Rafael Yanez, Candidate for 15th Ward Alderman

Rafael Yanez

Candidate Full Name: Rafael Yanez

Office: 15th Ward Alderman

Email Address: outreach@voteyanez.com

Web Site: voteyanez.com

Campaign Name: Friends for Rafael Yaez

Campaign Office Mailing Address: 1724 W. 48th St. Chicago IL 60609

Phone: 773-475-7162

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

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

Public Safety.

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

Residents have identified public Safety as a primary concern. This is a problem that binds together Englewood, Gage Park, Back of the Yards and Brighton Park. What is often missing in the community is the central figure, the alderman, who can leverage resources and community ties to confront this problem. The alderman can bring these diverse communities together with an open and accessible stewardship. Many community organizations, institutions, and leaders in these communities have worked to deal with Public Safety and we can unite these efforts in this newly drawn ward to have a strong impact by using the centrality of the office of alderman.

I will make it a priority to reinvigorate the CAPS program. In my experience this is a key component in dealing with crime.

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

None

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

I support an increase to $15 dollars. The slow lurch towards $13 dollars is not serviceable for working people to meet their own needs let alone those of a family.

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

No. The roots for the red light and speed camera programs have been clouded by controversy and even potentially illegal dealings. Fines for minimal infractions combined with the rising cost of transportation, including parking rate hikes and increased traffic fines make residents feel as if the program is simply another taxing machine for the city. The city is slowly converting our streets into toll roads. For example, the shortened yellow light, which was quietly introduced, resulted in increased revenue but did not provide any real safety benefits to motorists. The city needs to move away from these initiatives and focus on more sensible traffic safety strategies that don't further burden residents.