Criminal Justice

• Collaborate with County Government, non-profit organizations, churches and residents to strengthen community-based programs that help ex-offenders re-enter society and prevent their return to prison.
• Engage with community-based groups, the Chicago Public Schools and county agencies to create new and enhance existing efforts to stem gang violence and keep youth engaged in constructive and meaningful activities.
• Engage with community-based organizations and County agencies to broaden domestic violence programs and enhance outreach efforts to prevent such abuse in the first place.

Rethinking the Cook County Criminal Justice System

Health Care

• Expand the number of health care facilities throughout the County to provide greater access to primary medical care for the uninsured and underinsured. 
• Strengthen health care education to expand prevention of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. 
• Ensure that the County facilities are well-prepared to educate, inoculate and deal with an H1N1 virus pandemic predicted to strike the United States this year. 

Reinvigorating the Cook County Healthcare System

County Sales Tax

• Endorse the Cook County Board’s action this past July to roll back the county’s portion of the sales tax by ½ percent.

Repealing the Sales Tax Increase

End Waste, Fraud and Abuse in County Government

• Require the conduct of an independent audit of the entire County budget to find the waste and abuse.
• Require county departments to explain and justify bureaucracy and the work of employees. 
• These efforts would help make up for the possible revenue shortfall resulting from the roll back of the sales tax.

Strengthening the Forest Preserve District

Good Governance, Accountability and Transparency 

• Good governance means being open, accountable and accessible.   Require each County agency and department to bring their budgets to the commission for review and explanation.  
• Require the County Board president to bring the budget forward for extensive, meaningful and constructive debate before adoption.  These steps would help end fraud in county government. 
• Hold forums throughout District One to hear residents’ concerns and opinions.
• Send out newsletter to all residents explaining the workings of County Government and efforts going on in District One.

Economic Development

• Engage with all segments of the community and form partnerships wherever possible to bring meaningful, job-producing, sustainable development to all parts of District One.