An open letter to the House candidates

An open letter to the candidates for the 5th congressional district of Illinois. This letter was forwarded to the campaigns of Mike Quigley (Democrat), Rosanna Pulido (Republican) and Matt Reichel (Green Party). The 2009 special election is on April 7, 2009.

Dear candidate for the 5th congressional district of Illinois,

On September 13 and 14, 2008, Chicago’s Albany Park community was hit hard by record rainfall and major flooding of the Chicago River.

Although hundreds of neighbors, volunteers and city workers worked long hours during this crisis, there are some serious questions to be asked and answered.

If you are chosen by the people of the 5th congressional district of Illinois to represent them in the House of Representatives, what would you do to prevent another September disaster?

More specifically, what would you do, long- and short term, to help protect Albany Park from flooding caused by the Chicago River? What would you do to help push forward measures to update Albany Park’s sewer and drainage system, eliminating annual water back-up issues? And lastly, what would you do to improve the communication, response and readiness of the departments and agencies in charge?

These are important questions and I kindly request that you answer these questions no later than Friday, March 27, so that voters have ample time to come to a well-informed decision. This letter is posted as an open letter at http://albanyparkneighbors.blogspot.com.

Sincerely,

Marc van Bree
Albany Park resident