So begins systemic neglect at the new high school — my interpretation of an article in the Daily Chronicle today: The all-day kindergarten would also be paid for by not filling four custodial staff positions at the new high school until the district has more revenue. In 2008, the Facilities Planning Committee (FPC) voted to…
Home Rule May Complicate Push for Concealed Carry
A 3/5 majority vote on the legislation may be required to override municipal Home Rule powers. [h/t R.M.]
ReNew Our Schools and Candidate Barnes
Below are listed the officers of ReNew Our Schools, the political action committee (PAC) set up to campaign for the $110 million District 428 construction referendum that passed in early 2008. One of the co-chairs of the PAC, Cohen Barnes, is currently running for a spot on the District 428 school board. In the comments…
Big Fat Correction
I am guilty of too much talk and not enough homework done this week. There is indeed a scenario in which Alderman Ron Naylor paid the Ellwood House room rental for a 5th Ward meet-up, even when there’s a “RM RNTL 5TH WARD 1/19/10 MTG” note in the city’s check register. The scenario is more…
Naylor Disputing City Paid for Ellwood House Ward Meeting
[Update: Please read the Big Fat Correction I’ve made to this story.] Well, I just had an interesting phone conversation. It seems an online comment I made about Ron Naylor’s letter to the Daily Chronicle about his upcoming ward meeting at Ellwood House — specifically, that he should pay the room rental this time! —…
Statements of Economic Interest, 2011 District 428 School Board Candidates
There are 11 candidates in this race, and three of them listed something other than “none” or “NA” on their Statements of Economic Interest (SEI). As is true of yesterday’s post about the City of DeKalb candidates’ SEIs, all items should be read as reports of what has occurred “in the preceding calendar year”; and…
Local Government Transparency Act
A bill introduced into the Illinois Senate would establish minimum standards of transparency for local government websites. SB 37, which is scheduled for a committee hearing today, would expand upon the Illinois Policy Institute’s 10-point Transparency Checklist, with which CB’s readers are already familiar. Links: Illinois Policy Institute summary of the standards contained in SB…
Statements of Economic Interest, 2011 City of DeKalb Candidates
Five of the candidates for alderman had no disclosures to make (“N/A” for all items) on their Statements of Economic Interest (SEI). Three did, and the table lists them in the order they appear in a PDF file. Because I’ve shortened both disclosure item descriptions and explanations in the table, a sample of an original…
Extended Comment on the Advisability of a South 4th Street TIF
I left a comment at DeKalb County Online in response to 5th Ward candidate Rob Fischer’s possible support for a new TIF. Says Mr. Fischer: TIF’s are one of the most powerful tools municipalities have at their disposal to renovate neighborhoods. My wife and I were just talking the other day about how the city…
Found: DeKalb Zombies!
The Zombies of DeKalb group is planning a walk the evening of April 16. Over 500 people have signed up so far. The organizers are the most thoughtful of undeadheads. They have a long list of guidelines for the walk, including admonishments not to hold up traffic while street-crossing (shuffle faster!) nor to bleed on…