Interview with Ald. Michele Smith
The City Government Committee presented the first of many “Zooming with the Alderman” interviews at the January 9 Briefing. Alderman Michele Smith of the 43rd Ward answered a series of questions posed by the committee. You can watch Alderman Smith’s 45-minute interview now.
Following the interview, the committee shared some facts about the City Council, such as how many Council Committees there are, who is on those committees, and what the Aldermen’s salaries are.
Interested in learning more about City Government or helping to produce future interviews? Let us know.
Some highlights from the interview:
Redistricting
Ald. Smith supports use of an independent commission, consistent with the League position, to draw the new boundaries of the 50 wards, rather than leaving this to the Aldermen themselves. She thinks the wards, as much as possible, should include entire neighborhoods, rather than chopping them up into several wards, as has been done for Englewood (4 wards) and Back of the Yards (5 wards).
Routine matters shouldn’t require ordinances
Ald. Smith also supports allowing city departments to deal with such routine matters as location of stoplights, loading/standing zones, parking prohibited designations, as opposed to having the full City Council having to vote on individual ordinances covering each such matter. However, it is important that the applicable Alderman’s office(s) be involved. As Ald. Smith explained, many departments don’t have the staff to fully investigate every matter, so it is the Alderman’s staff that goes out to check the location and, if appropriate, contacts the neighbors.
Ethics & Government Oversight Committee
Ald. Smith chairs this Committee, which was just created under Mayor Lightfoot. Ald. Smith is proud that Chicago has one of the strictest ethics ordinances in the state, which includes barring Aldermen, in their private capacity, from lobbying other governments, as well as officeholders in other governments, again in their private capacity, from lobbying anyone at the City.
Ranked Choice Voting
Ald. Smith supports this, which would eliminate the need for run-off elections. Instead, each voter would rank their preferences for the candidates, when there are more than two. Ald. Smith also questions the wisdom of having any elections in Chicago in February.
43rd Ward
Ald. Smith has represented the ward since 2011. Its current boundaries are roughly Lincoln Park on the east and Racine and then Clybourne on the west, with Diversey Parkway on the north and North Avenue on the south, with part of the Gold Coast south of North Avenue over to North State Parkway south to Division. (See maps of all wards.) The ward is mainly residential with commercial areas filled with stores, restaurants, and theaters.
Parkland and juvenile justice
Ald. Smith would like the City to purchase more land for parks, especially along the Chicago River. She is also very concerned with juvenile justice, particularly looking at why young people commit crimes and how such criminal activity can be prevented.