edgebrookcommunity.org
Edgebrook Community Association | PO Box 46591 | Chicago IL 60646
Edgebrook Community Association | PO Box 46591 | Chicago IL 60646
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Samantha Nugent Answers the ECA's Follow-up Questions |
In 2014 the Chicago Tribune reported that the average resurfacing cost for residential streets is $400,000 per mile. Can City resources other than an alderman's menu budget be tapped to maintain neighborhood streets? Can the cost of resurfacing be decreased?
The Office of Underground Coordination, a distribution agency under the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Division of Infrastructure Management was created to coordinate these types of projects, but you wouldn’t know it looking at how many times Cicero, Devon, Foster and Pulaski are torn up every year. As Alderman, I will work to mobilize construction crews together with Peoples Gas, ComEd, and others to make sure there’s a coordinated plan for who is working on our roads.
We also need to review the purpose and use of menu money (Capital Improvement Program Aldermanic Menu Money). The 39th Ward is significantly larger than other Wards in the city. Reassessing the distribution of funds based off of Ward size would give us more money to improve our roads.
I support a review of how the city budgets for road repair and maintenance; specifically, I would look into a stronger preventative maintenance schedule which could produce an incredible return on investment. According to former US Treasury Secretary and Harvard Economics Professor Larry Summers, “Prevention is cheaper than cure. Waiting for the road bridge to collapse is much more expensive than buttressing the bridge before it collapses.” ["The case for spending more on infrastructure maintenance." 31 Jan. 2017, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/01/31/the-case-for-spending-more-on-infrastructure-maintenance/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2019.]
Legislators on both sides of the aisle in Springfield have indicated they would support a capital bill. If enacted, it would fund construction and repair projects for the state’s infrastructure over the next several years. I would work with my colleagues in Springfield to ensure Chicago gets adequate funding under the bill.
Would you initiate a campaign to move the Edgebrook train station north so no standing trains block Devon Ave?
I am open to exploring this option. However, I am very concerned about the businesses in Edgebrook and the revenue they lost last summer (and really all year) during the road construction. I don’t think they can afford to go through that again. Business owners have told me they are still trying to recover from the revenue they lost last year.
Would you support bringing back the City’s Department of Environment?
Yes. Climate change is real, and we need to be a leader in fighting to stop it. Chicago has been a leader among green cities. City Council must hold the Mayor accountable to keep our city green and protect our neighborhood green space.
In parts of Edgebrook, rain and melting snow often result in flooded streets. Standing water attracts mosquitoes and rodents. Can funds be secured for sewers and curbs to protect the health of our community?
This is long overdue. I will make this a priority of my term in office.
WEC Energy (the parent of Peoples Gas) is involved in a controversial pipe-replacement project that imposes a monthly surcharge on all Chicagoan’s gas bills. Would you support Alderman Cardenas’ resolution to get answers on soaring heating bills and get the resolution out of the City Council’s Rules Committee where it was sent to die?
Yes.
How will you tackle the issue of airplane noise?
I will request to sit on the aviation committee, and work with the airport to study new flight paths and times that would be less disruptive to people living on the northwest side of the city. I will also work with our Congressional delegation that serve on the Quiet Skies Caucus to ensure we are part of the federal conversation surrounding airport activity in Chicago. Locally, both Congressman Mike Quigley and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky sit on this committee. I have a good rapport with both and Congressman Quigley has endorsed my candidacy.
Additionally, I will work with the community and community groups like the Fair Allocation in Runways Coalition (FAiR) to make sure community input is heard surrounding airport noise.
As an Alderman you not only represent a Ward, but the City as a whole. What is your priority for moving our city forward?
The best thing we can do for our city, is to get our fiscal house in order. If I am a part of that, and do a good job representing the Ward I will feel like I have been a success.
What can an alderman do to improve public safety by slowing down speeders in our neighborhood?
As Alderman, I will work to install speed bumps on our most dangerous through streets. Often, speeding within the Ward occurs on smaller residential streets that connect bigger and busier streets - we saw a rise in this during the Devon construction when people were trying to avoid Devon at all costs. Speed bumps would reduce speeding, and hopefully provide safer play spaces for our children.
How can Chicago improve its 9% recycling rate which is the worst percentage among the nation’s larger cities?
Recycling should be under the control of the city - we should bring this into the Department of Streets and Sanitation instead of outsourcing the work. History has shown that when the city outsources work we tend to get poor results. One only need to look to the janitorial services in CPS.
What is the role of City Council in addressing congested elevated trains and grid-locked roads? What improvements can be made to Chicago’s transportation system and how do we get started on making improvements?
As I mentioned above, legislators on both sides of the aisle in Springfield have indicatedthey would support a capital bill. If enacted, it would fund construction and repair projects for the state’s infrastructure over the next several years. I would work with my colleagues in Springfield to ensure Chicago gets adequate funding under the bill.
Do you support a “Robin Hood Tax” on transactions at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to raise funds for schools or to apply to the pension deficit?
I don’t believe this tax is tenable and I do not support it.
Where do we begin in solving the problem of lead in our water?
First, the City needs to be transparent with the data it does have on lead in drinking water. I would like the opportunity to review the feasibility study currently being conducting surrounding the replacement of lead service lines and how to pay for it. Expected completion date of the study is spring 2019.
Additionally, I would like to work with our partners in Springfield to identify capital dollars to help address this issue. Further, we can work with developers to use materials other than lead for water service lines and I would like to explore the development of a cost sharing program, similar to the sidewalk program, for homeowners to replace lead service lines.
Is downtown Edgebrook healthy and successful? If you don't think it is, what can be done to invigorate it?
I believe it is - but more can be done. We have several vacant storefronts; business begets business and it is important we have retail contitnuity in downtown Edgebrook and fill our retail spaces. As downtown Edgebrook is represented by two Alderman, moving forward, I’d will work with my neighboring Alderman to ensure downtown Edgebrook remains vibrant. This also includes working with the local Chamber of Commerce and the business community. As Alderman, I want to help businesses succeed and offer assistance with issues surrounding permits, licensing and zoning.
