An Offer You Can't Refuse!

Available from -- kropserkel.com

In today's Herald-Advocate you can read a letter to the editor authored by local attorney and Morningfields Market owner, Frank DiFranco.

In his letter Frankie DiFranco lets us all know Generation Group, Inc. and Mr. Joseph Loss are willing to negotiate a change to our local zoning code-- "How can the Park Ridge mayor and City Council refuse to even negotiate with the sign company when more than a half-million dollars is at stake?" Frankie writes in his opener.

Negotiate what, exactly, Frankie? The Park Ridge Zoning Code doesn't allow for off-premise billboards, 80 feet tall with 1200 SF of sign faces. The City attorney has said court decisions have found impact fees for billboards unconstitutional. Des Plaines' jolly joy ride on the billboard bandwagon turned out rather badly for them -- Des Plaines' City Council voted to eliminate all fees relating to billboards, after a very lengthy court battle.

Speaking of court battles, Frankie's letter to the editor concludes with, "Do you want the company to sue like McDonald's did after Planning and Zoning refused to give them a permit. Wake up, City Council and Mayor!"

Hey Frankie, is that a threat of litigation? Sure sounds like a threat of litigation. Maybe nobody in our local government should be talking to either you or Joseph Loss about this billboard nonsense, since it sure sounds as if you've threatened litigation. Does 4th ward Alderman Allspaghetti know you may be threatening litigation?

By the way Frankie, you sure you don't have skin in this game?

Chumbolones And Billboards, Baby!

Available from -- Carnival source.com

Chumbolone! The Urban Dictionary defines the word as --

1. chumbolone

idiot, stupid - Popularized by Chicago newspaper columnist John Kass after first hearing the word spoken in testimony by mob messenger boy Anthony "Twan" Doyle during a 2007 federal trial. While working for the mob, Doyle got himself hired into the Chicago Police Department evidence department in order to remove or destroy DNA and other evidence of mob homicides.

Actual example: "I gave him lip service," Doyle said. "I didn't know what he was talking about. I don't wanna look like a chumbolone, an idiot, stupid," Doyle said from the witness stand.

Wise guys count on the majority of people to be chumbolones, idiots, stupid -- it makes getting what they're after a lot easier.

And chumbolones are exactly what the wise guy billboard brigade -- 4th ward Ald. Jim Allspaghetti, local attorney Frank DiFranco, and Generation Group agent Joseph Loss -- seem to think Park Ridge is full of; nothing but chumbolones.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who put on cheap carnival dollar-sign glasses when reading fliers, like the one distributed at Frank DiFranco's Morningfields Market, and believe it.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who believe the only way for the City of Park Ridge to get back to a healthy financial position is to sell-out the character of our community over the next 20 years for a quick $400,000 down and another $200,000 in installments -- chumbolones believe in a quick fix that isn't.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who think wise guys like Joseph Loss of Generation Group, Inc. are just entrepreneurial businessmen with nothing to hide and who didn't look for a way to avoid the City's disclosure demands for applicants seeking special consideration for zoning changes.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who feel if something doesn't happen on their property, their block, or in their ward then it doesn't affect them.

Chumbolones are the kind of people who believe every deal is on the up-n-up because this is Park Ridge, not Chicago, and the volunteers on the City Council always look out for their best interests.

The PRU Crew doesn't believe for a minute that the whole of Park Ridge is full of chumbolones. But we're not too sure that holds true for the whole of the City Council.