Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and why would those contributions be valuable in the office you are seeking?

At this time, we need a leader that is a Public Servant NOT Politician. As an active community leader since 7th grade, I represent the people and have a heart for the community and long-term vision to build a Better Maywood. My experience as a two-term Village Trustee has given me a thorough understanding of multi-level government structures and has afforded me the opportunity to build strong partnerships with neighboring communities and business leaders to drive economic development in our community. In addition to my vast political experience, I have almost a decade in the private sector with leading organizations, community outreach groups and creating jobs for local residents. 

What differentiates me from the other candidates on the ballot is that I am the ONLY mayoral candidate that comes with strong political acumen and proven track record of being dedicated to our beloved Village with the ability to successfully connect with our Youth as well as our seniors, our business community, elected officials, community partners and stakeholders.

2. What does transparency in government mean to you? 

Transparency in government is all about accountability and communication. Government is supposed to be responsive and open to the resident it serves. So the residents should have information that is readily accessible with a central location for the residents to find information about our finances and budget in graphic and clear to understand formats. Constituents should work in partnership with their government. The relationship should be open and not standoffish or contentious. The Freedom of information act FOIA allows our residents that have concerns learn about how the village is run and to obtain information. If our residents are looking for and want transparency they can become more involved in the decision making of the village by being part of committees and attending meetings. 

Communication is key when working on behalf of the citizens you cover.

How would you put it into practice? 

I would advocate for better technology based outreach efforts adding an electronic opt in option for quarterly newsletter that people can receive from their phone or other device, make better use for our technology based communication system most recently voted in with the Mycivic app with a 24 hour emergency response when water pipes burst or outages occur we should be able to inform and update residents in real time. We would also host State of the Village forums to keep residents abreast of all that is happening in the village. 

3. As more of our local discourse happens in social media, what is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents?

I think local officials should be transparent in their communications and present topics and issues in a professional and equitable manner that is well representative of the Village. Social media outreach should be agreed upon by majority consent of the board and we should all make sure to engage with the residents as a regular activity.

How will you engage with the breadth of the community, and not only those on social media?

 We would utilize all avenues of communications, such as our Police liaison, a monthly electronic newsletter as well as the quarterly paper newsletter for those that would prefer a hard copy, utilize message boards of our churches, our community groups, community forums and discussion boards. I would like to create a communication team to help monitor and tackle concerns that our residents may have so that we can be proactive in our approach to serve our citizens. We will always be available for the citizens of our village and their concerns are our concerns! 

4. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing Maywood, and how do you intend to address them? 

• Public Safety: we need to set in motion a plan to have our police force meet the new state guidelines put forth this year I believe community policing through resident involvement in our MAPS program sending alerts to residents that are unable to attend to offer highlights of the meetings in their zone. Establishing block clubs to support neighbors looking out for neighbors, looking for funding opportunities to add additional cameras on the streets to aid our limited personnel, adding shotspotter technology with the cameras to target shootings and provide additional security, ensure our police force has adequate equipment and is staffed properly and scheduled responsibly to add regular visual patrol.

• Infrastructure: detail where we are with street upgrades and showcase a viable plan and mark the location with visible signage so residents are aware of the start and completion dates of these projects. Place a major focus on updating the Villages sewers systems, streets curbs and alleyways by having a fulltime grant writer and staff seek additional funding sources. Develop our downtown corridors by completing a major clean up and beautification of our 5th Avenue corridor utilizing any TIF dollars to clean up vacant lots, repurpose village owned lots into areas for recreation until a developer wants to purchase it.

• Taxes: Reduce our property tax burden by adding new residential and business on vacant or abandoned parcels, actively market the village owned parcels to fast track adding new development working from a strategic plan based on our comprehensive plan we can attract the right developments to our village. Affordable housing as well as mixed income development marketing our location and accessibility to bring in more transit oriented development and engaging and encouraging our Arts Council and cultural endeavors can make our village a desirable place for many and thus reduce our tax burden putting these parcels back on the tax roll.

5. How do you define equity?

I think equity in government involves making sure you promote fairness and inclusivity to increase opportunity for those that are underrepresented.

Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

Through recent events I have witnessed the passion many from all walks of life feel about correcting an unjust system, and I have also witnessed those that feel passionate about maintaining the status quo. I think the more attention and education that follows these occurrences it gets more transparent to more and more people what the right thing is and having partners in government that will take a stance and create laws that help to correct these issues. We can prevent walls and silos from being built which prevents us from working together to make a better Maywood for all of us. 

6. What is your broad vision for the future of Maywood? How will you promote substantive discussion, build consensus among trustees, and rally public support for your vision?

My broad Vision for Maywood is to build a strong and resilient community by tapping into our talents and rebuilding key corridors like 1st , 5th, 17, 19, Madison and Roosevelt. Identifying key stakeholders to buy into the vision. Getting input from village trustees and creating a shared vision approach, while also focusing in on the following:

• Aggressively improving our aging infrastructure by identifying revenue streams that will allow us to move quicker 

• Reestablish our downtown district 

• Work with the arts community to establish an arts district 

• Beautify and build around our transportation hubs 

• Create spaces for entertainment 

7. What are your plans for assessing the Village Manager’s performance? What processes and protections do you believe should be afforded employees who have voiced grievances? How would you describe your management style? 

[The candidate did not answer this question.]

8. What impact can a municipality such as Maywood have on climate change, and how will you prioritize that work among other issues?

 I think it's important that a community understands its impact on the environment, conducting assessments on our carbon footprint can allow us to better find reforms that can help lead to a safer cleaner environment reducing emissions. As global temperatures continue to rise and extreme weather conditions wreck havoc on our streets and electrical grid and water pipes we have to know what we can do to mitigate these effects and partner with our federal government to tap into any funding that may be available. In communities like ours its often about equity and being included in the discussion we need to work in partnership with our federal state and local officials as well as our public utilities and water reclamation district to find solutions to these issues. Geothermal, Battery Operation, Solar and Wind are all clean and reusable energy that we can take advantage of and harness to have Maywood contribute to a better environment. This has to be a Maywood priority moving forward updating our village code for residents that want to take advantage of clean energy. 

9. What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Maywood?

Our most pressing issue is our property taxes. This is a hindrance to many people wanting to move to Maywood, although if we had better services to offer in exchange for the higher taxes there could be a level of acceptability to attract more people. We have too many vacant and abandoned structures that create blight and can potentially attract crime. The most pressing issues with housing in the village is that the village has over 750 empty homes in Maywood. All these properties need to be put back on the tax rolls to help stabilize Maywood finance. I will work with Banks, Property owners and Cook County officials to expedite getting these homes back on the tax rolls. We also have a difficult to navigate escrow and inspection process for new home buyers. This process could be eliminated and revenue could be recovered by freeing up inspectors to apply fines for those blighted properties that are not maintained properly.

What policies would you advocate to address this issue?

We could develop a better more streamlined process to home buying.

Do you consider support for affordable housing to be a core function of our village government? Why or why not?

It doesn't have to be a core function but it must be represented in our village to supply the equality in housing everyone deserves. We need balance in our housing stock so that we have the services and resources our residents need. 

10. In recent months there have been calls in many communities to defund the police or reimagine public safety. How do you define public safety?

Public safety involves the government's obligation to protect its citizens through prevention and operational procedures.

Do you begin from the premise that increased policing is the most effective response to increased crime, or would you propose other solutions?  

Safeguarding our community from crime and danger while ensuring quality of life for our citizens. Increased policing is only effective if they are trained properly and invested in serving and protecting our community with professionalism and compassion. I believe that as a community it takes a whole village to respond to increased crime through public awareness, communication, engagement and vigilance. We can partner with law enforcement to root out trouble. I think responsible policing strategies build trust in the community and help create an avenue for reporting and response when crime or disturbances happen. I believe there are transformational things happening in this arena and we need to make sure our police are equipped with the proper training and have the tools they need to complete the job equitably. We need to explore new leadership in the Department to motivate our Police force to be more resident friendly. In the same tone our residents need to participate in the process as well to make Maywood a safer place to live and support our Police Department goals. By making them partners and sharing the accountability equally both parties become invested in the successful results. 

