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You can also pay at the door or by check to Friends of Leslie A. Hairston, PO Box 497028, Chicago, IL 60649.

Alderman Hairston was recently quoted in the Chicago SunTimes regarding Mayor Emanuel’s Infrastructure Trust plan.

“…after five hours of political venting, the Finance Committee approved the revolutionary change in the way the city funds public works projects by a relatively narrow vote of 11 to 7.
“I’m sorry that you have to wear the jacket of the parking meter [deal], but I remind my colleagues again that we were sold a bill of goods and, each year Jan. 1, we keep getting spanked with the same thing,” said Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th), referring to the steep schedule of rate hikes tied to the parking meter deal.

Hairston complained that City Council oversight is limited to transactions that include city assets, revenues or properties. If it’s a park, school or CTA project, aldermen would be powerless to stop it.”

Read the entire story here.

Alderman Hairston was recently featured on WLS Radio.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Chicagoans angered by the consequences of privatizing city parking garages and meters better hold onto their wallets.  Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Chicago Infrastructure Trust Ordinance, scheduled for a vote at tomorrow’s City Council meeting, could make those previous deals look like child’s play.

Despite his “reform” claims, Emanuel has employed the same closed, rushed, “ram it down their throats” process that placed us at the mercy of investors who can increase costs at will, demand the City provide compensation for losses and refer complaints to a black hole where nobody accepts fault.   Even worse, he wants us to give him blanket authority over numerous such ventures, with appointees he chooses as “watchdogs.”

Yesterday I voted against sending this ordinance out of the Finance Committee.  The convoluted “smoke and mirrors” financial arguments deserve far more scrutiny than possible in the few days aldermen had for review. Too many questions remain open about the true public benefit, return rates, escape clauses, employment opportunities for residents (especially women and minorities), whether the city might do some of the projects more cost effectively on its own.

Exactly who are these private “partners” coming to our “rescue?”  Aren’t some of them re-constituted entities of firms whose greed contributed to the nation’s economic meltdown?   As with the parking meters I also voted against, I see too little transparency, accountability, oversight or evidence to justify a leap of faith into what could prove another bottomless pit of financial risk for Chicago taxpayers.

Since his first days in office, the Mayor has floated the idea of cutting the 50-member Chicago City Council in half.  His legislation and style have already supported increase to his executive powers, while diminishing the alderman’s.  I was elected to represent my ward and do not intend to relinquish that responsibility.  For example, the speed bumps constituents requested I install near schools have been very effective.   Red-light cameras would be a waste of money in those areas, so I do not intend to vote for installing them without local input or approval on where they are located.

The Mayor may believe Chicago is best served by putting its assets on the auction block – from our schools and basic services, to infrastructure.  I agree we need to look at all possibilities.  The best partners to do that with are the aldermen.  We actually live in our respective communities and must live with the impact of our decisions.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Why-I-Am-Voting-Against-the-Infrastructure-Trust-147789275.html#ixzz1sKq5usIF

The city’s security plans in general and for hosting upcoming international summits will be the subject of a town hall meeting 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston has scheduled for 6:00 pm Tuesday, January 17, at the University of Chicago’s International House, 1414 E. 54th St. U. of C. law professor Bernard E. Harcourt will assist discussion of pros and cons of related legislation.
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Alderman Leslie Hairston fought for years to get a library in the 5th Ward.  Now that she has a new library, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’sproposed budget cuts could see the Grand Crossing branch closed for an additional eight hours a week.

This scary prospect prompted Hairston to join more than a hundred librarians and union representatives on Halloween as they delivered petitions with 4,000 signatures to the mayor’s City Hall office.

Chanting “No More Cuts” and carrying signs reading “I love my library,” “No library cuts” and “Don’t lock out learning,” the diverse crowd, which included mothers and children, decided to make themselves at home by conducting a read-in on the fifth floor.

