Anthony Beale, Candidate for 9th Ward Alderman

Candidate Full Name: Anthony Beale

Office: 9th Ward Alderman

Email Address: ward9@comcast.net

Web Site: www.ward09.com

Campaign Name: Citizens to Elect Anthony Beale

Campaign Office Mailing Address: 34 E. 112th Place, Lower Level, Chicago, IL 60628

Phone: (773) 785-5849

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

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

My highest priority is working with my constituents and all my ward's stakeholders to keep it moving forward. We've made great progress during my time in office-thousands of new jobs have come to the ward, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in businesses, schools, and infrastructure. The Red Line extension to 130th Street is on its way to becoming a reality, which will provide unprecedented and much-needed access to economic opportunity for residents of my ward. It finally seems we are beginning to turn the tide on long years of neglect on the Far South Side, but the battle is from over. I will continue to push to make sure that my ward emerges stronger than ever from the latest economic malaise.

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

I am proud to be able to say that crime is down 15% in my ward compared to last year. This is a great achievement, and in large part a testament to the hard work of the officers and brass of the Chicago Police Department's 5th District, particularly Commander Larry Watson. The most important piece of this reduction has been the relationship-building the police have done with the community's residents. The police have done a remarkable job of building trust with the public, making themselves available to answer questions and respond to concerns. In turn, the public have placed more trust in the police, offering tips and calling in matters of concern. This kind of partnership is key to improving public safety.

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

Given privatization's history in Chicago, we on the City Council need to be extra vigilant in our oversight of existing and proposed contracts. I believe it's critical that evaluations of privatization proposals value long-term effects, not just short-term. I also think that it's important that all privatization contracts be scrutinized for value-not just savings, but also service quality, working conditions, wages, among others. That's why I am a co-sponsor of the Privatization Transparency and Accountability Ordinance, and look forward to discussing it further in the Committee on Workforce Development and Audit, of which I am a member. In any event, I am generally opposed to privatization, given the City's experiences so far. I am willing to review any proposals brought forward, but I believe such proposals require a stringent and thorough analysis before moving into serious discussion.

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

I enthusiastically voted to raise Chicago's minimum wage. I don't believe the previous minimum wage provided a secure living for Chicago's many low-wage workers, and the increase is a reasonable compromise between the needs of the employed those of the employers.

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

This is a program in great need of reform. The cynicism of the population toward it is deserved. It is nothing more than a way to enhance revenues, not safety, and the fact that the City lowered the number of seconds to garner more income from unsuspecting motorists is a scandal. Moreover, the continued nickel-and-diming of the city residents who can least afford is a serious problem that deserves more substantive discussion and a better solution.

Anthony Beale