To inform voters and to help the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board make endorsements, the board posed a series of questions to the candidates running for alderman. See their answers below. See how other candidates answered here.
Name: Aida Flores
Ward: 25th
Current job: Assistant Principal – Chicago Public Schools
Previous political experience: In 2002 I was elected to the Local School Council at Benito Juarez serving as a student representative. While in college I was the Chair of M.E.Ch.A-Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, Summer Intern for Congressman Bobby Rush, and member of Georgetown University College Democrats. In 2019 we launched our campaign for 25th Ward Alderwoman on a platform that we need experienced leaders, who advocate for progressive policy and actively demonstrate progressivism and collaboration in their approach to leadership. I have been involved in many progressive campaigns including campaigns: Elizabeth Warren for President and State of Illinois Senator Celina Villanueva. I served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Anna Valencia for Secretary of State.
Education: I received my Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from National-Louis University, and a Master of Education in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Spouse’s occupation: Full-time Faculty at Chicago City Colleges
Sources of outside income: None
The rise in violent crime remains a top priority for City Hall. Homicides, shootings and carjackings are all unacceptably high. Tell us how city government can be innovative in combating crime, and explain what measures you would propose if elected.
As a parent and educator, I would bring a multifaceted approach to Creating safer communities and reducing crime by using comprehensive steps to address both the root causes of crime and the primary factors contributing to it.
We must increase support for initiatives that address the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to crime. I propose the following measures to address crime and public safety in Chicago:
We must continue to increase investment in prevention and intervention programs. Programs that provide young people with positive alternatives to pass the time, gain meaningful employment, and engage in civic leadership to have a significant impact. An increase in after-school and summer job programs, mentorship and tutoring opportunities, as well as sports and recreational activities have demonstrated a significant effect on crime reduction.
We need a collaborative approach to strengthen community connection. We must build trust and cooperation between public safety actors and community members.
We need more accountability of our public safety systems and better training for public safety officials to rebuild confidence between government actors and the community. We must elevate community input in our local public safety plans, establish community safety councils, and ensure local residents inform our crime reduction initiatives.
We must invest in public health approaches to violence prevention and recognize violence is often best addressed through the lens of public health. When we implement trauma-informed care and cover victims of violence with appropriate social support services and mental health services, we can break cycles of violence. For perpetrators of crime or individuals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction, we need equally thoughtful systems of care that help address underlying issues and create recovery plans. We must restore our mental health services in Chicago and increase access to mental health care and social workers.
The illegal gun market is one of the key factors contributing to high levels of violent crime in Chicago. We must reduce the ease with which folks can obtain guns illegally. I will work with policymakers at all levels of government to address this problem and support measures that strengthen gun laws.
The CTA, one of the nation’s largest transit systems, remains a troubled agency grappling with issues ranging from violent crime and ghost buses and trains, to flagging ridership. Give us your thoughts on what specific measures CTA should take to make train and bus service safer, more reliable and more equitable for Chicagoans.
We must take several measures to improve the safety, reliability, and equity of the Chicago Transit Authorities’ train and bus services.
The CTA should increase the number of social service and security personnel on trains and buses. CTA must coordinate more with the Office of Emergency Management and Communications to better utilize our surveillance cameras and emergency call buttons.
Next, we must improve the condition of our trains and buses and ensure regular maintenance and repairs so they are in good working condition and less prone to breakdowns. Included in these improvements must be an increased use of technology: better GPS tracking systems to improve the reliability of bus and train schedules and to use data analytics to identify and address transit issues more efficiently.
Finally, we must expand and improve public transportation infrastructure, including investing in new buses and trains and upgrading existing infrastructures such as tracks, stations, and bus shelters. Once we enhance the transit system’s reliability, cleanliness, and efficiency, riders will feel safer and behave more respectfully on platforms, in shelters, and on buses and trains.
Ten years ago, enrollment at Chicago Public Schools was 403,000 students. In September, enrollment stood at 322,000 students. Enrollment at CPS has dropped for 11 consecutive years. What specific measures should CPS undertake to reverse the trend of ever-dwindling enrollment?
