OurPlatform

Questions

Please name your top three priorities for the city, and explain how you will make changes in those three areas.
General
Chicago's fire and police pensions are greatly underfunded, and the city is required by the state to make a $550 million payment into the pension funds by the end of 2015. Do you support restructuring the pension systems, inevitably reducing benefits, to put the funds on sound financial footing? Yes or No: Please explain:
Budget
Chicago's pension systems for municipal workers and laborers already have been restructured, reducing benefits, but the city has yet to identify where it will find the revenue to sufficiently fund those systems. Under what circumstances would you support a property tax increase to raise the needed revenue for the fire and police pensions and/or the municipal workers and laborers pensions?
Budget
Large and growing payments required to keep the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund solvent are squeezing CPS' budget, forcing cuts elsewhere and limiting investment. The Chicago Board of Education has increased property taxes, but it is not enough to keep up with the high annual costs. What measures do you support to ensure a solvent retirement system and to improve the district's finances?
Budget
In light of the financial issues discussed above, do you support any or all of the following measures, each of which would require, at a minimum, approval by the Illinois Legislature?
Jobs & Economy
What will you do as mayor to bring jobs to the city and boost economic development?
Jobs & Economy
Do you support hiring more police officers to combat crime and gun violence in Chicago? Yes or No: Please explain:
Criminal Justice Reform
What legislation in Springfield would you support to try to stem the flow of illegal guns into Chicago?
Criminal Justice Reform
An advisory referendum on switching Chicago to an elected school board, rather than an appointed board, is expected to be on the ballot in more than 30 wards on Feb. 24. Currently, the mayor appoints all seven board members and the Schools CEO. Do you support a change to an elected school board? Yes or No? Please explain.
Education
TIFs are the primary economic development tool of the city. In a TIF district, taxes from the growth in property values are set aside for 23 years to be used for public projects and private development. Do you support increasing the annual TIF surplus that the mayor and the City Council have declared in each of the last few years, money that goes to the schools and other city agencies? Yes or No? What reforms would you propose for the city's TIF program?
Budget
The City Council has 50 members, but civic groups and other regularly argue for reducing the size of the Council. What should the size of the Council be? Please provide a specific number. And why?
General
Do you support, in general concept, establishing a gambling casino in Chicago? Yes or No:
General
Does the city have an acceptable number of red light and speed cameras currently, and are they properly employed? Yes or No:
General