Activist Toolkit

1) Why do you want to be a Trustee? What makes you qualified to serve? What metrics of success do you plan on holding yourself accountable to?

I’m running for re-election for village trustee because I am excited to continue to drive the momentum we’ve created in village government towards a just, thriving, net-zero village. I’ve been able to turn my values into action in such areas as sustainability, policing, development, and maintaining a diverse community. I want to keep moving our village forward toward a future where our village is affordable to whomever wants to live here, feels included and receives the services they need from a transparent and accessible municipal government. The accomplishments I’m most proud of from my four years on the village board include:

• I facilitated the ad hoc sustainability group that made recommendations to the village board resulting in energy efficiency grants to low-income residents, rebates for solar panels, and our climate action plan which puts our village on the path to net zero by 2050. 

• I initiated and supported the assessment of our police department. 

• I assured that our Housing Center continues to receive funding so it can continue its vital role in keeping our community diverse.

• I voted to approve transit-oriented development which grows our economic base while promoting energy-efficient housing.

• I voted to keep our property tax increases to 3% for the past 3 years and 0% this year. 

• I supported the formation of the Housing Trust Fund which uses fees from developers to fund affordable housing options.

My goals and metrics for success are:

1. creating concrete, funded plans and initiatives in our municipal departments and in our village budget that move us toward our climate action goals,

2. pushing for and documenting progress on the recommendations in the Berry Dunn report on policing so that it doesn’t become a report that collects dust on a shelf,

3. continue to use my voice and vote to promote progressive issues. 

2) How do you make decisions?

As an occupational and environmental physician, public health researcher, and former family physician, I understand the importance of studying problems in depth while listening to and addressing the needs of my patients and communities I serve. I have provided the same quality of care to our village’s residents. When I’m confronted with a new issue - and there are several on a weekly basis - I dive in to make sure I understand all sides of the issue, and I seek out and listen to experts.

3) What are the three biggest challenges or opportunities facing Oak Park in the next three, five, and ten years and how should the board address them over the next four years?

One of the three biggest or opportunities facing Oak Park is the same existential crisis that threatens the entire planet: climate change. No other issue has the potential to change our lives to the same degree. Our village government has come a long way in the past two years, but it is extremely important that we continue to move forward toward our goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. We must have specific plans for promoting and funding energy efficiency retrofits for all buildings, change our zoning code to require electrification of all new construction, apply for grant programs to pay for solar and geothermal incentives, and develop innovative methods to offer EV charging for residents of multi-unit buildings, among many other initiatives that we simply must implement if we are going to meet our mitigation goals. I will advocate for regular reporting to the village board so we can hold village staff accountable to our climate action plan. 

Another of the three challenges/opportunities is affordability, which allows for racial and economic diversity. There are several ways to target affordability and diversity. The Oak Park Regional Housing Center plays a vital role in maintaining Oak Park’s racial/ethnic diversity and in preventing the development of racial enclaves. I will vote to renew funding to the Housing Center via our CDBG funds and General Fund. Keeping our property taxes in check is key. I will promote the type of development that increases our tax base. I support updating our Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance to increase the geographic boundary of the IZO-applicable areas and increase the amount of in-lieu fees paid so that funds will flow to our Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 

Lastly, we’ve seen a concerning increase in violence in the past few years. For those experiencing it, it is traumatizing. Many people feel less safe here. At the same time, some of our residents feel unsafe from public safety personnel due to a historic culture of racism and biased policing. For those who are victims of the increased crime: I’m listening to you. I’ve met with multiple neighborhood groups about this issue. I voted to close the gas stations. We are engaging with Chief Johnson about increased violent crime and she is well aware that addressing it is a board priority. I also called for the assessment of our policing, with the hope of reforms to root our systemic racism and bias.  The consultant group, BerryDunn Associates, spent a year on their assessment. The following are some of the recommendations in the 273-page BerryDunn report that I support:  

1. Create an alternative response system for non-violent calls for service.

2. Improve data collection on traffic stops and other police activities. This is necessary to track interactions or practices that may be biased by race/ethnicity or other reasons. 

3. Update our unsafe police facility in the basement of village hall.

4. Pursue a collaborative model that involves the community in police decision-making.

5. Empower the Community Police Oversight Commission to monitor investigations of police misconduct, staff accountability and transparency.

6. Establish a DEI committee within the police dept.

7. Change the police department’s approach to responding to “suspicious activity.”

8. Restrict the use of pretext stops unless there are specific, documented facts to expand the scope of the stop.

9. Adjust ordinances to remove disproportional impact on marginalized populations.

4) How would you approach the budgeting process?

