2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I am running because the 9th ward desperately needs new leadership and a leader who will always put their best interests first over his own personal interests. I am a life-long resident of the ward, third generation and I've seen the decline of the ward, and with my unique background in public service, I feel as though I have created a skillset that will be the best for this constituency--my peers and family.

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

This current office does gentrification and holding resources from black constituents very well. The communication needs fixing, the accessibility of our leadership needs fixing, the implementation and allocation of resources needs fixing, the neglect of constituents needs fixing, the educational system needs fixing, the geographical landscape of the ward needs fixing, the dilapidation of vacant lots, businesses and homes needs fixing, the access to quality foods both in the grocery sector and fine-dining sector needs fixing.

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

The most pressing issue in our ward is lack of access. We do not have access to grocery stores, trauma centers, dry cleaners, movie theaters, quality food, quality education, resources that help us flourish as a community. I plan to first hold quarterly consultations with the ward as a whole to see what is the priority of the constituents (because too often the candidates running pursue what they think is they most pressing issue first, when in actuality, no polling of the constituency has been done to see what voters see as first priority) and then begin to implement solutions to those priorities. I plan on addressing everything with conversations with the community first and putting voters in the decision-making process for their own neighborhoods.

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

Specifically, I will create a direct constituent portal where only 9th ward constituents can go to submit their grievances and be sure to follow-up within 7 days through myself or my secretary with a direct phone call. I pledge to carve out time on a weekly basis to personally respond to grievances via phone so that constituents are used to getting a direct phone call response from their alderman.

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

I do believe in it because as the elected alderman, you should have the final say on the issues in the ward, however your final say should be solely based on the best interests of the constituents which would be known if said alderman consulted them on a regular basis, which I pledge to do.

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

I believe the Chicago Police Department budget should stay the same for now and there should be revisions on the allocation of said money, with constituent input.

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 believe if raising that tax proves to be essential in helping unhoused Chicagoans, then sure it should be raised, however, that same goal can be achieved through increased funding directly to the department of family and support services.

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

Hell Yes! Mental Health is real and we must combat it safely and adequately to serve our citizens to the best of our ability.

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

Chicago should first prioritize the resource allocation within its budget, out of $16.4 billion dollars for 2023, there should certainly be an allocation for what is needed first, and these homes should rank within the top priorities of the city, releasing funds from the city's budget to address those priorities. TIF districts and funds can also play a role in the building these needed homes, if used correctly, which I would consult with my constituents on what would be deemed correct usage.

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

I think that if Chicago began focusing more on prevention rather than responding to violence, we would see a decrease. We should be focused on implementing social services in the schools and the community that actively work to prevent kids and teens from engaging in the activities that lead to the shootings we see today in the city. We will begin to address shootings when we begin to address the preventable instances that lead to them.

Should the city extend the Red Line south from 95th Street to 130th Street and use tax-increment financing from downtown wards to match an expected federal grant?

The city should absolutely extend the redline to 130th street, access to transportation is a right that all Chicagoans deserve, and with the redline stopping at 95th, it cuts off access to nearly 100,000 Chicagoans who live beyond that stop. TIF funds should certainly be used, if there are funds left from the downtown wards that are much more well-off than the dilapidated, forgotten and deserted south side, then absolutely they should be used.