What do you believe are the greatest transportation challenges facing the City of Chicago right now?

Chicago has one of the five largest and most extensive public transit systems in the United States. With an extensive network of 145 train stations and multiple bus routes, it is possible to get from one end of the city to another without ever having to use an automobile. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unites the city in one transportation network spanning across all communities and neighborhoods.

Throughout my career in law enforcement, I continue to work on the CTA grounds whereas I am exposed to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges for their employees and the riders from all ages and abilities.

Because the CTA is so vital to Chicago, the city must ensure that maintenance and operation of the system remains a top priority. As Alderperson, I will make CTA safety, security, and affordability one of my top priorities for the residents of the 6th ward and the south side. Our families, children, students and and elderly deserve a system that runs efficiently and is cost effective. I will be on top of those issues as Alderperson.

Do you or members of your family regularly use sidewalks, bike, take transit, drive, or a combination of any/all to get around? Does this correspond with your preferred/ideal modes of getting around? If not, what barriers do you and your family face in using your preferred mode of transportation?

Yes, members of my family use a combination of all resources for transportation.

I have no preference or ideal methods of getting around.

The barriers that I would like to seek change are having the pot holes filled in the streets, having new sidewalks and ADA ramps installed, and a clean and safe haven throughout the Ward.

Can you share a personal experience that changed your opinion about a transportation related policy matter?

I support all types of transportation resources.

I am member for the Active Transportation Alliance because its important for safe streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes to be equitably established throughout Chicago. This organization helps advocate and provide new transportation legislation for the various methods of transportation.

When I didn’t have a car for about six months due to the Covid19 along with economic hardship in the auto industry, I bought an electric scooter to get to and from work every day. I road my scooter on the paved bike lanes to get to home, work, and other places. I noticed that the amount of time and money spent using a car was cheaper driving an electric scooter.

This was made possible because there were paved bike lanes specifically made for bicycles and electric scooters.

I fell in love with the electric scooter so much, I invested in buying an electric car. My electric car doesn't pollute the air, there's very little maintenance, etc.

Chicago is a snowy city, and even one stretch of uncleared sidewalk can make it impassable – particularly for folks with disabilities, the elderly, and parents with young children. What is your position on implementing a universal city-wide sidewalk snow/ice removal service?

The issue is cost and efficiency. Currently, the Department of Streets and Sanitation is responsible for plowing 9,400 lane miles of streets in Chicago. The Department would have to increase the number of workers significantly, and at significant cost, to plow 7,400 miles of sidewalks in Chicago. For this reason, the city requires residents and businesses to remove snow and ice from sidewalks. Failure to comply could result in a fine.

Until such time as additional funding becomes available, the city should continue its snow removal program as is.

It is now widely recognized and understood that interstate highways were used to physically divide urban communities from one another – often along racial and class lines. How do you propose we overcome these divisions to restore the urban fabric of Chicago and reconnect our segregated neighborhoods?

On behalf of 6th ward residents, I will advocate strongly for the development of affordable housing in the ward to create a truly mixed-income community of homeowners and renters. I will work with the City Council to ensure that all communities in Chicago welcome and support housing for residents from all income backgrounds.

A major source of division between neighborhoods is racial bias in appraisals of property. Racial bias can devalue properties and make it difficult to create mixed income and cross racial neighborhoods. I favor two approaches to combatting discrimination and increasing diversity:

• I would support an ordinance that penalizes appraisers for knowingly engaging in discriminatory practices.

• I would work to increase the diversity of the appraiser workforce. According to the U.S. Census, in the Chicago area, 5 percent of appraisers are African American, 3 percent are Latino, 1 percent are Asian, and 1 percent are “other,” while 90 percent are white. (https://www.chicagoreporter.com/racial-bias-in-home-appraisals/).

As Alderperson, I will push for the City of Chicago and industry groups to recruit and train appraisers from minority communities.

What role do you believe transportation plays in Chicago’s collective greenhouse gas emissions, climate responsibility, and overall environmental health?

Due to the availability of Metra, Pace and CTA transit services, Chicago relies less on motor vehicles than other metropolitan areas. This helps to contain greenhouse gas emission in Chicago in comparison to other areas. On average, transportation accounted for about 27% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions#transportation).

What is your position on the Illinois Department of Transportation’s current proposals for rebuilding North DuSable Lake Shore Drive? Do you believe the proposed designs will reduce congestion, improve transit access and make pedestrians and cyclists safer? How do you think the current proposals will impact access to the lakefront?

I would convert at least one lane into a transit priority lane. By requiring variable pricing for lane usage, IDOT would incentivize drivers to switch to public transportation, rather than paying higher prices to drive in the transit priority lane.

What barriers do you believe the Illinois Department of Transportation presents to Chicago pursuing better safe streets design standards and transit investments? How do you plan to work with City Council, the Governor, and State legislators to overcome these barriers?

