February 12, 2009

It's Getting Embarrassing!

As we promised PRU Readers yesterday --



What a drama queen.

86 comments:

Anonymous said...

Getting embarrassing? It already is!

Anonymous said...

The Mouse is coming out of retirement. This is JUST TOO MUCH!!!

Mayor Frimark, I know you are reading this. You are a complete fool. That speech was PREPARED? REALLY?!
You changed your position on the casino issue so many time, we need a scorecard.
If you had attended the meetings with the gaming board when they were considering the licenses you would have "known." Are you telling us that your friend the mayor of Des Plaines didn't feed you the info? Do you really think we are going to believe that?
Acting like you are suddenly blindsided and concerned is your old game that isn't flying with anyone anymore.

Speaking of flying...You tell us that you "didn't know" about the new runway pattern. Yet the reason you didn't know was because you didn't attend the meetings. Again, acting like you are blindsided.

Finally, the video of your speech. Oh my. There is a class at Maine South (the place that Ms. Christine calls the "jewel of Park Ridge") called "Introduction to Public Speaking" or something like that. I know. I took it. Look into it. Maybe they will let you in. I cannot even imagine what the members of the board thought of you. They dismissed you before you were even done. It was an opportunity to plead our case, to work with them.

God help us. What a friggin idiot.

Anonymous said...

I'm still stuck in the quagmire of traffic? The man knows how to turn a fraze.

Anonymous said...

Time to hold accountable, those who fail to do their job, which for some, is to serve the people and others to serve there own ideas and agendas that are nothing more then self serving.
Remember, you can voice an opinion, but the ultimate way to speak is on election day, make a day of it, get together with some friends and just pull the trigger, cast your ballot that is…

Anonymous said...

Don't quote him on anything he says...don't "jump at [him] with a camera"...residents are always "jumping up" on something...and don't "take a camera or something" of him!

What an ass.

Now...if you'll excuse me...I'm going to go find the map Howard Frimark consults in his alternative reality, where Higgins and Devon intersect...

Anonymous said...

from dictionary.com:
quagmire:
1. an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.
2. a situation from which extrication is very difficult: a quagmire of financial indebtedness.
3. anything soft or flabby.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous February 12, 2009 9:25 AM,

I'm not sure about casino traffic fitting the definition, but I'm pretty sure the definition fits in describing the Frimark administration, especially as a quagmire of indebtedness.

Anonymous said...

Higgins and Devon intersect in ROSEMONT!

Anonymous said...

I was there. The film crew (of one) was sitting about 5 feet from Howard with a very small digital camera. Howard knows the film crew and knew he was being filmed yesterday, because said crew has filmed Howard before at meetings and Howard did not like it then either. Said crew, who is well known as one of the more easy-going guys in Park Ridge, sat politely and quietly while filming.

Howard's jump back because of "an attack" was painfully staged. The proof? Watch the camera when Howard jumps back. The camera did not move at all until after Howard jumped, and that was only to capture Howard's theatrics. (Calling the Razzberry Awards!) Think about it. If Howard had been "attacked," the camera would have moved before the jump, not after.

This technical explanation is for the benefit of those who have any sliver of a doubt that Howard might have been accosted.

Oh, and Jennifer Johnson was there. Let's see if she writes about an "attack." Hopefully she'll just write the truth: Howard made a fool of himself...again.

Anonymous said...

That's very nice of Mayor Frimark to look out for the people in Rosemont and be concerned for the traffic in their town. Flophouse Frimark is always looking out for people outside of Park Ridge. He's a real nice guy that way.

Anonymous said...

This is too much. I can't say I am all that concerned about the Des Plaines casino, because I live far enough from the proposed location that I probably won't be personally affected by it opening there.

I can say I am so tired of the mayor's lack of performance. The people who do live close to the proposed location could be effected, maybe. At the least, shouldn't our mayor have been doing some due diligence so that when people became aware of the proposal he could at the least reassure them that he was on top of things and had some sort of agreement in place with Des Plaines already?

I think there is a little over the top reaction by residents in the area near the proposed casino location, but as I said I am far enough away not to feel it. I understand their feeling blindsided by this though.

It's too bad that our mayor again missed the opportunity to be prepared because he missed the meetings. As I said, I'm tired of the mayor's lack of performance.

Anonymous said...

Bean,

I think ann, didn't catch the humor in your higgins/devon comment, I however got a chuckle out of it. Thanks for that.

Anonymous said...

In these difficult economic times--I think I am going to cancel my cable-and just follow our city leaders--much more entertaining--great stuff and thanks for posting the video.
Heaven Help Us All!!!
Thank God this is an election year!!!

Reggie said...

So Park Ridge's entire presentation to the Gaming Board was 3 minutes (less the staged "surprised by the jumping camera" time).

