PRIORITIES | Darlene for 2

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES

Let’s listen and consult with small business owners before enacting measures that might undermine their success and even survival. As a city we need to get behind our small businesses and support them. I fully support the Legacy Business Program. As a city, we need to understand that these businesses go beyond the products they sell. They represent the city’s identity and culture and bring people to our city, creating significant foot traffic for all businesses. Currently the city cuts deals with large formula businesses giving them breaks and even for new businesses but has essentially ignored when it comes to money, the needs of our existing small businesses. We need to survey our small businesses and find out what their needs are.

My Priorities:

Address punitive parking policies. We want to encourage people to come to our community.

Reign in escalating property taxes and fees that have an impact on our small businesses in renting or owning a property.

Look to other cities that have designed programs that support their small business community, through ARPA funds, using empty storefronts for events, pop-ups, consider a tax/fine/fee ordinance for empty storefront spaces that have remained vacant over a set period of time from property owners.

Create a more transparent and equitable process by which Economic Development distributes funds to Evanston businesses.

THE ISSUES

Setting the stage for our lives.

EQUITABLE HOUSING

The 2nd Ward has a rich history of affordability, but over the last two decades, homes for working-class and low-income families have significantly decreased. Subsequently, rents have surged, making it almost impossible for residents to become first-time home buyers. Real estate development and gentrification patterns threaten affordability, housing mobility, and racial justice. As elected alderwoman, Darlene commits to equity-focused community development that increases low-income and equitable housing resources. Through community collaboration, a needs-assessment data collection, and rigorous housing policy research, we can ensure the 2nd Ward is developed without displacement. Together we can transform housing opportunities to ensure progressive policies are rooted in racial and economical justice.

Click to learn about housing priorities and supporting policies:

Repurposing Vacant, Abandoned, or Substandard Property"

Evanston has a unique opportunity to innovatively think about affordable housing. Theoretically, repurposing vacant, abandoned, or substandard property would operate with respect to both the acquisition and the rehab aspects of the process. 1 Aquisition: properties that the local government (or state government) obtains through tax foreclosure or tax reversion, effectively with low or without cost to Evanston. 2. Rehab: In most cases, Evanston would not rehabilitate the houses themselves, but pass the property through to a nonprofit or other entity to rehabilitate the property under municipal supervision. Projects would then be allocated on a needs basis.
Reinstating Evanston Housing Corporation First Time Homebuyer Program

First time homebuyers of single-family homes, townhouses, or condos, whose income is below average medium income, would receive loan offers below market interest rates.
Establishing Long-Term Community Land Trust

Evanston's first Community Land Trust (CLT) exists in the 2nd Ward at 2212 Washington St. CLTs are created to acquire and reserve land for community benefit under community control. Typically this is one way to ensure land stays affordable for generations. The ownership of the home is separate from the ownership of the land that it is built on, with the focus on providing an affordable single-family homeownership option for low and moderate income families.
Lifting the Ban on Rent Control

While the ban on rent control is legislation at the state level, local level officials have the ability to inspire and organize residents to take action. Housing justice is racial justice, as systemic racism has exploited and prevented fair housing. Lifting the ban on rent control would help limit the displacement of Black people and other minority people across the state.

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CARE

Nationally, political movements have exposed the systemic ways in which the lives of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) are under constant threat.

As we find ourselves closer to a post-COVID environment, and the looming recession, Darlene understands that these factors can contribute to to instability for people and that we need to address root causes

This campaign is committed to understanding all the ways in which city policy, education and community oversight can enhance the way we build solidarity and strong neighborhoods.