To effect changes at the state level, the City Council and Mayor of Chicago need to work together closely to create a transit-oriented legislative package that serves all Chicago communities. By acting as a team, the City Council and Mayor can pressure state officials to help all Chicago communities to

• Make streets easy to use

• Provide adequate, well-defined space for pedestrians and cyclists

• Remove any barriers to visibility between pedestrians, motorists, cyclists and commercial vehicles, and

• Design and build well-functioning travel lanes

The 99-year parking meter deal enacted by former Mayor Richard M. Daley has been a barrier to enacting safe street designs by privatizing large portions of Chicago’s streets. What is your plan to address this?

The parking meter deal provided a short-term financial benefit to the city at the expense of ceding control of parking meters to private enterprises. It is time to take another look at the deal and take all necessary legal action to break or shorten the lease or renegotiate the terms of the deal to benefit Chicago taxpayers.

Studies show us that speed and distracted driving kill. What do you think are the most effective ways to reduce driver speed and increase safe driving behavior?

Drivers must be continuously reminded of speed limits and the importance of concentrating while driving. The reminders can be posted on highway billboards, in-car computer systems, and public service messages.

Also, the technology exists to introduce speed locks, which stop cars from exceeding the speed limit. Speed locks are more commonly used in Europe. The State of Illinois should consider a bill to require motor vehicles to have speed locks, based on an analysis of best practices in other countries.

What is your position on the City passing ordinances that attempt to regulate the size, weight, and/or safety features of personal and private vehicles?

I favor passage of safety regulations and ordinances that are cost effective, sustainable, and can be defended in a court of law on grounds of protecting public safety.

What is your position on establishing a dedicated funding stream for safe and universal pedestrian and bike infrastructure in Chicago?

In Chicago, many bike lanes are painted in between moving traffic and parking lanes, offering little protection to cyclists. The city has pledged to replace paint with pre-cast concrete curbs. As Alderperson, I will support installation of a network of concrete-protected bike lanes.

What is your position on creating select pedestrian-only streets?

The State Street pedestrian mall, which was in existence from 1979 to 1996, provided lessons for planners going forward. The mall consisted of a nine-block stretch of State Street that was zoned for foot and bus traffic only. No cars and trucks were permitted. The goal was to bring back shoppers and cafés, which had been in decline on State Street for well over a decade. The conversion was considered a failure. After a 17-year absence, cars returned to State Street, and it once again became a destination for consumers.

Based on this experience, I oppose creation of any large pedestrian-only street areas in Chicago. I would consider supporting small pedestrian-only areas in Chicago’s neighborhoods, if there is support for the concept in the community.

What policy solutions would you implement to ensure CTA buses operate on schedule, frequently, and quickly?

The CTA needs to provide clear real-time transit data on the Ventra app, the Transit app, Google Maps, and Apple Maps in order to resolve the issue of “ghost buses.” Currently, the apps provide a mix of real-time and scheduled bus route data, which is not easy to distinguish and creates impressions that a bus is in operation, when it is not in service. Also, the CTA must increase recruitment and hiring of new bus drivers to replace staff members who resigned or retired during the pandemic.

Considering the role the CTA, Metra, and Pace play in providing public transportation within the city, what are your plans to address the impending fiscal cliff – a deficit of over $700 million – that the agencies will be facing in 2025?

In December 2022, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) issued a five-year regional transit strategic plan. (See https://www.rtachicago.org /uploads/ files/general/Region/Strategic-Plan/ Transit_is_the_Answer_Full_Document_ Draft_for_Public_Comment_December2022.pdf

The plan identified multiple sources of funding for transit agencies, including the CTA, to put public transportation on a sounder financial footing. Among the sources identified were:

• Increases to the RTA Sales Tax, state Motor Fuel Tax, Vehicle Registration Fee, and Tollway tolls

• Implementation of Congestion Pricing and Vehicle Miles Tax

• Expand RTA sales tax on services, most of which are currently exempt from taxation.

• Increase State Public Transportation Fund match

• Increase in State reimbursement to RTA and Service Boards to offset revenue losses from free and reduced fares provided to the elderly, people with disabilities, and students.

• Eliminate the 1.5% surcharge on RTA sales tax receipts retained by the Illinois Department of Revenue.

As Alderperson, I will work with community groups, business leaders, and public transit riders to develop a package of increases that is equitable, fair, and achievable.

What is your position on establishing a network of Bus Rapid Transit lines in Chicago?

Bus Rapid Transit systems are meant to combine the flexibility of buses with the efficiency of rail. I support efforts to create bus transit priority lanes on major highways and thoroughfares to move people efficiently and reduce congestion.

Will you commit to securing the funding necessary to implement CTA's plan to become 100% accessible according to ADA standards? (yes/no)

Yes