BY AMY WOOTEN
Sandi Jackson say she's tired, but she doesn't sound like it. As soon as she starts talking about her ideas for change within the 7th Ward, the excitement in her voice takes over. She told Windy City Times that the past few months have given her a renewed respect for her husband, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.
The race in the 7th Ward has made headlines, given the fact that two of individuals battling for the office—Darcel Beavers and Jackson, are from powerful Black political families.
Windy City Times: This is a huge campaign.
Sandi Jackson: People are so excited, and they are more excited than I've ever seen people before because they feel they have a real chance for change this time.
WCT: Let's talk about this excitement that the people in the ward are feeling. I know, for many, one of the problems they have is right now they have an appointed alderman.
SJ: Yes. A lot of people do see that as a problem because they feel as though their voice has been taken away from them. The previous alderman took great pride in saying he would not give anybody the opportunity to run against him because he would get them off the ballot by challenging their petition in any way and any form possible to ensure he did not have a candidate come Election Day. What was very unfortunate about that was we had very dynamic candidates who could have done a really great job, and would have run great races had they survived the petition challenge portion. In my race, I was extra careful to get well over the signature requirement, so no matter what, we would not be taken off the ballot.
...To have African Americans 50 years later participating in tactics to suppress the vote is outrageous.
WCT: I know one of the things you want to do is breathe some fresh air into this ward. What are a few of the major things that need to be changed that people have voiced concern over?
SJ: Transparency is the first thing. Most of the people in the ward, when they call the office, don't get information from the office; they are treated rudely. To get basic city services is almost a strategic effort, in that you almost have to find someone who knows the alderman, who is a prominent person, in order to get something done in a timely fashion. So, city services that are routinely offered in other parts of the city, unfortunately, people don't even know these things exist or are free in this ward—things like tree-planting services and beautification efforts that take place in other parts of the city are almost devoid within our area.
It's easy to drive east on 79th Street…and feel as though you've driven into a war zone. It's not very inviting. It doesn't have to be that way, and people know that. But they also know if they call their aldermanic office, they are not going to be met warmly, and they're not going to be met respectfully. So, it's a very daunting, a very challenging process for them, and it shouldn't be that way.
WCT: What are some of the other things that need to be changed?
SJ: I think our approach to crime and our approach to economic development [need to be changed]. I've lived in the 7th Ward for 12 years. I've been married to Jesse Jackson, Jr., for 15 years, but we've been together for 20. So, I've been in Chicago for close to 20 years. When we became residents of the 7th Ward, we noticed a small uptake in crime. But I have to say, over the course of 12 years, we've noticed a surge in crime—along with the surge has been an increase in police cameras with the blue light. For anyone who has seen them, they know it is a very ominous thing at night. We also know that for the people they are meant for, it doesn't deter crime; it simply moves and shifts it. What it also does is tell people who want to bring businesses into our area not to bring them because it's a high-crime area.
[The rise in crime] really bothers me because I have small children and I know that children need to have safe spaces in which to play and go. But for the children of the 7th Ward, there doesn't seem to be enough safe areas for them to play because our parks are not safe. They are overridden with drug dealers. We need to do something about creating more after-school programs and safe areas, so children, especially latch-key children, have safe places to go and have alternatives.
We have to help fellows come home from prison and become productive members of society. They have to reintegrate themselves, but they need help, and there's not enough help within the 7th Ward. If we don't provide it, a lot of those folks are going to go right back to doing what got them in jail in the first place.
WCT: What about economic development?
SJ: We have one of the most economically viable areas down here. The USX site is 570 acres of undeveloped lakefront that resides in the 7th Ward, starting at 79th St., running all the way down to 89th St. It's big enough to fit inside the Loop. The views from it are breathtaking. It used to house the old USX steel mill. It employed thousands of people, but about 25 years ago it closed, and since then, nothing has happened. … It is now cleaned up and it is ready to go.
What my husband has been doing is he has been taking developers there over the past 11 years to get them interested in building something on the site. Now, developers are interested in it. We've got a developer who has said they are going to build new businesses there like restaurants, grocery stores and service stations. That site can house at least 150,000 people. Because of the waterfront, it will be a waterfront destination where we can put clubs and recreation venues. If we're very, very creative, we can run ferries from the USX site down to Navy Pier, to the Shedd Aquarium, to the Adler Planetarium. The possibilities are endless.
