Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring to the Board of Trustees, and why would those contributions be valuable to the Village of River Forest?

I am running for my second term as Village Trustee for River Forest.  I would like to continue serving our residents in making River Forest a place where our residents feel safe and can continue to economically and socially enjoy living here.

Personal Background:

• My wife, Annie, and I have been married for 31 ½ years.

• Although we were not blessed with having children, Annie and I serve as caregivers for my 92 year old mother-in-law and my 65 ½ year old, disabled sister-in-law, both of whom live with us.

• Moved into River Forest in March 2014 and we have and continue to enjoy living in this wonderful community.

Professional Background:

• I am an attorney and I have focused my practice in education/school law.

• Served in the public sector for a total of 15 years including:

  • Serves as In-House General Counsel for Elgin Community College. 

  • Served as In-House General Counsel for Illinois State Board of Education and City Colleges of Chicago.

  • Served as Illinois State Superintendent of Education.

  • Served as In-House Counsel for Chicago Public Schools.

• Served in the private sector for a total of 16 years as a former partner at the private law firm of Franczek P.C. for 16 years, focusing my practice in representing public elementary & secondary schools, community colleges and state universities.  

• Acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Minority Attorneys in 2017 by Crain’s. 

Community Service:

• Serve as Village Trustee for River Forest 2017-2021.

• Serve as Chair of the Age Friendly Ad Hoc Committee for the Village of River Forest.

• Serve on the Inclusive Advisory Board for the River Forest District 90 since 2016.

• Serve as Pronouncer/Judge for the River Forest District 90 Spelling Bee since 2017.

• Served on the Imagine Group for the Oak Park River Forest High School 200 in 2017-18.

• Participated and completed the Oak Park Foundation Leadership Lab 2017-2018.

2. What steps will you take to improve and expand community engagement with the Village and the Board? What is your view on how to involve residents in the decision making process in our Village?

I am committed to being approachable and transparent.  During my first term as a Village Trustee, I have been and continue to communicate with residents by phone, email and as I walk around the Village.  I believe in honest and open communication and I do not avoid discussing challenging issues or opinions that differ from mine.  I am respectful in hearing/receiving/debating differing viewpoints.  I believe that such discussions help in reaching consensus to a solution that is in the best interests of our residents.  One trait that I value is trust, not limited to only gaining residents’ trust but maintaining that trust.  I continue to welcome and encourage all of our residents to (1) view, listen and participate in the Village’s virtual Board and Commission meetings; (2) review the Village’s website; (3) sign up to receive the Village’s newsletters, if one has not done so already, and review frequent updates in the Village; and/or (4) to call and/or email the Village Staff and Board with any questions or comments a resident may have.  Although the COVID pandemic has impacted all of us negatively, one positive impact was the increased use of social media and virtual connections for our communications.  Being optimistic and as we approach returning to “normal” conditions, I would support continuing to use such social media and virtual communications (i.e., Zoom) for our Board and Commission meetings to allow residents to continue to participate if they prefer or are unable to attend such meetings in person.  Additionally, I welcome residents to apply and participate in the Village’s Commissions.  From my perception, each of us have valuable ideas, experiences and contributions to offer. 

3. Give an example of a time when you worked to understand a situation or view different from your own. What helped you to move through that process? What hindered you as you moved through the process?

The example that comes to my mind is when our Village considered the Welcoming Resolution in the first year of my first term as a Trustee.  We had 3-4 board meetings with many residents providing public comment on the issue.  I was one of the Trustees who was in favor of adopting this resolution.  There were other Trustees who were not inclined to adopt such resolution and provided their reasons in support of their position. What hindered me in the process was to spend the time to respectfully listen to the viewpoints/reasons given from the Trustees who were against the resolution, and provide them with my viewpoint/reasons to persuade them to support the adoption of the resolution.  Ultimately, we reached the point where we respectfully disagreed with each other.  What helped me to move through this process was to maintain a professional and respectful debate avoiding personal attacks and unprofessional discussions, trying to persuade each other based on objective data, reaching a consensus (although not unanimous) and ending with a majority decision after a fruitful debate.      

4. Who or what is your role model for your approach to governing?

My role model for my approach in governing is Ruth Bader Ginsberg.  She was a well accomplished individual not only as an attorney and judge, but as someone who cared for her community and family. Her life efforts have shaped modern American life.  I would aspire to govern with her character traits of:

• Bravery – She successfully challenged sex-based discrimination and specifically pay inequities between men and women.  I would aspire to handle challenging and difficult issues that face our Village with the grace and professionalism that she had. 

