To inform voters, the Chicago Tribune politics team posed a series of questions to the candidates running for mayor of Chicago. See their answers below. See how other candidates answered here.
Name: Sophia King
Age: 56
Born: Boulder, Colorado
Personal: Married to Alan King, a lawyer and house music DJ, with two adult daughters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign; Master’s in education and social policy, Northwestern University
Neighborhood: Kenwood
Current job: 4th Ward alderman
Government experience: 4th Ward alderman (2016-present), volunteer and co-founder of Ariel Community Academy (1992-1997), deputy director of sports administration at Chicago Public Schools (2001-2003)
Political experience: Chair of the City Council Progressive Caucus (2020-present), president of the Kenwood Park Advisory Council (2008-2015), vice chair of Planned Parenthood Chicago (1998-2005)
Do you support sending more local funding to the CTA or other public transit agencies as relief funding runs out by 2025?
YES / NO
What plans would you implement to improve the Chicago Transit Authority’s bus and train service as well as other avenues of transportation, including automobiles and bikes?
The fundamental issue we need to address with both Train and Bus service at the CTA is one of ridership and resources. We have seen a steep drop off in usage initially driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, and exacerbated by the serious safety, service and lack of cleanliness issues. To improve ridership, we must have safety, cleanliness and more connectivity to the South and West sides. However, in order to accomplish the goal of being a world class transportation system we need to implement a regional approach.
To this end, we need to convert the non-sworn security patrols into full time Transit Police officers and make significant investments in cleanliness . We also need to take a regional approach to transportation. We currently operate our RTA members (CTA, Metra, Pace) separately. The federal government sees us as competing for funds. We need to truly go to a Regional system to take advantage of economies of scale and larger resources that can help everyone. For instance, Chicago just received $29M for E-buses, however cities with more of a regional system like the Massachusetts Bay Authority, serving greater Boston, received $116M. New York City received $116M and Los Angeles County – $104M. In order to do this we have to collaborate with the federal, state and county. In addition, we need to increase our fleet of electric vehicles including buses. We also must hold leadership accountable at the CTA, and work with stakeholders to constructively tackle the numerous issues which are impacting reliability.
Other improvements in transportation: Pedestrians are the least safe of all modes of transportation followed by bicyclists. I would seek to lower speed limits in neighborhoods to 20mph. I would also implement a no turn on red policy. And increase the safety resources for our elders and people with disabilities. We also need to continue an aggressive protected bike lane plan.
Do you support a ban on closing any Chicago public schools even as school populations continue to decline?
YES / NO
CPS will be transitioning to a fully elected school board in 2027. How do you see the financial entanglements between the city and CPS going forward?
We have to grow as a city in order to improve and sustain our neighborhoods. In order to attract and retain people in our city we need safety and good schools. People will not stay in Chicago or come to Chicago if they do not feel safe or have good schools to send their kids. We can grow the school population by putting resources into existing schools and increasing the growth of selective enrollment school options, however, with a strong neighborhood component. We see that good neighborhood schools attract population. Before the anticipated new South Loop high school has even been built, it is already over subscribed – the same with Bronzeville classical. People want good schools in which to send their kids. This has to be coupled with increased housing stock and strong neighborhood corridors. I will seek to increase the overall population in the city by incentivizing growth downtown and in our neighborhoods. I will give incentives to our essential workers like teachers, police and fire to relocate to our neighborhoods. We can use no interest loans backed by city bonds for essential workers that buy, build or rehab housing in the neighborhoods.
CPS will be transitioning to a fully elected school board in 2027. How do you see the financial entanglements between the city and CPS going forward?
I am hopeful that the newly elected school board will engender a greater sense of individual responsibility for the CPS. For too long, the School Board has acted as merely an extension of the Mayor’s office. This is incredibly important fiscally, as the newly elected board makes clear that these are two separate institutions, with separate budgets, and responsibilities. The City of Chicago will always stand strong to make sure that the Schools are properly funded, but I hope to eventually have a responsible independent partner in the School Board.
Do you support reopening all of the closed city mental health centers to help with a citywide crisis response program?
YES / NO
If you answered yes, how would you pay for reopening the health centers? If you answered no, why do you think reopening the health centers is unnecessary?
We need to understand that mental health centers, are both essential care that we should provide to our residents, and a great way to tackle the fundamental problem affecting Chicago today: public safety. Calls for non-violent interventions – frequently caused by mental health incidents – make up over 50% of all calls to 911. I might not eventually choose to reopen every single mental health facility based on individual cost-benefit analysis. However, I would make investments in the current ones and to reopen them in communities that lack mental health care and improve existing facilities which is a priority in my overall public safety budget. We can pay for this under our existing budget by reprioritizing resources. And the clinics can also expand their focus to include more healthcare options and/or be Diversion Centers for people experiencing mental health or homeless insecurities. We can also use them for our critical response teams responding to non-violent crisis cause by homeless, and mental health insecurities.
Do you think Chicagoans feel safer today than they felt four years ago?
YES / NO
Why do you think Chicagoans feel either less or more safe and what is the single-biggest policy change you would make as mayor dealing with crime?
