Council to Vote On City Manager Thurs. Support Ramos and The Position for the Community Alliance for a Better Government

I agree with Lesley WIlliams and The Community Alliance for a Better Government who are in support of Ramos to be our next City manager.

After watching the process and listening to the candidates, Ramos demonstrated a greater ability to bring a vision to Evanston which will is more fiscally responsible and more inclusive.  Dear friends,

I'm writing to you about the Evanston City Manager position, which has come down to 2 finalists. After participating in 2 town halls, and representing the Community Alliance for Better Government on a stakeholder interview panel, I am supporting Daniel Ramos, Deputy City Administrator of Baltimore for the position. CABG has decided to endorse him.

While no candidate is perfect, we feel that Mr Ramos offers the best combination of transparency, responsiveness to the public, and commitment to racial and social equity; combined with a strong background in city budgeting, finance and administration.

The City Council will be discussing the finalists tomorrow and possibly making a decision tomorrow or Thursday. I invite you to read the CABG endorsement statement. Please let me know if you have questions.

If you agree with our endorsement, please contact your City Council member and let them know. Below is a sample letter: 

Dear Council Member_______

After watching the town hall,  reading the materials submitted by the candidates and the endorsement from the Community Alliance for Better Government, I urge the Council to hire Daniel Ramos as Evanston’s next City Manager. Mr. Ramos best represents Evanston’s values of transparency, responsiveness to the public, and commitment to racial and social equity; combined with a strong background in city budgeting, finance and administration.

Mr. Ramos shared many innovative ideas for improving Evanston’s economy and livability by focusing taxpayer resources where they are most needed and would make the most difference. His plan for Evanston, for example, would include revising city zoning, tax rates, and incentives to support equity in housing, services and economic development.

Mr. Ramos sees community violence and crime as an urgent public health emergency, yet is aware of its connections to mental health and disinvestment in Black and Brown communities. When asked how to improve public safety without relying on racially disparate policing, Mr. Ramos showed a thorough understanding of the issue and suggested shifting resources away from armed officers to an emphasis on mental health and neighborhood reinvestment; proven public policy directions supported by many Evanstonians.

Mr. Ramos recognizes the key role government services play in economic development and the need to understand neighborhood dynamics to avoid unintended consequences. In Baltimore he has advocated for greater capital investment and the siting of municipal agencies in under-resourced neighborhoods, and has insisted that all city departments analyze the impact of budget cuts on low income residents and people of color.

Mr. Ramos and the other finalist both have impressive credentials but it is Mr. Ramos who shares Evanston’s values and has experience implementing programs that would translate well to Evanston and help to create the equitable, just, and welcoming community to which we all aspire.