Christopher J. Clark

manufacturing industries.

will work with the other government entities to collaborate procurement efforts and programming; eliminating repetitive and unnecessary expenses. Identify waste in the budget to align resources for the best outcomes (ie. paying down debt to free up funding to address pension and water bill shortages; hiring competent officers to reduce lawsuits). Analyzing the current budget and levy to ensure all available sources of income are accounted for. Decrease the number of legal entities with over inflated contracts placing those funds back into rotation. Those are a few things I believe could be done fairly quickly to stabilize the economic viability.

Citizen Newspaper: How would you bring more jobs and economic development to Harvey?

McCaskill: Work with local manufacturers to help identify how the city can assist with their business expansion. Working with large box companies to consider building up dormant and unincorporated land for distribution hubs. I would also be requesting meetings with the various rails that frequent Harvey to discuss local hiring and other options to provide employment. Bring in developers that are seeking to build with a set aside for minority, women-owned companies, veterans, local laborers, and unskilled residents. There will also be an aggressive employment effort for persons with challenged backgrounds. Being a transitional community the successful engagement of persons with barriers will not only support the work-

Continued from page 3

Under my leadership, we are working with our state legislators and University of Chicago at Ingalls to create a medical district similar to that in Chicago. This type of district will allow public, private, civic, university, health, financial, community and other partners to take advantage of financial incentives available in the district. Entrepreneurs and investors will have an opportunity to develop their business and provide housing by redeveloping our abandoned housing stock. It creates the perfect opportunity for high schools and junior colleges to develop curriculums and provide training for the employees of the future.

Citizen Newspaper: What ideas do you have to improve Harvey’s infrastructure?

Clark: We have already started repairing, refurbishing, and replacing over 2,000 streetlights to improve visibility throughout the city. We are also working with our County, State and Federal partners to bring financing opportunities to the city. We have secured approximately $90 million in state funds to totally repair Wood Street from 146th to 161st Street. The project will include not only a new street, but sidewalks, streetlights and a main sewer line to reduce area flooding. Under this administration we were awarded part of a $1.5 million federal grant from a collaboration between U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to mitigate flooding. We were also awarded $3 million in federal dollars from U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin for water and sewer improvements.

Going forward we are working to shore up our main water supply lines to reduce breaks during the winter. Once we are able to re-enter the bond market, we intend to finance future street reconstruction and repair through bonds and financial assistance from our County,

State, and Federal partners.

Citizen Newspaper: Where do you stand on small business creation and more opportunities for small businesses in the City of Harvey to grow scale and be sustainable?

Clark: I have been leading economic development and working effectively to support our new and current small businesses and working to increase job creation in Harvey. My administration has welcomed new small businesses including but not limited to a restaurant, butcher shop and meat market, gas station-convenience store, an auto-parts supply store and a truck driving academy. We also brought J-J Fish, S2 Express Grill, Davita Kidney Dialysis, and Route-1 Industries. As we continue to support small businesses, our future projects include a self-service car wash, Burger King and the expansion and development of a full-service supermarket.

The development of a medical district will provide small businesses with an opportunity to provide goods and services. Entrepreneurs and investors will have an opportunity to develop their businesses and provide housing by redeveloping our abandoned housing stock.

We are also working to develop relationships and establish a Small Business Incubator. We realize that many small businesses and entrepreneurs need assistance securing funding, access to investors, mentorship, and business management strategies. Through these efforts, many small businesses increase their chances of success.

Citizen Newspaper: What are some things you would do to improve education and create pathways for youth employment?

Clark: As an attorney and businessman, education, business and employment are important to me. As a mayor, I am always interested in partnering with com- force of the business owners but decrease the potential for distasteful behavior. Again, improving public safety. munity-based organizations and businesses to create youth employment opportunities. We will continue to work with our County, State, and Federal partners to provide new opportunities and funding for projects that will provide hands-on experiences for our youth.

Citizen Newspaper: What ideas to you have to improve Harvey’s infrastructure?

McCaskill: Water Reclamation. The agency will be held accountable for the deteriorating sewer infrastructure it has failed to address for decades. Banks and slumlords will be held accountable for dilapidated properties. They will be given an opportunity to restore or sell but houses will be placed back on tax roll and beautified.

Citizen Newspaper: Where do you stand on small business creation and more opportunities for small businesses in the City of Harvey to grow scale and be sustainable?

McCaskill: CBGs and other grants will be offered to support “purposeful” expansion. When a direct benefit to taxpayers can be demonstrated TIFF funds will be used.

Citizen Newspaper: What are some things you would do to improve education and create pathways for youth employment?

McCaskill: Bridge the relationships diminished by the current administration with local businesses and local/other government entities; and work directly and collaboratively with park, school, and library district officials as well as other local resources to address employment education and placement. We are stronger together and my priority will be to increase access to opportunities for all residents especially our youth. My wife Dr. Kisha E. McCaskill and I pride ourselves on the love we have shown to the youth of our community.

On a local level, we will establish the Department of Youth Engagement to address youth issues including but not limited to employment. As a part of this department, we will approach our local high school about the possibility of collaborating with their programs such as NFTE or DECA to provide pathways to entrepreneurship, leadership, and financial literacy. We will also collaborate with our local junior college to provide opportunities for education in trades. Our slogan, “Trucks, Trains and Technology”, reflects the many trades that are important to developing and maintaining this robust part of our future economy.

The development of a medical district provides STEM educated students the opportunity for youth mentorship and employment in the public, private, civic, university, health, financial arena. This is a conduit to future entrepreneurship and business ownership.

Mentorship and relationship building are key components to improving education and creating pathways for youth employment. As such, we intend on joining established organizations such as the Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, creating relationships with local businesses and reaching out to others in an effort to develop relationships and youth opportunities. Our youth can gain an opportunity to learn the necessary skills for future employment.

These types of collaboration not only provide the possibility of youth employment, but are the tools for becoming a positive contributing part of society and the Harvey community.