2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

I'm running to finish the job that we started in 2019.

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

We built and continue to maintain our partnership with community members, as well as community groups. My political efforts are not “my” efforts, but rather, “our” efforts, as constituents are involved throughout the decision-making process for our ward. Although we continue to make strides in increasing political education and participation, we know that voter education is a never-ending process that we would like to increase throughout the community to ensure that constituents are knowledgeable about the political process.

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

The most pressing issue in my ward is the lack of stable and affordable housing for community members due to increased property taxes and increasingly high rents. Which ultimately leads to physical and cultural displacement. To combat rising housing costs, I worked to pass the Woodlawn Housing Ordinance which expands and protects affordable housing in my ward. Our fight for affordable and stable housing expands beyond legislation as we remain in coalition with local community groups, and advocate for Community Benefits Agreements which have shown to protect people living near the Obama Center from displacement. Furthermore, I continue to hold CHA accountable regarding the maintenance of HUD buildings and backlogged housing vouchers. Housing is a human right, and until we obtain affordable, safe, and secure housing which will ultimately improve public safety in our community, affordable and adequate housing will always remain a top priority of my campaign.

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

From the very beginning, I vowed to lead a community-centered campaign which remains in constant communication with constituents. Since I was elected, we continue to hold community meetings both virtually and in-person. My work is rooted in the voices of the community which we engage with through direct community engagement efforts and by remaining in coalition with community organizations.

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

Alderpeople are supposed to represent the people. If an alderperson is acting in the interest of the community as a whole, I believe they should have the final say on issues in their ward.

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

We know that increasing the Chicago Police Department’s budget will not “prevent crime” but instead continue to funnel money through an often violent institution while financially neglecting communities that deserve an increase in city funding. I believe the most effective and long-term strategy to strengthen public safety is to invest in Chicago neighborhoods equitably. This includes fully funding neighborhood public schools, after-school and restorative justice programs, securing and expanding affordable and safe housing, creating more living-wage jobs and year-round job opportunities for young people, and allocating funding to the mental health system.

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. As I stated previously, housing is a human right. As the homeless population continues to raise in Chicago, is it imperative that the city implements a plan that will help those who are unhoused find safe and affordable housing.

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

I fully support Treatment, not Trauma, and reopening mental health centers that offer free care to Chicagoans. Often, people rely on the police to provide mental health support because access to reliable and trained mental health professionals is seen as a luxury. Everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserves access to mental health support options.

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

Chicago must build the 120,000 needed homes with the interest of the people in mind. The process should start through community engagement initiatives by building relationships with communities that are experiencing high levels of homelessness and housing instability and partnering with organizations that are actively working toward ending housing insecurity.

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

We must bring the young people to the table. Not the control group of young people whose parent's are the friends of affluent individuals in the community, but those whose parents who may not even know who I am. We must reach back for those young people and improve their quality of life. We do this by providing communities with the resources they need to make them more upwardly mobile. Fully funded schools, access to mental health resources, and affordable housing and quality food options.

Should city officials put protections in place to prevent gentrification spurred by the Obama Presidential Center in South Shore?

Yes — to address rising housing crisis, I worked to pass the Woodlawn Housing Ordinance which expands and protects affordable housing in my ward. Further, I work in tandem with local community organizations to fight for a Community Benefits Agreement that would protect people living near the Obama Center from displacement. I will continue to hold CHA accountable regarding the maintenance of HUD buildings and the crisis of backlogged housing vouchers.

Should city officials do more to protect trees in Jackson Park from being uprooted?

YES