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?

The motivation of the life commitment I made in 1986 when I promised God that "I would go." The petition I had on the altar of God, when the incumbent mayor of Broadview asked me to run alongside her re-election ticket I, after thinking about it, said "yes!" Becoming a trustee was a personal answered prayer. And seeing the progression of her administration over the last four years, all helped me make the decision. I said “yes," it would be an honor and my pleasure. 

I have lived in Broadview for over 16 years and when I purchased my "first" home here, that was also an answered prayer! 

Before moving to Broadview, I had always served in the community all my adult life in various leadership roles (mostly within Churches). 

That said, the value I bring is “master" human relations, teaching and in 2016|| retired from governmental accounting where I served as budget analyst for about 20 years. Couple “master” human relations, teaching and analytical skills with my love for people and add the “T.E.A.M." perspective then mix it all into a bow! and that would be the most valuable contribution and the best use of my time to help make Broadview better.

2. When in the past have you had to balance competing interests? What process did you use? What did you learn?  

Having a uniform procedural way and a checklist of analyzing to treat each competing interest the same. Keeping balance by gathering all the facts, and always keeping in mind the least impact to residents, business owners and to the Municipality as a whole is vital. The lesson learned? Having uniform procedures helps keep politics out, fairness in and reduces overall all stress. 

3. What does transparency in government mean to you? How would you put it into practice? Do you believe the Village of Broadview operates in a transparent manner?

Transparency in government means having a clear uniform procedural process that everyone follows, to be able to see and share truthfully with nothing to hide. 

For the last four years the Village has been operating transparently. The Village has a website, board and committee meetings are video-taped, the village sends emails, has a quarterly newsletter and uses row calls, as well as social media as ways of communicating, and puts emergency notices on resident doors. 

Recently the current Administration created internal office procedural manuals for each department to help with uniform guidance and operations working within State Laws like F.0.1.A and has an "open door" policy with access to our "full time" mayor. 

Yes, I believe the Village of Broadview operates in a transparent manner. And, as Trustee, I will work to continue this practice as well as listen to public ideas on matters.

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

When there is a good system of communication with lots of variety already in place, one does not have to re-create the wheel. All the ways cited within Item 3 (Transparency above) seems to be working well. 

Social media should NOT be the only way of communication, there should be a y of ways to accommodate residents. Sometimes however a trustee may need to visit a constituent or business owner in person and I am ready and willing to do just that. 

5. What barriers do you see for community members who wish to engage with Broadview’s village government? How would you work to reduce or eliminate those barriers?  

I will work alongside the incumbent mayor to continue to engage community members to make our village a better place to live. And I will put personal biases aside, go with the majority and keep an open mind and listen and work to defuse or eliminate any barriers. 

Currently I do not see any barriers that would keep community members from engaging with village government. Most barriers are in the minds of limited thinking individuals who complain, but have not come forward to even ask a question or express a comment/concern.

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

Historically, Broadview was a

1. racially segregated town, but for the last four years things have been changing. The current Administration has done a phenomenal job at communicating and bringing people together to keep our village strong. As a human race, we need to put race aside and deal with the deeper issues people need to help them live a better life. For instance, the Village is only a 2.2 mile-square and there are five sections (Beverly, Harvester, Gold Coast, 88 Acres, 17th & 25th Avenues). Looking back, one of the first questions a resident would ask, is "where in Broadview do you live?" Depending on where or what side of Roosevelt Road one lives is how people would talk to you. These types of views are fading, but we still have a way to go, but that is the goal of the current administration is to unite us, not to divide us, to make us "Broadview Strong." 

   One way to break down these barriers is through collaboration at all levels, local, state, federal, and ultimately at the legislative level where the actual laws are made. But only God can change the heart of man. I believe as village leadership continues to show people genuine care and exercise unity among themselves, people generally always follow the leader. 

   I know that Broadview People's Party is the right choice for our changing diverse community. More community activities for residents, and making sure there are uniform procedures for everyone to have access to the same information in a timely manner are some of the ways to address race equity, which brings me to Justice. 

