#1 -- The more efficient council of 7!
As our regular PRU readers know, the PRU Crew has a good time keeping up with the City calendar and reading through meeting minutes.
We noticed yesterday that a City Council COW Special Meeting (Closed Session) had been cancelled. The single agenda item (.pdf) listed was "III. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATING MATTERS, 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (2)"
That sounds important, doesn't it? Does anyone think that agenda item may have had something to do with the on-going discussions between the City and employees regarding wages and budget issues? If you said "yes" to both those questions, you are correct.
So why was the meeting cancelled? To get an answer, the PRU Crew did what it always does and we asked our sources.
The answer? Three of the Aldermen couldn't make it to the meeting; therefore, there would not be a quorum.
The reduced City Council of 7 -- the millions of dollars deficit gift that keeps on giving!
#2 -- An exercise in power?
One of our sources reports that Mayor Schmidtzkrieg has been reading up on what a Mayor and leadership is all about. The PRU Crew has been told to look forward to Mayor Schmidtzkrieg exercising his Mayoral powers -- the proper execution of which Mayor Schmidtzkrieg's predecessor never seemed to grasp.
The PRU Crew has gone back and forth with our source on this very cryptic tip, but our source won't budge and provide any further detailed information.
We're looking forward to the big reveal!
#3 -- Outside the lines with a hometown bent!
Most of our faithful PRU readers probably remember the discussion that took place a little more than 1 1/2 years ago to consider the adoption of a local recall ordinance. Our illustrious box of rocks, a.k.a. our City Council, thought a recall ordinance was a bad idea. At that time, 4th ward Alderman Jim Allspaghetti lead the charge against adoption of a recall ordinance -- with all manner of support from former Mayor Howard.
There were those who contended that without a State amendment providing for recall of elected officials, the City of Park Ridge couldn't adopt such an ordinance.
Yesterday's Chicago Tribune editorial about the actions of the Illinois House's Rules Committee makes it clear that those opposed to a local recall ordinance here in Park Ridge have a lot of support down in Springfield and elsewhere.
Here are the list of "supporters" opposed to a State recall amendment, as listed in the Tribune's editorial --
Speaker Michael Madigan (Chicago), Edward Acevedo (Chicago), Luis Arroyo (Chicago), Daniel Beiser (Alton), Maria Berrios (Chicago), Mike Boland (Moline), John Bradley (Marion), Daniel Burke (Chicago), Will Burns (Chicago), Linda Chapa LaVia, (Aurora), Marlow Colvin (Chicago), Barbara Flynn Currie (Chicago), John D'Amico (Chicago), Monique Davis, (Chicago), William Davis (Hazel Crest), Anthony DeLuca (Crete), Lisa Dugan (Bradley), Keith Farnham (Elgin), Sara Feigenholtz (Chicago), Robert Flider (Mt. Zion), Mary Flowers (Chicago), LaShawn Ford (Chicago), John Fritchey (Chicago), Esther Golar (Chicago), Careen Gordon (Coal City), Jehan Gordon (Peoria), Julie Hamos (Evanston), Betsy Hannig (Litchfield), Gregory Harris (Chicago), Elizabeth Hernandez (Cicero), Jay Hoffman (Collinsville), Thomas Holbrook (Belleville), Constance Howard (Chicago), Eddie Jackson Sr. (East St. Louis), Naomi Jakobsson (Urbana), Charles Jefferson (Rockford), Lou Lang (Skokie), Joseph Lyons (Chicago), Frank Mautino (Spring Valley), Karen May (Highland Park), Emily McAsey (Lockport), Kevin McCarthy (Orland Park), John McGuire (Joliet), Deborah Mell (Chicago), Susana Mendoza (Chicago), David Miller (Dolton), Elaine Nekritz (Northbrook), Harry Osterman, (Chicago), Brandon Phelps (Norris City), Dan Reitz (Steeleville), Al Riley (Olympia Fields), Kathleen Ryg (Vernon Hills), Michael Smith (Canton), Cynthia Soto (Chicago), Andre Thapedi (Chicago), Art Turner (Chicago), Patrick Verschoore (Milan), Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights) Eddie Washington (Waukegan), Karen Yarbrough (Maywood), Michael Zalewski (Chicago).