And putting aside the obvious critique of the delivery, the argument itself was uncompelling:

the neighborhood on the west side (I did not know that Park Ridge had neighborhoods - is that West Town? Jewel Land? Title Town?)
has been subjected to three changes since November 22:
1) 300 flights a day from the new runways (only one new runway opened, and at least for the past week, it has not been used, due to the South, Southwest winds) opening at OHare (something that is in the hands of the FAA and now limited only to changes in wind direction)
2) The announcement in December that they (that would be Des Plaines and your good friend and lunch pal Tony Areidia) got the casino (final decision by the IGB, now out of Park Ridge's hands, with Park Ridge's cut being, ah, zero)
and
3) That poor Maine South (the jewel of Jewel Land) has had to play without a lighted football field, but that (thanks to zoning changes by the city) lights will be impacting the neighborhood soon as well.

So despite two events impacting the neighborhood that are out of Park Ridge's control, Howard has given his stamp of approval to the installation of the lights at Maine South. No traffic quagmires at football games. No need for extra police, especially at night games.

Yes Mr. Gaming Board Commissioners (probably all from Norwegia), its OK for the city to burden itself and the neighborhood with a lighted football field, but that casino that they got awarded will mean more traffic, and crime and DUI enforcment. I want to protect my children who walk to and from school from the gamblers who drive to and from the casino, in a hurry. So although I am a year too late, I want some money.

And now I can issue a press release saying I spoke up for Park Ridge at the Gaming Board.

Thanks for the three minutes.

Anonymous said...

I honestly can't believe that was a prepared speech. Did he bother to read it after he 'prepared' it?

Rather than asking them for something they cannot do, (i.e. move the casino), why didn't he ask questions that they could have answered. They are the gaming commission! Ask them what other towns have experienced? Is there an increase in crime; in drunk driving? What do the casinos do to combat that? Does Des Plaines have plans to increase police patrol in the area? What are the hours of operation? Have they worked with the transporation dept to determine how to handle the increase in traffic?

Of course, ALL these things should have been addressed months ago, but if Howard was going to show up now, at least look semi-intelligent!

Since Howard only has a few months left, I'd prefer he just shut up at this point!

God give us Dave Schmidt, PLEASE!

Anonymous said...

Frimark is a total phony. As if he was so engrossed in his speech preparation he didn't notice a person obviously right next to him filming the IGC before he began speaking? Then, cue the dramatic music, he's startled by a camera, blink blinks for effect, puts his hands up and jumps back as if somebody is about to attack him? Is this is the same guy who poses for photo after photo at ribbon cuttings and council meetings?

Frimark you ARE an ass.

Anonymous said...

Anon at 11:17-What part of town do you live in? Do you live near the Belle Plaine corridor? You must not because the new runway has been used extensively in the last week-as it has nearly everyday since it opened on Nov. 20 with no comment from any of the 8 elected officials at 505 Butler Place. In fact, as I type this the planes are going overhead. They started before 7 am this morning. This has been the case for the last week (sorry the last 3 months) so get your facts straight before you post here.

As far as the field and lights at Maine South. A ridiculous expenditure. When the school fees to attend Maine South are zero then the district can spend $1.3 million on a new field and $457,000 on lights. You do not reward high school students (or the coach) with nearly $2 million for success on the field. This is a public high school where the focus should be on what is done in the classroom and not on a football field. You also do not discriminate in how the funds are spent-they should be spent for the benefit of all-not the 20 or so kids who play varsity football at MS.

Anonymous said...

anonymous @ 1:30--are you kidding? How long have you lived here? Maine South IS football.
Not baseball, not basketball, certainly not GIRLS sports.
It's all about football. Get used to it. We have.

Anonymous said...

"Excuse me. What are you doing?!? Are you taking a camera or something of me??" HUH?

"All of the suddin (sic) I saw somebody jump out at me with a camera." HUH??

OMFG. This guy went past speeding embarrassing a looooooooooong time ago. His incoherent babble at the IGB was sad but funny in a pathetic sort of way.

Man... this town realy needs some new leadership.

Anonymous said...

anonymous February 12, 2009 12:02 PM:

Yes, Frimark is at every ribbon cutting, but at least they don't let him run with the scissors.

I've lived here for over 20 years and I've never seen a more shameless self-promoter than our mayor.

Enough!

Reggie said...

Anon at 1:30

You said: "so get your facts straight before you post here"

I do check my facts before posting.

I use my eyes and ears when going to and coming home from the train every day. I can see where the planes are flying.

Still don't believe me? One nifty thing from the wayward ORD-REST site is this link to a flight tracker for OHare.

http://www4.passur.com/ord.html

It shows you where the planes are, what kind they are, their altitude, etc. with a delay of about 10 minutes. Plus you can go back to any date and time to see what kind of plane flew over your house.

If you go back to Tuesday morning, you will see that the planes were landing on 22L and 22R, not the new runway. Yes the planes were still flying over Park Ridge, and still over Belle Plaine, but using the runways that have been there for years.

Today, the first landing on the new runway was at 6:45 am by an Embraer E170 regional jet that came in from Montreal.

