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: Drewone Goldsmith
Ward: 24th
Current job: Chicago Fire Department
Previous political experience: None
Education: Some college not complete.
Spouse’s occupation: Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse At U OF C.
Sources of outside income: Income Property
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.
More community Involvement reintroducing and supporting block clubs. Promoting unity within the ward. Reinforcing the police staffing numbers. Introducing my “Community Stand Up And Stand Out Program”
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.
Hiring more security, Security Equipment (cameras) etc., and again address the police staffing numbers for support.
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?
Address the need for more staffing teacher to student numbers need to be corrected, address the need for more social workers within each school, properly trained security to handle our youth and help mitigate youth issues.
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.
Resources can be utilized in cleaning all vacant Lotts, building, and removing abandon cars. This is cheap and owed to every disinvested community. A clean community changes the psychological attitude of living. It changes the narrative, it raises the level of hope that thing can be better.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Taxes are here to stay and I realistically expect them to rise, but I my goal is to have fair taxing Amazon, Walmart and or multi billion dollar corps, can pay their share without breaks, the breaks belong to the citizens. I support a moratorium on he increase of taxes for and 25+ year homeowner who lives in one of our disinvested communities such as the 24th ward.
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?
TIF districts should be priority based on the community needs. I also believe that there should be no provision that would allow any TIF dollars to be ported out of a blighted/disenvested community to be utilized elsewhere.
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?
I would like for the city to coordinate the infrastructure planning. Example; my block was just updated with new gas lines, where side walks where partially replaced. this would have been the best time to replace the water lines as well. open the ground one time and cover it back one time. Instead we continue to pay for extra and unnecessary reopening in these situations.
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 am a 3 generation 24th ward resident. I’m a product of Chicago public school system. 6 year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps achieved the rank of E-6 in 6yrs. I am a business owner and has worked as a builder/developer here in the 24th ward. Was the Director of Facilities, Safety, Security, Maintenance, And Construction for 18 years. I am in my 21st year on the Chicago Fire Department. 18 years serving the west side including the 24th ward. I’m currently a lieutenant (promoted in 2019) Instructor/Senior Drill Master at Chicago’s Fire Department Training Academy. Training all Firefighters candidates as they transition into firefighters. I am the founder of “Chicago’s Historic Route 66 Classic Car Show”. This is Chicago’s only classic car show on the historic Route 66 held here in the 24th ward. This is an annual event now in our 11th year, with over 3,500 attendees each year.
I am the founder of the “Lawndale Unity Millie Tree”. It’s a light tree that I erect every year for the winter holidays here in the 24th ward. This light tree greets residents and visitors in and out of the community. (Located 3859 W. Ogden Ave.)
These are just a few projects that I’m a part of, and this is what set me apart form all other candidates.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Despair, and lack of hope. Thats why one of my first priorities is to clean-up the ward and unite our communities. Recruit a fresh produce store to be planted in the center of the ward, and many many more projects.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
I have the ear to hear the true needs of the community and the ability to unify our ward and put action behind our needs. I have true obtainable goals. Open door service with honesty, integrity, and transparency is what the 24th ward needs and I promise to bring. Together (united) is the way we CHANGE the 24th ward.forward.