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: Steven McClellan
Ward: 43rd
Current job: Owner & Manager of McClellan Holding Company
Previous political experience: Local School Council Community Representative
Education: University of Illinois B.A
Spouse’s occupation: Licensed Therapist
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.
City government needs to be more innovative in combating crime by increasing communication between city agencies, pressure the county to prosecute, effective recruitment, investing in underinvested communities, housing, jobs, health care and youth based programming.
If our city agencies worked together, we would see an increase in solved crimes and better organization for the law enforcement to do their job. For example, if a crime is committed on the CPS platform or train, the Chicago Police Department has access to the camera but does not have the ability to control what direction the lens is facing. Programs like the OEMC Private Sector Camera Initiative are a good start to better communication across agencies.
While I am in favor of prosecuting violent crime offenders, I do not think the solution is to lock everyone up. We must create jobs, provide healthcare, affordable housing and programming that will lead the youth.
These resources have proven to decrease crime because people feel a sense of hope and belonging to the community. It’s not an easy fix but we must be persistent.
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.
The CTA needs to be transparent with the City Council and the people of Chicago. Ghost trains and buses are a major concern and can cause issues that could be life threatening or impact someone’s livelihood. A healthy working city needs a transportation system that workers can rely on. As alderman I will work with the department on transparency.
CTA needs to work with the unions to improve working conditions, improve scheduling, recruit new drivers, and increase safety measures so riders feel safe. If riders do not feel safe, they will not use public transportation, which a working city needs.
Our platforms, trains cars, and busses need to be safe. I witnessed several fights on the platform and in the car, robberies involving deadly weapons and several grab and go’s which is why I support a heavier armed police presence throughout our transportation system.
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?
In order to reverse the trend of under enrollment, CPS needs to invest time, energy and resources in making sure all CPS schools are a place families want to send their children. Some of the most important changes would be to provide a full time Pre-K model, promote school intervention programs, implement high quality assessments for Math and Literacy, provide a challenging curriculum, and increase access to dual language programs. What the schools in the 43rd ward offer is an example of how programming and investment can make school more valuable.
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.
One innovative way to combat disinvestment is reinvestment. Attract companies to reimagine the potential and the value of existing properties no longer being used. Hire from within the community. A perfect example would be what Discover did on 85th and Cottage Grove by turning an abandoned building into a call center with more than 50% of the workforce being from the community. We need the type of reinvestment that revitalizes communities, particularly those that have been abandoned for too long.
I also think the city needs to raise more awareness of the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund so residents in these neighborhoods can have access to economic opportunities. The youth on the south and west side need to be included in the plan for success in Chicago. We need to create more financial literacy programs along with bringing large scale projects that focus on partnering with the communities.
As Alderman, I will prioritize the issues of the 43rd as well as focus on improving our city as a whole.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Of course I support a property tax relief and will really push for more “PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING” so constituents in the 43rd will have input on how their property is assessed and how tax dollars are used. Many residents in the 43rd ward are overwhelmed with how much they are paying in taxes. This especially is a burden on the senior and retired community and they should not have to worry about paying taxes in a home they’ve lived in for 30+ years.
Along with Participatory Budgeting, I will consistently speak to the council and Mayor’s office that the 43rd ward is paying ridiculous amounts of money on property taxes and continue to work on innovative ways to generate revenue rather than tax the people. We need to be more fiscally responsible instead of increasing property taxes to cover our mismanagement.
We know Taxes are not decreasing but I am in favor of a holiday, tax caps or freeze.
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?
Not answered.
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?
Yes, I think lead service lines replacement needs to be expedited. We need to inform all residents on how to test for lead and provide more programs that empower residents to change and remove their lead service pipes. The city estimates the removal would be $20k, but research shows it can be done for $5k.
I think the city needs to remove all fees associated with lead pipe removal because this is not about generating revenue. It’s about saving lives and providing clean water. There needs to be a state mandate that the municipalities have to change service lines showing lead contamination.
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 served on several councils but my experience working with my local school council has prepared me to work with a body of people aiming for the same goals. My attention to detail, foresight and understanding of the city as a whole and the 43rd ward, make me qualified to do the job.
I have coached 3k of our wards youth, added a multisports field, 2 playground, a green alley and learned how to compromise and negotiate.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Public Safety – I plan to work with CPD and other stakeholders to create realistic solutions to combating crime. How do we get more cops on the street with recruitment so low? Desk cops on the street and hire retired officers or civilians to hand desk work.
I’d also do neighborhood walks with law enforcement and reinstate the beat cop.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
I’m an experience leader in the ward with 2 decades of service and a track record to prove it. My service in the ward speaks for itself. I represent the 43rd ward