Skokie Vision 15

Skokie Vision #15: The prevailing political wisdom these days is that voters are influenced more by how they feel about their everyday lives than by "laundry lists" of public policies. Fear of losing whatever one has is without question a powerful driver; and by definition, conservatives are experts at wielding this worldview to their advantage, as we saw in the presidential election.

But in my experience, people are also animated by a claim on our government to be listened to and respected for who we are and what we bring to the table, not tossed aside like yesterday's garbage or treated as "Other."

When I read this Skokie resident's vision, I see the through-line behind the bullet points. It's about policies that revolve around meeting residents' needs and building community at the same time. This resident wishes to live in a Skokie that trusts its own people -- all its people -- to make the best decisions, and a Skokie that honors and protects our land as if it were ourselves, as Native American traditions hold. 

As Trustee, I will activate our diversity. I will work with the people to develop a vision of community control of development and then implement it. My philosophy is to set a high bar internally and externally with the message: This is what the people want.

I am the right leader for tomorrow’s resilient Skokie, one which ensures that all people, no matter what they earn, where they were born, or who they are, have a place at our communal table.

I am buoyed by my faith in Skokie residents. Together in Skokie, we won three electoral reform referendums in 2022 because that vision, based on trusting our own people, is broadly shared.