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: Nassir Faulkner
Ward: 48th
Current job: Digital Communications Manager, Illinois Office of Comptroller
Previous political experience: N/A
Education: Bachelor of Arts, DePaul University
Spouse’s occupation: My girlfriend is a program coordinator at the Illinois Coalition On Youth.
Sources of outside income: None
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.
There are neighbors across the 48th ward that are concerned with the rise in quality of life crimes we’ve seen in the last three years. Armed robberies have increased, as well as carjackings in the ward. I think we need to take a balanced approach in addressing crime in the city. As a black man who has been stopped and frisked, I feel the frustration that black and brown communities feel when it comes to the senseless brutality that many in our communities face with law enforcement. I think it is pretty clear though that there are not 26 votes on the council to craft an ordinance to disband the police department. Communities across our city need action now, and I would rather work with colleagues on what we can actually get done. So I will work with CPD on strategies in my ward to address these crimes, while at the same time, work on anti-poverty measures at the city level. Neighbors across our city are struggling financially. Many dealing with untreated trauma. To get to the root of the problem, we need to increase funding for mental health programs, and we need to create better access to economic opportunities for all, particularly our young people. We desperately need to make sure that our young people are seeing the options they have in life to achieve more and reach for their goals.
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.
Many of my neighbors in the 48th ward commute to work on public transportation. I myself take an express bus downtown to work. As someone who does not own a car, I rely on the CTA to get around mostly. We have to address crimes we’ve seen, while combating the perception that the CTA is like some dangerous unknown that we know nothing about. I’ll work with colleagues to craft a plan to address safety on the CTA, that will likely include a police component. To be frank, people are not taking the unarmed security seriously and these folks should not be subjected to possible violence anyway. I also want to work on finding ways to expand reduced and free rides for residents in the city, so that those who need it the most, but can afford it the least, are able to use the CTA. An expanded ridership I think can also help us increase reliability, because if we are able to get more residents to use CTA instead of their personal vehicles for every trip they take, we’ll see less congestion on the roads. Where possible, we should also be looking at expanding bus lanes to increase reliability.
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?
We need to increase enrollment. With the new state funding formula rewarding districts with higher enrollment, our district will see less funds allocated if we don’t. I think it will be up to city policy to address enrollment, not just CPS. We should expand safe passage programs as much as possible ensuring that our kids get to and from school safely. We need social workers for our schools. Many of the kids who attend CPS are dealing with trauma from home that is having an impact on their studies and time at school. We can’t keep our kids in school if they are having to deal with issues that children shouldn’t have to deal with. I will also work with state partners whenever possible, being a voice for my ward, and city when it comes to school funding. We can never go wrong with investments in our kids, and their futures, because their future is our future.
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.
Public transportation expansion is area of interest because there are too many communities on the South and Westside lacking access to a train. CTA expansion will help create local commercial corridors. In my ward, Red Line stops like Argyle, Bryn Mawr, and Thorndale have small businesses within steps from the ‘L.’ Neighborhood investments that will come from CTA expansion will help create jobs in the community for neighbors in those communities. The idea is realistic because the city is already working on expansions of the ‘L.’
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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.
Property tax increases are hurting owners and renters. Many renters are shouldering some of that tax burden with increases in rent every year. I will not vote for stand alone property tax increases, and will fight against increases that may be tied to a city budget. Alderpersons are placed in a tough position if they are tied to a city budget, because the budget is important for the city to keep functioning.
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?
TIF’s are useful, I just think that they are better served helping communities that are struggling with public and private investment. I’ll support reforms that do just that.
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?
The pace should absolutely increase. We shouldn’t expect anything less than clean drinking water. I’ll work with city, state, and federal colleagues to advocate for more funding to expedite the 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.
What makes me most qualified is my time in state government. Having worked in state government at the executive branch level for almost six years, I have practical bureaucratic experience that will help me in navigating city bureaucracy. This doesn’t mean I know everything, but I’ll be ready on day one to get to work. With high turnover in council seats this election, having experience will be helpful.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
I’m going to say that it is tie between housing, and public safety. The 48th ward is a diverse community, and the only way that we can keep that diversity is if people can continue to afford to live in this community. As a renter, I understand the squeeze that some residents are facing. We need more housing options, and development that doesn’t displace neighbors. As I stated earlier, neighbors across the ward are concerned with the rise in quality of life crimes we’ve seen in the last three years. I think we need a balanced approach where we work with CPD on local strategies to address these crimes, while working on anti-poverty measures at the city level, so that we are actually getting to the root causes of the crimes we are seeing.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
There are three reasons why neighbors should vote for me over my opponents. As a 28-year-old black man, I would bring a new perspective, and diverse voice to the city council. As a public servant, with close to six years of experience in state government at the executive branch level, I understand bureaucracy, and will be able to navigate the city’s bureaucratic systems. Most importantly, I can relate to the residents in my ward who are struggling the most. My life experiences have afforded me an opportunity to speak up for those typically left out of decision making. What people want more now than anything is someone who will listen, and be able to understand the issues that their families are dealing with. That’s how we will continue to build a more equitable city.