As a graduate of three neighborhood schools and administrator of CPS, I know first hand the effects of under enrollment and how important it is to support our schools equitably based on their particular needs. During the pandemic we saw how schools were social and service anchor points for our communities. We need to continue to write public policy recognizing the need for increased investment and resourcing where there is an obvious need.
To reverse the trend of declining enrollment at Chicago Public Schools we must improve academic programs and outcomes, enhance school safety, increase extracurricular activities, and implement wraparound service programs for at-risk youth. CPS can make the school district more attractive to families by improving the quality of academic programs and student outcomes. This involves implementing an innovative and effective curriculum, hiring and retaining high-quality teachers, and investing in high quality learning materials and teacher training.
As a part of academic programs, I would support the expansion of Dual Language Programs via teacher Professional Development and curricular materials as they have proven to be effective in educating new English Language Learners and a very attractive option to English Native Speakers and families. Additionally, as a CPS graduate, educator, administrator, and parent, I would look at our existing programs and consider revitalization via progressive models like public montessori schools. Lastly, given our knowledge of food and nutrition it is imperative that we revisit our existing contracts particularly the nutritional options.
CPS has many options to improve school safety, such as increasing social service personnel and better coordination with local nonprofits and community stakeholders. I would advocate to develop a stronger pipeline to fill the vacancies of social workers, counselors, and nurses via partnerships with our local universities.
Our city would benefit greatly from providing incentives for professionals in these fields dedicating their lives to serve in our most vulnerable communities. We must also work closely with students to identify solutions and build public safety plans informed by young people and their experiences. We must support expanded access to extracurricular activities such as sports, music, and clubs to make the district more appealing to families and as a proactive measure to enhance public safety. I look forward to creating a High School Internship program from my office to serve as a model for our local businesses.
Finally, we must implement a wraparound services program at the school level and provide support services, such as counseling, healthcare, and after-school programs, to address the non-academic barriers that may impact student success and attendance.
During the covid-19 pandemic, we learned our schools are anchor points in our community for disseminating public health information and programming. The lessons learned here should directly inform future intersectional investments in public health and schools.
Disinvestment on the South and West sides is a decades-long problem with myriad causes. Give us at least one innovative idea that you believe could play a role in reversing South and West side disinvestment, and explain why the idea is realistic and feasible.
As a teen mom, and immigrant my success is a testament of family support and the available resources and investment in my community that I had access to. Implementing a community land trust model is one innovative idea that could play a role in reversing disinvestment on the South and West sides of Chicago. Under this model, a nonprofit organization would purchase land on the South and West sides and hold it in trust for the benefit of the community. The organization would then lease the land to individuals or organizations wanting to build homes, businesses, or other developments. The leases would be structured so that the land remains permanently affordable for future generations.
This idea is realistic and feasible for several reasons:
It allows for community control. The community land trust model empowers the community to have a say in the types of development that take place on the land and ensures that the land remains permanently affordable.
It creates long-term affordability. By holding the land in trust and leasing it out, the community land trust model helps to ensure that the land remains permanently affordable for future generations rather than being subject to market forces that could drive up prices.
It promotes sustainable development. The community land trust model encourages sustainable development by requiring that any developments built on the land meet certain standards for environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and other factors.
It has a track record of success: The community land trust model has been successfully implemented in other cities around the country, demonstrating that it is a viable solution for addressing disinvestment and promoting community-led development.
Overall, the community land trust model has the potential to play a significant role in reversing disinvestment on the South and West sides of Chicago by providing a long-term solution for ensuring that the land remains permanently affordable and controlled by the community.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
Yes, I support property tax relief for residents of Chicago. There are several ways in which property tax relief could potentially be implemented in Chicago:
Property tax exemptions: We must do a full assessment of property tax exemptions and ensure different groups of property owners, such as seniors, veterans, or low-income homeowners are able to fully and seamlessly apply and remain enrolled in relevant programs. We need to ensure our residents are able to fully utilize the programs already in place.