   As a woman of faith, I am passionate about overall justice. Meaning the quality of being just, righteous, equitable or moral which includes fairness, equality (the state of being equal, especially in opportunities, rights and status), equity (the quality of being fair and impartial) and access to resources and services in a timely manner to be able to take advantage of those opportunities resources and services. 

   I will be focused on the economic and social impact of resources to our village to help bring balance distributively, procedurally, retributively and restoratively.

   This will require trustees to be engaged in village business as well as listening to residents and business owners about concerns. Reading, teaching, researching facts, collaborating with all internal and external taxing bodies within and surrounding Proviso and other outside communities is key to making Broadview better. 

2. Broadview is not a food dessert, but we need to have a wider variety of better and healthier food choices. If all goes well, I plan to support the other taxing bodies initiatives in the Village like the Park District, Library and Schools to bring better food options and services to Broadview. 

3. Safety - I am passionate about overall justice including the safely for both children and senior citizens as they play and move around Broadview. I will support our police and other taxing bodies to help make our home safer.

7. How do you define equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

Equity is the quality of being fair and impartial. I will look for the value of return for residents, businesses and the village as a whole

8. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing this community in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

As mentioned earlier, and I agree, the current administration has an "open door" policy which encourages all people to come forward and express their concerns. If people do not ask questions or make any comments, how will the village know how or what to address? Communication is a two-way street.

9. Name an influential Broadview community member. How did this person’s influence change Broadview? As an elected official, what do you imagine your influence will be on the community?

Our incumbent Mayor, Katrina Thompson is the most influential community member that I am getting to know in the village. She has many accomplishments. But, in my opinion, her #1 attribute is collaboration and I know that collaboration is the key to the good changes seen in Broadview. My streets are thoroughly fixed and paved, the village is not being sued, instead senior citizens housing is being built, more businesses are coming to Broadview like Amazon which brings jobs into the community, just to name a few. No one person can achieve this and more alone. That is why I say the mayor is a “master collaborator and a progressive leader.” She is well known and respected not just in Broadview, but throughout the Proviso, Cook County, Illinois and beyond. 

If all goes well, speaking from a collaborative person's perspective, I imagine collaboration will continue to be the driving force in making our community better as we become more diverse culturally making it better and stronger. 

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

Climate change is here and we as a Village have to address it and continue to do our part. 

Right now, Broadview recycles plastic and the current administration is paving "eco-friendly green” alleys throughout the village which helps residents avoid flooded basements in a catastrophe. Recently Broadview used eco-friendly materials to renovate our new Village Hall. Climate change will continue to be a priority as we continue economic development in Broadview. 

11. What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Broadview? What policies would you advocate to address this issue? Do you consider support for affordable housing to be a core function of our village government? Why or why not?

The senior citizen population is growing due to Baby Boomers getting older, seniors with disabilities, and veterans that live in and around Broadview could benefit from affordable housing (not section 8). As a soon to be senior citizen myself having an affordable housing option would benefit those seniors who may longer want the responsibility of having to maintain and sustain a large single family or two-family home. This is a pressing issue because Broadview has many senior citizens or soon to be seniors. That is why the current administration is looking to expand beyond the 70 units that is being built now to building even more affordable housing units in Broadview. 

As a trustee of Broadview, I would consider and support more affordable housing initiatives, which IS a core function of village government. 

12. In recent months there have been calls in many communities to defund the police or reimagine public safety. How do you define public safety? Do you begin from the premise that increased policing is the most effective response to increased crime, or would you propose other solutions?  

One aspect of public safely is justice. Justice should also encompass accountability and training alike. 

Defunding the police is only one idea, there are so many ideas. 

To help dismantle the "systemic racism" in America we have to take a deep look within ourselves, confess to our wrongs, apologize, and keep apologizing for our wrongs, change laws and even pay reparations to help make our country stronger. Then, let us start locally. 

