Justin Osborne: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: St. CharlesWebsite: http://www.osbornefirstward.com/Office sought: St. Charles City Council Ward 1 (4-year Term)Age: 23Family: Candidate did not respondOccupation: CNC MachinistEducation: St. Charles East High School (graduated 2007)Columbica College Chicago (2007-2009, Film and Video)Elgin Community College (2009-Present)Northern Illinois University (2012-Present, History)Civic involvement: Candidate did not respondElected offices held: Candidate did not respondHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Representation. My singular goal for the office of First Ward Alderman is to represent the majority desire among First Ward residents. I will seek out that majority, seek to understand it, and uphold it in the City Council. At the same time, minority views will heard, honored, and applied wherever possible.Key Issue 2 Visibility. To reach the majority view, a visible and communicative officeholder is indispensible. I will employ ways to keep in contact with First Ward residents, to tap their feelings, and to continually inform them of the issues in their city.Key Issue 3 Accountability. As alderman, I would be accountable to the First Ward residents for all voting decisions. If there is a disagreement with any resident, I will provide thorough explaination and reasoning of the kind that I myself would expect of my elected officials.Questions Answers Under what circumstances, if any, should financial incentives, including TIF districts, be used to lure residential and commercial development to the city?Financial incentives from the city should be used as a lure only when all other options are exhausted and if it is economically intelligent (and responsible) to do so. Incentives from the city are frought with risks and can place a strain on our treasury.What is the future of Charlestowne Mall as you see it? Would you support the use of eminent domain by the city to gain control of the property? I believe the future of the Charlestowne Mall is wide open. As a young person, this site has great appeal to me and, as a resident, I have been waiting a long time to see something done about it. The site is still viable, since it continues to attract movie-goers to its cinema and, though to a lesser degree, shoppers to its anchor stores. It can still be used for business, for entertainment, and/or leisure. I believe, with renewed talks between the city and the Mall owners, as well as an intensified investigation into how the residents envision the Mall's revival, we have the wonderful and unique opportunity to go in almost any direction with the existing building--all we have to do is get going. I cannot say I would support eminent domain at this time; we need to discover what the owners intend first. As a rule, I frown on eminent domain where a property owner is not negligent or harmful. I frown because it is intrusive; it threatens to be an excess of government power where it is not a legal matter; it is confiscation by another name (justification for which needs to be thorough); and it places the burden of the compensation and subsequent maintenance of that property entirely on the city until new ownership is found.Are you comfortable with the mix of taverns and the conduct of their patrons in downtown St. Charles?I am uneasy about these things, because they diminish our city's reputation as a city for families. I think there is enough of a variety of taverns in our downtown that it would not be unkind to say we should not permit any more new establishments, including those taverns that simultaneously serve as restaurants. As for patron misconduct, it can be reduced not only through the discouragement of negative behavior but also through the encouragement of favorable behavior. The St. Charles Tavern Association and the City Council should investigate both in its strategy.What aspects must a redevelopment of the old St. Charles Mall property include? Would you support any level of residential development on that property?A redevelopment of the St. Charles Mall site should include creativity, a true resolve to improve the area, and a respect for the surrounding residents. I personally do not envision large amounts of residency on the site, but I would support such development if it is the will of the nearby 5th Warders (as well as the 1st Ward residents for whom I would ultimately be responsible to represent).Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, and discuss how you think it should be addressed.Candidate did not respond.