Yesterday, we read a "guest commentary" written by the Journal & Topics reporter, Dwight Esau (sounds like EEE Saw, which sounds to us like Hee Haw).
It seems the Journal's reporter couldn't pass up the opportunity to counter punch a letter writer concerned about questions left unanswered in an earlier Esau offering: Who's On The Other Line, Mayor?; which was written only as a result of the concerns of an unnamed community activist who had to physically pay a visit to the Journal & Topic's offices to draw attention to the issue. The entire issue came to light because of our post: Worth 1000 Words.
The letter writer is former 3rd ward alderman, Kim Jones. In her letter she asked:
"The most obvious question is why doesn't Mayor Frimark use his cell phone to call his wife or conduct his insurance business?
Why is Mayor Frimark conducting any type of personal or Frimark Insurance business from his city hall office?
If the listing is in fact wrong, why hasn't the Mayor corrected it with AT&T? He has had nearly three years to do so.
Is the bill for the "Friends of Frimark" line being sent to his home address or the city hall address it is listed at?
If the number was listed by AT&T as a political phone for the past 2-1/2 years why hasn't Frimark listed any telephone expenses, including installation costs on his semi-annual reports filed with the State Board of Elections?
By the way, who is actually paying for the "Friends of Frimark" phone located at City Hall? Is it Mayor Frimark personally or is the city of Park Ridge?"
We feel those are very good questions. We feel the Mayor should answer them. We wonder why Esau didn't ask those questions and report the Mayor's answers.
Esau concedes that the Mayor should get rid of his personal/political phone in City Hall. But Esau also calls Frimark's continued ethics violations "dust-ups". If we were to concede that Frimark's on-going ethics violations are nothing more than "dust-ups", we'd also have to concede that Frimark is surrounded by so much dust that he looks like the Charles Schultz Peanuts character, Pig-Pen!
But we do concede that the local rags' reporters seem to view their public role not so much as reporters as they are the public relations arm of local government.
Esau goes on to say that, "Someone who obviously doesn't like the mayor has gone so far as to set up a website dedicated to embarrassing him as often as possible." The first part of that statement is correct. The PRU Crew does not like Mayor Howard. But if Esau weren't a 2nd rate English major, working for a 3rd rate local newspaper, he may have been able to count our post labels - located under each of our pieces. If he'd made that much of an effort to "investigate" our blog, for his Beware Of Blogger article, he would have discovered that less than 1/4 of all our posts are about, or high-light, the Mayor.
But we understand that irreverent and unrepentant criticism of Frimark isn't something anybody is used to seeing, especially from local reporters.
23 comments:
Good for PRU. Don't let these asses try and take you down. We need you!
The fact that Esau trivializes Frimark's private conversation in Florida with a developer looking for favors from the city, his politicking near voting booths, and the sources of his campaign contributions shows that Esau, like Frimark, doesn't have a problem with conflicts of interest, the appearance of impropriety, or violations of election laws. Or maybe Esau doesn't care because he doesn't live in Park Ridge, works for a Des Plaines newspaper, and covers government only because he can't make a living solely as a sports reporter.
Do Todd Wessell's lips move when Hee Haw writes?
FUN GAME: how many typos can you find in Esau's articles? It keeps me entertained...
I am ALSO entertained that the mayor thinks he is never wrong, that he is above the law in so many ways.
Besides the fact that the logic of the whole “Guest Essay” is just plain goofy, where is the separation of duties at that paper? I mean why is a “reporter” whose job it is to report the facts involving stories around town giving editorial opinion. It’s just bizarre.
I can see Howard now….”Dwight I can’t get anything done because of all this name-calling going on”. Which translates to the “Friends of Frimark” are troubled at the prospect of doing business as usual while people are watching. Keep it up PRU!!!
burbcopschicago.blogpot.com/2007/11/poor-park-ridge.html
We told you...
A fourth rate journalist with a total readership of six people.
Esau's just as bad.
You sure did.
And some folks say we're mean. We only called 'em 2nd rate!
The whole PRU Crew loves your blog, BCC.
Thanks.
I don't get it. If Howard is doing something wrong, is it somehow not a big deal because it was pointed out by his "opponents"? Isn't that why political opposition is good--to keep those in power on their toes?
I'm really disappointed in the Journal.
Conversely, I couldn't be happier with the PRU. Their mighty legions bring hope to a beleaguered populace.
If you think the Journal is bad, did you ever try to get ANY information out the the Herald Advocate as to PR government?
In that news article Mayor Frimark says that he shut down his campaign office and took the phone to City Hall, but the phone company never changed the listing information.
But they did change the listing information because that number was for his old campaign office at 1300 West Touhy Avenue. Then the phone company changed the listing to City Hall. Why would they change it to City Hall if the Mayor said to change it to his personal home for billing? The phone company doesn't care where a phone is. They only care about who to send the bill to.
