49th Ward Aldermanic Candidates Get Report Cards

Democrat Jim Ginderske got better grades than Adams, Gordon and Moore in the first of six aldermanic candidate forum, which was held at Northside P.O.W.E.R. on January 28, 2007. About 150 people attended from throughout the 49th Ward, eager to hear the four candidates answer questions and state their positions. Northside P.O.W.E.R. (People Organized to Work, Educate and Restore) has released a “Community Report Card” that grades each candidate on his performance at the forum. Here is report card, with a statement from Northside P.O.W.E.R., released to candidates yesterday.

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This is Northside P.O.W.E.R.’s Community Report Card from our January 28th 49th Ward Aldermanic Forum held at the Good News Community Church. The Forum was attended by 151 people who live and work in Rogers Park, Audience members were asked to score each response to the moderator’s questions by giving each aldermanic candidate a letter grade. 59 responses were received. This Community Report Card was compiled independently by Northwestern University students, nor Northside P.O.W.E.R., and represents an average of the letter grades submitted by the audience along with a representative sample of submitted audience comments. Questions about this Community Report Card should be directed to Rev. Marilyn Pagan-Banks or Daniel Romero at (773) 262-2297. Housing – “Candidates, over the past several weeks Northside P.O.W.E.R. has conducted community issues surveys with more than 200 neighborhood residents, and people who work in Rogers Park. We asked if they would be in favor of requiring housing developers to set aside some of the new or rehabbed housing units in Rogers Park to keep these units affordable for people who make $37,500 per year or less. 91% of respondents favored such a requirement. Given the overwhelming support for this idea, do you agree with this idea and if so, how would you work to implement it? If you don’t agree, please explain why not.”

[CANDIDATE'S AVERAGE GRADES, WITH SAMPLE AUDIENCE COMMENTS] Chris Adams ... C ... Not really in touch with issue, didn’t answer question Don Gordon ... C ... Seems out of touch with issue Jim Ginderske ... B- ... Good idea about refusing contributions from developers Joe Moore ... C/C- ... Didn’t directly answer question Job Training and living wage local jobs – “Candidates, in Rogers Park starting in 2006, more than $180 million dollars worth of large scale construction projects began. In particular, these projects are the $80 million dollar Howard L, $6 million dollars Gale Community Center and the $40 million dollar Loyola Library expansion. What plan will [you] put into place that will ensure that low-income Rogers Park residents and people of color will be trained to work on those and other local construction projects?” Chris Adams ... C ... Evaded question Don Gordon ... C ... Clueless on systemic poverty Jim Ginderske ... B ... Knows what he’s talking about from his own experience Joe Moore ... C ... Aware that job training is necessary Neighborhood Safety – “Candidates, making the streets of Rogers Park safer is something we all agree on. Yet, every year murders, assaults, arsons and other serious crimes occur in our streets. How will you make the streets of Rogers Park safer?” Chris Adams ... C/C+ ... Vague about CAPS, excellent point about follow through Don Gordon ... C ... [no comments] Jim Ginderske ... B/B- ... Informed about CAPS Joe Moore ... C- ... Cited stats instead of answering question Health Care – “Candidates, Rogers Park residents live in the 13th County district which means that our residents must travel the furthest to Stroger Hospital for medical care than residents of any other district. Recent studies have shown that non-profit clinics cannot meet the increasing need for health care for the uninsured. These also singled out the Latino population corridor along Clark Street as a particular concern. What will you do to ensure that all Rogers Park residents, and particularly people of color, receive equal access to medical care?” Candidate Avg. Grade Sample Comments Chris Adams ... C- ... Uninformed, didn’t give answer relative to 49th Ward Don Gordon ... C- ... Informed, open-minded, vague on specifics Jim Ginderske ... B/B+ ... New health clinic leader, informed Joe Moore ... C ... Swiped at other candidates Northside P.O.W.E.R. does not endorse any political party or candidate.