As many of you already know, the city sent out a press release saying that tomorrow night's City Council agenda will not include the final reading of the zoning text amendment or licensing ordinances for temporary shelters.
An online update on the Herald-Advocate web site details Mayor Howard's desire to have his contract idea reviewed by the City Council before the aldermen vote to adopt the ordinances legalizing operation of temporary homeless shelters. According to the article, "The mayor said he believed that it is in everyone's best interest to have a proposed agreement that meets the needs of the Park Ridge Ministerial Association representatives and Journeys from PADS to HOPE before the City Council discusses this issue further," the release states."
Got that people? It's in everyone's best interest to see to it the needs of the PRMA and Journeys from PADS to HOPE are met before any further discussion, which the PRU Crew reads as meaning before the needs of Park Ridge residents and taxpayers are considered and met. Park Ridge residents and taxpayers just don't seem to be much of a priority for Mayor Howard -- so many deals, so many friends, so little time.
We're wondering exactly how it is in everyone's best interest to see to it the PRMA and Journeys from PADS to HOPE are protected from the special use permit and licensing process before there are ordinances enacted to require a special use permit and licensing process? Why is it that Mayor Howard is pulling the City Council in the direction of specifically considering the PADS franchise before the City Council generally considers regulation of temporary homeless shelters?
We're also wondering a couple other things, such as why the meeting agenda doesn't list Mayor Howard's PRMA/PADS shelter contract scheme as a discussion item, and why the city web site hasn't posted a copy of the "licensing agreement."
The PRU Crew can't do anything about the agenda, but here for your review is a copy of the proposed "licensing agreement."
October 28, 2008
Mayor Howard Stars As...
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20 comments:
PRU - Nice work getting a copy of the mayor's contract! It illustrates how badly we need those text amendments to the Zoning Ord in place.
Ok, every meeting the 1st thing these idiots say is..."this is not about PADS its about homeless shelters in general". Then it should be first things first, regulate SHELTERS. Then work on some sneeky contract scheme with the beloved pads homeless shelter for gods sake.
Really, how much can we take? Mayor Ass and all the "yes sir mr. mayor" alderman are so set on having PADS (not just any shelter) in PR. The blinders have been on from day one and they will not budge at all. Suing the city of pr is the only thing that will work on changing their minds. So, unless we can sue the city I think this is a lost cause. They dont even need the white shirts fighting to get pads in PR. The citys want and desire to host PADS and does not want or need approval or support from anyone in or around pr.
The mayor will dictate everything and that is final.
rambling again
Are you kidding me? How is all this possible? Is there any hope?
I have a few issues with the revised draft Temporary Shelter Ordinance on the agenda for the 29th meeting.
1. Should read no shelter within 500 ft (or on the same property as) a child daycare, nursery school, grammer school (& middle school).
2. One shelter per ward (Should read 1 shelter period!)
3. Taking each sleeping area and dividing by 80 to determine how many people are allowed. Just what is the square footage the city is providing for this "shelter"? how many people can have access? Can square footage expand if the city or PADS so decides?
Way too many questions that need to be addressed. People of the City of Park Ridge we must speak now or forever hold our peace! Write, e-mail, call your alderman, Mayor and PADS. Over and Over. Fill their day with message after message of our disapprovement!!!
The "Flim Flam Man" is exactly right. Frimark can't help himself -he can't do anything "straight up" or "by the numbers." Everything with him is always sneaky, or misdirection, or behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing.
I have scoured the Internet to try to discover what he has articulated as his vision, his core beliefs and his values re government or Park Ridge, and I have found...NOTHING!
Which leads me to conclude that he is motivated solely by what's good for him and his cronies. And that seems to be whatever can be done to generate cash for the people doing it, with the taxpayers left holding the bag, like with the PADS shelter.
This PADS shelter contract looks to be of of questionable enforceability by the City when it's not outright illusory - like the bit about the PRMA or any "officer, agent or employee of any constituent member" agreeing not to sue the City. There is no way a court will dismiss a lawsuit brought by anybody who hasn't personally signed the contract, which makes me wonder how far up his whatsis is Buzz Hill's head stuck if he either drafted or approved this POS?
We are being conned once again by Flim Flam Frimark!
You seem to enjoy superimposing our Mayor's likeness onto movie posters. Here is a suggestion for a future piece you might want to do on Howard:
Big Fat Liar.
Now, HF is really cutting the corners to get his.....way.
He paints himself as the good guy but really has a hidden agenda
like the rest of the politicians
at all levels.
No back bone.
Sorry........but that's the way many of those that I have spoken with - feel towards the lack of leadership here with the city.
Great to see that Frank W. has finally come out of his closet too.
If this shelter does end up in our public works building - it will be the perfect opportunity to have the guests do a little work for the city - shovel mulch or salt into public works trucks, mop floors, wash trucks, pull the weeds at the empty Napleton lot. I'm sure they would want to make themselves useful while showing gratitude to the people of Park Ridge and the PRMA volunteers!
Chicago Public Radio had an article about how homeless guests at the Pacific Garden Mission make compost and grow fresh veggies from their newspaper bedding and food scrapes. Listen to, or read this great, green story at http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=29786
Does anyone, even the mayor, really know who the PRMA members are? Is the Park Ridge Community Church a member? Does the PRMA know who their members are??
