What we have done

TOGETHER

In the past four years, we’ve shown what’s possible when a broadly diverse coalition comes together for a common cause — Building up a community we all love.

The list below is a testament to collaboration and a focus on policy over personalities. We are a City on the climb!

  • Retained Home Rule status after a Citywide referendum and used the tools provided to curb illegal ATV usage, prevent inhumane midnight migrant drop-offs, fund destination marketing and economic development initiatives, save millions through pension obligation bonds, and utilize alternative revenue streams to lower property tax rates

  • Put a moratorium and eventually a cap on the number of video gaming cafes and also banned the sweepstakes gaming loophole.  Putting a few dollars in a machine at a bar or restaurant is one thing.  But we don’t need them feeding addiction and draining disposable income at every corner store, gas station, laundromat, or furniture shop.

  • Eliminated the regressive, unpopular vehicle sticker tax.

  • Reduced the City’s property tax rate every year since being elected, including this past year when the rate dropped below 5% for the first time in a decade..

  • Collaborated with officials in other area municipalities to keep Visit Kankakee County a strong and vibrant entity that deploys shared resources to introduce our community to potential guests, future residents, and new investors.

  • Passed an ordinance authorizing AirBNBs, VRBOs, and other short term rentals, opening up our market to a great new model embraced elsewhere to attract visitors and showcase homes in our neighborhoods, on our river, and in our Downtown

  • Adopted a creative new zoning classification for older areas of the City to allow for more housing opportunities and remove obstacles created by outdated requirements

  • Established the Office of Violence Prevention.  Recognizing that crime prevention will require more than arrests, we created this new department to attack the long-term causes of crime.  First funded with COVID Funds, the OVP has been added as a line-item to the budget, giving stability to this worthwhile effort.

  • Funded impactful youth summer employment programs within numerous departments of the City and the summer Justice Academy led by State’s Attorney Jim Rowe.

  • Through our other ARPA allocations made after surveying community needs, we’ve helped to rebuild the YMCA roof and resurface its parking lot, modernize Riverside & St. Mary’s Emergency Rooms, open Gift of God’s emergency shelter for the homeless, and restore walking paths at several parks throughout the City .

  • We modified City Code to allow for a nano-brewery, and we welcomed the City’s first, Knack Brewing & Fermentations in 2022. Knack is also the City’s first brewery of any type since Raedke Brewery closed in the early 20th century.

  • Stabilized our police and fire pensions by issuing large tranches of pension obligation bonds that will honor our commitments to those who served while also yielding millions of dollars in savings for Kankakee taxpapers.

  • Solidified a lasting future for our public library in the Executive Centre, which remains the most prominent office building in the region.

  • Attracted an industry-leading company, Gardant Management Solutions, to move into Kankakee and establish their HQ within City limits at the Executive Centre, bringing to Downtown 40 full-time employees and more than 150 trainees every few weeks.

  • Expanded the unofficial borders of Downtown with new small businesses and growth along West Avenue, the Riverfront, and elsewhere.

  • Fulfilled the most important role of the alderperson – that is, responding consistently and creatively to constituents from every corner of the Ward and even some outside the Ward