• Strategic Patience – She focused on real and enduring change. Ginsburg was quoted saying, “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”  I would aspire to achieving real and positive change.  Sometimes, this may not be achieved all at one time, but may involve taking some steps to achieve the goal that has a positive impact to our Village residents.   

• Compassion/Empathy/Equity – She fought for more than women’s rights.  She also focused in the inequities of disabled individuals, the LGBTQ community, and undocumented people.  

• Community Engagement & Voice - She fought to expand voting rights to allow for community engagement and voice.  I would aspire to community engagement as I mentioned in my response for question 2 above. 

5. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing River Forest, and how do you intend to address them? How will you prioritize among competing priorities?

I feel that these three (3) issues are the biggest issues facing our Village and how I intend to address them:

• Resident health and safety as we progress towards COVID recovery – Our residents appreciate living in a community that provides them a good quality of life where they feel safe.  As I mentioned below, the Village has responded to the COVID pandemic challenges that arose this past year.  I will support the Village to continue to provide frequent federal, state and local updates on progress of COVID guidelines and steps towards recovery such as the availability, distribution and scheduling of vaccinations.  Further, I will continue to support the funding of our Police and Fire Departments.  I will also continue to encourage our Village Police Department to continue its communications and availability to meet with residents including but not limited to having the Quarterly Community Police Crime Prevention Meetings and Policing & Social Justice Forums.  I will support the expansion of on-street cameras in our Village.  

• Diversity Equity Inclusive Issues – Recently, there have been increased awareness of national and local events relating to racial and social injustices and demands for police, legislative and social reforms.  I will support the following initiatives:

  • Police and Fire Departments accountability.  

  • Budget funding for police training that includes diversity, anti-racism and promoting the unnecessary use of police force.

  • Increase the police force diversity. From the last five police officer positions, four of these positions were filled with persons of color.

  • As mentioned below, I will support the TRHT partnership initiative with Dominican University and the creation of a DEI advisory group.

• Maintain the Village’s financial stability and resources – The Village Board has been a good stewart of its finances.  As a result, the Village was not only able to weather through the COVID pandemic, but it was able to assist our residents by not increasing taxes this coming year as well as providing other financial relief to our residents and businesses (see my response below).  The Village must continue to maintain its finances responsibly to continue operating efficiently with adequate financial resources in preparation of future unforeseen circumstances.  

6. How would you characterize appropriate oversight of the Village Administrator by the Board? Given that River Forest will soon have a new Village Administrator, what challenges or opportunities do you expect the Board to face in its oversight role?

It is the Village Board’s responsibility to set policy for the Village and it is the responsibility of the Village Administrator to implement such policies.  The Village Administrator is accountable to the Village President and Board.  The Village President and Board should challenge and question the Village Administrator’s recommendations as appropriate.  Also, the Village Administrator should be open to answering questions as they arise, and receiving direction from the Village President and Board.  With the recent departure of the Village Administrator, it is important that the Village Board conduct a search for a new Village Administrator that is qualified to serve and meet the needs of our residents.  The Village Administrator is an important position as it is usually the initial contact with our residents.  As such, the Village Administrator will need to understand government, possess positive management skills, be an efficient and effective problem solver and know how to communicate and work with residents. 

7. What do you believe has been the most significant action taken by the Board in recent years, and why? Do you believe the Board acted appropriately?

The Village Board’s response to the COVID pandemic has been the most significant action taken by this Board.  This pandemic has negatively impacted our residents.  The Village President and Board took the following appropriate actions to assist our residents during this pandemic:

• Approved a flat (no increase) tax levy to provide some financial relief to our residents. The Village Board waived a possible increase of 2.3% permitted under the law as well as waiving any additional property taxes associated with new construction projects. 

• Suspended restrictions on hours of deliveries to businesses in the Village.

• Waived business license fees for 90 days and provided businesses with a COVID-19 business kit.

• Approved waiver of late fees and parking fees and extended payment deadlines without penalties and extended adjudication dates.

• Created a River Forest COVID-19 Senior Task Force to support our existing services and provide volunteers to our community members to provide the following supports:

  • Grocery and prescription pickups

  • Dog walking

  • Library returns or pickups

  • Snow removal and other non-direct contact needs

• Coordinated with Village grocery stores to schedule times for seniors to shop.

• Vehicle stickers were delayed for all residents this past year.

• Enhanced communication related to COVID-19 through the development of a website page on COVID, sent out frequent Village newsletters on COVID updates.

• Halloween Trick-or-Treat was permitted within limited hours, discouraging residents from door-to-door, encouraging alternative ways of celebrating at home and complying with Illinois Department of Public Health and CDC guidelines. 

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

Equity is the fair and respectful treatment of all people and provide fair access to information and resources for all.  Diversity is the recognition and respect of everyone’s unique qualities and attributes.  Inclusion means building an environment of belonging so all individuals feel respected, accepted and valued. [Terms collectively known as “DEI.] 

