For those who've asked about the doings at last night's City Council meeting --We may or may not get around to indexing the video content so feel free to avail yourselves of the technology without waiting on us!
And for those lazy people faithful PRU readers who waited for us to index the video content, you're welcome!
Meeting begins with the usual opening ceremonies
@ 0:01:19 -- Consent agenda approval begins
@ 0:03:08 -- Mayor's report begins with discussion of draft letter, inviting Federal candidates to Park Ridge to discuss O'Hare expansion
@ 0:07:10 -- Mayor comments on storm damage and asks Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim for an update
@ 0:10:36 -- City Government Class is recognized as being in attendance and their teacher, Mr. Greg Young, addresses the Council
@ 0:12:43 -- City Manager's contract discussion begins
@ 0:23:12 -- Ald. Allegretti admits being unprepared for the discussion and moves to defer consideration of the City Manager's contract
@ 0:25:30 -- Ald. Bach moves to amend Ald. Allegretti's motion to defer to a Special City Council meeting on July 12th but his amendment fails
@ 0:26:40 -- Council votes unanimously to defer consideration of the City Manager's contract to the July 19th City Council meeting
@ 0:28:07 -- Under City Council reports, Ald. Bach reminds everyone to attend the Taste of Park Ridge on July 8th, 9th and 10th
@ 0:29:05 -- City Clerk's report begins with motions to cancel some upcoming meetings and a motion to adjourn to closed session to approve closed session minutes
@ 0:30:26 -- City Manager's report begins
@ 0:31:29 -- City Manager requests a motion to adjourn to closed session to discuss acquisition of the Scharringhausen parking lot property
@ 0:32:14 -- Mr. Declan Stapleton, of Irish Pub fame, addresses the Council ~~ by the way Mr. Stapleton, how's that parking study for your Irish Pub coming along? Don't fret Mr. Stapleton, this Council hands out variances like priests hand out absolution, but you aren't likely to be required to say even one "Hail Mary" to get that variance
@ 0:33:23 -- Ald. DiPietro notes Ald. Ryan's absence ~~ We're shocked, SHOCKED, that Ald. Ryan is missing another meeting ~~ and DiPietro indicates he intends to vote "no" on the issue of going into closed session
@ 0:35:05 -- Council votes 5 (Sweeney, DiPietro, Bach, Carey and Wsol) to 1 (Allegretti) not to go into closed session to discuss acquisition of Scharringhausen parking lot
@ 0:35:21 -- Ald. Bach asks the Council to discuss the acquisition of the Scharringhausen parking lot in open session at the next Council COW
@ 0:38:00 -- Mr. Dan Knight addresses the Council
@ 0:40:15 -- Council votes unanimously to defer discussion of acquisition of Scharringhausen parking lot to open session at the next Council COW on July 12th
@ 0:40:53 -- Citizens wishing to address the Council on Non-agenda items begins with Ms. Jane Nowak addressing the Council
@ 0:41:56 -- Reports of Boards and Commissions begins
~~ And they're off! ~~
@ 0:42:06 -- Ald. Bach begins report for PROAC with discussion about his phone conversation with the CAL law firm
@ 0:43:27 -- Ald. DiPietro indicates the CAL law firm did not return his call
@ 0:44:06 -- Ald. Wsol shares his notes from his phone conversation and offers information contradicting what Ald. Bach reported he was told in his conversation with the CAL law firm
~~ As we said -- It's the telephone game! ~~
@ 0:46:54 -- Mayor Schmidt comments on his email exchanges with the CAL law firm and confesses that sometimes lawyers are 1) "blow hards," 2) "salesmen," who try to 3) "develop clients," and 4) "market themselves." This may be the greatest truth the Mayor has ever offered for public hearing!
@ 0:49:58 -- Ms. Jane Nowak again addresses the Council and says she's happy to see her Alderman [Robert Ryan] is absent ~~ even odds say she meant it!
