The Holberg Plan: A Mayoral Candidate's Vision for Chicago by Joe Holberg

For media and press inquiries, including requests for copies of the book, email info@joeforchicago.com

A Chicago First

The first campaign book in Chicago history published by a mayoral candidate

Until now, candidates have asked you to trust their slogans, cliches, and a few talking points. That era has ended.

The Holberg Plan discusses in detail the priorities, plan, and vision for what we can become together as a city. Joe lays out a practical, solutions-oriented, and detailed roadmap for how his administration will grow the economy, make life more affordable for Chicagoans, build housing, balance the budget, address safety and improve the CTA, and give every Chicago family a school that delivers a high quality education.

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The Holberg Plan: A Mayoral Candidate's Vision for Chicago

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Why a Book?

Specifics, not slogans

Chicago needs a fresh perspective and leadership that is willing to challenge the status quo. Candidates need to engage in honest conversations rather than hiding behind quips that leave voters trying to fill in the blanks.

A Transparent Plan

No more hiding behind campaign slogans and hollow promises. The Holberg Plan is a starting place to discuss the shared future of Chicago.

Built for Accountability

The book sets a high bar for accountability and what Chicagoans should expect from Joe as the next mayor. Delivering results will always outweigh cheap talk. Let's get to work.

A Starting Point, Not the Last Word

This plan is a starting place for collaboration. Residents, community members, business owners, and families all have a perspective. Agree with some of it, disagree with other parts, but know that your voice and feedback are valued and welcomed.

Inside the Book

Ten priorities for a stronger Chicago

Each priority gets the treatment it deserves: what is actually broken, what it will take to fix it, and what has to happen first.

01

Grow Our City and Economy

Cutting red tape, speeding up permitting, and making Chicago a place where businesses of every size choose to build.

02

Great Schools for Every Family

Putting students first, confronting the 30% chronic absentee rate, and building real career pathways out of our schools.

03

A Budget Without Reckless Debt

The hard math on pensions, property taxes, and spending, and how we restore the city's financial credibility.

04

Build More Housing

Why the affordability crisis is a supply crisis, and how we build in every neighborhood without displacing the people already there.

05

Public Safety & Crime

Community policing, violence prevention, mental health response, and a CTA that is clean, safe, and reliable.

06

Population Growth

Chicago once had 3.6 million residents. A concrete strategy for reversing decline and bringing people back.

07

Climate & Clean Energy

Cheaper, cleaner energy, better air, lead-free water in every neighborhood, and more green space.

08

Transportation & Infrastructure

Rebuilding CTA operations around speed, reliability, and safety, plus safer streets for bikes and pedestrians.

09

Youth Opportunity

After-school programs, youth sports, vocational training, summer jobs, and mentorship at scale.

10

Industries of the Future

Making Chicago a leader in AI, quantum, and clean energy technology, with the workforce to match.

Joe Holberg
About the Author

A problem solver, not a career politician

Joe Holberg was the first in his family to graduate college, and he slept in his car to afford the tuition. That experience shaped a career spent on the practical problem of helping people get their footing: teaching math on the West Side, building financial tools for families who had never been given any, and creating computer science education used by millions of students.

The Holberg Plan is that same instinct applied to a city: name the problem honestly, then do the work of writing down a real answer.

  • Taught math on Chicago's West Side through AmeriCorps
  • Founded Spring, the nation's first financial wellness company
  • Built computer science education tools at Google used by millions of students
  • Lives in Lincoln Park with his wife and two children

Be Part of Chicago History

Reserve your copy of The Holberg Plan and help us put a real plan in front of every Chicagoan.