Making the Ward Work for You
Open & Accessible Ward Leadership
As alderman of the 46th Ward, I will promote an open-door approach by:
- Holding monthly aldermanic forums to discuss potential
developments, provide regular updates on work in progress, and get
input on future issues affecting the ward.
- Describing how much aldermanic "menu money" has been
requested, received, and where it will be spent. Residents will have
a say in how their tax dollars are spent for the betterment of the
ward.
- Holding joint public safety meetings of the 20th and
23rd Police Districts to address public safety concerns in a unified
and coordinated way.
This approach is not what residents of the 46th Ward have experienced
for the past 20 years. Alderman Shiller's efforts to communicate with
residents about vital developments affecting their tax dollars, their
community, and their quality of life occur only when an election is around
the corner.
Here are a few examples of important issues where you deserve access
to timely, accurate information from your alderman:
Zoning & Development Issues
Development of the Wilson Yard, residential and commercial developments
in the ward, or important zoning decisions. In the 48th Ward, monthly
zoning meetings are convened for full consideration of these kinds of
issues.
Ward Finance Issues
How 46th Ward menu money is spent, or how discretionary funds will be
used in each ward for key projects that fall outside the City's overall
budget.
Public Safety Issues
Public safety issues in the 20th and 23rd Police Districts, both of
which include parts of the 46th Ward. The Chicago Police Department
has seen success in following a coordinated approach to tracking crime,
but involvement by an informed community could result in greater improvement.
Your alderman should represent and respond to your concerns. As a
resident of the ward, you should also have ready access to the people
and offices in the City of Chicago whose job is to address - and resolve
- issues that affect you.
Communications Platform
To better represent the residents of the 46th Ward, I will:
- Demand responsiveness and accountability from city
services.
- Form a "one-stop-shopping" system with the ward office
to more effectively respond to requests from individuals and businesses.
- Create a true partnership with city services and neighborhood
organizations, including CAPS, Clean and Green, and local businesses
and agencies, to address quality of life issues.
Aldermanic offices across the city use a variety of techniques to make
sure their residents know where to go and who to call to address their
concerns. When I am elected, you will, too, through:
Electronic Communication
A regularly updated Web site that includes information about CAPS meetings,
zoning meetings, updates on issues and votes before City Council, residential
and commercial development issues, and answers to questions about matters
that affect your day-to-day life.
Office Hours on Evenings and Weekends
You shouldn't have to take a day off from work to get an issue resolved
that requires your alderman's attention. Our office will take its responsibility
to respond to the needs of its residents seriously.
A Commitment to CAPS and Public Safety Meetings
Staff from my office will attend every CAPS meeting in the ward to identify
ongoing problems that require involvement and assistance from the alderman.
For too long, getting answers about day-to-day concerns about services
in the 46th Ward has been made unnecessarily difficult. With communication,
outreach, and technology, that will change.
Download
a copy of James' Ward Communications campaign platform. |
James speaking with residents at a local rally.
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