@ 0:51:50 -- Mr. Richard Hughes addresses the Council
@ 0:57:37 -- Procedures and Regulations begins with Ald. DiPietro moving to approve a resolution to place a referendum question about O'Hare expansion on the November ballot
@ 0:59:08 -- Ald. Wsol moves to amend the referendum language to read --
"Shall the City of Park Ridge allocate funding to seek expanded and accelerated noise abatement solutions intended to address the negative impacts of O'Hare airport's expansion on residential property values, local schools and the overall quality of life in our community"
@ 1:14:25 -- Mr. Richard Hughes again addresses the Council
@ 1:15:40 -- Mr. Milan Tomaska addresses the Council
@ 1:17:42 -- Ms. Judy Barclay addresses the Council
@ 1:20:57 -- Ald. Wsol calls the question, but discussion continues per the preference of the chairman who then recognizes Ald. Bach who proceeds to declare the full build out of O'Hare will be "horrendous" and "horrible" for Park Ridge ~~ and that muffled moaning sound you may hear are the anguished cries of real estate agents throughout Park Ridge
@ 1:22:21 -- Ms. Judy Barclay continues to address the Council
@ 1:24:24 -- Mr. Robert Trizna addresses the Council
@ 1:28:48 -- Ms. Pat Livensparger addresses the Council
@ 1:31:45 -- Mayor Schmidt comments on the referendum language
@ 1:32:35 -- Ald. Carey comments on the referendum issue and then offers a motion to amend Ald. Wsol's amendment. Ald. Carey moves to include language which reads --
"Shall the City of Park Ridge allocate funding in an amount not to exceed $500,000 to seek expanded and accelerated noise abatement solutions intended to address the negative impacts of O'Hare airport's expansion on residential property values, local schools and the overall quality of life in our community"
@ 1:38:35 -- City Manager Hock momentarily stymies the Council
@ 1:41:40 -- Ald. DiPietro moves the question which is the same parliamentary thing as calling the question
@ 1:42:38 -- Council votes unanimously to call the question which means they all agree to stop debate and take a vote on Ald. Carey's amendment to Ald. Wsol's amendment of the referendum language. Got that?
~~ And we pause now to offer a brief bit on parliamentary procedure. Almost every time a motion is made the newest motion must be acted upon, then the governing body must move backward through the pending motions to the main motion which was originally offered for consideration -- think, Merlin the Magician who aged backwards. ~~
@ 1:42:50 -- Council votes 3 (Sweeney, DiPietro and Carey) to 3 (Bach, Allegretti and Wsol) and the Mayor breaks the tie and votes yes to include the $500,000 Carey amendment language
@ 1:43:30 -- Council votes 4 (Sweeney, DiPietro, Carey and Wsol) to 2(Bach and Allegretti) to approve the Wsol amendment to the resolution for the O'Hare referendum question
@ 1:44:32 -- Council votes 5 (DiPietro, Bach, Carey, Wsol and Sweeney) to 1(Allegretti) to approve the resolution to place a referendum question about O'Hare expansion on the November ballot
@ 1:45:02 -- Finance and Budget report begins with discussion of City phone service contract
@ 1:49:00 -- City Manager Hock comments on the contract and the potential savings and costs
@ 1:50:40 -- Ald. Bach goes all "Napleton" again, but with much less gusto and oomph
@ 1:52:09 -- Ald. Wsol reveals his complete lack of understanding of what does and does not carry the potential for public relations fiascos
@ 1:53:14 -- Ald. Allegretti ask the City Manager about costs of a bidding process
@ 1:57:16 -- Mayor Schmidt comments on super majority voting requirements to award no-bid contracts
@ 1:57:43 -- Council votes 6 (Bach, Allegretti, Carey, Sweeney, DiPietro and the Mayor) to 1(Wsol) to approve the City phone service contract with Call One, which the supporting City documents indicate the Better Business Bureau rates an A+ company ~~ the PRU Crew is wondering why City staff included the BBB document in the first place, since we know the City does no-bid business with companies who receive a rating of F from the BBB.
@ 1:58:20 -- Move to adjourn to closed session
The end.
78 comments:
The discussion about the airport referendum was better then I expected from the aldermen.
Like someone here said in another post, it is about time they ask the citizens what we want. If my neighbors and I are like the rest of our town folk, this referendum should be the end of this losing battle.
We have poured too much money down the drain on the airport fight for decades. It is time to accept the airport plan and move on.
