Tiffany Brooks, Candidate for 5th Ward Alderman

Tiffany Brooks

Candidate Full Name: Tiffany Brooks

Office: 5th Ward Alderman

Email Address: Friends@Brooksfor5thward.org

Web Site: www.Brooksfor5thward.org

Campaign Name: Friends to Elect Tiffany Brooks

Campaign Office Mailing Address: 6456 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637

Phone: (312) 927-7190

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

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

One of the first issues to be addressed will be to end the food desert in South Shore. I plan to engage the entire 5th ward in a massive outreach to unify the ward and to revitalize the ward and the communities within. At that point, we can begin to address the issue of economic development and pursuing a new grocer to end the food desert in South Shore as well as attracting new businesses to the entire ward. The ward must become a self-- sustaining mechanism whereas we are generating revenue and creating jobs that will attract the interests of investors and large business and companies who will in turn be more willing to invest and not divest large capital infusions in the ward.

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

Public safety is a huge issue within the City of Chicago. I am a firm believer that when people feel safe within their homes and their persons that the communities will reflect the same, we will also seek the assistance of the authorities in our efforts including the Chicago Police Dept. During the massive community outreach within the ward I also plan to form an alliance with the contiguous surrounding wards in an effort to fight crime and to improve public safety in our communities. We must form partnerships within the ward but also outside of the ward and become a safety net, of sorts. Whereas, perpetrators will acknowledge and be weary of committing certain acts in our neighborhoods because they will know that not only do the residents call the police, but they are not afraid to take action by calling each other and forming a group on the various blocks. An enlarged and overarching neighborhood watch will come together to assist each other and to look out for one another. I will see to it that CPD will improve upon response times and the residents will work with the task force to produce results. BUT response is not the only answer, nor is it always the best or correct answer. We must implement a 3--tier strategy of Prevention, Intervention, and Response. We must partner with businesses, schools, and residents of the ward to effectuate this change in order to see results. And EVERYONE, must be held accountable for their respective roles in this strategy, it's not just the aldermen, or CPD...we are all in this together!

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

I would not consider privatizing any city assets to raise money because it takes away from the union jobs and in some instances has actually costs the city more money due to unconscionable contracts that were executed in haste.

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

I support the vote to increase the minimum wage to $13/hour. I come from a working family and I know the struggles of families and parents who depend upon the minimum wage to provide for their basic, daily needs. However, as a business owner I also know the struggles of operating a small business in an economy such as we have today. Business are struggling to thrive and employees are struggling to survive, we must reach a happy medium.

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

I am in support of the City establishing policies and programs to increase public safety, to raise awareness, and to prevent senseless deaths and killings. However, I believe there are some kinks and issues that need to be resolved in an effort to reach those goals.