September 17, 2008

GIGO! And Not GIGO!



The GIGO factor is shorthand for "garbage in, garbage out". We've got a lot of that going on today, and the PRU Crew has other things to do so we aren't going to be digging for anything today. We're going to leave it up to our readers to share with each other what they know about any of these subjects --

1. -- CVS Pharmacy is working behind the scenes with elected officials and city staff to move forward on their plans to build on the old Napleton Cadillac site. We recall Alderman Robert Ryan (5th Ward) saying he agreed that the site should conform to the city's comprehensive plan and be residential. We have not heard if Ald. Ryan is doing anything to follow through on that statement on behalf of his constituents.

2. -- Mayor Howard is telling people that the Illinois ACLU is planning to take up the cause of homeless shelters, and will be suing the city on behalf of the homeless, PADS, and the PRMA. One of our sources tells us that unless homeless shelters are planning on performing abortions, the Illinois ACLU isn't likely to take much of an interest, but you never know.

3. -- Mayor Howard is telling people that lawsuits have been filed against the city as a result of the Ekl audit being made public. We've got information that says that is false.



And Not GIGO --

The Park Ridge City web site has a very good
explanation of the reverse 911 call system available for reading. We're not sure exactly which city staff member is responsible for putting together the information, but we feel the effort to answer the questions residents raised about the issue is excellent.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Found on the ACLU web-site...

The right to practice religion, or no religion at all, is among the most fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The ACLU works to ensure that this essential freedom is protected by keeping the government out of religion. Learn more about how the ACLU works to preserve Freedom of Religion and Belief and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.

AND...in summary...

ACLU of Maryland Champions Religious Liberty of Christian Ministry for the Homeless in Elkton (7/8/2008)


BALTIMORE - Defending the fundamental right to religious liberty guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland has filed suit on behalf of the Meeting Ground, a church dedicated to serving the homeless, and its pastor, Reverend Carl Mazza, whose efforts to open a day center for homeless individuals as part of their religious mission has been wrongfully blocked by the Town of Elkton. The case, which was filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, contends that the Town's actions deprive the Meeting Ground and its members of their rights to freely exercise their religious faith under the U.S. Constitution and under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

"The constitutional promise of religious freedom is one of the most important principles in America," said ACLU of Maryland Legal Director Deborah Jeon. "It is not the role of local governments to decide which churches and religious missions will be allowed to practice their faith. But that's exactly what the Town of Elkton's zoning board is doing in wrongfully denying the Meeting Ground and Rev. Mazza their rights to fulfill their religious mission of ministering to an underserved population of persons experiencing homelessness."

Sounds to me like they would be ready for the fight!

Anonymous said...

So that I'm clear to you statement I need to ask a question... Did the church in Baltimore attempt to open the shelter on it's own volition or was there shelter system organization assisting them in their "mission" with a fundamental program designed to administrate or otherwise manage the shelter? Apples and oranges.

Sidebar... last I checked we don't live in Maryland we live in Illinois where court cases addressing similar situations have ruled in favor of local municipality.

Anonymous said...

I think Mayor Howie and Terry Ekl attended the same school...Dolt U.

Anonymous said...

PADS Journey to Hope is not affiliated with any religious org. They specifically state that the people in their programs cannot be preached to. They solicit funding and grants on all levels, City, Township, county, state and federal. So Their Program which the church is going to promote can't fall under religious freedom.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous September 17, 2008 11:54 AM:

If you read the stories about the ACLU suit, the zoning board in Elkton MD classified the church as a "philanthropic organization" instead of a church in connection with the "empowerment center" it wanted to set up, which changed the standards it had to satisfy. This is nothing at all like what Park Ridge is trying to do by enforcing its zoning law.

But if scare tactics about the ACLU suing Park Ridge is your thing, have at it. The two recent cases that have already been decided by federal courts here in Illinois support what out city is trying to do.

Anonymous said...

Keeping gov't out of religion...check out the sign on the lawn at MSW. You can now register to vote........................
after every mass! Talk about the democratic end run here....good old
father Gerry...

Anonymous said...

Talk about politics...I like the question:

" which set will you vote for..

1 - The old guy with the new

2- The new guy with the old

See you in November!

Anonymous said...

I got news for you. There is one reason and one reason only that the details of the Ekl report are being kept under lock and key. Howard is the number one meddler when it comes to asking for special favors with the police and public works. That is what being a “Friend of Frimark” is all about. That is why Joe Saccomano quit and that is why Ekl won’t release the information about what public official is meddling. Those report details will never see the light of day.

Anonymous said...

With our local government just between friends, where do the citizens fit in? Some aldermen don’t even feel the need to represent their constituents. Is there something more aggressive that can be done to get our town under control before the election? Can a mayor be impeached for improper conduct, with proof of police dept. meddling, misuse of tax dollars, and special favors?

