Park Ridge's own Mack Daddy of municipal give-aways, Mayor Howard Frimark, will undoubtedly be providing more of his "escort services" to Napleton Cadillac at tonight's city council meeting, if tonight's city council agenda (.pdf) proceeds as schemed. Usually we would provide a link to the relevant documents, but the city hasn't seen fit to post the deal documents on its web site. --Update 12:50 pm; the city web site now lists the Napleton Documents for review, but those documents still do not contain the document of the deal pending before the city council tonight.
Mayor Howard has been escorting the Napleton deal through municipal channels for quite a long time now. He made sure he had a spot on the city's "negotiating team" that has been meeting with Napleton to create this deal. Of course the PRU Crew feels obligated to point out that it may be just a bit of a conflict of interest to have Mayor Howard, a recipient of a generous campaign contribution from Napleton, on the Napleton "negotiating team" - but hey, we're all friends here!
Mayor Howard even showed up at the Finance & Budget committee meeting (.pdf) where the Napleton deal was discussed and voted on; providing his very visible, public support for the deal. Two of Mayor Howard's favorite alderpuppets, Carey the Unfriendly Ghost (6th ward) and Benedict Alderman Ryan (5th ward), made sure FriMack Daddy got what he wanted. By some miracle, the Finance & Budget committee chairman and Lord of the Manor, Rich DiPietro (2nd ward), voted against the deal. We expect the Lord of the Manor to come through with another of his ass-covering compromises, but we would sure be happy to be wrong about that.
And while we're paying attention to the scheming taking place at Friends of Frimark" headquarters...
Some PRU readers may be interested in noting another meeting set to take place this evening; tonight's city council workshop agenda (.pdf) The topic will be the police station. The PRU Crew notes that there is no place on the workshop agenda for comments from Park Ridge serfizens and that the issue is not scheduled for discussion on the regular agenda of the city council.
The PRU Crew strongly believes that the current police facility is unacceptable. We hope the city council gets off its yacking ass and finally begins actually doing something to address the gross conditions of the current facility. We aren't convinced that a new police station needs to be super-sized, but we are convinced that our police department has wrung every ounce of functionality it can get from the current facility.
But we will never condone the hiding of information, nor the circumventing of public review and input on any matter of the public's business. That is exactly what the city council will be undertaking this evening in the closed sessions on the agenda.
And finally on tonight's agenda, we noticed that there's a big F-U to the Public Safety rank and file (.pdf) in the form of a city council resolution. We bet City Manager, Tim Schuenke, would never ask the council to pass that kind of resolution about the funding of his generous pension. We sure hope the city council doesn't pimp our Public Safety personnel by passing that thing.
January 28, 2008
FriMack Daddy!
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25 comments:
WAKE UP PARK RIDGE! THESE POLITICOS ARE MAKING A MUCKERY OF OUR TOWN!
I hate to repeat myself, but...
BOYCOTT
NAPLETON
NOW
Howard's story is that if we don't give the money to Napleton he will refuse to sell or clean up the property. "It is an eyesore! It has been sitting vacant for over two years" he also is saying that, "If we pay to clean it up they will develop it and we will make tax money" Napleton makes at least 20 million a year per dealership. Park Ridge needs to give them money?
Here again, just like with Norwood Builders Howard will not only agree to give them what they want, but he is rallying for them. He is out and campaigning for their cause. Not for the good of the city. So you can bet that tonight, Carey, Ryan, and Allegretti are ready to vote YES. Rumor has it that he has met with Bach privately. Rich will come in with a lower compromise giveaway and it will pass.
So, WE NEED to remember who and what each alderman is voting for and what the mayor is giving away. How unfortunate for the town of Park Ridge we will have to wait for the next election cycle to make a change.
COME TONIGHT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE STILL WATCHING AND KEEPING SCORE. AS THEY GIVE IT AWAY AGAIN, VARIANCES, MONEY, WHAT NEXT?
