2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I am running to build stronger and safer communities in Chicago and the 34th Ward. My broad set of skills and experiences make me well-suited to serve my community well. I was born and raised in Chicago and am a father to three young children. Professionally, my finance, law enforcement and military background will be an asset in City Council. I am a Finance professor at DePaul University, was an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook State’s Attorney’s Office for seven years, and also have worked as a Navy Intelligence Officer, previously serving in Qatar, Afghanistan and Germany. I’m running to ensure that we improve public safety, get after the root causes of crime such as homelessness and mental health and also approach development thoughtfully, with an eye toward residents’ input and infrastructure to support the growth throughout the 34th Ward.

What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?

The 34th Ward is a brand new ward, and touches no part of the 34th Ward in the previous map. As Alderman, it is important that we quickly respond to residents’ concerns and requests for city services, while also advocating for smart public policy in City Council. This will involve a heightened focus on public safety, getting after the root causes of crime, and approaching development thoughtfully and collaboratively throughout the ward.

What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?

Public Safety. I would address it by:

1. expanding community policing, where more officers walk the beat to build relationships with residents rather than being assigned to citywide task forces or a desk;

2. making sure our police have the staffing levels and resources they need to fight and deter crime, by working closely with the 12th and 1st District commanders and utilizing my aldermanic budget to support their work; and

3. getting after the root causes of crime, by advocating for increased help for homelessness and mental health funding. Our City needs to reopen the mental health clinics that were closed, but if that is not financially feasible in the immediate term, a mobile mental health clinic that can get those in need the proper treatment and prescriptions should be stood up in short order.

What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?

Our office will be accessible via phone calls, text messaging, email, social media, in person at the ward office or frequent opportunities throughout the community. We plan to have a text number for intake and attend as many meetings and events as possible, as our campaign does currently, working closely with local groups and leaders. This will continue when I am in office and responsive constituent services will be a top priority.

Do you believe in the tradition of aldermanic prerogative, which gives each City Council member the final say on issues in their ward?

Recognizing the previous issues around aldermanic prerogative, generally an Alderperson will know their community better than the mayor or a City department. Therefore, the Alderman should be able to guide development in their ward in consultation with residents.

Should the $1.9 billion budget for the Chicago Police Department increase, stay the same or decrease?

Broadly, the Chicago Police Department needs a cohesive strategy and stronger leadership it is lacking today. Right now, because of last minute changes in strategy, scheduling, and on-and-off again plans such as City Wide units and Tiered Deployments, officers often get their days off canceled on short notice where they are compensated at an overtime rate. As a result, there is at least some subset of officers that can be added without an increase in cost. We also need to explore hiring civilians for administrative positions so that officers and detectives may be freed up to solve crime, and consider where police are not the appropriate response, for example to a non-violent mental health distress call.

Should the city raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax on properties sold for more than $1 million to fund programs to help unhoused Chicagoans?

I agree that we must help unhoused Chicagoans. Right now, we are working on proposals to reinvigorate the Loop through redevelopment, which will also increase affordable housing. I fear that raising this tax at a time where we’re trying to spur growth in affordable housing development would have the opposite effect. However, I am open to discussing any ordinance that accomplishes our shared goal of providing everyone with shelter and opportunity.

Should the city open and operate mental health clinics to provide free care to Chicagoans?

Yes. The City’s closure of half of the mental health clinics at a time of declining federal funding for mental illness has had a devastating effect on Chicago. We see it in the increase of tent cities and people suffering with mental illness not having access to the help and treatment they need and deserve. I recognize resources are thin, but reversing the course of this by reopening clinics should be a top priority. Another innovative idea that should be considered is mobile mental health, which will allow people to get treatment and prescriptions right where they are, as opposed to having to go to a specific location they often cannot access or even know about. This would be cheaper and easier to implement than reopening the clinics if that is not financially feasible in the short term, and would have a more immediate impact.

How should Chicago build the 120,000 homes it needs for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans?

We need to spur housing development across the City, and the way to do that is by creating good jobs and making our City safer. First off, government needs to make it easier to do business with the City for small builders and developers who understand that there is great demand for low and moderate income housing. The last thing we want is for those who are ready to invest in Chicago and address our housing shortage to be stuck in a morass of bureaucracy and red tape. Additionally, in remaking our central business district, we have the opportunity to expand affordable housing and I plan to champion that as 34th Ward Alderman.

What do you see as potential solutions to address the number of shootings in Chicago?

The rise in violent crime has devastated Chicago families and communities, and if we’re going to solve the problem, we must take a “both/and” approach. That means urgently tackling violence in the short term with strategies to solve and deter crime like expanding community policing and filling the nearly 2,000 vacant officer positions, while also making investments that get after the root causes of crime, like poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and mental health.

Should the city do more to encourage residents to live close to where they work and shop by building dense multi-unit apartment complexes near transportation hubs?

Our City has such a shortage of housing that we need to consider both. Specifically in the Loop, we need it to be a place where people don’t just work, but also live, shop and eat, which would have residents likely living near where they work.

Should the city prioritize the construction of bicycle lanes and encourage people to use bicycles to commute to work?

Studies are clear that bike lane construction reduces traffic congestion and pollution, so constructing bike lanes that are safe for cyclists is important. More broadly, in the 34th Ward, we have specific continuity problems for bike lanes and traffic generally, and we need to come up with a cohesive traffic plan for this.

Should city employees continue to be required to live in Chicago?

Yes. We want City employees to be invested in our City. And requiring them to live in Chicago is part of that.