In Frimark’s contract, Section Nineteen, THE ASSOCIATION, it states, “every house of worship that is a constituent member of the Association, must execute this Agreement” In March the PRMA sent a letter to the Herald/Advocate signed by 17 members, yet a PRMA flier distributed in April had 13 members.
Herald/Advocate letter, March 2008:::::::::::::::::
Re. James McCracken, convener, and The Park Ridge Ministerial, priests, pastors and representatives from:
St. Paul of the Cross Roman Catholic Parish;
Mary Seat of Wisdom Roman Catholic Parish;
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church;
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church;
Redeemer Lutheran Church;
Messiah Lutheran Church;
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church;
Park Ridge Presbyterian Church;
First United Methodist Church;
First Baptist Church; South Park Church;
First Church of Christ Scientist;
St. Matthew Center for Health;
Avenues to Independence;
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital;
Counseling Center of Lutheran General Hospital;
Rainbow Hospice;
St. Mark’s CSI Church.
PRMA flier, April 2008::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Members of the PRMA supporting PADS:
First Church of Christ Scientist
First United Methodist Church
Mary Seat of Wisdom
Messiah Lutheran Church
Park Ridge Presbyterian Church
Redeemer Lutheran Church
St. Andrews Lutheran Church & School
St Luke’s Lutheran Church
South Park Church
St. Paul of the Cross Church
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Avenues to Independence
St. Matthew Center for Health
So, let's assume that this piece of rubbish is an enforceable contract.
If that's the case, it can be terminated by the City for any reason with 60 days notice, right? Which means ::by its terms:: that the white-shirters CAN NOT SUE FOR TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT.
Presuming that we manage to elect a new mayor who ISN'T the posterior end of a horse, this means that once the new mayor is in office, he can immediately terminate, and in 2 months, the shelter goes away. Right? RIGHT??
Anon @ 8:46 I don't believe that's the case. According to the newspaper, PADS can terminate it within 60 days; Park Ridge cannot. Hey, that's some good negotiating mayor! Remind me not to ask you to help when I go to buy my next car!
Under Section Eighteen of the Contract, both the City and PADS/PRMA can terminate "for any reason" upon 60 days written notice. But that would require the vote of a majority of the same alderdwarfs who want to do this deal in the first place.
What are the odds of Allegretti, Bach, DiPietro and Ryan (or Wsol? or Carey?) growing the spines necessary to buck the PRMA and do that?
But the bottom line on this Contract is "why?" What's so special about PADS and the PRMA they they deserve this kind of special deal?
maybe the prma club had a falling out, or there weren't enough white tshirts to go around...
p = pompous
r = religious
m = moronic
a = asses
I think 8:46 may be right, not that this is likely to get signed. The Termination provisions read:
Section Eighteen
Termination
The City may terminate this Agreement for any reason upon sixty (60) days written notice to the Association. If the City terminates this Agreement, none of the Parties shall have any further obligation pursuant to this Agreement.
The Association or PADS may terminate this Agreement for any reason upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other Parties. If either PADS or the Association terminates this Agreement, Section Four of this Agreement shall survive for the remainder of the two year period.
Meanwhile, the mayor is getting ripped a new one via multiple e-mails by the folks who live near the Public Works Center. Just as Rev. Carruba did to the St. Mary's neighbors and Father Morello did to the St. Paul's parents, the mayor has done to the folks near the Center. No warning, just "boom, here it is. Deal with it." Then he issues a press release saying he need to satisfy PADS and the PRMAS before the Council discusses anything further! What rot.
You mean it wasn't just about schools??? Your kidding me????
Not only is it not only about schools, but it's about ANY shelter operator. Why do they think this is just about PADS. Offereing a special exeption for PADS opens PR up to other issues - what if another shelter operator wants to ocme into town to open. PR made one exceptoin are they going to FEAR a lawsuit if they don't give more??? THis isn't about PADS... it's about the community, all shelter operators, writing good public policy, AND mot importantly protecting our children and residents.
This is NOT just about PADS....
Aldermen I urge you to consider the writing of this ordinace as it would tand for ALL shelter operators and not exempt anyone fromt he process.
Let's face it, people. Nobody but the self-styled goo goos actually WANT the kind of "homeless" around who would use a PADS shelter. On the other hand, I haven't heard anybody bitch about any of the "homeless" families whom the Center of COncern or Catholic Charities have provided housing for. So it's not that we're heartless, it's just that we're not mindless.
PADS is simply the wrong idea in the wrong place at the wrong time. And unless things change, it's never going to be "right" for anybody but Beth Nabors, the PRMA and a craven politician like Frimark.
anonymous at 2:18 you hit the nail on the head. I also think this is all about bringing in low income housing to do something with the homeless that don't leave. Oh and stinky uncle carl was coaching that homeless man before the city council meeting, I think stinky uncle carl wrote the homeless man's letter to the journal today... Did uncle carl think he was fooling anyone? #$A@#$@$A$#E!!!!
I think Howie should star in that movie where the guy jumps into the ice waters to save the angel.
Maybe, he will get the urgent wake up call that he needs.
Are the church bells ringing at SP?
No wings for Howie!!
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