A strong voice, a fresh perspective
I’m running for Urbana City Council because I love Urbana and I want our government to be more reflective of the values of its residents.
Let’s put some heart and soul into the Council, stoke the embers, and get fired up to make ourselves leaders in the state.
The events of the past year have raised some significant problems both locally and nationally. It is time to have strong voices on the City Council who aren’t afraid to dig in and venture into new ways of thinking. The current sedentary and overly cautious approach isn’t going to cut it anymore.
While the nation is demanding more accountability and oversight, the people of Urbana have watched our government move in the wrong direction. At the direction of the Mayor, City administration stifled access to public records, obstructed attempts at police oversight/reform, and even refused to change their own discriminatory hiring practices. When Urbana residents tried to bring these issues to the City Council, the Mayor muted them while the other Council members silently watched.
Our local government has the posture of an uncaring corporate entity, and has shown time and time again that it mostly wishes to act in its own interests, and in the interests of established powers and the status quo. The conversation has largely become one of denial and obfuscation. Our small-town charm and values are melting away.
I want a City Council that listens and responds to residents, and isn’t afraid of the discomfort associated with digging into difficult issues.
We need to include the voices and thoughts of our large student population.
The Urbana City Government rarely hears from college students and we almost never actively reach out to them, and I would like to see this changed.
We also need to include our many residents who are visiting Urbana from other countries. They’re a big part of our community.
Let’s also make this a time to focus on our local economy, especially given the damage done by the pandemic. I believe my experience and success in entrepreneurship makes me uniquely qualified to see that Urbana is inviting to new businesses, and not making missteps that dissuade local investment.
I look forward to a time when the most contentious issues at Urbana City Council meetings are chickens and unkempt lawns, but now is not that time. Right now, we need strong leaders to restore the basics of good governance and that is going to mean having difficult but honest conversations.
Cast your vote in the Democratic Primary Election on February 23, 2021!
- Exceptional history of engagement in Urbana Government, and with community leaders, interest groups, and concerned residents
- Truly independent – not tied to other politicians; my allegiance is to my own principles and to the residents of Ward 2
- Understanding and responsive to a large spectrum of Ward 2 residents
- Hands-on knowledge and experience with the Urbana City Code, UPD Policies, the Illinois State Constitution, the OMA, the FOIA, the Election Code, and the Citizen Participation Act
- Highly active driver for police reform and accountability for over 5 years
- Unwavering resolve and stamina for cutting through obstruction and nonsense until the work is done
- The only Ward 2 candidate with a strong business/entrepreneurial background
Urbana Ward 2 Map – Click map to view
Extremely Knowledgeable and Already Hard at Work
A Fierce Driver for Police Reform
Demonstrators amass just north of the Urbana City Building on June 1st, carrying signs for George Floyd, Aleyah Lewis, Black Lives Matter, and innumerable slogans for police reform and accountability
In 2015 I was arrested, jailed, and charged for a crime that never even happened. Tens of thousands of CU residents have read my story on www.corruptcu.com, and I’ve been tearing into our travesty of a justice system ever since.
Urbana has the ability to be a leader in police reform. Instead, our government is still asking “what is the least we can do to squeak by?” A year ago, the public, and even the City Council, could not even view our own police policies (everything and anything important was redacted).
Partially through my own efforts, the policies are now almost entirely available to the public. However, changes to police policy can be done at the whim of the police chief. Issues of police policy need to be overseen by the City Council, or a suitable advisory board composed of Urbana residents.
The CPRB needs to be significantly strengthened or completely rebuilt. Urbana residents have a right to know what their police department is doing, and they have a right to have strong civilian oversight. Demanding police accountability does not mean that we cannot also reduce crime at the same time.
Urbana needs to halt its obstructionist FOIA policies. About 90% of FOIA requests seek police records. Urbana’s obstinate FOIA policies make it extremely difficult for residents to oversee police activities.
Increasing police accountability and transparency also benefits crime reduction, because when the people trust the police, they tend to be more open to sharing information and working with them. When the people do not trust the police, crime increases. This is called the Ferguson Effect.
