There are honest people of good faith who belong to the Barb City Action Committee. There really are. However, it makes good sense to try to tease out the motives for any organized political action, especially one that launched itself out of nowhere and appears to have “shadow” members as well. Recently I donned my…
Author: Lynn Fazekas
DeKalb Candidates’ Websites
Here are the websites I’ve collected so far for the candidates running for City of DeKalb offices and District 428 school board positions. Election Day is April 4 (not counting all of your early voting opportunities). DeKalb Mayor: Michael Embrey: Embrey for Mayor Misty Haji-Sheikh: Citizens for Misty Jerry Smith: Jerry for DeKalb DeKalb City…
Letter to the Editor: “Cornerstone” Project
To the Editor: Regarding the Cornerstone DeKalb Project: This project is being considered as a downtown development. Tax increment financing funding is being requested, and the project seems to meet the TIF criteria. I have concerns, which include the following: • Why a 40 percent request for project costs vs. the 25 percent guidelines? •…
Not a Trained Seal
It has come to my attention that I am being misrepresented as playing a role in a local political campaign. I am not working for any candidate. No one has solicited my support. As of today, nobody’s even asked for my vote. Don’t get me wrong. Every once in a while, a bright light manages…
Video of Mayoral Forum from DeKalb County Online
If you missed Monday’s forum for DeKalb mayoral candidates that Kiwanis presented on Monday, click here for video. Thanks, DCO.
NIU Faculty Senate Discusses President Baker’s Performance
The NIU Faculty Senate is examining actions taken by NIU President Doug Baker. A vote of no confidence in his leadership appears possible. Michael J. Haji-Sheikh of NIU’s Department of Electrical Engineering has collected emails regarding the hiring of contractors and affiliate employees of NIU from the beginning of Baker’s tenure. He compiled the most…
Auditors Identified a “Significant Deficiency” in City of DeKalb’s Internal Accounting Controls
City of DeKalb’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, contains a letter to management from the auditors that discusses a “significant deficiency” in DeKalb’s internal accounting controls. The DeKalb city council is set to discuss the report during its Committee of the Whole meeting January 9 at 5…
DeKalb City Manager Oversteps Purchasing Authority Again
Recently I came across this City of DeKalb memo circulated via a council meeting agenda in October: With former Commander Smith’s retirement in June, the City faced an immediate crisis by not having on-call IT personnel who are familiar with the City’s specific computer systems and able to keep them operational at all times. On…
What Kind of Municipal Elections Does City of DeKalb Have?
City of DeKalb candidates for municipal offices in the spring elections are not all using the same ballot petition forms. For example, of the four mayoral candidates, three of them are filing as “independents” and one of them filed a “nonpartisan” form. A similar pattern has occurred with the aldermanic candidates. There are differences. “Independent”…
If at First They Don’t Spend All, They Try, Try Again
***Update 12/13: I did not make the meeting last night, but have been told that the RFP discussion has been tabled or postponed.*** ***Update 12/12: Some of the comments about the RFP on Facebook are interesting.*** A memo accompanying Item G8 of tomorrow’s DeKalb city council agenda starts like this. The Information Technology Department conducted…