Benjamin White: 2021 candidate for Naperville City Council

Incumbent Benjamin White, one of 11 candidates running for four 4-year terms on Naperville City Council, responds to the Daily Herald candidate questionnaire for the April 6, 2021, local elections.

In-person early voting with paper ballots is now available at the DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.

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Bio

City: Naperville

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired Army Officer; JROTC Senior Army Instructor at Joliet West High School

Civic involvement: Founder of Naperville Neighbors United; board member of Public Policy Committee Chair 100 Black Men of Chicago, Loaves and Fishes, Community Alliance Prevention (360 Youth Services) and Naperville Development Partnership

Q&A

Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state and federal authorities?

A: Not having to experience a pandemic of the scope of COVID-19 within the lifetimes of most people, we collectively found ourselves relying on elected leaders and scientific/medical experts to lead the way. I believe the top priority for an elected official is the safety of its residents. It's important that leaders get as much pertinent information as possible from experts before decisions are made.

Once the information is analyzed, cross referenced, and weighed by city leadership, then it's up to leaders to set the conditions for the public to understand the significance and impact on their daily lives. Leaders must fully explain, with facts and scientific evidence, the ramifications of inaction or ill-informed measures on the public if the decisions are not followed.

Maybe the best analogy is to remember the public effort during World War II when civilians did their part by sacrificing and working hard so the soldiers on the front line would have the necessary resources needed to win the war.

In the end, the role of an elected official encompasses all three of the listed approaches and helping the community adjust to unpleasant and inconvenient realities and to hear them out is the job of elected leaders.

Q: Did your town continue to adequately serve its constituents during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.

A: Naperville continued to provide services to its residents, despite the closure of the municipal buildings. Working remotely matters were promptly addressed. Council meetings went virtual. Residents were able to address the council by submitting public comments virtually, perhaps increasing the ability to participate.

Public works projects took place with crews working safely and diligently to complete their tasks. Since street and pedestrian traffic was reduced, several capital improvement projects were moved up in priority as they would be less disruptive.

The city gave financial relief to residents and businesses who were negatively affected by the crisis due to layoffs or reduced customer traffic. All large scale outdoor festivals/parades were canceled and adjustments made for alternatives, when practical.

For instance, the traditional Santa photo at the Riverwalk was replaced with a walk-up visit through plexiglass for the little ones ... just one small example of safe adjustments that were made. Restaurants went to outdoor dining and limited indoor dining based on the current state guidelines at that time. Schools adjusted by going to remote and hybrid teaching models. Nothing can replace in-person teaching but it would have been difficult to teach at all without the technology available to students today.

Q: In light of our experiences with COVID-19, what safeguards/guidelines should you put in place to address any future public health crises?

A: I think it would be important to create a public health crisis action plan that would cover the most critical components of addressing a crisis. The action plan should be developed in collaboration with city staff, public safety officials, Edward Hospital, both local school districts, and representatives from the business community.

PPE was an immediate need that was unmet for a period of time. I believe determining what an emergency supply of PPE might look like for the city and then procuring and storing that supply for a future emergency would make sense.

Perhaps continuing to practice working remotely for a to-be-determined time would make sense. If those who could work remotely did this twice a month, we could be prepared to shift to remote, if that need arises again.

Finally, creating a communication tool that would provide daily virus/health updates for the community would be helpful.

Q: What cuts can local government make to reduce the burden of the pandemic on taxpayers?

A: In the case of Naperville, the council deferred a renewal and infrastructure project for the downtown area: local businesses were worried that just as restrictions might be lifted, access to their businesses was going to be obstructed. Naperville has its financial house in order and does not anticipate having to cut any particular services to its residents, nor will it be raising any sort of fee or tax. The city should continue supporting residents who have been financially impacted by the pandemic by making arrangements for them to pay their bills at a later date or relieve the debt all together based on extreme circumstances.

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

A: Traffic in Naperville continues to be a top concern for residents. As a result, the road networks will be a top priority for me. Naperville has dedicated a great deal of resources to its roads and is projected to invest $12 million into road improvements and maintenance for 2021.

Naperville is already partnering and sharing costs with other government municipalities to improve some of the major arterial roads. Construction will soon start on North Aurora Road between Frontenac Road and Weston Ridge Drive for $6.3 million and the North Aurora underpass at the CN Railroad for just under $4 million.

Finally, the long anticipated construction of the downtown Washington Bridge will impact traffic flow in the downtown area and will cost $2.3 million, which is a fraction of the overall cost that will be covered by the state and federal government. As stated previously, the downtown street improvement project could be delayed due to the anticipated negative effect on the downtown businesses during COVID-19.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the stance the council has taken on permitting recreational marijuana sales in the community? What would you change about that stance, if you could?

A: I supported the ability for recreational dispensaries to locate their stores in Naperville, with certain guidelines in place, such as zoning and hours of operation. Naperville now has three dispensaries located within its borders and all are operating positively and without issue.

Naperville has had the benefit of observing other communities prior to implementation, which has allowed us to learn from their experiences. The city is also projected to raise $1 million in sales tax revenue from these dispensaries as well. Finally, I am satisfied with the stance I took and would not change anything.

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

A: During my previous run for city council, I spoke of the importance of getting to know one's neighbors. With support and encouragement from the community, I founded Naperville Neighbors United to provide a proactive vehicle for residents to come together to have conversations around topics such as race, religion, culture, and sexual orientation. The ultimate goal was to recognize and celebrate our differences while understanding we have much more in common than we have that is different.

Naperville Neighbors United proved to be a valuable resource for our community during the time when our community experienced some troubling racial incidents. Residents were able to discuss their concerns and more importantly, discuss positive ways forward to make our community better.

This summer, NNU will organize and sponsor the first Juneteenth Celebration and we will continue to reach out to the community with other initiatives as well. Shared cultural experiences will help to further the concept that there is strength in diversity.