Though I have been a critic of the Urbana Police Department, I do not support abolishing the police or any variation of “defunding” the police if that means crippling its existence. It may be a popular slogan at protests, but very few Ward 2 residents support such measures.
My neighbors in Ward 2, even those who are also critics of the police, want to be able to call someone day or night if there is a serious problem. They want to feel comfortable that if/when they call the police (or an alternative service), they will get a quick but calm and responsible response. At the moment, I know many Ward 2 residents who hesitate to call the police because they fear a police response will result in escalation and make things worse.
Urbana residents deserve an open and effective, honest and non-violent police department that focuses first and foremost on de-escalation.
I do think we’re getting a poor return on our investment in the police department. Nearly a third of Urbana’s budget, over $11 million, is currently spent on policing, and we can keep raising that figure higher and higher. This is likely because we have always viewed crime reduction as a type of arms-race. I believe there are opportunities to reduce our policing expenses significantly while redirecting those funds at addressing the source/causes of crime. This may include an alternative unarmed response service which could respond to many of the calls for which law enforcement officers are not needed or trained.
I would like to see much more thorough efforts put into analyzing Urbana Police Department data, especially in regards to stop and arrest demographics. We should be looking closely at racial disparities and any other disparities that might suggest discriminatory practices.
Keeping the City Accountable and Transparent
Christopher Hansen will use his voice to hold the City accountable to the residents of Urbana
If we want any of our other work to be meaningful, the City of Urbana needs to address some issues to promote good governance. As I’ve documented extensively on CheckCU.org, Urbana leaders and staff have been committing some very serious Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) violations. When they please, City staff frequently ignore the ordinances that have been created by the Council. When the public tried to bring these issues to City Council meetings in 2020, the Mayor actively muted their speech.
These actions by our current administration, along with the complicit and sedentary Council members, have resulted in nothing but lawsuits and distrust.
If these problems are not solved, then any future work done by the Council may very well be meaningless. Urbana currently operates with a bare-minimum, or “what is the most that we can deny” attitude in regards to access and transparency.
I will bring forth legislation that makes Urbana operate well-above the statutory requirements for public records and open meetings. There is no reason that Urbana can’t do better than the bare-minimum. Instead, let’s make Urbana a leader in the state of Illinois when it comes to access to public records.
The Council needs a strong voice who will hold City management accountable and responsive to the people, and I’ve already shown myself to be that voice.
Safe Neighborhoods, Safe Travel
Walking and biking are popular means of transportation in Ward 2 – we need to prioritize road safety and usability
Ward 2 includes a large student population, and we really like to walk and bike a lot.
Whatever mode of transportation residents choose, everyone should feel safe on the streets and sidewalks.
This means smart road design that gives extra consideration to the safety and usability by pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters.
Our aging sidewalks can be a problem for people with disabilities, our older residents, people in wheelchairs, people using strollers, and children who are just learning to ride on wheels. Replacing every aging sidewalk in Ward 2 may not be feasible, but let’s make sure there are enough safe paths that people can navigate from point to point.
Ward 2 has a lot of neighborhood foot-traffic even late at night, and when we do see crime, it often happens at night. Our violent crime rate is lower than the state average, but we should still give some thought to this issue. Good lighting on primary paths can help. An effective and non-violent police department that residents trust could help a lot. At the moment, I know a lot of Ward 2 residents who are extremely hesitant to call the police, because they don’t trust that a situation will be handled responsibly.
Historic Preservation & Infrastructure, Starting from My Own Two Hands
Christopher Hansen works on restoring an old home in Ward 2
In Ward 2, we love our huge old growth trees and our historic homes. We love all the things that are unique and interesting every time you turn a corner, hidden in every nook and cranny. Those things should be preserved and cherished.
I’ve done more restoration work with my own two hands than almost any other person in Ward 2 can lay claim, which means I understand both the value and the cost of that work.
I want development to be responsible and respectful to the existing community.
Urbana has not been investing significantly in infrastructure and it shows. Unfortunately, there is no free lunch and we will need to consider those expenditures going forward. I do wonder why infrastructure improvement costs need to be as high as they are, and I would like to take a serious look at how Urbana goes about making those purchases.
