“Change is inevitable. Change for the better is a full-time job.”
Almost-Live Blog for Council Meeting
Alderman Teresinski has been reporting on happenings in his ward and did so again tonight. What a novel and refreshing use of Agenda Item L, Reports & Communications. He gets points for that. I was disappointed that my own alderman, Mr. Gallagher, had nothing to say about last week’s Economic Development Committee meeting since almost…
Flooded House Acquisition Criteria Need Another Look
From the Stormwater Task Force Minutes, October 23, 2008, which were finally received and filed by City Council July 13, 2009 (see pp. 49-51). Jeff Birtell suggested a comprehensive review of all flood damaged properties be considered by the City in a complete neighborhood buyout approach. The Committee wanted to prioritize to City Council a…
Letter to City Officials Updated: Mayor Responds
Update: Mayor Povlsen responded to my letter. The e-mail exhange (so far) appears at the end of this post. The city manager responded to the statements I made Monday at the Council meeting. Here is my reply:
Illinois’ Own Darn Fault
According to Pro Publica, Illinois is the 16th state to have to borrow to keep paying out unemployment benefits, but — just as is true of the City of DeKalb — the primary problem apparently is not due to the state of the economy: Going into the recession, Illinois had a dangerously low level of…
Chicago’s TIF Sunshine Ordinance
Ald. Manny Flores on TIF Long before workers occupied the Windows & Doors factory, the company received $10 million in TIF funding from the city years ago. Following that, Aldermen Manny Flores (1st Ward) and Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), worked on developing a new ordinance on TIF transparency. It eventually passed the City Council and…
Adlai Stevenson
“The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.” The New York Times, 19 January 1962
City: Breach of Contract? No problem!
Near the end of the Council meeting tonight, I argued against Re:New DeKalb’s getting another agreement with the City of DeKalb because of breach of contract. Re:New has not been turning in the documentation called for (which could then be accessed via the city through the Freedom of Information Act) nor has it been following…
Foster Supporting “Robust Public Option” in Healthcare Bill
But first, though, in case you didn’t receive Rep. Bill Foster’s automated phone call: He’s now got an outreach program of constituent services for “any problems you are having with the federal government,” such as social security or veterans’ issues. You can find the congressman’s staff on hand to help you in the DeKalb Public…
Lawlessness Complaint
Yesterday I mailed a complaint about City Council’s failures to adhere to the Open Meetings Act. It is on its way to the Illinois Attorney General, cc’d to the DeKalb County State’s Attorney. I selected three violations occurring in May and June to include in the complaint, beginning with the decision to address the financial…