Debra Silverstein
| Debra Silverstein | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chicago City Council from the 50th Ward | |
|
Assumed office May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard Stone |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1966 (age 51–52) Memphis, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Ira Silverstein |
| Children | Four |
| Residence | West Ridge, Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois (B.A.) |
| Profession | Certified Public Accountant |
Debra Silverstein is the Alderman of the 50th Ward of the City of Chicago, Illinois.[1] She defeated 38-year incumbent Bernard Stone in the 2011 runoff election, a race in which she was endorsed by Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel.
Biography
Silverstein is married to Illinois State Senator Ira Silverstein, with whom she has four children.[2] She holds a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Before entering politics, she founded a small tax consultancy.[3]
In addition to her political work, Silverstein is a co-founder of the Libenu Foundation, an organization creating supervised housing for adults with developmental disabilities in the Metropolitan Chicago area.[4]
Aldermanic Career
In conjunction with the Chicago Department of Transportation, Silverstein planned and executed the Devon Avenue Streetscape, a $15 million project on Devon Avenue in the 50th Ward. The project was designed to modernize and beautify a "20-block stretch in the West Ridge Business District which is known for ethnically diverse mixture of shops and restaurants."[5] The project covered Devon from Kedzie Avenue to Leavitt Street.
The project highlights included:
- New wider sidewalks with ADA ramps
- New curbs and gutters
- New street and pedestrian lighting
- Paver parkways
- Benches, bike racks and waste containers
- Seating areas on side streets
- New trees with tree grates
- Landscaped in-ground and above-ground planters
- Light pole, intersection, and gateway community identifiers
- New crosswalks at each intersection[5]
In 2016, Silverstein and Mayor Emanuel announced plans for a new library and senior housing facility in the 50th Ward. A partnership between Chicago Public Library and Chicago Housing Authority, Northtown Apartments and the new Northtown Branch Library will be located at 6800 N. Western Avenue.[6] The project was designed by Perkins + Will and will feature 44 apartments designated for senior use on top of a 16,000 square foot library.
Construction is underway and the library is scheduled to be open in December of 2018.
Footnotes
- ↑ "Debra Silverstein Ousts Longtime Alderman Bernard Stone in 50th Ward," Chicago Sun-Times.
- ↑ "About Debra Silverstein," debrasilversteinforalderman.com/
- ↑ "About Alderman Silverstein | 50th Ward Chicago". 50thwardchicago.com. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
- ↑ "About Us | Libenu". Libenu. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
- 1 2 "City of Chicago :: CDOT Launches Final Phases of Devon Avenue Streetscape Project". www.cityofchicago.org. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
- ↑ "Emanuel to break ground on three library-housing partnerships". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
Aldermen of the Chicago City Council since 1923 | ||
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