Endorsements for aldermanic candidates begin at 'Reclaim Chicago' meeting on November 15, 2014
Despite the fact that Chicago will not even know which candidates for municipal office have submitted valid nominating petitions until more than a week later, another group announced its endorsements for the February 24, 2014 elections over the third weekend in November. On Saturday, November 15,2014, "Reclaim Chicago" announced their initial endorsements among the declared candidates for alderman in some of Chicago's wards. The meeting took place at The Letter Carriers Union Hall, 39th and Wabash.
While other candidates for Aldermanic seats stand on stage, Tim Meegan, a Roosevelt High School teacher running against Deb Mell for alderman of the 33rd Ward, spoke to the crowd. Substance photo by Jean Schwab.The meeting was the "launch" of the group. According to the group's website (http://www.reclaimchicago.org/): "Want to learn more about Reclaim Chicago? Attend our launch event on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9:30 to 11 am. We'll get fired up about our vision for a Chicago City Council that puts the well being of people and the planet before corporate profits. We'll also announce endorsements. Afterwards, join us for a canvass session in support of our candidates."
"After the speeches I talked to most of the candidates and asked them specifically about education issues such as an elected school board. They were all 100 percent in favor of an elected school board. In fact, all candidates endorsed the same platform. I was so impressed by this platform that I included it here:
-- JOBS. Reclaim Chicago supports living wage jobs that keep up with the cost of living, allowing employees to afford the basic necessities of life. We oppose development strategies based upon low wage jobs, deregulation, corporate incentives and tax breaks. Reclaim Chicago supports economic development strategies built upon a commitment to expanding opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities.
-- SCHOOLS. Reclaim Chicago supports high quality public schools for all children with a strong and progressive funding base, small class sizes, and good pay and working conditions for teachers. We oppose charter schools and school privatization.
CLEAN ELECTIONS. Reclaim Chicago opposes the influence of corporate lobbying and big-money measures to curb their corrosive impact by providing for public financing of elections and for tough restrictions on the corrupting influence of corporations, lobbyists, and pther big-money donors in candidate elections and ballot measure campaigns.
REVENUE. High quality public services, infrastructure, and public sector jobs require a strong and progressive base of funding. Reclaim Chicago supports a progressive income tax that calls on the wealthiest to pay a signifgicantly higher percentage than working-class and low-income households. Reclaim Chicago supports closing corporate tax loopholes and requiring corporations to disclose the taxes they pay. Reclaim Chicago supports a 'Robin Hood Tax' financial transaction tax on WallStreet transactions.
-- No Privitization of services/Universal access to public services-
Reclaim Chicago supports expanded funding for and access to public services, including-but not limited to-public transportation,infrastructure,education,libraries,health care and mental health care. We oppose the underfunding and privatiization of public facilities and services.
INCARCERATION. Cook County and Illinois lock up tens of thousands of people each year, mostly low income African American and Latino men, for non-violent and low-level drug offenses. Instead of filling our jails with nonviolent offenders, our elected officials should support opportunities for rehabilitation, employment,eliminating cash bonds for nonviolent offenses, and decreasing or eliminating prison time for nonviolent drug offenses.
PENSION AND RETIREMENT SECURITY. Reclaim Chicago supports the ability of all people to retire with dignity. Reclaim Chicago opposes benefit cuts to public and private sector pensions and social programs like Social Security and Medicare.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. Reclaim Chicago supports local efforts to reduce pollution and end the reliance on fossil fuels in order to improve the quality of life in Chicago and protect the environment that sustains all human life. Pollution sources including pet coke piles, must be eliminated as a matter of public health and justice. Reclaim Chicago rejects the false dichotomy between jobs and a clean environment , and instead promotes green manufacturing, renewable energy development and job-training for workers as fundamental to a new Chicago economy. With pollution and climate change disproportionately impacting low-income people and people of color, cleaning up our environment is also a matter of racial and economic justice
According to the moderator, Toby Chow, at least 400 people were in attendance.
'Endorsed canidates are:
6th Ward, Roderick T. Sawyer
7th Ward, La Shonda "Shonnie" Curry 8th Ward, Tara Baldridge 9th Ward, Michael LaFargue
11th Ward, Maureen Sullivan
25th Ward, Bryon Sigcho 26th Ward, Juanita Irizarry
32Th Ward, Scot Waguespack
33rd Ward, Tim Meegan
35th Ward, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
38th Ward, Nicholas Sposato
40th Ward, Dianne Daleiden
45th Ward, John Arena
Although candidates' nominating petitions do not have to be submitted for another week (the deadline is five p.m. on Monday, November 24), the group called these endorsements a beginning. Who is "Reclaim Chicago"? According to their Website, they plan to be the "Peoples' Lobby."
Besides reading the platform, I learned some other interesting information.
Tim Meegan (who teaches at Roosevelt High School) is running as an independent and is not the only endorsed teacher candidate.
Dianne Daleiden is also a Chicago Public School teacher. Daleiden teaches in Albany Park. She is for an elected school board and against privatizing schools. Daleiden sees the apathy of her students whose parents are under employed or not employed as one her reasons for running.
As I questioned the endorsed candidates, I noted that some of the candidates have been on the City Council and have fought hard for just these causes. These include Rodrick Sawyer, Scott Waguespack, John Arena and Nicholas Sposato. I also met a candidate that was not endorsed but I was impressed with his goals for his community and for the city. His name is Alberto Bocanegra running for 15th ward alderman. A number of CTU members also running for City Council have been discussing the same issues, but were not endorsed at this meeting.
