About the Candidate
Name: Prentice Butler
Date of Birth: June 16, 1980
Occupation: Chief of Staff: 4th Ward City of Chicago
Political Experience: I have previously been elected the President of the University of Chicago Association of Black Alumni, Vice President of the Organization of Black Students at the University of Chicago, and to the Board of the New Leaders Council, Chicago.
Political Party: Democrat
Website: https://www.prentice4ward.vote
Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am running to ensure the Fourth Ward has quality schools, increased public safety, and quality, affordable housing stock, and continued public transportation and infrastructure improvements. The strategies I support for public safety include increased investment in local economic development, public health resources, and violence interruption programs. Our approach to the city budget needs to seriously look at revenue and determine more equitable ways to fund our programs. This includes looking at progressive income taxes and taxes on professional and luxurious services.
What does this office do well, and what needs fixing?
I think we do well with the empathetic point of view that we address our constituents concerns and ideas. But I think where we could always do better in addressing the macro issues that impact our residents. We have to make sure that we have innovative processes, in regard to affordable housing; public safety concerns and equitable development in our community.
What is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
A primary concern is public safety, making sure that our residents are safe. I would like to make sure that we employ violence interrupters, mental health professionals, and community ambassadors to make sure that we can provide an additional layer of public safety. Education is another major issue. We must ensure that our neighborhood schools are quality schools that are schools of first choice and not of last resort.
What specific steps would you take to ensure your office is accessible and responsive to your constituents?
I would like to hire personnel that are proven professionals, and understand how to deal with our constituents' needs; a 24/7/365 team that is specifically dedicated to responsiveness to our constituents. During my time as Chief of Staff to Alderwoman King, we have made this office more accessible by having staff monitor emails and calls--including during the weekend.I would like to continue this engagement going forward. I would also offer my personal number to constituents so that they can reach out to me directly.
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 making the best, and most informed decision based of the what the community supports, and giving a voice to the voiceless. The community has an absolute right to articulate their concerns about the issues they encounter.
Should the $1.9 billion budget for the Chicago Police Department increase, stay the same or decrease?
I am advocating for the equality of resources for every community. It is my understanding that most of the expenditures for our police are personnel costs. I would rather focus on having the proper resources and public safety wrap around services. I want to make sure that we are looking at, and accessing the correct funding so that we can have the proper allocations for mental health professionals, social workers and other stakeholders that are important in our public safety apparatus.
Should the city raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax on properties sold for more than $1 million to fund programs to help unhoused Chicagoans?
We do need to have additional funds to support the unhoused. However, I am also concerned about recent reports of the seemingly ever-increasing property tax, which many of the City's constituents--residents and businesses--are currently facing.
Should the city open and operate mental health clinics to provide free care to Chicagoans?
I believe that free mental health care is something needs to be provided by the City of Chicago to every resident of our great city.
How should Chicago build the 120,000 homes it needs for low- and moderate-income Chicagoans?
We should work with responsible developers to understand more how we can go about building homes at a discount, while also making sure that we use new construction techniques that can provide more cost effective solutions. The $550-600K pricing on family homes that we are seeing in the 4th Ward is unsustainable.
What do you see as potential solutions to address the number of shootings in Chicago?
As mentioned previously, we need to employ the use of violence interrupters to continue to build relationships in order to have a more proactive, and preventive rather than a reactive approach. We need a more holistic approach.
Should Promontory Point be designated as a city landmark?
I am willing to support any initiative that guarantees the long-term sustainability of a notable landmark in the City of Chicago.
Should the city extend the Red Line south from 95th Street to 130th Street and use tax-increment financing from downtown wards to match an expected federal grant?
This same approach was carried out on the North Side, with the Red Line & Purple Line renovation process. I think we should do the same with the extension of the Red Line on the South Side. We need to make sure that all Chicagoans have an ease of access to public transit.