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: Jessica A. Venegas
Ward: 10th
Current job: Police Officer/ Chicago Police Department; Attorney at JV LAW LLC
Previous political experience: I’ve held no previous elected or appointed political positions.
Education: Bachelor’s from DePaul University; Law Degree from John Marshall Law School
Spouse’s occupation: Chicago Police Officer
Sources of outside income: N/A
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.
I believe that our city has become too lenient when it comes to crime. Offenders have been given a slap on the wrist, which many times leads to harsher crimes, especially when it comes to juvenile offenders. Juvenile offenders need rules and boundaries so they can both test them and feel protected by them. Creating structure and having predictable responses helps teens learn to self-regulate. It also helps them learn from their mistakes. I would propose that the court system develop a character education program where the young people are required to attend to learn positive meaningful life skills.
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.
An increased budget for more police presences on the trains would assist in making bus service safer. An increase in emergency boxes would be helpful too. In order to have more reliability, an increase in driver’s and buses would be needed. The buses run more frequently during business hours, but many still travel outside of these hours, so there should be longer hours for the buses high run counts.
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?
Enrollment is down because many with school age children are moving out of city or enrolling them in Indiana schools. CPS must find a way to attract qualified permanent teachers. Right now many are being taught by substitutes who stay a few days and then another sub comes in. Many parents are also removing their children from CPS due to changes in the curriculum of the schools. Allowing parents to have a more active voice in curriculum changes would help reverse the current enrollment trend.
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.
I will engage with other Alderman to understand that it not in the interest of our city to ignore the south side. The 10th ward borders with the state of Indiana and many residents travel in that direction to purchase their goods and gas. What we need is an attraction site to bring others from the inner and north side to visit, tourist would also come. Presently we have (The Invert) that is planning an underground plaza right in our ward. It wouldn’t be exactly like the pedway in downtown but similar. It is realistic and feasible.
More Top Picks Diving Boards
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Yes, I support property tax relief for Chicagoans. I would accomplish this by supporting legislation putting a cap on property assessments at 5% for residential properties and continue incentivizing commercial businesses with tax incentives as well. I would also support additional homeowner exemptions and additional Property Tax Relief Grants for underserved communities.
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?
There needs to be a major reform of the tax increment financing districts. Their purpose to raise funds works for those living in major TIF districts. However, the underserved areas in the city, that would benefit most from the additional funds, see little to no investment from these funds. Some of the reforms that need to be considered is that a percentage of TIF funds generated from the North and Central areas should be reallocated to help lower generating TIF districts on the south and east sides. Surpluses should also be redistributed back to taxing bodies to improve schools and city infrastructure.
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?
For the health and safety of the public, especially the children, lead service line replacement should be expedited. The process and price for replacement can be subsidized through tax exemptions for home and property owners to hire approved contractors vetted by the city or through TIF surpluses to improve the city infrastructure.
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.
Though never serving on the City Council, I feel my past experience will enable me to affect positive change for my ward. My experience as a Police Officer gives me various perspectives on strategies to address crime. As a lawyer I have worked with conflicting parties to find a resolution that benefits both parties. My experiences with communication and conflict resolution give me the ability to work with the community and City Council members to ensure the 10th Wards needs are met.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
The most pressing issue is the increase in crime. I will work to increase the budget for Police in the 10th Ward. I will work to ensure there is accountability for crimes. The lack of accountability leads to reoccurring crimes. I will also work on developing programs for the youth to have better alternatives to turning to crimes.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
As an active member of the community, I am able to have an open line of communication with the residents of the 10th Ward. Good communication with the residents is important to addressing their concerns. There are two angles to tackle crime. One angle is that accountability is important to the deterrence of crime. I will work to implement more accountability for crimes committed in our neighborhoods. I will also work to develop programs that assist people in getting on the “right track” in life. The second angle is addressing the root cause of the crimes. I will work to develop programs for our youth in order to ensure they are led in the right direction in life. The programs that are developed would focus on giving the youth ideas on what a positive life future can be and programs for young adults to learn important life and work skills that will help them succeed. The businesses in the 10th Ward are an integral part of our community. I will work to help them seek out and secure available funding, tax incentives and other resources they need to thrive. I will work with anyone who is looking to start a new business in the neighborhood by helping them to meet any requirements to open their businesses in the 10th Ward.
There have been some offers to build here in the 10th Ward. While building up in our neighborhood can lead to growth, it is important to be sure the health of our residents is not effected detrimentally. I will be sure to fully review any offers to build in our community, making sure that our residents are benefiting from these renovations.
I am able and willing to work with other city council members, as well as the elected Mayor to improve our 10th Ward. If needed, I am not afraid to stand my ground on what I feel is right and to work hard so that the 10th Ward is no longer neglected.