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7th Ward Aldermanic Forum Pits Ald. Natashia Holmes vs Greg Mitchell

By Jamie Nesbitt Golden | March 15, 2015 12:04pm
 Greg Mitchell is challenging current Ald. Natashia Holmes in the 7th Ward.
Greg Mitchell is challenging current Ald. Natashia Holmes in the 7th Ward.
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DNAinfo/Sam Cholke; Metro Strategies Inc.

SOUTH SHORE — Accusations about residency and accountability flew Saturday as incumbent 7th Ward Ald. Natashia Holmes squared off against challenger Greg Mitchell at the ward's last scheduled aldermanic forum before the April 7 runoff election.

The forum, which drew a packed house at Christ Bible Church, 7877 S. Coles Ave., was moderated by former candidate Keiana Barrett. Holmes and Mitchell fielded questions from the audience and each other.

Mitchell, raising the issues of public safety and accessibility, promised to enlist the city’s aid in taking on abandoned properties that can be reused, saying he hopes to start a home ownership program specific to the ward to draw in residents.

Holmes, who Mayor Rahm Emanuel appointed to replace Ald. Sandi Jackson in 2011, said she was dedicated to improving the beleaguered ward.

She said most of the issues plaguing the community were there before she was appointed but there has been progress.

The candidates were split on the issue of subsidized housing, with Holmes wanting to keep the ward an option for low-income families and Mitchell wanting tighter reins on Chicago Housing Authority voucher holders and landlords.

“I’d work with CHA staff to hold residents and property owners accountable,” said Mitchell, who ran unsuccessfully against Jackson in 2011.

They were also split on the participatory budget process. Mitchell, citing what he called a lack of transparency, promised to bring in representatives from each part of the ward to help decide how the $1.3 million given to each ward should be spent. Holmes said that the focus should be on how the money is best spent, adding that the “participatory budget process is just something to get the people riled up.”

During a rapid-fire question-and-answer round, Holmes and Mitchell continued to disagree on hot-button issues, from red light cameras to single-resident occupancy buildings. Mitchell nixed both ideas while Holmes called for a nuanced approach.

Mitchell declared his support for charter school expansion while Holmes expressed apprehension, saying the schools would have to be closely monitored.

Mitchell won’t be voting for Emanuel next month, while Holmes affirmed her support for the mayor.

Both candidates said they opposed a moratorium on tax increment financing districts, which divert some property taxes for economic development.

Holmes talked of her plans to bring residents and retailers together to bolster shopping options for ward residents, saying that the departure of Sears and Dominick’s have forced residents to shop outside the ward.

She also reminded the audience that the ward has the Rebecca Crown Youth Center, which received outside assistance to fund building updates. She added that the lack of non-profit organizations in the area make it difficult to secure money for other projects.

During a few tense moments, Holmes asked Mitchell when he was going to move into the ward.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” he snapped back, adding that he had recently bought a home.

In their closing statements, both Holmes and Mitchell asked voters to consider their respective public service records. Holmes pointed to her involvement on a local school council and her stint at the Illinois Department of Transportation and Mitchell touted his lifelong community ties and passion to make the ward a thriving community.

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