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We thought PRU readers may want to see what Mr. William F. Napleton had to say to his benefactor, Mayor Howard Frimark, and the City of Park Ridge about the closing of Napleton Cadillac. We also thought it would be a nice accompaniment to the coverage of this story in the local press today.
Napleton to close Cadillac dealership in Park Ridge
According to the article:
"Susan Garontakos, a spokesperson for General Motors, said President Bill Napleton voluntarily opted to close the Cadillac-Buick-Pontiac dealership, located at Greenwood Avenue and Busse Highway.We can hardly wait to see that full page ad!
"He made the decision to go away from the business," Garontakos said.
Mayor Howard Frimark and Deputy City Manager Juliana Maller met with Bill Napleton on Monday, and Frimark told the City Council it was General Motors that pulled the dealership's franchises. Garontakos said this was not true, and that it was Napleton's decision to close the dealership, not GM's."
Helluva job, Howie!
29 comments:
The letter mentions nothing at all about the 400K pledged to clean up the sale of the property. No mention of the money does make you assume they think it is a done deal!
And if you read the linked article, Frimark is quoted as saying he thinks the city will still give them that $400,000. Un-freaking-believable!!!!!!!
I'd like to say nothing surprises me anymore, but this is something else.
If that $400,000 gift is not voided, at least it will show the citizens of this town what it really was---a gift or favor to a campaign donor, as opposed to an incentive to keep a business in town.
How can the City Council explain to the voters that we are giving a parting gift to Napelton to the tune of $400,00?
Wow, Frimark tells the city council that GM killed Napleton's dealership but GM says otherwise. Who should we believe???
And from the H-A:
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Frimark said he has asked City Attorney Everette "Buzz" Hill to review the economic incentive agreement "and see where we stand." Frimark told the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, however, that while the sales tax rebate is void, he believes Napleton is entitled to receive the $400,000 in clean-up costs which would come from Uptown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds.
"I believe that's still going to go forward," Frimark said.
A covenant in the incentive agreement states that the dealerships must remain in Park Ridge until at least Dec. 31, 2023. It goes on to state, "once any one of the dealerships is moved, the city shall have no further obligations pursuant to this agreement." It also states that if there is a breach of the agreement, legal action can be taken.
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I am sure happy to know Horward has our backs on this one. Of course, Howard doesn't think the $400,000 is taxpayer money; he doesn't think TIF funds are taxpayer money.
Where exactly does Howard think the money comes from???
Isn't there a contract process that either party has to give some kind of notice? Let's just say it is GM that pulled the plug, can they do that so fast? It's been less than two months since Napleton was at Council requesting funds.
Is there any way the city can transfer the sales tax break to Napleton's Lincoln dealership? I mean, fair is fair. Hey Howie, how much will flow into your pocket?
Its is my belief that GM was eyeballing this site/Napleton deal too.
Therefore, The city Atty's can have a field day with the agreement of the 400K that Billy N. thinks he's going to receive - still for the heck of it.
Its time for the city fathers to put an end to this deal - once and for all.
We need to confirm:
1. Did GM pull his ticket?
2. What and when did Billy even think that he may be on GM's chopping block ?
3. What did Howie say during those close door mtgs at the old caddy site with Billy ?
4. If all of the above turns our that Billy and Howie had PRIOR KNOWLEDGE - then Howie has some explaining to do in from of a Federal grand jury.
Remember....the fish is rotten from the head down..........yea nice job howie..........just throw our money to the winds......
Thank you.
I'm terribly shocked to discover that a politician might be telling lies to the people of Park Ridge!
I'm terribly shocked to discover that a corporate welfare cheat might be telling lies to the people of Park Ridge!
It's all so terribly shocking!
Not.
This just keeps getting better and better. How big is the shovel that Howie is using to bury himself? Perhaps, the size of a backhoe? Between Caudill, Napleton, and PADS, he must be having a hell of a time trying to cover up all the lies.
JR
Hey 1:07, don't forget his behind-the-scenes dealings to get his buddies at Norwood Builders a sweet deal on the Executive Plaza project, not to mention his efforts to keep the Owen Hayes matter buried. I'm sure there is more...just can't remember it all right now.
I am curious...does Napleton still own the Lincoln Merc dealership at Touhy/Cumberland (and the land it stands on??).
If so, Billy boy will still need to have Howie at his beck and call.
You know we are only looking at half of the picture regarding the $400,000. Napleton gets some because he does not have to pay for cleaning up the mess he made. But prospective purchaser PRC (another group of Frimark Friends) gets a cleaned-up piece of property without having to pay for it, either directly, or by and increased sale price if Ol' Bill N. cleaned it up himself.
So the question is, who in PRC are Howard's Friends? Anyone? Anyone?
