Thread by @AVHndz

Tonight is the 33rd Ward forum at Bateman Elementary, 4220 N. Richmond Ave. Ald. Deb Mell (33rd) is defending her City Council seat against Katie Sieracki and Rossana Rodriguez. Find info on all three candidates here chi.vote/races/33rd-war…

The crowd is still coming in for tonight’s 33rd Ward forum at Bateman. I’ll be covering it for @BlockClubCHI.

And the forum has begun. Eric Zorn from the Tribune is the moderator (again). Candidates here are:

-Ald. Deb Mell (33rd)
-Rossana Rodriguez
-Katie Sieracki

@BlockClubCHI readers, you can live stream the forum here: facebook.com/33rdWardForum/…

Candidate introductions are underway. Again, if you want to learn more about the candidates in the 33rd Ward race you can click on the Chi.Vote link here: chi.vote/races/33rd-war…

Okay opening statements are done. First Question: Gentrification, what plans do you have to address displacement and rising rents?

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Says she's witnessed displacement among Latino population in Albany Park. Tools to address, pass "Our Homes Chicago Ordinance." Strengthen Affordable Requirements ordinance. She also supports rent control.

Sieracki: Know your rights workshops with tenants, preservation of existing affordable housing like 2 & 4-flats, also curb developers coming into the ward. Also supports coach houses.

Mell: See influx of people coming into Albany Park from Logan Square gentrification displacement. Wants to hold line on property taxes, preserve affordable housing too. She says affordable housing needs to be expanded in ward, like it was in 45th Ward.

Next question: Pension issue, where will city get money for payments?

Sieracki: Says its a debt crisis not pension crisis. Says city need to reorganize the debt, and a state graduated income tax, grab tif surpluses, grow tax base and tax legal marijuana.

Mell: Wants a progressive income tax, tax revenue from legalizing cannabis but city needs to be careful with that. Says issue is complex.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Pension holidays need to be eliminated. Income tax system is regressive, wants to adopt what Iowa has as a graduated income tax. Corporate head tax is also something she supports.

Zorn is being a little more off the cuff in this forum.

Next question: Address homelessness in 33 Ward?

Mell: She says city doesn't have enough shelters or affordable housing. Not enough solutions to the problem. Bring People Home ordinance is something she supports. Regarding mental health, wants study on all the closures of mental health clinics during Emanuel's first term.

Zorn added the mental health question to the homeless question. He's kind of jumping around on topics when he feels like it this form. The other one's he moderated he was more focused.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Says city has money, like TIF $ for Lincoln Yards. Why isn't that being spent on things like homelessness, during things like polar vortexes.

Sieracki: Expand definition of what homeless is, like CPS students in "unstable situations." Supports Bring Chicago Home ordinance. Also brining back city mental health services too.

Next question: What steps will you take to entice new businesses to 33rd Ward?

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Great that businesses, like breweries are coming to 33rd. But would like an incubator for people already in ward to open businesses in the ward. Commercial properties should also be included in rent control.

Sieracki: Would host a small businesses forum/event to understand what challenges are to them opening businesses in the city/ward. Also wants a small business mentoring program, successful businesses mentoring new ones (that aren't competitive).

Mell: Ward has unique businesses, for industrial corridor she touts the industrial campus area where Metropolitan Brewing, Metropolis Coffee is based out of. Says she's proud of that and the jobs it's created.

Next question: Addressing abandoned buildings in ward?

Sieracki: Get rid of tax exemptions for empty storefronts. Residences must be livable.

Mell: Review tax exemption on empty storefronts too. Says plan would need to be made to have checks on businesses and apartment buildings are up to code and conditions are good.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Contacting landlords making sure why buildings are empty, what kind of support can landlords get if the storefront is empty.

Next question: City Council ethics and reform, your thoughts?

Mell: She's embarrassed by Burke and Solis, and what the other aldermen said about snitching. Says Burke, Solis should step down. She says Burke's conflict of interest is an issue. No alderman should have conflict with their job, aldermen should only have one job.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: City Council should choose committee chairs, not mayor. Strengthening conflict of interest rules. Address aldermanic relationships with developers/businesses. Wants more participatory processes regarding zoning, budgeting, etc. Creating spaces for organizing.

Sieracki: Says she signed onto "People's First Pledge." Wants to expand IG office to look at city council & its committees. Says alderman office should be resource to understand what is happening at city hall. Also strengthen conflict of interest rules.

Next question: Aldermanic privilege, your thoughts?

Mell: Get rid of it regarding affordable housing to start. Her development process is to send developer proposals to neighborhood groups who would be impacted. Then community meeting.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Privilege is a problem. Aldermen should not take any developer $. More participatory processes regarding development.

Sieracki: Community plan for ward so developments be considered the lens of larger plan the community put together for the ward.

Next question: How do you plan to engage neighborhood schools?

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Buildings are underutilized. Schools should be community centers after school. Open food pantries in schools. Including youth councils and orgs in decision making processes.

Sieracki: Special education cuts were "appalling." Says highlights need for elected school board. Against charter schools, for more resources in schools like nurses. Work with LSCs and youth councils.

Mell: Schools in 33rd Ward have "friends of groups" grow. Against charter schools and school closures too. Also she speaks to classrooms in ward. Also favors elected school board.

Next question: Decrease violent crime in ward?

Sieracki: City needs plans to remove illegal guns, she's pro Cease Fire. Wants better training for police. Also reduce police misconduct and add more social workers in schools and community.

Mell: Wants more beat officers. Says she wants those officers involved in community, better trained. Also expand mental health and education, job opportunities.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Says children are in gangs because they didn't get early intervention to do something else. CPD has 40 percent of city budget, and city still doesn't feel safe. Then current plan isn't working, use $ for mental health/social services.

Next question: Climate change, your thoughts?

Mell: River restoration project should continue and and recycling contract in ward needs to be revised because residents are unhappy.

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Increase recycling. Address lead in water, sewer overflows, invest in alternative energy. Reopen city dept of the environment. Divest city pension funds from fossil fuels. Expand bee farms in ward. Also supports green new deal at local level.

Sieracki: Forum rescheduled cause of last week's polar vortex. Climate change is going to increase people moving to city for fresh water from coasts. Also supports alternative energy, electric cars and CTA buses. Municipal composting program. Improve city recycle rate, contract.

Next question: Working with neighboring wards, alderman and communities in multiple wards?

Rodriguez-Sanchez: Already working with Ald. Carlos Rosa (35th). Many issues overlap wards, so working with neighbor aldermen is important.

Sieracki: People don't identify by which ward they live in, but by neighborhoods. Doesn't like phone run around residents get when they're trying to figure out who to call for a ward issue.

Mell: Says other aldermen don't understand the unique issues in her ward and vice verse. Wants and alderman exchange program to get aldermen to get to know different parts of city better to foster collaboration.

Next question: Who would you vote for for mayor?

-Mell: Lightfoot.
-Rodriguez-Sanchez: Not supporting anyone, whoever wins will need to be held accountable.
-Sieracki: Lightfoot.

And a lightening round just happened. Video uploading shortly.

Okay the lightening round video is having issues uploading. I'll post it to this thread as an addendum. Right now candidates are finishing their closing statements. Thanks for following along and check @BlockClubCHI for the write up. Have a great night and stay warm!

And now a “never have I ever” lightening round for all three 33rd Ward candidates.