We moved from the far western suburbs to Oak Park nearly 30 years ago because of its racial and economic diversity and strong sense of community. We support Ravi’s candidacy because we are concerned about the same issues that Ravi is running on:
Diversify our tax base to reduce dependence on property taxes: We have had sporadic success in attracting commercial investment to Oak Park over the years. However, as far we know, there has been none in the last four years. We have looked to securing grants from the government, an unsustainable strategy, particularly in today’s environment.
Focus on essential items (e.g., new police facilities) rather than non-essential items (e.g., new village hall). Much time has elapsed since the need for new police facilities was identified and we are still in the analysis phase. Construction on the facility is yet to begin.
Make decisions that align with our value of fostering a welcoming and diverse community. Oak Park is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many residents due to the high dependence on property taxes.
Be transparent in decision-making: The decision on leaf-bagging appeared arbitrary. Salary increases for the board seemed like a reward for poor leadership resulting in long and inefficient meetings.
Accountability for performance: What results have we seen in the last term that justify supporting the current leadership?
We believe that the underlying cause for many of the issues stated above is poor governance resulting from unfocused leadership. A change in leadership is required to keep costs under control, make decisions in a timely manner, and ensure that focus is kept on issues that are of high priority.
We believe that Ravi has the necessary experience and demonstrated leadership skills to address these issues. Let’s make a positive change together.
Anna Balakrishnan
Oak Park
