UPTOWN — Ald. James Cappleman and his challenger Amy Crawford have opposing visions for the future of affordable housing in the 46th Ward.
"If you look at this week's [Chicago] Reader, Amy has gone on record saying we don't need any more affordable housing," the incumbent alderman told community members at a 46th ward debate Saturday held at the People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence Ave. "I believe we do."
He added: "I believe this city is in a crisis because of the lack of affordable housing."
Crawford said while she's "interested in seeing if we can add units here and there in responsible ways for working families and seniors," she believes the ward has "roughly the right amount" of affordable housing.
"I know that the alderman has accused me of changing my position on this. ... I haven't," she said.
Another topic that took center stage at the debate: how to decrease violent crime in the neighborhood. Cappleman said under his leadership there are less gangs in Uptown. He also said he's urged residents and business owners to call 911 more regularly, which will help bring cops to the area.
"Many residents have my cell phone. When we have more people calling 911, we get more police. You residents are stepping up to the plate. I've been very involved in addressing crime. Amy wouldn't know that because she's never been a part of it."
Cappleman accused Crawford of not being as involved in the community a few times. At one point, he accused Crawford of having never attended a CAPS meeting in the decade she's lived in Uptown, which led to applause from the crowd.
While answering a different question, Crawford replied: "The notion that I haven't been around long enough is simply false," calling herself a leader on citywide issues.
When asked how they'd beef up police presence in the ward, Cappleman said: "We're on track to getting more police."
"The shootings that did take place occurred because there was a drug bust and 17 arrests, so there was unrest," he said. "The gangs know that I'm working on getting them out of existence and that is happening."
Crawford shot back, saying "people don't feel safer in the neighborhood," and pointed to an increase in murders in the past four years compared to the previous four.
She added: "I think it's wrong that we've lost a fourth of our police force. Our alderman stood by when that merger happened."
She's referring to when two North Side police districts covering parts of Uptown, Lincoln Park and North Center merged in 2013, which resulted in the loss of 100 officers.
But Cappleman said the merger meant "more resources available to respond to those areas with higher need."
The candidates were also asked for their plans on long-range assistance for the homeless people living under the viaducts.
Both candidates agreed that creating safe housing is crucial, but Crawford used the question as an opportunity to attack the alderman.
She said Cappleman has "tried to get the police to move their stuff and throw it out."
"People need to be treated decently," she said. "I think he has the right approach rhetorically, but I think if you look at his actions he has not done well by the homeless or the residents who would like to see that addressed."
That was followed by Cappleman's answer, which focused on the programs he's helped develop and maintain. Under the alderman's leadership, an organization called Thresholds that helps the city's homeless find proper services and housing was recently awarded a grant so they can do more street outreach, he said.
Another area where the candidates largely disagree: raising property taxes. Cappleman said at the debate that he will not raise property taxes, which Crawford called an "unrealistic" approach.
"The alderman refuses to acknowledge that we're in a severe pension hole," she said. "I think everyone in the City Council understands that there's got to be a revenue fix. I do believe we need to freeze and hold expenditures. We also need revenue. Do you want someone who is going to tell you the truth or not?"
Rather than raising taxes, Cappleman said he's in favor of building a casino to help pay for the state's unfunded pension liabilities.
In his closing statement, Cappleman said the ward has made "obvious" progress under his leadership, including a "profound decrease" in gangs in the area and an increase in beat cops.
"I've established a very clear plan," he said. "[Amy] wouldn't know that because she's never been involved in the ward."
But according to Crawford there has been a "lack of progress," including "bullets flying" in the neighborhood and a lack of development.
"Our current alderman is a nice person. He has good intentions," she said. "But unfortunately good intentions aren't enough to address the issues. Aren't we ready for something different?"
Questions about the cost of the Wilson Red Line renovation and increasing development in the ward were also raised at the debate.
The runoff election is April 7.
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