A Proactive, Engaged Ward Office

The Cortland Bridge, closed for the foreseeable future.

One of the most basic responsibilities of an Alderperson is to listen. That means being proactive and asking residents what's happening in their neighborhoods, not just reacting to complaints after enough have rolled in. The most common sense way to do that is to bring back monthly ward nights.

Over 10 years ago, the current alderperson used to keep his office open late on the first Monday of every month, giving residents a regular opportunity to stop by, making his office more accessible than neighboring wards at the time. Those no longer exist. But while the 32nd ward has taken a step back, we see others going a step further: neighboring alderpersons hold community meetings once a month, throughout the ward, in locations accessible to all.

Regular community meetings would give residents a predictable place to get updates, raise issues, and hold their alderperson accountable. They would also be especially valuable when major projects are underway.

Take Foundry Park or the Cortland Street Bridge construction. These are important issues that directly affect all of us, yet many residents feel in the dark about what is happening, what the timeline is, and how decisions are being made. 

A monthly meeting would give the alderperson an opportunity to bring city departments, project representatives, and other relevant stakeholders directly to residents. It would give neighbors a chance to ask questions themselves and share their opinions. It would build the necessary trust in government that has been lacking for far too long in our city.

We should also give residents a direct say in how our ward’s resources are spent through participatory budgeting. Instead of aldermanic menu funds being treated as a slush fund with decisions being made behind closed doors, residents could propose and vote on projects. Neighbors could prioritize safety measures on unsafe intersections, park improvements and public spaces, or bike lanes, all depending on their input and votes.

Participatory budgeting isn’t just about spending money differently. It’s another way to build a more engaged community and create regular opportunities for residents to work together, set priorities, and shape the future of their neighborhood.

Government works better when people can participate in it. I want a 32nd Ward where listening isn’t something we only do during campaign season, or just something we used to do. It’s always part of the job.