Paul Vallas Meets with the Black Press

Danielle Sanders CNW Managing Editor

has served in various capacities in government over his career as the executive director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission, Chicago City revenue director, City budget director and as CEO of Chicago Public Schools and as chief administrative officer at Chicago State University. Today he’s campaigning to become the next mayor of Chicago. In a media roundtable hosted by Chicago News Weekly, Mayoral Candidate, Paul Vallas addressed the black press on a number of issues including Public Safety, Law Enforcement and Economic Development.

Vallas has three ways to restore the Chicago economy. First, he wants to create an independent authority to focus exclusively on economic development on the south and west sides of Chicago. Second, he wants to take a portion of TIF monies and place them in a Community Investment Fund. “These funds will give the economic development authority capacity to have capital investments thus being able to provide gap financing and becoming the equity investor needed to attract other investors,” he says. Finally, he proposes massive land banking that would have all vacant properties acquired by the city. “The city must secure that property, remediate those properties and place a ten-year property tax abatement for those properties. This would make the property valuable again and ripe for development.”

Vallas promises to “return CPD to its core mission to serve and protect the people of Chicago.” His vision for CPD earned him the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police. “I welcome and accept the endorsement of Chicago’s finest, men and women of the FOP who sacrifice their lives day and night to make our city safer,” said Vallas.

According to his public safety plan, Vallas wants to rebuild the Chicago Police Department by ending overtime initiatives, assembling a new leadership team and by inviting officers who left the police department over the last three years to return to CPD with no loss of seniority. Vallas says at the heart of his public safety model is a return to community policing.

Vallas says current leadership has failed the community in reference to public safety. “The current superintendent has failed. I don’t think he knows what he’s doing. There are police officers within the system right now who can be put in a position of leadership. While I can’t make a permanent appointment, I can promote a person to the interim position who would be welcomed by the community with open arms.” Vallas says while he has someone in mind, he was not ready to disclose who they were.

Vallas says he doesn’t believe in increasing police spending but instead wants to allocate funds for po- lice spending more effectively. He wants to use those funds to fill vacancies, increase police on public transportation and allocate funds to address officers’ mental health.

On Feb. 21 2019, social worker Anjanette Young arrived home from her job and as she undressed and prepared for bed, CPD barged through her front door with a battering ram. Unclothed, upset and terrified, Young pleaded with police that they were at the wrong house. Police, operating on a tip from an informant said the address was the location of a person with drugs and guns. After a period of time, the police were told they were in the wrong house. The City eventually settled a lawsuit filed by Anjanette Young for $2.9 million.

When asked about his thoughts on the Anjunette Young incident, Vallas says the Mayor’s office handled the situation poorly but stopped short of saying the officers involved should be fired. “I’m not saying that no-knock warrants should ever be used but there needs to be clear justification. He continued saying, “if people violate policies they should be terminated. Vallas blames the Mayor’s office for her role in the incident. In a Jan. 25, 2021, Facebook post, Vallas said.

“The Anjanette Young’s federal lawsuit against the Mayor will clearly expose the Mayor’s deceitful actions. That is of course unless the Mayor orders the City to immediately settle the case which has been the historic practice in these types of potentially embarrassing cases. This case needs to be fully investigated independently by the City Council’s Inspector General and not by someone selected by the Mayor’s Office. The CPD should not be scapegoated again for the Mayor’s Office lack of transparency and honesty. This is just another unfortunate example of city agencies taking the blame for bad decisions and actions by the Majors Office.”

While not outlined in his public safety plan, Vallas says addressing some of the root causes of violence is a priority. “Every police district needs to have a mental health center. We have to create a social service infrastructure within those districts.”

Vallas says part of creating public safety means surrounding police with social services support. “The police need to be surrounded. Every district needs an array of social services and part of rebuilding the local economy includes reopening these services because they create jobs, employment and economic activity. It’s mental health, opioid addiction services, counseling and more.”

Vallas has been critical of the current Cook County State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx and Cook County Judges. In his public safety plan, he says they have failed to hold violent criminals accountable. He also says on his website that he will not hesitate to “bypass the State’s Attorney” and plans to create a case review unit within CPD to “review State’s Attorney’s and Judges decisions on charging, findings, sentencings and bonding hearings to publicly hold them accountable for their failures.” When asked how he intends to work with the current State’s Attorney he says a relationship with the State’s Attorney’s office is necessary, but he will not hesitate to bypass them if necessary. “Mayor Daley used to have strategy sessions monthly with the State’s Attorney, County Sheriff, State Police, US Attorney and Cook County to deal with the crime problem. You have to bring everyone to the table and work with one another. You have to also be prepared to bypass if you think individuals should be charged.”

Chicago elects its new mayor on February 28, 2023. Nine candidates are running for mayor of Chicago in the general election. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election will take place on April 4, 2023.