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: Susanna Ernst
Ward: 45th
Current job: Consultant – Self Employed
Previous political experience: First time running for paid position in elected office (unpaid in neighborhood organizations and collegiate experiences)
Education: B.A. Mathematics, Post Graduate Work in Statistics – Indiana University, University of Northern Colorado
Spouse’s occupation: Small business owner (retired)
Sources of outside income: Rental property / Seasonal consulting
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 rise in violent crime over the last two years is not unique to Chicago, but it is one of the top concerns of our residents and it must be addressed. Many of our police districts are experiencing a shortage of officers, creating long response times and an exhausted force. To remedy this shortage, we need to establish new ways to entice people to become part of our police force as well as figure out ways to retain the services of experienced officers. Residents are clear that we need more protection on our streets. This may mean figuring out new and creative ways to recruit and retain, including relaxing some of the more stringent requirements for entry into the Training Academy and retention bonuses and perks. We also need to ensure that canceled days off and 11-day workweeks are the exception and not the norm.
Residents and business owners know what’s happening on their blocks. The new District Councils will be a valuable resource to better engage residents in crime prevention. As these councils are instated, our city will be able to harness their guidance as we collectively work to create safer neighborhoods.
Ultimately, we will likely need a multi-solution approach that includes fully resourced first responders, support for community programs, easy-to-access mental health resources (for residents and first responders), gun violence prevention, and more community based social service resources.
We also need to examine more investment in our community violence intervention initiatives and the organizations that promote them. The leaders of these groups operate at the neighborhood level and are generally led by people with experience in the communities. Success of these programs is predicated on sustained support from partners in government.
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.
While the nationwide transit operator shortage is a big factor in many of these issues, we should remove financial barriers for potential professional bus operators. For example, free training and assistance could be offered to obtain CDL permits. The suburban PACE organization is doing exactly this through community colleges, and Chicago could potentially do the same.
The CTA has reduced the cost of passes to make access to employment, education, medical care, and other critical resources more affordable for our residents. That’s a good start. However, if people are afraid to ride, it does no good. Crime is an obvious deterrent to bringing passengers back to transit, and we need to find a way to combat it more effectively. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is now spending $3.6 million on social service specialists to team up with police officers and to work in high-volume stations. We know that our police force is understaffed now, exacerbating the problem.
Christopher B. Leinberger, an emeritus professor of business at George Washington University who studies urban spaces and transit, said the most effective way to reduce violence on public transit systems was to get more people back to riding them. “Having lots of folks from all different incomes riding mass transit is the best way to suppress crime,” he said. “Obviously the police have a major role to play, but it really comes down to having people, lots of eyes, on different people.” Ultimately, this means that the best way to reduce crime is to find ways to entice people to ride the CTA again. This may be through financial incentives and through partnerships with businesses and organizations who offer discounts to those who use transit.
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?
Chicago’s students deserve strong, fully-resourced public schools with leaders they can trust. There are many reasons enrollment is declining. Lower birth rates, less immigration, and families leaving the city because of a lack of affordable housing to name a few. However, one of the most influential reasons families aren’t choosing CPS is because of a lack of trust. We need to build back trust with our students and their families.
To do that, families must know that their students are in safe, healthy, and effective classrooms where the resources learners need to thrive, including librarians, nurses, aides, and counselors, are easily accessible. Where pre-school and after-school programming create a comprehensive learning environment for families. Where classroom sizes allow for the individual relationships and instruction that children and teachers need to succeed. To do that, we must not close schools, but invest in them by prioritizing funding for education and making sure existing funding is being used wisely.
Special education and English-language learning support should never be an issue. Lack of reliable transportation, especially for children with disabilities, should never be an issue. Safe, affordable, accessible local housing should never be an issue. We can build trust by removing these barriers through policies that support Chicago’s working families.
We have talented teachers and administrators in this district who need to be empowered and supported so they can do their jobs and provide the high quality education our students deserve. We need solutions that help our district retain teachers and prevent burn out. I think those solutions start by listening to teachers and school administrators and giving them what they need instead of what we think they need.