As for the lights at MS, I agree it is probably not the best time to spending $$ on optional equipment. However, beyond the 20 football players there are the cheerleaders, dance squad, band, and other students who's high school experience is shaped in part by attending and being part of the experiences both on and off the field. Your comment about rewarding the state champion team and coach is as off base as your observations of the planes flying over town.

Anonymous said...

Reggie, dude...step away from the keyboard and take a deep breath already!

Anonymous said...

Reggie-you clearly have sh*t in your ears and your eyes. Again as I sit here typing the planes are flying right over the blocks between Belle Plaine and Gillick. This has been going on for 3 months. FAA is using 3 approaches to the new runway and one is right down the middle of the blocks between BP and Gillick. Come over right now and you will see it and hear it. As you stated it started before 7 am and will go until nearly 10 pm. So back off your keyboard.

Also-going to a fb game is part of the high school experience for only some of the students and their parents. Not all go or want to go. The FB team will still find a way to keep the rest of the students off the new turf so it stays perfect for game day.

And anony-mouse-back in the late 70's and early 80's-the sports at MS that got the attention were hockey and basketball and baseball. Not football. So though right now it is FB FB FB-it has not always been that way. Too bad Inserra and the MS administration are so dismissive of the hundreds of other students-male and female-that participate in other sports and activities.

Anonymous said...

Just a couple thoughts here....

1 - why not build the new police station at the Mr. K site at Dee and Higgins, they will be right there, close to the casino!

2 - I was all in favor of the thought of a Mayor Dave Schmidt, until his idea of putting a hotel in the Mr K site. We are worried about people passing through Park Ridge back and forth from the casino, hah! It will be wonderful when people making a weekend out of going to the casino are staying in my front yard. We already know there are three new hotels going up on the other side of Cumberland and Higgins, then there is the Marriott, do we need a hotel right there? At least a business has some ownership in the property, it has regular employees going there daily, not strangers who don't care about where they are at, noisy hotel neighbors, beer parties, and the such, and then they are in our front yard. I'm sorry - but Mr. Schmidt....would you want a hotel in your front yard? How about us that live right there? We can't even get a speed bump or two put in on Peterson Ave where non - locals speed thru thinking it is Higgins, and Greenwood the new Cumberland. Maybe make us a gated community?

What kind of protection and property value will we have after a hotel is in our front yards? It will already go down with the casino. oh wait.....maybe next to the hotel we can also have a Pay Day Advance Loan Store.

Reggie said...

Anon at 5:10:

One plane did pass overhead while you typed, a United 777.

But in the half hour between 5-5:30 pm, only 5 planes landed on the new runway which is one every 6 minutes.

If you expect anyone to take your complaints seriously, keep it real.

While I may have shiit in my eyes and ears, you are certainly full of it.

Anonymous said...

Reggie-I am keeping it real. The new runway is a nightmare for those of us in the Belle Plaine area. I am not full of shiit you are. If you are at work all day and not a stay at home parent then simply looking up stats on the computer about type of aircraft and the time it lands does not translate to living it all day long. So shut up and spew your thoughts on a new topic.

Anonymous said...

All I'm sure of is my quality of life will improve when we dump Frimark from office in April. That video is revolting. Frimark's buffoonery is embarassing for this whole town.

MIKE said...

Buling the new police station at the end of the city limits?

Pleaee!

We need to keep it close to the center of town.

Anonymous said...

Howard Frimushmouth.

An uncompelling argument can often be aided by a good delivery.

This isn't one of those instances.

Anonymous said...

Talk about holding your hand out !
Using the people as an excuse to beg for money!

The hush puppy crowd getting all upset !

At first Pk Ridge did not want any funds from the casino.

?

Anonymous said...

wake up Park Ridge...see that plane crash in Buffalo? two flight patterns over town, it's inevitable, I am very sorry to say.

Anonymous said...

Did he say Quagmire?

Giggity giggity!

Anonymous said...

I remember attending a council meeting where Mayor Frimark had everybody sit through a viewing of him on some cable show. In my opinion it was a yawner but Mayor Frimark was beaming. I wonder if the Mayor will have this film shown at a council meeting. Probably not. This film isn't a yawner but I bet Mayor Frimark isn't beaming about it either.

Anonymous said...

Mike,

Why does any police station have to be at the center of town?

It's not a fire station. There aren't police officers sitting in the station waiting for a call to come in, they're out on patrol in all parts of the city.

Where a station is built, to me, seems irrelevant.

Anonymous said...

5:10 (the second one)...Don't jump ship on Schmidt because of something Howard may have told you. Schmidt did NOT suggest a high rise hotel. He wondered about the possibility of putting in a low rise ( 3 or 4 story) hotel such as a Fairfield or Hampton Inn. That would not generate any more traffic than an office building, and it would generate a whole lot more sorely needed tax revenue for the City.

Next time Howard tells you something, consider the source.

