Joe Moore
Member of the Chicago City Council
from the 49th ward
In office
April 2, 1991 – May 20, 2019
Preceded byRobert Clarke
Succeeded byMaria Hadden
Personal details
Born (1958-07-22) July 22, 1958
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Barbara Moore
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2
EducationKnox College (BA)
DePaul University (JD)

Joseph A. Moore (born July 22, 1958) is a former Chicago politician. Moore was first elected to Chicago City Council as the alderman for the 49th ward, which includes the majority of Rogers Park and portions of West Ridge, in 1991.[1] Moore won re-election six times, before losing to challenger Maria Hadden in 2019.

Education and early career

Moore was born in Chicago in 1958 and later moved to Evanston, where he graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1976. He graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois with a B.A in 1980 and earned a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law in 1984. From 1984 to 1991, Moore worked as an attorney in the City of Chicago's Department of Law, first in the department's Appeals Division and later in the department's Affirmative Litigation Division, where he worked to recover millions of dollars on behalf of the City's taxpayers.[1]

1991 aldermanic election campaign

On November 6, 1990, 49th ward alderman David Orr was elected Cook County Clerk, creating a vacancy in the Chicago City Council until the 1991 municipal elections. Chicago's Mayor appoints replacements to fill short-term vacancies in the City Council. Orr supported Moore as his replacement.[2] Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Robert Clarke, a law associate of Illinois State Representative Lee Preston, the 49th ward Democratic committeeman.[3][4] Moore was among the challengers to Clarke in the February, 1991 municipal elections. No candidate received a majority of the votes, requiring a run-off between the top two, Moore and Clarke, in April, 1991.[5][6] Orr was Moore's campaign chairman.[7] On April 2, 1991, Moore was elected alderman. Of eight incumbent alderman who were originally appointed by Daley to fill vacancies, Clarke was the only one to fail to win re-election that year.[8]

Chicago City Council (1991-2019)

Moore won re-election in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and in 2015. In 2019, Moore lost election to Maria Hadden.

He was chairman of the City Council Committee on Housing and Real Estate, which oversees City housing policy and all transactions involving City-owned real estate. Moore also served most recently on the following City Council committees: Budget and Government Operations; Education and Child Development; Finance; Health and Environmental Protection; Human Relations; Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation; and Rules and Ethics.[9]

Community Policing and Crime Reduction

Moore was a pioneer in the effort to bring community policing to Chicago. The Chicago community policing strategy involves residents and other City agencies working together to prevent crime and improve the quality of life in all of Chicago's neighborhoods. Under his leadership, the 49th Ward was selected as one of the first areas of the city to host a community policing pilot project, which resulted in a 54% reduction in serious crime over a 20-year period.[10] Additionally, from January 1, 2013 to February 26, 2013, the 24th Police District, which includes Rogers Park and the adjacent Chicago neighborhood of West Ridge, was the only of Chicago's 22 police districts in which no one was shot.[11] Overall, Chicago Police Department data shows the rate of all reported crimes in the 49th Ward has decreased by 48% between 2003 and 2018, 4% more than the overall decline in crime across the entire city of Chicago during the same period.[12]

The Rate of Reported Crimes in Rogers Park from 2002 to 2018

Living Wage and Community Business Growth

Moore gained national renown as a leader in the fight for living wages when he sponsored the landmark 2006 Chicago Big Box Ordinance, which required large retail stores to pay their employees a wage sufficient to keep a family of four out of poverty.[13] The ordinance was a precursor to Chicago's minimum wage ordinance, which guarantees all workers in Chicago a wage of at least $13 an hour indexed to inflation.

Moore has also made it a priority to encourage entrepreneurs to open up new restaurants and businesses in his Ward. In 2007 Moore launched an initiative dubbed "follow me on Fridays" in which Moore encourages his constituents to join him at a local restaurant, pub, or festival twice a month after work on a Friday to promote local businesses and entrepreneurs in his Ward. The events have grown in popularity and have facilitated a recent surge in private business growth in Roger's Park.

