Know how to make your neighborhood better? Lori Lightfoot wants to hear from you

Just weeks ahead of officially taking office, Chicago mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot is asking the public to submit their ideas on how to make the city a better place to live and work.

“We’re building a Chicago that celebrates our differences, inspires us all to be better, and embraces new ideas. And that means we want to hear from you—tell us your ideas on how we can build a Chicago for all,” Lightfoot tweeted linking to an online form where Chicagoans can share their opinions.

In addition to crowd-sourcing policy suggestions, the incoming mayor has brought on 400 Chicagoans—including leaders from the private sector, nonprofit groups, and academia—to serve on 10 transition team committees.

The groups will focus on the topics of business, economic, and neighborhood development; arts and culture; education; environment; housing; health and human services; transportation and infrastructure; good governance; public safety and accountability; and youth services.

Mayor-elect Lightfoot swept all 50 wards to become Chicago’s first black woman and openly gay person to be elected mayor. It might be challenging to form a consensus on what kind of change residents want as each neighborhood is incredibly different, but Lightfoot appears optimistic about finding common ground.

“We can and we will give our neighborhoods the same time and attention that we give to the downtown,” Lightfoot said during her April 2 election night acceptance speech. “This is not us versus them. Or neighborhoods versus downtown. We are in this together and will grow together.”

Lightfoot along with a sizable contingent of progressive aldermanic candidates elected to the City Council will take office on May 20. In the meantime, this survey is a great chance to let Chicago’s next batch of leaders know what kind of city you want to see.