Anonymous said...

anonymous 2/13/09 @ 3:34 AM:

time to hire some consultants to advise us on generating that force field dome over park ridge to protect us from crashing planes, frozen airplane waste, wing de-icer.

there's got to be a way to get our hands on some of that star wars technology from the reagan years. just because they couldn't protect the whole country doesn't mean it wouldn't work for park ridge's 8 square miles.

Anonymous said...

Happy Valentines Day Howie!
Don't forget to handout that BS with the dark candy too!

Get the car ready kato...I think Howie is ready for florida..again.

The shadow knows..............
Hi Linda...this one is for you dear!

Anonymous said...

Is "Linda" that younger, dark-haired gal that's running Howard's campaign? If she wrote that POS speech he gave to the Gaming Board, she's not on her game anymore. Too much time trying to play dirty political tricks?

Anonymous said...

That would be the "Linda"...the one who only knows how to play "dirty tricks" because she lacks either the ethics and intelligence to market her client properly...or because her client is so un-marketable, what else is left for her to do...?

It's likely a pathetic and pitiable combination of both...

Anonymous said...

Bean, you are so mean. It is really a shame that someone that cute could be so unattractive as a person. What a waste.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 311,

I don't agree that I was being mean...I was merely noting Linda Ski's m.o., as I've seen it...and the public relations/marketing predicament she's facing...along with the skill-set she brings to the game, which isn't much...

...except maybe, as you noted, her being "cute"...

I wonder how many votes that will get HOward? Is there a "cute"-vote demographic?

Anonymous said...

If there is, Schmidt will run away with that vote. Compared to Howard, Schmidt is a Brad Pitt-type.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
5:10 (the second one)...


Gee, I'm sorry .....NOT...I bet you don't live on Peterson Ave, where a hotel of any size would for lack of words...suck! It's always about the money, what can the city get for taxes, rather than Park Ridge, a lovely place to live. A hotel as mentioned would have people coming and going that do not care about the property, or neighbors or the neighborhood, with hooting and hollering that goes on in the evenings in the parking lots as people are returning from their parties and what have you. An office building is quiet, the employees are the same people coming back and forth, it's closed after business hours, no bright lights from parking lots. Oh - I bet they will promise us beautiful landscaping and a lovely brick fence....Say No to the hotel idea! Find tax money somewhere else!

MIKE said...

You sound foolish mentioning planes crashing.

That can happen even if you don't live near an airport.

Anonymous said...

Mike:

There are people out there who worry about these things. I have to admit that fear of a crash is a few down a my list well below the noise issue.

Having said that, I do disagree with your "foolish" comment. If one is inclined to worry about crashes, is it not logical that having 250 to 300 planes flying over your house everyday would increase that worry?

I would have no idea how to get the data, and have no deisre to spend the time to dig, but I would love to see some data on planes crashes and their location versus the airport from which they departed or were landing. We have two examples just from the last month.

MIKE said...

I've lived here most of my life and while I do worry about these things on occasion I don't think there's any need to worry about tsuch a thing since we have a new runway.

An airplane that's passing over the Chicago area is just as capable of crashing as one that's taking off or landing at O'Hare.

I think many of you have simply gone to far with this new runway and I think you all need to just settle down and accept things as they are.

Otherwise find someplace else to live.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike..........I too would like nothing but to have to be concerned about the bugs, bees and occasional
fly in your picnic but that's not the real world.

The real world tells us that things do happen and accidents of that size with aircraft coming in over our heads - daily means just that - a new threat now exists.

You must be living in a cave because we have had several aircraft accidents just within a short time. Too short for my family's safety sake.

Again I respect your right to say what you want but we all need to stand up to the OMP.

Need more information - contact the ONCC and the OMP.

Meanwhile we will remember those families from the NY plane crash this Sunday mass.

Be safe !

Anonymous said...

While the perceived risk has increased, the actual risk remains the same. These numbers won't make you feel better, but for the rest of us without the heightened perceived risk, any time, energy or money directed to fighting the airport would be better spent getting people to live heathly lifestyles (exercise, no smoking to address heart disease, lung and other cancers; and banning sky-diving in Park Ridge) to address the risks at the top of the list, than to address those risks at the bottom.

Flame away!

Risk Comparisons:
Annual Risk of Dying in the U.S. per Million Persons at Risk
Cause Deaths
Death per
1,000,000/year

Heart disease 2800
All cancers 2050
Parachutist 2000
Fire fighter; Hang glider 800
Lung cancer 590
Pneumonia 320
Diabetes; Police officer 230
Motor vehicle accidents; Breast cancer 160
Homicide 80
Falls 50
Foodborne bacteria 36
Accidental poisoning (drugs and medication) 30
Fires and burns; Drowning 15
Tuberculosis; Firearms 5
Choking, inhalation or ingestion of foreign object/food 4
Electric current; Railway 2
Airline crash (one trip) 0.6
Floods 0.4
Lightning; Insect bite or sting 0.2
Hit by falling aircraft 0.06
Hurricane 0.04
Sources: 1997 US Statistical Abstract; National Safety Council (1995), Accident Facts; Crouch & Wilson (1982), Risk/Benefit Analysis.


