Issues That Matter

  • For the past 20 years, Chicago’s infrastructure has been neglected. Our streets are cracked, filled with potholes, and backed up with traffic. It’s no longer just frustrating—it’s dangerous. Drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike are forced to navigate roads that are decades behind where they should be.

    • Chicago drivers lose 145 hours a year stuck in traffic, costing over $2,000 annually in lost time and fuel.

    • Illinois motorists spend billions statewide on repairs and wear-and-tear from poorly maintained roads.

    • Broken sidewalks and unsafe intersections continue to make walking and biking risky in many neighborhoods.

    This is not the infrastructure of a world-class city.

    Public Transit: Behind Schedule and Behind the Times

    The CTA, once a symbol of city pride, is now plagued by delays, crime, and outdated systems.

    • Only 52% of trains arrive on time.

    • Thousands of delays each year make it unreliable for working families and students.

    • Outdated control technology and aging infrastructure limit safety, speed, and coordination.

    A city like Chicago—renowned for architecture and innovation—should have a transit system that reflects our ambition, not our past.

    Utility Costs and Energy Access: We Need Smarter Investment

    While infrastructure crumbles, the cost of basic utilities continues to rise. Families are being priced out of stability.

    • Electricity bills have climbed across Chicago, with some households paying $40–$50 more per month in 2024.

    • Nearly 1 in 2 renters spends more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities, leaving little room to save or plan ahead.

    Instead of patching a broken system, it’s time we invest in energy that works—reliable, efficient, and affordable.

    Here’s What I Stand For:

    • Rebuilding our roads, sidewalks, and bridges with high-quality materials and long-term repair plans

    • Modernizing traffic and streetlight systems using smart city technology to ease congestion and improve safety

    • Upgrading public transit with cleaner, more efficient systems, enhanced safety measures, and dependable service

    • Investing in affordable, reliable energy infrastructure to reduce strain on families and improve long-term sustainability

    • Expanding energy-efficiency programs to lower costs for households and ensure equitable access across communities

    • Creating jobs and opportunity through bold public infrastructure projects that benefit every neighborhood

    Our city cannot grow on cracked streets, failing trains, and rising utility bills. It’s time to invest—not just repair.
    No politics. Just progress. Let’s build a stronger, more resilient Chicago—together.

  • Chicago’s Students Deserve Better

    According to the 2024 Illinois Report Card, only 30.5% of CPS students in grades 3–8 are reading at grade level, while math proficiency sits at just 18.3%. These numbers are unacceptable in a city as vibrant and capable as ours.

    And the situation gets even more alarming at the high school level.
    Only 22.4% of Chicago 11th graders—less than 1 in 4—could read at grade level in 2024. Math proficiency is even lower, at just 18.6%. Reading is up only a tenth of a percentage point from the previous year, and math actually declined. Both remain below pre-pandemic levels.

    This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a wake-up call.

    We are failing our children when we fail to invest in meaningful, results-driven education reform. It’s time we stop making excuses and start making progress—with urgency, equity, and accountability.

    And the challenge doesn’t end there. Chronic absenteeism remains above 24%, meaning 1 in 4 CPS students missed 10% or more of the school year. That’s not just a school issue—it’s a symptom of a broken system, especially in low-income and minority communities.

    Here’s What I Stand For:

    • School choice for all parents, ensuring families have the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children

    • Accountability for schools and the officials who run them, with a focus on outcomes, transparency, and community involvement

    • A renewed emphasis on literacy and mathematics, the foundation of lifelong learning and opportunity

    • Creating safe, welcoming, and inspiring school environments, where kids want to show up, feel free to be themselves, and are excited to learn

    • Equity in funding and resources, so no child is left behind based on their ZIP code or economic background

    We cannot afford to lose another generation to political gridlock and bureaucratic failure.
    No politics. Just progress.

  • Chicago families and small businesses are being taxed out of the city. It’s time to reverse course.

