A former United Airlines flight attendant who has also worked for the Department of Homeland Security at O'Hare International Airport, Rory Fiedler grew up in the 47th Ward, graduating from Lane Tech High School and going on to attend The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Going up against Ald. Ameya Pawar, Fiedler said he wants to be "accessible, responsible and accountable to the people."
Windy City Times: On your website you mention that you've set goals for your first 100 days in office.
Rory Fiedler: I want to actually be a full-time alderman, to show up to do the job. The incumbent has not done that. Also, I think another goal that we had was to reinstate the #11 bus. Once we came out with our palm cards, which had this issue on there, the incumbent also promoted that issue again. It's really a big issue for a lot of the residents. I took the #11 bus my whole life and to have it not go to Lincoln Square anymore, or Ravenswood, all of the shopping districts have really been hurt. Another thing would be actually have old-school town hall meetings to talk about the issues the residents want. It's my job as an elected official to represent my constituents—it's not a monarchy, it's not a dictatorship. People ask me what my concerns are: my concerns are your concerns.
WCT: What is your position on abortion as it pertains to the law?
Rory Fiedler: Oh, boy. I believe in the right to choose. It's hard because I am a Catholic, and I don't want to knock the Catholic faith by any means, but I do believe that people have a right to choose and a right to their own bodies.
WCT: Do you favor marriage equality?
Rory Fiedler: Yes.
WCT: What are your thoughts on the recent minimum-wage increase?
Rory Fiedler: I agree that the minimum wage needs to be more. … I believe people should get paid more, but what's going to happen in the long run? When workers get paid more, field workers are going to have to get paid even more. In the long run, costs of products will increase also, unless the mom and pop stores and small businesses get some kind of tax break to be able to afford their labor costs, they're going to have to increase their product costs which will increase the price of everything. People that are on a fixed income are really going to be hurting. We're going to have a lot more people who can't afford to live.
WCT: So, would you have voted for the increase?
Rory Fiedler: I don't at this point think that I would have, without seeing the benefit to the fixed income people. Only because I would like to see what the long-term plan was. If there were tax benefits, yes. How are we going to be able to keep services and product costs stable?
WCT: Based off of social-media posts, you seem to be anti-corruption. But, on Facebook you've said, "…when all is said and done, protesting the police seems like the wrong direction to take. We NEED them. ALL lives matter." Do you not think police brutality should be protested?
Rory Fiedler: If there's true police brutality, I think that there should be a protest. But, I believe that we need the police. … We need to support the police. Not in everything they do like, you know, carte blanche support anybody. I think that everything needs to be watched over and maintained and that everyone needs to be responsible for their own actions. If there is corruption, if there is brutality, oh certainly, I believe in open protest. But I don't see it as a Black and white issue, I don't see it as a Black-on-Black issue, a white issue, I don't see a color issue at all with this. And all lives do matter—white, Black, green, it doesn't matter. Any brutality and any misjustice [sic] should be monitored, so then I do believe protesting is the right way to go.
WCT: Then what would you recommend to have a better relationship between police and the citizens they serve, including marginalized groups such as people of color and the transgender community?
Rory Fiedler: I believe that if people were more involved in CAPS meeting and more involved in what the police actually do, instead of all the protesting and just seeing the end issue. If you work with cops along the way and actually reached out to the police department more. … I think a lot of people actually only go to the cops when they need them, I don't think that they go to them for other issues or give them the respect that they deserve.
I think the police force, like anybody else, may have their own bigoted issues also, regardless of transgender, regardless of color, that there is going to be a nominal few that will be bigoted no matter what you do. But that comes with the general population, as well. Police are human, they're human. And there are certain people that are just not going to be able to change. I think working with the police, not just when you need them, is one of the issues. Understand the police, and then they can understand the situation and environment that they have to work in.
WCT: What do you think are the causes of, and the solutions for, the crime rate in Chicago?
Rory Fiedler: I would like to see more patrols, more police back on the street. I don't think they need to be behind a desk. … We can have non-police personnel working the desks of the police department. We don't really want to have any stiffer punishment for anyone, because I think the punishment fits the crime as it is already. But I think just having the presence of the police, on the street, on the L stations, would curb a lot of the crime issues.
WCT: If elected, do you plan on instituting any environmental programs?
Rory Fiedler: I'd actually like to see more green space. I don't like that these giant buildings are being built and that the garage is going right behind it with the green space on top of the garage. I'd like to see more dog parks and more community gardens on top of roof decks. And you're closer to the sky, so you get more sun that way, being on top of the roof.
WCT: What is the most interesting or appealing feature in your ward?
Rory Fiedler: I think the most appealing feature, having grown up here, is that it's a very family-oriented ward. It's a very good community. [But] with the new transit-oriented development program, they're trying to put all these giant buildings next to the Brown Line train station and it's just going to bring too much density, and too many people in too small of a space. It'll be like an ant colony and bring too many more cars, traffic and parking issues … not the family-oriented thing that I'm used to.
For more information on Fiedler, visit www.fiedlerforthe47.com/home.html .
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