District 428 & the Grassroots: Yeah, Right: Part 2

This is an “I told you so” diary. I wasn’t going to do it but am upset enough about the latest on the Facilities Planning Committee that it just seems fair at this point. January 5th I wrote about the overlap between ReNew Our Schools and the Chamber of Commerce. It just seemed like ReNew…

The Fatal Flaw in Home Rule Law

[This is the 2nd part of a series examining home rule in Illinois. The first one is here.] Municipal home rule powers are granted by the Illinois Constitution. Except as limited by this Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs including, but not…

Wogen Watch

Northern Star and Daily Chronicle articles regarding Victor Wogen and his supporters’ pre-election smear mailer against opponent Steve Kapitan have been collected at Wogen Watch: A Watchdog for DeKalb, Illinois’ Third Ward, a blog of unknown origin established last weekend. Let’s give this anonymous citizen more material, shall we? The next City Council meeting is…

Wogen Monday Game Plan

Several Third Warders are meeting with Victor Wogen tonight to discuss his intentions as concerns his constituency. They would also like to ensure that Mr. Wogen will accept the petition calling for his resignation in a dignified and gracious manner before he takes his seat Monday evening. Inauguration will take place during a special meeting…

Wogen Insults Us

< rant on > Victor Wogen’s interview on WLBK insulted our intelligence and was chauvinistic to boot. First he says he delayed setting the record “straight” (as if that really happened this morning) to allow us hysterical petition-driving womenfolk to “calm down a little.” He still doesn’t admit that he knew exactly what was in…

“Wogen for 3rd Ward”

Will the Illinois State Board of Elections investigate Victor Wogen’s political action group(s)? Hope so. In one of the Chronicle articles, Wogen mentioned “Wogen for Third” as his group, while the ephemeral “Citizens for a Better 3rd Ward” ostensibly sent out a mailer independently of Wogen and his Maple Park consultant, Jon Zahm of Goliath…

Water Authority Defeated

The ill-conceived Kishwaukee Valley Water Authority referendum was defeated by more than 80%, not just in DeKalb County but in Boone as well. Even in McHenry County, where the idea originated, the measure was rejected by more than two-thirds of the voters. The referendum to fund it was beaten by even higher percentages. Both had…