Mike on the Issues

As a lifelong resident of the 22nd Ward and Little Village, Alderperson Michael “Mike” D. Rodriguez knows firsthand the challenges everyday 22nd Ward residents face. With over 25 years of experience as an advocate, organizer, non-profit leader and youth mentor, he knows what it takes to build a strong community and that’s by putting families first!

Since being elected, Alderperson Rodriguez has worked to create hundreds of jobs, fought to keep more money in working families pockets, helped our community thrive economically, and has championed efforts to give our children the greatest opportunities to thrive.

Every family deserves to feel safe in their own community, and every child should be able to play on their block without fear. As alderperson, I will:

• Coordinate closely with community based groups and the Chicago Police Department 8th and 10th Districts to ensure our community has the resources and information it needs to keep our community safe.

• Work with state and federal officials to stop the flow of illegal guns into our neighborhoods.

• Advance efforts to implement the federal consent decree.

Alderperson Rodriguez championed the Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance, a national model to improve community and police relations leading to safer streets. In addition, he has used city menu dollars to create safer schools by installing speed indicators, pedestrian medians and traffic circles that are proven to keep our children safer as they travel to and from school.

I am committed to running a modern, efficient, fully bilingual ward service office that makes sure taxpayers get everything they need in our communities. As alderman, I will:

• Make sure all constituent service requests, whether for new garbage cans and recycling bins, tree trimming or sidewalk repair, are addressed quickly and efficiently to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe

• Be accessible and available through weekly Ward Nights and by continuing to visit residents door-to-door on a regular basis

• Advocate forcefully for more resources for our local parks, libraries and infrastructure.

Alderperson Rodriguez has established neighborhood advisory councils made up of neighborhood residents and leaders. Together they have decided whether and how projects in our community, including new businesses, should be allowed to expand or create new facilities.

A CPS graduate myself, I am the father of two young children enrolled in Chicago Public Schools. As alderman, I will:

• Work to implement the elected school board that ensures our community’s voices and needs are fully represented.

• Fight for full funding of our public, neighborhood schools, including increasing resources for special education, social workers, nurses and librarians.

• Continue to support a moratorium on new, privately-managed and corporate aligned charter schools so current, public, neighborhood schools have all the resources they need to thrive

Alderperson Rodriguez secured $16 million to create new classrooms and renovate the Farragut High School soccer and football field.

I am proud to be a champion for the needs of working class families in our community. As alderman, I will:

• Be a strong ally to workers fighting to organize and bargain collectively for fair wages and working conditions. I am proud to be supported by the Chicago Federation of Labor and will continue to ally with them to bring positive change to Chicago families.

Alderperson Rodriguez was a champion of the $15 minimum wage and was the Chief Co Sponsor of the Fair Workweek ordinance which helps workers struggling with the insecurity created by unpredictable, last-minute workweek schedules.

For too long, the Southwest Side has been a dumping ground for corporate polluters, putting our health and risk and poisoning the air we breathe and the land our kids play on. As alderman, I will:

• Demand that the City of Chicago commit to relying on 100 percent clean sources of energy by 2035, and that a diverse team lead the process with a commitment to justice and equity for communities like ours

• Ensure that all new corporations looking to set up shop in the 22nd Ward operate with a full commitment to environmental justice and protecting the public health of our residents

• Fight to eliminate all lead in our drinking water. We must demand that the City replace every single lead service line and every fixture containing lead that could be poisoning our drinking water

Alderperson Rodriguez has been a champion to reestablish the Department of Environment and has eliminated hundreds of trucks traveling in the ward by shutting down illegal truck parking lots and by saying no to bad developments.

I have worked on behalf of immigrants my entire career and believe our country was founded as an oasis for immigrants and refugees looking for a better life. As alderman, I will:

• Continue to work to strengthen the support of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees in our city, state and country.

Alderperson Rodriguez was one of the Chief Co-Sponsors of the amendments to the Welcoming City Ordinance providing additional protections for undocumented immigrants that are essential to our city. He advocated successfully to add millions of additional of dollars in the City budget to support asylum seekers and the non-profits providing the vital services to these immigrants.

The persistent threat of gentrification and displacement are real. Safe affordable housing should be a human right.

• Work to expand the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance citywide.

• Support Bring Chicago Home that would raise the Real Estate Transfer Tax on properties sold for over $1 million adding tens of millions of dollars to the efforts to house individuals experiencing homelessness.

Alderperson Rodriguez brought together a $550 million commercial development on Cicero Avenue, including a new grocery store, child care and healthcare center anchored by 200 of units of affordable housing in phase one and eventually leading to 650 new affordable and mixed income housing units on the site.

Throughout my life, I have been dedicated to supporting our youth. I served as a debate coach for over 10 years for high school students from Cristo Rey, Little Village and Farragut, advocated for youth violence prevention and mentored hundreds of youth. As alderman, I will:

• Work alongside our young people to invest in our community so that they choose to stay in our neighborhoods.

• Advocate for opportunities and resources that provide access to college, jobs, programs, and mental health services.

Alderperson Rodriguez has been a champion of violence prevention and after school programs in the community leading to more school based counselors and street-based outreach and intervention workers in the 22nd Ward.

I’m dedicated to continue serving as an ally of our LGBTQIA+ community. As alderman, I will:

• Work with CPS to ensure youth feel safe in our communities and schools.

• Advocate for fair and inclusive workplaces, housing, and public places.