On the Issues

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

TIF districts siphon taxpayer dollars away from schools and essential city services to benefit well-connected developers. John has a concrete plan for reforming TIFs and bringing transparency back to the budgetary process.

Budget Crisis

John strongly believes that there are honest and creative ways to solve our city’s budget crisis. Solving that crisis should not involve depending on already stressed homeowners and the communities that rely on their stability. Solving that crisis should not be dependent on selling off profitable city assets to make a quick buck, while bankrupting future generations of the public trust Chicago has built over the decades. Solving that crisis should not involve gouging tourists or relying on regressive sales tax increases, which hit the most modest households hardest.

Corruption

Chicago deserves honest politicians and clean politics.

Corruption hits us hard, both in the health of the body politic and the bottom line. Citizens of Chicago pay an estimated $500 million every year in a “corruption tax.”

The good news is that the unfortunate reputation of Chicago politics is a matter of choice. Citizens can seek out and elect principled candidates -- such as John Arena --  who understand the true cost of dishonest governing.

Crime

Communities and police should have the resources they need to maintain safety.

John Arena has long-standing, personal relationships with officers in the 16th District. Beyond his understanding of life on the beat, John is committed to ensuring that the police officers serving the 45th Ward have the resources they need to combat crime.

Economic Development

John Arena has a vision for economic development that places the needs of residents and business at the center of efforts to bring jobs and growth to the 45th Ward.

Education

Our schools need fair funding and an engaged alderman.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is chronically underfunded, short an incredible $1 billion this year. Removing CPS from the abusive TIF system is a start, giving schools a fighting chance with adequate funding.

Still, half of our high schoolers drop out before graduation. We need to foster the development of truly great public schools in the 45th Ward.

Environment

We need to move beyond blue bags and bins.

The fact that a world-class city such as Chicago doesn’t have a city-wide recycling program is unacceptable. John Arena is committed to working with the community to create a recycling system that will work for the 45th Ward. 

Gambling

Voices across Chicago and downstate—and even some in the race for 45th Ward alderman—have called for allowing casino gambling in Chicago and an expansion of video gambling across the state. Those who favor gambling mistakenly believe it can be a way to fix our budget problems in the city and bring in much-needed revenues.

Pension Reform

The underfunded municipal pension system is the one of the most pressing fiscal issue facing our city today. Failing to address it will lead to bankruptcy for the municipal employee funds and perhaps for the city itself.

John Arena applauds Governor Pat Quinn for signing Senate Bill 3538, which begins the crucial dialogue we need to have to fix this problem.

However, John understands further steps must be taken. To solve the pension crisis in our city, John believes we must:

 

Political Reform

John Arena is dedicated to changing City Council’s status as a rubber stamp for the mayor’s office by voting independently and supporting efforts to reduce outsized executive power and other entrenched influences on city government.

Privatization

Mayor Daley has been selling off our civic assets at an alarming rate and at terrible cost to the city. He’s already given away the Skyway, city parking lots and parking meters. With Midway and our water system on the chopping block, we need John Arena to counteract the rubber stamp members of City Council.

Responsive Government

The 45th Ward deserves an alderman responsive to the needs of the community. Residents should be able to pick up the phone or stop by the ward office and reach a real person, dedicated to solving problems and working to make the 45th Ward a better place to live.

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The 45th Ward

Map of the 45th Ward