The following is a production of StrongTowns.org. Advisory: Note: Strong Towns is not responsible for any mental duress resulting from repeated watching of this video. We are also not responsible for angry reactions from planners and engineers confronted with the illogic of their world view. If watching as part of a group, we recommend having…
Category: Snark/Humor
A Tale of One Public Servant
Private citizen Arthur Clennam finally catches Mr. Barnacle in. Mr. Barnacle heads up Circumlocution, a government office with a far-flung reputation as a model for How Not to Do It. “It is competent,” said Mr. Barnacle, “to any member of the–Public,” mentioning that obscure body with reluctance, as his natural enemy, “to memorialise the Circumlocution…
Video Comment on DeKalb’s Passing of New Housing Inspection Rules
If you haven’t read about what transpired on Monday night, here’s the report from DeKalb County Online. And the first three minutes or so of the video below is a reminder of what single-minded pursuit of a goal can get you.
A Few Words About Video Gambling
The city council of DeKalb approved first reading last night of an ordinance that would overturn a ban on gambling devices to allow video gaming with payouts. Also, in a daring use of Home Rule authority, it has decided to consider allowing the machines in an establishment where kids hang out. Come August 27, probable…
Call the Wa-a-a-mbulance for Belvidere Township
WATB alert! BELVIDERE — Belvidere Township’s legal fees have skyrocketed 383 percent from five years ago. The township has been scrutinized for months with residents filing lengthy Freedom of Information Act requests and writing memos that require legal responses. People have questioned the township’s budget, public comment process and whether the government body should even…
Be the First Illinoisan to Fly a Pet Drone!
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to bring you lists of authorized drone pilots/sites and map their locations. You do not have to be President of the United States to own and fly drones. We are lucky to live in such an egalitarian country! [looking at map] Geez, get with…
Interesting Search Terms
Here are a few of the search terms people have used recently that led them to the citybarbs blog. Thought you might enjoy. “hunted houses” “universal rest group dekalb” “i lost minutes for a meeting” “1971, that was a bad year for libraries” “pig poop is black” People also wanted to see firefighters saving cats,…
CCEC Disapproves of DeKalb’s New Police Cars
Citizens Community Enhancement Commission members are upset their logo was totally rejected as the new design for the police cars, so now they want a do-over: BUSINESS: 1. New Police Squads [Assistant City Manager Rudy] Espiritu distributed pictures of the new police cars. A survey was done with Police personnel, and the staff selected the…
Declining Attendance at the Taste / Corn Fest
I am not surprised that after high-profile news reports of mobs of thugs attacking people in downtown Chicago in broad daylight that the attendance at the Taste dropped. But, attendance was down in previous years as well. No matter what anyone says, unless there is a popular band at Corn Fest, its attendance dropped, too.…
FY2012 Budget Comments, Smart-Alecky Edition
The proposed budget for fiscal year 2012 is now available. I’ve just begun reading it. Here are a few reactions so far. [From the 2025 Vision Statement] Its downtown is the heart of the community… Translation: We hate that the Super Wal-Mart is the closest thing DeKalb has to a town square.