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: Tracey Y. Bey
Ward: 4th
Current job: Director of Operations Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change. T2 Finishes
Previous political experience: Previous Candidate for 4th Ward Alderperson (2015)
Education: Kenwood Academy
Spouse’s occupation: Not answered
Sources of outside income: T2 Finishes, ECCSC
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.
City government must first acknowledge the work of combatting violence does not just fall to the police. Every community has its own language and culture. In my current role as Director of Operations at ECCSC, we have focused on addressing community and individual trauma and violence in the community, through aggressive street campaigns, healing circles, and diversion programs. I would propose that the city work with community appointed liaisons to invest in violence prevention and intervention programs; Leverage existing community-based and grassroots organizations currently doing the work to address the public safety issues relevant to its constituents.
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.
Based on informal calls to action from concerned riders, bus/train operators, ECCSC launched a week-long initiative where our Community Response Team, rode the train lines, deemed to be unsafe, between 8pm-2am. The team walked the platforms, train cars and stood at the bus stops. The increased presence served as a deterrent to anyone seeking to inflict harm. During this time, riders expressed they felt safe knowing someone cared. Both CTA and CPD acknowledged a low incidence of crime during that time. The group received some national coverage. CTA should leverage existing funds to continue these types of initiatives throughout the city. If public safety on CTA’s busses and trains are adequately addressed, ridership would increase, train operators and bus drivers would feel more safe coming to work thereby increasing the reliability of the city’s public transportation system. CTA should provide de-escalation training for bus drivers and train operators to provide them with the proper tools to respond in real-time.
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?
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CPS must first promote their ideology that a CPS school on one side of the city is just as stellar as any other part of the city. Hire culturally competent leadership with the intention of student success. Respectful and Deliberate communication with teachers. People are leaving the city because of public safety issues and it is important that we not view dwindling enrollment through one single lens. The multi-pronged approach to the solutions will involve the thought capital of not only leadership in City Hall, but from Strategic Stakeholders in the business, education and health service communities.
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.
Change has to start with the residents on the South and West sides. I would support resident-led and created initiatives which would lead to the reversal of disinvestment. As one community leader has said “he’s never seen anyone destroy property they paid for”. It’s important that community residents feel like they have a voice in what happens to them. It gives people a sense of pride. As a long time resident in the North Kenwood-Oakland Community, I understand the importance of resident driven ideas and programs. It speaks to change happening as a collective and not individual change and progress.
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 relief can be achieved by aggressively refunding money from TIFs back to taxing districts when they have surpluses, this would help the overall tax burden everyday Chicagoans face.
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?
TIFs can be extremely useful for blighted communities. The reforms I would like to see applied to the program would be a third party administrator (non COC staffer) to oversee the proper distribution of funds. The creation of community-based consortiums to approve the TIFs. Strict adherence to TIFs only being used in SEDA communities (socially economically disadvantaged areas). Lastly, many residents don’t understand how TIF programs work. I would bring an education of these programs and the benefits to residents in the 4th ward.
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?
On the surface, it appears this replacement process should be expedited for the health and safety of the residents. To improve this process, this would be a perfect time to partner with the plumbers to train our own residents to help in the replacement of the lead service lines. Thereby creating training and work opportunities for city residents as well as addressing the overall health concerns.
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.
My work experience with ECCSC and as a developer has demonstrated to me the connection between public safety and economic development. When residents and business owners feel safe in their communities it creates long-lasting economic development and long-time residents in the community. I have had in depth conversations with residents in the 4th ward who are considered to be the most marginalized and understand what it takes to advocate for the haves and the have nots.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Public Safety is the most pressing issue in the 4th ward. Lack of employment, lack of adequate mental health facilities, lack of training for its residents has resulted in the rise in crime among residents in the 4th ward. This past summer, I found myself on the other end of a gun as I walked my dog. I was robbed by an adult man, I understand the importance of not only focusing on the youth, but adults as well.
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 for several reasons: All of the policies I draft and support are grassroots driven; The approach to programming is not based in theory, but in practice (violence prevention and intervention programs); I understand what it takes to bring businesses back to the fourth ward; As a Kenwood Alum, I want to ensure every student in the ward has access to the quality education and programs I received.
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