The PRU Crew is in a bad mood. Sorry. Not really.
For our faithful PRU readers who look forward to viewing the City Council meeting videos, it appears you may have to wait longer than usual. The City did manage, after 48 hours, to post a 3 minute video of the Special City Council meeting -- aren't they all? -- from Monday night, but hasn't managed to post the video of the regular City Council meeting as of 10:00 AM this morning. We may have thought somebody would get a clue and realize that 3 video views in 24 hours means people aren't very interested in what's been made available, and are instead waiting for something more substantive than the Council rubber stamping approval of the tax levy. Apparently not.
The PRU Crew is wondering if any of the people posing as our representatives in local government have bothered to inquire about the delay.
For our faithful PRU readers who thought there was any hope of city officials getting the message through your majority votes on referendums, guess again. As covered in an online article by one of the local rags, we learn "no" does not mean "no." Just ask the O'Hare Airport Commission people -- they'll explain it!
And remember, way back when, we explained why Police Dept. brass was willing to keep on keepin' on with "the golden fleece boy, who answered the siren's call - hi there, Hoopty Lou, how's it going in traffic? - [who] can be kept safe for future use as a PRPD pitchman; there are not too many coppers with the ability to speak and write impressive sounding bullshit as well as Hoopty Lou can."
A new proposal for renovation and expansion of the Park Ridge Police Dept. was offered for review at the City Council's budget workshop on Tuesday night. And the PRU Crew now understands very well why no supporting documents were included on the City website for review prior to the meeting.
The PRU Crew is again wondering if any of the people posing as our representatives in local government have bothered to inquire about the lack of supporting documents being made available for public review -- and the limited demands of the law should not be an acceptable excuse.
Covered in another online article in one of the local rags is the anatomy of a travesty. While the PRU Crew more than understands the legal questions, as well as the risk of precedence, we cannot get past how thoroughly and completely the City process screwed the Vine Ave. residents.
We don't know what the answer is, but we know we haven't heard it yet. And we strongly encourage the City Council and staff to find a way to make those residents whole. What has happened to them, throughout this saga, is unacceptable and should never be allowed to happen again.
Finally, the Park Ridge Recreation and Park District Board will be meeting tonight (agenda .pdf). They are scheduled to go into closed session, which is expected to last a very very very long time. We hope the discussion includes talking really really really bad about these people!!!
In all seriousness, we wish calm heads and reasoned consideration for the Park Board as they contend with the task ahead -- it's certainly a loss, but not the end of the PRRPD world as we know it.
Good luck.
December 16, 2010
Bah Humbug Grab Bag!
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27 comments:
No videos on the city's website? Must be the mayor's and Americaneagle's fault.
Anon@12:51 --
Considering how poorly the City's newly designed $19,500 website functions, it may be Americaneagle.com's fault.
12:51:
I don't know who's fault it is but you sound like you sure have an axe to grind.
PRU,
I am guessing you don't want to let a cat out of the bag about the park district, but could you be a little more specific?
Anon@3:27 --
No, not at this time.
Anon@4:43 unpublished --
As often as we have to repeat it for you, we will -- until someone decides to make the topic a matter of public discussion and-or policy debate, we are not posting comments such as yours.
LOL. 12:51, don't you have a BBB grade you should be working on to bring up?
We had police laid off. What do they need a bigger station for?
PRU,
I am hearing the park director is leaving! True or false?
Anon@3:32 --
True.
See what happens when you mess with the Senior Center?
Good riddance...I guess everyone doesn't love raymond.
Anon@4:28 --
You're going to have to work on your standup routine. You want people laughing with you not at you.
Fact remains, he is going to be gone and Jack and Carla Owens will be writing the new agreement that will last us many years.
Enjoy St. Charles Ray!
We will continue to enjoy our building.
Anon@4:34 --
You should be very careful about what you believe the abilities of either Jack Owens or Carla Owens may actually be.
We hope the Senior Center membership continues to enjoy use of the publicly funded building they now occupy exclusively.
