Michelle Harris is endorsed by the Sun-Times. Read the endorsement here.
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: Yes, I support restructuring the pension systems.
Please Explain: Sangamon County Circuit Judge John Belz in his ruling found that the “protection against the diminishment or impairment of pension benefits is absolute and without exception.” As an elected official of the City of Chicago, we need to come up with a bipartisan collaborative effort on how we restructure the current pension plan that will be fiscally responsible and agreeable for all stakeholders.
Q: Chicago's pension systems for municipal workers and laborers already have been restructured, reducing benefits, but the city has yet to identify where it will find the revenue to sufficiently fund those systems. 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 property tax increase only if all strategies for additional revenue streams have been exhausted.
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: A solvent retirement system can not be re-developed overnight. As stated above, we need to continue have a bipartisan collaborative effort to develop a solvent retirement system that will be fiscally responsible and agreeable for all stakeholders. The key to improving the district’s finance is for the state legislators to provide adequate funding whereby each district will have the equal amount of funding per student.
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:Yes
* A tax on non-Chicago residents who work in the city
Yes or No:Yes
* 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.
A: The burden of providing more revenue streams should not always rely on Chicago property owners.
4) Crime
Q: Do you support hiring more police officers to combat crime and gun violence in Chicago?
Yes or No:Yes
Please explain: While I support the hiring of more police officers, I personally feel that crime prevention is a partnership between the community and the police department. In my community I have an ongoing relationship with the four police commanders for the 8th ward and over 300 block club and community groups and encourage them to attend their perspective CAPS meetings and report criminal activity as they see them.
Q: What legislation in Springfield would you support to try to stem the flow of illegal guns into Chicago? I am in favor of imposing stiffer penalties for those who purchase/sell illegal guns.
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: The appointed or elected member of the school board was a decision created by the sate legislators. However, I will support a combination of members elected by districts and also appointed by the mayor to ensure each community has representation.
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: No
Q: What reforms would you propose for the city's TIF program?
A: I do not believe any changes should be made in the city’s use of tax increment financing. If the TIF structure is changed, there has to be a partnership with the State of Illinois legislators.
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: I would continue as I have in the past, to reach out to various entities as land becomes available, unfortunately, in the 8th Ward we are
land locked and do not have large parcels available. For the smaller retail districts, I work with the various chambers and SSAs to come up with workable plans. Use of TIF funds to improve infrastructure and facades are also being implemented to making retail areas more attractive for both owners and consumers. Part of the problem is that our shopping dollars are spent outside of our respective communities. Years ago, our communities were geared to walking traffic because most families had only one car and we were able to shop conveniently in our neighborhoods. Now we are a much more mobile society and tend to go to areas that service many needs as seen in the suburban shopping districts.
In addition, I am working extensively with the Department of Buildings and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to rid the ward of nuisance businesses. These businesses deter new merchants as well as customers because of excessive loitering, selling of illegal products and other activities detrimental to our community.
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: I believe the number should remain the same at 50. Every community’s footprint is different. There is no one size fit all for the 50 wards in the city of Chicago.
9) A Chicago casino
Q: Do you support, in general concept, establishing a gambling casino in Chicago?
Yes or No:Yes
Please explain: I believe a gambling casino would provide a viable revenue stream for the City of Chicago.
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: I can only answer yes for the 8th Ward
Please explain: Red light and speed cameras are placed in high traffic areas and school zones in the 8th Ward. The 8th Ward has one of the largest logistical traffic grids in the city, 79th and 95th and Stony Island. I believe the traffic light cameras are an effective tool to aid in the reduction of traffic accidents and fatalities.
11) Ward issues
Q: What are the top three issues in your ward — the ones you talk about most on the campaign trail?
A: Senior citizens, quality education, and continued infrastructure improvement.
Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board questionnaire responses
Michelle Harris
Office running for: Alderman, 8th Ward
Political/civic background: For the past 8 years, I have held the position of Alderman and Committeeman of the City of Chicago 8th Ward. I have previously held the positions of Secretary to the Cook County Board of Commissioners and 8th Ward Superintendent for the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
Occupation: Alderman, 8th Ward
Education: Bachelor of Arts, Chicago State University, Graduate of Chicago Vocational High School
Campaign website:
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