Interview with Ald. Jason C. Ervin

“An Alderman Is the First Line of Defense for the People”

As head of the Black Caucus, Alderperson Jason C. Ervin is leading the charge to retain 17 of the current 18 majority-Black wards in Chicago. While the League favors having districts drawn by an independent commission, Ald. Ervin feels strongly that the elected representatives of the voters should be in charge of redistricting – and in the case of the Chicago wards, that means the alderpersons. As he put it, “an alderman is the first line of defense for the people,” and that includes redistricting.

Watch the interview conducted by League member Tina Brady Pettis.

Ald. Ervin was the last alderman appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley in January of 2011. Ald. Ervin was then elected in February 2011 and re-elected in 2015 and 2019. The 28th Ward runs westward from the West Loop and Pilsen to Austin. While the majority of the ward is composed of two-flats, the population is very diverse, economically and educationally.

Key issues throughout the ward are public safety and education, though additional issues on the west side of the ward include access to fresh fruit and vegetables, economic development and job readiness. Ald. Ervin said that people on the east side feel they do not have access to quality neighborhood schools.

There are no easy answers to dealing with gun violence and the trauma it brings to all. Ald. Ervin does see that one way to help people feel safer is to reduce loitering and illegal drug sales. He is working with the 11th Police District, the State’s Attorney, and the City’s Corporation Counsel to deal with the illegal cannabis sales on the streets in parts of the ward that are discouraging people from accessing the neighborhood businesses.