About the Candidate
Name: Miguel Bautista
DOB: Jan. 30, 1978
Family: I am married to my beautiful wife Michelle Bautista. We have two beautiful kids Maya Bautista (7 years) and Mateo Bautista (4 years). I come from a big family. I have 1 brother and 8 sisters. I grew up in Back of the Yards neighborhood. I attended St. Joseph catholic school. When St. Joseph H.S. closed I transferred and graduated from Thomas Kelly High School.
Occupation: I have been working for UIC for 16 years.
Political Experience: I volunteered for Ameya Pawar for Governor campaign, Marie Newman for Congress (3rd district) and Anthony Clark for Congress (7th district).
Website: miguelfor28.com
Candidate Statement
Hello, my name is Miguel Bautista and I am running for alderman of the 28th ward. We are looking to bring transparency, accountability, and accessibility to the 28th ward office. We are running a grass-root people over profit campaign with a focus on educating, organizing, and mobilizing all the residents of the 28th ward. In the 28th ward, we have some of Chicago’s highest unemployment rates and a lack of job opportunities. However, we simultaneously have close to 5 billion dollars in infrastructure projects ongoing within and around the 28th ward. Our plan is to change this through the implementation of community benefit agreements on all major projects. We will also be implementing a participatory budget committee of community stakeholders in the ward. Furthermore, we will incorporate our high school youth in their schools so that student as young as 14 years old can propose and vote on projects they want to see in their communities. We do this to increase community participation and dedication for public service because everyone deserves to be heard. We will be creating a zoning and development committee, of community members, that will ensure that we do not keep getting displaced and enforce a 20% - 30% affordable housing requirement onsite for any project that requires zoning change or TIF funds. Because if you’re using public funds it must benefit the public community you’re profiting from. With both community benefit agreements and zoning committees we will ensure that our neighbors and friends have access to jobs and are able to afford to live here without displacement. Together with your help, we can return the power back to the people on February 26th. Vote for Miguel Bautista. Thank you!
Candidate Q&A
What is your vision for this office?
I plan on returning the alderman’s office back to the people. The people will be taking control of the aldermanic menu budget, zoning and development decisions, and instilling more community benefit agreements. There will be increased transparency, accountability, and accessibility for all residents of the 28th ward and City of Chicago. These simple changes will make the ward more organized and invite more involvement from everyday residents willing to improve and make a difference.
What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?
Job opportunities and affordable housing. We plan to address jobs through community benefit agreements (CBA). There is close to 5 billion dollars in infrastructure within and around 28th ward. However, none of these projects have any CBAs. In addition, we will be utilizing abandoned buildings to provide training for IT, construction, masonry, iron work, etc. To create or partner with the private sector in creating an IT learning center that will focus on Microsoft, Cisco, Dell certifications. Most of these certifications can be completed within 1 to 4 weeks. This can help job seekers get exposed to the IT field which can lead them directly into a job or continue towards an advanced degree at a community college or 4 years university. Right now, most universities do not offer Microsoft certification programs. These certificates require additional time outside of academic work. I believe people need and crave these educational opportunities and we can create this opportunity in the 28th ward. Working in partnership with the private sector our goal would be to offer these courses for free or at a reduced price-specifically for 28th ward residents. These IT jobs are the new "trade" jobs of our century. Let’s make the 28th ward the new IT hub for the 21st Century.
