Shamoon Ebrahimi: 2023 candidate for Des Plaines City Council, Ward 8

Bio

Town: Des Plaines

Age on Election Day: 42

Occupation: School counselor

Employer: Maine West High School

Previous offices held: Current 8th Ward alderman, Des Plaines (appointed)

Q&A

Q: What is the most serious issue your community will face in the coming years and how should the city council or village board respond to it?

A: I largely believe that access to mental health resources in this community is one of the most serious issues facing our community. I know this because I have been serving this community for the past decade as a high school counselor at Maine West. With each year, we have seen a rise in school counselor walk-ins, threat assessments, risk assessments and adolescents referred to hospitalization programs. In order for us to help improve this issue, it has to be something that all of us have contribute to. The city council can respond to it by increasing social services funding for organizations providing mental health support, opening an opportunity for another social worker at the police department, and providing incentives for a new mental health agency to open in Des Plaines.

Q: How would you describe the state of your community's finances?

A: I believe that the state of our finances have never been better. There was a time when we had over $100M in debt and now we are a few years away from having 0 debt! Furthermore, our city has not raised taxes for its people for the last few years.

Q: What should be the three top priorities for spending in your community during the next four years?

A: 1.) Revitalizing downtown Des Plaines. 2.) Providing incentives that are better than our neighbors to bring in small business, particularly restaurants. 3.) Increased social service spending, particularly for mental health.

Q: What do you think is the right way to revitalize Metropolitan Square? Should it be funded privately or publicly or not at all?

A: I think the city of Des Plaines should buy it and get creative with improving it.

Q: Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed? If so, what are they?

A: No, I think we do a good job with spending and the numbers don't lie.

Q: Is city hall doing enough to retain businesses in town and lure new ones? If not, what should be done?

A: Yes, but I think we can do more like provide creative incentives. For example, helping pay three-six months of the rent.

Q: What do you see as the most important infrastructure project the community must address? Why and how should it be paid for? Conversely, during these uncertain economic times, what project(s) can be put on the back burner?

A: Building a bridge on Algonquin so the flow of traffic can improve when trains cross major streets. We have a unique opportunity to use Federal incentive programs to help pay for it! Any project that may cause significant risk is what I would like to put on the back burner.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage local government? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

A: As the current 8th Ward alderman, I've had the privilege of doing that several times. My style consists of hearing the opinions of the residents, conducting my own research on how my decision will impact most of the residents, and asking questions from the experts.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: I have served this community for the past nine years at the high school setting. I have a strong grasp for what the people really need. I've seen what people struggle with on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, I've driven through this downtown for over a decade and cannot live with it any longer. I will do whatever it takes to improve it, attract more people to it and revitalize it's economy.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

A: How about we put our heads to get to bring in a mental health support center right in the downtown area?