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 have several programs that are already addressing some of the disinvestment issues, such as Invest in Cook, INVEST South/West, and some private investment mechanisms. It is important that we expand on programs like these and learn from their successes and any challenges that they presented.
The INVEST South/West program is making progress, and it is encouraging to see investment behind supporting these 12 commercial corridors within the South and West Side community areas. We need to continue to reassure residents about the benefits of the work that is being done, while continuing to ensure that the established community is not being pushed out through gentrification.
Residents are desirous of more safe public spaces, business incubation, and increased homeownership. Also, many citizens would like to see walkable, active, community centers where neighbors can gather to exchange ideas and experience camaraderie. Having these amenities and programs is simple, feasible, and crucial to the future success and prosperity of the South and West Sides.
From a business perspective, these areas would benefit from the limitation of bureaucracy from licensing and permitting. The city should also ensure that Chambers of Commerce are supported and that it is easy to qualify for business related grants. Where there are food deserts, grocers and restaurants should be financially enticed to establish businesses there. This would also create jobs with livable wages for the broader community. Appropriate usage of Tax Increment Financing (after certain reforms come into play) would be extraordinarily beneficial.
And finally, city leaders should be working to ensure that residents are empowered and that community efforts like MASK (Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killing) have their full support.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Chicagoans have experienced a major uptick in property tax bills this year, due to rising levies, TIF district funding, rising property assessments, and some shifts in state laws. This is causing significant financial pressure to many Chicago residents, particularly to those in the middle class and working families. I am in support of giving Chicagoans property tax relief, especially where it is needed the most.
Recently, in City Council, two Alderpeople (Rodriguez and Hadden) proposed using unallocated COVID-19 funds as forgivable loans to soften the blow. While this is a temporary solution, I would definitely be in support of this measure, as it would keep people in their homes until we can devise a more long term solution.
Additionally, we should also be questioning the three-member Cook County Board of Review, who dramatically shifted the burden from commercial to residential properties last year. Residential properties bore the brunt of the shift, taking on much more of the tax load. This, along with the very inequitable shifting of tax burdens in certain neighborhoods, should be examined closely. We want to understand the rationale behind these decisions so this does not become a perennial issue.
There are also existing solutions for relief offered by the state that our residents should know about, particularly our senior citizens and those with disabilities. These solutions are simply a matter of education (the Senior Citizen Tax Deferral and the Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption).
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?
Tax increment financing can be a successful economic tool when used appropriately. TIF Districts are created specifically to catalyze economic development and create equity, and often in Chicago this has not been the case. In the past, the problems associated with TIFs outweigh their usefulness. However, certain reforms can be put into place to make them more effective.
Reforming the TIF program would include making the system much more transparent. It needs to be clear to citizens how much money is being diverted from our schools, parks, and other resources and where the money is going (e.g. which developers, which projects, etc.). Residents also need to understand how specific projects benefit the overall community and ensure that they actually stimulate economic development – they should not be utilized solely for public works. We also need to be more aware of how much of these funds are being diverted from schools in particular, especially in poorer districts: we should probably be diverting less (if at all) from those schools. Importantly, TIF districts should only be employed in areas where they are truly needed and there is notable blight – not in our downtown area or or wealthiest neighborhoods, where many are located today. The timeframe that TIFS exist today should also probably be reduced: rather than 20+ years, it could potentially be reduced to less than 10 years. All development that comes about as a result of TIFs should guarantee work at living wages with benefits at market rates. And finally, tax bills should openly reflect how much of an owner’s property taxes are being diverted into a TIF.
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?
Chicago has the largest network of lead lines in the United States, and we have been markedly slow in our efforts to replace them. While state law will force us to replace any broken lead lines in January of this year, it still will not move quickly enough, particularly where lead levels are higher. While Chicago is compliant with federal law, many are critical of the EPA’s thresholds, saying they are too low.
The biggest obstacle to replacement of all the lines are the steep costs involved. To expedite more rapidly, we need to continue our pursuit of low interest loans from the EPA as well as put pressure on the state to secure more federal funds for our desperate needs in Chicago. Since it will be a challenge to replace the lines for 400,000 homes in a very short period of time, priority should go to those who are testing at the highest levels and those who financially qualify (a program already in place today). To understand where the lead piping is the most dangerous, we need to ensure that our residents are aware of the lead issues and that they are easily able to obtain home testing kits.