Risk analogies

A risk of 1 in 1,000,000 is about equal to:

the chance of flipping a coin and getting 20 heads in 20 consecutive tries.
the chance of rolling a dice and getting 7 sixes in 7 consecutive rolls.
the chance of dying from taking 1 flight on a regularly scheduled jet airliner.
30 seconds in a year.
less than ½ inch in a mile.
A risk of 1 in 100,000 is about equal to:
the chance of flipping a coin and getting 16 heads in 16 consecutive tries.
the chance of rolling a dice and getting 6 sixes in 6 consecutive rolls.
the chance of dying from taking 10 flights on regularly scheduled jet airliners.
5 minutes in a year.
½ inch in a mile.
A risk of 1 in 10,000 is about equal to:
the chance of flipping a coin and getting 13 heads in 13 consecutive tries.
the chance of rolling a dice and getting 5 sixes in 5 consecutive rolls.
the chance of dying from taking 100 flights on regularly scheduled jet airliners.
53 minutes in a year.
6 inches in a mile.

Anonymous said...

OH! If I hear one more person say something to the effect of "if you don't like the changes leave" I'm going to scream!!!!

I have one for ya, if you don't like this town the way it is...don't come in. How about that. But by god don't come in and f**k it up for the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

Mike:

That is a wonderful pacifist attutude you have. I bet it applies exactly until the time something happens that you don't like.

Anonymous said...

I was here in 1979. I remember the crash of Amer 191 just 4600 feet from the end of the runway, where 271 passengers were killed as well as 2 on the ground. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines_Flight_191)

Anon 2/13 at 9:43 P.M. and 6:16 P.M. both make strong points: accidents happen and we now have an increased risk.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone please tell me where was Howard Frimark this week ? An why he was not representing the impacted people from the new runway and air traffic - in Washington D.C.
seated along side the Mayor of Bensenville - fighting the 50 million asked for by Mayor Daley!

Does anyone have a clue as to the ongoing federal investigation that pertains to the five major area construction companies - all who
obtained contracts ( poss sweetheart deals )? All have direct connections with Mayor Daley ?

What a great opportunity missed by Mayor Frimark this week to further help stop the money flow to the OMP - and he missed it.

Not even the queen of Belle plaine made an attempt to voice her job needing opinion on the stimulus, ORD-REST, Ald. Don B and more....

Where are the priorities here ?

And they (ORD-REST & ONCC ) continue to
defend a poor position called the "OMP".

When the vote come up for casting - please cast my vote for no on giving any tax payers funds to any group attempting to pull the wool over on us.

Its another ball dropped by Howard.
Only this time we all heard the " "thud " when your property vales hit the floor - again!

Anonymous said...

Anons@6:16,9:43,1:59,et al-

How is it an increased risk NOW???

Maybe for the 5th ward neighborhood... but for every plane that flies over your neighborhood, one less flies over mine!!!

The flights are new to you and your area but were status quo in my neighborhood long before most of my family was born here.

Turns out its just increased perception of risk for the south side...

Maybe a nice house on the north side is in your future???

If youre worried about planes falling out of the sky, why is no one pointing out that the new runway actually REDUCES flight paths over the City of Park Ridge as a whole??? The 27R (Belle Plaine corridor) approach is only over PR for less than 1.8 miles (Maine South to Edison Park area) while the 22L approach cuts a diagonal through PR for over 2.6 miles (Dee/Devon area to Oakton/Oriole) including through the Uptown (sic) area! Not to mention that 22R simultaneously adds about 1.2 miles of approach (from Oakton/Riverside to Lutheran General area) to the 22L.

So the threat of planes falling from the sky within Park Ridge borders is nothing new...

Find another scare tactic...

Or just stick to the "noise is worse here than before" arguement which is pretty much the "real world" you speak of...

Anonymous said...

You need to wake up too.

Anonymous said...

I seriously wonder about those of you who say the noise here is NOT worse than it was before.
I sit in my living room and see the planes coming directly overhead, approximately 300 times a day. No, I don't sit and watch all of them all day long.
You cannot in any SANE way state that there are not more planes here. Since November, there are.
Your wacko comments are unfounded and you are obviously trying to make trouble.
There are more planes.
It IS noisier.
It IS a problem.
Work together to find a solution, stop fighting amongst yourselves. Be the solution...not the problem!

Oh, wait, you are probably those who like the negativity, the drama, etc. We call those people "Frimark followers."

Anonymous said...

