>> Neighbors in the city's 20th Ward, which includes the West Loop and near West Side, have alderman Walter Reade men read Burnett has been confirmed to replace his father, Walter Burnett, making him the city's youngest current city council member.

And he's got his work cut out for him.

Here to talk about what's ahead is the newly sworn-in 27th Ward Alderman Walter Redmond Burnett.

Welcome.

Congrats on on being confirmed.

Thank you.

It's an honor to be here.

Thanks for joining us.

So you grew up in the 27th Ward.

In fact, a little bit like you grew up going to city hall with your father.

Did you always want to serve as an alderman?

>> Well, I grew up in the 27th ward everywhere from East Garfield Park.

So near West Side where my family's home is to doing activities town and the near West Side.

I can say that.

I appreciate the service that my father, my mother and my brother as well as elected officials put into the community.

I can't say that I miss.

We wanted to being elected official.

It's a lot of work.

It's a huge responsibility.

And I was really excited about the opportunity to go off to school and study business and getting to the professional road and it came up on even the opportunity struck that it would be a good opportunity to get back to my city at a time need.

>> Mayor Johnson said that you, quote, embody the values, resilience and vision of the 20th ward with longstanding commitment to public service, equity and young people.

I have no doubt he will be a dedicated and effective advocate of his community.

What makes you the right fit for the 27 Port.

Mallett.

Appreciate the kind words from great from Mayor Brandon Johnson.

>> Believe that I have a unique perspective on what this word was and is.

And the ability to connect the dots between multiple generations that have played a part in shaping what it is today.

And it's super important to understand the history of the multiple communities that reflected 27 forward from the histories of Cabrini Green in the near North side to the challenges of East Garfield Park as well as the booming direction of loop and 4 to market district.

The new demographic in that particular part of the ward is very young, creative, engaged, educated and that community will face a different set of issues that the community prior to them have before.

And so I look forward to the opportunity to help everyone tradition to the next decade.

Plus.

>> 7 other candidates also applied for the position.

Clearly you one you're succeeding.

Your father, as we mentioned now, some might see this as another example of the Chicago way when outgoing alderman son gets the gets the job.

What do you say to that?

And what have you learned from your from his years of doing this job?

Yeah.

And I understand the critique.

It is.

>> Very natural one and one that really fair?

>> I will counter with my connectivity to the 27th organization which just isn't my father in his participation in the orbit mentors and gotten figures like the former tech secretary of state, Jesse White, as well as my brother was a state representative and numerous other elected officials who've come through organization over the time and my ability to connect with them and have them mentors and guiding figures across my life.

I take a ton of respect and responsibility.

That Put upon me into making sure that the organization continues to thrive.

But I've also had the experience of even Chicago and working in the professional world to understand how the broader sense of our business community thinks.

And I think it's even more important now that we figure out a way to combine the 2 perspectives of local community and growing important business community in our city to come together to support a That's right.

Because you you were an investment banker for Goldman Sachs in New York.

>> And you were also previously a principal for Hannibal Valley Company.

You consulted on real estate hospitality and entertainment.

How will you use your previous to work for the constituents in your ward?

Yeah, I think it's extremely prevalent.

Now we are going through a cycle where our budget financing for the city is very critical.

Municipality's across the country are suffering from a what is a COVID recovery.

But it's probably taken way too long and it requires us to have a thorough analysis of what's going on with the way that we manage our money and possibly present new revenue opportunities.

My background, both in investment banking, real estate, private equity investor consulting presence, unique perspective on how we can continue to make 27 poured an economic driver for the city of Chicago.

And so I'm looking forward to working with all the partners to figure out.

We continue to grow our economy, but also take care of the individuals who need most help.

One potential hopeful economic driver, of course, is the new Bally's Casino River West.

That will be coming to your ward >> there are concerns, of course, amidst increased Jennifer gentrification in the area.

How are you prioritize and community members concerns about rising rent prices and higher property taxes.

Absolutely.

casino project the valleys is bringing to the city.

>> We're definitely change the riverwest community pretty drastically.

You're already starting to see some of that impact with the construction that's going on Chicago on Halsted.

And so it's extremely important that we continue to support those local businesses that have been there for decades, as well as the constituents who tend to reside there.

Now we're working together with the community here out what their concerns are, what needs they have and how they're looking to continue to develop around the casino and as well as figure out new ways create new affordable housing in sustainable structures.

For those who own to stay in the neighborhood.

>> So city needs to find a way also to bridge that 1 billion dollar budget gap.

That's coming up.

The mayors, of course, making his presentation tomorrow.

Where do you think you'll land on what's necessary to to fill that gap?

Had feel about property taxes?

>> Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing with the mayor's administration puts forward.

It's going to be a challenging budget.

I'm excited to figure out a way to come together with my colleagues in the council as well as the administration.

2, make sure that we put together before the budget.

That not only helps us figure out the issues for this year, but think about things long time.

How are we creating solutions that help us make it easier decision next year when conversation comes up for the 2026 budget in the 2027 budget.

So I'm not exactly certain what it looks like quite yet, but I'm looking forward to working on the budget with the rest of my colleagues.

Right before we let you go, what are your top priorities for your work?

Top priority is making sure that the work continues to stay affordable.

And we're already seeing some of those challenges and the West Loop.

But we need to protect the remaining parts of our ward.

That families want to live in and make sure that they have an accessible.

And affordable place for them too.

Both live work and play.

So that's rule number The second is definitely know.

getting into this making sure it's not damaging to the families and our working people that