Cesar A. Santoy is an independent candidate for 5th Ward Alderman. A licensed architect, he currently owns an architectural firm and oversees facilities management and construction for the United Neighborhood Organization. He currently lives in Berwyn’s 5th Ward with his four-year old son and his fiancee.
Q: As an alderman, what would you do to help economic development in Berwyn?
A: First and foremost, I would do that by proactively providing resources to existing and potential businesses in Berwyn. I realize that we have two TIF districts in the 5th Ward and as a former commissioner at the city of Chicago on Community Development Commission, we regulated TIF districts and the sale and purchase of city-owned land, and I would bring that expertise to bear here, as well as my experience in leading a trade association of over 250 members, including taking that trade association and having it join the Berwyn Development Corporation and utilizing the business contacts and the community and government contacts that I established and bring them to bear for the businesses of Berwyn.
Q: How would you improve city services?
A: First and foremost, I would work to improve city services within the 5th Ward by working with the residents of the 5th Ward as I have been doing for the past several months to identify what their needs and concerns are and to bring all those needs and concerns to the various departments in the city. That’s my interpretation of the question. Keeping the 5th Ward in mind, the 5th Ward has not had it’s fair share of city services and economic development so I would improve that by advocating for efficient, effective city services delivered to the 5th Ward whenever there’s request by residents.
Q: What would you do to improve safety in your ward?
A: I have been endorsed by the Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association and they’ve given me their support not just based on my zero tolerance for crime, drugs and gangs but also on my views for community-based policing, which is basically proactively providing resources to residents, having them meet with law enforcement before there’s an emergency. That’s a key and a very important first step. And also, meeting with a variety of law enforcement officials that could provide different types of resources and different types of education to the different segments of the community, be it seniors, be it families, be it youth. I would also support the increase of police officers on bicycles and I think part of the solution is also economic where we should leverage as much as we can the neighborhood stabilization program to decrease the amount of foreclosures in our community as well.
Berwyn, IL —
