Mr. Ginderske has responded to my email by way of Tom Westgard's notice to him about my blog. Evidently my original email got lost in the internet and did not make it to campaign HQ (now wondering about the other 2). He provided me with an alternate address and I have resubmitted the questions. He is willing to chat about his plans, and after reading his email I decided to do a quick thumbnail analysis of the 3 challengers. The list is just below.
My quick and dirty assessment -
Adams - nice tag line, sees himself as a viable candidate based on 22 years as a journalist and manager, and time spent as community activist, hits the usual issues but low on specifics.
Ginderske - no tag line, sees himself as a viable candidate due to his ability to leverage his life and professional experiences to achieve results, hits the usual issues and does the best job giving specific examples.
Gordon - nice tag line, sees himself as a viable candidate due to his experience as a community activist, hits the usual issues and offers up two new ones - transportation and green technology. On the continuum of specific examples he is closer to Adams than to Ginderske. His best examples are on the Ward Services and Green Techonology blurbs.
Here's what I came up with and it isn't the end of my analysis:
Adams for Alderman
Tag line: A Progressive Vision for a Vibrant Community
Plan for Action –
Bring accountability to the Alderman’s office (based on his 22 year career as a journalist)
Build a partnership with District 24 (via more effective CAPS and additional resources)
Jobs/retail/business development (RP Chamber of Commerce, Entreprenuerial Center, comprehensive blueprint mapping current day and identifying gaps)
Beautification (encourage residents and provide more disposal cans)
Families (communication link between service providers and families needing help)
Resources for jobs (direct residents to job training and above re:jobs)
Education (ensure Alderman is at the table when school funding is discussed)
Parks & Beaches (enforce existing Lakefront Protection ordinance and work w/Park District)
Loyola U – repeats same info as at Resources for jobs
Jim Ginderske for Rogers Park
Tag line: none
Issues –
Crime Prevention (via more effective CAPS, outreach program, town halls, children’s program w/police, monitor dispatch, work with landlords)
Health & Safety (Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park, Community Health Committee, community needs assessment, disaster planning, various outreach such as car seat program(
Housing (residential planning, assist owners of rental property to bring their property up to standard, pursue non-compliance via legal means, lead abatement)
Business Development (no more TIFs, microplan – street by street, RP 2012 (survey/gap analysis))
Education (Boys & Girls Club, work with Loyola, Chicago Dept of Health, Ceasefire, work on getting accountability from CPS, lobby state for funding, community support org, Sullivan HS closed campus)
Open Government (no secret ZALU meetings (see also policy on zoning changes), prompt disclosure of campaign contributions, no contributions from those seeking zoning changes, demand city release list of Restricted Donors)
Taxes (restore 7% tax cap, no TIF, oppose additions to city sales tax, scrutinize SSA, insist City fully fund pension obligations)
Lakefront & Parks (no marinas, aldermanic committee, disclose any plans for lakefront development)
National issues (focus on local issues, encourage union organizing at big box stores, large projects performed by union labor, focus groups and email inquiries to residents to solicit their views)
Don Gordon
Tag line: Let the sun SHINE on Rogers Park
Action Agendas –
Crime & Public Safety (“Beat” alderman, target problem buildings, work w/Police Commander, use technology to improve CAPS responsiveness/accessibility)
Commercial Development (encourage development, produce exciting retail corridors, develop plans w/implementation strategies)
Housing (balanced development, affordable housing, demand conscientious rental management, preserve homes and community character, plans w/implementation strategies)
Lakefront (enforce LP ordinance, replenish/rebuild/restore existing environment, develop new activities)
Transportation (increase CTA bus service, build network of community bike paths, solve traffic problems, address parking needs, reduce auto dependence)
Transparent government (open meetings, full accountability on political contributions, regular website updates)
Ward services (responsive office that is community resource center, longer hours, quality staff)
Education (engage residents/business to take ownership, support achievement of statewide standards, community resources to increase parental participation)
Citizen Activism (encourage volunteerism, Neighborhood Planning Council, strategic advisory councils on community issues)
Green Technology (encourage use of LEED standards in commercial/mixed use development, Chicago Green Building Code for residential, Green Permit process, resident education in energy efficient technology, green technology deployment expertise in zoning and planning decisions)
No comments:
Post a Comment