CHINATOWN — The seven candidates vying to be eleventh Ward alderperson have vastly totally different opinions on housing and crime, however all agree on one factor: The ward wants a brand new highschool.
Incumbent Ald. Nicole Lee (eleventh) joined challengers Froy Jimenez, Elvira Jimenez, Ambria Taylor, Donald Don, Steve Demitro and Anthony Ciaravino for the primary candidates’ discussion board final week.
Members of the Coalition for a Higher Chinese language American Neighborhood hosted a two-hour occasion on the Pui Tak Middle, 2216 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago Public Faculties is shifting ahead with a controversial plan to build a community high school within the adjoining third Ward on former public housing land. One former proponent, Rep. Theresa Mah, is threatening to tug state funding. The Chicago Board of Training is anticipated to make a last determination on the varsity in June.
Although there are three excessive colleges close by — Dunbar, Phillips and Tilden — all have struggled with years of disinvestment and under-enrollment, leaving households to go looking outdoors the ward for choices.
Don, a veteran fireman, advised attendees of the discussion board he absolutely helps the plan however isn’t optimistic in regards to the college’s longevity.
“I’ve said to the neighborhood and CPS that I consider we’d like two excessive colleges for the ever-growing South Loop and the Bridgeport and Chinatown communities,” Don mentioned. “You’ll be able to construct that, however they’re going to chop us out finally. They’re not going to supply service for lots of the Chinese language residents on this facet as a result of they refuse to incorporate English-learning expertise.”
Don didn’t make clear the “they” to whom he was referring.
Taylor additionally helps the thought of a brand new highschool, however not on public housing land.
“A highschool is de facto wanted on the northern finish of the ward. Additionally as a instructor I’ve seen that we’d like good bilingual helps lots of college students aren’t getting, particularly Chinese language-speaking college students.”
Elvira Jimenez, a former bilingual metropolis service consultant for the Police Division, additionally mentioned two colleges are wanted, saying “kids want a spot to enter.”
“Property taxes are excessive. Persons are leaving. We used to have Richards Vocational Excessive Faculty — it was for ladies — however that closed down and Healy Faculty expanded. We by no means did get one other highschool apart from Tilden,” she mentioned.
Lee touted her efforts to ship the varsity, which concerned working with fellow Ald. Pat Dowell (third) to safe tax-increment financing for the mission. The mom of two advised residents she confronted challenges 5 years in the past when deciding on appropriate highschool for her kids.
“My position, the position I’m already enjoying at this time, is to carry accountable the Chicago Housing Authority and CPS to ensure our neighborhood is concerned within the planning course of, which they’ve been a part of the design course of,” Lee mentioned.
The candidates had been additionally requested how they might construct a “welcoming and inclusive ward.” Neighborhoods like Bridgeport are still reckoning with their racist histories; a Black-owned cafe was vandalized with racist graffiti this month.
Demitro touted his information of a number of languages, telling the viewers his upbringing will help him “unite, not divide” the ward.
“In a nutshell, I need the eleventh Ward to be the perfect ward in Chicago, with all of the neighborhoods having one robust voice,” he mentioned.
Don and Ciaravino spoke of their multicultural household ties to the neighborhood and their want to provide again to a spot that has at all times felt like house. Ciaravino mentioned his mom taught him “everybody was created equal,” sharing with residents that enjoying basketball gave him “lifelong mates.”
“We have to come collectively on a standard objective. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re Black, Hispanic, Asian. On the finish of the day, you mesh every thing collectively; you embrace our cultural variations,” Ciaravino mentioned.
Elvira Jimenez denied there may be racism within the eleventh Ward, blaming the media for the mischaracterization.
“I’ve seen this neighborhood change in each which method attainable … . Individuals say ‘racism.’ I say we don’t have any racism in Bridgeport, Chinatown or McKinley Park. I don’t see it. All of us respect one another,” the Southwest Facet native mentioned.
Some residents additionally referred to as on metropolis officers to mitigate environmental and public well being harms on their neighborhoods. Elvira Jimenez mentioned she plans to carry companies accountable for the way they transfer their particles.
Lee echoed the decision for accountability, including she’d work with environmental businesses to make sure common inspections are happening.
Froy Jimenez supported bringing back the city’s Department of the Environment, including that he was upset there was no such merchandise within the metropolis funds.
“If we had a selected division of the setting, we’d have the ability to do way more to those issues,” he mentioned. “We additionally want to ensure we assist these small companies alongside these industrial and industrial corridors on thirty first Avenue, thirty fifth Avenue and extra by both serving to them rezone or with enhancements to their present facades.”
The eleventh Ward consists of Chinatown, Bridgeport, Armour Sq. and Canaryville.
The election is Feb. 28. If no candidate receives no less than 50 % of the vote, the highest two will go to runoff April 4.
Take heed to “It’s All Good: A Block Membership Chicago Podcast”:
