1) City Pensions
Q: Chicago's fire and police pensions are greatly underfunded, and the city is required by the state to make a $550 million payment into the pension funds by the end of 2015. Do you support restructuring the pension systems, inevitably reducing benefits, to put the funds on sound financial footing?
Yes or No:No
Please Explain:
Hard working residents have given their time, effort and in some cases their lives serving the city of Chicago. We have an obligation to find resources to meet the agreed-upon obligations to fund these pensions, otherwise will not have only turned our back on current and retired workers, but a decision to not fulfill their pensions obligations, would make these occupations less valued to future applicants.
Chicago's pension systems for municipal workers and laborers already have been restructured by reducing benefits, but the city has yet to identify where it will find the revenue to sufficiently fund those systems.
Q: Under what circumstances would you support a property tax increase to raise the needed revenue for the fire and police pensions and/or the municipal workers and laborers pensions?
A: I would support a targeted property tax increase on high-rise commercial and residential properties to give our municipal employees – all of them – the benefits they rightfully earned by serving the people of Chicago. In addition, I am advocating for the implementation of the LaSalle Street tax.
2) Chicago Public Schools pensions
Q: Large and growing payments required to keep the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund solvent are squeezing CPS' budget, forcing cuts elsewhere and limiting investment. The Chicago Board of Education has increased property taxes, but it is not enough to keep up with the high annual costs. What measures do you support to ensure a solvent retirement system and to improve the district's finances?
A: The closure of schools, largely in low income, black and latino neighborhoods have deprived our most important residents – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – of the most important civic resource we can give to them. The decisions of the Board of Education on closures have hurt students, parents, teachers and the neighborhoods they call home. The most challenging thing of course is the way the city has directed critical financial resources needed for educating students, as well as properly paying our hard working teachers to developers and wealthy special interests with no concern for families.
The best way to address the issue is to stop the corporate handouts through “tax breaks” and TIF welfare that drain our schools of needy resources to grow and educate great families and neighborhoods.
3) Revenue
Q: In light of the financial issues discussed above, do you support any or all of the following measures, each of which would require, at a minimum, approval by the Illinois Legislature?
* A statewide expansion of the sales tax base to include more consumer services
Yes or No: If a sales tax is regressive and unfairly targets low-income communities, it will do more harm than good in the long run. We should incorporate “service” taxes into our tax base as a way to decrease tax inequity and lessen the burden on working class families. Expanding the sales tax to the service industry would increase revenue as well as ensure our tax structure is in line with the economic reality of the 21st century.
* A tax on non-Chicago residents who work in the city
Yes or No:
Yes – Non-Chicago residents, use our roads and civic infrastructure, they should contribute to the maintenance of those resources.
* A tax on electronic financial transactions on Chicago’s trading exchanges, known as the “LaSalle Street tax”
Yes or No: Yes
Please explain your views, if you wish, on any of these three revenue-generating measures.
4) Crime
Q: Do you support hiring more police officers to combat crime and gun violence in Chicago?
Yes or No: Yes, if shown by police, city, prosecutorial and community authorities that additional officers are needed. Until that proof is substantiated by fact, no.
Please explain:
Additional civic resources, such as ombudspersons and civilian review will go a long way towards establishing better policing and better communities. What neighborhood residents need is the commitment of resources dedicated to rebuilding their communities - good schools, family-supporting jobs and investments in transportation and housing. I have worked tirelessly as an educator to give every single resident of my district the chance to succeed. Creating after school programs, such as my “Safe-Kids” program, would take students off the streets and into community buildings. These personal investments in individuals and communities are a necessary component of improving public safety. Properly utilizing resources for our communities would reduce crime in the immediate future and lay the foundation for a safe and prosperous safe 10th Ward for generations to come. Reducing poverty is the biggest catalyst towards achieving crime reduction. Fair and effective allocation of police officers based on neighborhood crime must also happen.
