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

Dangerous reckless driving on major thoroughfares in the 5th Ward, including Lake Shore Drive and the CTA reliability crisis. Regarding reckless driving, we should ask for help from the State Police on LSD since it’s technically a state roadway/federal highway. We need City of Chicago police to obey traffic laws on other streets to set an example. When they run red lights or ignore signs, it’s discouraging. If there is a safety reason for why they don’t stay at the red lights, then explain that to the public so we don’t feel the police view themselves as above the law. I know the police are burdened but because reckless drivers believe there is no consequence for breaking traffic laws, they don’t stop. Perhaps we need a dedicated traffic patrol, although safety is a concern. Every traffic stop could turn into a tragedy for police officer or drivers. I do not love cameras, but we may need more of them to address the speeding and relight running. Regarding CTA, we have to get to the root cause of hiring challenges and absenteeism. I believe drivers feel unsafe and unappreciated. We must restore morale so drivers want to come to work.

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?

Everything but bike. I was injured on my bike while in college and confess that I am a bit phobic. My ideal mode of transit is the number 6 or number 28 bus to downtown. Indeed, I bought my condo because the bus stop is almost in front of it. But starting with the pandemic, I became more reliant on my car. I was working in the office most days through the pandemic. Post pandemic, the schedule is shaky, and the buses are crowded and dirty. My partner and I find ourselves driving or using Uber more than expected. We also tend to walk to the stores but robberies in Hyde Park have also made us more reliant on our car. I love that Chicago has such a great network of public transit. A few days ago, I was on the number 6 with a wonderful driver. The bus was crowded but we were all courteous to each other. I want this norm back!

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

I'm still haunted by the accident where the cyclist was killed on Balboa by a driver using the left turn lane as a "pass through" lane. And then the destruction of his memorial bike recently by someone doing the same thing. This practice has become routine, as has running red lights. The recklessness of Chicago drivers today are a risk to bikers and pedestrians. I also think though, that we must pay more attention to the interaction between cyclist and pedestrians. I think bikes should be registered. A friend of mine was seriously injured by a bicyclist -- I mean hospitalized! The biker got up, yelled at my friend and left. There was no way to hold him accountable.

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?

1000 percent support City cleaning sidewalks. When my Mom was widowed and living alone in her home in Roseland, this was a constant stress. My mother wanted to remove the snow but couldn’t. And she didn’t have money to call anyone. There were also abandoned homes on the block that no one bothered shoveling. We could use the snow removal program to help give returning citizens jobs and pathways back to society.

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?

Segregation is an entrenched problem in Chicago. The Interstates exacerbated it but the solutions now go beyond this transportation issue. We need housing mobility. But disparities in income prevent this. There is very little, if any, affordable housing in parts of the northside. Market rate housing in parts of the north side is much higher than on the south side. The wealth gap in the Black community is real and substantial. In many cases, even with “good jobs” we cannot afford market rate housing in predominantly white communities. The challenge with segregation is that separate becomes inherently unequal - as it was in public schools. Black neighborhoods- even solidly middle class ones like Chatham - suffer from disinvestment disproportionately. The Target closed a few years ago. Marshall’s just closed. Until the wealth gap is closed that would allow for full housing mobility, the battle has to be how to ensure segregated neighborhoods get the retail and amenities they need to be thriving neighborhoods.

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

It plays a huge role. During the pandemic when no one was driving, the sky was a different color blue. I am not anti-car … that would be hypocritical because I drive. But with better, safer, cleaner, more reliable public transit and safer streets to get to it, I think most people would prefer public transit. Its certainly more cost effective!

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?

I know that North DuSable Lake Shore Drive can be congested. However, the answer to congestion is to figure out alternatives to traffic. There are not enough roads to be built if car volume does not decrease. I lived in Northern Virginia, which had inadequate public transit and there was a huge dependence on cars. A major interchange was built to to alleviate traffic. By the time it was built it was obsolete and traffic was worse. I worry about the same thing happening on any plan to expand NDLSD. I also think that any plan as ambitious as the CDOT plan ought to have equal concern about pedestrian and bike access to the lake front. My understanding is that IDOT has only committed to "study" the pedestrian bridges and "evaluate" non-car modes of transportation along the corridor. underpasses are needed so that more people can access the lake front. We cannot expand car lanes without also expanding access for bikes and pedestrians.

