For 11th Ward Alder

Website: VIDAChicago2023.com

Contact Phone: (312) 989-7333

Contact Email: VidaChicago2023@gmail.com

Essay Questions

1. What are the top issues facing the McKinley Park neighborhood area of your ward, and what are your proposed solutions?

The top issues facing most working-class wards in the city are the same: rising crime and gun violence, a rising property tax burden making it impossible for lower and middle class families to purchase a home and begin creating generational wealth, and the attraction and retention of businesses providing jobs for working class families that offer a living wage.

I don’t believe any special innovative crime techniques are needed. We need to provide police officers with the leeway to do their jobs legally without fear of reprisal, dismissal, or prosecution. They need moral support and appreciation for a job that takes a personal toll in terms of stress and sacrifice, especially when they are called upon to make split second decisions in an era when almost all violent criminals are armed. I do support the increased use of high-powered video cameras by both police and private businesses to identify offenders.

We can attract and retain businesses by lowering our spending, debt, and tax burden, otherwise they will just go to counties and states that offer them equal services at a lower cost. The same financial responsibility practices will help lower the property tax burden on homeowners and landlords, and therefore renters will also benefit through affordable housing with reasonable rents.

2. What are the greatest opportunities for improving the McKinley Park neighborhood and the ward, and how would you work to enable this?

Working to redirect some of the funding being directed toward the downtown area and elect chosen wards so that every part of the city shares equally in the revenue that the city collects from taxpayers and businesses. I think McKinley Park is shortchanged, as well as the rest of the 11th Ward. We can increase our ability get a larger share of the Chicago budget by voting in greater numbers regardless of who we vote for. Any Mayor or other elected officials will be more likely to provide funding we need if they believe the residents of the ward will turn them out of office if they do not fairly distribute tax dollars to help our community.

3. How will you ensure that your constituents in the McKinley Park neighborhood will have their voices heard and considered in ward decisions?

I intend to hold monthly town hall meetings, whether in person or online, so that people can hear what’s going on and make their voice heard. In addition, I will be holding weekly ward night office hours where people can make an appointment and come in to talk to the Alderperson and their staff, and any other relevant city, county, state, or Federal officials that are needed to address a specific issue. My ward office will also be open on Saturdays to accommodate working people who cannot come during the week.

4. After redistricting, the McKinley Park neighborhood is now irregularly chopped up between the 11th and 12th wards. How will you work with your fellow neighboring City Council representative on issues that straddle both wards, such as the revitalization of the 35th Street commercial corridor?

I will be actively working with the 12th Ward Alderperson along with various county and state officials who have bits and pieces of both wards due to the messed-up way we redistrict at all levels of government in Illinois. I support an independent nonpartisan redistricting commission for all levels of government. We can work to share funding to complete infrastructure projects that straddle both wards.

5. How will you ensure and improve the delivery of City of Chicago services to McKinley Park neighborhood residents and businesses?

All Alderpersons need to hold our city workers and department directors accountable if services are not provided uniformly, efficiently, and promptly. As I walk door to door through the ward, I take notes on specific problems I see, whether it is a pothole, a crumbling viaduct or few more rats in an alley than normal. One of the jobs of the Alderperson and staff is to follow up on the special requests from residents and to make sure the city is responding promptly to problems that get entered directly into the Chicago online request system. I do not think enough attention was paid to the small problems plaguing our ward, which only turn into larger problems if they are ignored.

6. What past experience, capabilities and capacities make you the best candidate for the job?

I was born and raised in Bridgeport and was fortunate enough to raise my children in the 11th Ward as well. At times, I have been a single working mother in the private sector, primarily as a financial administrator for Chicago area industries and restaurants. Over the years I have advanced from bookkeeper to corporate comptroller, and now a business owner. I know how important basic financial planning, balanced budgets and accurate audits are crucial to the successful management of large organizations. I have been active in the community since I was in my teens as a volunteer for charities, community groups and our schools, and even occasionally for a political candidate. I have helped as the We Can Community Block Club (President), the United American Latino Organization (President, a PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Foundation (Volunteer, a Chinatown Chamber of Commerce (Volunteer), a Chinese American Service League (Volunteer), a St. Mary’s of Perpetual Help (Parishioner & Volunteer), a St. Theresa Church & School (Volunteer)and a Marist High School (Business Education Volunteer). My deep experience in the community and my family ties to the Police Department led me to a career as a civilian employee for the Chicago Police Department CAPS Program, where I served as a Bilingual Community Service Representative & Organizer for 12 years. As detailed above, I have an extensive background helping the community and succeeding in business in addition to my life experience as a mother and bread winner for my family. There is no substitute for experience, and I have more of it than any of my opponents, all of whom I have met. They are all well-meaning people, but this is serious business and we have a city on crisis. We need experienced, responsible adults who will work full time to address these problems.