OMC: Your district is not just Bay View, and includes a variety of different demographics. How do you walk the line and keep everyone happy?

TZ: Everybody's for public safety, everybody's for business revitalization, and everybody's for lower taxes. Whether you're rich or poor you want these things. There are always more similarities than differences, and that's how I try to approach it. Most of the people are concerned about human rights and social justice issues; it's just that some of the groups feel even more intense about this than other groups.

I'm proactive on a lot of fronts. And if you call me, whether you're rich or poor, you want your alderman to call you back. That's how I got 84 percent -- I'm very proud of that -- reelection rate.

OMC: McCain or Obama?

TZ: I'll stick with the local stuff.

OMC: How do you connect with the "alternative" businesses owners and inhabitants in Bay View since you are, with all due respect, a "suit?"

TZ: We need all types of businesses here to have a vibrant business district for everybody. If you look at a business like the Alchemist Theater, that's kind of an alternative-type of business, I work proactively with them.

I'm very supportive of people and whatever lifestyle they choose. I'm active with the LGBT organization here and they endorsed me for reelection because of my work with them. I think it's important to be respectful of everyone's lifestyle and to work with them proactively.

OMC: A lot of people were sorry to see the Schwartz Bookshop close. Why do you think that happened?

TZ: That's a phenomenon of that particular industry. That industry is changing so rapidly. For example, you can go to Amazon.com -- and a lot of people are -- and you can buy a used book with one little ink mark in there for a lot less than you'd pay at a Schwartz Bookshop. However, we have a lot of people, like myself, that will spend the extra money because they understand why you need to patronize a local bookshop. People who are struggling, though, don't have that option. They have to go with the less expensive option.

OMC: Are you a supporter of the Bay View Bash?

TZ: Yes. It helps the businesses on KK. It helps market Bay View and it brings new people to Bay View. It might even attract new business. This is all good stuff.

OMC: Other than the opening of Café Lulu, is there an event that comes to mind that helped to revitalize Bay View?

TZ: What really helped us turn the corner was when Sendik's bought the Groppi grocery store five years ago. And the Outpost store here was a major hurdle. There was recently an article that said the Outpost here is growing at a faster pace than other Outposts. South Shore Farmers Market adds to help to the sense of community here. It's dynamite.

Mike Eitel opening a place here is important, too. He's a very savvy, successful business man, and he' not going to come down here and spend the kind of money he's spending to open this place unless he feels there is great potential here.

OMC: What was it like working with former Ald. Michael McGee, Jr?

TZ: Working with him one-on-one, he was a pretty good guy. And again, I'm talking about one-on-one, just dealing with him in the office. He's usually in an upbeat mood and an easy guy to get along with. There's this Michael McGee, and then there's the other Michael McGee, but the one I mostly dealt with was an easy-going guy. I had a pretty good relationship with him.

OMC: Were you surprised when you heard about his legal issues?

TZ: Completely.

OMC: After last summer's shooting in South Shore Park -- which is a rare occurrence for this part of the city -- did your commitment to public safety increase?

TZ: I have been known as being very proactive in terms of fighting crime. I got an award from the police department a few years ago as Alderman of the Year, and that's statewide. I'm a leader on the council for fighting for additional cops on the streets. I had the Anti Gang-Loitering Ordinance that was somewhat controversial, but I did get that approved.

OMC: What are your thoughts on the new police chief, Ed Flynn?

TZ: No particular thoughts yet. All in all, I think he's doing a good job.

OMC: If you didn't live in Bay View where would you live?

TZ: That's a toughie. I would probably live on the East Side or Downtown or Third Ward.

OMC: Are you married? Do you have kids?

TZ: I've been married for 15 years. We do not have kids.

OMC: Bay View has been called "The Other East Side." What are your thoughts on this?

TZ: No, no. Now we refer to it as "The Better East Side." The East Side is great -- I love the East Side -- but in Bay View has more of a neighborhood community kind of feel and the area around UWM has so many student rentals. I graduated from UWM, but it hinders the quality of life when you have eight guys living in one place, bringing in the half barrels. We don't really have that here. In fact, a lot of people are moving here from the East Side and Riverwest -- I'm even meeting people who moved here from the suburbs.

OMC: So why is Bay View such a safe place to live?

TZ: In Bay View, we're getting people that are professionals or young professionals. You get more of a stable neighborhood with these types of residents. Also, if I get a report of a "problem house," I immediately get involved and have the people removed via the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance. That way, you keep the problem house from affecting the rest of the neighborhood. I also work to get a lot of block watches set up.

OMC: Are you going to run for alderman again?

TZ: Yeah, as of right now, yes.

OMC: If you weren't in politics, what would you do?

TZ: I'm also an attorney, so I could see myself working as a lawyer. I also have an MBA. However, public service is head and shoulders above everything else. This is the most fulfilling for me. I knew this at a very young age, and was elected in 1988. Between the county board and the common council, no one on the common council has more experience than I.

OMC: What do you like to do when you're not working?

TZ: Jog, lift weights, travel. I've been to Egypt to see the pyramids, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, went on a great northern European cruise, been on about six Caribbean cruises, Hawaii. I try to make the most out of my free time.

I also like listening to music. Led Zeppelin is my favorite.

OMC: Dogs are a part of Bay View's culture. Are you a dog person?

TZ: I love pets. A dog park is at the top of the list for me. I identified a parcel of land under the bridge between Bay (Street) and Lincoln (Avenue) that could work as a dog park. We are also working on a skateboarding park for kids.