11. What do you believe has caused the recent swell in carjackings in the surrounding area?

Lack of accountability in the juvenile judicial system. Along with lack of services for our youth such as mentoring and various other programs. Visibility, effective MAPS meetings, more operable cameras and keeping all blocks illuminated. I believe some criminal participants that may have been affected by the pandemic or an increase in legalized marijuana may have advanced into other criminal activities The recent uprising and looting as well as a surge in guns on the street along with the mental strain of being confined for months could be some reasoning, we need to tap into funding available through those new cannabis legalization laws to help beef up our police force so that they are better prepared to handle these added activities as well as look into options to counter these behaviors if better opportunities for jobs and mental health counseling were more accessible.

Do you see an appropriate law enforcement response to this situation?

 I think law enforcement has done what they can to help and communicate the danger to the public but they need more resources to mount an even firmer response.

12. Maywood does not currently have a mechanism for civilian police oversight. Is this something you would change? If so, what specific structures would you favor?

I think developing our commissions that oversee these issues making sure they are meeting regularly and they have the resources they need to be informed and provide clarification to the board can be an effective avenue to keep police oversight at the forefront so that we could communicate to the public. I believe that our Police and Fire Commission may be a great space to look at strengthening their capabilities to respond to these issues. I've spearheaded and worked to establish policy in the area of tracking excessive use of force cases within the village. This will allow us to evaluate if we need additional training. 

13. What do you see as the most pressing issues relating to development in Maywood, both residential and commercial?

Currently we need more transparency and communication about development that is aimed for Maywood, I think that the vetting process for residential and commercial projects would serve best if done on a deeper level with more focus and attention on the details of the projects before they are presented to the board this way the board can make better more informed decision.

What policies would you advocate to address those issues? In which areas of Maywood would you prioritize residential and commercial development?

Growth is critical to solving this problem. We need smart growth. This is crucial to alleviating our tax burden. We need to focus on drawing new businesses and housing developments that will enhance our village so that we are continually attracting good investment, bringing properties back on the tax roll will lower property tax and generate new revenue sources. We will advocate for the development of a Maywood Development Corporation that can be focussed on marketing and spurring more development in the village. Even as a landlocked community it may be feasible to demolish some structures to bring more innovative and revenue generating structures we should look at and review all possible avenues that inline with our comprehensive plan. 

14. How would you evaluate the success of Maywood’s plans for Covid-19 mitigation at the Village?

I believe we could have tapped into more resources and outside assistance. Trustee Brandon stepped up and pushed for a panel of all departments to hold a forum on steps and status from their respective service level. We need an emergency management system in place to provide more up to date information to the residents. I feel there wasn't enough transparency or accountability in the oversight of the process and our police officers felt this impact directly. The community really rallied together with food distribution, clothing and coat drives additional toy drives, we had additional COVID testing offered, I hosted and organized the first mobile COVID testing site on 5th Ave at the Metra station through our Census outreach as that did not stop either during the pandemic because it was imperative that we get counted that is how we qualify for additional resources especially during a period crisis.

Do you feel the village has adequately protected its employees, and that there has been adequate transparency with respect to case tracking?  

I don't believe there has been enough transparency and as we have been notified that a large number of employees battled the virus it is important that transparency and communication is at the forefront and the public is made aware immediately. 

15. How do you believe the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Maywood’s Village finances, and what policies do you favor going forward as part of the recovery? 

This pandemic has impacted every level of government and with Maywood the impact on our government functions have been significant in terms of public safety and lack of available officers, on municipal services which impacts infrastructure improvements being delayed or undermanned in residents paying their bills owed to the village due to financial hardships. Some of the lessons learned is we need improvement in our workplace environment and sanitation, we need better communication channels with the public and intrapersonnel, we need better procedures for reaching out to our most vulnerable community members and keeping track of their needs, hold war room type councils on operations and output planning to get resources to those who need it. We need to build on partnerships and reach out to more community partners to develop a more collaborative approach. Due to the our areas being hardest hit the inequity in resources was apparent and we must now address those things uncovered by the pandemic and focus on rebuilding making sure we have support for vulnerable households and support for our business community working with all levels of government. 