Participatory Budgeting

Moore became the first elected official in the United States to introduce a democratic budget allocation procedure known as participatory budgeting.[14] Each year since 2009, Moore has turned over $1 million of his discretionary capital budget to a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making in which his constituents decide through direct vote how to allocate his budget. Moore's participatory budgeting model has since been adopted by eight of his Chicago City Council colleagues, as well as in 16 other U.S. cities, including New York City, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco and Vallejo, California. Over the past 9 years the 49th Ward constituents have voted to allocate Moore's discretionary capital budget to a wide array of projects ranging from resurfacing alleys and streets to beautifying the neighborhood through the creation of murals and planting of trees throughout the neighborhood.

YearParticipatory Budgeting Projects During Moore's Tenure
2018Residents voted for 62.6% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($626,000) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining fund be allocated to planting one hundred new trees, bus benches, artistic murals on CTA embankment walls and Metra viaducts, a public plaza/stage in Touhy Park, and partial funding for an artificial turf field and running track at Sullivan High School.
2017Residents voted for 63.9% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($630,900) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to planting one hundred new trees, a learning garden at Gale Academy, updated Clark streetlights, and a heat lamp shelter with benches at Red Line stations throughout the Ward.
2016Residents voted for 65.13% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($650,130) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to planting one hundred new trees, new lights around Sullivan and Kilmer schools, improvements at Dubkin, Paschen and Loyola Parks, and new residential streetlights on Greenview.
2015Residents voted for 62% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($620,000) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to planting one hundred new trees, and park improvements throughout the Ward (new water fountains and gates).
2014Residents voted for 69% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($690,000) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to new bus stop benches, replacing the 15-Year-Old carpet at the Rogers Park Library, a new water feature at Pottawattomie Park, and a beach path extension at Hartigan Beach.
2013Residents voted for 62% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($620,000) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to urgent sidewalk repairs, Cobblestone Restoration on Glenwood, Sheridan Road pedestrian safety engineering study, Touhy Park cherry blossom trees and water fountain, and shared bike lanes on Clark from Howard to Albion.
2012Residents voted for 53% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($530,000) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to planting one hundred new trees, urgent sidewalk repairs, a new playground at Touhy Park, and the Creation of new murals at over 20 unpainted CTA and Metra viaducts and the

CTA embankment in Dubkin Park.

2011Residents voted for 57.2% of the $1 million allocated for PB ($570,200) to be devoted to street and alley resurfacing and sidewalk repairs. Voters decided the remaining funds be allocated to improvements to Ridge, Touhy, Rogers intersection, creation of new bike lanes and bike racks, improvements to Metra underpasses at Birchwood, Estes and Touhy, new playground at Touhy Park, path extensions at Jarvis, Leone and Loyola Parks.
2010Residents voted to allocated $1.3 million to sidewalk repairs, bike lanes, Dog Friendly Area at Pottawattomie Park, Community Gardens in Dubkin Park and Pottawattomie Park, underpass murals, traffic/pedestrian signal on Clark at Chase, artistic multifunctional bike racks, additional benches and shelters on CTA "El" platforms, street resurfacing, solar-powered garbage containers on Sheridan, convenience showers at Loyola Park Beach, completion of path in Touhy Park, Rogers Park historical signs, and residential street lighting.

