2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I am running for this position to address Public Safety, Public Health, Housing, and Jobs / Employment.

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

This current alderperson’s office does not do anything well.

There are numerous complaints about the office not returning phone calls and not being in the office. There is a dearth of communication between the office and the sister agencies of the City of Chicago, particularly the Chicago Park District and the 24th District Chicago Police.

The office did not address the Touhy Park tent encampment on Day One, when the first tent appeared. The police stated that they waited months for direction from the office and encouraged the residents/voters to vote for the direction and representation that they want concerning the encampment and crime.

Infrastructure decay is not being addressed. The explosion of rats is not being addressed. Nothing is being done to increase employment.

This all needs fixing. Calls need to be answered. We need daily briefings with sister agencies such as the CTA and Chicago Police. We need to house the tent encampment occupants and reopen Touhy Park for area residents and their children. We need to address infrastructure, eliminate rats, and reduce unemployment.

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

The most pressing issue facing my constituents is the Touhy Park encampment and crime. I plan to address this by housing encampment occupants immediately, reopening Touhy Park and its programs to our residents and their children, and restoring the 11 PM curfew that our constituents are demanding.

Touhy Park or any other park having park programs moved to another park was unprecedented and reflects a lack of leadership. The police stated that they asked for direction and received no answer.

I will have daily briefings with police, the parks, and other City of Chicago sister agencies and provide direction. As for crime, I will provide the resources that the police need to address crime. The current alderperson’s office’s goal is to defund the police.

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

My specific steps to ensure that my office is accessible and responsive to my constituents is making sure all phone calls are answered and constituent requests addressed, having ward nights every week, having timely community meetings to address issues that arise, having daily briefings with City of Chicago sister agencies to consult on constituent issues, and sharing the content of those briefings with my constituents.

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 the tradition of aldermanic prerogative, which gives each City Council member the final say on issues in their ward, to an extent. I will apply constituent concerns to issues in the ward. I will not use aldermanic prerogative to shake down businesses to bend to my will and will definitely not resign or run for another term if aldermanic prerogative is lessened or eliminated.

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

The $1.9 billion budget should be increased. The 24th Police District specifically said that they must reduce patrols because there is not enough budget and not enough manpower. Meanwhile, crime is up, people are dying, and the police stated that they are not getting direction from the public official's office.

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. 

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

Yes. 

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

Yes.

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

Increase police funding.

Will have daily briefings with the police and inform constituents every day about the content of these briefings. Public safety is vital and must have current information rather than just monthly CAPS meetings or monthly Conversations with the Commander. I will be a conduit for information and all solutions possible for the police and other City of Chicago sister agencies, such as the Chicago Transit Authority, to address crime and increase public safety.

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.

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

Yes.

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

We should take the following steps to prevent Chicago’s shoreline from eroding further:
— Plant willows whose roots would help bind the soil.
— Combine the willows with sea walls.
— Better land management.
— Work to reduce runoff.
— Improve the sewer system and replace deteriorating sewer infrastructure.
— Increase water saving practices to reduce wastewater.