It is crystal clear in every conversation I have with Chicagoans across the city that all feel a pronounced lack of safety and security. I have laid out my 10 point 18 page plan to address the crisis of public safety. Some of the highlights are: Immediately putting more officers back on All beats and in the communities where they are needed the most. We can immediately have up to 50% more officers on a shift by switching to a 4-Day, 10-Hour, 2-Shift system. This system gives officers 3 days off to get the rest and mental care that they need and deserve. Just imagine if our resources were doubled. Well we do not have to imagine – we can do this immediately. This along with bringing back 1000 retired officers for surge and less risky assignments like our detectives would be a good use of limited resources. They would work part-time and they already have pensions and benefits. NY has 4000 retired officers on call. We also need to scale up violence intervention programs and pair it with a program of targeted wrap-around services including job training and trauma informed care which addresses the root causes of violence in our community. In addition we need alternative responses to 911 to free up police and have people who are trained for calls frequently caused by non-violent issues like mental health and homeless insecurities. These calls for service make up over 50% of all calls.
Do you think the level of compliance for the Chicago Police Department consent decree is progressing at an appropriate pace?
YES / NO
What will you do specifically to ensure that the consent decree for the Chicago Police Department is fully implemented in a timely manner? Do you support any amendments to the consent decree?
Under this administration we have seen the department of Constitutional Policing underfunded, and its leader fired for asking for the resources he needs to do his job. In order to actually tackle these problems, we need to start taking them seriously and make sure this effort is properly funded and staffed with the right people.
Do you support amending city tax subsidies for corporations?
YES / NO
What plans do you propose for helping Chicago’s economy recover?
Chicago has the talent, diversity, affordability and infrastructure to be the leading tech hub in the nation. We can create the Silicon Valley of the Midwest by launching a new tech ecosystem with vocational/technical education to develop a world-class workforce that is ready for the opportunities of the future. However, we are facing a complicated economic picture in the City of Chicago right now. As suggested, we have reason for longterm optimism, but have serious problems stemming from the changing nature of work and public safety. If we do not make all of our streets safe for workers, their families, and kids, we will not be able to recover effectively. As we are addressing that, we also need to pursue innovative strategies to repurpose and adjust our existing real estate to better position the city in a world dominated by remote work. We need to shift the focus to a live/work environment and bring more residential units downtown – repurpose commercial spaces into mixed use buildings with a residential and retail/corporate space combined. We need to incentivize this new model that will increase the foot traffic downtown.
As Mayor, I will work to attract jobs to Chicago and ensure that Chicagoans are ready for the opportunities ahead. Our best champion for Chicago as a destination for growing businesses. I will galvanize the business community to create, retain, and support TECH talent. I will also work with the business community and other stakeholders on priorities for a thriving downtown to attract new investment to the city. I know what it takes to create better jobs and help local businesses thrive. Chicago can lead the region in job creation and workforce development with a focus on lifting working families and building strong communities. I understand that STEM jobs accounts for two-thirds of the U.S. workforce and the need to sustain STEM workers is vital to our economy.
Chicago is known for some of the finest four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and I will create a Chicago Tech Talent Alliance including leaders within the tech industry, K-12, university, and community stakeholders to identify solutions that help our brightest young people grow their talents and build their futures right here at home. The Chicago Tech Talent Alliance will also partner with schools to expand internships in STEM fields to students in the most underserved areas and encourage coding and computer science education. As Mayor, I also believe that we must continue to strategically reverse decades of public and private disinvestment on the South and West Side. I would collaborate with alderpersons and the community to do so. There are several initiatives to revitalize under resourced communities. Nothing spurs economic development like a great school – making sure communities have a great public school is important. Incentivizing housing and growth in density is important. Using Opportunity Zones which are spread all across the South and West sides is something that I would elevate to expedite the program. Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that allows people to invest in distressed areas in the United States. Their purpose is to spur economic growth and job creation in low-income communities while providing tax benefits to investors. Individuals can invest their capital gains and pull them and their profits out tax free after 10 years. Opportunity Zones will be a great tool to spur economic growth.
Do you support reforming or abolishing some city fines or fees?
YES / NO
If yes, name three fees or fines issued by the city of Chicago you would alter or abolish, including red light or speed cameras? If no, why do you feel that the current status of taxes and fees issued by the city of Chicago is fair?
I think the key is to more equitably and fairly distribute fees and fines across the city. They are more likely to be distributed inequitably in areas with Black and Brown residents.
For instance I would more equitably distribute speed cameras and red lights into neighborhoods and roads across the city – and not just in Black and Brown communities. They also need to be moved to places that will provide more safety. Not only would this ensure that we are not funding the operations of the city off of the poorest residents, but we could also make significantly more money and save more lives.
I would also look at predatory booting. In the 4th ward we banned predatory booting on private property. There is an ordinance in the City Council that would take this practice city wide. One booting company is behind this effort.
I would also continue to look at the distribution of parking tickets and continue to make the distribution more equitable. As an alderpersons, this was one of my goals. We were able to get the finance department to share data by ward to actually see the distribution of fines and fees. It is clear that they are inequitably distributed.
