This year ended tragically with the loss of Detective Reddins in the line of duty. Let’s keep him, his loved ones, and his colleagues in our hearts.
We have a diverse and talented village board, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made on some important initiatives:
• Adoption of a housing study to address community housing needs
• Development of the Oak Park Avenue streetscape plan
• Launch of the Alternate Call Response pilot program and Vision Zero for pedestrian and bike safety
• Advancements in energy efficiency benchmarking
• Inclusive DEI events and expanded language access
• A 3.5% tax levy increase, maintaining fiscal responsibility over the past four budgets, which I supported (3%, 0%, 3%, and 3.5%)
These accomplishments hold promise, but our broader progress has been hindered by a distracted agenda lacking focus and prioritization. The figure below highlights recent examples to illustrate my concerns and most importantly, their impact on you.
Missteps and missed opportunities
2024 highlighted the village’s well-intentioned but inefficient and inequitable migrant response. While 200 individuals were rehoused, the process consumed six months of staff time, neglecting critical board goals and essential functions. This lack of focus and prioritization left us with unproductive board meetings, no CFO, no racial equity assessment, no economic vitality plan, no long term financial plan and an unresolved homelessness crisis.
Community safety
The critical need for a new police facility has been delayed by over two years due to its misguided linkage to an unnecessary, $150 million Civic Center proposal. Construction costs have risen, and community safety remains compromised with 30% of police positions unfilled. This misstep underscores the need to prioritize and separate the police facility discussion from a broader village hall discussion where an average Oak Parker spends less than 5 minutes a year.
Effective use of tax dollars
High taxes should ensure excellent services, but recent decisions have fallen short. A rushed overhaul of leaf collection resulted in a less sustainable, costlier system that disproportionately impacts seniors and disabled residents. Staff resources were redirected to migrant support, while local homelessness and panhandling in parks and business districts remain unaddressed. Additionally, $1 million was hastily allocated in the 2025 budget to acquire and/or renovate Percy Julian’s private home without transparency or planning, while also increasing village board compensation to the highest in the region.
Economic development
In 2023, we dissolved the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (OPEDC) but failed to replace it with a new plan or tools for promoting growth. Consequently, investment in our community has stagnated, impacting future economic vitality.
Equity and inclusion
Rising taxes are making it harder for middle-income families and seniors to stay, eroding Oak Park’s economic diversity. Equity initiatives, while passionately pursued, have yielded little measurable progress, and the racial equity assessment remains delayed due to a distracted agenda.
Are we on the right track?
No. I believe Oak Park residents deserve leadership with a clear vision and focused on issues most important to the community. That’s why I’m running for village president. My priorities for the next four years include:
• Attracting $500 million in private investments to strengthen our economy
• Making Oak Park easier, equitable, and sustainable for residents and businesses
• Implementing Vision Zero and the Berry Dunn police reforms, including building a cost-effective police facility
• Protecting socio-economic diversity through prudent fiscal decisions
• Strengthening community bonds and vitality through art, architecture, music, events, entertainment, and tourism
With innovation, focused leadership, and community support, we can move off the hamster wheel and achieve real progress. Let’s get it done — together.