This town has too many problems and things we need to improve to waste one more cent on starting up another losing battle.
Pru, pretty please write up a recap. I can't bear the idea of watching the whole video. That would be almost as bad as being at the meeting!
Anon@8:37 --
In the works.
Anonymous 7:25:
I agree with everything you said but if people vote to spend the money to keep fighting we will have to accept that.
I do hear all the talk about educating the community and find it somewhat insulting. We moved here knowing about the airport and my wife and I raised our family here and the planes used to be much louder. I think we are plenty educated about the airport.
Not a person I know would vote yes for the referendum with the money amount in it or not. The reason is probably what the gentleman on the video said about more people not being disturbed by the new runways. Either way, I don't see any referendum passing.
Folks, I think it's about time to get the City to endorse (but not, of course, fund) a special Civic Communication Contribution Award (OK, name needs work) and honor (in this order, to my mind) the likes of PRU, PubDog, George Kirkland et al (for putting up the City video). We have our verbally adroit wackadoos (too numerous to name), our less verbally adroit conventional news media, and our official line of pap, but these folks really work overtime to bring news and analysis we can use right home to our lazy, er, over-multi-tasked lives. Since PRU is anon, perhaps he/she could put a typed note in Mayor Schmidt's mailbox indicating the charity or cause he or she would like to have honored in his/her name. Everyone else can line up for a big fat plaque and/or a Chamber of Commerce gift certificate. We need to do this. These people are working their butts off for us and don't even get a rubber chicken dinner for it! I'm serious here. Anyone in?
Anon@5:35 --
We're honored by the suggestion of your honor and won't quibble with your order, though we may not agree.
But we do feel you haven't carefully considered what you are actually asking -- that the elected officials, in whom we take delight in unmercifully criticizing, endorse such civic communication contribution(s).
Does Prada design parkas for those cold days in hell?
PRU, I second 5:35 in thanking you, PubDog and George Kirkland for doing all you do.
I know there is no way I could keep up with what is going on from only the papers.
Anon@7:49 --
Thank you both and feel free to comment on the issues too.
Believe it or not, as much as the elected officials have criticized the evil blogs, most of them read here and almost all of them are interested in hearing what people are thinking about and the opinions held by community members.
If the elected officials can't take the heat they should get out of the kitchen and not make us wait and hope they are opposed in the next election so we can vote them out. Its too bad if they don't like the blogs. Its too bad if they don't like being on video but I get the idea some of them do like it though.
I don't always agree with what is said here but the postings and the comments are better than the papers full of garage sale notices and special selected letters.
9:18:
Why don't you just go completely "Palin" and blame it on the "lame stream media"??? With all respect, if you are buying into a certain blog you are getting just as much crap. It is just crap from a side that you agree with. Kind of like FOX and MSNBC.
June 24, 2010 8:34 AM
I said I don't always agree with the blogs. How you got "Palin" from that I don't know.
Pru, thanks for the video break down. I'm one of the "lazy people"!
I agree with the first comment that the discussion wasn't all that bad except for Allagretti- what an insulting idiot.
I'll too add my thanks to the PRU for adding entertainmnet value to the politics of the day.
"the PRU Crew is wondering why City staff included the BBB document in the first place, since we know the City does no-bid business with companies who receive a rating of F from the BBB"
Why would the city do business with bad businesses and which ones are they?
Anon@1:01 --
Thank you for the compliment.
Anon@1:06 --
First, probably because the City gets what it believes to be a good deal.
Second,this one
LOL. Anyone can file complaints about a company but it takes some arrogant balls to ignore two complaints.
PRU, thanks for answering my questions.
I guess if the city is geting a good deal that is fine. I suppose a company would be3 careful about pulling anthing in their homebase town.
Anonymous @ 4:45,
...bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
Where have YOU been for the last few years?
I'll say one thing...*some companies* are careful about trying to cultivate "water boys" and "Chinamen"...that's for damn sure.
Bean,
I admit I am new to the ins and outs of local poltics. I guess I have not paid atention enough.
Anonymous @ 5:05,
Yours is nearly a universal "affliction"...and I'll have to admit those *NOT* suffering the "affliction" of being "new to local politics," are the really sick and twisted ones...
