Jami Bay: Candidate For Highland Park City Council

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Highland Park Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Six candidates are seeking three available seats on the Highland Park City Council. Only one of the three incumbents with an expiring term in office is running for re-election.

Highland Park Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim and in the order they have been received.

Jami Bay

Age (as of Election Day)
64

City of Residence
Highland Park

Office Sought
City council

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Education
University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) B.S. Pre-Law, Political Science, 1979. Juris Doctor, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, with Special Recognition, 1983.

Occupation
Owner of Love's Yogurt in Highland Park, Self-employed Attorney, President and CEO of Bay Properties, Ltd., 37 years of experience.

Campaign website
www.jamibay.com

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
Commissioner on the Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The Pandemic. At the current time, all other issues take a back seat to the ongoing
Pandemic. How successful we are in dealing with it will determine the time frame, our
abilities and the course of what needs to be done in our future. Although health care
responses are administered at the County and State level, when we can assist in any
manner at the local level, we must. Consideration needs to be given to our future, both
immediate and longer-term to plan a path forward as the virus hopefully becomes
more under control. The City must do all that is in our power to mitigate the spread of
the disease and work simultaneously to maintain our fiscal sustainability, public safety,
and overall quality of life.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I support Black Lives Matter. The purpose of the movement is to further combat and reduce the systemic racism that has existed and continues in this country. Accordingly, I support peaceful demonstrations and protests which is a right of all citizens. Unfortunately, the violence that sometimes occurs hurts the message and should never be condoned or encouraged in any fashion. There remains a lot of work left to do in this country and elsewhere to achieve true equality, brotherhood and respect for one another. We will all be better off the closer we come to that happening.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

Until racial equality is achieved I don’t think anyone has done enough to support it. The council should continue with its existing policies and expand upon them to do all it can in support of racial equality in all matters where it may come into play. Highland Park’s statements against hate and in support of equality are steps in the right direction. The work of the Human Relations Advisory Group and the advances in Police Department policies and training are also impactful, but there is still much that needs to be done.

What are your thoughts on the national and local coronavirus response? Do you favor measures such as limiting operation of non-essential businesses and restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a local mask mandate?

The National coronavirus response under the prior administration was woefully lacking, to say the least. Illinois did a bit better. Limiting or restricting businesses of any kind should be a last resort and for as limited a duration as possible, taking into consideration the recommendations of science and medicine. I do favor mask mandates for as long as necessary. Thankfully, the efforts towards the rapid vaccination of as many people as possible seems to be progressing and giving cause for cautious optimism.

What are your thoughts on the state and local coronavirus vaccine distribution, and how do you think local governments should work together to handle vaccine rollout?

The vaccine needs to be distributed as safely, fairly and efficiently as possible. Local governments should be willing partners and do all they reasonably can in achieving this goal.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a local business owner in the heart of Downtown Highland Park (Love’s Yogurt), an attorney, an active member of the community who has served on advisory boards and currently serves as a Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals member, a parent, and a longtime resident, I possess a unique perspective and awareness of many of the issues that Highland Park has faced and will continue to need to confront.. I am solution-oriented and will put my background in law and business to work as I ask the tough questions and seek impactful solutions. Through this process, competing interests will be balanced to reach the greater good for the community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

