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: Laith Shaaban
Ward: 33rd
Current job: Full-time candidate for Alderperson of the 33rd Ward
Previous political experience: Member New Americans Advisory Council, Office of the Mayor of Chicago
Education: B.A. Economics Indiana University-Bloomington, B.S. Policy Studies Indiana University-Bloomington, Masters of Public Affairs Indiana University-Bloomington
Spouse’s occupation: Customer Success Manager, Docusign
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.
The first thing we must do is realize that what we’ve done in the past isn’t working. It is time that we finally establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This office should coordinate resources for at-risk youth, fund proven violence prevention programs, coordinate with academic, state, national resources to reduce the inflow of guns to our city. If we truly believe kids across the city of the same access to resources we’re lying to ourselves. We need to provide afterschool arts, music, sports, jobs and trades training, and summer programs to stop kids from picking up guns for the first time.
While outlawing assault rifles is a step in the right direction, the state and national governments must do more. Most gun crimes are committed with handguns which can easily be modified to make the fully automatic. We must do more to pass legislation to limit the availability of hand guns. Furthermore, we must do more to get these guns off the streets today and bring charges against those bringing guns into the city.
Additionally, I do believe the police play a part in our public safety, but CPD leadership must do better. It must finally comply with the Consent Decree. We need officers to get out of their cars and start walking the communities in which they serve. Shuttling officers around town on citywide patrols and other policies implemented by Superintendent Brown are not working. CPD must rebuild and establish a relationship with the communities in which they serve.
More Top Picks Best Amazon Prime Day Pillow Deals 2026
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.
Our public transportation system is the lifeblood of our city and must be improved. I, like most Chicagoans, rely on CTA for many daily functions but the CTA’s lack of commitment to its riders has been disheartening. We must push for greater transparency from the CTA and demand that any new asks of the City Council be met with improvements in service. The Red Line Extension was long overdue and should be the first of many new projects to expand and extend our train service across the city. We should look to build additional lines and extend existing lines to promote better coverage on the south, west, and northwest sides. We also need to look to create rapid bus transit lanes and to provide better enforcement of the bus-only lanes in the loop. The success and expansion of the CTA is a necessity if we want to create a more livable and green Chicago.
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?
Young families are finding it harder and harder to get by in Chicago. With the rising cost of gas, housing, and grocery families are suffering and too often moving out of Chicago to raise their children. Diverting money away from our public schools to fund the expansion of charter schools must stop. We need to ensure that our neighborhood schools have the funding to meet the education and social needs of their students. We need to have a librarian, arts, and music education available to all CPS students.
Additionally, we need to ensure that our school infrastructure meets the requirements for today’s learning. Too many of our schools lack the necessary physical resources needed to educate and care for our children.
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.
We need to ensure we are doing everything we can to make sure Chicago is growing its tax base not taxing it out of existence. We need to come up with innovative ways to fund our city services. We should investigate creating a Municipal Wealth Fund that invests in our city and our businesses we create in Chicago, so that all of Chicago can benefit from that success. It’s time we invest in Chicago as opposed to selling it off.
We can consolidate revenue-generating city assets to generate capital to make direct investments in company and securities as well as develop city assets such as office space to provide discounted rent to start-ups in exchange for ownership stakes in these firms. Sovereign Wealth Funds have been in use for decades and have provided significant financial benefits to further invest in affordable housing, develop the south and west sides, and build a green economy.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
We must look to all other revenue streams prior to raising property taxes. Too many of the residents of my ward are overburdened with property taxes which is driving seniors out of their homes and pushing up rents. We must look to additional sources of revenue to reduce our reliance on property taxes to fund government. We must reform our property tax system to remove the corruption and favoritism that has plagued our city for too long.
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?
Chicago’s TIF program must be greatly reformed. Nearly all existing TIFs have out lived their usefulness or were created to fund development in areas where development is already taking place. We need to restrict the use of TIF districts to fund development in areas of the city that have faced disinvestment or to support major public works projects. We should not be given TIF funding to support large developments which would have already taken place without TIF dollars.
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?
Lead in our drinking water is public health crisis, and the city’s track record has been abysmal. We must replace all the service lines as quickly as is feasibly possible. We must work with both the state and federal government to identify additional funds to help speed up the replacement process. We must also fully implement new boring techniques which reduce the cost and speed up the replacement process.
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.
As an Iraqi-American I’ve seen the downside of failed policy, of public officials driving their own agenda without focus on the needs of their constituents. I’ve worked in municipal finance, worked for an investment manager fighting for the best returns they can for their pension fund clients. I’m the only candidate in this race with a Master of Public Affairs and the only candidate who comes from the private sector. I understand Chicago government needs to work for the people and not the other way around. Delivering services and meeting the needs of our constituents is our number one job. It’s time we make Chicago a city that works.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
While the 33rd ward is struggling with affordability the lost of many small businesses, the residents of the ward are most concerned with the high levels of gun violence. I, too, share their concerns as gun violence is impacting every area of the ward. We must work together to address the root causes of gun violence but also focus on creating a safer ward today. I will work with my colleagues on the council to finally create the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and my constituents and business to ensure we have the resources necessary to make the 33rd ward a safe and welcoming place for all.
More Top Picks Best Equestrian Grooming Supplies For The Money
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
The people of the 33rd ward are tired of machine-style politics and politicians who would rather serve a movement than serve the people. As the independent progressive in this race, I will focus on the needs of the people of the 33rd ward. They want an office that will pick up the phone, elected officials that show up and work with them to solve local issues, and they want someone who will listen to their concerns. The people of the 33rd ward want to have faith that the alderperson is working to meet their needs. I will be the proactive alderman who serves my constituents, not a personal agenda.