Re-Connection - February 2011

February 2011

www.metroplanning.org

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, Chicago voters will go to the polls to elect their first new mayor in 22 years. Last night, a crowd of 2,000 gathered at the Oriental Theatre in the Loop to hear the top four contenders – Gery Chico, Miguel del Valle, Rahm Emanuel, and Carol Moseley Braun – duke it out during this historic campaign’s final debate, televised by WLS-Channel 7 and co-sponsored by MPC and several other civic organizations.

Where We Stand

The top four contenders in Chicago's mayoral race prepare for Thursday night's WLS-Channel 7 debate, cosponsored by MPC.

Amy Boyle Photography

The race for Chicago’s next mayor has been fast and furious, and MPC has offered ideas and assistance to all the candidates throughout the campaign. Our Keepers and Seekers briefing book, which we provided to all of Chicago's mayoral and aldermanic candidates, provides resources and information on policies and positions that will keep Chicago – and the entire metropolitan region – competitive, equitable and sustainable. Keepers are current programs and initiatives led by the City of Chicago that should continue or be expanded. Seekers are initiatives, programs and activities that need nurturing and increased support from the city to succeed.

Each of the candidates – those who debated last night, as well as William “Dock” Walls III and Patricia Van Pelt Watkins – has shared his or her own ideas for improving infrastructure, supporting neighborhoods, improving the environment, and attracting new jobs to Chicago. Read where they stand on these key issues on MPC’s web site. >>

Of course, the real work – putting meat on the bones of skeletal plans, securing funding, building relationships – will begin the day he or she takes office in May. We look forward to working with Chicago’s next mayor to assist in advancing existing and new ideas to support sustainable economic growth in Chicago.

Read MPC’s Keepers and Seekers briefing book. >>

Read the questions MPC submitted to the WLS-Channel 7 debate moderators. >>

Make a donation to help MPC shape a world-class metropolitan Chicago >>

Project Progress Report

MPC has elected 11 new members to its Board of Governors and five new officers to its Executive Committee, including new Chair King Harris, chairman of Harris Holdings, Inc. (pictured center.)

Photo by Michael Prischman

MPC welcomes new staff, Board members

MPC is pleased to extend a warm welcome to a new class of Board members and officers, elected and appointed in December; as well as to two new staff members who joined our ranks in January.

MPC has elected 11 new members to its Board of Governors and five new officers to its Executive Committee, including new Chair King Harris, chairman of Harris Holdings, Inc., and formerly a senior executive with Chicago Metropolis 2020. Other new MPC officers, all of whom will join the Executive Committee, are:

Vice Chairs: Joseph A. Gregoire, Regional President-Illinois Banking, PNC Bank; and Jesse H. Ruiz, Principal, Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP
Co-Vice Chair Development: James P. Stirling, Senior Advisor, UBS
Treasurer: Lisa Snow, Principal, Davis & Hosfield Consulting LLC
Secretary: Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, National Managing Partner, KPMG

Read the complete list of new Board of Governors and Resource Board members here. >>

Nancy Firfer

Photo by Michael Prischman

Nancy Firfer, former senior advisor with Chicago Metropolis 2020, and former president of the Village of Glenview, has joined MPC’s staff as senior advisor. At MPC, Nancy will carry on her longtime work to promote balanced housing in communities across the region. In partnership with project leaders Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Nancy and MPC will continue to support the evolution of Homes for a Changing Region, which is developing municipal, regional and state strategies to create more options for local homeowners. Get to know Nancy. >>

Marisa Novara

Photo by Michael Prischman

Marisa Novara joins MPC to forward the Community Building Initiative, which provides technical assistance and support to communities facing complex development challenges related to housing, transportation, environment, and economic development. Prior to MPC, Marisa spent a year in Milan, Italy, completing her master’s degree in urban planning with a focus on international community development. Her studies were informed by years of work on the ground in Chicago, most recently as the senior project manager for Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, where she directed more than $30 million in affordable rental and for-sale housing development in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Get to know Marisa. >>

Whether you’ve been involved with MPC for 60 years or 60 days, it’s hard not to be grateful for the passionate people who choose to contribute their time and talents to this organization to make metropolitan Chicago more vibrant and prosperous.

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