Activist Toolkit

[Candidates for Maywood Mayor and Village Trustee with the Maywood Together Party, including Nathaniel George Booker, Melvin L. Lightford Sr., Antonio Sanchez, and Debra Vines submitted their responses as a group.]

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1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and why would those contributions be valuable in the office you are seeking?

I feel the Village of Maywood is at a fork in the road. We have an opportunity to not allow just words to be stated, but actions to be made. My professional career and corporate background as former Area Director of Training and Performance Improvement for InterContinental Hotel Group in the Mid-Atlantic Region makes me confident that my work experience will benefit our strategic planning along with measurable execution. 

As an elected official I am currently a council member with the National League of Cities (NLC) Federal Advocacy Committee for Information, Technology & Communication along with NLC’s Council for First Tier Suburbs as well as Council on Youth, Education, and Families. With a focus on the Chicagoland area, I am a council member with the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus (MMC) for the Aging Friendly Communities as well as the Diversity Taskforce Committee. I also serve as Chairman of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce for for West Suburban Cook County. These opportunities allow me the tools, collaboration, and insight to work towards intentionally working to address the many issues that have plagued our community. 

2. What does transparency in government mean to you?  How would you put it into practice? 

Transparency in government means there is an open channel of communication, documents and information is readily available along with where possible available for viewing on the village website. Proactive accountability by government to our residents, businesses, along with those who patronize our community is truly what comes to mind. 

One great way accountability has been put into practice is the introduction of the MyCivic system the board voted on (4-3) in January 2021. I originally presented the concept in June 2020, based on learning about it at the National League of Cities conference attended in March 2020. After researching with our various departments, it was clear there was no centralized space for residents nor businesses to address nor report community issues. MyCivic is a solution to this and much more. Engaging citizens in areas such as: Public Safety, Achieving Greater Transparency, Supporting Local Economic Development, Communicating Local News, Events & Services, Providing New Services, Up-to-the-Minute Area Alerts and Notifications, and Resident Request – REPORT, RESPOND, RESOLVE. The MyCivic system will be used by the village staff and community at large as an online accountability system able to be used on your computer, phone, and/or social media. Learn more here. 

3. As more of our local discourse happens in social media, what is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents? How will you engage with the breadth of the community, and not only those on social media?

As the only mayoral candidate in Maywood 2021 cycle with a Twitter, Instagram, YouTube Channel, Facebook, Community Engagement Non-Political Website, and Campaign Website, I personally feel as an elected official you should use all readily available resources at your disposal to connect with the community. 

I am also happy that the new MyCivic application will allow real time response to residents who have questions, comments, concerns and/or service issues to report. Monthly meetings with our residents and businesses will become an essential piece to bring the level of transparency and accountability so many of us desire to have. As an elected official and community advocate, I have released a monthly newsletter which was actually mailed to every household 5 times in 2020. Each newsletter was emailed monthly as a digital newsletter and can be viewed on our community resource page. 

4. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing Maywood, and how do you intend to address them? 

Our more than $10 Million debt is our biggest issue. As a village it is important to explain the debt and it is critical to layout the strategic plan on how we are addressing our debt in a measureable and time lined manner. Being fiscally responsible while at the same time placing practices of working smarter not harder will be essential to our community prosperity. 

Another issue we have is Economic Access, Equity, and Opportunity. We will work intentionally to address our business sustainability and business growth. We also must focus on residential education, awareness, and resources. We must invest in collaborative partnerships that increase our education base, provide health & wellbeing for all, attack unemployment head on, while addressing multiple factors that surround career & life readiness. A thriving business base combined with an invested and nurtured residential base leads to true prosperity. 

Public Safety and Community Pride is another huge issue. We must focus on a true execution of providing police accountability while at the same time being intentional on community policing efforts such as precinct captains, block clubs, Maywood Alternative Policing Strategy (M.A.PS.) and more. 

5. How do you define equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

From a community perspective, I feel it is in the financial interests of the community to develop community assets. If properly balanced, it creates a strong and vibrant social center. By focusing on having an authentic presence and ensuring tools are available for our community to be responsible for ourselves and our own learning we build equity. Making sure we consider impact, not just intention, and the ways our statements and actions affect others enhances us as a whole. 

