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 former Aurora alderman, Judd Lofchie.
How will you work to restore our riverfront along the Fox River, especially north of downtown and RiverEdge Park?
We need to relocate the factories along the Fox River and turn that space into a combination of residential units and parks. The City already owns several acres of land which they do not use. This should be used for parking at Rivers Edge Park.
How will you work with small businesses to ensure their success despite economic trends?
Being a small business owner, I can relate to their needs. They need much more support from the City than just an occasional ribbon cutting. We have a large marketing department that needs to get the word out consistently about our wonderful businesses, shops and restaurants.
Will you consider rezoning downtown Aurora to first floor retail, entertainment, and dining to encourage more foot traffic and visitors?
As a real estate attorney, broker and developer, I understand zoning and have a lot of experience with it. Most downtown buildings allow for first floor retail and dining. As discussed above, if a business no longer fits with the downtown then we should help them relocate.
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?
We sold 65 E. Downer to the City years ago and it has been vacant the entire time! We need to identify the highest and best uses for these properties and then target qualified buyers for them. We should enlist the services of real estate agents.
How will you deal with commercial property owners who continue to not maintain their property?
Instead of quickly fining them, which we do in a lot of instances, we need to better work cooperatively with them to get them into compliance as quickly as possible.
This fall, City Council approved giving three million dollars to Elevate Aurora, a new organization that includes Invest Aurora, Aurora Downtown, and Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce. What are your thoughts on the merger?
My thoughts are that this was rushed though and not thought out well, leaving out a huge section of qualified businesses, for example, the Latinos are not represented by this group.
With the director of Aurora Public Art being dismissed recently, what is your plan for the future of Aurora Public Art?
I have had many discussions with the City economic development people and would like to see a small percentage of project funding on new projects being spent on art like many other cities. Since 1963 the General Services Administration has maintained the Art in Architecture Program, which allocates one-half of one percent of construction cost for art projects.
What is your plan for the old post office which most recently served as SciTech Museum?
This is a big building that will cost a lot of money to renovate. I would like to see a grocery store, food hall or microbrewery. Also possibly more residential units.
Do you have any long term plans regarding the homeless population living in encampments around the outskirts of downtown?
I have been working to assist the homeless over 30 years, founding the successful, award-winning charity, StreetWise” in Chicago in 1992.I volunteer monthly at Hesed House making breakfasts, lunches, and serving dinner. We need to create more affordable supportive housing for these individuals.
What industry or businesses would you most like to see established in Aurora?
We need more manufacturing and high-tech businesses. But we also need to create a more business-friendly climate to attract and retain them.
Do you believe transparency in government is important, and would you support increased reporting requirements for private organizations receiving significant city funding?
Yes. When I was and Alderman for the 10th Ward, I drafted and helped pass an Ethics Ordinance. I proposed a cap on campaign contributions of $1,000 for any person or business who has done business with the City. Chicago and Cook County have these rules in place and allow a $1,500 maximum contribution for 4 years. We need to do the same.
The city has continued to acquire real estate, particularly downtown. What is your stance on this practice?
We need to get the many buildings the City owns back on the tax rolls and stop spending taxpayer money to insure them and maintain them. We should enlist the services of real estate agents to sell them.
What is your position on dam removal? Environmentally it is the right thing to do. However, I am concerned because we get 2/3 of our drinking water from the Fox River and the Mayor of Elgin has asked the Army Corp of Engineers to do a study to make sure that it won’t affect their water supply.