“Where have you gone Judy Barclay? Our city turns its lonely eyes to you.” I have lived in Park Ridge for over thirty years. I know people will say I’m naïve, but we have loved this town because of its Norman Rockwell characteristics. A few years ago, just at the time I retired from teaching, we put deep thought into whether or not to relocate. The tear downs were starting to creep in around us. The charm of our home and street was declining before our very eyes.
One property in particular was being built on our block. It was appalling to say the least. That was when I first met Judy Barclay and CURBB. She stood up for her principles and encouraged us to do so as well. In the end the house got built, but not before significant changes were made. Because of CURBB and the feeling of empowerment they gave us, we decided to stay here where our roots are. Over the years I watched this feisty lady stand up to every over zealous developer and those politicians that just didn’t understand our way of life.
I can’t figure out what has happened to CURRB. The overdevelopment at Executive Office Plaza goes on and they sit silent. Plans to cut land deals for police stations occur and they sit silent. The City is tonight prepared to offer thousands of tax payer dollars to a private land development deal and still more silence.
In the last few months we’ve begun to discuss moving again. The tear downs seem to be on break, but the over development and political pay for play is at levels never seen before in this town and no one seems to care. I’m heartbroken that this community is headed down the path that it is and the powers that be are being left to destroy this town.
Where have you gone Judy Barclay?
Thank you for the update PRU. What a cluster...
Barclay may be feisty but she's a one-trick pony who couldn't come close to getting elected alderman because that one trick isn't all that impressive. And as a real estate broker she's been a Frimark supporter and close with a lot of the business types who are helping turn the town into what it's becoming. Where's she on Napleton, the new police station, the investigation of the police, the public works building's ventilation problem, all these closed meetings, etc. etc. etc.??? Nowhere, that's where.
Well, be careful what you ask for. Judy Barclay waved the flag and stood tall with Howard. She wanted him to be "a fully empowered Mayor." And now he is.
The people elected Howard to the City Council and then to serve as Mayor. Then they bought his argument and reduced the size of the City Council. I seem to recall some folks warning of the dangers lurking. Those warnings were not heeded.
Result: Napleton giveaway, mucho development (residential and commercial), and who knows what else. You asked for it, Park Ridge, and now you've got it.
Enjoy the next 3 years under Howard and company. I plan to.
I am not as up on things as many of the people here seem to be. I can't say if all these deals are good or bad for us, but the blog makes them sound bad for us.
What I am upset about is the resolution on our firemen and officers. These are our first responders and our rescuers. I just think that none of them are getting rich in their jobs. I just don't understand why the City of Park Ridge would not want to be paying the pension money for them. I am very upset about that. We are ver close to the airport and the City of Chicago and I think those are targets for disasters. We need our firemen and officers to be there when we need them. I don't understand the City's position on them.
Thank you for letting me post my comment.
Dear Anon@2:10,
Thank YOU.
Judy Barclay, Ha you must be kidding. Ever since Howard’s public humiliation of her she has been rendered irrelevant. If your looking for help Mrs. K. look elsewhere because Judy ain’t what she use to be.
To Mrs. Kay: Judy has been there. Where have you been? She fought Executive Office Plaza from Day one to the final blow. They didn't get all they wanted thanks to CURRB and the residents. Judy continues to attend the City Council, Commission and Committee meetings. She continues to write to the papers in support of the issues that affect the residents of this town.
She also is continuing to work behind the scenes to squelch some of the problems before they become issues. I attend the meetings when I can, but wish I was as dedicated as Judy.
If you don't agree with what the city council is doing, GO TO THE MEETINGS! If you are not able to get up and talk, your presence alone is worth a million words!
I agree with Anonymice 1:33 and 2:56.
Mr/Ms Dietsch - Barclay working behind the scenes to "squelch" problems before they become issues is unprovable crap.
And Anderson, you and your buddies foisted that monstrosity going up in Uptown on us that sparked all the "mucho development", so thanks for nothing.
Mrs. K, There is more. There are other people who fought and led the battle to try and keep the Norwood Development within our new zoning laws.
We have to give credit to Carla Owens. Not only did Carla attend meetings that went on past midnight on our behalf, she circulated petitions, rallied the troops in her area of the fifth ward, and spoke at zoning and city council meetings. Carla asked people to come and talk at the meetings and if they didn't want to speak, could you come and show support. Can you help circulate the petitions?
