Memos to Chicago Mayor-Elect Lightfoot on good governance

What the new administration can do to make our government more efficient and more representative

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Last week, our executive director, Madeleine Doubek, was honored to join many of our partners as a member of the Lightfoot transition committee on good governance. 

As a member of this transition committee, we prepared two memos on what the new administration can to do make our government more efficient and more representative of its residents.

You can read our two memos below:
1. Government Efficiency. Among the objectives you campaigned on was one to create a more efficient and effective government through city-county and other government collaborations. As you’ve noted the city’s finances are dire, therefore it’s critical that every effort be made to streamline and achieve those efficiencies.

To achieve it, create a Chicago Efficiency Initiativethat starts with a full audit of city government and its spending. [Read the full memo]

2. “Conflict-Free Chicago.”In a campaign cycle that saw an FBI probe into allegations the city’s longest-serving alderman shook down a fast-food restaurant owner, another alderman wore a wire, and a third convicted of wire fraud, your victory makes it clear there is a hunger for a change toward ethics, truly representative democracy and accountability. As you noted, Chicago residents expect quick action to institute public policies that will transform systems so any resident can run and win and officials know they must act in the public’s interest or they will be held to account if they falter.

Voters have made it clear they share your commitment to create “a more open, representative and diverse government, free from conflicts of interest.”To achieve it, create a “Conflict-Free Chicago”— a city government where politicians truly are representative public servants who must operate with integrity and accountability, leaving behind the Chicago Machine and ward boss systems. [Read the full memo]

Voters have made it clear they share your commitment to create “a more open, representative and diverse government, free from conflicts of interest.”To achieve it, create a “Conflict-Free Chicago”— a city government where politicians truly are representative public servants who must operate with integrity and accountability, leaving behind the Chicago Machine and ward boss systems. [Read the full memo]

Memos to Chicago Mayor-Elect Lightfoot on good governanceHave other ideas you want us to bring up at the transition committee meetings? Email us!