16. What values would you bring to the budgeting process?

I believe we should be fiscally responsible and provide the services at the level our tax dollars are paying for. The budget should be transparent and communicated to residents in a manner that is easily accessible. We should plan and execute an effective strategy that is based on a vision for community and puts us on a path for growth.

Do you have a plan for reforming the manner in which the Village conducts its budgeting and fiscal planning?

I believe the process should be transparent and carried out with resident input and the village should look for savings and growth areas before turning to the residents for additional taxes but if they are needed it should be communicated in advance for why and detailed on exactly how the spending will be allocated and for how long it would be needed. 

17. Property taxes in Maywood are among the highest in Illinois. What is your plan for confronting this burden? 

We need smart growth. This is crucial to alleviating our tax burden. We need to focus on drawing new businesses and housing developments that will enhance our village so that we are continually attracting good investment, bringing properties back on the tax roll will lower property tax and generate new revenue sources. We will advocate for the development of a Maywood Development Corporation that can be focussed on marketing and spurring more development in the village. Even as a landlocked community it may be feasible to demolish some structures to bring more innovative and revenue generating structures because we should look at and review all possible avenues that are inline with our comprehensive plan. 

18. How would you rate the Village’s lobbying and other political efforts to steer policy in Springfield?

Immediately upon entering office we will begin leveraging resources and advocating for Maywood in a clear and united voice.

How can Maywood do better?

The board can do this effectively by coming to an agreement early and getting to work on behalf of the constituents. 

19. How will you engage the growing Latinx community in Maywood?

We would encourage Latino community groups to come in and present at the board meeting we would look to partnering with Latino Government engagement groups to help supply us with translators during board meetings and increasing our communications in the Spanish language.

What should the Village’s posture toward undocumented residents be?

To translate for community members that want to participate. As well as updating our communications to include an Equity and Diversity Inclusion statement that sets a tone throughout village relations that we are open, available and responsive to all residents and businesses. We are a safe city and the previous presidential administration made it hard for communities to embrace adopting the idea of being a sanctuary city for fear of withholding grants and funding but with the new administration that may no longer be an issue. So I support allowing our residents to get to work and handle daily activities without fear. 

20. What are your plans for addressing community concerns about water rates, including exorbitant shutoff fees and seemingly arbitrary charges some residents have been forced to pay?

We will activate and empower our water commission to help address the concerns of our residents and seek a long term solution based on an assessment of the root issue. We also believe that there is some opportunity to address the shut off fees which is aimed to encourage residents to pay in increments as they are working with the village through a payment plan. I also partnered with the business community to provide a water bill relief fund that assisted residents during the pandemic. We will take action based on the assessment and look to partner with our state and county offices in search of bringing more resources on the community. 

21. Board meetings have become increasingly acrimonious in recent years. How would you work to restore decorum during meetings? Do you feel this is an important priority? Why or why not?

I will work to establish a higher level of respect in our council chambers by making sure that all voices are being heard on the board. We will also ensure that our meetings end by 10pm and ensure that trustees have the opportunity to get their questions answered before the village board meeting. Making sure everyone understands Roberts Rule of order and adheres to the guidelines of those rules.

22. What opportunities do you see for the Village to collaborate productively with other local taxing bodies?

I believe the village is poised to collaborate more inclusively with all our taxing bodies as new leadership takes hold and partnerships that we have all established over years and with firsthand knowledge at utilizing these services for our families and on a community level we will continue to bridge the gaps at every opportunity to create a more cohesive living experience for our residents

What could hinder those efforts?

At this point there are no hindrances, continuing to stay in communication and building a consensus on operational functions will continue to push us to solidifying these relationships even more so.

How would you improve relations between the Village and the Park District, in particular?

The village and the park district have come to an agreement and now we need to just continue with that progress. We should be focused on bridging the 

gap and not who gets the credit. We are committed to working with our neighboring communities to identify positive intergovernmental connection for cost sharing and development We will use all promotal tools within the village and advertise programs and services being offered within the boundaries of the village of Maywood and invite the a member to come out to communicate current happenings at our state of the village address. Our success should be contingent solely on the growth of our community and the success of our youth.

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[The above answers were supplied on 3/16/21.]