2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

The job of an alderperson is to protect the interests of the residents of the ward. I am running to ensure that we all have access to affordable housing, equitable health care, community safety, and a clean environment. Caring for our whole community leads to safety for everyone. I am a progressive Democrat with a proven record of effective community organizing and deep roots in this ward. When elected, I will be the first queer woman of color to represent the 48th ward, and the first Filipina elected to our city council. We are long overdue for an alderperson who represents the diversity of our ward. 

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

There are two aspects to the aldermatic role: local constituent services, and participation in overall city council. In both areas, it’s all about equity. Constituents need to be heard, and helped to get the resources they need. You can’t do that job properly without also being a bridge-builder at the city level. City council service is not measured on likes, clicks, or social media views, but rather on well-served constituents and successful collaboration with other City Council members to ensure that the needs of the city are served.

I would be a full-time alderperson, and I have no conflicts of interest that would prevent me from serving my constituents equitably. I want to put the people of this city at the forefront of everyone’s attention. 

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

Housing is a human right. We are proud of the diversity of our unique neighborhoods in the 48th ward. When our neighbors are supported and not priced out of the community, everyone benefits. We can engage and empower residents if we utilize community-driven zoning processes and help “mom-and-pop” landlords get the resources they need to pay their property taxes and maintain their buildings.

I support lifting the ban on rent control, stabilizing rental fees, and preserving and expanding SROs to include wraparound services and mental health supports.

Affordable housing includes finding homes for the unhoused. Houselessness disproportionately impacts the most marginalized, such as trans youth and people facing reentry after incarceration. Passing Bring Chicago Home will help permanently fund the services we need to house the unhoused.

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

As alderwoman, I would continue the kind of communications I have done for many years as a community organizer, such as hosting town halls. Additionally, I would create community commissions to ensure that the voices of all constituents are heard. Utilizing office communication channels such as email, social media, and letters, I would keep my continents informed of the goings-on of the ward. I will also collaborate with Block Clubs and other existing organizations’ email lists, such as Chambers of Commerce to ensure that the communication channels are going both ways.

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

This is a complex issue. Alderpersons need the flexibility to do what is best for their ward, and it may not always be what the city council feels is best. However, it does need to be used carefully and with transparency.

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

It’s not about the specific budget number: We need to fund what works. With the passage of Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) ordinance we have new tools to ensure the police department is working with the community to ensure public safety for all. I’m excited to implement recent statewide initiatives like CESSA (Community Emergency Services and Support Act), which is something that I have organized in support of, right here in the City of Chicago. We must send crisis response teams out for mental health crises — this is proven to work and results in better outcomes for police officers as well as citizens.

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

Yes. It’s time to Bring Chicago Home. 

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

It’s about treatment, not trauma. Mental health and addiction treatment are part of the solution, especially when it comes to the unhoused. This is an issue that I have fought for for a long time and look forward to being a part of the implementation of. These wraparound services are critical to long-term, sustainable health and safety for us all. 

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

I support Connected Communities and the promise of equitable transit-oriented development. Developing with density is right for Chicago families of all income levels, for the employers they serve, and the businesses they support. It’s also right for the planet.

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

Our young people are not the problem — they must instead be part of the solution. And they’re telling us what they need. I have long been a supporter of GoodKids MadCity’s Peace Book ordinance. As opposed to the punitive, reactive vision of the gang database, the Peace Book shows us the way to build a healthy city together, where our young people have better options than joining gangs and turning to a dead-end life of crime and violence. 

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?

Yes! As mentioned above, Connected Communities and equitable transit-oriented development is the future.

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

We need to find ways to let pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars co-exist peacefully. Any of these options should be a safe and reasonable way to commute. We often sacrifice the safety of both bicyclists and pedestrians in favor of driver convenience. We need protected bike lanes–painted lanes are not enough.

What steps should the city take to prevent Chicago’s shoreline from eroding further?

We need to take the environment seriously by establishing and fully funding a Department of Environment that coordinates across government agencies, nonprofits, and the community for a long-term climate action plan.