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

As a proud CTA rider myself, bringing back our city’s award-winning transit system is a major priority.

The CTA is what connects us, creates job opportunities, boosts business revenues, and makes the gifts of different parts of the city accessible for all. In my second month on City Council, I co-sponsored a resolution to ensure the President of the CTA regularly appears before City Council. This ordinance proposed a quarterly meeting requirement, and its introduction pressured the administration and CTA President to agree to appear for a special City Council hearing bi-annually. As we work to improve the CTA and invest in the CTA system further (such as the recent extension of the Red Line and modernization of the Brown Line), it is essential that its leaders show up at the table to provide vital information, engage with City Council, and hear the concerns of constituents from every neighborhood. I will continue to hold leadership accountable and work with both the Mayor and Governor to ensure public transportation experts are appointed to the CTA Board.

A comprehensive revitalization to the CTA requires increased hiring, security, and innovation.

On hiring, we must all acknowledge that the on-the-ground team at CTA are front-line workers that we celebrated during the pandemic. That once-in-a-generation global crisis caused an incredible amount of stress, and eventually, a loss of employees. We must continue increased hiring and retention initiatives while improving job quality through improved benefits, stronger worker-management relations, and more holistic training.

On security, we need to increase the police presence across the CTA system in a non-threatening way (such as non-uniformed officers and unarmed security guards). The creation of a dedicated transit district between CTA and the Chicago Police Department could streamline the unique task of monitoring the CTA.

Finally, on modernization, until we sustain the staffing metrics required to achieve the outdated train and bus schedule (which is the root cause of many of the ghost rides), we need to move to real-time tracking. As the city government as a whole continues to modernize (and frankly catch up with the times), the CTA must do the same. Like the city as a whole, I believe that the CTA’s greatest days are ahead of us.

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, I use all different modes of transportation. Lately, like many Chicagoans, the CTA has become more challenging (however, I remain enthusiastic by the future of the CTA, as evidenced above). One barrier in transportation in the city is safety.

The city must do more to protect pedestrians and cyclists. The best solution is passing state legislation, similar to Massachusetts, requiring that all IDOT and CDOT projects must increase or encourage pedestrian, bicycle and transit. We must remove the “more lanes and higher speed limits” as the primary goal of transportation. This avenue would then improve safety every year when transportation funds are being spent.

In addition, here in the 43rd Ward, I am working with local high school students to bring their idea to fruition: passing an anti-idling ordinance to penalize drivers sitting in park with their engines on and creating excess emissions. Chicago can do what other cities like Seattle and New York City have done to keep our air clean. While the primary goal of anti-idling ordinances is to reduce emissions, a secondary goal is to clear traffic. When cars idle, they often do so within bike lanes and ‘no parking’ areas, which is dangerous to all of us who bike or walk. I look forward to pushing this ordinance forward with students.

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

When I was abroad, I was truly able to see how transit-oriented development allows cities to reduce their carbon footprint (which we need to do at all levels) while increasing quality of life for citizens. Cities that have championed transit-oriented development, like Copenhagen, Denmark, have shown incredible results on livability through large average cut downs on commute time and higher quality parking spaces, economic development through making jobs across the city more accessible and higher real estate valuations, and carbon emissions because of less of a need for cars. Transit-oriented development is the future of Chicago as a modern and competitive city.

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?

I am proud to have supported “Plow the Sidewalks” early in my Aldermanic term, and I look forward to working with Better Streets Chicago to advocate for a smart funding source. Often, I talk with constituents about the program at the doors. Many constituents resonate with me in the discussion, that it is truly an issue of access, both broadly, and specifically for people with mobility issues, vision impairment, or our seniors. It is a quality of life issue. All residents of Chicago deserve to be able to access the outdoors during our brutal winters. Isolation can lead to extensive mental health issues. For these reasons and more, I am proud to support the pilot program and work together with community leaders on how to fund it.

While my office works with Better Streets Chicago, we must also hold property owners accountable that are physically and financially able to do so. Section 4-4-310 and 10-8-180 of the Municipal Code of Chicago requires property owners and occupants to shovel their snow. In the 43rd Ward, where we have many managed apartment buildings, I will work to ensure they are aware and comply with their civic duty to ensure clear paths for all, especially seniors and people with mobility issues.

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?

