The Voice contributor, Marissa Amoni, and other community members, wrote several questions for Aurora mayoral candidates in the consolidated primary election to answer.
Below are answers from candidate Jazmine Garcia.
How will you work to restore our riverfront along the Fox River, especially north of downtown and RiverEdge Park?
I would prohibit the privatization of the riverfront. This summer, I began a running club along the Fox River and Downtown Aurora and it was always so frustrating not being able to cross the pedestrian bridge, or access the riverfront in the east along the RiverEdge Park. With the casino moving soon, this leaves us with an opportunity to keep the waterfront open and accessible to the public. We certainly don’t need any more parking lots or warehouses, we need to Beautify and expand green spaces, including community farms and other recreational opportunities for our city and the public good. In fact, I would propose any future parking lots be underground, no matter what the cost. Promoting and adding recreational activity along the Fox River would be a high priority under my administration, I support the removal of the dams because it would restore our natural gem that goes through our city. Imagine being able to access downtown Aurora via your kayak and having all your friends from Batavia or Oswego join you! The renewal of our city includes the riverfront and RiverEdge Park (currently being remodeled), but it also involves the restoration of indigenous burial and ceremonial mounds along the Fox River in Aurora. My team has been in contact with local archivists and archaeologists from the Ho Chunk Nation who have confirmed the existence- and the erasure- of such historical and cultural landmarks that should be restored and respected.
We need to expand usage of RiverEdge Park but we also need a venue to host local talent and attract world class acts year round. We also need to ensure that the people of Aurora can actually afford to come Downtown and feel welcome. Parking for the Christkindle Market reached $20 and $15 for 1 hot chocolate, how are families expected to explore their city without breaking the bank? Yes, we need more cultural diversity in the kinds of performers we invite to Aurora but also the kinds of art we promote in Aurora. Beyond music, there are many opportunities for performers and filmmakers and craftspeople who deserve a home- and a venue- for their art.
How will you work with small businesses to ensure their success despite economic trends? Will you consider rezoning downtown Aurora to first floor retail, entertainment, and dining to encourage more foot traffic and visitors?
I envision a downtown Aurora that is actually a car free zone and made specifically for pedestrians to enjoy retail, entertainment, dining and street food vendors. The administration of Richard Irvin has been incredibly hostile to street food and food truck vendors, the majority of whom happen to be Spanish speakers. Aurora deserves a representative who can speak to all of its residents and address their concerns, dreams, and aspirations. Mayor Irvin has been incredibly welcoming- at the public’s expense- to “fine dining” options but not everyone wants or can afford a 30$ burger. Sure, fine dining options are an attractive feature for any downtown, but we can and should and will cater to all tastes and all budgets.
In downtown Aurora, there are a few stretches of prime storefronts that continue to remain vacant (e.g. 44 W. Downer Pl. and 65 E. Downer Pl.). What is your plan to activate those properties?
In plain speak, we need everyday Aurorans to have a voice on some of these decisions. After all, are not the taxpayers footing the bill on these development projects? Mayor Richard Irvin has been overspending our tax dollars and overpaying on buildings that belong to his friends. Certainly, we do not need more luxury dining or luxury condos. We need more options for Aurorans and visitors that do not rely on alcohol or a costly night out; most of us are living paycheck to paycheck and we need and deserve affordable recreation / entertainment options. Downtown Aurora should not become Downtown Naperville.
With the director of Aurora Public Art being dismissed recently, what is your plan for the future of Aurora Public Art?
We need an Arts Renaissance in Aurora and we need to do more to foster and invest in local artists. There is no reason whatsoever why the legendary Dr. Charles Smith’s property on the East Side of Aurora should have had to close. Dr. Smith, as a Veteran whose work has been purchased and exhibited by the Smithsonian, should be invited back to Aurora so he can expand his vision and continue his life’s work through his beguiling sculptures.
Do you have any long term plans regarding the homeless population living in encampments around the outskirts of downtown?
Yes, we will abolish homelessness in the City of Aurora during my administration. Our plan is two fold: we will enact rent control measures to make sure corporate landlords or those with multiple properties cannot continue to jack up prices on our residents and we will work with state and federal government initiatives to build and revitalize affordable housing for all. Mayor Richard Irvin shamefully rejected tens of millions of dollars from the state and federal government last year (2024)which had been earmarked for cities like Aurora to deal with the influx of migrants. This money was specifically stipulated not just for migrant communities but to build permanent housing solutions for our unhoused residents. This is quite literally the only time Mayor Richard Irvin has ever turned down money and he did so because he lacks the political courage or the moral compass to do right by Aurora’s working class.
It is shameful and immoral to live in a global city with a resilient and diverse set of revenue streams that cannot even do the bare minimum to ensure its residents have a roof over their heads. We need a mayor that can do right by everyone, not just the well connected and the donor class.
What industry or businesses would you most like to see established in Aurora?
As an urban planner (I received my master’s degree in Barcelona), my plan for riverfront development would be front and center. My administration will invest and expand the Fox Valley Park District and empower this agency to create excellent paying green jobs. My convictions and commitment to the environment are intersectional: when we invest in green and natural spaces we are not only investing in the people of Aurora but we are making a commitment to all species and future generations.
What is your position on dam removal?
We will certainly remove the dams— my administration will embark on establishing a world class kayak service along the Fox River that will be run and operated by the Fox Valley Park District— getting rid of those dams is essential to making this a reality. Not only will our City’s kayak service serve as an opportunity for recreation, but we will join forces with local educational institutions like Waubonsee Community College and the high schools to use the river (and local waterways) as a living classroom. When people doubt my administration’s goals and ambitions I remind them that Aurora is a global city with global power players who call Aurora home; equitable taxation of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s CyrusOne Data Center alone could power our city’s green transition and fund our parks, schools, community farms for generations to come. Every single year, over a quadrillion dollars flow through that warehouse!