Vicki’s Priorities

Vicki’s priorities for her second term as Village Board President are Sustainability, Economic Vitality, Affordability & Inclusiveness, and Safety & Accessibility. Hear from her below about her track record on these issues and where she plans to lead the Village of Oak Park.

Sustainability 

As Oak Park’s Village President I have further advanced Oak Park’s position as a leading community on sustainability.  We have invested in our Climate Ready Oak Park (CROP) plan with our governmental partners, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, small business community, and an accomplished grassroots network of volunteers. 

However, to have the impact that we strive for we must reach beyond our geographical borders. That is why I am proud to be a founding Village President of Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4). C4 is an award winning initiative co-lead by myself, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, River Forest President Cathy Adduci, Seven Generations Ahead Executive Director Gary Cuneen, and Urban Efficiencies Group, LLC founder and CEO Darnel Johnson. It brings together BIPOC and non-minority communities across income lines to share ideas, secure resources, and drive large-scale projects across 14 communities that achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, environmental justice, and sustainability goals together.

Economic Vitality

Small businesses are the heart of our Village. I have a strong history of supporting our local entrepreneurs and ensuring our community remains resilient through changing economic times. As the past chair of the Liquor Control Review Board and now serving as Liquor Commissioner I led on opening policy restrictions to expand our restaurant and entertainment community over the last decade. As a past board member of the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce I supported partnerships and programs to assist our small business districts through COVID-19 and maintained a low vacancy rate.

My goal is to foster an environment where businesses thrive - investing in infrastructure that supports tourism and vibrancy, partnering with our community to host accessible and inclusive special events, highlighting all that Oak Park has to offer in the arts, events, architecture, parks, and our many unique and vibrant small business districts.

Affordability and Inclusiveness

I am leading the creation of a financial policy that will codify a transparent process for setting our levy and informing our budget process. It is crucial that Oak Park be a place where everyone can thrive. I will continue to lead on policies that make our community more accessible, ensuring that our programs reflect the diverse needs and values of all residents.

Together, we can create more opportunities for all demographics represented in our village. Throughout my tenure, I will continue to be your central connector – a leader who promotes collaboration and champions collective initiatives for the greater good with fewer redundancies. I am committed to fostering strong relationships with our state officials and investing in infrastructure that makes Oak Park a destination for living, visiting, and investing.

I believe strongly that when our neighbors do well, we all prosper. My leadership in the Proviso Mayors Network has reinforced this belief, and I am excited to bring our communities closer together for mutual benefit. 

Safety and Accessibility

We all deserve to live in a community that prioritizes the safety of all its members. That’s why I consistently advocate for fair and equitable pay for our public safety personnel, recognizing that those who serve our community are our greatest asset. It is essential to modernize our facilities—our police department, fire services, and village hall—so that they can deliver the high level of service our residents expect.

I have worked with our Village Manager and colleagues at the board table to pull together a talented task force to review an advanced alternative response system to mental health and non-emergency care calls. I have a strong social service network that helps to inform my policy decisions and strengthens the network for serving our community. I am supportive of strong oversight and accountability so that all feel safe in our community.  

Accessibility is just as crucial in building a thriving community. I have championed initiatives aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, especially our youth, supporting mentoring programs, restorative justice practices, and diversion strategies to our criminal justice system whenever possible. I have led on increasing partnerships with neighboring communities to advance our public safety goals - organizations like BUILD, Inc. that promote community safety and well-being through mentoring and violence prevention programming.

Vicki with the Cross Community Climate Collaborative. Credit: Seven Generations Ahead