Affordable Housing

In 2016, Moore worked with a private developer and the CHA to construct 65 units of affordable housing and 46 market rate units above a new Target on North Sheridan Road.[15] In 2017, Moore helped a developer secure City of Chicago Low Income Housing Tax Credits to build 54 affordable housing units on top of 3,300 square feet of retail storefront space at Clark and Estes.[16] In 2018, Moore convinced the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to purchase Levy House at 1221 W. Sherwin, thus preserving 56 units affordable senior housing.[17]

NameLocationZoning Approval/Completion DateNotes
Clark-Estes ApartmentsCorner of Clark and EstesOctober 2018 (Completed)42 units reserved for residents at or below 60% of area median income ($35,580 a year for a single person, $50,760 a year for a family of four) and 12 units will be reserved for residents with incomes at or below 30% of area median income ($17,790 a year for a single person, $25,380 for a family of four).
Transit-Oriented Development1730 W. GreenleafZoning approved by Alderman Moore in 2017Three units (of the thirty total new units) will be affordable to households earning no more than 60% of the area median income ($33,180 for a single-member household, $37,290 for a two-member household). Green roof will also be added to the building.
Concord at SheridanCorner of Sheridan and DevonPlanned Completion in 2019Sixty percent of the units (65 units) will be reserved for CHA residents and the remaining 40 percent (46 units) will be rented at market rates.
6413 N. Glenwood6413 N. GlenwoodZoning approved by Alderman Moore in 2015Creation of one new unit of affordable housing and a fully ADA compliant disabled parking spot in the rear portion of the lot.
6453-55 N. Newgard6453-55 N. NewgardZoning approved by Alderman Moore in 2015Creation of two new affordable housing units.

Moore has actively opposed an elected school board in City Council, maneuvering to block a ballot measure.[18]

Despite 49th ward residents voting overwhelmingly to freeze charter school expansion,[19] Moore has ignored his constituents and continued to push for more charters [20][21] as he collects campaign donations from Charter operators.[22]

Rogers Park's schools have suffered under Moore, to the point of Gale Elementary's major issue with lead contamination [23] Since 1993, only $81.5 million for improvements to Roger's Park schools have been allocated by CPS, including modernization efforts at Sullivan High School, and a $5 million investment for a new roof at Kilmer School.[24]

Chicago Public Schools Capital Expenditures - Ward 49 - 1993-2019

Community Outreach and Annual Events

Throughout his time as Alderman, Moore has overseen the creation of a number of annual events held in Rogers Park. One the oldest of these annual events is the Rogers Park Back to School Picnic which is held on the last Sunday of every August. The picnic has grown considerably since its founding in 1991 to include activities directed at a wide audience such as face painting, live music, bingo, and bouncy castles in addition to free food and school supplies.

Also founded by Moore, is the 49th Ward Annual Spring Clean-up and Taste of Roger's Park. Normally held on the Saturday before Earth Day, the annual clean-up brings together volunteers from across the neighborhood who either choose clean-up and/or beautification projects they wish to undertake or are directed by Alderman's office to areas of the Ward that need cleaning. At the end of the day participants are then given free food from restaurants around the ward to help promote local business growth.

Additionally Moore has also overseen the creation and implementation of several other annual (sometimes biannual) events listed in the table below.

Annual Event Founded by MooreNumber of Years RunningTime of Year HeldDescription
Follow Me on Friday9Last Friday of Each MonthFree Liquor and Free beer is served by Alderman Moore and the 49th Ward staff at nearby businesses like banks and coffee shops.
Rogers Park Back to School Picnic28Last Sunday of AugustFree food and school supplies are handed out and a large number of activities are available (face painting, live music, bingo, etc.).
49th Ward Annual Spring Clean-up and Taste of Roger's Park28Saturday before Earth DayVolunteers from across Rogers Park come together to help clean the neighborhood and work on beautification projects. Afterwards participants are provided free food from businesses across the ward.
49th Ward Job Fair + Employment Resource Fair10MayEmployers representing a wide variety of companies and organizations are brought in by Moore's office to network and accept applications from Rogers Park residents. Workshops are also offered on resume writing and job preparation.
49th Ward Community Bike Ride6SummerBike riders (from experts to novices) bike with the Alderman and staff on a predetermined tour of Rogers Park.
Free Valentine's Day Movie28Weekend around Valentine's DayA Free event featuring an assortment of kids’ movies, with complimentary soda and popcorn.
49th Ward Second Chance Adult and Juvenile Expungement Summit3FallUnder Illinois law, qualified individuals may apply to "expunge" or "seal" certain criminal cases, thereby removing them from their criminal history records. At the summit, volunteer attorneys from Cabrini Green Legal Aid assist individuals in filling out applications for petitions for expungement and sealing and address any other legal concerns.
49th Ward Community Pet Day4SummerResidents are invited to bring their pets for low cost vaccinations, city of Chicago Dog registration, nail trims, free microchips and dog tags, and other activities/offerings.
Satellite Service Office tour12Twice annually (usually in Spring and Fall)Alderman Moore visits transit stops, coffee shops, and community events at over a dozen locations throughout the neighborhood where he invites constituents to bring up issues and concerns they have about the community.

