Anything but PADS!
July 16, 2008
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Irreverent and Unrepentant Satire and Irony
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33 comments:
Thanks, PRU!
My issue for today is the Public Works meeting agenda...
Why oh why is the committee going to again discuss the removal of public parkway trees...? Wasn't that issue already decided...? Or, did another shipment of meat arrive at City Hall...?
I like the landscaping at the library. Downtown looks nice if you dont look at the construction.
I want to know what the city is doing to make this town more pedestrian friendly. I read through the PRPedestrian blog and agree with what there is in there. I also took my family to the Taste of Park Ridge and we parked by Hinkley and walked. When we got to the intersection at Touhy and Busse it was a nightmare trying to get to the Touhy crossing. We were on the Summit side and they had the whole sidewalk blocked with their construction mess. We had to walk in the street with cars flying at us! It was ridiculous. No pedestrian planning and consideration at all.
My issue for today is the upcoming (Spring 2009) local elections.
I know the one we all seem to focus upon is the Mayoral race...but what about the other taxing bodies?
The School Districts and Park Districts will both have open seats. We need good people who want to put in the time.
And about that mayoral race......any takers?
Anyone want to announce anything?
Alderman Dave? Alderman Frank? Larry Friel? Sue Bell? Pete Ryan? Bob Trizna? Sean O'Leary? Mike MaRous? Dean Krone? Dick Barton? Father Carl? Jim Rademacher? Kelly Muno? Gary Warner? Jeff Caudill? Nancy Frimark? Joe Baldi?
Anyone I'm leaving out, please feel free to volunteer. I'm just brainstorming and putting out some of the names that have been mentioned, or some I'm thinking about.
Except for Alderman Dave, I'd say almost anybody else except the others you listed. Sue Bell? Geebus! A chicken in every pot and subsidized housing on every block!
Memo to Alderman Dave:
Hat
Ring
Toss it
Anonymous July 16, 2008 11:20 AM, don't kid yourself. The chickens would be subsidized too.
Why are we conccerned about trees in the parkways?
Mike,
Because the trees belong to everyone; because they provide shade to reduce the urban heat island; because they produce the oxygen we breath; because they provide habitat for animals; because they serves as barriers to noise from O'Hare and the expressways.
So when someone wants to knock down some parkway trees, simply because the trees will block the views to their McMansion, we should all be concerned. And when they send "free" meat to the City we should be concerned at the "tit for tat" going on in the current administration.
Bean, Reggie,
There was a "survey" about cutting down trees in a Spokesman (along with 3 Frimark photo-ops) of a few weeks ago. I had a funny feeling about it at the time.
Are you referring to a specific incident here? How do we get to the "meat" of this issue? What are we missing here?
do some of the Elms need to be cut down because of that icky bug?
My issue is that there are too many hot dog joints in town and not enough franchised fast food joints.
So now we have Tasty Pup and Hot Dog Grill opening in the next few weeks.
Where is my Popeye's or Little Ceasar's?
I'm so close to moving to Arlington Heights, except they have a PADS shelter there.
Err... I mean... they have a crummy library. Yeah! That's the ticket!
Oh for pete sakes.
I cab understand if you're my happy about something like the library but you're gonna move just because they don't have the tpye of restaurants you like.
Can't expect every place to have everything.
MWIP,
Here is the history of the parkway trees:
Shortly after the then new City Council was sworn in, some residents who had purchased a lot (from the City website, the Mr. & Mrs. Antonopoulos at 1200 Bonita Drive) to build their dream home decided that they could not realize their dream if the silver maples (6, I believe) that were currently growing in the parkway adjacent to their newly acquired lot were allowed to continue to grow there. They wanted to ax the trees to allow all to gaze upon the temple they intended to build. Basically, it was their belief that the City's trees were in the way.
The City Forester came out and said no. The trees are healthy and there is no reason to cut them down. The former Director of Public Works backed up the Forester (despite rumors of pressure from Howard to allow the trees to be felled). No cutting of the maples was permitted.
Meanwhile, the residents, who apparently are in the meat packing business, decided to send a nice "gift" of meat to City Hall. The former City Manager sees nothing wrong with accepting the "gift" and has a cook-out on the back steps of City Hall. Quantities of beef are grilled and eaten. The residents also appeal the denial of their request to cut down the trees to the Public Works Committee.
This all took place before PRU started, so someone called the papers to raise the issue of the "gift" and the appeal. Articles appeared in the local rags (I have not gone back to look for them).
With the lights turned on and everyone looking, the Public Works Committee did the right thing and backed up the decision of staff. Paul Bunyon was sent home.
So why come back now and again ask to have the trees removed? Have the trees "suddenly" become diseased? All five of them? Is the City Forester on maternity leave, with a new Forester minding the store who does not know the history of "Meat-gate"? Should we look to Howard's campaign contribution filing due at the end of the month for more clues? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile the Public Works Committee met last night to discuss teh Antonopoulos's most recent request. Anyone know what happened?