Asshats all!
May 28, 2009
Freewheeling PRU Briefs!
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23 comments:
We have GOT to get back to a 14 member council. It was a bad idea to begin with and has proven to be exactly that. All in favor, say "Aye"!
I was very opposed to cutting the council by half...sometimes quanity can alleviate or mitigate a lack of quality.
...but now, we're suffering from a definite lack of both.
I agree with both comments here.
Bring back the 14 but not the pro Daley ( filthy ) seven!
Anonymous said...
I agree with both comments here.
Bring back the 14 but not the pro Daley ( filthy ) seven!
May 29, 2009 7:02 AM
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who got us out of further investing in the Joe Karaganis retirement fund?
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who bothered to find out what happened to $650,000 for our Peotone Airport investment?
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who kept power monger Frimark in check?
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who never voted to pass an unbalanced budget?
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who had the guts to increase fees and taxes and make cuts so that the city could maintain financial health?
You mean those pro Daley (filthy) seven who always managed to balance the budget and still increase spending on infrastructure?
Right. Who would want them back!
You are obviously one of the idiots who only cares about the new O'Hare runway issue and you only care now that planes are going over your area.
You chose to live near one of the world's busiest airports and you are now shocked that planes flying over make noise!
We all knew or should have known about the airport expansion plans. If you didn't know, you are an idiot.
Those pro Daley (filthy) seven weren't pro Daley or filthy. They weren't blind partisan Republicans either and that is probably what is really sticking in your craw.
The Uptown Fedora is having its annual “High Fiber Blow Out Asshat Sale” this Sunday. Politicians will receive a free steaming pile with every purchase. Because they’re shitheads.
Anon at 9:01-I am not anon at 7:02 but why are we idiots if we care about the fact that our neighborhood has been ruined by the new runway and the many landing routes going over the area to the new runway? Just because we don't care about what you care about-we are not idiots. And when we bought our homes years and years ago-THERE WERE NO PLANS FOR A RUNWAY THAT WOULD AFFECT US AND WE HAD NO PLANE NOISE. So we have a right to be totally pissed off that we have been robbed of the use and enjoyment of our homes and neighborhood. And the city council should have worked to try to find some reasonable solution. Instead the entire area from Canfield to Dee Road and Touhy to Higgins has been negatively affected.
As for your points 2-6-what are you talking about? We should have stayed at 14 council members.
Anonymous May 29, 2009 12:19 PM -
What about O'Hare being one of the world's busiest airports that provides transportation and generates billions of dollars of revenue for a 100-square mile region don't you people get?
Nobody in a position of meaningful power in this entire country - NOBODY - cares about you or your neighborhood, nor do they care about what plans there were or weren't when you bought your home "years and years ago." Rather than be "totally pissed off" now, AFTER a $500 million runway and control tower have been built, why didn't you take your head out of your butt 10 years ago when Daley, the airlines, and the FAA hatched and developed their plan for O'Hare "modernization"? Or 3-4 years ago when they commenced construction?
What were you doing back then, when it mattered...in a coma? And while our mayor (Frimark) and city council were asleep at the switch, what could they realistically have done? Elk Grove Village and Bensenville spent millions after Park Ridge left SOC, and they got squat. How many millions would you want us to spend for the same worthless result.
Hey, I live in the affected area and it sucks! But the only chance we had to stop the expansion, or at least divert it further south, came and went years ago. And ALL of us were pretty much out to lunch when that happened.
So shame on us; shame on you; now shut the blank up or move - because that ship has sailed.
1:55--it's people like you who are the sad part of Park Ridge. Have some compassion, try to understand the beliefs of others, and actually LISTEN when others speak. When they are speaking, you shouldnt be thinking about what argument you want to make next.
Be a positive part of the community instead of CONSTANTLY--ABSOLUTELY CONSTANTLY--bitching and blaming. It's getting really really old.
