My Plan
A Better Resident Experience
Clearer answers. Easier everyday services. A place to turn when you get stuck. My plan is to make the Clerk's Office more useful to Chicagoans and use residents' experiences to advocate for better service.
The Plan
Four Practical Priorities
Help Residents Navigate Government
You should not need an insider's map of City Hall just to get help.
I would work to make the Clerk's Office a clearer place to turn when you do not know which department handles your issue or keep getting sent somewhere else. Working with staff and partner departments, we would help residents understand their next steps and identify recurring referral problems.
Report Recurring Problems
When the same problem keeps happening, government should notice.
I would publish a regular Resident Experience Report identifying common questions, recurring barriers, and gaps in service. The goal is to help residents, City Council, and departments understand where people get stuck and identify practical improvements. The report would distinguish what the available information shows from what remains unknown.
Modernize Everyday Clerk Services
Getting a City Sticker, understanding parking permits, or accessing CityKey should be easier.
I would work with Clerk's Office staff to review confusing instructions, unnecessary steps, and opportunities for more convenient service. Residents and frontline employees would help identify what needs attention. Proposed changes would be evaluated for feasibility, cost, and accessibility before broader implementation.
Make City Information Clearer
Residents deserve information that explains what to do next.
I would prioritize plain-language explanations of Clerk services, requirements, fees, and City Council actions. The goal is to make information easier to find, understand, and use, while clearly identifying which office is responsible for the next step.
Illustrative Examples
What This Means in Everyday Life
These illustrative situations explain the problems this plan is intended to address. They are not verified resident testimonials.
Sent from office to office.
Residents need clearer referrals and next steps, without having to figure out government's structure on their own.
Given conflicting instructions.
Residents and employees need information that is consistent, understandable, and kept current.
Stuck in a process that frustrates everyone.
Frontline employees should have a way to identify recurring problems and help shape practical improvements.
Advisory Council
Listen to Residents. Listen to Staff.
I would establish a Resident Experience Advisory Council to bring residents, community members, and frontline service workers into the conversation.
This advisory group would review the Resident Experience Report, identify recurring concerns, and recommend improvements. It would not replace City Council or direct city departments. Its role would be to help the Clerk's Office understand people's experiences and develop better-informed recommendations.
Implementation
Start Small. Measure What Works.
I would work with Clerk's Office staff, City Council, and relevant departments to develop measured pilots using existing staffing and resources where feasible. We would assess capacity, costs, and results before proposing a broader citywide function. The Clerk cannot direct every department, but can help residents navigate government and advocate for improvements.
Context
Build on the Clerk's Existing Role
The Clerk's Office already provides everyday services, including City Stickers, residential parking permits, and CityKey, and maintains City Council records.
The commitments above are proposals for improving and building on that work. They are not services currently offered by this campaign or a promise that the Clerk can resolve every issue across city government.
Share Your Experience
Where Have You Gotten Stuck?
Have you been sent between offices, received conflicting answers, or struggled with a confusing process? Have you experienced something that worked well and should be expanded?
I want to hear from you. You do not need a policy proposal. Your experience is a place to start.