We also hope the Senior Center membership understands if there are many in the community who are no longer willing to unquestioningly and increasingly subsidize their exclusive use of that publicly funded building for their restricted membership.
Damn, I liked Ray. I would love to hear the background on this move. I am pretty sure the majority of the current board was a fan of his as well. Was it a money decision? Did he not like the way things worked in the Park District? Or was some of the heat he took in the last few months too much?
It is a little scary that he stayed for so short a time.
Who is Carla Owens?
Anon@10:43 --
It is our understanding, compensation was no small part of the decision.
M. Anderson --
Good catch. Carla Owen. No "s"
Money had nothing to do with Ray leaving Park Ridge nor did the issues with the seniors. Ray's move was prompted by the fact that his sweetheart and eventually his home will be in St Charles. Who wouldn't want the St Charles job? It's a beautiful place to live,the people are friendly and the Parks are world class.
Anon@12:53 --
We're going to go ahead and assume you have the knowledge and authority to speak on such personal issues.
We're still going to talk bad about those director stealing scoundrels on the St.C Park Board.
Jim the former director in Park Ridge left us in a state of disarray due to his poor leadership. What Ray was able to accomplish in the 13 months was nothing short of a miracle. Ray will be missed by those that can truly appreciate a world class director and human being.
Excuse me but in my experience and based on the many interactions I had with Jim, he was world class - especially as a human being!!
4:28 and 4:34, please read 4:40.
Believe it.
Senior activities, tours, trips, classes and more will always be provided at the Park Ridge Park District. The 37,000 residents just won't be donating close to $200,000 per annum to indulge a private club with around 600 Park Ridge residents as members.
As to the directors, past and present, Jim was a very nice person but as the quote goes, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Leadership is more than a pleasant disposition. Ray had that, and far, far more. He promised when he came (see the Journal interview last year) to upend government as we know it. "As we know it" was mediocre, unaccountable, uninspired, not customer friendly, not tech-savvy, not efficient, not smart about treating human resources as both human and resources. Ray fixed a lot of that, and he's not done yet. Do not despair, folks. Just pray we find somebody like Ray for City Manager someday. Even if he doesn't stay forever, if he can get us pointed in the right direction, that will be worth it.
12:21:
This is good news!!! Will we all be getting our checks for $5.40 before Christmas?!?!?!
12:21
Could not have said it better. What a huge loss for Park Ridge. I pray that Ray finds another director with the same integrity and passion he brought to this bees nest. I am a better public servant because of Ray's leadership. Thank you and God Bless
Anon@1:42 --
We understand your point.
However, what we feel you may also want to consider in your calculations are the number of years these small sums are paid out, as well as the ever increasing number of organizations who continue to ask for taxpayer support -- organizations which are intended solely for optional entertainment and special interests -- those organizations which are costing you that whopping sum year after year, but are neither providing for those infamously phrased essential services, nor human needs.
PRU:
Not disagreeing but there are several issues.
1. It seems like those who scream the loudest on this issue are, pardon the phrase, nut jobs. You seem to have a reasonable apporach, but if left to many, they will throw the baby out with the bath water.
2. There is this terrible risk that people actually feel like they are accomplishing something. My god all this noise about community groups yet nothing was resolved. The Mayor used it as a political ploy but did it solve anything??Please!!!!. It reminds me of the Senator from Arizona with his ear mark holy grail.
Anonymous @ 5:37,
..."political ploy"...is right.
Mayor DipSchmidt screamed about any city tax money going to any private group for any private effort...said we must not!...must not!, irrespective of the reason.
...but, make sure all you flood sufferers get in line for your FEMA handouts for your private losses!
uuummm...who funds FEMA?
Mayor DipSchmidt and his ilk would probably explain "the difference" by saying folks who lined up for FEMA funds have paid into the system. As if those who request assistance from our local human needs service providers never have?
If by "nut jobs" you mean effing hypocrites, then I completely agree.
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