2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I'm a lifelong resident of the Jefferson Park neighborhood and recently I've noticed the small-town quality of life that existed when I was my children's age is slipping away. Street crime is up. There are a lot more empty storefronts and I can't rely on my alderman to facilitate city services

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

The current alderman does not respond well to constituents. I would make certain the Ward's Service Office responds better to constituent requests and keep office hours that are most convenient to our ward's residents and businesses.  The current office has been understaffed for quite some time now.

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

The elephant in the room for every ward is public safety. We must stop the redeployment of our 16th and17th District police officers to other parts of the city and fill the 2500 CPD vacancies to increase police visibility on our streets and improve our 911 response times.

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

I would hire & train efficient staff who know our ward and are committed to serving our community. I would keep regular office hours that fit the times that will best meet the needs of our constituents. I would hold regularly scheduled monthly ward meetings discussing topics of concern to the 45th Ward such as zoning and development.

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

Since the founding of the city, the state legislature vested Chicago with a strong council — weak mayor form of government that some view as a tradition. While some have abused it, this "prerogative" has generally enabled its citizens to have close access to someone who can actually help them navigate city government and its services.

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

The amount should stay the same but its allocation should be re-examined. More money should be provided for social services & programs sponsored by the CPD.

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 would consider a modest increase in the transfer tax but only on properties above $2.5 million. That money should be spent on direct services to the unhoused.

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

The city should reopen the mental health centers the Emanuel administration closed and further expand centers in every community where the need is greatest.

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

The city should leverage the housing trust funds accumulated from the payment of in-lieu fees by residential developers for a mix of rehabbing existing residential properties and building new ones. The city should develop a public bank that would underwrite low-cost mortgages for qualified families wanting to own their residences.

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

Stop using officers assigned to other districts to beef up high-crime areas and leave parts of the city with historically lower crime rates less protected and fill the 2,500 vacancies that have been carried on the last two budgets. Have at least two officers on every beat and reduce the response time to 911 calls. Use the police budget to provide mental health support services to both officers and civilians. Create police sponsored after-school programs targeted to at-risk 13-20 year-olds.

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?

I don't support any transportation-oriented development that changes the character of our neighborhoods. I would rather give incentives to service business, restaurants, and other amenities so business districts in every neighborhood thrive.

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

Chicago's climate limits bicycling for the majority of commuters to 6 months at best. I would much rather see those funds be spent improving travel times and safety on existing bus lines and rapid transit systems.

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

Yes.