I have been supportive and have been an advocate for DEI early on in my life.  As I mentioned in my earlier response, I became involved in District 90’s Inclusive Advisory Board (IAB) since 2016 before recent events and discussions in the larger community.  Although I welcome the larger discussions in the community, I am saddened of the negative and violent events that sparked these discussions.  However, I support the Village Board’s direction in pursuing the following DEI initiatives:

• The Village has approved a mutually beneficial partnership with Dominican University in collaboration with Concordia University to assist the Village in creating a community committed to racial and social justice.  The partnership will build on the work of the university’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) initiative.  TRHT is a nationally recognized, community based initiative for racial justice.  Dominican is one of the first universities across the country to be designated as a TRHT Campus Center by the American Association of Colleges and Universities.      

• The Village is in the process of creating an advisory group that would review the removal of barriers that prevent the participation, engagement and welcoming & equitable environment for all of residents, business members, visitors, and employees in municipal services, community and civic engagement. 

• Both the Village of River Forest and the Village of Maywood unanimously approved the Twin Village Covenant committing both Villages to the principles of humanity, equity and inclusion.  

9. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing River Forest in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

The COVID pandemic has created challenges in reaching out to some residents particularly those who are not able to use or feel uncomfortable in using technology.  I have seen this particularly with some of our seniors.  The Village’s COVID Senior Task Force has helped to reach our seniors by calling or knocking on resident doors.  The Village has developed some collaboration and communications with our sister Village entities (RF District 90, OPRF HS 200, RF Park District, RF Library, and the RF Township) for shared distribution of communications in the Village.  For example, these sister Village entities have created and participate in the River Forest Community Calendar to assist residents to keep track of the broad collection of events in our Village.  Also, the Village releases Village newsletters to residents as well as making “robo” calls with frequent updates in the Village.  The Village will continue to encourage new Village residents and current Village residents who have not signed up to sign up to receive these newsletters and calls. Further, I would suggest to the Village Board that we continue to use Zoom and other social media for our Board and Commission meetings to facilitate communications with residents even after the pandemic ceases to exist.  Moreover, I welcome residents to share their thoughts, comments and/or questions with me.  

10. What is your position on the extent to which the Village includes or should include accessibility features? Please address both physical structures and virtual/information processes.

In addition to complying with all legally required accessibility requirements, I would support additional accessibility features that support our seniors and disabled residents.  I would propose that the Village Board consider:

• Reviewing current Village ordinances and codes that may limit accessibility friendly options.

• Periodic review of Village sidewalks for repair or replacement that may limit residents’ walking or movement (i.e., cracks or unleveled sidewalks).

• Review of lighting throughout the Village.  I love the trees throughout our Village; however, there on some occasions where the tree branches may block the street lighting, limiting the lighting on the sidewalks.  There should be a balance of allowing our trees to grow without limiting the safety of our residents as they move along our sidewalks and streets.  

11. How can the Village encourage and support locally-owned businesses in River Forest?

I am in support of locally-owned businesses in our Village including but not limited to:

• Supported senior living facility “The Sheridan” located on Chicago and Harlem Avenues.

• Committed to overseeing the construction of the Lake and Lathrop project.

• Collaborating with our Economic Development Commission for the development of commercial initiatives. 

• Promoting businesses in River Forest in Village newsletters and website so residents know the businesses that exist in the Village and encourage support of these businesses.

• Working with potentially new businesses or our current businesses with facilitating information and open communication on creating and conducting business in the Village. 

• Continue working with the Economic Development Commission in developing strategies in support of our local businesses. 

• Use of TIF funds when appropriate (see my response below).

12. The Village Board passed an Affordable Housing Plan last June, which included a number of specific actions to be considered by village commissions. What is your stance on affordable housing in River Forest, and which, if any, of those actions would you push forward?

I supported the Affordable Housing Plan that the Village Board approved on June 8, 2020 and the Affordable Housing Plan action matrix that was presented and discussed on June 22, 2020.  

• I agree with the Plan’s goals of:

  • Protecting and enhancing the existing affordable housing that currently exists in the Village, primarily the multi-family residential housing along the Village’s perimeter corridors; and

  • Concentrating attention on new multi-family and mixed-use buildings and providing developers of such buildings the opportunity to include affordable housing units.

• I would support moving forward with the following:

  • Exploring possible TIF fund allocation guidelines for the Village to assist in the provision of affordable housing development and initiatives in River Forest, including development of new affordable housing and the improvement and enhancement of existing affordable housing.