Anonymous said...

anon 6:03:

I do not know how the impeachment process would work for a mayor would work or if there even is one (I would have to imagine there is).

You ask the following: Can a mayor be impeached for improper conduct, with proof of police dept. meddling, misuse of tax dollars, and special favors? I would say that at this point we have assumptions and circumstantial information rather than actionable data. I would think that what ever is in your mind that leads you to believe he is guilty of what you wrote is far from rock solid fact. Looking at something and saying this guy is a putz who clearly is representing his "friends" and not looking out for the community is very different then saying he has violated his oath and the law and should be impeached.

Just my opinion.

Anonymous said...

anon at 6:42 PM
Yes, I see your point. I was getting caught-up in anger at what seems to be a local government that runs the people, instead of the other way around. Thanks for your insight.

Anonymous said...

I beleive ALD Wsols and any others should be a bit concerned as to the integrity of the "white wash report", seems that certain powers to be did a great injustice to the god folks of PR. If there is any acusation or slight possibilty of coruption at a criminal level, why was it swept up in a BS "lets hire an attorney to investigate" decision??? Why not just make the call to the FBI and make your concerns known, wouldn't it have not cost as much, you may get the truth, even if it hurts, but not the arogance of what certain memebers of the city did. Personally, you folks got ripped off....

Anonymous said...

For a good laugh, read all about Terry Ekl in todays Sun Times, page 17......he is representing some poor slob who took 14 bullets out of a 42 shot barrage from the Chicago Police, with no weapon, and the CPD skated on misconduct charges !!! Wow, what a shiteous lawyer he turned out to be, no wonder he was pissed Monday night !! That should have been a big payday for his firm !!!

Anonymous said...

can't impeach the mayor--I checked with the IL Atty Gen ofc. BUT, he can be arrested while in office (see Niles, Illinois) for pulling illegal crap.
Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

Hey Steve -
That sounds more like
" Park Ridge Gate ".

Anonymous said...

I would love to know the source of the rumor, at least in a general way, about CVS and the City having a secret plan to put a drug store on the site of the Napleton dealership. As I recall, Ald. Ryan went on record supporting residents in the area in their contention that the property should go residential, per the Uptown Plan.

Anonymous said...

anon 9/17 at 2:08- fr carl, is that you?
ques ce c est sanguinocrat??
oh would that you could be...

the aclu tends toward cases protecting state from religion, not the other way around.

pain said...

Re: MSW sign
Did you know who is Jerry Kellman and his relationship with MSW. Check this link and you'll understand the signs.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/aug/25/obamas-mentor-chicago-shares-his-story/

Anonymous said...

Thanks pain 9/19 at 10:30 PM

I see that Jerry Kellman is listed as MSW staff - Adult Faith Formation.

Anonymous said...

Table [covered in those PADS signs] set up outside church during sunday Mass hours at SPC for people to sign pro PADS petitions.

Desperation???

Anonymous said...

Barack Obama Mentor and Mary Seat of Wisdom (Park Ridge, IL) Employee Jerry Kellman Continues Where Pfleger Left Off Speaking at Dem Convention and Organizing for Obama in the Chicago Suburbs
by CCI -Democratic Convention Speech Records

Ever wonder why there are so many Obama bumper stickers in the lot at Mass on Sunday? Jerry Kellman doesn't.

Kellman and Obama are products of Saul Alinsky, the godfather of 'community organizing' who dedicated his book "Rules for Radicals" to Lucifer... Yes, to Lucifer.

CCI NOTES: It's hard to keep track of all the Demoncratic activists (oops, typo) in Chicago with jobs at Catholic parishes.

While Rev. Pfleger at St. Sabina's is certainly the most active and notorious member of the Democrat party, there is an entire class of non-clerical activists like Jerry Kellman, who spoke at the Democrat convention.

A well known Democratic party operative, Kellman was brought to Mary Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge by left-of-center pastor Rev. Robert Mclaughlin formerly (thank God) of the Holy Name Cathedral, now formerly (thank God) of Mary Seat of Wisdom.

Kellman is still there though, get this, as "Adult Faith Formation Director." CCI wonders how it is that Pfleger is asked to keep quiet, while so many other hundreds (thousands?) of Chicago Democrats are on the parish payrolls working overtime, like Kellman, to elect their socialist hero Barack Obama. There go those Sunday contributions, working AGAINST you...

Anonymous said...

Looks to me as if the Church should have to forfeit its tax free status.

Anonymous said...

September 22, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


City Council meets at Maine East High School

The Park Ridge City Council will meet as a Committee of the Whole on Monday,

September 29, 2008, at Maine East High School , located at the SE corner of Potter and Dempster, at 7 p.m.

The Council is meeting to review a recommendation from the Planning & Zoning

Commission regarding text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for temporary overnight

shelters. Licensing regulations for temporary overnight shelters will also be discussed.

Public comment will be accepted.