Enjoy the gold of sunshine!

'Rippled' by Christolakis



Have a great weeked!

Freewheeling -- Looking Down The Road!

For our faithful PRU readers who take an interest in local political doings, the PRU Crew is wondering if anyone has given any thought to what should happen in the event a certain 6th Ward Alderman locates his conscience and resigns his position.

The PRU Crew hasn't researched the issue and so we remain unaware of how or if it may be possible to remove an Alderman from office in the event of an ethics violation. We also remain uncertain about the outcome of any current ethics investigation. Though, it sure is odd that no disclosure evidence has been quickly produced in support of the claim by 6th Ward Alderman Tom Carey that, approximately 4 years ago, he specifically disclosed the $5million economic relationship between his employer, Patrick Engineering, and the City of Chicago's O'Hare Modernization Program.

However, we have seen evidence that not only should Mr. Carey have been aware of the specific OMP economic relationship, but also that Mr. Carey was Patrick Engineering's registered attendee at a City of Chicago's Department of Procurement Service's pre-bid conference -- we are unclear about when the conference took place or for what pre-bid procurement purpose Mr. Carey participated.


Click on image for larger view

In any case, Mr. Carey was more than well aware of at least Patrick Engineering's general economic relationship interest with the City of Chicago.

The PRU Crew will admit to being profoundly stunned to find out in the end that Ald. Carey may have so blatantly lied to the public, on video tape, at a City Council meeting. If so, the only remaining question for us will be whether the man is a complete fool or an unmitigated idiot.

For our part, we see issues that go well beyond the narrow concerns some 6th Ward residents and the rest of the community may have regarding O'Hare expansion. The job of Alderman demands a more expansive view of public policy considerations and a deeper understanding of democratic processes than we've recently witnessed from our current crop of Alderdopes and the Mayor.

Beyond the issue of O'Hare, fast approaching is the time when the City Council will again take up budget planning for the next fiscal year. God help us all! The Mayor and City Council just recently completed finalizing some details from the last round of the fiscal budget fun!

The City Council can ill afford another unprepared, know-nothing representative voting on public policy. And keep in mind who will have the authority to appoint a replacement, with the advice and consent of the City Council, should an aldermanic vacancy occur.

We're also wondering if anyone in the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Wards will be picking up an election packet from the City Clerk's office for the upcoming aldermanic elections in the Spring. Election packets, only one each, have been taken for the upcoming races in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 7th Wards.

Things to think about, if you're looking down the road.

COW 9-27-2010 Video!

And a good time was had by all!

There Oughta Be A Law!

In a Friday, September 24th online article from the Journal & Topics, Falling Trees Could Lead To Lawsuit, we read --

"Neighborhood dissatisfaction with the falling of two trees on Bonita Drive in Park Ridge is manifesting itself in other ways and could lead to a lawsuit against the city.

Police received an anonymous complaint about a B class truck parked in a driveway on Greenwood Avenue.

The truck belongs to the parents of the family on Bonita where the two trees were recently removed, explained Police Chief Frank Kaminski.

“The man parks his truck on his driveway a couple days a week,” Kaminski confirmed. “According to the zoning ordinance, that’s illegal."

Of course, now the City will enforce the zoning code ordinance and put an end to this illegal activity. Right?

Wrong.

If our faithful PRU readers have been paying attention, then you know at last night's City Council COW, staff proposed a housekeeping ordinance change action item for approval -- Parking of Commercial Vehicles in Residential Areas (.pdf). The memo states --

"The City Attorney has recommended moving the attached language from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code. Paragraph 13-10-11 B has been added to the Municipal Code to address off-street parking. This change will result in a violation being fined a $50 fine, not $250 as outlined in the Zoning Ordinance."

Please note -- "from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code."

Additional language in the City staff memo suggests the weight and size of commercial vehicles that qualify for a waiver from the parking restrictions, specifically --

c. Exceeds twenty (20) feet in length, eight (8) feet (6) six inches in height or seven (7) feet six (6) inches in width, or has more than four (4) wheels.

We again remind our faithful PRU readers of the memo language -- "from the Zoning Ordinance to the Municipal Code."

Setting aside for a moment the questionable wisdom of essentially removing a land use ordinance from the zoning code, we're wondering why the newly proposed language seems to have expanded the size for which a commercial vehicle may qualify for a waiver. The existing zoning code ordinance (.pdf), section 12, 11-A-3 states --

"A. No truck of eight-thousand (8,000) pounds GVW or less (i.e., Class B license) shall be permitted to park in the front or corner side yard of any residential lot, if the truck:

3. Exceeds twenty (20) feet in length, eight (8) feet in height or seven (7) feet in width, or has more than four (4) wheels."

It appears the more restrictive zoning code language, governing the size of commercial vehicles, is being eased in the proposed language for addition to the municipal code.

The Journal & Topics article goes on to report --

"...resident Tom Bernick says the trucks don’t qualify for a waiver.

He said three vehicles, two cargo vans and a straight truck, are being parked at the address.

He claims one of the vans has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds, the other is 8,900. “The straight truck is 14,500 pounds,” he said.

Bernick said the family has parked the trucks for about three years and said he has also seen the resident allegedly dumping food waste products down the storm drain. “We’re going to sue the city for not enforcing its ordinance,” he said. Referring back to the tree decision, he added, “It’s the same favoritism that’s going on."

