Mayoral candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas gathered at the Chicago History Museum for a debate about issues affecting black and latino Chicagoans.
On Monday, March 20, Vallas and Johnson attended the Chicago’s Black and Brown Futures: Conversations with the Mayoral Candidates. Moderated by Dorothy Tucker and Hugo Balta, each candidate was given thirty minutes to answer identical questions presented by the moderators. The questions consisted of issues involving safety, economic development, diversity, equity and inclusion, immigration, community development and housing.
The second candidate to take the stand was Paul Vallas. Vallas, who is currently leading in the polls, got most of his votes in the primary election from those on Chicago’s North Side.
Paul Vallas was recently given endorsements by former mayoral candidate Ja’mal Green and former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Vallas is known for wanting more police and his role in the 2000s as CEO of the Chicago Public School system.
Childcare
The first question asked of Vallas was about community based childcare. To this he said that it was the best form of childcare for parents. Not only that, but that childcare centers in communities need to be more accessible for parents past normal work hours.
“They need to be open through the dinner hours, on the weekends and on the holidays.” Said Vallas.
He also thought that there needed to be universal prenatal care in high schools. Moreover, he spoke of a program in CPS he was a part of where he helped pregnant teenagers have access to prenatal care, which had positive results.
Alternative Education
When asked about option schools, he said that he wanted to not only keep them open, but that there needed to be more options for alternative schooling and adult schools.
Moreover, he said that alternative education programs could be housed in underutilized buildings. Moreover, he said these buildings should be renovated by the city then turned over to communities for what they think they need them for.
“Give the community the money to renovate those buildings and determine what their needs are.” Said Vallas.
Economic Development
When asked about funding priorities for communities on the south and west side, he said it was important that Invest South/West be institutionalized. He also said that a deputy mayor was needed to make sure all neighborhoods got the funding they needed.
Vallas mentioned that with taxes from the new casino development, there could be a fund that would go directly to Invest South/West or to the communities themselves.
There was also the question of the development of businesses on the south and west side, to which he said that contracts for businesses in those communities needed to be prioritized by the city.
Guaranteed Permanent Income
When Vallas was asked about a permanent guaranteed income program, Vallas disagreed.
“It can come in other indirect forms of assistance.” Said Vallas.
He followed this up by saying that through tax breaks, expanding affordable housing, and putting caps on local property tax.
Crime and Safety
Vallas is known for his ideals of being tough on crime. When asked about what he would do about crime and safety in the city he had much to say.
He wants to get rid of privatized security on the CTA, and replace them with members of the police force. Furthermore, on the topic of the police force, he stated that he wanted to create more local beat cops. This is police that stay in one neighborhood for the purpose of having a relationship with those that live there. Furthermore, he also wants to fill the vacancies in the police force. This includes training new police or bringing former police out of retirement.
“Part of the problem is the absence of police officers,” said Vallas, “There needs to be standards. Clear standards.”
Housing
Finally, when asked about housing, Vallas said he wanted to create more affordable housing, whether that be through buying property or renting. He also wanted to create a community investment fund.
Written by Caroline Buehler
Sources:
Chicago’s Black & Latino Future: Conversations with the Mayoral Candidates: Paul Vallas, March 20, 2023
Featured and Inset Image Courtesy of Omari Jahi
