George
rumsey
for alderman
putting the 4th ward first
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Issues of Concern

Basic Services
For most people, the most important job of an alderman is potholes, sidewalks, streetlights,
garbage-pickup.

Development
I have three key principles for development:
1. Development should begin with community input, and end with community input, since you're the ones who will have to live with the results.
2. Development should be sustainable. It should
build to succeed, including affordable housing, quality businesses, adequate access, and high standards (including green). Don't just recruit national chains because they're cheap and easy.
3. Developers should not leave vacant blocks. Ever. They destroy the fabric of a neighborhood.
How can we be more "green" in the 4th Ward?
Energy efficiency, better development principles?

Health Care
The entire South Side is becoming a medical desert. Areas of concern to watch include Provident Hospital, the possible opening in the 4th Ward of a Mercy Hospital clinic, and the policies of the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Crime and Safety
Is CAPS a worthwhile expenditure of funds?
The city of Chicago is short some 1,500 officers—
why aren't we hiring more police? Has the University of Chicago Police over-extended its reach?

Jobs
Where do we go? Job fairs? City services? Neighborhood placement centers? See box at right.

  

Affordable and Accessible Housing
The 4th Ward has been a long-time city leader in promoting affordable housing. I would like to add two components to that goal:
1. Don't lose lower and middle class families in favor of high-end condos and townhomes. Diversity should means economic and well as racial and cultural. Build housing for everyone.
2. Add "accessible" to "affordable." With the aging of the baby boom generation, there is no reason developers should not be building with "universal access" guideliness. People who are blind or in a wheelchair need a place to live too.

Schools and Libraries
Why are we eliminating school teachers instead of reducing the costs of street cleaning? Which is more important to our long-term future?
Why have we cut back on the hours at libraries? Working parents need libraries after school hours as much as their kids need a safe place to go. And free computer access is essential for people who are unemployed to do job searches.

Transportation
In the Hyde Park-Kenwood area, the need is parking, parking, parking.
Along the Lakefront, throughout the 4th Ward, the need is access. Why are there so few Metra trains during the day? Go, Gold Line.
As Mayor Daley pushes biking, the need for a bicycle safety education program is becoming essential throughout the city. Don't ride your bikes on the sidewalk, don't run stop signs, watch out for pedestrians.

The Environment—"Greening" the 4th Ward
There is a big movement now with "green" construction. Other wards have green houses with various groups helping in the design and financing. Transportation also enters the picture, examining bus, car, bicycle, and pedestrian routes. Existing buildings can be retrofitted for energy efficiency. Neighborhood gardens and open areas are important. What is most important is the overall planning, not a piece-by-piece approach.
 


Public Opinion

“I will tell anyone who will listen: you have a vision of the neighborhood, and are devoted to its best interests (in the maintenance of a diverse and not too neutered and gentrified community), you are an outstanding leader who brings people together, inspires them and makes them want to do better, you can apparently talk to anyone and reach them, you are incorruptible, and therefore would be a breath of fresh air for the city council, you know a good part of the 4th ward very well, you’re a quick study and will learn the rest, you will not be in it for reasons of avarice or careerism, as so many others are, and lastly I think that “political insider” might be a dirty term this year.”
“Let's win this thing!”


Job Resources

Chicago Job Fairs

ETS Job Fair on Thursday, August 19

Chicago Job Fair on Friday, August 20

Professional Diversity Job Fair on
Tuesday, September 21

From ENRIQUE'S COMMUNITY UPDATES
 
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