- As alderman I will proudly support the recommendations of the Reparations Subcommittee to mitigate historical structural racism through programs that provide Black Evanstonians with home purchase, home improvement and mortgage assistance. I will work to ensure that reparations mechanisms are institutionalized within City government.
- I support a holistic approach to public safety and a budget structure that aligns more closely with our community’s values.
- I will seek to redirect funds away from the police department and into Community Development, Parks/Recreation/ Community Services, Health, and the Office of Sustainability.
- I will seek to demilitarize the police and enact community police models.
- I will seek to raise the bar on qualifications by reforming police academy training that emphasizes de-escalation and community engagement rather than an us-vs- them mentality.
- I will support incentives that encourage public safety employees to live in Evanston.
- I support strategic rezoning to allow more multifamily buildings throughout Evanston and discourage converting 2-flats to single family homes.
- I will seek to increase ADA accessibility in affordable housing through existing federal CDBG and HOME funding.
- I will seek to make our open and green spaces accessible to all Evanston residents. This includes access to Evanston beaches, one of our community’s defining features. I will seek to significantly reduce or eliminate the cost of beach tokens for Evanston residents.
Equity & Social Justice
Environment & Sustainability
- I support full implementation of Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) which calls for zero carbon/zero waste by 2050 with a particular focus on equity.
- I will seek to make CARP implementation one of the council’s strategic goals for 2020-2021, requiring decisions at every level to be evaluated through a climate action lens.
- I will push for adoption of a comprehensive Environmental Justice ordinance.
- I will push for an expanded role and increased staffing for the Office of Sustainability.
- I will support City action in a number of areas:
- Building on the current electricity aggregation program to ensure long-term viability and allow commercial/industrial consumers to participate.
- Forming a municipally owned Alternate Retail Electric Supplier (ARES).
- Developing a Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program to facilitate private investment in renewable energy and efficiency.
- Revising building and energy codes with a long-term goal of building electrification.
- Adopting a Net Zero Energy resolution for City buildings which will serve as a guide for residential/commercial buildings.
- Building on the Energy Efficiency Benchmarking ordinance to include requirements/ incentives for performance improvement.
- Instituting a residential energy performance transparency program.
Economic Development
- A well thought-out economic development approach is critical to reversing post-COVID revenue shortfalls or Evanston cannot be everything we want it to be.
- I support an updated master development plan which includes downtown green spaces.
- Navigating the balance between ecofriendly, transit-oriented development and maintaining the character of the community will require thoughtful analysis and full community engagement.
- I support appropriately sized multifamily residential construction.
- I will support job training and economic development programs, such as building weatherization and solar installation, that advance our climate action goals.
- I will work with the Chamber of Commerce, the Minority Women and Evanston Business Development Committee and other Black-owned business groups to find ways for the City to support local businesses, including a reasonable “Buy Evanston” requirement for City purchases.
- I will encourage a vibrant performing arts scene that brings visitors into Evanston.
- I will hold business accountable for their commitments to hire locally and hire more people of color.
Engagement
- I will be responsive to constituent and community input.
- I will hold regular ward meetings and have regular ward newsletters.
- I will enact meaningful public engagement policy and decision-making processes in collaboration with the City’s Equity and Empowerment Commission.
- I will strengthen the role of the various appointed boards/commissions/committees (BCCs) by rationally restructuring them to align more closely with the City’s organization.
- As alderman I will solicit input from boards and commissions.
- I will collaborate with Northwestern University in all areas of mutual interest.