Looking beyond inclusion and understanding how people are shaped by the diverse ways in which people learn, communicate, think, act, and express themselves while at the same time listening to others, we notice and take responsibility for our own assumptions and expectations is essential. Recent discussions and events have added to knowledge building and understanding. It is important to take the time to reflect upon and clarify what we’ve heard when doing so can help us reach shared prosperity. When witnessing oppression or marginalization, we hold ourselves and others accountable to speak up—in the moment, soon after, or with help from another. When experiencing oppression or marginalization, we speak to the facts, feelings, and impact when and if we wish to. In order for our community to thrive we must be intentional about equity. 

6. What is your broad vision for the future of Maywood? How will you promote substantive discussion, build consensus among trustees, and rally public support for your vision?

The broad vision is to have: 

✓ Public Safety & Violence Prevention at the Forefront 
✓ Economic Access, Opportunity, and Equity 
✓ High-Performing Education and Workforce Partnerships 
✓ Innovative Health & Social Resource Collaboratives 
✓ Accountable, Service Driven, and Transparent Government 
✓ Fair Taxing, Enhanced Infrastructure, and Reliable Services 

Our commissions and councils are drastically under-utilized. I will work to ensure residents and community advocates who are serious about Moving Maywood Forward Together have a seat at the table. As a board we must identify through strategic planning and goal setting what we will focus on accomplishing. Once we can establish these measurable areas of success we then can move as one band with one sound. Ensure community, awareness, and education of all things Maywood are readily available to our residents will aide in rallying community support. 

7. What are your plans for assessing the Village Manager’s performance? What processes and protections do you believe should be afforded employees who have voiced grievances? How would you describe your management style? 

The Village Managers (VM) current annual performance review covers the following 15 areas: 

✓ Leading Through Mission, Vision and Comprehensive Plan 
✓ Initiative and Innovation 
✓ Quality and Quantity of Work 
✓ Village Board and Commission Support 
✓ Selecting and Developing People 
✓ Technical and Professional Job Knowledge 
✓ Communication 
✓ Cooperation / Teamwork / Staff Management 
✓ Building Trust and Gaining Commitment 
✓ Customer Focus / Conflict Resolution 
✓ Problem Solving / Judgment and Decision Making 
✓ Operating Guidelines / Planning and Organizing 
✓ Budget Management 
✓ Department and Individual Goals and Objectives 
✓ Professional Growth and Self Development 

The issue is not the process needs to change so much as it needs to be transparent. The VM has received a salary increase of more than $40,000 along with a $15,000 every year except last year’s review where he received a reduced amount of $10,000. Some elected officials’ reviews are very vague without concrete measurements of success. It is the boards job to hold the manager accountable for the plan laid out before him and that is not currently common practice. One thing missing in the process for employee protections is an anonymous employee survey. Employees are never asked what their work environment feels like so there is never a benchmark of a strategic planning to create a better work life. 

My management style is based on Bill Marriott of Marriott International who says, “If you take care of the employees, they will take care of the guest”. Our residents are the guest for Maywood, and we must do better of taking care of our employees so that we as a community can receive better services. Another good way to address employee issues is to host a monthly luncheon with various non-management employees once a month to allow them to have their voices heard about ways the departments could run more smoothly along with sharing work life opportunities.  

8. What impact can a municipality such as Maywood have on climate change, and how will you prioritize that work among other issues?

In 2019 I wrote the policy for the new Energy and Environment Commission. It is essential that we focus as local government on Buildings and Energy, Land Use and Urban Farming, Transportation and Fuels Consumption and Materials Management, Natural Systems and Community Wellbeing. As mayor, I would look to develop a Sustainability Action Plan focused on Addressing Climate Mitigation, Climate Adaptation, And Energy Security. This plan will serve as guiding principles to layout ways we can serve as better stewards to our environment. 

The work will be prioritized by reviewing currently outdated policies, filling vacancies on the commission, and requesting a quarterly report of progress. As a council member for the National League of Cities First Tier Suburbs Council, I witness firsthand the various ways some communities are coming together to do their part to address climate change. We also must create a better collaboration with community partners such as Loyola through Proviso Partners for Health. Their focus on urban farming along with nutrition accessibility and education for all represents a great opportunity for our community. It is an honor to work with them on their urban farming group, nutrition education cooking classes, along with their Veggie Rx produce giveaway and reduced cost based on level of income. 

