19th ward blizzard response - the candidates respond: Ray Coronado

On Friday, I mentioned pedestrian safety issues in the wake of last week's blizzard. I've asked the candidates how they would handle future blizzards if they were elected alderman. I previously posted Anne Schaible's response and continue to will post responses as I receive them from other candidates.

The following is Ray Coronado's response:

My father spent 33 working for Streets and Sanitation so I know a little about the workings of the department. When we have a storm or blizzard like we did last week the main focus has always been to attack the main streets and make sure they are clear for the public and emergency traffic. Once the main streets are clear the next priority are the side streets.

While this is happening, they pull the garbage trucks from their regular duty to plow city streets. This leaves the laborers free. This labor force has always been utilized to clear sidewalks, crosswalks, bus stops, and around fire hydrants and generally make sure that pedestrians can safely get around the neighborhood.

What happened last week was inexcusable. What have the laborers been doing since they can't pick up garbage?

It is the responsibility of the Ward Superintendent to make sure the streets and sidewalks are cleaned and salted for the residents of the ward. The Alderman also needs to be held accountable for not making sure the Ward Superintendent is getting the job done. I believe this plan is a good one if followed. The question is: why wasn't it?

Anne Schaible has proposed changing to a grid system for trash collection to save money, which would mean we would lose the labor force we currently have in our ward to combat snow removal. Can you imagine how much worse the neighborhood would be if we lose the manpower to help with snow removal? I am against this plan.

19th ward aldermanic candidates - Ray Coronado

This is the first installment in a series on our 19th ward aldermanic candidates.

Ray Coronado is a running a grassroots campaign, making face-to-face contact with voters. He is accepting no campaign contributions, because he does not want to be biased by them or have any personal obligations to donors if he is elected. If elected, he intends to make alderman his full-time job, and to hold regular town hall meetings to get input from constituents.

His answers to the IVI-IPO questionnaire provide more detail on his positions.

If you're interested in following his campaign or volunteering, here's a link to his Facebook page.