    For too long, we’ve been told that higher taxes are the only answer—yet streets continue to crumble, schools struggle, and crime persists. Meanwhile, the cost of living rises, and City Hall keeps spending without delivering results.

    That’s not sustainable—and it’s not acceptable.

    The Truth:

    • Property taxes in Chicago have increased by more than 90% over the last two decades.

    • Our 10.25% sales tax is one of the highest in the country.

    • The city carries over $33 billion in long-term debt, with no serious plan to reduce it.

    • Small businesses and homeowners are paying more than ever while basic city services continue to decline.

    Residents are being asked to give more while getting less. That ends now.

    What I Stand For

    Lower Property Taxes
    Homeowners should not be penalized for living in the city they love. I will work to roll back rates and prevent unnecessary increases.

    Cut the Sales Tax
    Everyday essentials are too expensive. We must lower the sales tax rate so working families can better manage their budgets and businesses can remain competitive.

    Protect Core Services Without Over-Taxing
    We will fund essential services like education, public safety, and infrastructure—not through constant tax increases, but through smarter budgeting and responsible management.

    Eliminate Wasteful Spending
    We will cut unnecessary programs, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and put an end to inflated salaries and perks for politicians.

    Make the Budget Transparent and Accountable
    Taxpayers deserve to know where every dollar goes. We will implement open budgeting tools and hold every department accountable for performance and results.

    Chicago doesn’t need more taxes. It needs responsible leadership and a government that respects your hard-earned money.

    Lower taxes. Smarter spending. Real results.
    No politics. Just progress.

  • Public safety is a basic right—not a privilege. Every resident of Chicago deserves to walk their neighborhood, take public transportation, open a business, or send their child to school without fear. But right now, that’s not the reality for too many.

    The Truth:

    • The Chicago Police Department is down over 1,300 officers, leaving neighborhoods dangerously understaffed.

    • In 2023, the city spent a record $300 million on police overtime, a short-term fix that drains resources without solving the core problem.

    • 2,103 public safety jobs were eliminated while City Hall added 184 administrative positions in 2024—fewer officers, more red tape.

    • Emergency response times are worsening: 911 calls that took more than 6 minutes to respond to rose significantly between 2021 and 2024.

    • And disturbingly, half of all 911 calls between 2017 and 2021 had no complete response time record—no data, no accountability.

    A Broken Justice System

    Even when officers do their jobs, too many criminals face no real consequences.

    • Repeat offenders are being released back into neighborhoods within days—or even hours—of committing serious crimes.

    • The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has seen a steady drop in felony prosecution rates, even for charges like armed robbery and illegal gun possession.

    • Victims are left feeling abandoned, while communities lose faith in the system.

    We cannot restore peace to our streets if we refuse to hold violent offenders accountable.

    What I Stand For

    Fully Staff and Support the Police
    We must rebuild staffing levels and ensure every neighborhood has access to fast, consistent, and community-focused policing.

    Fix the 911 System
    Upgrade dispatch technology and require complete, transparent reporting on response times so communities can track and demand performance.

    Enforce the Law, Without Exceptions
    There must be clear, consistent consequences for violent crime. I will work with prosecutors and courts to stop the revolving door of criminal justice and prioritize public safety over political optics.

    Reform Without Weakening
    We can improve training, transparency, and accountability without making it harder for officers to protect our neighborhoods.

    Support Prevention & Outreach
    Invest in youth programs, mental health access, and job training to reduce crime at its roots—not just react to it.

    Restore Trust Through Community Policing
    Expand neighborhood-based policing programs that build long-term trust between residents and officers.

    We can’t build a strong city on broken systems, delayed responses, and ignored crime.

    Let’s restore safety, rebuild trust, and hold the entire system accountable.
    No politics. Just progress.

  • Chicagoans are tired of backroom deals, broken promises, and government that works for insiders instead of everyday people. For too long, City Hall has operated in the shadows—while taxpayers are left in the dark.