I'll go postal before I go Palin. Sheesh! But that sad and erroneous comment reminds me: Mr. Trizna (PubDog)recited one of my fave quotes the other night that applies here: You are entitled to your own opinion but not to your own facts. I love the blogs because even when I don't agree with their analyses -- and I don't, on some significant issues -- I went to kollich so I can see that they are pretty careful to research the facts (a job in itself!) relate the facts and then, separately, deliver their opinions. That is what I admire and value - and so, in my humble opinion, should you. PRU, you are correct, the smarter pols and public employees read you guys to stay ahead of public opinion and the dumber ones read it to see if you spelled their names right. Works for me. If we'd had PRU and PubDog's patented shit detectors when Tim Skanky was playing games with the revenue projections, we might be in better shape today. But hey; better late than never.
I'll say it again: Youse are a national treasure right here in our back yard.
PRU:
Very interesting BBB link!! I have to tell ya, even though I do not agree with all that you say or type, this post is an example of why I like your blog. Your allegiance seems to be to a principle rather than to a person (or politician). There are blogs out there who would never post this information.
Anon@5:18 and Anon@5:26 --
Thank you.
And just to let you know, you're making it very difficult for PRU.ADMIN to post our Gone Fishing -- See you sporadically over the next month post we had planned for today.
The Crew sure hopes you're happy with yourselves!
Bbb is a joke. I wouldn't put a lot of stock in them as they give f ratings all the time to companies who don't pay them which americaneagle doesn't according to their unaccredited status. Do a google on "bbb f ratings" for more info on the way they shakedown companies. They are a not for profit and nothing to do with the govt.
Anon@8:10 --
We understand there are those who would want to defend a particular company against an F rating issued to them by the BBB as a result of multiple complaints having been filed -- and that company's failure to respond to the BBB requests.
However, there are plenty of companies listed with the BBB who are not accredited members of the BBB and still receive very favorable ratings.
And there are companies very favorably rated by the BBB who have had complaints filed against them -- those companies not only made the effort to respond to complaints, but also made the effort to try to square any problems with the complaining customers.
Americaneagle.com seems to have failed on both of those fronts.
-- edited to add --
As for the BBB being a non-profit entity which has nothing to do with the government, we did want to point out that both of those statements are true. Additionally, the BBB posts both its annual reports and 990s on its website.
We'd also suggest you read their mission, vision and values statements. They're very straight forward and worth aspiring to.
Their dun and Bradstreet rating is a 95 percent. Bbb is a scam to shakedown companies who don't pay to play. Do a Google. It's not a secret. 2 complaints for a company that big seems frivolous. Also, if u read the ratings explanations on bbb.org an f is given when theyh don't have any information. Seems really stupid which is probably why it hasn't hurt them as a company at all with all those big clients. I doubt if they would have cients like the bears or beretta or hobby lobby if they really were that terrible. Plus, they are adding more to their headcount from what I hear.
What power does bbb have to force companies to respond to them? Why do they matter? Basically if you ignore them you get an f? Seems seriously flawed. The truth is that because of the internet they have become a relic.
Anon@8:52 --
We will repeat that we understand there are those who would want to defend against an F rating by the BBB.
However, the BBB has a long and honorable reputation within the business community.
The BBB's rating formula is proprietary but from what we have read it looks as if Americaneagle.com received an F rating not because they would not pay a fee for accreditation, and not because the BBB didn't have enough information, but because Americaneagle.com chose not to respond to two complaints against their rather modestly-sized company during the last 36 months, which is the BBB's reporting period.
In our view the larger issue is whether or not the City of Park Ridge should be doing business with companies rated so poorly by the BBB. We do not recall the City vetting vendors with the BBB and so we were surprised to see the BBB document for Call One.
Anon@8:58 --
The BBB was founded in 1912. If they were either a scam or did not matter, they wouldn't continue to enjoy the longevity of their existence.
The BBB rates companies based on more than whether or not they respond to complaint, but as we mentioned the formula is proprietary so we cannot say for certain whether or not Americaneagle.com's failure to respond to two complaints against them -- one being a contract dispute and the other being a service dispute -- in the last 36 months is the sole reason for their F rating.