9. What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Maywood? What policies would you advocate to address this issue? Do you consider support for affordable housing to be a core function of our village government? Why or why not?

I believe one of the most pressing issues is our aging homeowners. We must take better care of our seniors who want to peacefully age in place while at the same time offering a comfortable and suitable alternative living environment for our seniors. Something smaller at the same time affordable within the village must be of focus. The ability to move those who wish to move out of larger homes they needed when they were raising their family would remove their home maintenance burden while at the same time presenting a new family home for a younger family to move into. This helps increase our tax revenues while at the same time ensuring our seniors get to continue to enjoy the community they have grown to love. As a council member of the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus for Aging Friendly Seniors Council, I have been able to see firsthand how communities are better preparing for a brighter future for all. 

Affordable housing is essential to community prosperity. We must partner with the affordable housing efforts to ensure workforce development, health and wellbeing, financial literacy and so many more resources stand readily available for residents. 

10. In recent months there have been calls in many communities to defund the police or reimagine public safety. How do you define public safety? Do you begin from the premise that increased policing is the most effective response to increased crime, or would you propose other solutions?  

I believe at its foundation public safety means working to ensure the welfare and protection of the public. When I was growing up, I witnessed an overflow of block clubs, precinct captains, and neighborhood watch community partners. Today, these things have nearly disappeared. Defunding the police is not the solution that will help address public safety. We must ensure our police and community reinvest in programming from our past like CeaseFire, add back Drug Abuse and Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) to our classrooms, and ensure we have a thriving Explorer program once again. When we look to surrounding communities, they have resident voluntary homeland security programming that provides more community policing presence throughout the community. I look forward to focusing on all of these initiatives. 

In 2020, I was fortunate to receive the honor of having the Village Pride, Village Wide initiative handed to me by the Founder Loretta Brown. Receiving the baton to continue the race has been a pleasure. Last year we completed more than 15 community cleanup and urban farming care events. During the summer through a Litterati app we collected more than 15,000 pieces of trash in our community. We must work to restore community pride. 

We also must ensure our police force have the tools to provide the best protections. I will fight to upgrade our outdated camera system across the community. I will fight to ensure we are able to capture license plates of vehicles who travel into our community commit a crime, then jump back on the expressway. I would also work to ensure our IKE 911 center is updated with the information they need to assist our emergency response teams with the tools they need. 

11. What do you believe has caused the recent swell in carjackings in the surrounding area? Do you see an appropriate law enforcement response to this situation?

In order to address carjacking’s, we must get the root of the issue. Yes COVID-19 has created a more aggressive environment. We must approach the healing of those who have experienced mental, physical, and emotional pain during this pandemic while at the same time acknowledging the underlining anger and/or boiling rage that existed prior to the pandemic because of living conditions and/or experiences. Car jackings are the product of reduced youth investment, lack of jobs, poor community pride intentional efforts, and under-utilized resources for financial and mental wellbeing. 

We must also become more aggressive in our community policing efforts through using technology available to us. Ring doorbells offer the options of allowing the police department to view street movement from your doorbell. Working with Ring to install more doorbells and partnering with the police department is one example of ways to help identify those committing the crime and getting them the resources, they need. We must also look at bringing back opportunities such as Peer Jury which would help provide second chances to those who have made poor but redeemable life choices. 

12. Maywood does not currently have a mechanism for civilian police oversight. Is this something you would change? If so, what specific structures would you favor?

I am in favor of a Citizens Police Oversight Committee. The Citizens Police Oversight Committee would evaluate complaints about police conduct and interpersonal/community relations. Their task would be to monitor and evaluate the processing of all citizen complaints in regard to police misconduct, including, but not limited to, allegations of discriminatory conduct and/or treatment and the use of excessive force. Thanks to the introduction of the MyCivic app along with social media there are opportunities to capture poor conduct/decisions and have them addressed immediately. 

13. What do you see as the most pressing issues relating to development in Maywood, both residential and commercial? What policies would you advocate to address those issues? In which areas of Maywood would you prioritize residential and commercial development?

