2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I have seen the best of Chicago, the worst of Chicago, and everything in between, and I believe that Chicago needs a Movement of Hope to help it reach its potential of being the greatest city in the world.

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

The outgoing Mayor's administration has been a resounding failure. The fifth floor, and the remainder of the city's government under its guidance, needs to be restructured, repaired, and reimagined in every conceivable manner.

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

Public safety is the most pressing issue facing Chicagoans, paralyzing the city and stunting economic development. Our E.P.I.C. public safety plan focuses on Economic Development, Prevention, Intervention, and CPD Reform - solving a multifaceted problem in a swift, equitable, and transformational manner.

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

I will conduct an audit of City Hall's response times to citizen inquiries and requests for assistance, then work with stakeholders across the city to improve responsiveness, centering my office as a place of the people, by the people, and for the people.

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

I believe in community control of neighborhoods, within reason. However, a single Alderman should not be able to block transformative development projects that will assist their communities. I believe aldermanic prerogative should continue, but with safeguards in place for mayoral action when necessary.

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

CPD is currently overworked, and asked to handle issues far beyond their scope of training. It is unfair to our officers, unfair to our residents, and inefficient for the taxpayers. I believe prioritizing funding of quality city services will allow CPD to become a supportive service, rather than first call for every problem in our city.

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 will work with stakeholders ranging from the City Council, to affordable housing advocates, to developers, to determine a Real Estate Transfer Tax rate which balances our need for increased development with the moral responsibility of those with wealth to aid our communities.

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

Absolutely. One of the most shameful broken promises of this failed administration has been the refusal to reopen our shuttered mental health clinics. Under a Green administration we will reopen them all as Healing Houses - places providing wraparound services ranging from therapy to day programming. We will also take this program a step further, creating mobile mental health clinics to reach homebound Chicagoans.

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

Chicago must fulfill its promise, and make a once in a generation investment into affordable housing. We must provide incentives to build on vacant lots, incentivize single-story property owners to build residential units above their existing structures, and maintain CHA ownership of land for housing rather than selling it to wealthy developers for luxury housing.

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

We need to be proactive and not reactive, leading with collaboration not confrontation. Working with the community, we can invest in effective prevention and intervention programs to tackle the root cause of crime, while freeing up CPD to handle more urgent calls.