    We pay some of the highest taxes in the country, yet rarely see where that money goes. City contracts are handed out with little oversight. Budgets are bloated, and results are unclear. Trust in City Hall is at an all-time low—and it’s time to change that.

    The Truth:

    Chicago has earned a reputation as one of the most corrupt cities in the United States. That’s not just history—it’s recent reality.

    • In 2024, Alderman Ed Burke—once the most powerful figure in City Council—was convicted on racketeering and bribery charges, using his office to extort businesses for personal gain.

    • Over 30 Chicago aldermen have been indicted or convicted of corruption since the 1970s.

    • The city’s red-light camera contracts have been repeatedly linked to bribery schemes and political favoritism, costing drivers millions in unfair tickets.

    • Major contracts have gone to politically connected companies with little oversight or competition, raising serious concerns about fairness and waste.

    • Investigations have found misuse of COVID relief funds and other public dollars with little accountability or follow-up from the city.

    This is not a system that serves the people. It’s one that protects power—and it must end.

    What I Stand For

    Transparent Budgeting
    The city budget will be published in a fully searchable, public format. Every resident will be able to see where tax dollars go—by agency, by project, and by vendor.

    Open Contracts & Fair Bidding
    All contracts will be publicly posted, competitively bid, and independently reviewed. No more sweetheart deals for political insiders.

    Real-Time Public Reporting
    Performance data—like 911 response times, permit delays, and infrastructure spending—will be updated regularly online so residents can track results.

    Stronger Ethics Laws
    We’ll close loopholes, ban pay-to-play politics, and enforce real penalties for corruption or misuse of public funds.

    Community Involvement
    Budgets and major developments will require neighborhood input through local review boards and participatory budgeting.

    Chicago deserves a government it can trust.

    The era of secret deals and unaccountable power must end. If we want progress, it starts with transparency.

    Let’s open the books, rebuild trust, and lead with integrity.
    No politics. Just progress.

  • Chicago is in the middle of a housing crisis—and it's getting worse.

    Homelessness is rising. Rent is climbing. And families who’ve lived here for decades are being pushed out by unaffordable prices, broken systems, and failed leadership. Meanwhile, homes sit empty because people no longer feel safe in their own neighborhoods.

    This isn’t just a housing problem. It’s a failure to plan, build, and protect.

    The Truth:

    • More than 68,000 Chicagoans experienced homelessness in 2023—including nearly 20,000 children.

    • Rent continues to rise across the city, fueled by a lack of new affordable development and outdated zoning policies that limit growth.

    • At the same time, entire blocks sit vacant, especially on the South and West Sides—often due to crime, poor infrastructure, or disinvestment.

    • Nearly 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing and utilities, putting them one emergency away from eviction.

    • Luxury development is outpacing workforce housing, leaving middle- and low-income residents with fewer options and longer waiting lists.

    We have empty homes on one side of the city, and families with nowhere to go on the other. That’s not just inefficient—it’s unacceptable.

    What I Stand For

    Build More. Build Smarter.
    We’ll remove red tape and encourage responsible development of affordable housing in every ward—not just a few. We’ll update zoning laws and fast-track permits for high-need areas.

    Convert Vacant Properties into Opportunity
    Repurpose empty homes, abandoned lots, and underused buildings into livable, supportive housing—especially in areas hit hardest by crime and neglect.

    Expand Support Services
    Homelessness is rarely just about housing. We’ll invest in transitional housing, job training, mental health care, and addiction recovery to help people rebuild their lives.

    Protect Renters & Working Families
    We’ll support rent stabilization, eviction diversion programs, and down payment assistance to keep families secure and help them build generational wealth.

    Fix What We Already Have
    Public housing should be livable, maintained, and accountable. We’ll end the backlog of repairs and make sure city-run housing serves the people it’s meant for.

    A safe, stable home is not a luxury. It’s a foundation for everything else—work, education, health, and community.

    Let’s build a Chicago where no one is priced out, pushed aside, or forgotten.
    No politics. Just progress.