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: Andre Smith
Ward: 20th
Current job: Finance Manager
Previous political experience: I have worked on Congressman Bobby Rush, Mayor Lightfoot, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Lt gov Juliana Stratton, and many more Campaigns
Education: East west University – College of Oceaneering
Spouse’s occupation: DNA
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.
Working with CAPS and DAC has not proven to be enough in combatting crime and asking city hall for cameras in hot areas has also proven to be unfruitful. I would turn to the citizens and upper law enforcement (County, State, federal) for help with the following plans. Virtual Block Clubs – Where real block-clubs are not possible I would create a virtual Block Club using residents cameras (Ring, Nest & Arlo) to help monitor streets to prevent/deter crime in all areas, we need to expand Neighborhood Watch. Working with State Police, County Police & Federal law enforcement. CPD can be a part of the plan but right now we need to try something DIFFERENT. I also believe the following programs will be helpful. Smart911 – City based but has been operation since 2021 with little reward. Ring Partnership with Chicago Police Department – Patents have been filed but again more data and community input to drive it home. Cook County Sheriff’s Office: Ring/Neighbors Partnership – county based but residents aren’t currently sharing or providing feedback. Electronic Communications Privacy Act – This act alone allows for the sharing of data ‘if the provider, in good faith, believes that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to any person requires disclosure without delay’ I personally believe Chicago’s Southside 3rd/7th Precinct (with Garfield, Austin, Lawndale included) are in need of such tools to help stem the tide of violence, I know it won’t be a panacea but we need to think outside the box and I believe if the community is in the driver seat this will go well. My hope is that the 20th Ward Alderpersons office can help facilitate the relationship between law enforcement and community to help get these concerns addressed.
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.
The one thing that makes CTA safer in my opinion is an active conductor on the train, CTA should make sure EVERYONE riding has a ticket and those that do not must EXIT the train/bus. Keeping passengers safe should be a top priority for CTA and I believe checks on tickets within the cars/buses would go a long way.
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?
Enrollment is directly related to performance, citizens are speaking up about CPS’s performance by leaving for better educational choices, if CPS is to turn this around it must focus on educational outcomes for Math, Reading & Science, 3-7% proficiency is NOT ENOUGH in these subjects to have these kids compete and the fact they have to take remedial classes in college cement the point that they are not prepared. We need to do better to justify the level of taxation on Chicagoan’s property but also the debt that this sovereign entity has mounted over the years.
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.
I believe in making what you have work, we have a beautiful city with lots of resources, and I would like to see the schools in our community re-purposed for entrepreneurial enterprises. Many of these schools (like the old John Fiske) have recreational facilities, meeting rooms, gyms, swimming pools, and classes rooms. Let’s get all those gifted people in the community into these SHARED spaces, many people are doing it in basements and rooms in homes without all of these amenities to foster growth, we have a real opportunity here to repurpose these buildings and share resources, and talents and grow businesses.
Do you support giving Chicagoans property tax relief? If yes, please explain how you would accomplish it. If no, please explain why not.
As interest rates increase property values decrease, and taxes are driven by value (ad valorem) since the value is going down I would encourage all residents to get an updated CMA from a realtor and argue their current assessments, but also I am in favor of lowering property taxes, I believe we need to lock the rate to 1.5% of the value of the home. Many residents receive a 4% raise every year, if we grow property taxes to 5% a year we have removed all gains a person has made during the year and we haven’t even discussed the county, state, or federal government’s growth rates. We need sensible people in an office making sensible legislation to solve local government’s spending that doesn’t add up to current tax receipts, we need a balanced budget ordinance.
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?
They have outlived their usefulness, they have become a piggy bank for the mayor and SBIF has become a kick back tool for local aldermen, case in point ACE’s Soul food (demolished a few years ago) in Woodlawn on the corner of 63rd & Vernon, ACE received 50,000 dollars from Willie Cochran from the TIF/SBIF, then ACE painted a mural on the side of this establishment with Willie Cochran’s face on it and when out of business a few months later, now the entire building is destroyed, but the tax payers in that TIF district will be paying into that TIF fund for another 15 years, in my opinion ACE was never a growing business and the community knew it but he received those fund in violation of TIF’s policy due what I believe was “aldermanic prerogative”. Keep in mind academic studies had shown that TIFs actually benefit wealthier communities the blighted ones tend to get little if anything due to the taxing models of TIF’s. Then there are the corporations, Major corporations receiving TIF funds include Hyatt, Target, Coca Cola, and United Airlines. That comes at the expense of Chicago Public Schools, libraries, parks, and other public assets. TIF must end!!!
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?
I know lead to be a huge problem and I would like the pace to increase, I would look towards the COVID relief funds to see if that block of money can be re-directed to address this concern, I am very much afraid of our current debt, fleeing residents, FED raising the basis-point putting a bigger strain on our current debt obligations and the payment structure as it pertains to us servicing that debt, I would love to see the pace increase but if elected I would not create another expense at this time to address it, I would look to other pockets of money that might be available to assist.
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 believe my long term standing in the community (family over 50 years), my zeal for public safety and common sense approach towards government would make me an ideal Alderperson for the 20th ward, we need fiscal sound judgement, we need a concern for safety and a passion for law to drag us out of this mess we have gotten mired in. We have shifted our concern from sound government towards fanatical government, placing the cities finances, reputation and citizens in peril, I would LOVE to assist in our cities rebirth once elected.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
Many citizens would say crime albeit it has been coming down in Woodlawn Englewood remains stubbornly high, my aforementioned idea concerning working with other agencies and creating real/virtual block clubs to be the communities eyes (and some cases ears) can go a long way in assisting agencies with the removal of violent criminals from our streets.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
My approach towards crime would be totally different by focusing on the removal of violent criminals in our ward and having citizens assist with law enforcement, I founded “Chicago Against Violence” over 16 years ago with a strict focus on victims coming forward to help remove attackers from our communities. I have also worked closely with homeowners and residents in the ward to address city services and the lack thereof for over 20 years. I have been in the ward for my entire life and I am the only candidate that can truly say I have had 3 businesses and the 20th ward and have remained active in community work in the 20th ward for over 20 years, many of the candidates running move into the ward to run for office, I have been here fighting for what is right, what is just and decent for myself and residents I am also the beat facilitator for beat 311 and beat 311 is the best beat in the 3rd district.