Property tax credits: The city could implement property tax credits, which would allow property owners to receive a credit on their property taxes based on certain criteria, such as income level or the value of their property.
Property tax freezes: The city could implement a property tax freeze, which would prevent property tax rates from increasing for a certain period of time. This would provide relief to property owners by keeping their property tax bills stable.
Property tax abatements: The city could implement property tax abatements, which would allow property owners to receive a reduction in their property taxes for a certain period of time. This could be used as an incentive to encourage property owners to make improvements to their property or invest in their community.
Implementing any of these measures would require careful planning and analysis to ensure that they are fair and effective, and to minimize the impact on the city’s budget and services.
Give us your take on the city’s use of tax increment financing districts. Do you feel they have been useful, or do you feel that the problems associated with them outweigh their usefulness? What if any reforms would you want to apply to the city’s usage of TIFs?
There are both potential benefits and potential drawbacks to using TIF districts. These programs have demonstrated they can encourage development in historically underdeveloped areas. However, we must better scrutinize TIF districts and TIF-supported investments to ensure they truly enhance the quality of life in underdeveloped communities and address long-standing issues of divestment and inequality.
When TIF districts are used to revitalize community areas, provide public improvements, and incentivize investment, they help attract new businesses and residents. This increased economic activity increases our tax base. TIF districts can be used to fund public improvements and incentives for private development without requiring additional funding from taxpayers, reducing the burden on taxpayers to develop derelict properties and grounds.
We must be cautious when evaluating the drawbacks of TIF districts. TIF districts divert property tax revenues from other taxing bodies, such as schools and other public services, leading to budget shortfalls.
We must evaluate every TIF district more closely for its intent and impact. We need more transparency and accountability for any project that includes TIF investments.
We must utilize clawback mechanisms and hold accountable actors that make promises to meet specific benchmarks and do not follow through. Measures that ensure better transparency and accountability include public hearings on the status of a district and its projects, regular reports on TIF district activity and from actors utilizing these resources, and establishing an independent oversight board.
We must also limit the duration of TIF districts to ensure that they are not in place indefinitely and are used as a tool to stimulate economic activity. More TIF districts need to sunset when adequate economic stimulation has occurred or is no longer required.
Lead in drinking water is a major health concern for the city. It is estimated that in Chicago there are roughly 400,000 homes and small apartment buildings with lead service lines. So far, the city has replaced less than 300 lead service lines. Do you feel the pace of lead service line replacement should be expedited, and if yes, what is the best, most feasible way to accomplish that?
Lead in drinking water is a severe health concern, as lead exposure can significantly impact people’s health negatively, particularly children and pregnant women. We must expedite the pace of lead service line replacement in Chicago to address this issue and protect public health.
There are several ways in which the pace of lead service line replacement could potentially be expedited: Increasing funding:
One way to expedite lead service line replacement is to increase program funding. This could involve securing additional funding from the city, state, or federal government or finding other funding sources, such as grants or private-sector partnerships.
Streamlining the process: Another way to expedite lead service line replacement is to streamline the process by reducing barriers and improving efficiency. Streamlining the permitting process, simplifying the application process for homeowners, and providing technical assistance to homeowners to help them understand the process, will expedite replacement.
Prioritizing high-risk areas: The city could utilize data and prioritize lead service line replacement in areas with the highest risk of lead exposure, such as neighborhoods with a high percentage of children or pregnant women or areas with a history of high lead levels in the water. The city should standardized testing to identify areas of greatest need as well.
Using new technologies: The city could explore new technologies, such as pipe relining or in-place pipe coating, which may be more efficient and less disruptive than traditional lead service line replacement methods.
Overall, the city needs to take action to expedite lead service line replacement to protect public health and ensure all residents have access to clean drinking water.
If you are an incumbent, please explain what is it about your service on the City Council that makes you most qualified for the job. If you have never served on the council, please explain what is it about your background that makes you most qualified.
I have called the 25th Ward home my entire life. My parents immigrated from Teloloapan, Guerrero. When I was in eighth grade, at just 14 years old, I became a mother, giving birth to my daughter on Christmas Day. Many people would have written me off at that point, but thanks to support from my family, and some incredible public school educators, I was able to succeed.