Our current budgeting process follows general accounting principles required by the state and allows for ample input by the village board. Village staff presents their budgets and the board then discusses them. It requires “direction” from the board to change the proposed budgets, and that means at least 4 trustees in agreement. My approach is to trust village staff in general but provide direction when there are specific items that need steering. For example, I keep a close eye on the Capital Improvement Plan to advocate for funding for the Greenways Plan and sustainable infrastructure; the funding to partner agencies such as the OP Regional Housing Center; and Public Health and Police.

5) What would you say to voters who are worried about the tax burden?

The days of double-digit increases in our property tax levy are over. Current spending in our village government is under control. We aren’t increasing the levy one cent this year, and  for the previous 3 years we kept the increase to 3%. The village is under excellent financial management, despite being drained by our pension debt. We have a robust fund balance and are chipping away at our debt and pension obligations.

6) What policies and programs should the Village undertake to improve its tax base and help local businesses thrive?

OP’s economic vitality is robust. We set records this year and last for the number of business licenses issued. The number of empty store fronts is very low. Many businesses survived the pandemic because of what we did at the village – shared federal PEP loans, assisted with PPE procurement, facilitated outdoor dining by removing fees, placed barriers for street dining. The village board created a small business taskforce to help with collaboration between the village and businesses. I checked in frequently with the Chamber of Commerce to see how I could facilitate village collaboration and see what else we could do. Continued transit oriented development to bring more residents to our village will improve our tax base.

7) Is it appropriate for the Village incentives or supports that would specifically be directed toward minority-owned businesses? Why or why not?

As liaison to the OP Economic Development Corporation I suggested a program to incentivize Black developers to build in OP. Our legal consultant informed us that it would be illegal to specifically focus on Black developers. Nevertheless, I support any legal programs that would support or incentivize minority-owned businesses. I would consider a form of reparations.

8) What do you see as the most pressing issue relating to housing in Oak Park? What policies would you advocate to address this issue?

Given that Oak Park has a high percentage of affordable housing (per HUD definition) at 22%, the most striking and pressing issue is the fact that over 40% of our renters are cost burdened – meaning they are spending more than a third of their income on housing. People are making economic sacrifices to live here. There are several things the village board can do and is doing to help out those folks. First, in the past year we established the Housing Trust Fund, which consists of in-lieu fees paid by developers who build within our Inclusionary Housing Zones. These funds are used to provide rental assistance to low-income residents. Also, providing energy efficiency retrofit grants to renters and landlords helps keep utility bills down which also assists with affordability. Finally, keeping the property tax levy in check means that landlords will not need to pass on the tax increases to renters.

9) Rental units comprise about 41% of Oak Park’s housing stock. How can the Village better serve the needs of renters in our community?

Please see my response to the previous question.

10) How can the Village better serve the needs of the disabled in our community? Those who wish to age in place here in Oak Park?

The Disability Access Commission and Aging in Place Commission were both established to keep the village board abreast of issues facing our disabled residents and seniors. More attention to making village services accessible is a priority for me. Village Hall is not a wheel-chair friendly place, and the lift to get up the stairs at the entrance was broken for years. Wheel-chair users have to use a separate entrance. This is illustrative of the priority placed on accessibility. Spanish translation is not readily accessible and should be. 

Regarding aging in place, I voted to create zoning for accessory dwelling units so residents who choose to age in their homes have economic options.

11) Last year, Village Trustees passed a climate action plan. What is your opinion of that plan and its implementation so far?

The climate action plan was created at the recommendation of the ad hoc committee I co-founded. The plan is comprehensive and touches on numerous aspects of sustainability, with the primary goal of lowering our GHG emissions 60% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. What the plan lacks is a solid implementation plan that is agreed upon by the board, village manager, and village staff. Since the plan was just passed August 1, 2022, the 2023 budget lacks significant emphasis on plan implementation. I have pushed for more GHG reduction activities this year but have not received sufficient support from fellow trustees to give the staff direction to that effect.

12) In their report, BerryDunn consultants noted that there are racial disparities in the impact of policing in Oak Park. This echoes concerns raised by community members who have called on our elected officials to reimagine community safety in our Village. How do you define public safety? How would you work to create an Oak Park where all community members feel safe?

