We hear today that Mayor Frimark is telling people in town that the City of Park Ridge will not require a special use permit for the opening of a homeless shelter.
The reason? Apparently Mayor Frimark is telling people the City of Park Ridge will get sued by the Park Ridge Ministerial Association (PRMA) if there is any attempt made by the city to enforce its zoning code ordinance in relation to a proposed homeless shelter.
If what Mayor Frimark is telling people is true, it seems clear to us that the PRMA is willing to engage in acts of intimidation, if servile and abject agreement isn't forthcoming. And Mayor Frimark is willing to bow to that intimidation.
The PRU Crew can't claim any legal expertise in the area of zoning laws, and we know there are Federal and State laws governing the fair and neutral application of zoning codes. But we also know that a municipality has a compelling government interest in the enforcement of its fair and neutral zoning codes. We also know that churches are subject to the application of those laws no matter how much they whine about their "ministry" and their desire to engage a not-for-profit business to conduct that "ministry" on their behalf.
We also hear that Mayor Frimark and the City Council are receiving some very strong feedback from residents in opposition to the Mayor's remarks.
It remains to be seen whether or not Mayor Frimark and the City Council choose to represent the interests of the PRMA or the city's residents.
Stay tuned!
May 15, 2008
The Howardly Lion!
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17 comments:
in this fantasyland that he lives in, the mayor seems to be making up his own "laws" now.
what a happy place it must be...
Outrageous! The PRMA is going to take the money it collects from parishoners to turn around and pay legal fees to sue the city if they don't get their way? Then those same parishoners will have to pay for the legal fees with our taxes for defending the city? Talk about a double whammy! I am getting very tired and angry how these community leaders are treating us! You community leaders better straighten up and start acting like you actually give a damm about the people in this town! You are all wasting our time and our resources for your agendas and pet projects and you are ignoring all of us with real concerns about what you are doing! I am tired and angry about being ignored! Our church leaders ignore us. Our government leaders ignore us. What will it take for you people to start listening to those who pay your way in this town? Don't you realize you can't do anything without us, the people? We pay for everything! We are the ones who make this town a nice place to live and raise a family. We are the ones who make this town healthy, wealthy and wise! You supposed leaders make me sick! You are all elitists! Telling us that we are unchristian and ignorant because we don't agree with what you want to do in our town! You would have nothing if it weren't for us ignorant slobs who pay for everything! Sickening! I'm sick of it!
Ditto anonymous @ 12:42 pm.
Interesting power play, mr. mayor. What if some concerned citizens file a class action lawsuit to fight for the fair and neutral enforcement of existing zoning laws?
To paraphrase one M. Anderson, this is what you get when you ask for "less is more" representaton. A rubber stamp quorum of alderman gives you a "no representation with representation" local government.
Bowing to intimidation? Subtle as a crutch. I do have one item in which I completely disagree with PRU. The caricature of mr. mayor should be of a straw man, he needs a brain.
Keep sleeping Park Ridgians, your town is going straight to hell.
Hey Cynic,
We considered that, but in light of the alleged threat of a lawsuit by the PRMA, "The Howardly Lion" had such a nice ring to it.
So, the PRMA is purportedly threatening a lawsuit?
While the possibility that "some concerned citizens file a class action lawsuit to fight for the fair and neutral enforcement of existing zoning laws" has also been suggested.
Well well well...Mr. Mayor, how do you like them apples?! I wonder if a lawsuit by the St. Mary's neighbors would receive the same treatment by you that you gave the lawsuit filed by Chuck Baldacchinno...? You remember, don't you HOward...? How you were overheard telling Alderman Machon and Allegretti, on that warm July evening while seated comfortably behind your desk at City Hall...that "Chuck's filing that lawsuit is the best thing that could have happened for me..." You'll never know how stunning it was to overhear the Mayor talk about something detrimental to the entire town as being beneficial to himself, politically...as you gleefully leaned forward over your desk to share that shining political pearl...
Perhaps a lawsuit by a group such as the St. Mary's neighbors will not be as politically useful to you...since you would not be able to point to a single person and proclaim them part of a Democrat-led cabal to take over Park Ridge...and you won't be able to hide behind and blame a lawsuit by the St. Mary's neighbors for your lack of leadership, management, and effort in moving the City of Park Ridge forward on any given task...
Some people have big mouths. Some people have foolish mouths. You, HOward, have the dubious and, albeit questionably, entertaining distinction of having a mouth that prossesses both qualities...
Welcome to getting what you wished for HOward...you are singularly accountable for this mess...as your behind the scenes machinations have brought us to this point...
Hey PRU,
'The Howardly Lion', okay, it has a nice ring to it, I'll give you that. But mr. mayor does need a brain. Tie breaker: I wonder if the mayor is afraid of fire?
Is it true that St. Mary's/PADS has an ex city official willing to work pro bono for their cause (Keller?)????
Would the rumored moving/relocation/closing of Bailey's have anything to do with the proposed Cumberland Ave. extension/underpass??? Have to wonder!!!
It's classic Howard: claim someone is planning to do something which justifies him getting his preferred result without getting the blame for it. But of course he will take the credit for it in the proper venue.
Regarding Anon. 12:42, I do believe that many people are in fact sick of Howard and all. I will also note yet again that less than 11 months from now the election will be behind us and Howard will have cruised to another victory if "the sick" don't start working together behind someone with a shot at winning. I know from experience that it takes a lot of work and resources to unseat a well-known and entrenched incumbent. It would be nice to find out that much is happening behind the scenes but I don't have my hopes up. After all, who would want to get into an election fight with Howard?
Excellent graphic today, by the way.
Any recommendations (names) of potential replacement for Howard?
Howard claiming that the PRMA has threatened to file a lawsuit yields two possibilities:
Howard is telling the truth, or Howard is lying.
Most of the comments here have assumed the first case, that the PRMA is indeed threatening the lawsuit. That situation is bad enough.
However, the second case, that Howard is lying about the threat, is not only more bizarre, it is also equally likely in my opinion. To be blunt, it's hard for me to imagine that the ministers of this town would be that stupid, or that their parishioners would support them.
Therefore, I wonder if anyone involved in that organization would be willing to make a definitive public statement yeah or nay: YES, we will file a lawsuit if we don't get our way, because it's the Christian thing to do; or NO, as part of the community and responsible employees of our respective congregations, we have no intention to file such a lawsuit.
Any takers out there? It would certainly help clear the air.
Democrats!
That's who's
behind this PADS!
as far as recommendations and replacements for Howard I'm sure that 9 out of 10 recommendations can do an equally subpar job no problem. I'm sure 10 outta 10 can do a better job (no problem) as well! You suck Howie and Staff!!!!!!
I highly doubt the PRMA is planning a lawsuit. Howie and his big mouth was probably just speculating or perhaps that is his reasoning for not wanting the special use permit. PRU, don't cause hysteria until the facts are known.
Anon@11:37PM,
We repeated to a wider audience what many of the St. Mary's neighbors are hearing.
We note that so far no statement or response has been forthcoming from either the PRMA nor the Mayor, but we do hope your own speculation is correct.
Hey anonymous 11:37, It is not the PRU that is spreading hysteria. It is the idiot Frimark who is telling people these stories. Go knock on Frimark's door and tell Frimark to cut it out!
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