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: Kweli Kwaza
Ward: 21st
Current job: Community Psychologist (Consultant)
Previous political experience: Local School Council at Fort Dearborn Elementary School
Education: Ph.D. Community Psychology
Spouse’s occupation: Retired
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.
This is my top priority. The one method I found to be effective is the use of drones in every police district. A drone can sit high in the sky and can record any incident, or the drone can follow the suspects without their knowledge. The drone can also be used to deter crime with signs posted about the area is being patrolled with drones. We can also drop the drone to make it obvious to the would be criminal that we (CPD) see you. I would also fight for a Parent Responsibility Act. I would like to see the police work four days and have 3 days off for mental health. I want to also bring back youth employment i.e., CEDA jobs (similar to youth employment in the 70s). Plus, I would add more afterschool programs.
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.
I am proposing that CTA has its’ own police district. It would no longer be for off duty cops to earn extra money. It would be the primary duty for officers in this CTA police district.
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?
CPS needs to invest in more or better technology that captures the student’s interest. CPS needs to use their buildings as a community hub for parents to utilize as a community outlet for the entire family. I also believe that if communities become safer, parents would choose neighborhood schools.answer
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 would like to see the investments on the South and West side to be in the people. I believe we should invest in indigenous businesses. I would like to see local government invest in people who live on the S/W sides and have businesses in their community. I believe this would work better because the solution to improving the communities on the S/W sides would be in the hands of the residents (with City support). The City should support these businesses with grants, tax exemptions and technical support. Starting a Chamber of Commerce for the S/W side would help as well. Making communities safe helps companies consider S/W side communities to do business in.
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 homeowners to encourage growth in our population. It appears that the only solution for generating revenue for the city is raising property tax. While many hard-working constituents and seniors (on a fixed income) struggle to pay their mortgages and maintain their homes, government continues to raise their property taxes and forcing them into foreclosure or running out of our city. I think government could be more creative in generating needed funds for the city. For example, I found one city that not only uses drones for crime, but also to issue fines for throwing litter out of cars.
On the other hand, I would look at businesses on a case-by-case basis. Before giving businesses tax relief, I would want to know the benefits to the city. For example, I would want to see the number of jobs that will be created.
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?
The problem with the TIF is the formular that is used. This needs to be changed at the state level. I think the TIF would be a great idea if it helped with uplifting devastated areas (South and West sides).
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?
Yes, I believe the lead pipes should be expedited. I think we need to ask for assistance from the state and the federal government. This effort is going to need more money and more skilled workers to reduce these lead pipe replacements at an acceptable pace.
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 that my training as a community psychologist would be useful. I have the ability to study other communities from around the world and from different periods of tomes and bring back the beat practices. I have dedicated my life to my community, and I have youth programs, adult programs and two community gardens. I am very much in touch with my community. I have also been trained and mentored for this job. I have worked with the incumbent for five years. I know how this city works and I know what doesn’t work.
What is the most pressing issue facing the people of your ward, and how would you address it?
The crime is the most pressing issue in my community right now. I would address it with the use of drones. I would also, employ the use of block clubs. I am the founder and president of Club 21 (21st Century Block Club Network). I start and maintain block clubs in the 21st ward and citywide. The blocks that are part of Club 21 has less crime than their neighbors. These block club members keep their blocks safe and clean by working closely with the Ward office and their local police district.
Sum up why should voters elect you and not your opponent(s)? (Please limit this to policy and approach, not a biography recitation.)
I think I want my legacy to be unifying people in my ward and helping them to be proud of where they live. This would take beautifying our ward with culturally sensitive community art and maintaining a clean ward. My drone policy would achieve immediate reduction in crime which would assist in the increase of constituents getting involved in their own community. In addition, my transparency method of using a website and an app so that anyone at any time can see the spending of any alderperson or any city department, would keep the trust of our elected officials.
