Housing in our city is becoming less affordable for anyone that is a regular hardworking individual. As the 25th Ward Alderman, I implemented and protected over 800 affordable housing units in our ward. I successfully fought for a policy change that allows the City’s Low Income Housing Trust Fund to provide vouchers to undocumented residents. Local Pilsen paletero, Don Ananías Ocampo, was the first to take advantage of this new opportunity.

We successfully had the lots at 18th and Peoria designated for affordable housing for the residents of our community, we pushed through a law that prohibits developers from harassing homeowners into selling their homes, and, now as Committee Chair for Housing & Real Estate, our commitment will be to guarantee the Right to Affordable Housing through policies and programs that benefit our community.

All residents of Chicago deserve to feel safe. When I was elected as your Alderman, I accepted the great responsibility of meeting this goal by implementing holistic strategies in coordination with community leaders, local organizations, residents, the Chicago Police Department, etc. with the objective of reducing violence in our community. We actively work to expand investment in violence prevention efforts, mental health resources, and job creation in our neighborhoods.

When acts of violence strike our community, I make it a priority to walk the blocks where residents are directly affected to ensure that witnesses who were fearful or mistrustful, are encouraged to give testimony or evidence to bring justice to victims of violence and their families. My ward office organizes bi-monthly community meetings in which we support residents in establishing block by block phone trees and resources to address the root causes of violence in our ward.

Through advocacy and use of public funding like TIF, we have secured more than $16 million to improve infrastructure at Ruiz Elementary, Benito Juarez High School, Perez, Whittier, and Walsh Elementary. Take a look down below to look at what we have accomplished over the past 5 years

I have always supported fully funding our public schools and the creation of a democratically elected School Committee. Over the past few years, we have also begun the process of expanding the Rudy Lozano Public Library, to ensure that community residents have greater access to library resources.

As a strong advocate for conscious development in my ward, I have continued my commitment to support and fight for labor rights and dignity in work spaces. Such as supporting legislation like One Fair Wage, and access to public funding for small businesses. Working in partnership with the appropriate departments and local organizations and chambers, our mission has been to reduce the number of empty storefronts in the ward and provide employment opportunities for all.

• Continued my commitment to the workers who fight for labor rights and dignity in their workplace.
• Fought alongside small businesses at the Discount Mall to uphold their rights and preserve the economic vitality and culture of 26th Street in Little Village.
• Supported another great local institution, the Pilsen Food Pantry, to serve more neighbors by helping them move into a large space, where they now feed over 1,500 people each month.
• Advocated for the creation of the independent Pilsen Chamber of Commerce for small businesses to have access to resources and support. Our goal is to integrate the Pilsen and Little Village Chambers, so that our neighborhoods throughout the district benefit from economic development led by local chambers.
• Successfully worked with the Department of Transportation (CDOT), Department of Planning & Development (DPD) and Preservation Chicago to restore and reconstruct the Little Village Arch.
• Assisted local restaurant, Mole Village, to be able to receive financial assistance through One Fair Wage, to pay their workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in exchange for a donation of free meals.

Thanks to the efforts of community leaders, we have successfully required the IL EPA and CDPH to fulfill a cumulative health impact study around industrial facilities in our ward to bring attention to the impact of environmental conditions on our health. Currently, myself and my colleagues in city council are in the process of creating legislation to prevent further expansion of industrial business across the city.

My record demonstrates that I will hold polluters accountable to improve air quality and lower the rates of asthma, heart disease and other health problems in our community. Thanks to the efforts of local community leaders, we are conducting a study looking at the impact of environmental conditions on our health.

I am committed to reproductive justice and gender equity for everyone. My colleagues and I successfully advocated with the Mayor’s Office to increase funding for LGBTQIA+ inclusive spaces and support legislation to make Chicago a reproductive health sanctuary city. This includes advocacy through funding for Cook County to support health advocates and organizations to provide health screenings. 

At the start of my term, we convened the 25th Ward Arts and Culture Committee, made up of community artists, to advocate for working artists to promote and preserve local participation in cultural relevant events. Our office has fought for the preservation of the APO Cultural Center on 18th Street and we are working with CDOT and the Arts Committee in evaluating, preserving, restoring and creating new murals along 16th Street, along with a plan to invest in more accessible sidewalks, parking, and protected bike lanes.

The Committee has helped restore murals like the Boogie Mural at 18th Street and Throop, which tells a story of violence prevention in the community.

Through local funding, we supported violence prevention efforts that are rooted in art, including a local initiative called Luv City, that engages youth in art projects and digital art opportunities to help promote intergenerational education. As a result of this, in the summer of 2022, local youth participating in the Luv City program created and installed the mural along our ward office.