Mercedes got an f rating too. They're in good company lol
Anon@9:08 --
It could be a particular Mercedes dealership received an F rating from the BBB.
We haven't checked and it would not seem to be relevant to the issue of with whom the City of Park Ridge chooses to do business.
And unfortunately for Americaneagle.com, they are not the Mercedes of website design.
The headquarters of mercedes got an f rating. They do not pay to be accredited and had unresolved complaints. Ridiculous. It is the first result after typing mercedes. The example shows how flawed and stupid their rating system is.
Anon@9:16 --
Clearly you would prefer to believe there is no merit in the ratings given by the BBB.
A quick check bears out your position that the headquarters for Mercedes Benz received an F rating.
A further check reveals other Mercedes entities have done well.
It appears the Mercedes Benz headquarters may be lacking the necessary qualities which would earn them a better rating from the BBB. Possibly that could also be the problem for the headquarters of Americaneagle.com
Either way. The real question here is what are the RFQ qualifactions for any business dealing with the City of Park Ridge?
Most website designers are scam artists anyway. So how does the city seperate the fecees from the high grade fertilzer?
Mercedes?
You mean the company that had their world war two employment records mysteriously disappear?
That Mercedes?
To me the key words that no one has discussed in PRU's comment are "no-bid". Now I am not a conspiracy theroist. While I do not know the owner of Americaneagle.com peronally, I know that he has done a great deal for this town and I am certain all is above board and his company provides a great deal of value to the city.
Having said that, there are many conspiracy theroists in this town. They look at orgainzations and they theorize where there might be corruption. If information is missing the hypothisize about all kinds of things. They get up on their soap boxes and talk about stewardship of the peoples money. They go after organizations that involve a great deal of volunteer hours (TOPR and COC for example).
I am not saying that either of these organizations is perfect but here is what I find facinating. If you are a member of that group who sees conspiracy and potential corruption everywhere, why is it you see none here?? I mean if you are wondering about 20K the city pays for services to TOPR or if you "wonder" about COC and want more information, why wouldn't you look at this deal and wonder....hmmmm...he donates money to the city and, if PRU is correct, he has a no-bid deal....hmmmm....gee I wonder!!! If you are someone who is so all over stewardship of every nickel of the taxpayers money, why would not be screaming about a company who, if I am not mistaken has received a rather large some of money from the city on a no-bid basis?? I am not an expert on the web hosting and design market place but I have to believe we could get multiple bids. Some folks have gone off the deep end with a lot less than this. Funny how most of those screaming and hypothisizing the loudest about some of the other organizations in town say nothing about this. It seems to be more about people and politics rather than principle.
Anon@10:11 --
The bid threshold is $20,000.
Americaneagle.com has billed the City $19,500 for the most recent website upgrade -- just a shade under the bid threshold.
PRU:
Is that they total amount they have received? For some reason I thought it was quite a bit more than that.
Apparently I am mistaken.
Anon@10:30 --
The most recent bill to the City is supposedly $19,500 for the most recent website upgrade. We are uncertain if that amount includes the $4,100 for hosting and software.
We do not know the amount of the 2005 City website work done by Americaneagle.com or if there was also a fee for hosting, software and--or content and maintenance.
The new park ridge website looks great. What is the controversy. All because of a one rating? Again if they rate Mercedes as an f this doesn't really mean much.
Anon@10:42 --
It takes little if any effort at all to make a website look great.
We believe the issue we raised was why a BBB rating was included in City documentation for the no-bid contract with Call One when we were and are aware of no-bid business being done with companies with far less impressive ratings.
A commenter here asked which company and we shared what we know.
Getting back to the issue of the City website, we agree it looks nice -- not great -- but we have found the website upgrade abysmal for our purposes, which is often searching for City documents and references to specific topics.
The new search is less functional and rewarding than the old search, unless you are a resident looking to pay a fee online or fill out a form of some type.
We do believe it is in the City's best interest to vet vendors as thoroughly as is possible, and we aren't displeased to note a City staffer included the BBB rating for Call One.
Americaneagle.com's misfortune of having run afoul of at least two of their customers and the BBB within the last 36 months is unfortunate for them. But we don't believe our noting the misfortune or people having questions about it are bad for the overall best interests of the City.
