The Vote Equity Project collected over 250 reform ideas submitted by Chicagoans.
Residents from every ward collectively cast 52,000 votes on their top priorities.
These were the top-voted reforms in community development.
- community development -
1. Prioritize resident-driven community and economic development in South and West side neighborhoods.
2. Create a municipal public works jobs program focused on investment and job creation in neighborhoods most harmed by racial injustice.
3. Raise Chicago's minimum wage to $15 immediately, and index to keep up with inflation.
4. Establish Community Benefit Agreements for large-scale developments to prioritize hiring from local communities and unemployed Chicagoans.
5. Require all development projects using city resources, e.g. TIF funds, to create living-wage jobs and hire from high poverty neighborhoods.
1. Prioritize resident-driven community and economic development
in south and west side neighborhoods.
amara enyia
YES
• Establishing a Public Bank • Implementing Resident and Worker-Owned Cooperative Enterprises • Instituting Community Land Trusts • Developing the Small Business Sector with Local Ownership • Expanding the Blue 1647 Workforce Training Model • Passing a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
bob fioretti
YES
In the City Council I was an early proponent of the Fight For $15, and have long been advocate of Community Benefit Agreements, including at the Obama Presidential Library.
lashawn ford
YES
The reforms suggested are necessary, however I would add that reforms must also take into consideration green development, including investing in re-purposing and updating existing structures, and driving environmentally sustainable development. Also, TIF funds must be used responsibly (Response was shortened for space.)
lori lightfoot
YES
I support a $15 min. wage. Chicago can be a truly global city only if it invests in long neglected neighborhoods and communities. As mayor, I will invest in our neighborhoods to provide jobs and economic opportunities for all residents.
susana mendoza
YES
I will ensure investments and job creation focus on communities by leveraging the rapid downtown growth to bring more resources and investment to neighborhoods suffering from low opportunity. I support a statewide $15 minimum wage.
toni preckwinkle
YES
I am the only candidate who has proposed a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021. I have also advocated for TIF reform, CBA for the impending construction of the Obama Center and investment in small business microloans.
paul vallas
YES
You can read my full economic development plan on my website here: https://vallasforallchicago.com/issues/#opportunity.
other candidates
no response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
2. Create a city public works jobs program
focused on investment and job creation in neighborhoods most harmed by racial injustice.
amara enyia
YES
• Establishing a Public Bank • Implementing Resident and Worker-Owned Cooperative Enterprises • Instituting Community Land Trusts • Developing the Small Business Sector with Local Ownership • Expanding the Blue 1647 Workforce Training Model • Passing a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
bob fioretti
YES
In the City Council I was an early proponent of the Fight For $15, and have long been advocate of Community Benefit Agreements, including at the Obama Presidential Library.
lashawn ford
YES
The reforms suggested are necessary, however I would add that reforms must also take into consideration green development, including investing in re-purposing and updating existing structures, and driving environmentally sustainable development. Also, TIF funds must be used responsibly (Response was shortened for space.)
lori lightfoot
no response
I support a $15 min. wage. Chicago can be a truly global city only if it invests in long neglected neighborhoods and communities. As mayor, I will invest in our neighborhoods to provide jobs and economic opportunities for all residents.
susana mendoza
YES
I will ensure investments and job creation focus on communities by leveraging the rapid downtown growth to bring more resources and investment to neighborhoods suffering from low opportunity. I support a statewide $15 minimum wage.
toni preckwinkle
YES
I am the only candidate who has proposed a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021. I have also advocated for TIF reform, CBA for the impending construction of the Obama Center and investment in small business microloans.
paul vallas
YES
You can read my full economic development plan on my website here: https://vallasforallchicago.com/issues/#opportunity.
other candidates
no response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
3. Raise minimum wage to $15/hr
immediately and index to keep up with inflation.
amara enyia
YES
• Establishing a Public Bank • Implementing Resident and Worker-Owned Cooperative Enterprises • Instituting Community Land Trusts • Developing the Small Business Sector with Local Ownership • Expanding the Blue 1647 Workforce Training Model • Passing a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
bob fioretti
YES
In the City Council I was an early proponent of the Fight For $15, and have long been advocate of Community Benefit Agreements, including at the Obama Presidential Library.
