Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Analysis Drafted By Blacks in Green™ Coalition of Black Community Organizations [CBCO] Municipal Candidates Questionnaire Initiative Chicago 2015
Jesus Chuy Garcia 2015 Municipal Election/Runoff FIRST 100 DAYS
BLACK VOTES MATTER The Mayor and 18 Ward races are in run-offs in Chicago's 2015 Municipal elections - a riveting reminder of the power of the vote. In keeping with the Blacks in Green™ 6th Principle of Green-Village-Building™ - which underscores the importance of organizing in one’s self-interest - BIG™ is preparing analysis of Respondent Questionnaires where that candidate – incumbent or challenger – is in our April 7th election. We endorse no candidate; we are dedicated to communicating where they stand on issues of critical importance to the Black community. Respondent language is used verbatim where possible in this synopsis format. In some cases, bridge words or paraphrasing may be used. In all cases our intent, and we believe our result, is to capture the essence of Respondent language in its shortest, most accurate form. Naomi Davis Founder/CEO BIG: Blacks in Green™ Full Garcia Questionnaire available at http://goo.gl/mUJEq4 All Candidate Questionnaire responses are available at http://goo.gl/sFz8ty Blank Questionnaire at http://blacksingreen.org/municipal-candidates-questionnaire-initiative/ FISCAL/INFRASTRUCTURE Tax Increment Financing [TIF] My TIF Reform Plan is to keep only those TIFs open that meet specific criteria: (1) The TIF is needed to complete a specific, planned project or development initiative (such as school construction), and (2) Financial analysis demonstrates that the project would not be viable without public assistance. In my first 100 days as Mayor, I will initiate an independent forensic audit of the TIF program, and I will terminate any existing TIF districts that do not meet these two necessary conditions, regardless of whether the 23 year period has ended. [Q1] Student Loans I take pride in the fact that the “Mother of the Community Reinvestment Act,” Gail Cincotta, was a Chicago-based community organizer. The CRA [Community Reinvestment Act] needs to be protected. For these reasons, and many others, I would support a resolution to repeal Gramm Leach Bliley. [Q2] Audit I would support independent audits of all of the City’s public agencies and revenue streams. [Q3] BIG: Blacks in Green™ www.blacksingreen.org
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Naomi Davis, Founder & CEO, 773-678-9541
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Analysis Drafted By Blacks in Green™ Coalition of Black Community Organizations [CBCO] Municipal Candidates Questionnaire Initiative Chicago 2015
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/JOBS The Promise of Jobs I would support an ordinance requiring industries seeking “license to operate” in Chicago to detail all projections of new jobs not only by quantity, but also by a) zip code of hires, b) salary, c) tenure/retention aims, and d) race. [Q6] Presidential Library In the absence of community benefits language written into City of Chicago redevelopment agreements, I would support a separate legally enforceable contract committing the developer to certain standards of community benefits. [Q8] Chicago Park District Land I embrace the effort to bring the Obama Presidential Library to Chicago, a city that is rightly proud to call itself the home of the nation’s first Black president. But this endeavor does not need to be linked to a private raid on the people’s limited public assets. The University of Chicago is one of the largest landholders in the city, with vast swaths of property in its portfolio, including roughly a city block purchased near the Garfield L stop. They already possess the land and the capacity to create a world class urban-sited and urban-centered library -- without encroaching on the people’s land. [Q9] Major Investments I would work to identify and support investments that spur significant economic growth and development for under-served areas of the south and west sides, provide early notice to ensure community voice – with protections against displacement. [Q10] Minimum Wage I continue to advocate for raising the minimum wage to $15/hour now, and having it increase by the annual rate of inflation, because no one who works full time should have to live in poverty. Allowing businesses to pay substandard wages to their employees only shifts the burden for their care onto the public [Q11] Youth Employment I would make youth employment programs available to all youth in the city, especially those who are most at risk especially since youth employment in the summer months is near a 60-year low. [Q12] City Contracts If a company is found to be in violation of a City or sister agency MBE/WBE/DBE goals I would you support an ordinance to preclude companies from bidding or being a sole-source recipient of a city or sister-agency contract for a 2 year period on new city business or large additions to existing contracts [Q13]
BIG: Blacks in Green™ www.blacksingreen.org
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Naomi Davis, Founder & CEO, 773-678-9541
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Analysis Drafted By Blacks in Green™ Coalition of Black Community Organizations [CBCO] Municipal Candidates Questionnaire Initiative Chicago 2015
Chicago First All City contracts and procurement will be awarded to Greater Chicago Area based companies before considering companies from other areas, and locally-based companies will receive additional ‘material points’ as a part of evaluating responses to City of Chicago and Sister Agency RFIs/RFPs/IFBs/etc [Q14] Black Business I would support a city program to support businesses that are minority owned, women-owned, or veteran- owned, and ensure that the companies receiving City incentives share our commitment to equal opportunity. [Q15] Tax Dollars I would support an ordinance, to require the City to issue a bi-annual report detailing the breakdown of funding allocated/encumbered/expended in each Ward by infrastructure improvements, public and public/private development, schools, affordable and other housing, public transportation, public safety, and other categories of expenditures to achieve transparency in how equitably our tax dollars are distributed. [Q17] EDUCATION School Board I will advocate for an elected school board in Springfield, and if the legislature fails to act, I will ask the federal courts to intervene. I would also support the need for a publicly elected Chairman of the CPS board, by district to allow every community in the City to have fair representation and the chief executive officer of CPS should be a professional educator. [Q20] School Privatization My program involves reducing to the barest legal minimum the plethora of high-stakes, standardized tests; placing a moratorium on further charter schools; expanding public education to include pre-kindergarten and even earlier; and reducing class size. [Q21] Homeowner Bill of Rights Ordinance I would you support a Homeowner Bill of Rights Ordinance to protect homeowners from fraudulent document conveyances and erroneous Permanent Identification Numbers [PIN] for parcels of land documented in or managed by the Recorder of Deeds Office, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Clerk, and City Treasurer's Office. [Q36] ORGANIZING/JUSTICE Police Action Reports In order to provide a clearer picture and foster the design community-based solutions, I would support a funded mandate via city ordinance to require annual publication of all arrests, detentions, police killings, police misconduct, traffic tickets and booting of cars in a report compiled by Police District and Ward – by age and race – and accessible via website and download. [Q46]
BIG: Blacks in Green™ www.blacksingreen.org
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Naomi Davis, Founder & CEO, 773-678-9541
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Analysis Drafted By Blacks in Green™ Coalition of Black Community Organizations [CBCO] Municipal Candidates Questionnaire Initiative Chicago 2015
Restorative Justice I would support a city-wide Youth Initiative Program staffed with stakeholders and other trained professionals within the community, to holistically address the culture of violence among Black youth, utilizing proven best practices such as restorative justice, in lieu of incarceration. [Q47] Red Light Cameras I would you support the removal of all red light and speed cameras throughout the city, restoration of a reasonable time span between traffic light changes, and a complete overhaul of all booting and seizure policy and practices? [Q47] Ticket Payment Plans I would support settlement agreements that are based on income levels, as opposed to a blanket percentage reduction. [Q51]
The 8 Principles of Green-Village-Building™
BIG: Blacks in Green™ www.blacksingreen.org
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Naomi Davis, Founder & CEO, 773-678-9541