  • Exploring and identifying strategies and the means with which to preserve and enhance existing affordable housing in the Village, such as possible funding or programs aimed at assisting with upkeep, maintenance, and improvements to identify existing affordable housing properties.

  • Explore amending the Village Zoning Ordinance, and possibly other Village regulations, to specifically accommodate “integrated supportive affordable housing.”

  • Explore amending the Village Zoning Ordinance to accommodate Accessory Dwelling Units (“ADU”) as a conditional use in the R1 and R2 zoning districts.

  • Explore amending the Village Zoning Ordinance, specifically the Planned Development standards (section 10-19-3) to identify consistency with the goals and policies of the Affordable Housing Plan as a standard of review.

  • Explore amending the Village Zoning Ordinance to allow for taller and more dense development in designated commercial/mixed-use areas, consistent with the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan, in order to better accommodate possible inclusion of affordable housing as part of new development.

  • Identify processes to better track metrics related to affordable housing.

13. What impact can a municipality such as River Forest have on climate change, and how will you prioritize that work among other issues? [For incumbents: What actions have you taken in office with respect to climate change?]

I am proud to say that in our Village we have a Sustainability Commission that has and continues to address local initiatives to enhance the quality of life for our residents.  I am in support of the Commission’s efforts towards:

• Commitment to GRC2 (Greenest Region Compact) which addresses climate, economic development, energy, land, leadership, mobility, municipal operations, sustainable communities, water and waste & recycling.

• Commitment to the Chicago Climate Charter. 

• Expansion of curbside compost offering.

• Improving pathways & roads to be more pedestrian and bike friendly.

• Accelerating municipal use of renewable energy and working to deliver affordable renewable energy access in all communities.

• Approving the Bicycle Plan.

• Approving the Safe Walking Routes to School Plan.

I also chair the Age Friendly Ad Hoc Committee which will be reviewing environmental issues related to:

• Outdoor spaces and buildings

• Housing 

• Mobility

14. What are your plans for collaborating with our neighboring communities? What specific steps would you take in relation to the recent Twin Village Covenant with Maywood?

I support and promote collaboration with our neighboring communities.  I have participated in the following:

• Member of the Neighboring Age Friendly Collaborative to collaborate on issues related to assisting our seniors which is comprised of the following communities:

  • Austin Council

  • Forest Park Village

  • Maywood Village

  • Oak Park Village

  • Oak Park Township

  • River Forest Village

  • River Forest Township

• Collaboration on a Handyman Repair Service program for our seniors which is comprised of the following communities:

  • Oak Park Township

  • Oak Park Village

  • River Forest Township

  • River Forest Village

Regarding possible collaboration with the Village of Maywood under the Twin Covenant:

• Reaching out to the Village of Maywood and the Proviso Township to seek out their interest in joining (or combining) the Handyman Repair Service program mentioned above.

• Reached out to the Village of Maywood who agreed to collaborate on issues related to our seniors.  

15. Do you think River Forest’s TIF Districts have been a good and effective use of taxpayer funds? What material benefits have the North Avenue and Madison TIFs had? Should they be continued?

Our Village has the following limitations:

• The Village is landlocked and limited to our current Village boundaries.

• About ½ of the real estate property in the Village is not taxable due to the tax exempt properties (i.e., universities, religious institutions, etc.).

• There is limited real estate property available for commercial development.

I support enhancing commercial development as the taxable revenue source in lieu of increasing residential property taxes, providing relief to our residents.  Additionally, I am in support of TIF districts and I do believe that they can be a good and effective use of taxpayer funds.  One prime example is the Town Center on Lake and Harlem.  Because of the limitations above, the Village Board has focused on the two TIF districts on Madison Street and North Avenue.  The Madison Street TIF was created in November 2016.  Funds from this TIF were used to move two businesses, “Skincare Company” and the “In and Out Fitness” from Lake Street to Madison Street.  By doing so, the Village was able to keep these businesses in River Forest.  Regarding the North Avenue TIF, it was created in August 2018. In Illinois, the life of a TIF district is for a maximum of 23 years so both of these TIF districts are in their early stages and I would encourage that they continue to provide economic opportunities.  

16. What are your ideas for new partnerships with other taxing bodies within River Forest?

I support working with our other taxing bodies in River Forest.  I am not in favor of overlapping our services or programs with our other taxing bodies which would be an inefficient use and unnecessary expense for our resident tax payers.  As the chair of the Age Friendly Ad Hoc Committee, we are looking at how the Village can work with the RF Township, the RF Library, RF Park District, RF District 90 and OPRF HS 200 regarding our shared services and programs.  We will learn, collaborate, promote and support each other to best meet the interests of our seniors and disabled residents. 

• • • • •

[The above answers were supplied on 2/22/21.]