2 customers out of 50000. Even better than Mercedes! Lol
Anon@10:55 --
We cannot say how many customers are unhappy with Americaneagle.com and the services it provides, nor can we say how many customers Americaneagle.com has, so we'll take your word for it.
I predict that the rating will be drastically changed once Bbb finds out the truth if American eagle even thinks it matters
Anon@10:59 --
We get the sneaking suspicion Americaneagle.com thinks it matters.
We also feel, as a commenter here said, it's very arrogant not to bother to respond to complaints.
If a response and explanation are all it takes for Americaneagle.com to get a better rating we wonder why they didn't take the time to do so in the first place, but we would encourage them to make the effort now -- better late than never.
So the price tag was $19,500 and the bid limit is $20,000? Well that doesn't seem quesionable at all.
At least it wasn't $19,999.99.
or like the gas stations.....$19,999.99 and 9/10.
And they donated 40k in fireworks to get a 20k deal? Makes sense pru.
Anon@10:22 --
We understand that the donation for the fireworks was $18,000 last year and will be $18,000 again this year. We'll leave you to do the rest of the that arithmetic equation.
We also thought we'd been told that the 2005 City website contract earned Americaneagle.com roughly $20,000 over the last five years.
We do belive the business the City does with Americaneagle.com can be considered a win-win-win-win for all concerned.
Americaneagle.com gets to ad another municipal website client to their list along with the opportunity to promote their business at the annual fireworks show.
The City gets a functional website and the return of the website fee in the form of a donation for fireworks.
The people of Park Ridge and others who come here get a nice fireworks show to enjoy on the 4th of July.
And the extended family of one of the owners of Americaneagle.com, who have a fireworks business, get the fireworks contract from the City with the donation provided by Americaneagle.com.
We don't believe Americaneagle.com donates to the City for simply the purpose of receiving the City website business.
Some controversy! Lol
Anon@10:49 --
Perhaps you haven't been following the comment thread carefully.
If there is any controversy it's in whether or not the City should be more thoroughly vetting and--or doing no-bid business with companies rated poorly by the BBB.
Though we expect there are those who were unaware of the less than purely altruistic nature of the donation for fireworks from Americaneagle.com.
The donation transaction isn't exactly arms length or seemingly without conditions.
We're fine with the idea that Americaneagle.com would ask -- if not require -- the City to deal with the extended family of one of its owners as a condition of receiving a fireworks donation.
However, we feel in the interest of transparency, those relationships should be made known, instead of having the Americaneagle.com donation presented to the public in a way which would lead the public to believe the donation is free and clear and wholly altruistic.
The people change, but the under the table stuff never seems to go away.
Nothing has ever been hidden. In fact the owner is on tape at council meeting telling Aldo Ryan all the math you just confirmed. But pru is right as it's a win win win win
11:06:
Nothing has been hidden?????? This looks to me like the owner is making that generous donation to his relatives!!!!!! This is the first I have heard about it!!!!!!
11:06 as Kevin Bacon......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDAmPIq29ro
I agree with the PRU about the win win situation. The other points the PRU raises are good too. I don't remember reading about this on any of the other blogs out there.
He is one shrewd fella! Better be careful before he buys this site's URL. It's for sale u know! Although I doubt he would bother. Keeping it in limbo is lots more fun!
Anon@11:34 --
What shrewd fella are you referring to?
We do feel you should know, Blogger URLs cannot be bought or sold.
LOL, 11:13 How about this one.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyCCJ6B2WE
Anything can be bought. Especially parkridgeunderground.com. u don't own it. Someone else does.. hee hee
Anon@11:40 --
Perhaps you meant to say anyone can be bought?
We have to tell you that is not true for the Crew.
We also have to tell you parkridgeunderground.com is not the URL for this site. We are a Google--Blogger site with a different URL web address and the Google--Blogger terms of service -- TOS, for short -- does not allow the sale of its blogger web addresses.
However, we're certain any shrewd fella, particularly one in the business of web design requiring Internet savvy, already understands that.
That's why it's still for sale. But it still deserves a good chuckle. Heehee
"Anything can be bought" The new slogan for the current City Hall Administration perhaps?
