Elise Doody-Jones, Candidate for 32nd Ward Alderman

Candidate Full Name: Elise Doody-Jones

Office: 32nd Ward Alderman

Survey Questions (Character limit of 2,000 per response)

1. What is the most important issue that you will address in your ward?

Strengthening education opportunities for Chicago's youth, investing and rebuilding Chicago's aging infrastructure, improving city services for residents and businesses, rat control, and quality of life improvements for residents.

The greatest concern I hear from residents is they need quality schools. Too many residents pack up and leave due to the lack of local public school options.

2. What are your plans for helping fight crime in your ward?

The City of Chicago has some of the finest police officers in the nation, but they can't do all the work. We cannot just rely on the police to solve our crime problems. We must take action encourage community support and participation to keep crime down.

I will give residents the tools that they need to communicate with one another to help solve problems together. I will encourage block parties and neighborhood meet and greets, because knowing who should and shouldn't be on our streets is key to keeping them safe.

We dealt with crime spikes and gang activity on my block in Logan Square. I created an online group and reached out to neighbors to share information that we could then pass along to police. We got to know the beat patrolman and shared information with the local officers. When minor offenses occurred we made sure we pressed charges. This official track record became essential when the ring leader assaulted a fellow gang member and beat him severely. The judge saw the pattern and was not lenient. Once the gang leader went to jail, the rest of the gang moved on and stopped harassing our neighborhood.

I also walk my child to school and encourage others to do the same. This is a simple but powerful action that keeps neighborhoods safer.

3. What, if any, city assets would you consider privatizing to raise money?

I oppose privatizing major public assets. These assets must be held accountable to our elected officials, and safeguarded for the good of our city and for future generations.

4. Do you support or oppose the vote to increase the minimum wage in several steps to $13 an hour by 2019?

I support this increase. An increase in the minimum wage is long overdue - especially in Chicago, where it can be expensive to raise a family. As our country moved out of the recession, wages unfortunately lagged behind. We need to help low-income workers earn a livable wage. Higher wages create more disposable income and more money to spend on goods, which can potentially boost our local economy.

5. Are you in favor of Chicago's Red Light Camera program?

It depends on the location of the camera and whether or not it will help improve public safety It depends on the location of the camera and whether or not it will help improve public safety.

Elise Doody-Jones