As some of you know, I’ve been an election judge for several years at the NIU Recreation Center, which serves four student precincts in one polling place. Let’s start with the student early voting at the Student Center, though. In the papers it said about 300 students voted there across four days in October. That’s…
District 428 Business Office
I phoned the business office of DeKalb C.U.S.D. at 8:30 a.m. with one question — who is the FOIA officer — and they never called back. It is now 6:06 p.m.
2010 Property Tax Assessments
These came out last week. They’ve come down a wee bit over 6% for every primary residence I’ve checked so far in DeKalb Township — everyone, that is, but our esteemed mayor and 2nd Ward alderman Tom Teresinski, who enjoyed downward adjustments of about 19% and 19.5%, respectively. Way to share the pain, guys.
Meeting Comments & Questions
— Aldermen Gallagher, Baker and Kammes should be ashamed of themselves for voting against receiving and filing the Hope Haven emergency shelter expansion proposal. Instead of saying “no,” maybe they could talk about what it would take to overcome their misgivings. But, that would be too much work, I guess, and most of all too…
Friends of Kish College
The referendum PAC called Friends of Kishwaukee College does not actually have many friends, but no worries: they’ve selected well-heeled ones. In its pre-election report, 10 donors contributed $29,950. More contributions of $500+ have continued to roll in, including $10,000 from Demonica Kemper Architects of Chicago, for a grand total greater than $60,000 from about…
A Few Thoughts About Homelessness
I’ve talked about being homeless before. We were among the lucky ones, being able to return after the crash to our support system where there was always a safe place to sleep and a leg up where we really needed it. Nevertheless, homelessness is a certifiable trauma however soft the landing, a tense and desperate…
Straightforward Explanation of Illinois Budget Complications
Eric Zorn explains why calling for 10% across-the-board cuts in the state budget wouldn’t solve our money problems. I happen to disagree with him about the value/ROI of a forensic audit of state spending, however. Here’s another discussion, including a recap of Adam Andrzjewski’s arguments in support of such an audit, here.
Rochelle to Get 250+ New Jobs
[Update 10/21: Groundbreaking ceremony & more info on Nippon Sharyo.] I haven’t seen this anywhere else but the Rockford Register Star so far. Gov. Pat Quinn comes to Rochelle at 11 a.m. today to announce that a $35 million to $40 million railcar factory, expected to employ 250 to 350 people, will be built in…
Star Covers Library Comments at Council Meeting
I see some of comments left at the Daily Chronicle website express puzzlement that Mac McIntyre hasn’t yet filed suit in the case of the DeKalb Public Library Board’s violations of the Open Meetings Act. Today the Northern Star sheds some light: Mac McIntyre, member of the Finance Advisory Committee, said the DeKalb Public Library…
DC Hits It Out of the Park
“Schaumburg: Open meetings agreement disappoints”. The settlement – filed and approved in court this week and amounting to little more than a slap on the wrist – shows us that the DeKalb Library Board still has no credibility and that state laws in place to enforce and protect open and transparent government are viewed as…