Problem #1
City Hall does not work for the residents of West Chicago.
City Hall has lost credibility here and in surrounding areas due to years of domineering behavior and unhelpfulness. From a lack of transparency to citations over grass height to the water bill fiasco, it’s clear that change is needed. Rather than fostering development, the Community Development office has become a choke point restricting development and investment into our community.
We all want safe, clean, and attractive homes and businesses. But no one wants a city hall that applies ordinances unfairly and unevenly, making life difficult for ordinary residents and small businesses owners.
Dan's Solutions
Re-orient City Hall culture so that it becomes a place that works for and with residents to achieve their goals and foster development.
Fix problems with water billing. Explore ways to reduce water costs and make the system more transparent.
With residents, evaluate code enforcement, inspection services, the violation complaint system, and administrative adjudication procedures for unfair or discriminatory policies or practices.
Problem #2
Downtown West Chicago lacks vibrancy and the diversity of business that attract visitors.
For decades, City Hall has operated with an unrealistic strategy of buying up downtown properties to sell to large developers. Many entrepreneurs who have tried to start small businesses in town have given up after facing countless bureaucratic obstacles. Many downtown storefronts remain empty and lifeless. Residents and visitors end up going to surrounding towns for shopping and dining.
Dan's Solutions
Revitalize the downtown area, invest in small businesses, and turn WeGo into a unique destination for shoppers and diners and a community hub.
Eliminate prohibitive factors which are discouraging small businesses from locating in West Chicago.
Highlight what makes West Chicago special! A train car cafe? A kids’ pedal park? Food court? Small business incubator complex? Let’s dream up ways to make our town a must-see destination!
Problem #3
Every West Chicago Resident should have a voice.
While trying to work with the city to come to a resolution about my greenhouse, I realized there are much bigger problems with our city governance. I watched frivolous citations of $400 and $600 handed out like candy, often to people who did not understand what they were being charged with. Using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), we formally requested records from the City Court and found that in 500 cases of code enforcement complaints of these, only 5 people were held not liable.
Dan's Solutions
Inadequate translation in court and city communications is a serious human rights concern and one that I will not stop fighting for, no matter what happens in the April 1, 2025 election.
Install a Public Advocate / Ombudsperson to act as an advocate between residents and the city, as in other cities like Anchorage, Alaska.
When commissions are created to overhaul parts of City Hall that are not working, include the following:
Fair translation of legal meetings
Improved code enforcement policies
Better accessibility for people with disabilities in and in all buildings.
