Three Candidates for Alderman: Their Vision For Chicago

Andy Willis, Leslie Willis, Allen Harris and Lew Rosenbaum contributed to the articles on this page
CHICAGO — Tim Meegan is a social studies teacher at Roosevelt High School, a member of CORE, a leader in the CTU strike of 2012, running in the 33rd Ward, who has written for the People’s Tribune:
“We live in a time where the gap between rich and poor grows ever wider.  Democrats and Republicans look more and more alike; corporations are people, and politicians receive unlimited financial contributions.  Democracy itself is threatened as big money has come to dominate politics.
“Nationally, when corporations hedge their bets by contributing to both political parties, both parties prioritize the interests of the 1% over the working class.  In Chicago the Republican Party lacks any real power.  The mayor is a Democrat as are all 50 members of the city council, so the mayor can act with impunity.
“We have seen a neo-liberal democratic mayor transfer money out of our neighborhoods and into downtown.  He has cut funding for schools, parks, and libraries.  He is responsible for closing half the city’s mental health clinics and 50 public schools, while expanding charter schools by the dozen.
“Despite massive popular resistance he can do whatever he wants, because politics in Chicago is effectively one party rule.  This is why a new political movement is needed.  As an independent candidate for alderman I am dedicated to representing the working class by standing for economic justice, fully funded public schools, and an end to privatizing the city’s assets and public services.  Contribute or volunteer today at www.meegan4ward33.com.”
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Michael LaFargue, who in the 1980s was a transportation official under Mayor Harold Washington, is endorsed as “the people’s candidate” by the 9th Ward Aldermanic Search Community Council headed by Dr. Carmen Palmer, an activist and retired Chicago Public Schools teacher.
“We lean toward letting the people participate in their government. Having an alderman who is approachable. I will introduce a collaborative approach to running the ward. We will bring an approachable feel to the aldermanic office.
“We have many schools that are on probation. We believe in an elected school board. We believe in a bottom-up approach in governing the schools, the LSCs [local school councils] and the most important element, the parents.
“We believe in workforce development. Local businesses could participate in the extension of the CTA Red Line [rapid transit train] from 95th Street to 130th Street. In turn, that project can provide employment to many of our residents. “
On the city’s alternate funding called TIF: “There needs to be reform in how it’s used. A lot of TIF money is now spent downtown. Don’t you think it would be great to have that money spent [in the 9th Ward] on Michigan Avenue?”
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Susan Sadlowski Garza is an activist against corporate dumping of petcoke and other toxic waste in the 10th Ward on the Southeast Side, a historically industrial area. If elected, she will be its first female alderman.
“Fifty years ago, we were a vital community. There was a restaurant and bar on every corner. Jobs were plentiful. When the steel mills went away, so did the jobs and so did the restaurants. Now we’re just left with basically nothing.
“For a very, very, very long time we have been the toxic dumping ground of the city. Residents on the Southeast Side feel like their voices are not heard. I know that people have had it with that process. I’m going to take a strong stand on the environmental issues.”
On “Lakeside,” a new community to be built on the site of the old U.S. Steel South Works plant, Garza said local residents are being excluded.
“We’re just asking them to give us a seat at the table. They owe it to the steel workers who gave their blood, sweat and tears there, and sometimes their lives. They owe it to them. And to us.”