The Department of Streets and Sanitation getting rid of "dibs" items last year. View Full Caption DNAinfo/ Josh McGhee

CHICAGO — You've been warned dibs-ers, the end is nigh — at least in Ald. Deb Mell's ward.

"The City is coming through today (Monday, 2/9) to pick up items used for 'dibs' or reservation of street parking spaces," the 33rd Ward Facebook page announced Monday. "Dibs is NOT a sanctioned practice in Chicago; parking on the street is free for all residents and guests, unless City signage indicates restrictions."

Mell reminded people Monday that you can't "claim" street parking in Chicago.

But Streets and Sanitation contradicted the 33rd Ward's declaration of the death of dibs.

"We have given no such instruction" to remove dibs placeholders, Streets and Sanitation spokeswoman Molly Poppe told DNAinfo Chicago.

Poppe reiterated Mayor Emanuel's belief in "sweat equity," which he stated at a recent mayoral debate.

Streets & San's official position is "we want people to be good neighbors," Poppe said.

According to Mell's chief of staff Dana Fritz, dibs received a reprieve when Mother Nature decided to lay down a fresh coat of ice on the city's streets.

"That was the plan, to make an honest effort to clean it up today," he said.

With crews caught up on plowing and trash pickup in most wards, dibs was next on the city's to-do list, acccording to Fritz.

"As soon as the ice is taken care of," removing dibs will be back on the agenda, he said.

Mell, a lifelong Chicagoan, said dibs "is what we do," but there are limits.

"You can't have the dibs a week after" it snows, she said.

It's been a brutal week for dibs, with vandalism and fights over the practice reported throughout the city.

Over the weekend, residents of one Avondale block teamed up to clear any remaining snow in the street, hoping to discourage dibs. But people who park in a "claimed" spot are still afraid.

Last week, a Ukrainian Village woman found her brakes cut after parking in a spot that someone else had shoveled out and reserved with lawn chairs.

“I definitely feel intimidated and a little scared,” the woman told DNAinfo. “This person is obviously my neighbor who is capable of doing an awful thing.”

Mell's office urged people to call 311 about junk left in the street. You can also report dibs online under the label of "Snow Equipment Restriction" here.

Poppe of Streets & San confirmed that residents can indeed report dibs complaints to 311.

"Dibs is a perfect symbol of dysfunction," Avondale resident Elisa Addlesperger said Saturday while shoveling on her block. "It's disgraceful that [the city] would allow it and say it's a tradition. Let's stop being selfish and help each other out."

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