Alderman Robert Ryan sure does say things that peak our curiosity. Take his comment reported in last Thursday's Park Ridge Herald-Advocate that our community is "in dire need" of the kind of senior housing that Norwood Builders is proposing for Executive Office Plaza.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, "dire" is defined as:
1. exciting horror
2. warning of disaster
3. desperately urgent
Assuming Ryan was using "dire" in the "desperately urgent" sense, that means he is claiming that there is a desperately urgent need for the 50 units of "senior housing" at EOP.
Where are the scores of seniors marching in front of City Hall with signs reading "We Need Senior Housing NOW!" Where are all the letters to the editors of our local papers bemoaning the "dire" shortage of senior housing? Where is the mass exodus of seniors to senior housing in nearby communities? Even Norwood's designated "senior housing" cheerleader for EOP, Herb Zuegel, has pretty much stuck to the City's "Comprehensive Plan" language, which states that senior residential uses at EOP would be "desirable."
If there really were a "dire need" for senior housing in Park Ridge, PRC could have built it into the residences at TA2, and Norwood would be planning more than just 50 units of it.
The only "dire need" we can see is Ald. Ryan's - to get Norwood's zoning variances pushed through the City Council, contrary to the wishes of hundreds of his constituents who signed a petition opposing those variances. And if he has to resort to the demagoguery of "crying wolf" about the "dire need" for senior housing, it's pretty clear that he can live with that.
October 10, 2007
Owwooooo!
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27 comments:
Does anyone know why Mr. Kemerer is the lone 5th ward resident who is standing behind Mr. Ryan? What is Mr. Kemerer's relationship with Mr. Ryan and Norwood Builders?
Curiosity is piqued, not peaked. Feel free to leave that out of the published comment, blogmaster.
In fairness to Mr. Zuegel, he was been beating the drum for senior housing long before the Norwood project came along. I don't doubt his good intentions.
Also, it's likely there are multiple 5th Ward residents still behind alderman Ryan.
As far as we can tell, Mr. Kemerer is one of the old Homeowner Party faithful - a behind the curtain operator. Kemerer's having stepped into the light on this one is a bit of an amusement. Usually when you turn on the lights the old Homeowners Party operatives go scurrying back under the baseboards.
Don't believe that he's the "lone" 5th warder on this one - he's just being public about it.
Alderman Ryan hales from that old Homeowner base of elite. The same clubby bunch that had a strangle hold on the gear works of city government under Ron Weitecha, and still does on the D64 school caucus.
As was said recently by one of the least appealing members of the club, "We have to get our power back".
Enter Steve Huening, John Kerin, Dawn Disher, Nan Parsons, Robert Ryan, to name just a few of the more recently active operatives.
Thank you m. anderson, you are correct, though "peak" is often used as a substitute, even if it isn't precisely correct.
We disagree with your opinion on Mr. Zuegel. We think Mr. Zuegel's "good intentions" begin and end at his own toes.
Mr. Kemerer is a long-time 1st Ward resident, and a long-time friend of 5th Ward Ald. Robert Ryan and his campaign treasurer, Owen Hayes III - the Park Ridge real estate broker/speculator who tried to sell the City the current Avenues to Independence building (on Busse Hwy) without admitting that he was the owner.
I do not remember hearing anyone say anything about Senior Housing up until Norwood Builders came with this condominium development.
We remember the issue of "empty nester" housing being raised in connection to the Heinz development at NWHwy. and Greenwood.
We do not remember hearing anybody, including Mr. Zuegel, discuss actual senior housing until two years ago, and then only in connection with the EOP development.
Those who remember differently should feel free to correct any mistaken impression we may have.
I wonder if Mr. Zuegel is getting a special "Discount" on the purchase of his senior living condo?
If that kind of speculation is to be proved true, evidence will be available through the publishing of the property transfer.
Discounts on services are not subject to publication.
With supporters of the development doing nothing more than name calling and belittling those who just won't agree with them, residents are fed up. We need them to get to the real point of it all, and tell it like it is.
The residents are bored and tired of hearing that someone else knows what we want and what's in our best interest and the interest of the town. We are tired of being talked to like we are just plain stupid.
It is not what is good for the resident or the town. It's all about the money!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fact that our own city staff and some elected officials are willing to sell it's residents out to the highest bidder just plain old sucks!!!
All they are accomplishing is tension and separation between the city and it's residents. People don't want to here excuses( sorry, justified reasons) as to why these variances need to be granted. They want to know how and when our city decided that their responsibility is to accomodate and look out for the best interest of the developers and leave the residents to hang out to dry.
Why didn't they give Neri the variance for three additional townhomes? Neri still went ahead and are building their development within our zoning codes.
Do you really think Norwood is going to walk away from the project if they don't get their eight additional units?
I keep coming back to....so what are we going to do about it?
This Blog provides a place for many of us to vent....but what does that mean in the end?
We still have a City Council that for the most part, is not representing the citizens of this town, but advocating the economic interest of their financial backers.
Where is that going to place the future of this town?
We have a school board (64) that is going to spend themselves right back into the same mess from which the taxpayers just extracted them.
We have a Park District that, at best, has a tired and aging inventory of facilities, with no economic means of replacing them.
Where is Park Ridge headed....and why?