Click to learn about creating safe communities:

Repurposing Vacant, Abandoned, or Substandard Property"

Evanston has a unique opportunity to innovatively think about affordable housing. Theoretically, repurposing vacant, abandoned, or substandard property would operate with respect to both the acquisition and the rehab aspects of the process. 1 Aquisition: properties that the local government (or state government) obtains through tax foreclosure or tax reversion, effectively with low or without cost to Evanston. 2. Rehab: In most cases, Evanston would not rehabilitate the houses themselves, but pass the property through to a nonprofit or other entity to rehabilitate the property under municipal supervision. Projects would then be allocated on a needs basis.
Reinstating Evanston Housing Corporation First Time Homebuyer Program

First time homebuyers of single-family homes, townhouses, or condos, whose income is below average medium income, would receive loan offers below market interest rates.
Establishing Long-Term Community Land Trust

Evanston's first Community Land Trust (CLT) exists in the 2nd Ward at 2212 Washington St. CLTs are created to acquire and reserve land for community benefit under community control. Typically this is one way to ensure land stays affordable for generations. The ownership of the home is separate from the ownership of the land that it is built on, with the focus on providing an affordable single-family homeownership option for low and moderate income families.
Lifting the Ban on Rent Control

While the ban on rent control is legislation at the state level, local level officials have the ability to inspire and organize residents to take action. Housing justice is racial justice, as systemic racism has exploited and prevented fair housing. Lifting the ban on rent control would help limit the displacement of Black people and other minority people across the state.

CLIMATE JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY

We have to fight climate change through scientific information, community support, corporate accountability, and prioritizing those systematically most impacted by our current climate crisis.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue; we must look at solutions through an equity lens.

Ways to help create a greener Evanston:

Support Evanston’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) which calls for zero carbon/zero waste by 2050
Prioritize the expansion of green initiatives through corporate tax
Create Alternate Retail Electric Supplier (ARES), a publicly owned energy utility
Create high paying jobs that would result in a mass expansion of renewable energy (e.g., solar installation)
Ensure all existing city buildings meet high-performance renewable standards
Provide incentives for green community practices
Prioritize residential weatherization grants and training for low-income and minority families

Fair Share Northwestern Partnership

Evanston and Northwestern University have a historical and symbolic relationship. Evanston is proud to have the prestige of Northwestern; it's one of the best private higher Ed. institutions in the country, it's also one of the richest. Northwestern has an 14.4 billion dollar endowment, along with an operating budget of over 138 million dollars.

Nationally, college towns are looking to universities to step into financial positions to become fair share partners. But what does fair share does this look like?

This idea will builds on the previous efforts to ensure NU a fair share partner, and expand the number of similar legislation that exist across the country.

Fair Share Quick Facts:

Northwestern Stance on Fair Share

In 2000, a referendum was passed that 83.5 percent of Evanston residents supported the City Council's advisory requesting Northwestern pay its "fair share of the cost of municipal services the city provides such as fire protection and response services."

Tax Exempt Universities and Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT)

Repurposing Vacant, Abandoned, or Substandard Property"

Evanston has a unique opportunity to innovatively think about affordable housing. Theoretically, repurposing vacant, abandoned, or substandard property would operate with respect to both the acquisition and the rehab aspects of the process. 1 Aquisition: properties that the local government (or state government) obtains through tax foreclosure or tax reversion, effectively with low or without cost to Evanston. 2. Rehab: In most cases, Evanston would not rehabilitate the houses themselves, but pass the property through to a nonprofit or other entity to rehabilitate the property under municipal supervision. Projects would then be allocated on a needs basis.
Reinstating Evanston Housing Corporation First Time Homebuyer Program

First time homebuyers of single-family homes, townhouses, or condos, whose income is below average medium income, would receive loan offers below market interest rates.
Establishing Long-Term Community Land Trust

Evanston's first Community Land Trust (CLT) exists in the 2nd Ward at 2212 Washington St. CLTs are created to acquire and reserve land for community benefit under community control. Typically this is one way to ensure land stays affordable for generations. The ownership of the home is separate from the ownership of the land that it is built on, with the focus on providing an affordable single-family homeownership option for low and moderate income families.
Lifting the Ban on Rent Control

While the ban on rent control is legislation at the state level, local level officials have the ability to inspire and organize residents to take action. Housing justice is racial justice, as systemic racism has exploited and prevented fair housing. Lifting the ban on rent control would help limit the displacement of Black people and other minority people across the state.