For our faithful PRU readers who appreciate a little ADHD --
From the Humpty Dumpty file of municipal management comes the following story -- Arlington Heights development falls into foreclosure. The article opens with "(Crain’s) — A foreclosure suit seeking nearly $20 million has hit Arlington Town Square, a publicly subsidized mixed-use project that sparked a revival of the northwest suburb’s downtown."
And what's another way of saying "publicly subsidized mixed-use project?" If you said "TIF district" you would be right!
The article goes on to point out the investment group for the Arlington Town Square has been accused of fraud. However, it doesn't take accusations of fraud to cause a foreclosure filing -- missing mortgage payments is what it takes.
And as somebody once pointed out, TIF districts are no gurantee of redevelopment success -- TIF districts are as subject to economic forces and their own special problems as the rest of the real estate market.
Watch your pocketbooks and wallets, ladies and gentlemen!
Will the Park Ridge Park District Board agree to the proposed T-Mobile erection of two cell towers?
At the last Park Ridge Park District Board COW meeting, the Executive Director's discussion included a proposal for "T-Mobile Cell Towers at Northeast and South Park."
The PRU Crew has been told T-Mobile may be willing to pay a hefty sum per month to the Park District for the privilege -- perhaps as much as $20,000.00 per month year.
Cell towers aren't pretty, but considering the revenue constraints on the Park District and the fact that cell towers aren't all that different from utility poles, the Crew feels this is a revenue generating idea worth serious consideration.
We also feel cell towers don't suck as much as billboards!
The Park Ridge Park District Board will probably be discussing this issue at their next regular meeting Thursday, March 18th, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Maine Park Leisure Center, 2701 Sibley.
*Addendum* -- Anonymous said...
Cell towers do not have to be unsightly. I was fortunate to be in Colorado a few weeks ago and noticed that the cell towers were disguised as evergreen trees. They blended in quite well, and it was a local who pointed it out to me. Seems like a workable solution in our parks that we require that as well.
March 10, 2010 1:53 PM 
Anon@1:53 -- You weren't joking!
We found the photo at left on the website Destination Knowlton.com
Gotta love those crazy Canucks!
In an online article published by the Herald-Advocate, we learn "a majority of the Maine Teachers Association membership voted "no" today (March 9) on a board request that the teachers open their contract, a district news release stated.
The Board and Administration had proposed salary adjustments that would have facilitated the recall of some or all of the 75 teachers laid off in response to a current and projected structural budget deficit, the release stated. "
"Salary adjustments" translated means less of a pay raise than originally contracted.
And again to the MTA rank and file we say, WTF?!?!
For those interested in an editorial analysis of the subject, check out the Pub-dog's post today -- Teachers Union Betting District 207 Blinks First.
March 10, 2010
PRU Potluck! *Addendum*
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16 comments:
There's a reason they call us Action Ridge...
Uptown TIF... trouble is-a-brewing. And I do beleive the TIF is on the Saturday morning budget workshop agenda. Be there or be square.
PRPD... show us the money! Not only should they seriously consider the cell tower deal, they should think real hard about doing it. Ca-ching... they could sure use the moola. Then maybe they could consider some inter-governmental hoochie-coo with the City via a loan!
Finally, the MTA... nothing funny about those bozos. That is a sad sad situation. It is really hard to believe that they can't consider taking a little less and save those jobs. God forbid they open their contract... what ever could happen next?!? Enjoy your raises and jobs folks... it is hard not to hope you choke on them and bite the big one real soon.
Cell towers do not have to be unsightly. I was fortunate to be in Colorado a few weeks ago and noticed that the cell towers were disguised as evergreen trees. They blended in quite well, and it was a local who pointed it out to me. Seems like a workable solution in our parks that we require that as well.
The teachers are ridiculous.
Here's an interesting historic tidbit about Maine Township High School:
"During the Great Depression most of the staff taught without financial compensation, as the district could not afford to meet salaries. As thanks, local merchants provided necessities to the staff free of charge."
From publicschoolreview.com and can be found at http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:Tf8WADXkpqQJ:www.publicschoolreview.com/s
That Tree cell tower isn't too bad. Must be something about ski bums and snow bunnies in Colorado and Canada. LOL
Anon 3:35,
You must be off your rocker if you are saying the teachers should work for nothing.
The teachers have mortgages and bills beyond only needing food or whatever necessities you are referring to.
You sound like an old fool.
I would like to thank the parents who supported the children who supported the teachers union. Without that support, MTA would not have been able to reject 207's teacher-saving proposal. Hope you are happy now!
I know a whole bunch of young teacher who are not!
Anon@11:31 --
People do have the right to express whatever opinion they may hold on any given public policy issue.
Of course, we take great pleasure in pointing out how and to what extent we feel they may be terribly wrong.
One of the most painful aspects of attempts to fill budget gaps within the framework of teacher tenure is that newer teachers are last in and necessarily first out -- that means, since newer teachers are likely to be making less money, even more teachers have to suffer layoffs to reach any given budget goal.
We can't help but wonder, if the teacher tenure system were abolished, what would the outcome of this particular union membership vote have been?
If any given teacher's position were at risk of being eliminated, and if staff cuts were based on some measure more meritorious than longevity, we suspect the reportedly 345 union members, who voted to throw their newer colleagues under the bus would, have an amazing change of heart.
Every year, teachers remind us that they are the reason parents of high school age students move to Park Ridge. They put on airs, extol their many virtues and intellectual superiority while demanding greater tribute from the taxpayer. They think they are above it all and we mere mortals owe them their tenured jobs. Well let these prima dona’s suck pond water when their contract comes to an end. They need to see, to feel and know what the world is like outside their bubble. They need to grow up! Time for the school board to place a “help wanted” sign on the door!
Teachers? I learn a lot from watching the city council battle its own citizens.
Thank God for citizens speaking out and pushing back.
If we had not, two years ago, protested the $400,000 sweetheart deal for Napleton to move out of its NW Hwy facility, then we either would have (a) been out the $400K anyway when GM pulled their franchise agreement or (b) saddled with yet another TIF for development of more Uptown, moving that project inexorably toward what's now happened in Arlington Heights.
Similarly, if we had not protested the planting of a drive-through bank at that same location, our residential neighborhood would be very commercial. Our alderman told us at the time, "If it wasn't for the drive-through, you know, they could just build a bank there since it's zoned B-1."
This, of course, taught us to change the zoning, lest we face another battle with our own city council, which actually seemed to be Napleton's city council.
This brings me to the budget.
Where is the outrage?
"Give us a balanced budget!"
Back to cell towers for a moment. The picture you posted is exactly like the two I saw in Colorado. Much better than the galvanized steel ones we have. The only challenge may be it is not tall enough for those of us who live on flat land. Perhaps Alderman Bach would know since he works in the industry.
So does this mean that if they disguised the side of the billboards that faced the condos and neighborhoods as an office complex or as 294 ot would be OK???
anon 10:25, you're an idiot.
Ald. Bach works in the cell phone inudstry? Then why didn't he suggest renting some city land to cell tower companies so the city could get what Pru said might be 20thou. per month? I guess Ald. Bach was too busy trying to help Ald. Allegretti with his billboards scheme. These guys are a pack of jackasses.
Still bitching about billboards I see.
You betcha!
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