Why You Should Vote In The Champaign City Council Elections

by Martel Miller

Tuesday, April 17, City of Champaign voters will be asked to fill 3 city council seats. This year's primary election for Champaign City Council saw only a 7 percent voter turnout. We cannot afford this kind of voter apathy this election. The next Champaign City Council cannot merely serve the developer and business interests as we have seen in recent years. While the City of Champaign continues to grow and prosper, there are other pressing issues that will affect our quality of life.

The stakes for this year's Champaign City Council election are high for low-income and single-parent households. How the votes fall could determine whether Champaign Township can help the destitute, whether there will be a citizen's police review board, and whether landlords can discriminate against Section 8 voucher-holders.

The Council we have now has neglected the interests of the working class for too long. For the past couple years, we have seen these issues come up, and they have not been addressed. Change is needed.

These issues should concern the whole community.

We must improve the relationship between the community and the police department. The complaint process should allow citizens to be heard and taken seriously. This process needs to be non-threatening, non-prejudicial, and done in a professional manner. Independent oversight, outside of the police department and comprised of citizens from all segments of society, would provide needed accountability and a fair playing field. A Citizens Review Board represents the highest ideals of government by the people, for the people.

The candidates in support of a Citizens Review Board are Giraldo Rosales, Patricia Avery, and Annette Williams. Karen Foster, Deb Feinen, and Tom Bruno would likely vote no on such a proposal.

The City of Champaign Township serves the needs of the most poor among us. Thanks to the failure of past administrations and tax caps, the Township is underfunded. Worse, is the negative campaign conducted by members of the current City Council and Mayor. Township Supervisor, Linda Abernathy, has fought hard to provide services for our qualified citizens. We must maintain a safety net for the least of us. The next City Council must prioritize this need and reach a solution to bring the Township budget where it needs to be. The City Council has the capital. Now it needs the will.
Voters should know Deb Feinen, Tom Bruno and Karen Foster have no interest in serving the poor; while Annette Williams, Giraldo Rosales and Patricia Avery are committed to restoring the Township.

Likewise, the Section 8 program is vital to help house low-income families and single mothers, where they can live in any neighborhood of their choice. A recent proposal by the current City Council would have allowed landlords to discriminate and deny housing to Section 8 voucher-holders. Due to the public outcry over such unfair practices, the current city council tabled the issue rather than do the right thing. It's time to elect officials who will defend the people.

We can depend on Giraldo Rosales, Annette Williams and Patricia Avery to protect the people's right to fair housing.

It's time for the people to make a stand. Economic development is good, but it cannot come at the expense and neglect of the people. Our government has a responsibility to all its citizens. Good government has a transparent police force and a willingness to help the less fortunate. On April 17, the voters have a chance to make Champaign one of the finest communities in the United States.