Feeling safe from violence is a basic human right, and we need our police department, under the leadership of Chief Shatonya Johnson, to protect us from violent crime. And everyone in our village deserves to feel safe, even those who have experienced violence not from criminals but from the policing system. While the Oak Park police department has not been involved in a heinous act of violence - it is nevertheless a full-fledged member of a system and culture that has wrought and continues to wreak horrible injustices on people of color. So it is a reasonable and some would say necessary endeavor to make sure our police department is doing everything it can to prevent racist policing practices and habits. That is why in the summer of 2020 I asked for an assessment from an outside entity to evaluate our village’s policing. My goal was to receive recommendations that would move our police department into a new paradigm of community safety. Clearly, the majority of the village board didn’t agree with the degree to which I hoped we could change. The village did indeed hire a consultant group, BerryDunn Associates, who spent a year on their assessment. Their recommendations fall short of the paradigm shift that I had hoped for (and which would require systemic level change in our entire society in general) however, the following are some of the recommendations in the 273-page BerryDunn report that I support:​

1. Improve data collection on traffic stops and other police activities. This is necessary to track interactions or practices that may be biased by race/ethnicity or other reasons. 

2. Update unsafe police facility in the basement of Village Hall.

3. Better documentation of resident complaints.

4. Develop a comprehensive alternative call-for-service plan for non-urgent issues and mental health calls.

5. Pursue a collaborative model that involves the community in police decision-making.

6. Empower the Community Police Oversight Commission to monitor investigations of police misconduct, staff accountability and transparency.

7. Establish a DEI committee within the police dept.

8. Change its approach to responding to “suspicious activity.”

9. Restrict the use of pretext stops unless there are specific, documented facts to expand the scope of the stop.

10. Adjust ordinances to remove disproportional impact on marginalized populations.

13) Volunteer citizen boards, commissions, and committees advise the village trustees. Do you believe that these entities are utilized effectively? What (if any) changes would you like to see to their authority, responsibilities, and oversight?

The citizen commission were systematically disempowered under the previous village manager and board. That is now changing. I believe the commissions could be utilized more effectively by playing a role in not only carrying out their village board-approved work plans but by bringin new issues to the board’s attention. Many of our commissions are made up of experts in their fields, so benefitting from their knowledge and input can add to innovation solutions to the village’s problems.

14) In the past, Oak Park has been at the forefront of votes regarding national issues like gay/lesbian domestic partnerships years before gay marriage was legalized, and immigration. Do you think these types of ordinances are an appropriate use of trustee time and energy? What would you say to a constituent who wanted Village Trustees to take a position on current national issues like protection for transgender rights or a woman’s right to bodily autonomy?

Hell yes I think these issues are an appropriate use of trustee time and energy! Of course we shouldn’t pay a significant amount of attention to issues over which we don’t have jurisdiction, but nevertheless the village board can help change the culture by supporting issues such as transgender rights and abortion rights, and also signify its priorities in terms of inclusivity and bodily autonomy. I would be happy to support transgender rights and women’s right to bodily autonomy via a public position by the village board.

15) What role should the Village play in voter registration, education and participation?

This is the purview of the Village Clerk’s office, but I would support the village in initiatives to make registering and voting as easy as possible. 

16) What approach should the Village take towards intergovernmental cooperation initiatives such as the Collaboration for Early Childhood Development? Are there other specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon?

I support the village’s relationships with partner agencies. We fund some of them with our CDBG funding, sometimes we create separate funding mechanisms like we did with pandemic PEP funds and ARPA funds, and our village staff provide technical assistance.

17) What approach should the Village take towards intermunicipal cooperation with
neighboring communities? Are there specific initiatives that you would like to implement or expand upon?

I would like to see more collaboration with our neighboring communities but frankly I don’t know if our village staff have the bandwidth. 

18) Please list the three largest donors to your campaign by dollar amount contributed.

John R. Buchanan - $1,000
Diane Buchanan and Rick Andrew - $1,000
Paul Beckwith - $950

19) For those who are currently serving or have previously served as a Village Trustee: What vote are you most proud of, and what vote do you most regret? Why?

Vote I’m most proud of: I voted against putting that stupid referendum on the ballot that asked people if they wanted to defund the police (or some silly question like that; I can’t remember the exact wording.) It was a cynical, vindictive, and ridiculous maneuver by a few Oak Parkers who couldn’t handle the criticism of the police.

Vote I most regret: voting for funding for the school resource officer program at D200. My reasoning was that if the school district had decided they wanted the school resource officers then it wasn’t my role to question that decision. At that time I was unaware of the harm caused by placing armed police in schools. The next time it came up for a vote, I voted against it.