Guest Report

Submitted by: Ms. Denise Alberts

Mr. Mayor,

I attended the monthly Illinois Gaming Board meeting yesterday (8-25-09). The agenda was heavy with issues on the newly passed law about video gaming. There was nothing on the agenda about the Des Plaines casino license. However, I learned from one of the committee members there that Mr. Bloom (Midwest Gaming) DID get the required paperwork in to move forward with approving investors, prior to the meeting. I am assuming that this issue will be discussed at the meeting next month, after the Board has reviewed it.

Video gaming is definitely a hot topic. The meeting opened with commentary from Chairman Aaron Jaffe who seemed annoyed with the entire situation. He stated that the Board at no time was consulted with before the law passed, yet the Board is being required to regulate the video gaming throughout the state. It "creates a new brand and new industry of gaming." No funding was established for staffing or equipment under this new law.

They need to MONITOR all of the machines (!!!) and he stated that it would be difficult to regulate all of it. Licenses need to be given to the manufacturer of the machines, the distributors, the terminal leasing companies, technicians, and terminal handlers. They would monitor all machines through a statewide computer system yet to be developed. The computer system could NOT monitor the age of a player or if they are on the state's "exclusion" list.

Four of the five speakers who addressed the board during "Public Commentary" spoke AGAINST video gaming and for strict regulations (the fifth speaker spoke about something other than video gaming). One of the speakers was Commissioner Bridget Gainer (10th District Cook County Board of Commissioners) and another was Mr. John Pastuovic (Director of Media and Public Affairs - Chicago Crime Commission). Their statements were all very strong and full of information on how detrimental adding video gaming in bars/lounges/restaurants/truck stops would be to individual communities.

Mr. Pastuovic was especially strong in stating their their studies show a 1000% rise in crime when this type of gambling is added to a community, and that the long-term costs far outweigh the benefits.

One of the speakers asked how the machines would be monitored to ensure that highly intoxicated individuals in the bars would not be using the machines. Another stated that "video poker will be preying on those who cannot afford to spend the money." This "fund" that the state wants to establish will be fed with money primarily from Illinois citizens, not tourists or those from other states. So this would be taking money from the citizens for these machines?!

Below is an article from the Trib. The reporter is a "regular" at the meetings. This is a good summary of Jaffe's comments: Gambling regulators not ready for video poker


The PRU Crew thanks you for your report Ms. Alberts.

Quittin' Time!

Have a relaxing weekend!

For Coffee or Kool-aid!

Available from zazzle.com

In this week's edition of the online Herald-Advocate we read an article, written by Ms. Jennifer Johnson, titled 'Bach: Council should manage city employees'. If that title alone doesn't make you sit up and take notice, then the opening paragraphs of the story should --

"Some might call it micromanaging, but for Park Ridge Alderman Don Bach, giving the City Council the authority to reorganize city staff and terminate positions is a necessity in light of the current economic climate.

Accusing City Manager Jim Hock of not doing enough to cut expenses, Bach presented the council with a proposal Monday night that would allow aldermen to "mandate reorganization and staff reduction for specified positions in specified numbers in a specific period of time by a super majority vote." Since 1949, when the position was created, the city manager has had the authority to "consolidate, combine or reorganize positions or units" that fall under his jurisdiction. These positions include all department heads and any employees exclusive of police officers and firefighters."

Holy wow! Does anyone really feel that politicians should control the hiring and firing of public employees? We mean, anyone besides City of Chicago Mayor Shortshanks?

Thankfully, it appears the rest of the Park Ridge City Council didn't hop on 3rd ward Ald. Don Bachtard's patronage wagon.

The article quotes the 2nd ward's Lord of the Manor, Rich DiPietro as saying --

"This City Council has enough problems trying to figure out what it's doing and being consistent in what it's doing without trying to run the day-to-day operation of the city," said 2nd Ward Alderman Rich DiPietro."

PRUdos to Ald. DiPietro! The PRU Crew has noted the same problems and inconsistency!

Anyone interested in viewing the Council's discussion of this topic can do so by going to the 38:33 mark in video #3 and the beginning of video #4 which we posted here.

For a quicker view, we've been provided with a link to the specific video segment, below --

Video From 8/24/09 COW

Video #00000


@01:30 mark -- Finance and Budget portion of meeting begins.

@02:00 mark -- Second Ward Ald. DiPietro moves approval of payment to Tylor Technologies.

@03:18 mark -- Ald. DiPietro moves to approve changes to meter and parking rates.

@07:10 mark -- Ald. DiPietro moves to approve increase to parking fines.

@08:52 mark -- Ald. DiPietro moves to go into closed session to discuss sale of City owned property.

@09:57 mark -- Discussion begins on heliport permit fees.

@15:00 mark -- Discussion begins on Special Events expense report.

