A business owner from Brighton Park, Claudia Zuno, has announced her candidacy for 12th Ward alderperson. She will challenge incumbent Ald. Julia Ramirez in the upcoming election. During her campaign launch at Tio Luis Tacos & Cafe, Zuno stated her intention to represent residents who she feels “are not being seen or heard.” She emphasized a focus on safer streets, better schools, and support for local businesses in the ward, which covers most of McKinley Park and Brighton Park.
Zuno’s campaign centers on opposition to a city street improvement project currently underway along South Archer and Kedzie avenues. The project is part of Chicago’s Complete Streets Program and includes upgrades such as protected bike lanes, pedestrian traffic islands, improved bus stops, curb bump-outs, and left-turn lanes. Construction began last November after a two-year community review process that included more than 20 meetings.
City data presented at previous community meetings indicated that Archer and Kedzie are among the most dangerous roads in Brighton Park. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 6,439 crashes on these stretches, resulting in 1,426 injuries and 14 deaths; half of those killed were pedestrians.
Since December, Zuno has participated in weekly protests outside Ramirez’s office to oppose the installation of bike lanes and pedestrian islands. Opponents argue these changes create traffic congestion and hinder access to local businesses. Supporters counter that the improvements are necessary for pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Ramirez defended the project in an emailed statement: “As the alder, I have pushed to make sure CDOT is accountable to community concerns and have provided various forums for us to discuss the project,” she said. “My intention is to create space for us to have healthy dialogue around this and many other issues in our ward, and I will continue working with the various city departments, community residents and taking into consideration data and metrics that inform how we invest in projects that improve our quality of life.”
Zuno said frustration over these street changes prompted her decision to run: “When I become your 12th Ward alderwoman, the first thing I’ll do is remove these concrete barriers and find creative alternatives that allow us to have safe pedestrian routes while accommodating our truck routes and commuting families.”
Members of Archer Guardians—a group opposing the street project—attended Zuno’s campaign event. Zuno described their involvement as helping her connect with like-minded neighbors seeking removal of bike lanes from neighborhood avenues.
The protests against Ramirez have also attracted attention from Urban Center—a pro-charter-school organization led by Juan Rangel—as reported by South Side Weekly.
Ramirez responded: “While a campaign ensues to quickly demolish infrastructure that promotes safety, I would ask the 12th Ward residents to research the Urban Center, any candidate backed by this PAC and look into how this agency has close alignment to the federal government that is causing so much harm in our communities.”
Zuno said she welcomes support from anyone aligned with local values but emphasized her independence: “I am an independent person. I am not aligned or affiliated with any PAC or organizations or parties,” she said. “I vote with my conscience. I vote with my heart. I vote for what’s best for my family, for my community.”
If elected, Zuno said restoring public safety would be another priority—including returning Shotspotter or similar gunshot detection technology to the ward.
Zuno was raised in Brighton Park as a second-generation owner of Zuno Photography—a family business established in 1969—and lives locally with her husband; they raised three daughters there.
She also promised support for small businesses: “We need to connect them with resources, grants, training, funding. City services must be accessible and easy to navigate, not these barriers in front of their businesses,” referencing infrastructure installed under the safe streets program.
Charles Thrush contributed reporting.