It took three years for someone to alert the proper authorities? The PRU Crew is pretty confident the commercial vehicle parking problem wasn't viewed as much of a problem until neighbors in the area got the idea that for some people no doesn't mean no, especially when it comes to buying and removing City property -- which is precisely what we feel occurred in the continuing saga of the Meatgate trees.

The PRU Crew can't say for certain if Mr. Bernick is correct in his assessment of favoritism. But we sure do wonder what the hell is going on over at 505 Butler Place these days.

Anyone know a municipal attorney willing to issue a cease and desist order on bullshit from City staff?

Anyone know a zoning attorney willing to submit a map amendment to the zoning code designating City Hall a No Bullshit zone?

Monday Grab Bag!

Grab a seat at a meeting, or grab a book to read! Either way, there's no reason for boredom here in Action Ridge!


#1 -- Our illustrious City Council will be holding another COW meeting tonight at City Hall, starting at 7:00 pm. The agenda (.pdf) covers Finance and Budget, and Procedures and Regulations.

It looks as if there is a ton of potential fun to be had! The PRU Crew is eagerly anticipating the discussion of the Davis separation agreement (.pdf), as well as another variance discussion concerning zoning code regulations. How new is the new zoning code rewrite? And how much did the City pay for consulting services to rewrite it?

We also see the 5th ward's Benedict Ald. Ryan has gotten his wish -- the Council COW will be discussing the merits of the possible unbudgeted purchase (.pdf) of the Scharringhausen parking lot. The PRU Crew again believes this to be an especially stupid idea at this time. But then again, consider the source of this idea, and stupid is to be expected.

Finally, for our faithful PRU readers who pay very close attention to what's taking place, we're sure the contents of two particular background memos caught your attention -- succinctly stated, no doesn't mean no for some people.


#2 -- The District 64 School Board will be holding their annual budget hearing (agenda.pdf) this evening. The budget hearing is scheduled to begin at 7:20 pm, before the regular School Board meeting (agenda.pdf) begins at 7:30 pm at Jefferson School.

We strongly urge anyone, who is interested in how the School Board has planned to spend our money in the upcoming year, to take full advantage of those ten generous minutes allotted to the task. Though the PRU Crew doesn't blame the School Board for setting such a brief budget hearing schedule -- traditionally, nobody shows up for the monumental event.


3# -- If attending meetings of your local government bodies isn't quite what you do for fun, may we suggest reading a book?

It's once again time for Banned Books Week!

For those interested in making a subversive selection of reading material, you can check here and here for ideas!

As we offered here, the PRU Crew still thinks "District 207 should consider adding an elective Junior and Senior level course to the high school curriculum devoted entirely to the reading and discussion of "banned" books.

With a heavy dose of Constitutional and public policy issues thrown into the mix.

Keep the thought police hopping!"

What Matters

Have a good weekend!

The Political Folly of Ethics Demands?

For our faithful PRU readers, who sat through the entire video we posted for last Monday night's City Council meeting, beginning at the 2:00:10 mark you undoubtedly heard 6th Ward Alderman Thomas Carey make the following statement under new business --

"Mr. Mayor, I'm not certain of the protocol on this regard but as all of you may know I have not made a determination as to what decision I'll make regarding running for Alderman again.

However, it appears the political folly has begun and I want to restate what I've stated previously, approximately four years ago.

I happen to work with and for Patrick Engineering and I am disclosing the fact that Patrick Engineering does work for the CDA, the OMP, and that there are contracts in place and there have been in place, and so again I want to make sure that that is out and disclosed in public."

Political folly? Demands for timely disclosure of economic interests is political folly?

We don't think so.

Alderman Carey, you are beholden to the voters in your ward as well as the larger community to make sure they are aware of any economic interests you may hold directly or indirectly in any given matter of legislation on which you intend to act. We do not recall you ever disclosing the particulars of the economic relationship between your employer, Patrick Engineering, and the O'Hare Modernization Program. If you did so, "approximately four years ago," we missed it. But can you explain why you did not offer the time, place, and date of that "approximately" four year old disclosure when you addressed the matter at Monday night's City Council meeting? At best, you are treating the ethical questions and demands of your constituents far too casually.

The contracts you referenced in your statement about your employer, Patrick Engineering, aren't merely a small matter of, say, something like a fee for acting as an insurance agent.

The contract Patrick Engineering holds with the OMP is worth $5million.



The PRU Crew is aware there are those calling for your resignation over what they believe to be your failure to properly disclose the economic relationship and that you have been in violation of the demands of the ethics ordinance -- Article 2, chapter 5 (.pdf). The PRU Crew believes it would be a waste of effort, and would essentially leave the residents of the 6th Ward unrepresented for what remains of your term as Alderman. We also don't feel you possess the appropriate level of chagrin to even consider stepping down from your Council seat.

However, Mr. Carey, we strongly encourage you to consider what it is you owe to your constituency -- even those who disagree with you and find fault in your positions -- in serving as their representative to the City Council, while you're thinking over another run at the job for another four two years. (Note to our friendly correspondent, thanks for the heads up, we completely flubbed it -- Aldermen in even numbered Wards will be elected for only two years, to comply with the referendum approving the staggering of Aldermanic terms.)