Anon 2/14 11:04 pm-Take a look in the sky sometime before you offer your inaccurate opinion. Right now the FAA is using at least three approaches to fly to the new runway. One goes down Touhy and cuts through downtown PR, there is the Belle Plaine corridor and then one a bit to the south near Devon. They are stacking the planes and the new runway is already at over 65% capacity (and supposedly already the concrete is cracked). So many more homes and families (try downtown PR to the north and Devon to the south and Canfield to Dee Road runnign E-W) and schools are being negatively affected than you suggest and are definitely at risk. And the next runway will use Granvile as its approach.

When we all bought our homes there were basically no flights that affected the Belle Plaine corridor.(Panes were not flying over Roosevelt, Washington, Lincoln or MS-now more than 200 flights per day can affect these nearly 5000 PR students). We had no risk and no constant noise to ruin our days. So we paid for our homes on this basis and the property values were determined and taxed. You chose to buy a home with planes fyling over your home ruining your daily existence-your choice. Now we have been robbed by the FAA and King Daley so stop minimizing and ridiculing those of us who are victims and continue to speak out about the nightmarish situation we now find ourselves in.

The OMP will negatively affect all of PR in one way or another so we should all be working together to try to salvage some good.

Anonymous said...

If you are truly a "victim" please mitigate your damages and move away.

For the past 50 years, planes have flown over town. The fact that they now regularly fly over your house, means that they are no long flying regularly over my house.

Sorry this is upsetting to you, but I kinda like it.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous February 14, 2009 6:42 PM

You raise a good point about why Mayor Frimark wasn't in Washington with John Geils lobbying Congress against giving Richie Daley $50 million for the OMP from the stimulus funds - or at least trying to make sure that the next runway built is as far from Park Ridge as possible.

So was Howard in Park Ridge campaigning, or down in Florida? Either way, definitely another opportunity missed by our 24/7 mayor.

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:15-So this is your position-tell a life long resident of PR to move away because the planes are now flying where they weren't for the last 50 years? What a mature response. This is the kind of selfish attitude that is ruining this town. When the OMP is complete-as Daley will likely now get the money from Obama and not the airlines-this whole town will be negatively affected one way or another. Too bad you just don't get it.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous February 15, 2009 3:12 PM - So what are we supposed to do if (as you say) "Daley will likely now get the money from Obama and not the airlines" to complete the OMP?????

Rejoin SOC?

Anonymous said...

I am not sure rejoining the SOC is the answer. Wasn't their position no O'Hare expansion at all? We all know there will be modernization at ORD. However, PR's elected officials mistakenly completely walked away from the table instead of trying to work something out for PR. Did they try to get the homes and schools noise abated before the new runway opened-NO! Did they try to get some revenue sharing from ORD and the city of Chicago-No. Did they try anything? No.

Our elected officials-Frimark Schmidt Allegreti Bach Ryan Carey Wsol DiPietro-all have failed us miserably. And even now, what are they trying to do for us? Nothing-they are too busy worrying about the April election. Action needs to be taken and we cannot wait for this group of incompetent officials to sort out the April election. And now ORD-REST and its self appointed leader has lost its credibility. So aside from calling 1-800-435-9569 and complaining and writing our Washington representatives/senators/Obama (which many of us have done)-what can we do? If anyone has an idea besides "deal with it" or "move"-please share.
Thanks.

MIKE said...

Anon 9:41

Maybe the new route has increased the noise but
there were planes flying over those areas long before the new route.
I may not live along Bell Plane but
I've been here long enough and though the area between Touhy and Devon enough to have seen planes that take off fly over that area as it's common to see plane zig zagging everywhere after take off.

Plus I think we all knew this was comming for quite sometime and the first day the route was used it was like nobody knew this was going to happen.

Tell me everyone.

What do you expect our leaders to have done?

You honestly think they would of been able to stop this?


The O'Hare website says the passenger traffic has increased since their last runway was built in 1971.

So what do you expect them to do.

Tell people they can't fly because they don't have enough flights in and out of the airport?

Now since probably have of the planes comming in and going out are transfers I've thought that sending some of those to Milwaukee or St. Louis might take away some of the traffic.

But i guess that won't happen anytime soon.

Anonymous said...

Don't we have term limits too?
Or should we look into this?

Anonymous said...

Our current crop of elected leaders did nothing. How about go to a ONCC meeting? How about meeting with Mayor Daley or getting the details of the OMP so the elected officials could tell us what we could expect. How about working with our DC elected officials who supported the OMP to again try to salvage something for PR-as I said noise abatement work before the new runway opened. How about making sure the flight caps stayed in place so at least there would be some limit on traffic to ORD. They could have tried something but all 8 chose to do nothing.

I also don't agree that we have always had planes flying in this area. I have lived here a very long time and our home did not have planes flying over head-like this morning-every two minutes or so. On rare occassions there might be a plane nearby and certainly we heard some plane noise. But we did not have the assault we have now.

Anonymous said...