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 active and deeply invested resident of the 45th Ward for over 20 years, I have a strong track record of leadership and service that connects me to communities across the Ward and the entire city of Chicago. Through my work as a leader in multiple northwest side organizations, I have engaged with city planners, developers, preservation organizations, political officials, non-profit agencies, local businesses and chambers of commerce, churches, schools, and hundreds of active residents. Because of my unparalleled experience in these areas, I have a deep understanding of our communities on all levels. I have a strong understanding of how our city works and how the 45th Ward fits into Chicago’s mosaic of communities.
My 20-year professional background includes data analysis, management of large budgets, and negotiation of multi-million dollar contracts. I have also been responsible for a team of as many as 40 people, with very low turnover. Not only do I understand financial challenges and negotiating, but I am also able to work collaboratively and cross-functionally with large groups of diverse people.
My community leadership coupled with my professional experience makes me the most qualified for the role of Alderperson of the 45th Ward.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
The Ward is a very diverse area, with a length of over six miles. It extends from the dense urban area around Independence Park (all the way to Elston/Irving) to the more bucolic edge of the city in Edgebrook that abuts Niles. Because of this, different issues are of concern dependent upon location. Overall, residents throughout the Ward are concerned with safety, economic development, and inequitable services.
Public safety has been cited as a large concern, and it will continue to be a concern with no changes. Much of what needs to be accomplished will need to happen at the city level, including new ways of enticing people to serve as officers and finding ways to retain their valued services for as long as possible. Long response times in the 16th and 17th District (and throughout the city) are problematic. The force is clearly understaffed and overworked. In the meantime, we must have constant open communication with our residents about safety, ensure that cameras are placed and used effectively, and a proactive, vigilant partnership between citizens and our police force. This means more community involvement in CAPS meetings, more citizen/officer engagement, and continued solicitation for additional resources in our districts. I will also work closely with our new police district councils to help facilitate engagement between our police force and local residents.
To encourage economic development, I would ensure our local Chambers of Commerce are funded, enabling them to get resources and oversight from proven professionals. I would also ensure that our Special Service Areas have effective management and that small businesses have an understanding of the assets and assistance available to them. Additionally, I would initiate conversations with our state lawmakers regarding ending the policy of tax breaks for empty storefronts unless there are extenuating circumstances and good faith efforts to rent. In collaboration with all local business organizations, the 45th Ward would be marketed as a place to establish new and diverse businesses, as we are on the verge of a trajectory of growth.
To address equitable servicing, community non-profits would be invited to participate in a collaborative working environment. We would facilitate meetings that occur on a regular basis, including representatives from each local neighborhood group. Anyone who is working for the betterment of our community will be treated respectfully and will have unequivocal support. As a person who has already been working in multiple community groups throughout the Ward, I have an understanding of the best ways of working with people of diverse needs and backgrounds. In addition, residents would be able to come to the office for “Ward Nights,” where we can have an open conversation about concerns.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
My background and experience demonstrate my knowledge base and my ability to find creative solutions for challenging issues. Additionally, I have a strong track record of bringing people together to make our communities cohesive, prosperous, and exciting. For over 20 years, I have been driving the community forward in the 45th Ward. I am not simply a resident: I have been an active participant. As someone who has been integrated in our community on multiple levels, I am eager to expand my leadership into a formal civic role.
Our city is at a crossroads, and we must address our most critical issues such as crime, school enrollment, tax burdens, mass transit utilization, and harmful drinking water. These are all challenges that I want to solve, because I care deeply for my city, my community, and my neighbors. This is my home. For years, I have been actively participating without pretense: I am engaged because I want to be; I have no ulterior motives. My track record of success speaks for itself, having founded multiple civic organizations, forging partnerships that bring people together instead of focusing on differences, and following through on projects and goals. I want us to have a safe, prosperous, and equitable place to live, and I want to lead us there. I have high hopes for the future of the 45th Ward.