democratic National Convention where an American flag was burned. Aldermen Anthony Napolitano and Brendan Reilly condemned the protest, calling it “anti-American” and “a disgraceful act,” and demanded Sigcho-Lopez be removed from City Council leadership roles.

Further backlash followed Sigcho-Lopez’s use of the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Critics, including Jewish groups and political opponents, say the slogan is antisemitic and associated with Hamas. The remarks intensified criticism of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Sigcho-Lopez is a member.

Additionally, Sigcho-Lopez has accused the Chicago Police Department of harboring officers with ties to white supremacist groups. In a public letter to city officials, he cited at least 15 officers and called for reforms to address corruption and extremism within the department.