I heard a word I liked at the Park District’s unveiling of a proposed pool facility, “realistic.” That word came out of the mouth of an architect. That was a shocker and I can only hope that everyone who talked tonight understood the importance of telling the truth, not hiding anything, and making sure that…
Cook County Transparency
Did you read the title twice? It’s certainly something for the “strange but true” column: Cook County as potential role model for DeKalb County. Cook County Commissioner Tony Paraica is now hosting a website called CookEmployees.com. All 25,000-plus Cook County employees are listed by name, title, department, salary and hire date in a database that…
TIF This
Medill (that is Northwestern’s journalism school) student Adam Verwymeren created a satirical description of TIFs in language so easy a five-year-old, a caveman, or a politician can understand, called: TIFs for Tots. Enjoy! When you are done with the online children’s book, try Ben Joravsky’s TIFs for Dummies. Do not miss this key section: “Think…
Notes & More from 8/10/2009 Council Meeting
When people say, “I am not making this up,” as the public works director did last night in explaining the lack of competitive bids for waste pickup, I begin to wonder about the occasions when they don’t say it. You? ***** Mayor Povlsen is still calling comments he disagrees with “misinformation” based on a continued…
CPI & Waste Management
The City of DeKalb is getting ready to approve a new 4-year agreement with Waste Management (pp. 122-128) for residential pickup of trash. One proposal is to tie increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), allow for a minimum annual increase of 2% and cap it at 6% no matter what fuel prices are doing.…
Dear Citizen
An e-mail exchange between a resident of the 4th Ward and Alderman Gallagher was forwarded to me. _____________________________ From: mark cxxx [mailto:markxxxx@xxx.com] Sent: Tue 8/4/2009 3:13 AM To: Gallagher, Brendon Subject: RE: Southside fire station Brendon- When you get a chance I would like to discuss something that I recently came across. Fire Station No.…
TIFs in Plain English
Here is Chicago Reader Ben Joravsky’s latest on TIFs. Does any of that seem familiar to here, only on a smaller scale?
Small Towns Remember
We’re catching up on news after spending most of the week a half-day’s drive from here and mostly unplugged. This article from the Chronicle caught my eye. It’s about the homecoming of Army Spc. Brett Bartlett to Sycamore after four years’ service in Afghanistan and Germany. The Bartletts met Brett at 1 p.m. at O’Hare…
Renew Our Trash
Yes, that is a cat box. Sorry about that but the city started it by deciding that they think they know best on dictating how people take out their trash. Although called a “pilot” program at this point, as described in the Daily Chronicle article, my guess is the city will put this program in…
City Hall OK with Southeast Side as Toast
From the City of DeKalb press release regarding the fire fighter layoffs, dated July 15: The City Council has entered into agreements with the FOP and AFSCME unions, along with the City’s management employees, on wage concessions to avoid layoffs. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to come to a similar agreement with IAFF,” Biernacki said.…