PRUdos to the Public Works committee who last night rejected the reqeust to cut down the trees.
Private citizen July 16 at 11:52
You make a good point about the hot dogs, and soon we’ll have a Dunkin Donuts too--- do people in this town really eat that stuff??? I wonder if this garbage food has everything to do with the eating preferences of our Dir of Economic Development and Mayor?
My issue is really the lack of healthy food. Years ago I heard that Whole Foods wasn’t interested in Park Ridge because some demographics showed that we would not support healthy eating. I am tired of driving to Evanston for a decent restaurant and Northbrook for groceries, all these hot dog-eating, homeless-enabling residents are eroding my quality of life. It’s time to get out of here – if only I could sell this house!
We already have a Dunkin Donuts up on Dempster street. I know they are not good for me but I still love them.
I spy with my little eye Private Citizen said PADS in a PADS-free zone!
O.k. Alright. Now we're going to just write you both a warning this time. Have a good day.
LIKE YOU REALLY HAVE TO DRIVE TO THE NORTHSHORE FOR GOOD RESTAURANTS?
(Sorry I accidently hit the caps button.)
What about the other surrounding towns?
What else is new?
Reggie, Anon 9:27,
Thanks for the info. I love this blog.
Guilty as charged regarding the P-word, but I tried to cover my tongue slip.
Mike - I'm not really moving because of my food choices. It was more of a satirical take on the PRU mood from time to time.
But I would rather have a Little Caesars than two new hot dog places.
OK I apologize.
Speaking of new food places I read sometime ago Baskin Robbins is returning to uptown.
Wonder why they closed the old Main and Fairview location that was there a long time.
Longer than I've been aropund.
Mike - Not just Baskin Robbins, but a Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins.
Woo hoo! Mmmmm.. .donuts.
Franchised fast food. That's what I'm takin' bout!!
Now for a Little Caesar's.....Mmmmm... $5 hot-n-ready pizza.....
Uh I realize that.
I was just mentioning BR and the fact it existed in Uptown up untill the mid 90's.
I remember a BR at the Solari & Huntington Jewelers location - it closed and reopened a few times because of health code violations and then it just closed forever.
Please if you are seeking a mayoral candidate at this time frame - please keep the " undertaker " out of it.
What we don't need is another loud mouth that wants to fill his pockets
( no names here ) and do it the democratic way.
Ah yes.......I can see the BBQ now on the front steps of 505 hobo drive
aka " The House of PADS".
Please pass the "q" sauce.....
What do you mean by making PR pedestrian friendly?
They can't can control the traffic on probably the most busiest street in town.
Probably gonna get worse when they finish the stupid construction project which is why I hate it so.
Speaking of the taste I wanted to get a meatball sandwich from whatever that place is called on Main St.
It costed 9 tickets and an extra 2 for a drink.
I would of had to buy 9 more tickets which I knew I wouldn't use so I gave back the tickets and asked for my money back and that was it.
Also does anyone know what's going on with the PR Historical Society?
It's supposed to be open from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturdays and in the last few weeks I've gone it's closed.
Anon July 16, 10:58 AM
Your pedestrian friendly observations are interesting & I like that PRPedestrian blog too (especially the shrubbery photos). The Touhy – Busse intersection is a nightmare, especially on a weekday evenings when commuters traverse the intersection every which way trying to get to parked cars, kids on bikes or on foot have an impossible time getting to Hinkley, and the timing is too short for elderly folks to cross!!! Maybe the city isn’t following its own Uptown master plan. I found a PDF on the city’s website that includes lots of ideas for improving walk ability:
Go to http://www.parkridge.us/, click on “Development in Park Ridge”, now click on “Uptown Redevelopment”, and finally on “Uptown Master Plan adopted Aug 19, 2002 (in Adobe PDF format)”
Some key statements from the Master Plan: “Minimize conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.”
“Pedestrian crosswalks should be improved to better link the blocks north and south of the railroad, and to better connect the Core to nearby development districts.”
“Promote improvement and intensification of the Uptown Core as an active, pedestrian-oriented shopping and business environment.”
**About the Historical Society **
I think their lease isn't being renewed. Park Ridge is experiencing a culture drain, first the Brickton Art Center moved and now the Historical Society. We need more of these unique and charming cultural locations and less hot dog joints and chain fast food.
Is there anything going into the Brickton Center? I know my girls would love a Claire's.
To bad about the PRHS.
Inncidently This past June or July marks the towns 135th birthday.
Anon@11:28PM -- About your girls wanting a Claire's, you have insight into a fine business opportunity. If your girls would like it, so would just about every girl their age and depending on their numbers and purchasing ability it could be a successful shop. In my opinion a one of a kind store trumps a chain anytime.
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