Have you ever stopped and wondered what you would do if you were mayor for a day? This is something that not many people think about. However, it is an interesting concept. What would you do if you could have authority over your city or town? What kind of changes would you make to make everyone’s life better?
This is a question we posed to the youth in The News School journalism/broadcasting program.
Opinions of Senior Writing Intern
David Loran Jr. stated, “Being mayor for a day would allow me to support the entirety of the community in whatever way possible. Poverty is an incredibly massive issue across the city of Chicago, which then coincides with food deserts being prominent in several communities. Being mayor, I would increase income for communities that do not receive enough income to support their families, while at the same time working to decrease the number of food deserts across Chicago. While having a favorable income is certainly beneficial, decreasing food deserts will help the overall health and well-being of residents within those communities.”
Gabriel Salgado said, “If I were the mayor for a day, I would increase funding for all communities. I would use that money to fix the potholes in the streets and open up food banks in neighborhoods with high poverty rates. I would also use some funding to create new youth after-school programs. Afterschool programs for the youth are very beneficial and needed in communities with very high crime rates. It keeps them off the street and teaches them new skills.”
Thought of News Interns
Leshodd Vortes said, “If I was mayor for a day, I would change a lot about Chicago. I would start in the schools by telling CPS to let teachers go deeper into Black history because then our youth will know more about themselves. What I would do next is come up with a paying job to clean up around the neighborhoods that need it. I would give jobs like this to the youth from ages 11 and up. This will give kids something positive to do and give them a positive way to make money. And the last thing I would do is build a bigger homeless shelter to get more people off the street.”
Cynthia Thomas added, “If I was the Mayor of Chicago, I would put more funding in place for the youth. A lot of teenagers are having to go to school and work full time just to provide for themselves or help their families provide. In order to help, I would set up programs in schools that would allow students to get paid while they’re present. For example, if a school is adding a new class that one of their students is already informed of, they would get paid to help the teacher with the class. This would help families make more income and encourage more participation in school. Considering school is a job within itself, I feel like this would greatly benefit the youth.”
Putting an End to Domestic Violence
Takhon Hemingway stated, “If I was mayor for a day, I would get a few laws in place to help the community get through the troubles of life. For example, there are a lot of cases of domestic violence where I live. I don’t enjoy coming outside or sitting in my home, hearing men argue with women wanting to fight each other.”
“Sometimes when I see them outside I feel obligated to step in and intervene but, sometimes I’m scared that I might get hurt or worse. I can never sit there and watch a woman get beaten up by a man or vice versa. I don’t know how I would put an end to the domestic violence in the city, but I know I would make more relationship counseling available. And I would make it urgent to the police force that we need more officers on patrol if domestic violence takes place. Besides what I would want to do as mayor, my heart and condolences go out to those who have been domestically abused by their romantic partner. Love shouldn’t hurt, and we shouldn’t be with people who would rather hurt us,” he added.
How I Would Help My Community
Andrea Perez said, “If I were to be mayor for a day, I would fix/fund the streets to be clean and have potholes filled. get hygiene products and food for people in need. Get something started to fund low-income communities in Chicago; speak out about the crimes that affect children and civilians. As well as get funding for schools, making transportation easier for kids to get to school.”
Major Ideas of One Youth
Khalyse Hemingway stated, “If I were mayor for a day, I would work on our police force system and push for more educational opportunities. By solving these issues, I believe that we could turn the city around for the better. To begin with, me and my community has seen the police system time and time again not following their duties. Personal accounts have also told me that they feel unsafe due to the brutality of police force members, and from the favoritism displayed by the system itself. This means that offices often get ahead of themselves and abuse their power, and the system doesn’t even bat an eye.”
“There have also been several cases broadcasted on the news that even exemplified the system not punishing these people for their actions. Depending on the case, as mayor, I would ensure that these people are stripped of their job and titles if not jailed for brutality against the innocent. Moving on, education in Chicago is key to our city’s growth. Many things like scholarships, internships, and tutoring could turn an average student into a successful citizen. As someone who has firsthand experienced a full-ride scholarship, it was a big turnaround for me. If anything, I would try to fundraise money and pull as many strings as possible. With everything in my power, I would give back to my community through fairness and open education,” she added.
More Youth Talk About Being Mayor
Cinque Muhammad said, “If I was mayor for a day I would put more funding in the public school system. It would provide more resources for students and better education overall. I would also work towards cleaning up the city. Things like fixing up the streets and cleaning overly trashed areas. Furthermore, I would focus on improving the safety of the city especially with gun violence. By reducing firearm access to youth and people who are at risk of harming themselves or others. Lastly, I would tackle the food deserts in the city. I would do so by opening up affordable local grocery stores for citizens and by meeting citizens’ basic needs.”