Our very busy local family doctor, Paul Meyer came attended and spoke at the zoning and the city council meetings.
All of these people will tell you that getting people to come to the meetings and show support was the hardest thing to do.
So, the next time you see or hear of something going on that you don't like WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. Come to the meeting tonight!
Fred you are right on. What does behind the scenes mean? Wikipedia describes “Behind the scenes refers to things or activities that are secret or out of public view.” I thought this was open city government not an Entertainment Tonight exposé on daytime soap operas.
Behind the scenes... can mean many things. My interpretation of some of the behind the scenes are as follows:
Going to the City of Park Ridge website, Reading the agendas, proposals, and minutes of the meetings on a daily basis. If something is being proposed or is on agenda that you have an issue with, Pick up the phone and start making calls. Rally the troops and show up at the meeting. We can all sit and complain but there are few that actually do!
I see. It also could mean cutting deals behind the scene to allow her to have some “status” while at the same time selling out her principles. But who really knows when it’s “behind the scene”.
Fred-
You are welcome for nothing. My buddies and I were in the minority on the Council when the crap was foisted. We opposed the contractor, opposed the TIF, and (when it became apparent the thing was moving forward anyway) did what we could. It wasn't much.
Like I said, you are welcome for nothing. Been to Trader Joe's yet?
I think it is time to have a discussion of Government pensions at every level. Who among you have a defined pension at your place of work. I doubt very many because corporations have done away with them, replacing them with a 401K.
How many of you expect to be at the same company for 25 or 30 years. Not many because of the consolations.
Thus, as we retire we cannot afford these 70 to 80% of salary pension. We need to begin to get government to recognize that business has changed and they need to as well.
Unfortunately, lots of people screaming and crying is more impressive than one or two very articulate people explaining.Getting what passes for the press there may help a bit, too; assuming the coverage relates to the actual event. But the problem is bigger than low citizen turnout. The Tribune story today on Chicago's pay-for-play zoning variances says it all for Park Ridge, too: "Citizen input an illusion." Who knows if Park Ridge elected officials are getting anything for their pro-development decision-making (whether it's the Mayor's nonstop lobbying or the aldermen's directed votes). I know in past councils, there was an honest belief, however naiive, that development would be good for the town and yield vibrant retail rather than sidwalk-to-sidewalk concrete condos. Perhaps the current council also believes the developers' murmured sweet nothings in their ears. But the fact remains that "best and highest use" in their minds is very different from what many residents believe it should be. Staff may also actually believe the developers' tales. But it's clear that, except for in very rare instances, residents packing the hall mean nothing -- nothing to the staff, and nothing to most of the elected officials.
m.anderson:
"It wasn't much" is an understatement. Maybe if you and your "buddies" tried as hard being Park Ridge aldermen as you did being Maine Twp. Democrats, you could have accomplished something more than helping make Frimark mayor.
No, I haven't been to Trade Joe's, Chicos or Jos. A. Banks.
Fred-
Some of my "buddies" on the City Council were Republicans, some Democrats. I am an officer of the Maine Township Democrats and proud of it. I served as an Alderman with proud, active Republicans. There have always been Democrats and Republicans on the Council. That partisan stuff is irrelevant at the City Council level.
If I helped Howard get elected Mayor, then I should be shot through the head.
m.anderson:
You might want to reconsider that last statement. Next to Baldachino and his lawsuit, you might have been the best excuse Frimark had.
If "that partisan stuff is irrelevant at the City Council level," then why did you and your Dem "buddies" march in your first Memorial Day parade with Jan Schakowsky's group rather than with your fellow Council members?
Why not?
m. anderson:
"Why not" pretty much explains why you and your Dem "buddies" were one-hit wonders, and were pretty irrelevant for most of your four years on the Council. And your plan to have the City buy the Pickwick so the Cultural Arts commitee could stage Latvian folk dancing competitions may have been even dumber.
My Latvian friends are going to be very offended.
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