lashawn ford
YES
The reforms suggested are necessary, however I would add that reforms must also take into consideration green development, including investing in re-purposing and updating existing structures, and driving environmentally sustainable development. Also, TIF funds must be used responsibly (Response was shortened for space.)
lori lightfoot
no response
I support a $15 min. wage. Chicago can be a truly global city only if it invests in long neglected neighborhoods and communities. As mayor, I will invest in our neighborhoods to provide jobs and economic opportunities for all residents.
susana mendoza
no
I will ensure investments and job creation focus on communities by leveraging the rapid downtown growth to bring more resources and investment to neighborhoods suffering from low opportunity. I support a statewide $15 minimum wage.
toni preckwinkle
YES
I am the only candidate who has proposed a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021. I have also advocated for TIF reform, CBA for the impending construction of the Obama Center and investment in small business microloans.
paul vallas
YES
You can read my full economic development plan on my website here: https://vallasforallchicago.com/issues/#opportunity.
other candidates
no response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
4. establish community benefits agreements
for large-scale developments to prioritize hiring from local communities and unemployed Chicagoans.
amara enyia
YES
• Establishing a Public Bank • Implementing Resident and Worker-Owned Cooperative Enterprises • Instituting Community Land Trusts • Developing the Small Business Sector with Local Ownership • Expanding the Blue 1647 Workforce Training Model • Passing a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
bob fioretti
YES
In the City Council I was an early proponent of the Fight For $15, and have long been advocate of Community Benefit Agreements, including at the Obama Presidential Library.
lashawn ford
YES
The reforms suggested are necessary, however I would add that reforms must also take into consideration green development, including investing in re-purposing and updating existing structures, and driving environmentally sustainable development. Also, TIF funds must be used responsibly (Response was shortened for space.)
lori lightfoot
YES
I support a $15 min. wage. Chicago can be a truly global city only if it invests in long neglected neighborhoods and communities. As mayor, I will invest in our neighborhoods to provide jobs and economic opportunities for all residents.
susana mendoza
YES
I will ensure investments and job creation focus on communities by leveraging the rapid downtown growth to bring more resources and investment to neighborhoods suffering from low opportunity. I support a statewide $15 minimum wage.
toni preckwinkle
YES
I am the only candidate who has proposed a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021. I have also advocated for TIF reform, CBA for the impending construction of the Obama Center and investment in small business microloans.
paul vallas
YES
You can read my full economic development plan on my website here: https://vallasforallchicago.com/issues/#opportunity.
other candidates
no response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
5. Require all development projects using city resources, e.g. TIF funds, to create living-wage jobs and hire from high poverty neighborhoods.
amara enyia
YES
• Establishing a Public Bank • Implementing Resident and Worker-Owned Cooperative Enterprises • Instituting Community Land Trusts • Developing the Small Business Sector with Local Ownership • Expanding the Blue 1647 Workforce Training Model • Passing a Community Benefits Agreement Ordinance
bob fioretti
YES
In the City Council I was an early proponent of the Fight For $15, and have long been advocate of Community Benefit Agreements, including at the Obama Presidential Library.
lashawn ford
YES
The reforms suggested are necessary, however I would add that reforms must also take into consideration green development, including investing in re-purposing and updating existing structures, and driving environmentally sustainable development. Also, TIF funds must be used responsibly (Response was shortened for space.)
lori lightfoot
YES
I support a $15 min. wage. Chicago can be a truly global city only if it invests in long neglected neighborhoods and communities. As mayor, I will invest in our neighborhoods to provide jobs and economic opportunities for all residents.
susana mendoza
YES
I will ensure investments and job creation focus on communities by leveraging the rapid downtown growth to bring more resources and investment to neighborhoods suffering from low opportunity. I support a statewide $15 minimum wage.
toni preckwinkle
YES
I am the only candidate who has proposed a plan to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2021. I have also advocated for TIF reform, CBA for the impending construction of the Obama Center and investment in small business microloans.
paul vallas
YES
You can read my full economic development plan on my website here: https://vallasforallchicago.com/issues/#opportunity.
other candidates
no response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.