Hey 1:07. 1:26 here. I remembered another one that just happened. Howard has been going around telling people that the PADS shelter is a done deal and that the city does not have any say in the matter. He has just been waiting for the City Attorney to fall in line so he can cram it down the residents' throats. Now it has been reported that he told a school group earlier this week that the St. Mary's shelter is a bad idea. That will come as quite a shock to those do-gooders he has been stroking behind the scenes. What a slime ball. He will say anything to anyone, depending on who the audience is. I have no doubt that if Sue Bell, Nan Parsons, the priests and ministers or anyone else in favor of PADS press him on the issue now, he will turn around and say he is all for it. His prior track record speaks for itself...out both sides of his mouth.
Ok....let's review. What's the Owen Hayes matter?
JR
What is it we tell our young ones when they get into a spot? 'If you were doing what you were supposed to be doing in the first place, things like this wouldn't happen!!'
If the Mayor and City council had not been mixing into the private real estate sale in the first place, then struggles like the one that will happen over the $400K wouldn't happen!
I would like to ground all of them to their rooms! They can't come out until the next election!
Hey, Wondering:
Q: "Where exactly does Howard think the money comes from???"
A: The TIF Fairy, a/k/a Andy Koglin and the PRC boys.
Howie's wheelin' and dealin' - Isn't it about time for 720 Garden to pop back on the radar with a new City appraisal that's higher than the first one?
let's see now...napleton gives frimark a $1,000 campaign contribution and ends up getting $400K down, and up to $2 mil over 15 years. did howard just sell himself too cheaply, or is there more to the deal than meets the eye (or shows up on the Illinois campaign contribution website)?
yes...the Owen Hayes matter? is that the lawsuit against the police dept?
A very well done explanation of the Owen Hayes matter is at PublicWatchdog.org in their November archives, the 11-15-07 post. I don't know how to do links, sorry.
I believe that if the city atty's
dig a little bit here - they may find
that Billy N. had/has the new property at Greenwood already sold
and made a profit there too!
So.....He followed his own advice:
1. Take great care of your customers.
2. Have fun.
3. And make a profit.
Every Park Ridge resident who bought a car there or at the Lincoln store - should boycott and move on.
Let's not allow this "Western Ave
closer" to rip us the tax payers off - again.
Mr. Napleton the father - would not have allowed this whole scam to take place.
Let's not teach our children that this is always the path to least resistance...hurting the people.
Thank you.
PS Frank Wsol for Mayor!!!
link to the Owen Hayes thing:
http://www.publicwatchdog.org/archives/2007/11/15/515-busse-highway-%e2%80%93-the-park-ridge-police-station-that-almost-was/
The City Attorney just rendered a surprise opinion stating that the City has NO OBLIGATION to pay the $400,000 in light of Napleton's closing. Will wonders never cease. Howard must be overjoyed.
Good job - city atty!!!!!!!!!
Thank you.
So now we here that Mayor frimark is very concerned about the huge hole in his budget of 200,000. now that Napleton the pirate raided/sold his current property.
Here's a suggestion Howie before you run to the tax payer well...its' called budgeting. Now that you have a crisis you need to pronounce the word trim my budget/employees.
Yes- even back in the 70's when some municipalities were going broke - they laid people off.
Yes - just like today Howie - the private sector does not think twice about cutting staff to trim the budget.
Starting from the top down as well
as the none essential personnel - first.
Better get out that pencil and contact all city depts to make their recommendations.
More early out/packages!
Who's next ! What about the fire chief.............$$$$$$ he's ready. One house, two condo's ....uptown deals.........!
Welcome to the jungle baby!
It struck me that we are missing the next move here. All the alderman need to wait for the next call from Howard. "Rich. This is Howard. You know, this Napleton franchise thing gives us an opportunity. Not only can we give Bill $400,000 to make the sale of his derelict former dealership property, but we can give him a going away present by buying all or a part of the dealership for... (wait for this one) A NEW POLICE STATION. Everyone (except the taxpayers) wins!!! I get a police station on Busse, which I have been trying to do since Owen killed the last deal we had, the police get a nice big new station next to the nice big Public Works facility and Bill gets to unload a property that will otherwise sit vacant for years because no one can use it. Pretty good, huh Rich?" That Howard, he does know how to take lemons and make lemonade, doesn't he. There will be a pool on how long it takes for him to make the call and how much he wants to spend for this white elephant.
Seems I had the same idea as Public Watchdog. Some things are just too obvious to ignore.
Napleton is the sleeziest of sleezy car dealers, glad to see them go. Get rid of the Lincoln Mercury dealer too as far as I am concerned, ever been in there? It looks like a prison work release program. Yikes
Believe me...you think some old police stations in NY are bad...the bldg that houses napleton cad/buick/pontiac now...is a slum.
The bldg is and has been falling apart. When it rains...water comes in. Ever been there for service...
Caddy/GM especially should see this dump.
I think Billy N. has the land sold already...watch and see....then he wants and excuse to pull the out the other park ridge location - too.
Let them go.
They've polluted more than just the ground here in Park Ridge.
Perhaps Rosemont is more suitable for the likes of them?
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