WCT: And it also means jobs?
SJ: It means jobs because the new homes that will be built on that site. … What I've been asking for is the Daley administration to take another look at the USX site as a potential site for the Olympic Village and other Olympic venues because it would be fantastic. … It could be a top tourist draw. It's right next to Rainbow Beach and would invigorate the beach, even!
It will create thousands of jobs. Hopefully, a lot of the residents who worked in the steel mill will be able t
o find construction jobs there. There's even talk of building a casino there, and a mall. There are so many opportunities to build, and so many opportunities for developers to come here and help an area that is in dire need of help.
WCT: It sounds like you have a lot of great ideas for this ward.
SJ: I'm fond of saying that if this ward were anyplace else, if you could pick it up and place it up North, it would be overrun with developers. It's hard to imagine a lakefront community such as the 7th Ward going through the kind of neglect it has gone through. Anywhere else, it would be a vibrant, thriving community because of its location. I happen to know there are many businesses that want to open businesses within the 7th Ward. They simply have not been invited to do so.
They are very fond of saying, 'We brought businesses in. We brought in an Aldi's. We have one new Jewel/Osco. We have one new gas station in the area.' But we have more liquor stores and more beauty supply stores and more fried-food places than other place, I think, in the city. My response to that is we know there is economic opportunity within this ward. There are people with viable incomes who deserve to have a Marshall's, who deserve an Old Navy, who deserve other high-end stores, so they don't have to drive down to 159th Street or go all the way to River Oaks or downtown. I like to shop on Michigan Avenue, but it would be nice to have something a little closer to me to shop at. Our seniors should not have to go to a liquor store because that's the closest grocery store for them to get to within walking distance. And they should not be fearful of walking to those places. Right now they are, which is another issue.
WCT: Where do you stand when it comes to LGBT issues? How would you look out for the best interests of the LGBT community citywide?
SJ: I've got friends who are within the LGBT community. I have a dear friend who has been diagnosed with full-blown AIDS for over 17 years. I'm very close to the issue, and I have quite a few members who work for me in my campaign. I love them dearly and treat them as family members because they are. I'm very sensitive to the issues that impact that community. I see it as a human rights issue because I don't think the focus should be on who someone loves, or why. I think it should be the right to love whomever your heart takes you to. That should be the bottom line.
I think discrimination coming from the Black community to the gay community, in my mind, is totally unacceptable. I know discrimination against anybody is wrong, and I'm firmly against it. Whatever the funding issues are, when it comes to funding HIV programs and prevention, I want to see it increased.
WCT: I was going to ask you that because HIV is not only a huge citywide issue, but rates are increasing so much in the African-American community.
SJ: It's horrible, and it's such a shame. For us, it has to be a matter of education. Within the African-American community, we have to come out of this mindset of denial in thinking it does not impact heterosexuals, and for some crazy reason, thinking it only impacts the gay and lesbian community. When we talk about straight Black women being at the forefront of new cases of HIV/AIDS, I think we need to start educating ourselves on why that is happening, and stop denying the fact that there is a lot of bisexuality going on within our community. I think if we are more accepting of that as a community of people's sexuality, then men who are gay will feel more comfortable coming out and saying it, instead of participating in behavior that puts us at risk. I would encourage acceptance, because I know it is important. I know for the gay Black men who work for me, they know that I love them and I accept them for who they are. So they feel free to be who they are within our campaign, and outside of our campaign. That's the way I would run an aldermanic office, as well.
WCT: If elected, what are your main goals for the ward? What would you like to see?
SJ: If I was elected, I would like to see a ward where first of all, people feel respected and deeply appreciated. I'd like them to feel like we've gone back to a bygone era where elected officials behave like public servants, as opposed to kings and queens of their territory. I want people to feel appreciated and to feel as if their elected official is to actually work on their behalf, and is one who understands their plight, and will do everything they can to ensure their quality of life is improved every day, and not a small segment of VIPs, which seems to be going on right now. It bothers me so much, because there is such a great need out there. The need is so immense, and it's been neglected for so long. If I'm elected, basic things will change, like city services they felt they had to barter or beg for, they will get. Their telephone calls will be met with courtesy because they are entitled to it.
