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player ready...To inform voters and to help the baiduhai Editorial Board make endorsements, the board posed a series of questions to the candidates running for alderman. See their answers below. See how other candidates answered here.
Name: Dee Perkins
Ward: 5th
Current job: Business/Brand Manager, Pro Boxer & Coach, self
Previous political experience: None
Education: BBA – Accounting, Loyola University Chicago. Certificate of Computer Science, Loyola University Chicago
Spouse’s occupation: Not answered
Sources of outside income: Not answered
The rise in violent crime remains a top priority for City Hall. Homicides, shootings and carjackings are all unacceptably high. Tell us how city government can be innovative in combating crime, and explain what measures you would propose if elected.
First we have to look at basic economics. In general, when income decreases, crime increases. As incomes have continuously fallen, we see the effects in our schools, our local businesses and in our homes, all which lead to an increase in criminal behavior. Creating additional gun laws isn’t reducing the homicide rate or shooting incidents. Carjackings largely increased due to faulty manufacturing and misguided youth.
Broken/distressed homes, failing schools and a lack of local economic development is the root to many of the listed issues. Fixing these types of problems requires localized leadership, on a per ward basis, dedicated to rooting out the problems within their respective communities. In my ward, shooting incidents are largely personal or instigated, not blind shootings.
For various reasons, society as a whole has shown less self-restraint in overall conflict resolution. My campaign platform says, “It’s time to get to know our neighbors again,” and it is. It takes a village. I believe that wholeheartedly.
The CTA, one of the nation’s largest transit systems, remains a troubled agency grappling with issues ranging from violent crime and ghost buses and trains, to flagging ridership. Give us your thoughts on what specific measures CTA should take to make train and bus service safer, more reliable and more equitable for Chicagoans.
As a regular rider of CTA for nearly two decades, I have seen the quality of service decline significantly. I have a track record of contacting CTA directly and the board regarding issues of delayed/ghost buses, fare hikes and other issues.
While this is in process now, repealing the additional 5$ surcharge to fares when departing from O’Hare is much needed. For one, that is unfair to regular riders, workers and visitors to our city. Second, the Blue Line is the worst line and welcoming visitors on the worst line (shooting up of drugs, extremely dirty outdated cars, no digital times/stops) with an extra costs, is not the way to say, “Welcome to Chicago”.
I also believe the CTA should enforce the No Smoking on CTA Property rule, whether that’s through a newly created position such as attendants on the trains or having cleaners at stations actually board the trains to collect trash and remove smoking passengers. CTA Police or someone with similar authority should be stationed every few stops, in the case of unruly or violent responders/riders, not as a first line.
As for reliability, I would like to review the scheduling and dispatching procedures within CTA. For far too long, some routes with fewer riders see a steady flow of on time, back-to-back buses, while other routes, with more riders, wait ridiculously long wait times and then are forced to ride on overcrowded buses. That tension and frustration on a consistent basis, in extreme weather, after long work days, leads to other underlying social issues.
Ten years ago, enrollment at Chicago Public Schools was 403,000 students. In September, enrollment stood at 322,000 students. Enrollment at CPS has dropped for 11 consecutive years. What specific measures should CPS undertake to reverse the trend of ever-dwindling enrollment?
Having an elected School Board is a good start, although we won’t see that immediately. We must also attract and retain top talent. We must encourage community-based teacher substitutes, and teacher benefits. We must also keep certain programs in our public schools— music, art, civics, etc. This will require working with unions, reevaluating citywide budgets and using TIF funds.
Disinvestment on the South and West sides is a decades-long problem with myriad causes. Give us at least one innovative idea that you believe could play a role in reversing South and West side disinvestment, and explain why the idea is realistic and feasible.
Well, Mayor Lightfoot has launched a program, INVEST South/West, which has poured money into South and West side communities in ways we have not seen before, and that is a great start. Also, successfully starting a business can be taunting for anyone, but especially so in certain areas with certain demographics.
Provide funds for local entrepreneurs who have showed attempts at starting and running a business, to assist with formation, fees, filings, taxes and start up capital, administered by a local advisory board created by the Alderperson.
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Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Yes. First, I believe the decision to cancel the property tax hike tied to inflation as originally proposed by Mayor Lightfoot is the right thing to do. Second, relief and other federal funds provided in response to COVID-19 should be used to reduce or remove where appropriate, property tax payments for at least one year, above any conditional relief already provided. COVID-19 affected all of our lives, and for most, financially, where an application requiring a documented COVID crisis, is arbitrary.
Four years in a row, the state of Illinois was second in the nation for the highest property taxes, behind New Jersey by only ~477$ as of 2021, per data by WalletHub via Illinois Policy.
If it’s high for the state as a whole, it’s even higher in the City of Chicago. This unjust burden is largely due to pension fund woes, misappropriation of funds and a lack of creativity in developing income producing activities beyond never ending tax hikes. In addition, the Board of Review should re-evaluate taxing by townships. Not all areas of a township are created equally and thus some pay disproportionate amounts in property tax.
Give us your take on the city’s use of tax increment financing districts. Do you feel they have been useful, or do you feel that the problems associated with them outweigh their usefulness? What if any reforms would you want to apply to the city’s usage of TIFs?
In general, TIF funds have minimal oversight, are not transparent and benefit the wrong people. Compared to eight years ago, the TIF records are a little more transparent, with the publishing of more detailed, itemized reports. However, I would recommend TIF fund accounts get audited, with findings published and better responses to Freedom of Information Act Requests.
I believe Alderpersons should have more control of the use of TIF funds in their wards, for local development, encouraging community-based teacher substitutes, and teacher benefits, using TIF funds.
Lead in drinking water is a major health concern for the city. It is estimated that in Chicago there are roughly 400,000 homes and small apartment buildings with lead service lines. So far, the city has replaced less than 300 lead service lines. Do you feel the pace of lead service line replacement should be expedited, and if yes, what is the best, most feasible way to accomplish that?
Absolutely. Two words— Erin Brockovich. This a public safety issue and an environmental issue. There are federal and non-federal funding sources available to assist states and water utilities with lead service line replacement per the EPA. Another possible funding source is the newly created Climate Infrastructure Fund, which could be expanded to include lead pipe service line replacement.
If you are an incumbent, please explain what is it about your service on the City Council that makes you most qualified for the job. If you have never served on the council, please explain what is it about your background that makes you most qualified.
Often times, we elect community activists, those with deep pockets and loud mouths, for local positions such as Alderperson, when we should be electing socially responsible thought-leaders who have a business background, preferably a financial background. The City of Chicago is a business, incorporated in . The wards are its subsidiaries.
My work experience in government as a corporate tax auditor, personal & business taxation, accounting and business management, along with my volunteer work, youth mentorships and passion to help people, makes me the most qualified for the job of Alderperson of Chicago’s Fifth Ward.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Safety, per community response to a poll. Shootings, domestic violence, theft and business vandalism plaque parts of my ward. To address these issues directly, I plan to create a trained community peer patrol team comprised of volunteers, paid volunteers and employees. Indirect remedies include but are not limited to, job creation and peer counseling.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
Voters should elect me, Dee Perkins, The People’s Champ, because I work solely for the best interest of my constituency. I cannot be bought and always strive to find the win-win in most situations, by being able to make hard decisions, sticking to a position unless new, factual information is provided, knowing that everyone won’t always be pleased. My policies from housing to technology, foster community, growth and prosperity.