WEEKS AGO I heard that 4th Ward Alderman Donna Gorski was considered a front-runner for acting mayor to fill out Mayor Van Buer’s term. Rumors being nearly as essential to the average informed DeKalbite as air, this was just something to file away mentally. It didn’t seem reasonable. Ald. Povlsen is not only the senior…
Category: City Watch
“Open Book Revolution” & DeKalb
This is about a relatively new but promising resource for Illinois activists at the local level. It’s called For the Good of Illinois and the goal is simple: Help community activists take steps for greater transparency in local government. Its mission: For The Good Of Illinois was founded to empower regular people with the means…
I Am a Chronic Nuisance Part 2
After the meeting tonight, in which the Council OK’d raises for administrative staff—yet voted down the new position that would have been the Rental Inspection Manager!—some “I am a Chronic Nuisance” t-shirts and buttons were noticed and desired; so: here is the link if you want to get one. I didn’t realize the original post…
A Discouraging Word
A few days ago I was approached by people associated with city matters who tried to discourage me from speaking out at meetings and from blogging. It was the usual. Ponder the timing with me. And let me know privately if it has happened to you. yinn422[AT]yahoo[dot]com.
DeKalb County Online: Rental Inspection Manager Hired Last Year
Surprise! The City of DeKalb has been paying the “proposed” Rental Inspection Program Manager for the better part of a year now: According to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, filed by DeKalb County Online, the City hired an independent contractor, retired DeKalb Police Lt. James Kayes, to perform the duties…
News from the Tea Company
Have you visited the Tea Company lately? This referendum thingie is coming together.
Airport Business Plan
A fellow citywatcher told me I should ask for a copy of the DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport (DTMA) Business Plan. So I did. He must be laughing right now, knowing (I am sure) that there isn’t one. That’s right, the $350,000 per year black hole has no plan to change.
City Watch: Mystery Solved*
City Watcher Thought #1 on Friday the 13th: Abandonment of City Manager
The Revoke Home Rule movement began earlier, but I am finding as I talk to well-informed neighbors that there is nearly if not just as much support for a referendum on abandoning the Council-Manager form of city government. Some believe the manager position should be abolished to make it clearer where the buck stops, but…
City Watcher Thought #2 on Friday the 13th: Rental Inspection Program
In reading the first of two ordinances critical to the proposed Rental Inspection program, I see nothing in the proposed “Chronic Nuisance Property Abatement” ordinance (start on p. 10) that limits it to rental properties. No property owner would be safe from being called a chronic nuisance and summoned to a legal proceeding at City…