I want to feel safe as I walk down the street in my community. I want to know that children are safe while playing outside. And, I want to feel like the police are friendly, easy to approach and talk to and know they are really here to protect and serve. We should take the billions of dollars allocated to protect police and equally reallocate it differently. Some ideas are below. 

1. No one is above the law, not even the police, they should be held accountable for their actions while on and off duty. They should have "some skin" in the matter. Then they will think twice before shooting another human being down. This involves accountability and changing laws including some gun laws.

2. Allocate more dollars for continuous training the police on how to deal with different cultures and races and learn different tactics other than shooting, before and after becoming a police officer.

3. Police should take an oath of accountability before becoming a police officer, they should be asked application behavioral questions like why they want to become a police officer, etc. And this type of question should be asked several times before, during and after the applications process.

4. Allocate more funding for diversity training programs and how to deal with different races and cultures including mentally health challenged people.

5. Allocate more funding for body cameras, and make “camera turn-on" before the officer leaves vehicle a priority.

6. Allocate more funding for community to come together to have fun kind of programs and get to know the police in our town to break down barriers. I would love to see more of a police presence on the streets walking or riding bikes and not so much of sitting around in cars. A police foot presence will reduce crime. 

13. What do you believe has caused the recent swell in carjackings in the surrounding area? Do you see an appropriate law enforcement response to this situation?

I think this could be resolved two-fold.

1. Raise awareness/reminding residents to lock up their possessions 

2. While on duty police teams should walk the streets day and night verses being inside the station or sitting around in cars.

14. What is your development vision for Roosevelt Road? What form do you feel development should take there? How would you confront the parking situation?  

Roosevelt Road should be filled with consumer businesses that residents want and can benefit. Roosevelt Road may be good for additional low-income housing. 

I believe larger businesses would consider Broadview if we had a place for them to park when they pass through like underground parking, for instance.

15. Do you believe there is room for a human-scale development approach in Broadview? Why or why not? 

A people centered development approach is key, because the people in the community are the only ones that can say what would be best for the people within their community, the people should always have a say.

16. How would you evaluate the success of Broadview’s plans for Covid-19 mitigation at the Village? Do you feel the Village has adequately protected its employees, and that there has been adequate transparency with respect to case tracking?  

Due to the pandemic and the lack of government leadership in our country at the onset of the pandemic local community leaders have been scrambling to setup ways to get people tested and vaccinated. 

In Broadview, all village employees wear masks while on duty including the mayor. Also, regular testing has increased over the last 30 days and education and information on where to go to get the vaccine is now easier to find as well as getting more vaccine options to residents as best as she can considering everything. I have seen the mayor working diligently personally driving senior citizens to location to get them vaccinated. And she has taken the lead by getting vaccinated herself.

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

I can say that this pandemic has affected every village's finances across the nation. It has affected every area of our community, over 800 families in Broadview, businesses across the world, the entire nation and world as a whole. Tell me whose budget this pandemic has Not affected? I can tell you that as long as Broadview sticks together as a Community and keep an "open door" policy, we will recover and our nation, we will recover.

18. Do you believe the Village of Broadview is financially healthy? Do you feel the current Village budget is balanced? What is your approach to fiscal transparency? 

Yes, I believe Broadview is financially healthier than any prior administration durng the pandemic. Our current budget is somewhat off due to the timing and receipt of property taxes due to the pandemic, but we will recover. My approach to fiscal transparency is to be open and truthful to residents about the budget, that is the primary reason the Village has video-taped committee meetings (including finance) and Village Board Meetings for some years now, and residents can and are encouraged to ask question/s.

19. As an elected official, do you believe you have a responsibility to speak out about private labor practices? If so, how do you balance that responsibility with the tax benefits larger corporate operations may bring to the Broadview community? 

As an elected official to the Village, it would be my responsibility and watch out for the socio-economic impact to residents, businesses and the Village as a whole. 

The balance to that is, and what I will be looking for, is that the private, larger corporations would ensure bringing jobs into the Village where actual residents would be able to live and work in Broadview. It is a win win. 

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/24/21.]