Anon@11:55 unpublished --
Our standing rule remains no libel, no bullshit.
In the case of your comment, emphasis on bullshit -- thus, your comment gets flushed.
Wow. If the anonymous here is who I think he is, what a sad and sorry display this is.
12:12: You can't blame a guy for trying but I agree with you.
"Anything can be bought"??
Holy crap!
LOL. Follow the bouncing ball.
What an amazing string of comments to read. At least when PRU criticizes a local business they do it with something to back it up and not wild speculations and conspiracy theories created out of thin air.
Bbb is a scam to shakedown businesses? Sure it is and all the companies who get rated F by them are great but get an F because they won't pay for a better rating. Anonymous come back and give us the punchline for the joke you are telling.
Wait the City had no money for Police,Fire,CSO's and Public Works employees. Yet 500,000.00 to fight O'hare. Yep!!!!
Oberweis corporate and the PR location get f ratings too. Looks like ameagle is a d minus now. This makes no sense. I noticed that neither company pays money to bbb to be accredited so som/ething stinks. Oh yeah, nordstrom got an f also, maybe an f is good?
June 25 9:11
Don,t laugh too hard. The Anonymous here calling the BBB a scam is probably the Am. Eagle guy and that guy bankrolled Schmidt and is here saying anything can be bought?
The joke could be on us.
6:37:
A few things. First, there are many Nordstroms listed that did not get F's. Skokie got a B+. Second, considering how long you have to wait for an ice cream cone (even when not crowded), I would not give Oberweis A ratings either.
But most importantly, why are you protesting so much? Not a person here has said that BBB is the final perfect answer on anything. What it is is a piece of data to consider along with many others. If a business receives an inquiry from BBB I think that it is silly of them not to address it. It is not freakin' brain surgery. Here is the issue or non-issue and how we corrected it. For you to label the entire organization as scam is way, way out there!!!
The City doesn't have $500k to fight O'Hare either but maybe the politicians will dump all City staff, take over running the City and pay themselves AND spend the rest on fighting O'Hare.
The key issue here is that many of you have not felt,smelled and heard the next two runways that are due up by 2013.
9C27C will travel straight up Grandville.
9R27L will cover ther south corridor.
Both will be used for take off and landings as well.
Update - Reporter John Hilkevitch of the Chicago Tribune recently uncovered two key areas of concern
just within the last few weeks.
1. The political bootlickers at O'Hare have decided to support -cut the emergency reserve fuel load from all comercial airlines.
That's 15 mins of reserve fuel that at times may be needed.
Note that over 4,000 flights needed to be re-routed to alternate airports in the past.
Then we have the jamming of the current airlanes with too many comercial aircraft.
Per the FAA - if the Chicago based greed factor does not change - then the FAA will in fact invoke a " Limit" to those assigned to take off and land at ORD.
Then most recently we have the
two aborted take offs just last month at O'Hare that involved the Rockford based charter service
of Ryan Airways.
Some of our finest were put through two tarmac stops with the first at ten hours and the 2nd at eight hours.
They finally got off the ground!
Keep in mind that educating the resident is not a bad thing.
If at all possible why can't there be a supplemental EIS-Study.
Then the data collected can be the base for the Injunctive Relief.
1. Return the flight capp
2. Adopt the night time noise
abatement proposal.
3. Extend out the noise contour
for all residents who want
sound proofing.
The non-governmental organizations in and around the country are trying to help their communites as best as possible. It's also nice to see other members of the congress coming tho their aid!
Let's support the PR AP Commission in their continued effort to help the impacted wards of our community.
www.quiettheskies.org
www.planesafe.org
www.jetpollution.org
The anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of an air safety health risk is what it's all about.
I would think again before you wave the white flag in front of you home or at 505!
Daley would love a photo of that !
Thank you.
CAPP
The person saying the BBB is a scam is probably a scammer him or herself. The best defense is an offense. Accuse somebody else of doing what you do and create distractions and hope people look the other way instead of too closely at what you are doing. It looks like that is what some person here has been trying to do by bring up other companies ratings but the City isn't doing business with any of those companies. I agree the BBB isn't the only source of info. but it isn't worthless or a scam.
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