November 11, 2014

The fight to reclaim Chicago

In These Times -  On November 15, Reclaim Chicago will announce its endorsements in 10 to 15 aldermanic races. Group leaders have been interviewing candidates and deciding endorsements based on a platform that includes promoting a living wage, high-quality public schools, criminal justice reform and infrastructure spending; and opposing privatization, cuts to pensions and layoffs of public workers.

In the three months leading up to the election, Reclaim Chicago will campaign for the candidates it endorses with door-to-door canvassing, political organizer trainings and community meetings.

“Our strength is mobilizing a well-trained group of citizens who will do face-to-face canvassing to talk to residents one-on-one about our vision—about what Chicago should look like and about these particular candidates,” said Reclaim Chicago spokesperson Kristi Sanford. “We can’t finish the work in one electoral cycle—we’re trying to over time build an independent political organization that holds officials accountable.”

While Reclaim Chicago focuses on grassroots campaigning for specific candidates, Grassroots Illinois Action also targets City Council with a slightly different approach. In October, Grassroots Illinois Action, which draws on supporters from faith-based, labor and community institutions, unveiled the project Take Back Chicago, including a website that ranks sitting City Council members based on their votes on issues deemed important to working people. By highlighting elected representatives’ records on issues like the minimum wage, affordable housing, public schools and fair taxes, Take Back Chicago aims to hold Council members accountable and boost progressive members with strong records. 

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