Q: What legislation in Springfield would you support to try to stem the flow of illegal guns into Chicago?
A: I would not seek additional legislation to stem the flow of illegal guns. I would seek like minded leaders to put political pressure on federal, state, county and city authorities to coordinate efforts to enforce the laws against organized illegal gun running which bring guns from all over the country into Chicago.
5) Elected school board
Q: An advisory referendum on switching Chicago to an elected school board, rather than an appointed board, is expected to be on the ballot in more than 30 wards on Feb. 24. Currently, the mayor appoints all seven board members and the Schools CEO. Do you support a change to an elected school board?
Yes or No: Yes.
Please explain: Participatory democracy is a key to building community involvement and trust. We must have an elected school board to bring trust, respect, and support back to Chicago Public Schools.
6) Tax-increment financing districts
Q: TIFs are the primary economic development tool of the city. In a TIF district, taxes from the growth in property values are set aside for 23 years to be used for public projects and private development. Do you support increasing the annual TIF surplus that the mayor and the City Council have declared in each of the last few years, money that goes to the schools and other city agencies?
Yes or No:Yes
Q: What reforms would you propose for the city's TIF program?
A: The most pressing need is to turn TIF oversight back over to the people – I support adding a city ordinances which would requirement all TIF request over 15 million must go to voter referendum for approval. Such city ordinance should also require an environmental impact and equity tool to analyze TIF request.
TIF resources should be used to make enhancements to the quality of life of the 10th ward, such as investments in schools, creating family supporting jobs with living wages and to produce community benefits. TIF funds should be re-invested into community projects that expand access to jobs, housing, and transit and food resources. The Marriott Hotel or DePaul basketball arena projects are unnecessary projects that only serve limited groups of consumers. There are dozens of communities throughout the city, especially the far south-east side, in more need of community reinvestment. The Marriott Corporation and DePaul University are financially solvent and not in dire need of city tax dollars.
As one starting point for reform, I would use the Mayor’s own August 2011 TIF Reform Panel report, with which the Mayor has done nothing and which my opponent has never acknowledged that it even exists.
7) Neighborhood economic development
Q: What would you do as alderman to boost economic development in your ward, and bring jobs to your community?
A: The best way to create jobs is to invest in small businesses and community oriented efforts – think infrastructure improvements, building sustainability, investments in trade skills Chicago needs to move forward – that give residents a sense of value and connect to the neighborhoods they live in. The best way to attract employers is better schools that produces strong graduates; willing to stay here and build lives and families. Hiring local residents is a lynchpin to my platform. The 10th ward is full of skilled workers who would be able to compete at the local and city level. I would promote economic development through partnering with small businesses. Lastly, the 10th ward is one of the few spots on the lakefront that is largely undeveloped. The new Lakeside development must require a “Community Benefits Agreement” (CBA) if it is to move forward. This CBA would ensure that local residents are employed and that the actual residents of the ward benefit from the large development project. Furthermore, bringing green industry to the calumet corridor will provide economic relief and a burgeoning industry.
I strongly advocate for the re-opening of closed public schools. These locations and their land have the potential to make a significant contribution to residents’ quality of life, community vitality, city competitiveness and the regional economy. We should use these schools as a catalyst for community revival. In addition to this, I would use these spaces to enhance training for workers. Holding GED classes at such locations would help lift residents out of poverty and into the workforce. Using such locations and other vacant city land, as community gardens will also drastically reduce food shortages that plague much of the 10th ward. Lastly, by expanding the “U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I would expand the “SAFE Children” to all neighborhood schools.
8) Size of the Chicago City Council
Q: The City Council has 50 members, but civic groups and other regularly argue for reducing the size of the Council. What should the size of the Council be? Please provide a specific number. And why?
A: No - democracy works best when we each person is given the chance to influence political bodies. Fewer aldermen mean fewer chances to have your voice heard.
9) A Chicago casino
Q: Do you support, in general concept, establishing a gambling casino in Chicago?
