Interview with Ald. Sophia King

Advisory Councils to Help Ald. King Stay Connected to Her Constituents

During our recent interview with Alderman Sophia King, conducted by League member Tina Brady Pettis, Ald. King talked about her initiative to form Advisory Councils in each of the six neighborhood areas that the 4th Ward encompasses, empowering her constituents to let her know what they want. Watch the full interview.

In addition to having a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, the goal is to have committee chairs in each Advisory Council for economic development, education, public safety, arts and parks, infrastructure, and block clubs. This initiative is still in the early stages, but it will be interesting to watch how it develops. Learn more. 

Here are a few more highlights from the interview:

• Key issues throughout the diverse 4th Ward are safety, economic development, education, and a fair share of city resources.

• Ald. King sees the City Council moving toward more independence in suggesting new laws and policy, and she hopes that it will move further into thinking strategically, rather than simply being reactive to events and the mayor’s proposals.

• Two of Ald. King’s priorities are passage of the Empowering Communities for Public Safety ordinance, which would provide for civilian oversight over the police department, and the Anjanette Young ordinance, which would ban no-knock warrants and implement stricter search warrant procedures.

• Ald. King noted the strong relationship she has with the League after working together to rename Congress Parkway to Ida B. Wells Drive.