The pro-Daley (filthy) seven were volunteers, professionals with expertise that saved you from further rip-offs, parents, local taxpayers, Park Ridge-raised, Christians, and/or all of the above. If you respond like Pavlov's dog, only not as cute and clever, every time a carpetbagger or right-wingnut says the conditioning word, "Daley" or "Democrat," you deserve the kind of government you've got in Mr. All-regret-he and his herd of ilk. I'd be sorry for you if you weren't so destructive of this community's best qualities.
The only filth here is the filth dribbling out the many orifices in your head.
Gypsy -
Take another valium, or sing another verse of Kumbaya. What's getting really, really old for me are these whiners who are CONSTANTLY--ABSOLUTELY CONSTANTLY--bitching about O'Hare and blaming everybody but themselves, even though they did nothing for all the years that O'Hare expansion was being discussed, planned and even constructed.
Hey, Gypsy, how about re-starting SOC so that these whiners can be placated. Have the city borrow a million bucks (because we know it doesn't have enough cash in the bank to spare) and hire Joe Karaganis to file lawsuits against O'Hare and the FAA. Maybe give a couple hundred grand to ORD-REST so that they can get more noise monitors and bring in a team of environmentalists.
With that kind of firepower, we should be able to shut down O'Hare, shouldn't we? Or at least get Daley to close down the new runway, so that those flights can be diverted back to the two angled runways that rattle the windows in the first and second wards. Is that your plan, chief?
There are people in this community who believe that by bringing attention to the new runway, and the negative impact it’s having, there may be an opportunity to enact some changes that will benefit Park Ridge. Improvements in technology, business practices, health standards, etc. have been made because someone believed that there is a better way. Why does it need to be all or nothing in regards to O’Hare? Some people try to make the argument that because one runway is already built and the expansion is underway that there is no chance to change or modify anything. Those same people seem to be so bothered by anyone who speaks out against the new runway/O’Hare Expansion. Why? There is still an opportunity to enact changes or alterations in the remaining expansion plans. Changes can be made to runway usage, hours of operation, landing patterns/techniques, etc. Making comments about it being too late, why didn’t you do anything before, why don’t you just move, you knew you lived near an airport, etc. etc. etc. are counterproductive. Anon 1:55 says that “the ship has sailed”. This may be true; however, there are still other ships in the port. We may still have some say in the direction they will be sailing. Thank you to all the positive, forward looking people out there that believe there is a better way, in spite of the critics!
645--you just proved my point.
Anon at 9:01/1:55/6:45-what a hate filled person you seem to be. With your attitude-you belong living in an area far away from others-very far.
Many did not believe in belonging to the SOC and giving millions to Karaganis as shutting down ORD was not possible. But what should have been done by Weitecha and our city leaders over the years was to find a way to work with Daley and the FAA to find the best solution for the ORD OMP. They did not choose this path. For Weitecha it was all or nothing. Weitecha and his bunch chose all and lost. So we lost. He refused to work with Daley to find a compromise solution. The next bunch of leaders gave up the fight all together so this is where we are today-screwed.
Thankfully some people like Anon at 6:52 know there are solutions and will work to find them. These people will get lots of support from those of us who were robbed by Daley and the FAA. Unfortunately if any gains are made, then 9:01/1:55/6:45 you will also benefit.
Anon@10:44 --
You're talking to at least two different people as far as we can tell.
As the Crew has been watching the conversations about this topic, we can't help but come to think that it is the people like you and 6:52 who are the ones who are really full of shit.
We can't help but ask what we've seen others ask, where have you been this past decade?
We posted some time ago that we feel our elected officials let us all down. But we have also come to know that not all of our elected officials let us down. We as a community let ourselves down. There isn't an elected official on the planet who can accomplish anything without support.
We also hear in the words used by you and others that as long as the new runway never opened and the planes never began flying over their new and present route that you and others would never have bothered to take note or look into all that you are now concerned with. That in and of itself tells us you and others complaining about this problem now are totally self focused.