We have great opportunities in the areas of the community development department along with the review of outdated policies and practices. In order to address current homeowners who have invested in our great community we must look at programs/initiatives/incentives that promote and assist them with home maintenance. Our community has some of the highest property taxes in the state. To ensure residents are not moving, we must invest in them. For our commercial partners we must bring them to the table to understand the opportunities that exist that would lead to them leaving and/or closing never to reopen. 

We also must update technology and have readily available information on our village website. Investors and developers are drawn to communities that are ready to move and move quickly. You cannot have investors waiting for months for the board to hear their proposals. We must also update our comprehensive plan for where we would like to see our community. When you look at our various corridors there are no solid plans for development to focus on. We must prioritize commercial areas of Roosevelt, St. Charles, 19th Ave, 17th Ave, Madison, 1st, Lake St. and more. There is opportunity all around our great community. We must create the goals and then hold staff accountable towards accomplishing them. 

14. How would you evaluate the success of Maywood’s plans for Covid-19 mitigation at the Village? Do you feel the village has adequately protected its employees, and that there has been adequate transparency with respect to case tracking?  

We provided an execute order providing the mayor higher liberties in spending and policy decisions. Unfortunately, policy updates, staff and community protections fell short of acceptable. The Cook County Public Health Department has been proactive about case tracking, but we as a community need to provide more awareness and education to our residents. Early in COVID, I partnered with Loyola which led to the launch of COVID Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (CERCL). CERCL has tested more than 1,000 residents and is now conducting antibody research specifically in Black and Brown communities. Working with multiple agencies through a grant I wrote and received through the Illinois Department of Human Services we have provided nearly $200,000 in face mask, hand sanitizers, and gloves along with food and fresh produce to residents in need. We must utilize all partnerships and collaborations when possible to move our community forward. 

15. How do you believe the Covid-19 pandemic has affected Maywood’s Village finances, and what policies do you favor going forward as part of the recovery? 

With no doubt certain revenues from fines, code enforcement, licenses, permits and more have been affected. As a council member of the National League of Cities Youth, Education, and Family Council I understand how important it is to establish policies that stabilize our residents place of living protections. Working closely with Loyola (PP4H) on Food Justice, I know there is opportunity for more village assistance. As we continue to address health and wellness, we know there are areas of opportunity to ensure our residents have all the resources they need to not only survive but thrive. 

We must also have policies that are helpful to our landowners. Recently I presented to the board a community survey for all landlords. This will help with efforts towards stabilization on the residential and commercial side. As the Chairman for the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce – West Suburban Cook County, I understand the needs of our businesses to keep their doors open while working to have a more prosperous future. I consulted as a Business Advisor with the Cook County Black Chamber of Commerce based on the $16 million Cook County provided to help small businesses receive up to $10,000 in grant assistance funding. Spending time with these business owners across all walks of life and throughout various industries afforded me great insight on the needs to help. 

16. What values would you bring to the budgeting process? Do you have a plan for reforming the manner in which the Village conducts its budgeting and fiscal planning?

We must conduct quarterly budget reviews. The current process today is bare minimum. Within the last year Trustee Sanchez has worked to ensure the once defunct Finance Committee was proactive in financial discussion. We are now holding the department heads feet to the fire. I believe we not only need a finance oversight team of elected officials, but those of seasoned professionals in our community. We must also hold the department heads accountable to an annually and quarterly plan of expenses. 

17. Property taxes in Maywood are among the highest in Illinois. What is your plan for confronting this burden? 

Of the 132 communities in Cook County, Maywood ranks 126th for highest taxes. We cannot long term sustain if we continue this way. To confront this burden, we must address our spending, our $10 million in debt, economic access, opportunity, along with equity, our resident resources investment, and our education/youth engagement practices. 

When you look at our school system the middle school ranks in bottom less than 20% and our high school at the bottom 10% of the entire state. When we think of property taxes, we have to think about what businesses look at when they consider investing in a community. A thriving park district, library system, and school district all serve as positive indicators for investment. We must also enhance our public safety efforts with better police practices along with the community policing efforts I mentioned earlier. 