I do not care if Mayor Frimark is paying for the phone or not. I care that Mayor Frimark is using City Hall as a satellite office for his political committee, Friends of Frimark and his private commercial insurance company, Frimark Insurance.
There is no private commercial business that is supposed to be conducted from City Hall.
Period.
There is no political campaigning that is supposed to be conducted from City Hall.
Period.
Howie using public resources for his own gain? What a surprise. The press protecting one of their advertisers? What a surprise.
I just finished reading the article. Dwight makes a good point especially if you are new on the scene, but for those us who have watched Frimark the last five years it lacks a great deal of merit. Enough bickering, get on with running the City? Howard has spent his entire political existence making “bickering” his primary advantage on the political field.
First he stabs the Homeowners party in the back by refusing to adhere to the long tradition of candidate selection when he isn’t chosen to run for Alderman and runs himself. He spends more money than anyone would in their right mind, hires a professional campaign person and flings more mud than presidential candidates. And for what? Alderman in Park Ridge?
Then he spends two years saying no more than ten sentences and doing even less. Next he runs for Mayor. Then he runs one of most the negative and divisive campaigns ever seen in our small town municipal elections. He bad mouths and uses deception on not just his opponent, but anyone who gets in his way. His behavior is so bad that he completely alienates his fellow elected officials even beyond what is acceptable in Washington DC.
Then, after achieving this level of total repugnance, do you think he might try reaching out to his fellow elected officials? Nope, he spends the next two years stabbing them in the back. First, he attempts to steal control of council by propping his entire council minority in all of the committee positions. The City Council stands up to him and he runs around town crying about how mean they are to him. Next comes the purple ribbon garbage. He then systematically spends every waking moment telling lies and talking behind his "enemies" backs to gain political advantage. By the end of the term even those who supported him are fed to the lions if they got in his way.
Lastly he stages “The more efficient Council” Council reduction, the final blow to those who dare to stand his way. He collects one half the signatures himself on a referendum to get rid of his opponents and screw the people of Park Ridge in the process. He stages it in November so that the people who best understand will be out numbered by the “less is better” casual voter.
Do you think that is the end of the story? No, because some of the current Council has begun to question his behavior. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. He’s already begun working on those "undesirables". Why do you think so many of the city staff has left? They just wanted to start a new life? Please.
I guess one or two minor breaches of appropriate behavior might be overblown if brought to the public attention, but these betrayals of the public trust are so common in this administration they should not and cannot be overlooked.
Yes Dwight there is bickering. There is also deceit, dishonesty and deception and guess where it starts? It starts at 505 Butler Place, at the registered office of Friends of Frimark.
Steve Macko is harsh.
Steve Macko is mean.
Steve Macko is right on the money.
Whoever Steve Macko is he's pretty much on the ball. Especially about the department heads' mass exodus.
Macko, didn't Anderson spend more money than Frimark to get elected alderman in 2003?
If you believe what was reported on Frimark's D-2 then yes. I have my doubts. Also, Frimark didn’t run against Anderson. So what's your point?
Not even close!
Thanks for all the links and mentions of the Journal. As an employee, I'm flattered.
Anonymous Jounal Employee,
If you are flattered, then it seems your reading comprehension skills are no better than your writing skills.
Macko, my "point" is that at least one other candidate besides Frimark spent more money than you think "anyone would in their right mind" just to become "Alderman in Park Ridge" in 2003. So by your standard we had at lest two nutjobs on the council until one of them became mayor and the other one spent most of his time sniping at him.
In the Bible, Esau was the elder brother who sold his birthright, his family's land, for "a mess of pottage," which translates into something like "oatmeal." I doubt our Esau got anything as nourishing in trade for his journalistic integrity. As a minor "real" journalist, I found the editorial/guest essay sad and surreal, but pity what passes for journalism at the smallfry level: skimpy salaries, dubious benefits, and running-scared publishers and editors whose vision resembles the New York Times's less than I resemble the young Robert Redford. Such publications are easy prey for Da Mare. That's why God invented PRU; to be a helpmeet unto these editors. If they read PRU, they'll have a prayer of having a clue. As for Steve Macko, I cannot imagine a more accurate and succinct explanation of what went down the last half-dozen years here in town. All that's missing from his recitative is this: After getting rid of 14 aldermen, most of whom tried to both work for residents and work with the mayor, Howard is now having the selfsame problems with the 7 replacement aldermen; six of which were his annointed ones and all 7 of whom are devoted Republicans. So, once again, as the woman said when she saw her son marching in the opposite direction of the rest of the high school marching band, "Look! everybody's out of step but Johnny!" The not working together, not getting along, not getting anything done, not saving the city any money, etc. etc. is never Howard's fault, always the other guys' faults.
Keep it up, Steve. And VIVA PRU!
Just wait until our Hillary wins!
Watch for the torch light vigils
outside city hall asking for Howard
to step down.
You tell him bootlickers!
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