Anon@9:41:

I love how the new answers are all "look at the sky", like we don't and have no idea. Your "3 different approaches" for the new runway have more to do with the wind and weather conditions (and sometimes something called S-turns) than any grand Daley scheme to ruin your neighborhood or our city. There is 1 approach but that doesnt mean it is always exactly in the same place. (Its not like a set of train tracks, more like a 1 lane road...and the cars may travel further down one side of the street than the other due to road conditions)

Those of us on the North side have known that they arent always in the same place for years...and some of us do more than just "look up" to know what is going on. Some actually have some background in aviation and air traffic control...

And from a traffic standpoint, only 1 at a time can land at the runway and there is a minimum spacing between flights, similar to how it has always been on the other runways.

There are also times where we could be inside and see/hear a plane go over and know before we step outside that a change in wind/weather had occured.

Maybe one day too you could look to the sky and know why it looks a little different that day...

Watch and learn...

Anonymous said...

Mike:

I guess you may have a valid point about "what could they have done?". But giuess what? We will never know. I would prefer to ask why they did not do more then use what could they have done as a defense.

Additionally, while I am far from an aviation expert, you are beyond clueless!!!

You make some sort of comparison about planes zig-zagging and maybe the noise has increased. I was just playing ball in the yard with my kids for about 30 min. I saw 13 planes come directly over my house. Maybe the noise has increased?!?!?!

Your next point is that air traffic has increased since 1971. Well now there is a shock!! How about looking at air traffic over the last 10 years or 5 years.

Lastly, you suggestion about Milwaukee or St. Louis is completely impossible when you look at the way or current air travel system is designed.

Anonymous said...

Wow Mike.
I just figured it out...you are one of those people who just talks and talks and talks, but doesn't listen to anyone else.
Your way or the highway, right?
I think in my childhood you would've been a character in a story and your name would be Eeyore.

MIKE said...

Whatever.

At least is hasn't bother me much over the years.

I'm sure it could at some point but I just see no use being angry at the situation compared to the other problems we have in this dang age.

Anonymous said...

Mike:

I am curious what exactly are these problems you worry about in "this dang world".

You seem to think that 300 planes a day flying over my house are not worthy of my ire.

So what exactly is it that pisses you off?

Anonymous said...

See you all at the combined press conference being held down at 2/17/09 Chicago's city hall - 2nd floor at 11am sharp!

The city of Bensenville is kicking off their campaign against the OMP.

Also - several PR residents will be on hand to show support for this city and the " total sum of none "

involving this new runway from hell! and the lack of leadership of our mayor.

Anonymous said...

Mike – the planes may not bother you, maybe you’re one of the folks that leave Park Ridge during the day, but for those that remain, stay-at-home-parents, those working out of their home, and retirees the planes are a constant irritation.

Anonymous said...

Come on third airport!!!
When things get messy...just call Jesse...........

MIKE said...

Like I said move out if it bothers you that much.

You're entilted to how you feel but companing about it constantly is not gonna help woth a shit and I highly doubt they're gonna stop flying plane over town just because you and other can't stand them.

Anonymous said...

Mike-here's a better idea. You leave town. We don't need yoer half empty attitude. Don't criticize those of us trying to save our homes and investment-the use and enjoyment of which has been robbed from us. We won't stop working and complaining until DC and those controlling the OMP funding purse strings see what a lying crook King Daley is.

And if we really want to hurt Daley=campaign against the Olympics. There has been so much in the media lately casting a negative light on Daley and the city of Chicago. Write the IOC and send a sampling of articles along from the Trib or Suntimes or Forbes. It would not be a good thing to have corruption taint another US based Olympics.

Anonymous said...

Mike:

I have to agree with anon 9:54. It seems to me that these blogs are a way of promoting activism. Of course that does no mean that you will agree with everything people are "active about - either will I by the way.

But this whole "if you don't like it leave town" attitude is a bunch of crap! If you don't like our discussion then don't come here or you leave town.

Let's just pretend for a moment that the Cumberland underpass rears it head again. By your logic, people should just sit back and say nothing or, if they don't like it leave town.

Lastly, many people in town are doing a great deal mor then just complaining. They are organizing and working hard to find a solution. Of course it is a long shot that there will be any dramatic changes but that does not make in any less worth fighting for.

Anonymous said...

Thank you anon at 12:35.

Anonymous said...

we have sat back and said nothing in Park Ridge for too long. People like Mike would like it to continue this way.
But it will not.
We will not.
We are finished with how Frimark and his freaks have ruined our town.

Anonymous said...

Please join us this Saturday at Zia's at 6pm and help plan for our future.

Frimark needs to go along with his
band of thugs!

Get involved !!

Anonymous said...

Anon@12:35:

I disagree with your logic. If the Cumberland underpass reared its ugly head, we should all organize and fight it...but to make this apples to apples...you would have to say nothing til the underpass was built and the day that cars started going through it, then start to organize and fight it...

Anonymous said...

After hearing that Bailey's Restaurant & Bar is actually closed and gone, I am worried that the Cumberland underpass will rear "its ugly head" again.