We can't help but feel that the negative reaction you are getting from people who have long lived with this problem, as flights continued to increase in frequency over their homes, are totally justified in telling you to go take a long walk off a short pier.
The language you and others are using to make your case is low key, reasonable, and even soothing in tone, but the message is clear -- until it became you that got screwed you didn't notice that others in your community were being screwed or you didn't care. Now you expect everyone to drop everything and mount an attack in a battle that seems to have been lost long ago.
You've arrived at the party after it's over and you're demanding that the lights be turned back on, the punch bowl refilled, and the band come back and begin playing again just for you.
PRU you hit the bullseye! You have described how I feel as a person who continued to make those noise complaint calls for years when nobody else cared at all about what my family was living through. When I listen to these people complaining about the flights over their houses now I just shake my head. They never cared before about the noise or the pollution or the quality of life for my area of our community but now I'm supposed to feel some sense of community and spend millions we don't have for their area? I don't think so. You can't demand the whole community help you out when you begin your argument with well, you bought your house in a flight path so that was your choice. That argument sounds alot like too bad for you but it's not my problem because it's not in my area of the community. The noise nusance is now shared by more people in the whole community. The people now hearing the plane noise aren't getting all of it like my area used to. The new runway has given my family some respite from constant plane noise. The burden of the nusance is now a shared one. Sharing the good and the bad is what community is all about. I agree the new runway won't be closed, so even if the flights are reduced the nusance won't be eliminated. If people can't get used to it like my family did then the only thing left to do is move.
Anon @ 7:32 --
I was asked to review your comment by an irritated moderator.
I have agreed with the irritated moderator that if you do not appreciate the overall message being delivered by our blog then you should find another outlet for your thoughts and message. Best wishes in your pursuit -- we suggest you start and maintain your own blog or take the opportunity to write letters to the local rags' editors.
Do not come to this venue, our blog, and attempt to dictate what you prefer we say and the way we say it.
I find myself in agreement with the irritated moderator again -- you are not only an idiot, you are also an asshat and quite full of yourself. Your perception of living in a more valuable part of Park Ridge is laughable.
Therefore -- in light of your lack of appreciation for this outlet, your irredeemable stupidity, and your complete self absorbtion -- your comment has been trashed.
Tough crowd...!
Some time back I posted about valuation assessments in relation to a discussion about the O'Hare expansion...and some people believing their property values had been reduced. In that comment I had said that residential property is assessed at 16% of market value...which WAS true...however, for the coming tax year the County has changed the law regarding levels of assessments.
Here is some Q&A from the Cook County Assessor's web site...
>>Why was my property’s level of assessment adjusted?
The level was changed due to the new 10/25 law. Previously, homes were assessed at 16% of market value. Now, they will be assessed at 10% of market value. Commercial and industrial properties were assessed at 38% and 36% of market value, respectively. Now, they will be assessed at 25% of market value. The 10/25 provision makes the process simpler and creates two easy-to- understand assessment levels, instead of the six assessmentlevels used in prior years. The provision also provides clarity and makes your assessment easier to understand.
>>With the change in assessment level, will my assessment automatically go down?
The change in assessment level will neither increase nor decrease an assessment. The revised assessment level will simply give you the ability to review your assessment and determine if it accurately reflects the market value of your property. When trying to determine what value the Assessor has placed on your home for assessment purposes, you can simply divide the assessed value of your property by 10%, instead of 16% -- allowing for a much simpler computation.
>>I think the value for my property is too high.
Your assessed value should reflect close to 10% of what your property is worth. If your new assessed value is 20,000, your house is most likely worth close to $200,000. If you disagree with the value indicated on your notice you may file an assessment appeal and submit any supporting documentation which validates your over assessment claim. The easiest way to file an appeal is on our newly-redesigned Web site. You may also visit our office, your local township assessor’s office, or call and request that an appeal form be mailed to you
Please don't jump all over me here. I just have a question for those who used to get the jet noise......I don't recall hearing complaints from you....no flyers....no issue put before the neighborhood....no ads....so why are you so upset with those who are trying to do something now? We can all crawl back into our little nests and do nothing, or we can try to make improvements.