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 have extensive professional experience working in government. At the end of the day, "government" is made up of people. In order to get things done, we need to have solid and cooperative relationships with one another. If the Governor and Mayor have solid relationships, we ought to be able to work through any concerns. If that doesn't work, Chicago is the largest municipality in the state and contributes the highest amount of tax dollars to the state. It also has a large state delegation. We need to use the heft to get attention.

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?

Sadly, I don't know if there is anything we can do to fix this "WORST IN THE HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL DEALS" so-called deal. Working in the Mayor's office, I was stunned to learn that when we blocked off streets so we could have outdoor restaurants when COVID was raging, we LOST money because we took "metered" areas (eg Park Chicago areas) out of action. We have to be creative and figure out how to build "bump outs" and bike lanes but still maintain the same number of paid parking spots. We have to press to the limit, even if it means risking being sued.

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?

Frist and foremost, we need to start enforcing the law. I have seen cars speed by and take reckless action IN FRONT of CPD cars and they've done nothing. I think the lack of enforcement by CPD of basic traffic laws has contributed to the general lawlessness we are now feeling in the city. I am also not opposed to speed or red light cameras. I just would want to be sure they are truly equitably placed. For example, when I drive on 55th Street to Midway, there are at least 6 red light cameras. But if I drive from the lake to Pulaski on Irving Park Road, there is one. Clyburn has cameras but since the traffic is always backed up, I bet very few tickets are issue. Bottom line: if the question of equitable distribution of cameras can be addressed, I would install more of them -- including potentially on DLSD to stop the people from driving 90 mph -- which is not an exaggeration.

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 would want to learn more but am inclined to support it. I had an SUV. I did not need an SUV. But it made me feel safe on the road because there were so many other SUVS. If everyone had smaller cars, roads would be safer. When a person is hit by an SUV, they don't get broken legs. They get life saving injuries to their thorax. I also think eliminating the number of SUVs on the street could return CPD to regular police cars. When I think about restoring trust with the police, one challenge is that they show up in community as militaristic occupying forces. The SUVS are basically tanks. But CPD can't unilaterally disarm, if you will. Criminals are driving SUVs. CPD has to be able to keep up.

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

I would support such a fund but would want to evaluate the sources of it. I would also want to work with underserved communities to be sure that they understood the benefit of this new infrastructure -- especially bike -- and took advantage of it.

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

I think there are places this could work. I live in Hyde Park. I would love to figure out how to shut off parts of 53rd Street so that it was not as congested or stressful for both pedestrians and drivers. I love city squares like you see in Europe. Would love such a square in Hyde Park. There are likely other streets where this could be a practice that benefits small businesses and pedestrians.

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

The biggest problem is lack of personnel. Unless we can find driverless buses, there is no way to solve this problem without increased personnel. I know that CTA is aggressively hiring. We have to restore morale to retain current drivers don't quit It's not about money. I know someone who worked as a CTA bus driver for year. He quit because it was such a stressful awful job, particularly rude passengers and thoughtless drivers around him. Also think a recent comment by Dorval Carter that he can't fire people for excessive absenteeism is not true. By NOT firing these drivers, you have negatively impacted the morale of those who are trying to do right. It creates a toxic "one bad apple poisoning the bushel" environment. We also have to look at CTA issues on a garage by garage basis. The 103rd Street garage which serves most 5th ward buses has a very high absenteeism rate. We need to be sure that we are ready with more back ups for this garage then for others in the system that are not experience the absenteeism crisis.

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?

We must acknowledge that public transit is a critical component of our city's existence. As such, we have confront this cliff as an existential threat. We have to find the $700 million. I am a proponent of increasing parking taxes in the city to support public transit and incentivize its use. If that doesn't work, I would explore the model used in London where there is a toll on cars entering downtown. Finally, I truly believe the emergence Uber and Lyft have exacerbated our congestion problem. We need to look at ways to earn revenue from these companies.

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

I live on the southeast side of Chicago in Hyde Park. Our buses ARE our rapid transit already. I believe that during rush hour at least, our express buses should have dedicated lanes. Besides making the rides more efficient, it helps because drivers don't have to negotiate between lanes and operate on a stop and go basis, which endangers cars and bus passengers.

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

Yes