National Recognition

During Moore's tenure, Rogers Park and Alderman Moore himself have garnered national recognition and attention. In 2008, John Nichols, Washington, D.C. correspondent for The Nation, blogging on The Nation website, named Moore "Most Valuable Local Official."[25] Also, In its July 2016 cover story, Time included Participatory Budgeting (pioneered by Moore) as one of the "240 reasons to celebrate America right now."[26] Additionally, a national real estate website named Rogers Park as the top neighborhood in Chicago and one of the top neighborhoods in the nation for "living well." The website, Trulia, conducted a survey of 877 neighborhoods across the U.S., and named Rogers Park the 11th best neighborhood to live in the nation for staying active and healthy, ahead of all other Chicago neighborhoods.[27]

In addition to serving as Alderman of the 49th Ward, Moore is a former chair of the Board of Directors of the Democratic Municipal Organization, a national association of elected municipal officials, with offices in his home in Rogers Park.[28] Moore's wife, Barbara, is the Executive Director.[29]

Foie gras ban

Moore was the chief sponsor of an ordinance banning the sale of foie gras in Chicago.[30] After much publicity, the ordinance passed overwhelmingly but was repealed overwhelmingly.[31][32] Moore was honored in February, 2007 by the Humane Society of the United States for his leadership on the issue of cruelty to animals. Moore's support of this issue was the subject of many widespread and derisive comments. National news organizations covered the story from many angles, some hospitable and some hostile.[33]

Electoral history

Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2019: General[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Maria Hadden 7,820 63.40
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 4,514 36.60
Total votes 12,334 100.00
Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2015: General[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 5,778 66.84
Nonpartisan Don Gordon 2,867 33.16
Total votes 8,645 100.00
Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2011: General[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 6,929 72.05
Nonpartisan Brian White 2,688 27.95
Total votes 9,628 100.00
Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2007: Run-off[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 4,027 51.61
Nonpartisan Don Gordon 3,776 48.39
Total votes 7,803 100.00
Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2007: General[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 3,668 49.29
Nonpartisan Don Gordon 2,171 29.18
Nonpartisan Jim Ginderske 943 12.67
Nonpartisan Chris Adams 659 8.86
Total votes 7,461 100.00
Chicago 49th ward aldermanic election, 2003: General[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Joe Moore (incumbent) 3,693 54.74
Nonpartisan Michael J. Harrington 1,825 27.05
Nonpartisan Tom Bradley 1,228 18.20
Total votes 6,746 100.00
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, 2000: Democratic primary[40][41]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dorothy A. Brown 222,716 48.54
Democratic Patrick J. Levar 126,515 27.57
Democratic Patricia Young 57,957 12.63
Democratic Joe Moore 51,673 11.26
Total votes 458,861 100.00