Cleaning the Environment and Education
Kelianexis Rodriguez stated, “If being a mayor for a day was a thing I would help maintain a clean environment such as fining people for littering or providing more recycling bins in parks or open spaces so there can be easy access to throwing the trash away. When going on a ride through the city, sometimes all you see is trash and the place just looks a mess. Having a not clean environment is bad for the world and the air we breathe on a daily. Therefore, trash travels across rivers and oceans all around the world. Which is a problem as it accumulates on beaches. It is harmful to animal habitats the aquatic life and also the cause of global warming.”
Nohemi Sanchez said, “If I were Mayor for a day I would mainly focus on projects that will be most beneficial to the communities. For example, I would increase funding to the communities. In order to support the homeless, and low-income families, and help people afford high-quality food resources. Also, I would focus on offering quality education to more youth. Help does kids and teenagers that show a desire for education but are unable to offer it. Overall, provide the people and communities with numerous opportunities.”
How Other Interns Would Make Changes
Markita Thomas added, “I would make the schools have better lunches because the kid’s meal is important. Additionally, I would also help make the environment cleaner. I would also better the education in schools. In addition, I would also make fashion better. I would also have a curfew for safety for everyone and have gun control laws.”
Ariel Hudson said, “If I was mayor I would mainly focus on people’s safety within communities that are in Chicago. Because things such as shootings or kidnappings can happen any day any time and it would be my job to step in. I can prohibit these types of crimes to order to protect residents including children. Other things I will gladly work on if I was mayor is domestic violence, abandoned buildings, a raise for people at their jobs, and people trashing clean streets. These are all examples that I will do if I was mayor. Because these specific things are extremely important and need a lot of fixing up to do at this present time.”
Being Mayor for the Day
Jeanette Sanchez stated, “If I were Mayor for a day, I would want to create a positive impact in most minority communities. I would definitely create awareness and advocate for the issues in minority communities. Like, for instance, low-income individuals, the elderly, and disabled people, encounter in terms of resources and public assistance programs. I would create more equality when applying for medical health insurance, food assistance, social security, income, etc. In order for people to be informed and for everyone to be united and help one another. Since all communities deserve equal rights, equal opportunities, and to be a priority in order to be successful communities.”
Making a Difference
Rodney Daniels said, “If I were mayor for the day I would help out different communities like low-income areas. And I would help build more parks and safe places for kids to go after school and not be on the streets. I would build more houses to help and for the homeless.”
“Additionally, I would better the education system. Because, without the right education for the youth, we’re not going to get where we plan to be. Furthermore, if we don’t make a change in the community, it’s just going to be the same thing over and over. I plan to better the city by taking small steps at a time. And I would change the name of Chicago because people look at our city as bad or wild. And in low-income housing or in bad living situations I would give them a job opportunity and a better education to give them a way out. Because the more you learn new things and get a better understanding of something no one can take what was taught to you or instilled in you,” he added.
Prioritizing Funds for Schools
Erika Cano explained her views. “If I was a mayor for a day I would try to fix the school’s learning system and prioritize funding for schools. I believe that if their system improves so will the students. I am a student myself which is why I think this is a needed change.”
“Schools need better programs and better safety. It is unfair for students to constantly feel unsafe while learning. I also think tests should not count as a grade because students have developed mental issues due to the stress of failing. I think this is an important change to make and it’s what I would do if I was mayor,” she added.
Economic Stability
Esteban Ruiz stated, “If I were mayor for a day I would do whatever I can to help low-income communities. Minorities make up a majority of these communities and are not given the same economic stability as others. I think tackling this area will not only help lift up minorities but will give them more opportunities so they too can thrive.”
“Providing more affordable housing is one thing that I would do my best to emphasize along with more programs for youth and greater education,” he added.
Moises Perez said, “If I was mayor for one day I would send out a note to all businesses and police stations to open their doors to all undocumented people so they can get back on their feet. I will also bring more policemen and women outside by parks schools and the streets. It’s time to get our community back up and help each other out. I will also bring more stores and banks and pharmacies in the hoods of Chicago.”
Top and Featured Image by Suzy Courtesy of ThreeMilesPerHour‘s Pixabay Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of (vincent desjardins)‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Second Inset Image Courtesy of TNS Staff