PRU ADMIN-trash my comments all you want. You say this is an open form for all comments-but it is your blog so you will decide what gets printed. So much for keeping an open mind and being receptive to the comments of others. How hypocrytical you all are. So full of yourselves-heroes in your own minds-for providing this opportunity for "open" discussion. You are all full of bullshit. If we don't think like you, we are idiots, etc. Wow-what a pathetic attitude.
And Bean-there is no way I can sell my house for the same amount I could have before the planes starting their relentless assault over our houses. I could give a crap what the county assessors office says. Our market values have dropped-but our taxes won't. Great. Getting less and paying more-the new Park Ridge motto.
Anon @7:36 --
I will continue to trash your comments as I see fit.
You are mistaken -- this forum, vs. form, is as open as we say it is and we have never allowed any and all comments. Too many of you are way over the top and do not understand the concept of defamation, privacy, innocence, or where the lines get crossed. And some of you are just perverts.
The Crew's minds are open to reason and logic. We even allow for reasonably based and logical feelings to be expressed.
You, 7:36, rarely meet any of that criteria. Your comments are unreasonable, illogical, and -- to borrow a phrase -- full of your own bullshit, and that is why every Crew member believes you are an idiot.
You're idea of keeping an open mind is for this blog and its readers to lie to you and tell you that you're right as rythm, and that the whole town should now do whatever it may take to fix something you failed to even notice was coming up to take a bite out of your ass. All we can figure is that you are so used to being pampered and spoiled that you are flabbergasted when somebody tells you to go take a leap.
Regrettably, 7:36, the last time you may have had any reasonable expectation of receiving that kind of soothing was when you were a child being cared for by your Mommy and Daddy -- this blog is for adults -- you won't find that kind of soothing here.
If your idea of open discussion is denigration of the rest of the community because you perceive the value of your home and the amount of your mortgage payments as conferring upon you some special degree of consideration or heightened sense of rights, I again must inform you that you've come to the wrong forum.
wow. now we know why PR has a reputation for being full of snobs. 7:36, please STFU!
People along the Belle Plaine corridor have been especially vocal about the new noise because the change in their quality of life was abrupt, happening from one day to the next. Anon 11:55, you say that people begin their argument with “well, you bought your house in a flight path so that was your choice.” I think the point they’re trying to make is that you at least had an advantage of knowing where the planes were flying and how low they were. Maybe the frequency of flights changed over the years but you at least had a better idea of what you were up against and willing to tolerate. The people in the Belle Plaine corridor that bought before the new runway was built did not have that advantage. They couldn’t possibly have known what the real impact would be until the additional planes started flying. They may have known that there would be more planes and more noise, but how factors (like noise level, altitude and flight pattern) would impact their lives and homes is something that those residents could not truly have known. Unless you are living with the noise all day long, how do you really know? How would they really know how it affected you? Anon 1:53 makes a good point. The Belle Plaine corridor is getting attention because there are very committed people who are using many outlets to bring the noise/pollution concerns to light. Yes, personal experience is fueling their motivation. To those who keep asking “where have you been this past decade?” What do you think people should have done this past decade? As many like to point out, Park Ridge as a member of the SOC, spent millions but got nothing in return. Would those on the north side really have wanted to stop the expansion? Because of it you have been given a break from the constant noise. So now, because you feel that no one cared about you and you have some noise relief, you’re done with the whole issue. I suppose the people along the Belle Plaine corridor could stop working for relief and wait for the additional runways to open up. This may lessen the frequency of the planes but will not help will the noise levels or flight patterns. On the other hand, many expect things (noise, pollution, plane traffic) will be getting a lot worse for most of Park Ridge. Do we really know? Sometimes timing is an important factor. This might be the best time to try to gain improvements for our community. Changes in the political and environmental landscape may play in our favor. But then again, we can all do nothing and have people ask us “where were you when they were planning the rest of the O’Hare expansion.”
Anonymous at 7:36,
You sure are a bitter pill...
The information was meant as a general update for general discussion and general consumption...not everything is about you.
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