References

  1. 1 2 "About Alderman Joe Moore". Ward 49. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  2. ↑ Davis, Robert (November 28, 1990). "19th Ward Democratic Leaders Choose Sheahan's Replacement". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  3. ↑ Davis, Robert (December 6, 1990). "Daley Snubs Orr's Choice Of Alderman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  4. ↑ Davis, Robert (December 6, 1990). "Daley Picks 3 To Fill Vacancies In Council". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  5. ↑ Davis, Robert; Latz Griffin, Jean (February 27, 1991). "Stage set for some interesting aldermanic runoffs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  6. ↑ Davis, Robert (February 28, 1991). "In 18 wards, it's down to 1 on 1 for alderman". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  7. ↑ Hardy, Thomas (March 20, 1991). "49th Ward Race Mainly Name Game". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  8. ↑ Hardy, Thomas (April 3, 1991). "Familiar Faces Are Ushered Out Of City Council". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
  9. ↑ "About Joe Moore". Citizens for Joe Moore. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  10. ↑ "Program Profile: Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS)". Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  11. ↑ Woodard, Benjamin (2013-02-27). "Low Crime, No Shootings 'Show Promising Trend,' North Side Alderman Says". Archived from the original on 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  12. ↑ "Crimes 2001 to Present". Chicago Police Department. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  13. ↑ Eckholm, Erik (2006-07-27). "Chicago Orders 'Big Box' Stores to Raise Wage". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  14. ↑ Moore, Joe (2010-03-31). "Spending out in the open for 49th Ward". Chicago Tribune.
  15. ↑ "Mixed-use, mixed-income development officially breaks ground in Chicago's Rogers Park". Curbed Chicago. 2017-11-28.
  16. ↑ "New affordable housing development to break ground at Clark and Estes this Friday". Rogers Park.com.
  17. ↑ "CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY TAKES FIRST STEP TO PURCHASE LEVY HOUSE IN ROGERS PARK". Chicago Housing Authority. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  18. ↑ "Moore and Emanuel block elected school board". Chicago Reader. August 2012. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  19. ↑ "Rogers Parkers Overwhelmingly Want Freeze On New Charter Schools". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  20. ↑ "My statement regarding recent charter school proposals in the 49th Ward". Ward 49. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  21. ↑ "Moore 'Encouraged' Noble Charter Take Over Struggling UNO H.S., Emails Show". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  22. ↑ Reform, Illinois Campaign for Political. "Citizens for Joe Moore". Illinois Sunshine. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  23. ↑ "CPS Knew About Damaged Lead Paint at Gale for Five Years, Documents Show". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  24. ↑ "Kilmer to receive $5-10 million in new roof and facade repairs; $81.5 million spent on RP schools since 1993". Citizens for Joe Moore. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
  25. ↑ Nichols, John (December 30, 2008). "Most Valuable Progressives of 2008". The Nation. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  26. ↑ "240 reasons to celebrate America right now". Time Magazine. 2016-06-30.
  27. ↑ "Report Names Best Chicago Neighborhood to 'Live Well'". NBC Chicago. 2016-04-08.
  28. ↑ "Board of Directors". Democratic Municipal Officials. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  29. ↑ "Staff". Democratic Municipal Officials. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  30. ↑ Ruethling, Gretchen (September 15, 2005). "A Chicago Alderman's Proposal to Ban Foie Gras Stirs Up a Debate". New York Times.
  31. ↑ Davey, Monica (May 15, 2008). "Ban Lifted, Foie Gras Is Back on the Menu in Chicago". New York Times.
  32. ↑ Mihalopoulos, Dan; Caro, Mark (May 15, 2008). "Chicago repeals foie gras ban; Animal-rights groups decry City Council decision". Chicago Tribune.
  33. ↑ Ruethling, Gretchen (2005-09-15). "A Chicago Alderman's Proposal to Ban Foie Gras Stirs Up a Debate". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  34. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-02-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ↑ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago".
  36. ↑ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago".
  37. ↑ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago".
  38. ↑ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago".
  39. ↑ "Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago".
  40. ↑ http://results.cookcountyclerk.com/electionresults/032100/032100_index.html
  41. ↑ "2000 Primary - DEM - 3/21/00". Board of Election Commissioners for the City of Chicago. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
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