@40:26 mark -- Discussion begins on funding sources for proposed flood control rebate program.


Video #00001


Begins with a continuation of the discussion of funding sources for the proposed flood control rebate program.

@19:08 mark -- Seventh Ward Ald. Wsol's big, dramatic moment in the spotlight -- we didn't want you to have to go searching for it, Francis.

@28:48 mark -- Committee decides to leave discussion of funding sources for proposed flood control rebate program on the agenda -- as opposed to voting to move the item forward to an action item at the committee level.

@29:27 mark -- City Finance Director Diane Lembesis begins the City's quarterly budget reports.


Video #00002


Begins with a continuation of discussion on the City's quarterly budget reports.

@21:40 mark -- Committee of the Whole moves to the Procedures and Regulations portion of the meeting.

@22:40 mark -- Second Ward Ald. DiPietro moves approval of the ordinance to allow package liquor sales at drug stores.

@37:30 mark -- Fourth Ward Ald. Allegretti moves approval to modify the liquor ordinance for live entertainment.

@46:07 mark -- Mayor Schmidt begins giving City Attorney Buzz Hill a hard time which culminates in Mayor Schmidt challenging Mr. Hill to step outside.

@47:55 mark -- Fourth Ward Ald. Allegretti asks the committee to defer action on the motion to modify the liquor ordinance for live entertainment. Ald. DiPietro moves to defer the item to the next Procedures and Regulations Committee meeting.

@48:40 mark -- Discussion begins on video gaming law.

Video #00003


Begins with a continuation of the discussion on video gaming law.

@36:35 mark -- Ald. DiPietro moves to send video gaming issue to next Procedures and Regulations Committee meeting.

@38:33 mark -- Discussion begins on duties of the City Manager -- Ald. Bach begins with a statement about over-staffing in the City of Park Ridge.

Video #00004


Begins with a continuation of the discussion of the duties of the City Manager and veers off into a discussion of whether or not the City budget is balanced.

@19:25 mark -- The Committee begins discussion of permits for liquor sales at special events.

@20:50 mark -- Discussion of the Public Works employee layoffs and service cuts begins.

@30:05 mark -- Council moves to go into closed session.


Good times, good times.

COW Meeting Tonight!

Once again people, your City Council will be meeting as a Committee of the Whole at 7pm tonight to discuss how to throw your money around.

The COW agenda (.pdf) includes, among other interesting items, the following discussion gems --

1 -- Public Works Service Adjustments (.pdf) -- we hope nobody thought they could lay off city workers and not experience service adjustments.

2 -- Special Events Expenses Report (.pdf) -- gobble gobble!

3 -- May-Apr 2009 Financial Report (.pdf) and May-July 2009 Financial Report (.pdf) -- a million here, a million there!

4 -- Flood Relief Rebate (.pdf) -- it's just money!


The Crew is looking forward to more video highlights tomorrow!

We Can't Believe It!

Two years and counting -- time sure flies when we're having fun!

460 posts, including this one --

On average, 2000 unique visitors per week --

Happy Birthday to us!

We thank our faithful readers for their continued interest and participation.

As we opened this blog, we restate here --

"Leave your prissy tasseled loafers at the door - we'll loan you a pair of Doc Martens. We are, as our header says, irreverent and unrepentant in our opinions. If hard driving sentiment with a dash of twisted humor is not your cup of venti caffé mocha then don't let the cyber-door hit you in the ass as you exit. And don't forget to take your prissy tasseled loafers with you!"

For PRU.ADMIN and those long nights of reading and writing --

The Commodores - Nightshift

Beware of Opportunists!

A recent article in the online Herald-Advocate -- Residents thwart attempted 'grandparents' scam -- discussed how two residents avoided being bilked out of money by a caller, or callers, trying to scam them. In the news report, it is clear that the scammers were trying to play on the residents' personal and familial ties.

The PRU Crew knows most of the residents of Park Ridge aren't easily duped and we're very glad to hear these two residents avoided the scam that has turned out differently for many others across the nation.

Beware of scammers.

There are scammers everywhere.

And then there are opportunists.

There are opportunists everywhere.

Sometimes they don't use the phone.

Sometimes they're closer to home than you may think.

Discussion of one particular opportunist took place at last night's Flood Control Task Force meeting.



The discussion begins @ the 10:30 marker in the above video -- another from Cecil B. deMelidosian's Motionbox collection

A copy of the flyer being discussed by the Flood Control Task Force is below --




There's nothing illegal or outright fraudulent in the above flyer. But as we said, we find it very opportunistic and we hope Park Ridge residents aren't duped into believing any final decision on flood control rebates has been made or that anyone can count on receiving a "rebate" of up to $2500 dollars if they choose to install flood control systems of any kind .

Caveat emptor.