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: Michelle A. Harris
Ward: 8th
Current job: Alderperson, Chicago City Council
Previous political experience: Chicago Alderperson, 2006-present; Democratic Ward Committeeperson, 2010-present; Democratic State Committeeperson, 2014-present
Education: B.A., Chicago State University
Spouse’s occupation: Cook County Department of Public Health
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.
While homicides and shootings are still high, the reality is in 2022, both categories of crime decreased significantly from 2021 in large measure to Chicago police attention to a block level data-driven and intelligence led, community-policing strategy. This strategy relied more on policing below beats to the block level. As alderman, I worked closely with the four police commanders whose districts overlap my ward and their officers in implementing this block level strategy. I also worked with the city and my state legislative leader to address the problem of carjackings in my ward. Specifically, CPD increased manpower to confront the carjacking problem; state funding was secured to install cameras and license plate readers in impacted areas; and lastly, I worked to engage and educate community residents on safety measures to better protect themselves and their property. My staff attends weekly Police Beat meetings and we consistently encourage constructive dialogue between CPD and community residents. I have also sought to establish mutual trust and cooperation between the police and my community to reduce crime at all levels in the ward and believe this is a path toward improved public safety for our residents.
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.
As the CTA wrestles with issues of violent crime, ghost buses and trains, and flagging ridership, it also faces labor shortfalls and financial difficulties which creates a greater burden on providing quality service for its ridership. The agency took steps last fall to address the problems associated with crime by renewing its ongoing agreement with the Chicago Police Department for volunteer, off-duty officers to patrol CTA properties. CPD and its Public Transportation section is strategically deployed across the system, complemented by CTA’s teams of unarmed guards. The unarmed guards are deployed seven days a week to help educate and inform riders of rules for traveling CTA; and they also patrol the system to report any suspicious activity or acts of crime. Improving safety on the system is critical for addressing low ridership and ghost buses and trains, which occurs due to labor shortages. I support the extension and enhancement of this three-year program to provide riders and CTA employees with a safer transit experience.
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?
I acknowledge that CPS enrollment currently stands at 322,106 students, nearly 100,000 below its number in 2012, however, it is not clear that CPS can unilaterally implement measures to increase their enrollment. Overall, Chicago’s population also saw a decrease from a decade ago. As Chairman of the City Council Rules Committee, I had the opportunity to examine the city’s population data over the past ten years and a significant percentage of the population decline occurred in areas that lost student population. Additionally, census data reflects a decrease in family size from a decade ago which also impacts school enrollments. To the extent that CPS can increase enrollment it must continue to invest resources in the classrooms. The 8th ward remains a stable and viable community because our local schools are good. Over half our schools are Level 1 high performance schools. The teacher-student classroom ratio is at a level where quality instruction can take place and most importantly, parents are invested in the education of their children. These are important ingredients toward maintaining and increasing student enrollment to prominent levels.
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.
There have been considerable reports over the past few years concerning disinvestment on the South and West sides of Chicago after years of near silence on this issue. City government began to exert its influence to leverage private sector capital to invest in Neighborhood Opportunity Funding on the South and West sides with meaningful results and the city has continued this effort with the expanded INVEST South/West Initiative. My 8th ward community has been positively impacted by these programs and I strongly support these innovative tools to spur investment on the south and west sides. I will continue to work to maximize these investment opportunities to reverse the years of intentional disinvestment that took place in certain parts of the city.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
I do not believe city government could sustain itself by giving Chicagoans property tax relief. The city has a legal obligation to fund retirement plans. Property taxes significantly help fund these plans and any reduction in the funding could mean that pension obligations will not be met.
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?
I believe the city’s use of tax increment financing (TIF) districts to spur investment in my ward has been tremendously useful. I worked to secure TIF funds to build the $110 million South Shore International College Preparatory High School with an adjoining $12 million park; an expansion of the Chicago Park District Jesse Owens Park and the construction of the Gately Park Track and Field facility, that also serves as the southside home of After School Matters; the Huddle House Pancake Restaurant; the construction of the Montclare Senior Residences of Avalon Park and the Montclare Senior Residences of Calumet Heights and the proposed Imani Village Senior Residences. Additionally, TIF funding has been used to stabilize the Burnside Industrial Corridor and to provide dollars for the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program which I have worked with 8th ward businesses to obtain.
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?
There are currently five city programs that deal with water service line matters. The city worked with its partners last year to receive a $337 million-dollar federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan from the U.S. EPA to start replacing lead lines in 2023. The state requires effective in 2023 that the city replace all lead service lines that are connected to water mains that are being replaced. A lead service line costs approximately $25,000 and it is estimated that the total cost to replace all of the lead service lines will reach $10 billion, so the city must continue to work with state and federal government leaders to secure the necessary funding to come into compliance with the 1986 amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act that banned lead service lines in public water systems or facilities providing water for human consumption.
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 tenure on the City Council has allowed me to become a leader not only in my ward but across this city. I have worked to forge relationships with people to bring much needed resources to my community. I have worked effectively on behalf of my constituents with three mayors, three governors, and my federal, state, and county legislators to secure funding and programs for the 8th ward. As the current Chairman of the Rules Committee, and former President Pro Tempore and Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, I have been able to acquire a great understanding of the workings of city government to maximize services to my constituents. I believe these experiences makes me the most qualified person to serve as Alderperson of the 8th ward.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Public safety and economic development are the most pressing issues facing the residents of the 8th ward. I will continue to work closely with the four police commanders whose districts overlap my ward and their officers in implementing sound community policing strategies, while engaging the residents as best and as much as possible on safety measures to better protect themselves and their property. My staff will continue to attend weekly Police Beat meetings and I will continuously encourage constructive dialogue between CPD and community residents. I will also continue to leverage public and private funds to invest in business and residential development in the ward.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
The voters of the 8th ward are some of the most informed citizens in the city. They attend community forums and townhall meetings seeking information concerning programs and policies of the public and private sectors that impact their quality of life on a daily basis. They understand the 8th ward to be a stable and vibrant community though not immune from the problems associated with many urban cities. Furthermore, they are cognizant of the role government can and should play to improve the quality of life for its citizenry. I believe based upon my level of service and the work that I have accomplished on their behalf and seek to continue to provide, the voters of the 8th ward will re-elect me to another four-year term.