Once again, I rush into the breach on behalf of Herb Zuegel. He was an informed, involved and interested citizen during the great Independent uprising almost 5 years ago. We discussed senior housing issues long before there was any Norwood project to speak of. I think he's latched on to the EOP because he feels it's the prime PR location for senior housing. As for his being in Norwood's pocket, or the pocket of the usual malefactors around town, I don't see it.
Sometimes it's possible to be right for the wrong reasons, or (in this case, perhaps?) on the wrong side for a good reason.
This is in reply to anonymous that asked what we can do.
Everyone needs to call their alderman, email their alderman and tell them how you feel. We need to show up at the City Council meetings and hold them accountable.
In regards to D64 and the Park District, again we need to call and write the members of these boards when we have concerns. We need to come to the open meetings and let them see our faces and hold them accountable.
These people were voted in by the residents of Park Ridge to serve on the City Council, School Boards and Park Districts. They need to listen to their voters or we will not be voting them in for another term.
We all have a voice and a vote!
Jean.....
That's a text book answer...but I'm going to tell you that for the most part the citizens of this town are not paying attention. Heck...how many times are all of the offices that are up for election even contested....didn't happen on the Park Board...and I think there was only one "extra" candidate for D64...the City....most wards had a choice...but not the 1st...2nd...3rd.....I'm not thinking this text book approach is going to work.
To that end, this Blog is part of the way to get the word out...because I believe if people pay attention, they won't like what they see.
Here's what you do about it. Get off your butts, and out from in front of the computer and talk to your friends and neighbors. Get to the City Council meeting Monday at 7:30pm.
It is a whole lot easier to vote for something when the room is empty and there are no names and faces to hold them accountable for the decissions they have made on your behalf.
Make them look you in the eyes when they give away the farm and try to justify it as "it's what's best". Alot of residents are quick to complain after the fact, but are not so eager to get out and be heard.
Now is your chance. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Is m. anderson the SAME M. ANDERSON that supported Mr. Ryan very actively during his campaign? Contributed to his campaign? Endorsed him in a letter as well as on campaign material? I guess you do get what you voted for......
M. Anderson the commenter here is the same M. Anderson who supported Robert Ryan in the spring. Given the other two choices in that race, M. Anderson would support Ryan again without hesitation.
Mark....I'm still shaking my head here over that comment. I know you took that purple ribbon campaign personally....but come on.
We'd all be better off with Judy in that seat.
You know, I might care about who was shaking his/her head over my comment if I knew who it was doing the shaking. But seeing as he/she hides behind the "Anonymous" tag, he/she has zero credibility.
Long live free speech.
Anonymous has its advantages; avoiding distractions of personalities in order to discuss the issues is one of them. We strongly favor avoiding the trap of voting based on personalities too.
Whether JD's suggestions are "text book" or not, we agree with the suggestions and sentiments she expressed, and find them to be highly workable as an excellent place to start.
And rah rah rah from the PRU crew too on freedom of speech! :-)
"Herb Zuegel...was an informed, involved and interested citizen during the great Independent uprising almost 5 years ago"? That explains a lot about both M. Anderson and H. Zuegel.
If somebody could assure me that a purple ribbon will scare Zuegel and Ryan into cowering irrelevance the way it scared M. Anderson (you ARE former 5th Ward Alderman MARK Anderson, aren't you, "M. Anderson"?) and the rest of those 2003 Independents, I'll gladly put mine back up.
We haven't had a decent alderman since Rich Whalen was first elected as a true "independent", before he threw in the towel.
Long live free speech, including anonymous speech.
A question for this group: I keep hearing that we need senior housing in PR... What is the Summit retirement home? Someone told me they are going to be renovating, and will have some two-bedroom units. They also have real assisted-living units there, which I don't think the units at executive plaza will ever have. Why isn't anyone ever talking about the Summit?
Summitt Retirement home is on Busse Hwy. Sunrise Senior Living is on Ballard accross from Maine Township Offices. St. Matthews is on Vernon behind Lutheran General. THEY ARE ALL SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES!!! Sunrise is by far the most comprehensive. As you need more care, they move you to a different floor. When Summitt finishes its renovation all three facilities will have accomodations for two people to live in.
The interesting thing is that most Park Ridge Seniors (my parents included) do not want to move out of the big house until they absolutely need more care. Anyone who can afford Park Ridge Taxes can afford lawn care.
I just don't see my parents or their friends rushing to sell their house and buy a condo in Park Ridge.
Nobody's talking about The Summit because it's not run by Friend of Frimark Bruce Adreani, or expatriat former P.R. alderman John Chipman. And it's not looking to squeeze another $3.5 million in revenue through a zoning variance that 5th Ward residents - with the notable exception of their current alderman - oppose.
Back to substance: it would be great if Summit Square offered up a product consistent with the demands of local market. I wish I knew what they were up to over there.
A recent copy of the Bugle had an article about upcoming renovations at the Summit, and it sounds pretty nice. And look at where it is located... less than a mile down the road from Exec Plaza. Alderman Ryan has pinned his whole "ethical" vote in favor of greater density on the "fact" that Park Ridge needs senior housing. But Park Ridge seems to have some Senior Housing already, and it's in the process of being substantially improved. Whether this is what the senior market wants is a different issue. But the discussion should, at the very least, include the Summitt.
http://www.publicwatchdog.org/archives/2007/10/
Bob Trizna has the public watch dog site active again. Read his posting of Oct 11th.
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