I went on to be elected and served as the student representative to the Benito Juarez Local School Council, and before I graduated, was the first recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship from my school. This enabled me to attend Georgetown University and receive my Masters of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University and my Masters of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I returned to Chicago to teach in the public schools, and even taught at my Alma Mater, Benito Jaurez. Education quite literally changed my life, and I have dedicated my career to the Chicago Public Schools.
I come from a union family. My dad is a member of Laborers Local 76, my partner George is a member of the CCCTU, and I have been a proud member of the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Principals and Administrators Association advocating for collective bargaining and for COVID safety protocols.
I ran in 2019 and I am running again stronger than before. As an educator, mother, and community leader, I know the challenges our community members face, and I am committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Every day I talk to neighbors in the ward, and the issue that has consistently risen to the top is public safety and violent crime. 25th ward residents are looking for a comprehensive, collaborative, transformative approach to public safety. The solution to this issue is multifaceted and includes the steps below.
Invest in community-based programs and initiatives: We must advocate for funding and support for programs that address the root causes of crime and violence, such as poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and social isolation. This could include initiatives that provide youth with positive recreational activities, support for small businesses in underinvested neighborhoods, and efforts to build community cohesion and trust among residents.
Implement evidence-based policing strategies: Support the use of evidence-based policing strategies, such as focused deterrence and hot spot policing, which aim to reduce crime and violence by targeting specific high-risk areas and individuals. These strategies often involve working closely with community members and organizations to identify and address the underlying drivers of crime and violence.
Promote alternatives to incarceration: Support initiatives that divert individuals away from the criminal justice system and towards alternatives such as workforce development and rehabilitation programs. This could involve providing resources and support for individuals to access these services and reforming sentencing laws.
Invest in mental health and substance abuse treatment: Advocate for increased funding and support for mental health and substance use treatment programs, which can help to prevent crime and violence by addressing underlying issues such as addiction and mental illness. This could include initiatives that provide access to counseling and rehabilitation services, as well as efforts to reduce stigma around seeking help for these issues.
Address racial and economic inequality: Support policies and initiatives that reduce racial and economic inequality, as these issues can contribute to crime and violence. This could include promoting fair housing practices, increasing access to education and job opportunities, and addressing discrimination and bias in the criminal justice system.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
As a lifelong resident of the 25th Ward, I understand our community’s challenges and concerns. That’s why I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.
One of the most pressing issues facing our community is crime and violence. We need to take a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to address this problem. This means investing in community-based programs and initiatives that aim to prevent crime and violence by addressing the root causes of these issues, such as poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, and social isolation. It also means implementing evidence-based public safety strategies that serve specific high-risk areas and individuals and promoting alternatives to incarceration for those who have committed nonviolent offenses.
In addition to addressing crime and violence, I am deeply committed to addressing economic inequality and poverty in the 25th Ward. Everyone should have the opportunity to succeed and thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. I am committed to supporting policies that increase the minimum wage, implement a universal basic income program, and invest in education and job training programs to provide individuals with the skills they need to secure good-paying jobs. I also believe that we need to expand access to affordable housing and implement policies that support working families, such as paid family leave, flexible work schedules, and affordable child care.
Another key priority for me is improving the education system in the 25th Ward. Every student deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them for college and career success. That’s why I am committed to supporting initiatives that aim to improve the quality of our schools, such as investing in teacher training and development, providing resources and support for struggling students, and promoting policies that support equity and inclusion.
Finally, it is essential to prioritize the well-being of marginalized and vulnerable communities in the 25th Ward. This means advocating for policies that support the needs of immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized groups and working to promote social justice and equity for all community members.
I am the best candidate for the position of 25th Ward Alderperson because my lived experiences have ormed my collaborative leadership to be centered around breaking cycles of poverty, violence, and lack of opportunity. I will look at both policy and inventions to break those cycles in the community. My deep commitment to improving the lives of our community members and my track record of working tirelessly to address the most pressing issues facing our community.