One major route to desegregation that I strongly believe in is through affordable housing across the city and specifically in my ward. In the 43rd Ward, we have a lack of affordable housing that needs to be addressed, in order to create a future where the teachers, waiters, nurses and other people who work in the ward can afford to live here too. To work on this, first, we should remain consistent in requiring developers building under the Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO) to include 20% of affordable units in their projects on-site (as opposed to paying for affordable units off-site, often at a far away location in the city, which was previously the norm in the 43rd Ward). This history of “off-site building” of affordable units has the effect of concentrating affordable unit building into specific parts of the city,which leads to an unbalanced city.

After recent talks with developers, I am thrilled to hear a shifting tone that they are accepting my push that all affordable units required under the ARO be placed on site or adjacent to site. I fully welcome the recent state tax incentives to do so, which will have a large positive impact in the 43rd Ward. My follow-up goal is to ensure that 43rd Ward is affordable to live in through strong CPS schools, diversified grocery store options, and strong public transit. I also look forward to partnering with the City’s Department of Housing on their work to get creative on affordability and to utilize city investment in new and repurposed housing in our ward and the city as a whole.

In addition, continued investment in the CTA is essential to desegregating and connecting the whole city. As a ward serviced by the Red Line, I am proud to have had the opportunity to vote in favor of the Red Line Extension to the far south side, which will further connect the North and South sides of the City.

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

Transportation plays a massive role in the environmental crisis that must be addressed by all levels of government. It is a fact that fossil fuel emissions are harmful to people and the environment, so any vehicle using fossil fuels is contributing to the problem. To tackle this problem, I will continue to support the CTA’s current project to convert to an all-electric bus fleet by 2040, resulting in an all-electric bus and train fleet. For city-owned vehicles, I will work with fellow alders to ensure future vehicle purchases are either electric or zero-emission technology. For non-government vehicles, I will work with businesses to ensure adequate charging stations are distributed city-wide to allow for a plentiful charging network.

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?

For the “carried forward proposals” IDOT and CDOT selected in their 2020 report, I believe more work must be done for transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and park users’ safety and enjoyment of the lakefront. From the studies, it does appear vehicle safety will improve, but as I stated in other sections here, the State legislature must change the law to require IDOT to build for the community in mind versus the current “move cars rapidly between two points” mindset.

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?

I plan to work with our state representative and senator to introduce state legislation requiring IDOT to “increase and encourage” walking, bicycling and rapid transit in addition to moving vehicles versus the current “consideration” standard in state law, without exception unless approved by the Governor. We will consult with local advocacy groups and conduct a thorough review of other State Departments of Transportation that focus on livable communities.

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?

A contract is a legally binding document on both parties. Fortunately, any contract can be modified when both parties agree to changes. As such, we will continue to work with the parking meter contractor on mutually beneficial changes that can improve street safety.

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?

Effecting change usually falls under the “positive or negative” approach. The positive approach to reducing speed can be found by designing streets that have “calming” features such as lane narrowing. The negative approach is increased enforcement of traffic laws through the issuance of tickets.

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 support efforts to encourage the conversion to electric, zero-emission vehicles versus limiting which vehicle a resident might own. Standard safety features should be in all vehicles, so the federal government should regulate that concern. It should be noted commercial vehicles in Chicago do have weight and size limits which I support.

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

Pedestrian and bike infrastructure are part of the transportation network, and therefore should be considered the same for funding roads and transit. As such, my position is that both the Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation should establish a dedicated funding stream for these transportation modes.

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

I would support efforts by the community to evaluate this. I will caution that a pedestrian only street that was built on State Street in Chicago was considered a failure, and by re-imagining it with transit, vehicle, and pedestrian considerations it revived that commercial stretch.

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

See my response to the first question

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?

The Chicago Transit Agency is an independent government agency created by the State, and is run by a 7 member appointed board. Further, the CTA’s budget must be approved by the Regional Transportation Authority’s board, and by law, 50% of its revenue must come from fares. The RTA provides additional funding through a RTA sales tax, real estate transfer tax, and a State of Illinois match of a portion of the sales and real estate tax.

As alderman, I will continue to be an advocate for innovative management solutions and our hard working city resident CTA employees. I will work with other local alders and the mayor to appoint transportation and finance experts to the board. And I will work with our local state representative and senator to advance state legislation to change the 50% fare requirement to prevent massive fare hikes.

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

I support a BRT network.

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

Yes.