Yes or No:Yes
Please explain: Because legalized gambling exists all around Chicago, taking our tax dollars elsewhere, I support establishing a casino in Chicago with transparent and effective controls that keeps politicians, gambling interests and organized crime from benefiting to the detriment of Chicago homeowners and business taxpayers. Gambling enabling legislation should also include requirements for easy and clear public tracking of all revenues. I have found the Chicago Crime Commission and the Better Government Association to have good ideas regarding gaming legislation and oversight.
10) Red light and speed cameras
Q: Does the city have an acceptable number of red light and speed cameras currently, and are they properly employed?
Yes or No: No.
Please explain: I do not support the deployment of speed cameras. We need to expand the quality and depth of our public transit, instead of ticketing people into poverty for trying to get to work, the grocer or the day care. In some cases, according to multiple studies, these so-called “safety” measures actually increase accidents.
11) Ward issues
Q: What are the top three issues in your ward — the ones you talk about most on the campaign trail?
A: Stopping crime and increasing safety for our children is my number one priority.
Creating family supporting jobs and directing civic resources into our communities is imperative to our community’s vitality. Ensuring the Calumet corridor is revitalized into a 21st century economic powerhouse is a necessity. Redeveloping this area into a green space with good union jobs would make the 10th ward a major center of the emerging “green economy.” Lastly, ensuring that every student, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to a world-class quality education in his or her own community.
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Previous political and civic experience:
1. Hegewisch Community Committee :
● 15 years as Program Director. Director of SAFEKIDS, Bully Patrol and after school programs serving 10th Ward students from Jane Addams, Clay, Washington and Gallistel. Attained over $220,000 in grants to serve 10th Ward youth.
2. Mercy Hospital:
● Obtained free mammograms for women with no health insurance.
3. Women’s Sports Foundation:
● Received $60,000 grant targeted for young women, addressing issues of self-esteem and body image, while exposing them to a new sports activity each month.
4. Chicago Teachers Union:
● Currently serving as a Union Delegate Addams, 2011/ 2013 District Supervisor Southeast side, and Pullman, South Chicago, Hegewisch, and East side.
5. Chicago Community and Schools:
● Coordinator for city wide programs and resources. Helps provide social emotional and academic services free of charge.
6. South Chicago Community committee:
● Distributed food during the holidays.
7. South Chicago Women's Shelter:
● Started a book drive to build a children’s library.
8. Department Of Youth and Family Services Oversaw grants to fund youth programs in the 10th ward.
9. Cook County Sheriff’s SMART PROGRAM:
● Took 10th ward youth to Cook county jail to experience the consequences of bad choices.
10. Safe Humane:
● Facilitated educational programs on dog safety and anti-dog fighting.
11. Memory Bridge:
● Weekly Visits with 22 10th ward youth who were paired up as “Buddies” with Alzheimer patients.
12. Southeast Drug and Alcohol committee:
● Positive choices program for youth.
13. Girls In The Game:
● Worked with them to bring workshops to young girls.
14. AmeriCorps:
● Secured them to paint murals to beautify schools.
15. Tropical Optical, Lens Crafters, Princeton vision:
● Secured free eyeglasses to over 400 youth.
16. Kids In Summer Session:
● Director for summer programs through the Hegewisch Community Committee.
● Organized an annual coat drive during the fall, a food drive for Thanksgiving, and a toy drive for needy families during the holidays.
● Worked with the Chicago Park District to design and implement the Campus Park on 109th and Ave J.
● Brought the Asthma Van to families to receive free asthma education and free medical services.
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board questionnaire responses
Susan Sadlowski Garza
Office running for: Alderman, 10th Ward
Political/civic background: See below, following questions and answers
Occupation: Counselor for Chicago Public Schools
Education: Masters in Counseling; Bachelors of Arts – Liberal Arts
Campaign website: ssgarza.com
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