Ultimately, we need to continue to be more transparent about the data to then hold departments and the City more accountable about the distribution of fines and fees.
Do you think the city has kept its promises to residents as it has redeveloped public housing over the past 22 years?
YES / NO
How will you address housing issues and people without homes in Chicago and what is your vision for the Chicago Housing Authority?
Affordable housing is the responsibility of the entire city and not just segregated parts of it. We need to honor the promise we made for our Plan for Transformation sites. We also need a CHA plan that’s incorporated into a larger housing plan so as not to repeat the segregation of poverty. We should encourage and incentivize mixed-use and mixed-income developments with strong housing components. With housing costs rising faster than incomes, I understand that in order to improve housing affordability, we need better alignment of zoning, taxes, subsidies and incentives. By leveraging multiple solutions to create a wider array of housing types across Chicago including units with accessible modifications, we can ensure a healthier distribution of affordable homes of all shapes and sizes.
Chicago can optimize opportunity zones to create more affordable housing. Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that allows people to invest in distressed areas in the United States. Their purpose is to spur economic growth and job creation in low-income communities while providing tax benefits to investors. Individuals can invest their capital gains and pull them and their profits out tax free after 10 years. Opportunity Zones currently exist all throughout our city and we can use them as great tools to spur economic growth. I will also work with community stakeholders and business leaders to create a vision for residential and mixed use housing that includes ADA compliant units.
My administration would be immediately focused on delivering the thousands of affordable housing units needed in the city. With more than 30,000 people waiting for housing assistance from the CHA we cannot afford to wait. Increasing the number of ADA accessible available units to help unhoused individuals stabilize and move forward is an important part of that vision.
Do you support reinstating a city Department of Environment?
YES / NO
If not, why not? If so, how will you make sure it functions better than the previous DOE that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel disbanded?
I not only know that we need a Department of the Environment, as Chair of the Progressive Caucus I have made fighting for it a priority. It is essential that we get this implementation right in order for Chicago to protect our residents from the harmful health impacts of localized pollution, and to do our part in the existential fight against climate change. So, in order to ensure that a new Department of the Environment functions better than it did under Mayor Emanuel, we need to ensure that the Department is stood up in collaboration with other departments, not as a standalone task force interjecting itself into the business of governance. This should involve serious engagement with economic development, infrastructure and transportation planning, and the budget process.
Do you support banning mayors and aldermen from receiving campaign contributions from city contractors or their executives?
YES / NO
How would you improve the city’s ethics laws, including whether you would tighten restrictions on individuals tied to city contractors not being allowed to contribute to the campaigns of mayors or aldermen?
There certainly needs to be reform. If major donors are allowed to write unlimited checks their interests may outweigh those of the average voter. That cannot be allowed. I would be in favor as long as candidates were also included, to ensure a level playing field for everyone who strives to lead the city.
Do you think enough has been done about aldermanic privilege in which aldermen have final say over projects in their wards?
YES / NO
If not, what specific changes would you make to ensure aldermen and alderwomen don’t abuse their zoning authority as many have in the past?
There is no one size fits all neighborhood. Aldermen are elected to represent the voice of their community. Decisions should be made in context and should be led by the local alderman in collaboration with the community and the landowner. These decisions should be made expeditiously and transparently, however, so as not to deter development and progress. As Mayor, I will use a collaborative approach to gain better balance around the tension that exists between spurring and expediting development and community and local interests. I will work with the City Council to institute clear processes, timelines and expectations for developers, homeowners and landlords.
Do you think city government is appropriately transparent?
YES / NO
How would you improve transparency in city government, including responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and responding to decisions made by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
I think that under this administration there has been a culture of silence and secrecy which has undermined not only the faith of residents in their government, but the proper functioning of that government. I would not view the press as opponents. I would instruct those who work in my administration to err on the side of disclosure in any case where third-party privacy or significant legal restrictions do not exist.
Do you support additional city building code enforcement policies, including toughening the building scofflaw list?
YES / NO
The Tribune and Better Government Association won this year’s Pulitzer Prize in local reporting by showing that more than 60 Chicagoans, many of them Black, died in fires where the city knew of fire safety issues in the building but failed to act in time. We found tenants cannot rely on the city to effectively enforce safety codes designed to protect them from fire. How will you address these issues?
I would seek to bring more transparency and accountability to the office of Buildings to determine where the gaps exist. Do we have enough inspectors? We must hold landlords more accountable through proactive mandatory inspections of rentals and follow-up investigations. We can also move to decentralize the process so that local alder people are involved in the accountability process. In addition, any solution to this problem will involve standardizing zoning laws and regulations with clear written rules, and giving tenants a route to legal remedy through law suits against landlords who do not take swift action to address issues.
Do you support ending the city’s policy of providing security detail for former Chicago mayors?
YES / NO
More than a decade since he left office, former Mayor Richard M. Daley still has a police detail. Chicago is the only city that still does that for former mayors. How long should former Chicago mayors receive police security and a driver from the city?
I believe that we should only provide a detail for the immediate past Mayor as requested, but nothing further than that.
