Leah's Priority Issues
Leah's Priority Issues
Leah knows the ins and outs of government, and she is a leader who will work for you. Leah will be an alderperson who listens, learns, and builds practical solutions — together.
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Boost Small Businesses
Many neighborhood's businesses are struggling — we're seeing empty storefronts, lifeless commercial corridors, and owners drowning in red tape.
I'll change that with a clear plan to help business owners succeed, bring energy back to our neighborhoods, and make the 45th Ward a place where local entrepreneurs thrive. My husband and I launched a thriving business and I know the ups and downs faced by small businesses.
Listen first: Host community conversations to hear what business owners actually need
Cut red tape: Guide owners through the permit process
Match businesses to neighborhoods: Lead development that brings the right businesses to the right locations
Encourage recreation, arts & culture: Create anchor destinations across the ward by filling empty storefronts, creating new venues, and holding community events
Activate Community Advisory Council: Give residents and business owners to play a bigger role in neighborhood zoning.
Improve Infrastructure
Our property taxes keep going up, but our streets are full of potholes, basements flood, and too many blocks aren't safe to navigate on foot.
You're paying for basic services — you should get them. I'll fight for the funding and accountability we need to make the 45th Ward safer, more walkable, and easier to get through every day.
Partner across agencies: Work with other levels of government to keep our streets and basements dry
Fix streets faster: Prioritize citizen safety to tackle potholes and street repairs quickly
Make our intersections better: Apply smart traffic management to make it safer (and less frustrating) to navigate the ward
Address problems before they happen: Respond proactively to problems rather than waiting for an infrastructure crisis
Increase Affordability
Three generations under one roof. Two jobs just to pay the bills.
Families are skipping doctor visits because they can't afford them. The squeeze on everyday Chicagoans is real — and it's getting worse. I'll connect residents to resources, push for housing that works for everyone, and make sure no family has to struggle alone. More housing and thriving business grow the community for long-term stability.
Help families that are stretched thin: Connect 45th Ward residents to every dollar and resource they're owed
High quality for every child: Fund quality public schools for all families, regardless of their zip code
Provide care for caregivers: Connect family caregivers to resources from providing direct care, medical coordination, and financial information to meal supports, transportation and more.
Address housing: Create options for renters and homeowners so people of all incomes have a stable place to call home
Local planning that works: Work with residents, community groups, and developers to bring intentional development
Restore Civility and Trust
Your alderperson should be working for you, not meeting behind closed doors or intimidating neighbors who disagree.
I will make decision-making open, accessible, and responsive, closing the gap between the residents of the 45th Ward and the city that's supposed to serve them. Every resident deserves respectful and equal treatment from the 45th Ward office, no matter their background or political views.
Transparent leadership: Hold town halls and coffee hours to ask questions, discuss concerns… and actually get answers
Make 311 actually work: Simplify how residents request city services and make sure the job gets done
Track my promises: Post a projects dashboard showing status updates, and what is being done
Give you a say in spending: Let residents have real input on how aldermanic funds are spent with participatory budgeting
Fight for reform in Chicago government: Lead the charge for a responsible, responsive, and accountable City Council
Make Our Neighborhoods Safer
My grandfathers were Chicago policemen, and I know how important first-responders are to our city.
Safety means more than officers on the street. It means making sure our communities are vibrant. It means officers have the tools, training, and support needed, while also addressing accountability and conditions that lead to crime in the first place. I'll fight for an approach that makes the 45th Ward safer for everyone.
Support our officers: Advocate for more training and mental health resources for first responders who are dealing with trauma and stress
Uphold accountability: Work closely with local police, CAPS, and other oversight systems to keep our communities safe
Address causes of violence: Invest in early interventions like community development, rapid rehousing, early care and education, and social services for residents of all ages
Increase public safety investments: Support mental health first responders and violence interrupters, which will help our officers stay focused on violent and organized crime
Strengthen local bonds: Support block clubs, festivals, and everyday connections that bring neighbors together
Fight for Taxpayers
Chicago has been spending more than it brings in for decades — and working families are paying the price.
You deserve a leader who will fight for fiscal responsibility without putting the burden on everyday Chicagoans.
Celebrate Chicago: Support citywide tourism, invest in new industries, and support career pipelines for workers of all ages
Push for a smarter budget: Address Chicago's fiscal challenges without balancing the books on the backs of everyday Chicagoans
Advocate for everyone: Develop practical solutions with neighbors, not those who want to buy influence at City Hall
Clear the cobwebs: Eliminate outdated policies that waste taxpayer money, and fight for government reform
Help working people keep more money: Support lawmakers who are moving Illinois to a less regressive tax system