Multiple Perspectives, One Vision
Through our lived experiences, we inherently bring new voices and perspectives to village government. It allows us to approach issues with fresh ideas and innovative solutions.
We believe in championing a range of issues and working with multiple perspectives to make policy decisions that benefit the community as a whole. Our commitment to thoughtful deliberation ensures that we always act in the best interest of our community.
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Leading with our values, we strive to:
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Maintain a safe and welcoming community
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Promote sustainability
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Increase opportunities for mixed and affordable housing
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Foster economic development and vitality for all members of our community
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Improve communication and access to Village services
Accomplishments
Maintain a safe and welcoming community
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Khem & Keith have been working closely with Skokie's Village leadership, Human Relations Commission and staff to ensure an inclusive and thoughtful process for the Village Seal Initiative. The initiative includes Native American voices leading the way to ensure a respectful and accurate representation of their culture, while looking at Skokie's past, present and future.
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Khem & Keith have been strong advocates for supporting and expanding the Co-Responder Program (started by Trustee Edie Sue Sutker), ensuring that mental health professionals work alongside police officers to better address crises in our community. We have also supported the implementation of body cameras for every Skokie police officer to promote accountability and transparency.
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Khem & Keith collaborated with Village leadership and the Chief of Police to review and improve the training and reporting procedures for hate crimes and hate incidents. They recommended the introduction of Hate Crime awareness and education programs and proposed an initiative to the Village Board to utilize data on hate incidents and hate crimes to develop effective intervention strategies. These efforts reflect our commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive Skokie for everyone.
Promote sustainabilty
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Khem & Keith's proactive approach in engaging with Village leadership and staff to develop a process for setting clear environmental goals and expectations for new businesses and development in Skokie is a testament to their commitment. The Board's unanimous approval of an updated comprehensive sustainability plan is a significant achievement towards addressing the Village's environmental sustainability and climate resilience strategies.
Increase opportunities for mixed and affordable housing
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With the rising costs of living and a national housing shortage, Keith proposed that the Village engage in a thoughtful process to understand the local impact on our community and identify actions to create more affordable housing in Skokie. This effort began with a series of educational presentations from staff and experts in the field, fostering a more collaborative process. These initiatives led to the establishment of a permanent Housing Sub-Committee under the Plan Commission and the adoption of Skokie's first inclusionary housing ordinance. Additionally, Khem and Keith are collaborating with staff to advise on the establishment of a land trust, further demonstrating their commitment to ensuring affordable housing options for all residents.
Foster economic development and vitality for all members of our community
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Khem and Keith believe the Village must continually balance fostering economic development with minimizing the financial burden on our community, all while upholding the values that make us strong. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Board has maintained a property tax freeze since 1990, demonstrating a steadfast dedication to easing the financial burden on our residents. Khem and Keith are honored to be part of this legacy and will continue to support the Board's thoughtful and deliberate approach to fees. They are committed to promoting a vibrant business community that provides the essential tax base needed to maintain vital resources and services for our residents. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that Skokie remains a thriving and inclusive community for all.
Improve communication and access to Village services
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Khem advocated for social media presence to be added as one of the ways the Village communicates information to our residents. The Village has since made significant progress in improving communication online as part of a broader communication strategy, including the hiring of a Communications Manager. This move has helped get information out to residents more frequently and timely. ​
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Khem and Keith heard feedback from residents about long and sometimes inefficient process for building permits and other applications. The Village has since made it easier for residents to access services online, with efforts to encourage online submissions of applications and permits, streamlining the process and making it more efficient for everyone. ​​
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