We must update our extremely outdated comprehensive plan and establish what are vision and goals are for each commercial corridor. Investors and developers are interested in understanding what you see for specific areas. This will help secure partners and ensure we have more shovel ready projects in the community. 

18. How would you rate the Village’s lobbying and other political efforts to steer policy in Springfield? How can Maywood do better?

Simply put, we must do better with this area. Working with state agencies and organizations, I understand the importance of having a voice in Springfield. As a council member of the Diversity Taskforce Council through the Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus, I know the opportunities that exist, especially for low income along with Black and Brown communities. We must have better data readily available. We must also have an established department for grant writing. Working with an outsourced grant writer has not helped the community receive county, state, nor federal funding to the levels we could. I look forward to changing that. 

19. How will you engage the growing Latinx community in Maywood? What should the Village’s posture toward undocumented residents be?

I am in favor of the Village of Maywood being a sanctuary community. I believe we must work with organizations such as Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL) and PASO – West Suburban Action Project to ensure all residents receive the resources they need to attain full citizenship. 

It was an honor to work as a host partner on Mexican Independence Day along with Hispanic Heritage Month. Celebrating the diversity within the community will only make us stronger. As an elected official and community advocate, I was invited to speak and participate at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Advocacy Day in Springfield. I proudly stand and support our Latinx community. 

20. What are your plans for addressing community concerns about water rates, including exorbitant shutoff fees and seemingly arbitrary charges some residents have been forced to pay?

Of 162 communities that receive City of Chicago water, Maywood ranks 154th for highest rates. We received a report in 2017 showcasing a 50% water leak rate for the community. We just learned in February 2021, that 50% leak rate is still the same. Having 50% of our water cost being based on waste is extremely frustrating. The state sites anything above a 16% water loss rate is problematic. We must address this issue immediately. 

Of 1,298 communities in the State of Illinois according to the Metropolitan Planning Council’s report the Village of Maywood ranks 24th for worst Lead Service Lines in the state! Recently I invited them to present to the community and proposed a proclamation that was passed to focus on water safety. This is a step in the right direction with much more to come. 

21. Board meetings have become increasingly acrimonious in recent years. How would you work to restore decorum during meetings? Do you feel this is an important priority? Why or why not?

It is extremely important to operate with a full understanding of measurable goals. The board must work to establish strategic planning of measurements for success. I would immediately reactivate meetings as a whole. These meetings serve as a platform that allow department heads and board members to discuss openly the business of our community. When an item is added to an agenda for a full vote it will have already been discussed at length during our meetings as a whole. We must focus on goal setting and that will help eliminate individual agendas vs. an agreed upon focus for the year and moving forward. 

22. What opportunities do you see for the Village to collaborate productively with other local taxing bodies? What could hinder those efforts? How would you improve relations between the Village and the Park District, in particular?

Addressing our school system ranking through youth engagement and investment is at the forefront of my mind. When you look at our school system the middle school ranks in bottom less than 20% and our high school at the bottom 10% of the entire state. I am proud to be working as an Executive Board Member for the School District 89 Education Foundation along with the Maywood Park District on launching the Career & Life Readiness Initiative (CLRI). This initiative brings together a youth engagement focus through the Explorer Program which focuses on Career Opportunities, Life Skills, Citizenship, Character Development, and Leadership Experience. This initiative will also bring President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper program being intentional about: 

✓ Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn 
✓ Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade 
✓ Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career 
✓ Completing Postsecondary Education or Training 
✓ Successfully Entering the Workforce 
✓ Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances 

The CLRI also will bring together partnership with business within our community. We know our unemployment rate is nearly 25% and that amount nearly doubles when we look at those under the age of 30. I am so excited to be a founding member of the launch for the Workforce Development program that will be at the Lightford Recreation Center. This will be in partnership not only with the taxing bodies, but also the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce along with businesses such as Loyola, Aetna Building Solutions, Cintas, Seaway Supplies, and more. 

To ensure investment in our youth, education, and family efforts I was responsible for writing and securing grant funding for technology labs to be established at the Quinn Center and the Lightford Recreation Center. We were also able to provide technology for the learning center at the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership. It is essential that we collaborate to Move Maywood Forward Together. 

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/25/21.]