Anonymous said...

Two quick points.....

First, unless something has changed drematically, there will be a bank going on to the land Bailey's occupies. I am not saying that we need another Bank, but you fear about Bailey's closing being an indication of the underpass coming is unfounded.

Second, anon 9:18, maybe you are right that my analogy is not perfect. There is no question that 99.9% of us came late to the party. I would ask you to keep in mind that knowone that I know is trying to completely close the new runway, just mitigate the noise.

I was responding to a post saying "if you do not like it leave town". I still think that is crap!

Anonymous said...

Anon@7:40:

I agree! I havent been saying "if you dont like it , get out" but I know others have...I dont agree with their remedy but their taking the solution to an extreme doesnt really weaken their argument. Stay! And

As to your other point, I do know people who are still thinking the can ELIMINATE all flights. In the last 24 hours, I have been told as much during a face-to-face discussion.

Ive been told how this new runway is a new safety issue...how big targets are on the houses along BellePLaine...how yellow gunk has been falling from the sky and poisoning yards and plants...

Those people too are taking it to the extreme. But when we are met with "we all have to work together on this NEW threat to our peaceful little town" and "you dont know how bad the noise is" sort of arguments, My first reaction is to try to inject some reality into the situation.

I have posted info on the actual approach patterns, altitude standards, etc. and am being pooh-poohed with "come sit in my living room"

I keep hearing "you dont know how bad it is" when Ive lived as close or closer to the old approach as a lot of residents are to the new one.

When we mention that with noise mitigation, your houses can be as livable as ours have been for years, out come the arguments of "once good weather comes around, we cant go outside..."

And then, the ever-popular "my house was worth more and now its not"...this one Im not so sure of...It may be true but in all the times Ive examined comps for real estate in PR, Ive never seen a listing for in-flight-path/out-of-flight-path. I do know that my house was appraised for more than some comps in some of the areas not as close to the flights as mine. So either there was something else balancing that out in these multiple times I found that, or its just not weighed as heavily (if at all) as some are letting on...

So my usual posts addressing some extreme comments are not saying "get out" but more saying "get real"...then do what you can (i.e fight for noise insulation, hour restrictions, realistic goals...)to live in the Park Ridge that we know and love...and have known and loved for years...

Lastly, do we know a definite status of the other planned runways? Is there any debate on whether one or more of the newer runways actually being built may alleviate some traffic here?

Anonymous said...

anon 7:30:

It sounds like you and I are fairly close on this issue. Perhaps your are a bit to one side and I am a bit to the other but at least we can see each other. I never expected the runway to be closed and you seem to be all for "realistic goals" so there you go.

I have been guilty of using the "come to my front yard" approach when discussing this agrument so I am sorry if you find that to be extreme. I do not recall the flight patterns and standards you have posted but I have read some in posts that are just outragously false, or standards that are not being followed. As an example, someone posted that the planes are at 2500 ft when they fly over PR. I live a few blocks east of MS and if they were at 2500 ft when they came over my house it would not be near the problem it is. When someone tells me they are not that low my only logical reply is to have them come over coffee and tell me that it is not an issue. I cannot imagine that nayone seeing these planes fly over my house and others could homestly say it is no big deal.
Again, you may look at my next statement as an over reaction, as is your right, but as someone who cooks out almost every night in the summer, this is going to be a freakin' nightmare.

As far as I know, the plans for expansion are still a go although I do not know a timeframe. There are varying opinions about what this would do for the noise along the newly opened runway.

Anonymous said...

my neighborhoods? my children? my town? being an elected official does not warrant you to be deemed King with merits of ownership, as much as you believe you are.

Anonymous said...

Anon@11:38:

I agree that such statements (2500 ft over PR) are also just as extreme (read: wrong). I have posted some links in the past like this one:

http://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0902/00166IL27R.PDF

one can find that same info here:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KORD

and this will tell you that the approach is at (or above) 2200 feet BUT at a distance of 4.6 nautical miles away! There is no way that a plane would be 2500 feet over PR! BTW 4.6 NM is near the White Eagle on Milwaukee, North of Devon (just about at the entrance to the cemetery)

So whoever told you that 2500 crap was just plain wrong. Depending on where along the approach you are in PR, it is much lower than that.

As for me, I still had no problem with BBQ'ing and a cold brew and watchin the approach from about 2.2 NM out (near Oakton Park)almost every night during the summer. This is approximately equivalent to being a little bit Southwest of Washington School on the new approach.

Anonymous said...

I agree the planes are a problem, but I think the Casino is an even BIGGER problem. Many people like Casinos, but no one wants to live near one.Crime and drunk drivers, prostitution drug dealers are not exactly neighborhood friendly features. People looking to live in PR know about the proximity of the airport and it has not been a detriment to our town.A 24/7 creepy crawler monstrosity will be the deal buster. Our taxes will rise to cover the increased police and fire while property value sink to Elgin and Joliet levels.