The people of the 25th Ward have a choice to make on April 5 — a choice between politics as usual and politics of principle; a choice between backroom deals and engagement with the community; a choice between a well-financed politician willing to take money from questionable sources and a reformer who has devoted himself to community organizing; a choice between the political machine of the past and a movement looking toward the future; a choice between Danny Solis and Cuahutémoc “Temoc” Morfin.

Danny Solis has a track record; a track record of closeness to corporations and individuals who do not have the community’s best interest at heart. For a decade, Danny Solis took over $50,000 in campaign contributions from the neighborhood’s biggest polluter, Midwest Generation, and put a Midwest Generation executive on his campaign finance committee. The result has been deaths and illness from the pollution emitted from the Fisk Power Plant. His other biggest donors are major real estate developers who see only dollar signs when they look at the 25th Ward. The result has been long time residents displaced by rising property taxes and rents.

Solis allied himself closely to Mayor Daley, even when this meant voting against the interest of community residents. By Daley’s orders, Solis voted against the Big Box Living Wage Ordinance which could have dramatically boosted wages for many low-income workers in Chicago. But he had no problem voting to raise his own salary. When Daley asked Solis to support the parking meter privatization plan, Solis once again dutifully followed the Mayor’s orders. Now we are all paying the price.

He also voted against the proposed Sweet Home Chicago Ordinance which would have created more low-income housing in the city. Once again, the interest of real estate developers and Mayor Daley was apparently more important than the well-being of community residents. And now Solis is allying with Mayor-Elect Rahm Emanuel, despite Rahm’s dismissal record of opposing comprehensive immigration reform. Apparently, closeness to the powers that be and campaign cash from Rahm are more important than defending immigrant rights.

On the other side we have Cuahutémoc Morfin, a progressive and an independent. Morfin has been an immigrant rights activist, working to build the mega-marches that put Chicago on the map of the struggle for immigrant rights in recent years. He has worked through the Juarez High School council to expand Juarez, while opposing efforts to privatize Chicago’s public schools, something Solis supports.

Morfin has worked with neighborhood organizations to fight the gentrification of Pilsen. Morfin as long supported the Chicago Clean Power Ordinance and has refused to take contributions from neighborhood polluters. Morfin has built a campaign of volunteers with limited resources. Volunteers who represent the community — young, old, immigrant, citizen, new resident, old resident — a stark contrast to the old-style patronage army that Solis has mobilized.

That is why the Southwest Side Greens are proud to endorse Cuahutémoc “Temoc” Morfin for alderman of the 25th Ward. And we call on the residents of the 25th Ward to come out and vote on April 5. Let’s make Danny Solis’ 15th year as alderman his last.