I also believe there are ways to invite residents who are concerned about the quality of sidewalks on their blocks to take more localized action, and I would like to explore those ideas further. I personally met with our City Right of Way Technician 2 years ago and asked if I could pull-up and reinstall a very uneven brick sidewalk (at my own cost), and I was told that I was not allowed to do that. The City’s cost for doing the same work would be about $5,000. 2 years later, that sidewalk is still lumpy and uneven, and something is wrong with this picture.
I am very excited about the possibility for more walking and biking trails in Urbana.
Urbana Supports Human Rights, and not Just for Pretend
Christopher Hansen argues against City Attorney James Simon at a special hearing of the Urbana Human Relations Commission. Hansen caught the City discriminating against job applicants and Simon claimed that Urbana’s Human Rights laws don’t apply to the City of Urbana.
The people of Ward 2 have made it painfully clear that discrimination is high on their list of issues that Urbana should be addressing. Right now, the City of Urbana only pretends to care about discrimination in employment and housing.
I’ve been deeply engaged with the Urbana Human Relations Commission for the past year, and I think there is a lot of important work to do on our Human Rights Ordinance.
For example, currently the City legal department argues that the City does not have to follow the same equal-opportunity laws that we expect private employers to follow.
I would prioritize strengthening our Human Rights Ordinance to improve resident access, empower the Human Relations Commission, and limit City staff meddling in the process.
I’m anxious to see what the Township can get done with their extra funding. I am very interested in hearing more about the possibility of establishing a year-round emergency shelter for the purposes of addressing homelessness and serving those who find themselves in difficult and traumatic life circumstances.
Pandemic Recovery, not Pandemic Posturing
Small local businesses in Downtown Urbana have suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic
There is not a lot that Urbana can do to change the larger circumstances of the pandemic. I think Urbana could easily burn itself out by trying to combat such a big issue locally. We should have sensible measures, but be cautious of anything that simply appears to be heavy-handed political posturing. For example, when the Mayor proposed a small gathering ban that would require family members in a residence to prove their familial relationships to police, and placed $750 fines on anyone who did not comply, I spoke loudly against that. Let’s not allow the pandemic to invite new types of civil rights violations.
Urbana will be better-off a year from now, given the unfortunate realities of the pandemic, if we focused on working on Urbana issues. To me, the most important long-term conversation we can have is about inviting new business and investment to Urbana in the aftermath of the pandemic.
I am greatly concerned with the number of businesses that have permanently closed due to the pandemic. These closures are not just a loss to the economy, but a melting away of the heart and character of our town.
Urbana needs to be flexible and ready consider more new and creative types of business proposals in the near future, so that we can let small sparks of ingenuity grow locally.
The Environment and Urbana’s Urban Forest
Lush old growth trees line Green Street in Urbana
The City should place high value on our beloved trees and invest in replanting disease-resistant varieties anytime we lose one. Anytime we have opportunity to create green space in or around the downtown areas, let’s do it!
As a municipality, Urbana’s reach on global environment issues is limited. However, one of the biggest and best things we do to help on this front is in our Municipal Electric Aggregation program where the City negotiates 100% Green energy rates for all of Urbana. We can also make sure that the City doesn’t put undue obstacles in front of residents and businesses wanting to install solar panels.
I would be in favor of stronger enforcement of littering laws and perhaps greater efforts by the City to keep streets and sidewalks clean.
Comprehensive Plan: Let’s Start with Urbana Values
Urbana currently has no stated set of values. I believe that we need to preface our new comprehensive plan with a set of core City values that guide us, and which public can cite when keeping their government in check.
I believe that something like a comprehensive plan is a good opportunity for politicians to speak less, and listen more. I really like much of Urbana the way it is, but I’m still very interested in identifying how we can change for the better. For example, I think Urbana needs a revitalized and livelier downtown scene.
Concerning issues of zoning, I don’t believe that this is best settled by a strict set of rules. I believe it is naïve to think that we can contemplate and predict perfect zoning solutions with a grand scheme. That is why I think the existing process where we have a set of zoning rules and any new planning/zoning issues go through one or more boards/commissions, and sometimes to the Council, makes sense. I get the impression that some people think that perfectly written zoning laws are a solution to a difficult to define problem, but I disagree. I think the process of having the applicant and the public show up to a public meeting and argue their cases is probably the best approach, and it has the advantage of constantly inviting public participation, which is a good thing!
