Evanston, IL
Local Opinion | Kathy Tate-Bradish, Neighbor
First Ward neighbors, I would like to share a few of the reasons I am supporting Clare Kelly for First Ward Alderman. I met Clare in the before-days in her capacity as an ETHS teacher, when she went above and beyond to help me with logistics for a community forum at the high school. Since then I’ve grown in admiration for her dedication to her students and to Evanston.
In particular, I appreciate her deep dive into financial issues, looking for ways to pay Evanston’s bills without further burdening low income Evanstonians. Like me she is concerned both with the need to increase affordable housing and also to help our lower income neighbors across the city stay in their homes. To this end, she has researched and is in conversation with individuals and organizations in other cities whose wealthy universities contribute more of a fair share to the towns where they are located. I agree that it is time for Northwestern University (of which I am a proud alum, NULS ’81) to pay its Fair Share. This is one of several ways that Clare will contribute to the fiscal security of Evanston. Like me, she believes that a budget is a moral document.
Second, but not secondarily, I know that Clare will always look at policies and practices through an equity lens. Not coincidentally, strengthening equity and social justice is the first pledge listed on her website. Clare was endorsed by OPAL (Organization for Positive Action and Leadership), a deeply admired group here in Evanston advocating for equity for Black children and closing the opportunity gap. As a life-long educator, Clare is not just a National Board Certified Teacher (“Master Teacher”), but started the first Spanish Language Debate Team in the state and was nominated by her Latinx students to win the NU Red Apple Award (which she won).
I agree with all eight of the pledges that Clare makes to us on her website, clarekellyfirst.org. Please join me in voting for Clare.