My candidacy and this race provide an opportunity for the community to gain fresh perspectives and ideas to address both the issues that remain and the ones that will present themselves. Highland Park has, for the most part, been well run as the City Council and staff focus on the core priorities of fiscal stability, infrastructure investment, public safety, and community vibrancy. Could some things have been done better or differently? Of course. My experience, background, and skills will bring impactful, new insights to facilitate the ongoing good work that is being done. As a team, we will build upon successes, and change course where needed.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Ask the right questions, gather input, consider the alternatives, and make decisions based on what is in the best interests of the community as a whole. This is my philosophy to get things done and make our government work effectively and efficiently for residents, businesses, and visitors. Focusing, on the carefully crafted core priorities of fiscal stability, public safety, infrastructure investment, and community vibrancy is crucial. Overall, making all changes and decisions with an eye towards the goal of making Highland Park as much of a welcoming, thriving, enjoyable and safe place to live as possible, will be my guiding principle.
As a longtime local business owner who has weathered periods of financial turbulence over my time as owner of the Love’s franchise, I deeply understand the importance of business revitalization, especially as we emerge from the pandemic. Coming out of the pandemic it is especially crucial to support our local businesses to make certain they survive and thrive. We need to closely monitor the recent zoning changes, evaluate regulation modifications, and continue to collaborate with our business community, including property owners and developers, to attract new businesses and retain existing ones. Attracting ‘feet on the street’ in a variety of ways, including allowing for some flexibility and review of zoning and restrictions, partnering in marketing and promotional efforts, and a cooperative environment are all pieces of that partnership. If a community has thriving businesses, more people will want to live, work, visit, and open additional businesses there.
Highland Park is a leader in environmental initiatives. There is always more that can be done to take meaningful steps towards protecting our environment. Climate change remains an existential threat to our world. The struggle begins at the local level. Electric vehicles for the city, where safe and cost-effective should be used whenever feasible. Incentivizing solar, wind and/or other renewables needs to be explored. Recycling and other common-sense measures to further minimize the damage being done need to be augmented where appropriate. In short, every effort at the local level to fight and hopefully bolster the reversal of climate change, should be made.
As a result of the pandemic, operational revenues have diminished resulting in a
significant shortfall in our budget. We need to continue working with our partners,
identify inefficiencies, and address this funding gap. The State of Illinois has issued
mandates without providing the necessary funding for implementation. We need to
continue to persuade the State to live up to its fiscal obligations to our community.
Cost-sharing with neighboring communities where practical, along with further
remediation of ongoing flooding problems are among other significant issues to
continue to address.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have run a successful business that has been in Highland Park for over 35 years. I
have served in an advisory capacity for different boards in Highland Park and continue
to serve as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. I come prepared and rule in a fair and equitable manner on the matters that come before us. I have been an attorney
for over 35 years and my clients trust me to always represent their best interests. My
experience includes property management and real estate development as CEO of a
Real Estate company that has existed for almost 30 years. I co-founded a successful
charity to address the needs of young adults with special needs. We have raised 2
children in Highland Park and have come to know many of its residents and many of
the things that are important to them. We have made and retained lifelong friendships
here in Highland Park and elsewhere and I believe that, perhaps, to be among my
greatest accomplishments.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Maintaining the respect and trust of the people who know me and gaining the respect and trust of the people I would represent. Being regarded as a fair person and a good and responsive listener. To implement as much of my stated goals and platform as possible with the sole purpose of making Highland Park even better, although it sounds like a cliché, would be a great accomplishment.

Why should voters trust you?

Trust is to be earned. Each day of my professional life and while I serve as an appointed official, I work towards this goal. Given the opportunity to serve as a Councilman I will do the same. I bring no agenda to the City Council other than to serve the community to the best of my abilities.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Fiscal responsibility is most important. The City’s budget is the single most important policy statement that we make .Transparency, accountability and fairness are essential. Every issue and expense needs to be thoroughly researched and investigated to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and prudently. Meaningful partnerships need to be sought out and established to assist in our efficiencies and synergies.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My grandfather told me almost 60 years ago to always bet against the Cubs. If I had followed that advice until 2016, I’d likely be a very wealthy philanthropist by now.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’m a long time Highland Parker who has lived and raised a family here. I own a successful business in the community that has thrived here for many years. I also have other relatives here. My goals are to maintain all that is good about Highland Park and seek improvement and especially revitalization where most needed. I have been involved on different levels and in different capacities over the years and I am seeking to expand that involvement to put my experience and my perspectives to work for the benefit of our city. I am committed to continuing to listen to the needs and opinions of all who reside here and I also commit to making myself available and responsive to those I will represent.