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: Jane Lucius
Ward: 40th
Current job: Homemaker
Previous political experience: N/A
Education: Bachelors
Spouse’s occupation: Not answered
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 needs to be accountability for criminals and a stronger communication between the police and the public.
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.
More security on board those trains and buses, especially the Red Line.
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?
They need to be sufficiently but also equitably funded. They also need to offer programs that include parents, students, and teachers and have them work together. Taxpayers’ contributions to our public schools are misappropriated and insufficiently directed due to misuse of TIF funding, leaving our schools underfunded and unable to implement effective programs and curriculum.
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.
The city needs to better incentivize economic investment in and development of our South and West sides. Public works, such as parks and libraries, are vital in bringing economic investment and activity to neighborhoods. Because of the misuse of TIF dollars, funding is not reaching those works, and the loss of those dollars inevitably leads to higher taxes, directly affecting and dissuading economic investment in those areas.
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 fully support providing greatly needed property tax relief to the city’s residents. The mayor and city council need to prioritize the avoidance of raising property taxes for their budget proposals, which would put unbearable strain on city property and home owners in the current economy. Sunsetting of corrupt and mishandled TIF funding would also alleviate pressure on taxpayers, as their dollars would be going towards services that would in turn work for them.
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?
As previously mentioned above, I feel that their problems and the corruption they entail tends to greatly outweigh their usefulness. Ideally, TIFs should be reformed to better disclose the use of their funding to the public, and prioritize that funding towards democratically decided public works or economic development. This would also require returning to a blank slate regarding TIF district designations and their economic qualifications.
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 city needs to impose stricter deadlines on the removal of those lines, especially over a timeline of multiple years. The program needs to be bolstered in terms of the benefits offered to independent entities such as property and home owners who are willing and able to replace the lines themselves. This would involve a higher amount of fees being waived for those willing to complete the removals, and would offset and better distribute needed manpower from city services.
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.
I have been an active volunteer in the Edgewater neighborhood since 1996. This includes as president of N.E.W. (Neighbors of Edgewater West) as well as beat facilitator for the 24th district CAPS program. Neighbors have always come to me for solutions, especially with quality of life issues (i.e. absentee landlords) because I take action. I have a passion for listening to peoples concerns, finding ways to make their lives easier, and helping make them feel heard.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Crime. I have a strong relationship with the 20th and 24th district police. It’s important for an alderman and the police to have a close relationship in order to strategize and find solutions. As I previously mentioned, wards need better communication with their local police. In my past experience, we took initiative as a community and organized events such as neighborhood walks and litter clean ups.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
Availability, approachability, and prompt responses. I am a people person with a proven record of helping neighbors and listening to their individual needs and perspectives.