48th Ward candidates present a united front

With the exodus of nearly one third of  Chicago Alderman, candidates for vacancies are racing across the political landscape to try and secure roles that many thought of, but assumed were not going to be open, even on a far horizon. One of those was the 48th Ward where Harry Osterman was in power since, and before that it was his mother Kathy Osterman, whose power saved the Chicago Armory where the event was held from demolition, and its later use by the Chicago Park District.

Ten candidates appeared at last Saturday’s forum displaying a wide range of skill sets, professional roles, and education, and displaying a string sense of collegiality in a format designed to distinguish themselves for the voter, and, in this case, the turnout was massive, quickly becoming standing room only, and the mostly white crowd, visibly roused, gave the forum the air of a pep rally, especially the supporters of Joe Dunne, who turned out in legions, but not to be outdone by the equally vocal Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth supporters.

The current list is Joe Dunne, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Larry Svabek, Nassir Faulkner, Brian J. Haag, Andre Peloquin, Andy Peters, Isaac Freilich Jones, Roxanne Volkmann, and Nick Ward

Organizers focused on three key areas of interest for the ward which encompasses Edgewater, Uptown, and parts of Andersonville: Economic Development, Public Safety and Transportation.

This was near catnip for several of the candidates, who own, or have owned area businesses, and who have often felt the loss of foot traffic as vacant building after vacant building has erupted, especially on Bryn Mawr Avenue.

There was widespread agreement that tax breaks given to property owners with vacant storefronts should be capped, something that Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has proposed beginning in January of 2023.

Among them were Isaac Freilich Jones, Brian Haag, Roxanne Volkmann, and Leni Manaa Hoppenworth, in agreement along with Nassir Faulkner and Nick Ward.

A long standing issue this was first seen in the South Shore neighborhood as a solution to perceived urban blight that not only as an eyesore but also as a disencouragement to new business development.

Two years ago Block Club Chicago reported that, “To ensure the tax relief change is cemented long term, chamber of commerce and business leaders have proposed a county ordinance to cap the frequency a property can receive the vacancy tax break at three times every 10 years. If passed, it would go into effect in January 2023.”

These long term tax breaks have allowed owners of vacant properties to deliberately allow them to endlessly remain vacant, an apparent reference to the Bryn Mawr corridor.

Conjoined to this was the issue of public safety, as a lack of business, equals a lack of foot traffic and can be seen as a drawing card for violent encounters.

Not on the agenda, but favored by all ten of the candidates, both in their opening speeches, andlater in the session was the lack of affordable housing, and they all saw this as an impediment to not only commercial growth but also the viability of the neighborhood and that Chicago Housing Authority should be tasked with building more, and targeted to not selling land for recreational use.

Of particular note was Manaa Hoppenworth who noted that not only should there be housing but also supportive services to increase opportunities for all.

Dunne seconded that and noted his prior work as an affordable housing developer, and Ward also added that any of these buildings had to be ADA accessible.

There was some suggestion that affordable housing might solve some of the crime in the neighborhood, but while there is a possible correlation, no bright line has been established, but certainly increasing livability, and affordability is a combination that would contribute to the growth of the neighborhood, as well as increase business and economic development across a wider swath than the Sheridan condo corridor.

Specifically Jones suggested to great applause that Chicago adopt the “Bring Chicago Home” ordinance in which a portion of a one time real estate transfer tax on high end properties, those in excess of $1 million would be used to combat homelessness, a problem for the ward, as it is city wide.

He was supported in this by Ward, and Manaa Hoppenworth, who also wants the process “streamlined, making it quicker and easier for people seeking affordable housing to find a home that fits their needs,” noted her website.

In fact, even with the three specific topic areas that the organizers chose are very much part of city wide efforts to lift Chicago from the many challenges it faces from crime to homelessness, to lack of affordable housing, and maintaining a viable economic life.

Local business owner of "The Green Element”, Haag suggested having more Single Room Occupancy hotels, but in the last decade, most of those, at least on the North Side, have been swallowed whole by developers as market rate micro studios, eliminating what was once a safety valve for low income workers.

The elephant in the room, visibly present, was the rising crime that the city has seen overall, but has also affected the 48th ward with carjackings, muggings, assaults,and CTA incidents.

Suggestions centered mainly on the addition of a traditional beat patrol, whether on foot, or in car, was not clear, but, while there was applause, it seemed that most present felt there should be traditional foot patrol, including Volkman whose son was assaulted, and robbed.

Peloquin noted that he would work with police, but also, and perhaps not, acknowledged by those attendees that the Chicago Police Department has suffered drastic loss among its rank; in fact a recent loss of over 1,000 was heard among some in the local media, but that number has not been verified.

With a wide background of education, business acumen, and passion for the development of the neighborhood it was clear that most present could not have an easy time determining who stood out the most, with the impressive variety presented before them.