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Aurora 4th Ward Alderman Jonathan Nunez outlines priorities after first year in office
Summary
In a city communications interview, Alderman Jonathan Nunez described his first year representing Ward 4, prioritizing communication (a ward webpage and monthly "Coffee with the Alderman"), attention to the "Y property" redevelopment, repairs to medians on Downer and outreach to neighborhood organizations.
John Zagloul, communications director for the City of Aurora, interviewed 4th Ward Alderman Jonathan Nunez on the city's "Meet Your Aldermen" program to discuss Nunez's first year in office, local priorities and community engagement.
Nunez, who identified himself as a lifelong Aurora resident and a member of the city's public health, safety and transportation committee and the Infrastructure and Technology Committee, said the top lesson from his first year was that "there's no ask that's too small." He illustrated that with a post-storm constituent-service example: while on a phone call he submitted a ticket for a fallen tree branch and the streets crew picked it up within 24 hours, an outcome he said he relayed to city staff.
Communication is Nunez's top priority. He told the host he asked the communications office for a dedicated Ward 4 webpage "not a Jonathan Nunez page, not a City of Aurora page, but just a ward page" to list neighborhood meetings, event notices, public works items such as fire hydrant flushings, and other local notices. He also said he posts a weekly "what's happening in Aurora" update and hosts a monthly "Coffee with the Alderman" at neighborhood coffee shops to make himself accessible and to bring city resources into casual settings.
Nunez described proactive outreach to ward organizations'businesses, nonprofits and religious groups'so he can act as a liaison and connect them to city resources. "I reached out to every organization in the ward," he said, and reported that many responded, including manufacturers, roofers and multiple faith groups.
Looking ahead, Nunez named three concrete focal points for Ward 4: redeveloping the long-discussed "Y property" (he said developers have expressed interest but he does not yet have a decided plan); repairing and redesigning the medians on Downer after they were damaged last year (he said he's coordinating with the city horticulturalist/arborist and has formed a small constituent cohort to advise on ideas); and better integrating the ward's East and West sides in city decisionmaking, reflecting his personal ties to both areas.
Nunez also shared personal background that he said shapes his approach: born in 1989 at Mercy Hospital and raised on Aurora's East Side, he noted multiple family members who started local businesses and served the community. He recalled serving as an altar server at Saint Nicholas on High Street and said family volunteerism motivated his run for office.
On community life, he described buying his first home on Ingleside after graduating from Aurora University and, during the COVID period, purchasing a second house in the same neighborhood because he wanted to live there. He named local favorites such as Frisco's and several coffee shops where he holds public hours.
Asked about the most rewarding moment in his first year, Nunez described volunteering with family and friends at Hessett House; on one occasion he and a group of volunteers cooked dinners for about 300 guests and brought several teenagers with him, who asked "when can we sign up again?" He said the experience was "eye opening" for the young volunteers.
The interview closed with the host thanking Alderman Jonathan Nunez for appearing on the program. The alderman reiterated his priorities and encouraged residents to use the ward page and attend neighborhood events to stay informed.
