Progressive Values. Practical Results.
Daniel believes every decision at City Hall should pass a simple test: does it make life better, more affordable, safer, or easier for the people of the 35th Ward?
Priority 1
Making Chicago More Affordable
Teachers, nurses, firefighters, service workers, young families, and seniors should be able to afford the neighborhoods they call home.
Daniel will support policies that increase housing supply, expand access to affordable housing, encourage homeownership, and reduce unnecessary barriers that make housing more expensive to build.
He will work to change our outdated zoning to allow us to create housing along our transit and commercial corridors and to build more gentle density across all of our neighborhoods. He will work to ban Aldermanic prerogative and adopt a best practices approach to city planning.
Chicago cannot continue to be a competitive world-class city if we don’t plan and build housing like a world-class city. Chicago cannot become a city where only the wealthy can afford to stay.
He is committed to promoting a housing-first approach to tackle the homelessness epidemic and work to provide condition-free housing with wrap-around services to our unhoused neighbors. This approach is not only more humane, it is actually less expensive than the current system that the city employs.
Priority 2
Responsible Government and Respect for Taxpayers
Chicagoans pay enough to expect a government that works. Chicago is the largest city in America without a city charter. That means that our city does not have a constitution. We don’t have a set of rules that govern how our City Council and our Mayor run our city. It’s how the parking meter deal got done, it’s why we don’t have an independent budget office and it’s how the Mayor is allowed to appoint his political allies to City Council.
Daniel believes progressive priorities and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand.
He will push for passage of a city charter so we can hold our elected representatives accountable, have transparent budgets, scrutinize wasteful spending, demand better from city agencies, and focus taxpayer dollars on services and investments that produce real results.
Every tax dollar should have a purpose, and City Hall should be able to explain it.
To learn more about the movement to pass a city charter you can visit A More Just Chicago
Priority 3
Supporting Small Businesses
Small businesses create jobs, strengthen neighborhood commercial corridors, and make our communities vibrant.
Daniel has built businesses himself and knows how frustrating unnecessary bureaucracy can be.
He will work to streamline permitting, make city processes more predictable, improve communication between businesses and City Hall, and make the 35th Ward a place where entrepreneurs want to invest.
City Hall should help good businesses open their doors—not stand in the doorway.
Priority 4
Safe Communities
Every resident deserves to feel safe walking home, riding public transit, operating a business, or letting their children play outside.
Daniel supports effective and accountable public safety.
That means investing in violence prevention and intervention, expanding mental health resources, addressing the root causes of crime, and demanding professional, constitutional policing. As a volunteer with the Exoneration Project, Daniel saw first-hand how the system can fail.
Safe communities also mean safe streets, for everyone. Daniel is committed to implementing a Vision Zero strategy for all users; pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
Chicago does not have to choose between public safety and progressive values.
We deserve both.
Priority 5
Standing Up for Immigrant Communities
Daniel came to America from Colombia when he was seven years old.
He understands what it means for a family to come here searching for safety, stability, and opportunity. His mom revalidated her career as a nurse and worked at the Cook County Tuberculosis Clinic, his dad started a small business in Chicago, and his brother became a doctor. His family is a testament to how immigrants have a positive effect on our communities.
He will always stand up for immigrant families and oppose tactics that intimidate or terrorize law-abiding residents.
Chicago can manage its resources responsibly while still treating people with dignity.
Priority 6
Strong Public Schools
Public schools helped make Daniel’s American dream possible.
As a father with a child in CPS and Local School Council member at Kelvyn Park High School, he believes every Chicago child deserves that same opportunity.
Daniel will advocate for strong neighborhood schools, responsible CPS finances, investments that reach classrooms, and decisions centered on students instead of political agendas.
Our children deserve more than promises.
They deserve results.
Priority 7
Independent Leadership at City Hall
The 35th Ward does not need a rubber stamp for a political machine.
Daniel will work with the Mayor, City Council, labor, businesses, community groups, and anyone else who is serious about making Chicago better.
But his loyalty will always be to the residents of the 35th Ward.
When City Hall gets something right, Daniel will support it.
When City Hall gets something wrong, he will say so.
That is what independent representation looks like.
Priority 8
Fixing the way we elect leaders
Chicago’s election system is designed to do one thing: protect incumbents. From ballot signature challenges to low turnout, off-cycle elections in the middle of the winter, our elections are geared to make it more difficult to hold our elected officials accountable.
Daniel is committed to moving our elections to November to coincide with federal and state elections in order to increase turnout. He also wants to change the way we allow people to get on the ballot and to pass ranked choice voting.