2023 Chicago Election Voter Guide

Candidate Q&A

Why are you running?

Our city is being poorly managed and it has weak leadership that’s hurting us. With our current Mayor and her appointed Alderman, our neighborhoods are losing out and our quality of life is deteriorating. Long are the days were we felt safe, could afford a modest living and trusted our city leaders. The local news is full of crime stories and examples of over-taxation, corruption and bad government.

As a High School Civics teacher my life revolves around staying informed, teaching about good government, how to positively get involved in our communities, and finding solutions to the problems that plague our neighborhoods.

As someone with Springfield legislative experience that’s worked in our state’s capital, a union member and citywide elected Local School Council Board member I have been outspoken and critical of Mayor Lightfoot’s public policies, her lack of leadership, her inefficient administration and the decisions’made by her choice to be our voice in the Chicago City Council.

I’m not afraid to say it like it is and it is precisely my Independent positions to prioritize our community instead of those that are connected and with insider clout that distinguishes me from all the rest. My courage to speak on behalf of what so many taxpayers and residents feel is unfair that makes me the Alderman that our ward needs. My public record speaks for itself as someone that is independent, well-informed, outspoken, fair, and with the courage to stand up to anyone in order to protect and prioritize the wellbeing of all our neighborhoods. So whether you live east or west of Halsted, north or south of Pershing, you can rest assured knowing you will receive the city services that are owed to you fairly and timely.

As an active member of Nativity Catholic Church and parent at Bridgeport Catholic Academy, my faith and family values guides my decisions. I pledge to prioritize all taxpayers and residents of our ward and end favoritism and city mismanagement.

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

This office offers preferential treatment to those that are connected and unfair city services throughout the ward. No more feeling like some areas of the 11th ward are second best and no more neighborhoods or blocks which feel people feel forgotten. I come from a humble background where being fair is essential and public service is for all not just a few who have clout. Residents in Canaryville, Armour Square, McKinley Park, Chinatown and Bridgeport will all get city services and it does not matter if your live on the east, west, north of south of the ward, all will be included and 11th Ward constituents will have priority not those with clout. I look forward to have a Ward office that is accessible to all, linguistic services that accommodate all communities and community forums and townhalls on relevant topics that affect us all. As an Independent Alderman that does not favor Democrats, Republicans, party bosses or Union bosses but rather people of the 11th Ward, I look forward to using my time and experience teaching civics and good government to lead our neighborhoods in a way that is fair and effective for all.

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

The Chicago Police Department should not be forced to repeatedly send police officers to serve the public knowing full well that its members are not properly rested. Proper time-off for CPD personnel improves their quality of service as there is no profession that improves customer service by overworking and underappreciating its employees. Proper rest save lives: the lives of civilians who would get the benefit of rested officers in better condition to do their job and the lives of officers who may be completely burned out and lack the time to receive the proper mental health help. Proper rest and appropriate staffing levels saves Chicago taxpayers money in the long term and would reduce lawsuits while ensuring that response times to 911 emergency calls are attended to in a timely manner. I wholeheartedly support any city ordinance that protects Chicago police officers and other first responders from excessive work hours that jeopardize public safety and deny workers the respect and dignity we all deserve.

In addition, I would be very vocal in amending current policing policies around foot chases in a way that balances accountability for both officers and criminal suspects, so that victims of a crime can see their perpetrators apprehended, arrested and brought to justice. Our city needs to allow police officers to be able to do their job without imposing unreasonable restrictions on them. Lastly, public safety accountability should be holistic accountability that is not limited to policing but equally demand justice from the Cook County States Attorney’s office in properly prosecuting violent offenders and not releasing dangerous suspects that could do more harm. I believe in teamwork and look forward to working in collaboration with the new Public Safety commission and teaming up with the elected district council members of the 9th Police District to find local solutions to improve public safety in the 11th ward and surrounding area.

In addition, one of my top priorities has been and will continue to “Help Taxpayers”. I am committed to ending excessive taxes on overburdened Chicago taxpayers who can least afford it including no more regressive taxes, ridiculous fees, or ticketing schemes that punish Chicago residents. I commit to finding solutions that provide fair property tax formulas that halt tax breaks to insiders that are connected. We need to stop punishing average people and small businesses. I oppose the squeezing out of Chicagoan’s hard earned money by Red Light cameras and I oppose the creation of Tax Increment Financing districts without comprehensive community input and oppose taxpayers in our neighborhoods being taxed for projects they won’t benefit from (such as the case with the Red Line extension TIF recently passed by our current 11th Alderman). In addition, I am against using our tax dollars to pay for give away programs like Guaranteed Income program Mayor Lightfoot created that gives $500 monthly checks away with no strings attached and causes increases in inflation, creates work shortages, understaffing and discourages people from earning a living.

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

In Froy Jimenez you will have an Alderman that is not a “Yes Man” or rubber stamp for anyone. My record confirms that I’m an Independent thinker that has the courage to stand up to powerful forces including the Mayor of Chicago, Governor of Illinois, CTU Union President, and others when they act opposite of the best interest of Chicago taxpayers, parents, and students. I will be a vocal champion of the average Chicagoan that wants both critique of bad public decisions but also attention and ability to collaborate on common sense solutions to help our neighborhoods and our city move forward.

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

Yes. I also believe that the Alderman owes the community a chance for input in many decisions and that there needs to be a fair and transparent mechanism for taking input via community committees on particular areas such as education, housing, public safety etc.

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

We need to fund the appropriate staffing levels for public safety in Chicago and that includes the necessary amount of police officers. At the moment we are clearly understaff and that urgently needs to change as well as the way we manage the police department.

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

Definitely worth considering. And local taxpayers that are homeowners should not be overburdened with so much of the heavy toll as years past.

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?

I believe in balance and as much as we need to focus on affordable housing that is rented we should also focus on options that allow resident opportunities for affordable ownership.

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

Again a balance of education and tough enforcement of the laws that already exist. Providing young people with the proper outlets allows alternatives to rampant gang violence in our city and that also needs to be combined with firm prosecution of violent crimes as well as trafficking of guns from nearby states. Allowing Police officers to do their job with effective training and cutting down the restrictions they are currently in will open up new opportunities for better policing and community trust.

Should a new high school be built at 24th and State streets, on land owned by the Chicago Housing Authority?

Yes. It’s not a zero sum game of some win and others lose we can definitely provide a new high school while at the same time finding the proper housing needs and accommodating all other educational needs from nearby schools including the expansion of Dunbar’s vocation education services to offer youth in the area careers that are practical, free from college debt and attractive to relieve low enrollment.

What steps should the city take to help Chinatown continue to grow?

All neighborhoods in the 11th ward should be equipped with the opportunities to grow in a way that revitalizes their local economy. The improper use of TIFs is not one of them. The current Alderman has chosen to put the residents of Chinatown and other 11th ward at a disadvantage by voting for the Red Line Expansion TIF and this will negatively effect our area for the next 35 years.