Story time is a popular reason many parents and teachers bring toddlers to branch libraries across the city, but “happily ever after” could come to an end if Mayor Emanuel cuts nearly $9 million in funding.

The alderman says there’s money to prevent the huge cuts in the mayor’s proposed budget.

“There are a couple of things in procurement that can be delayed for a year and used as a revenue source,” explained Hairston.

The mayor’s 2012 budget proposes to eliminate 550 positions.  The city’s libraries already are operating with short staffs after cuts in hours and jobs under former Mayor Richard Daley.

Emanuel says the cuts will keep him from closing eight to 12 libraries.  The Harold Washington main library would not be affected.

Hairston said she will consider not voting for the mayor’s budget if the library cuts remain.

Ald. Leslie Hairston (5^TH) has scheduled a public meeting to update constituents on the University of Chicago’s Institutional Planned Development 43, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in room 126 of Judd Hall, 5835 S. Kimbark Ave.

Representatives will be on hand from the university, as well as from landmark, zoning and other divisions of the city’s Department of Housing and Economic Development.  Read the rest of this entry »

Alderman Leslie Hairston is putting the University of Chicago on notice she is not supporting its Institutional Planned Development 43, or PD43, until it responds to her requests for a public meeting that reaches out to all 5th Ward residents and stakeholders, a traffic study that includes parking considerations, and full disclosure about projects in residential areas.

The recent Memo of Understanding between the city and University of Chicago has fueled questions and concerns about the potential impact of the university’s development plans on the social, cultural and historic “character” of Hyde Park and neighboring communities.

“It’s really several issues rolled into one,” says Ald. Leslie Hairston.  “There’s a lot of confusion and misperception, mixed in actual negative experiences.  There are diverse interests sometimes working at cross purposes.”

Hairston says many fear the university seeks to expand beyond its already extensive reach.  “In actuality, we’re talking about updating the same basic ‘footprint’ of the 2005 Planned Development document” – over 200 acres of land with properties the university has acquired since submitting the PD.”

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PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING:  AN OPPORTUNITY WORTH THE CHALLENGE

I have long championed more transparency and inclusion in city governance, especially in the microcosm where I have the power to effect change.  That’s why I am so excited to help pioneer a process known as Participatory Budgeting.

According to advocates, “Although participatory budgeting has been recognized as a best practice of democratic governance by the United Nations, no elected official in the United States had ever invited citizens to allocate public money directly – that is, until May 2009, when Chicago’s 49^th Ward took the leap.”  This past May, Ald. Joe Moore held his second annual PB election.

Basically, constituents determined how to allocate the $1 million “menu” budget each alderman receives for infrastructure improvements.  Moore’s office devoted over a year to planning and implementing PB. About 100-150 steadfast constituents spent three of those months prioritizing their neighbors’ suggestions, conducting research and developing the proposals for worthy and feasible projects to place on the ballot.

Read the entire article here

Critics refer to the city’s plan to privatize the blue-cart recycling program as “the parking meter fiasco on wheels.”  Ald. Leslie Hairston (5^th) warns of the same lack of transparency or terms favorable to the city.   “It’s all about politics.  They’re trying to rush the contract through before April 11, when the City Council Finance Committee may consider restrictive legislation.”

Hairston contacted Streets & Sanitation Commissioner Thomas Byrne and Chief Procurement Officer Jamie Rhee “to find out the total dollar amount involved and the authority under which the city could be bound to a contract of this magnitude without City Council approval.”  She received the RFP/RFQ from Rhee but no response from Byrne’s office.

“They say it’s within their purview to do, but we’re not sure,” says Hairston.  “Regardless, it’s unconscionable, given the controversy about privatizing municipal assets and services.  It doesn’t help that one of the companies in the running has connections to the Daley family.  The new administration should have time to weigh in on this.  Once the contract’s signed, we’ll all have to live with the consequences.  Right now, the only thing stopping them from finalizing it is a public outcry for hearings.” Read the rest of this entry »