Mayoral Appointments for the People, not for the Mayor
Currently, the Mayor appoints about 150 different members of boards and commissions (often also choosing a chairperson) and about 2 dozen different department head and staff positions.
The Council has virtually no input on these appointments and this puts far too much power in the hands of the Mayor. The result is that many of our boards and commissions are a reflection of the Mayor: they lack independent thought, diversity, and strong leadership.
The residents of Urbana are not well-served by weak leadership and lack of diversity on our boards and commissions. Some of the boards and commissions that should be solving problems in Urbana suffer from lack of attendance and motivation.
This process needs to change so that the public and Council members play a greater role in selecting Urbana leadership. I would support a petition mechanism which would empower the people of Urbana to compel Council consideration of a board seat, bypassing the Mayor entirely.
Why I’m the Best Candidate
I am the only Ward 2 candidate with a strong history of engagement in Urbana Government. I’ve attended every single City Council meeting for the past year, and I’ve spoken at nearly every one of those meetings. I’ve attended and spoken at every Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) meeting for the past 16 months and have similar engagement with the Human Relations Commission (HRC). I’ve also attended and spoken at numerous meetings of the Civil Service Commission, Plan Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and the Electoral Board. The other candidates running for the Ward 2 seat haven’t participated in Urbana meetings anytime in the past year, if ever.
On multiple occasions, I’ve personally met with the leaders of boards and commissions to discuss City business. I’ve held numerous meetings with other concerned Urbana residents and interest groups, usually focusing on the issue of police reform.
The CPRB is currently using a petition that I co-authored as their rubric for improving civilian police oversight. The HRC is in the process of proposing changes to the Urbana Human Rights Ordinance based on problems that I brought forth.
I’ve also attended and spoken at recent Police Listening Sessions in Urbana and Champaign, and I attended and spoke at almost all of the Champaign Human Relations Committee and Citizens review subcommittee meetings for the past 2 years.
I’ve written more than a hundred news articles about local government, and I regularly send information and suggestions to the current Urbana City Council. These points often help shape Council discussion on important issues. I also started a public records library which hosts thousands of pages of public documents, free to access by anyone.
I am the only Ward 2 candidate who went out and gathered all of my own candidate petition signatures, and who has no affiliation with established powers. I am truly independent and intend to stay that way. I believe this is important because many of the governance problems I’ve identified over the past few years are a result of, or are exacerbated by, the tendency for those in power to help their friends and ignore misconduct. My only allegiance is to my own principles and to the residents of Ward 2.
I am the only Ward 2 candidate to have lived in Urbana as a student, teacher, employee, employer, tenant, homeowner, and business owner. My 18+ years in Urbana has allowed me to wear many hats. I first lived in Ward 2 as a student in the Illinois Street Residence Hall, then I moved to an apartment on the 700 block of W Green St., then I bought my own home in Ward 2. I believe the aggregation of all of that experience makes me very capable of being understanding and responsive to a large spectrum of Ward 2 residents. I look forward to expanding that spectrum even further as alderman.
I am the only candidate (and one of only 3 people in 13 years) to have gone through the Civilian Police Review Board complaint and appeals process. I’m the only person in two decades to have gone through the Urbana Human Rights complaint and appeals process. I’m the only candidate who has hands-on experience with Urbana’s new FOIA policies.
I am very familiar with the Urbana City Code, the Illinois State Constitution, the Open Meetings Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Citizen Participation Act. I have repeatedly demonstrated myself more competent in these areas of expertise than Urbana City staff, and I have emerged successful in legal arguments against Urbana’s Legal Department a dozen or more times.
I believe I am the only candidate with the skills and resources needed to bring my own written legislation to the Council. In regards to accountability and transparency, it is painfully clear that the City legal department and City administration will not be cooperative in enacting the types of changes that residents demand – it will be up to the new cohort of aldermen to shoulder that work. Ward 2 will not be well-served by yet another follower – Ward 2 needs a strong leader.