Not only save money but could get the kids involved in after school sports and physical sports activities. I visited high school tennis intra-school competition matches for many years; in fact I was assistant coach at Woodruff the year they had the best season in the school's history. This week Manual High's tennis "team" played Notre Dame at Manual courts. Two, that's right, two kids showed up to represent Manual, so there was no competitive matches. A couple of weeks earlier, Manual played Central at Manual. Three Manual players showed up.
Several weeks ago, I stopped by Manual to watch the "coach" hold a practice session. First, two kids showed up, eventually three so with the coach as a player, they played doubles. At no time during any of these visits, did I see the coach do any coaching.
About three years ago, I attended a tournament at the Richwoods tennis courts. All conference schools were invited. Manual showed up with ONE lonely kid who was quickly eliminated. As he came off the court, I asked him where his coach was. He said he didn't come.
Why do I point out Manual? I was largely responsible for getting then Superintendent Dr. Griffin to put in four new courts up closer to the school. I was assisting Connie Cassidy who if I recall, coached both boys and girls Manual tennis teams. Connie was a good player and a good coach.
Last week, I asked Manual graduate and now School Board Member Jim Stowell, if he was aware of this situation. He said he was and something needed to be done. All these years have passed with paid coaches who don't really know how to coach yet collect good pay while building their tenure to enhance their retirement pensions while few kids come out to practice and play. What a sorry situation..
Minor sports where kids, principals and coaches show little interest or put out much effort, must be eliminated. Allow kids who want to play tennis, softball, volleyball to play or at least try out, with other area schools and hire coaches who know the sport and are qualified to be real coaches. If the coaches can't coach, can't encourage kids to participate, waste money on bus trips, then set up inter-school intramurals to give them some exercise in a fun and learning environment, keep them out of trouble and save the property tax payers money.
It appears few people care. The emphasis for a few is on basketball and football. Who cares about the minor sports at #150? I have called attention to this situation many times and blogged on the subject.
What a shame and waste of money. And in my general visits over the years, the sports and after school atmosphere at Manual overall appears pretty laid back.
Arne Duncan and all the brass are only partly on track to better the public school systems in the larger cities. Until Board members are full time, rotating 3 year terms, elected at large or dividing #150 in three districts, well paid, each with an office and a shared secretary and the Superintendent has a doctorate or equivalent in finance and business with Associate Directors or whatever title appropriate, in curriculum, Human Services, etc., our leaders can hold all the summits they wish and the system will still fail.
In all the years I followed high school tennis in Peoria Public Schools I noted no board members in attendance and at one time a new principal came to the courts to show his interest. He came one time.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Peoria Riverfront Museum Problems
All County Board members plus administration received a letter from Peoria City Mayor Ardis dated 4/21/10 saying although construction contracts will not be required in advance of closing, nevertheless we note that there has been considerable delay in getting versions of the proposed Agreement to the City. Ardis concludes "The point of this letter is to express that the City is ready and willing to move forward with the Project, but will do so with reasonable time to review the necessary documents and does not intend to vote on the agreement just days after it is received in final form."
I don't blame the mayor or the City of Peoria on any of the delays. But there is the possibility this Contract will be "dumped" on the City as the time marches on.
So what is the problem? The problem is Lakeview Museum has handled this Project poorly from the getgo. In fact, a $11 to $14 million Endowment fund needed to operate the museum is anywhere from $9,400,000 upwards, short. In fact, the whole Project may be short over $14 million. I think donors would be disturbed to find that over $11 million cash has been spent on this Project with NO GROUND AS YET BROKEN.
There are five entities involved in coming to an agreement; Lakeview Museum, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, (new group, new board, etc.), the City of Peoria, Peoria County and Caterpillar. Most of those on the county will quietly acknowledge that working with the Lakeview Museum, which includes getting accurate financial information and a current operating statement, has been anything but easy. Mark Johnson, formerly the liaison person from Caterpillar and now a hired liaison employee for the County has said the situation is a "mess".
Lakeview reports they raised $400,000 in their recent fund drive. I understand that most of this "new" money is in the form of pledges. According to Lakeview financial documents, over $1 million in pledges were cancelled by June 30, 2009.
The Project is in jeopardy of losing the $3.8 million secured by then U.S. Representative Ray LaHood in 2007 to be used to finance part of the $8+ underground parking deck.
It is my opinion that the County Board has some reluctance to start on the $8+ million dollar underground parking deck until Lakeview has guaranteed the money has been raised. I doubt that many of their constiuents might raise some concern. I also know that the majority of the bard is influnced by unions who are demanding the Project get started becuase their workers need jobs. (So do many workers in the non-union private sector)
No guarantee that the funds have been raised has been made to the full County Board. It would be most unfortunate to the taxpayers if this Project moved forward without the funding being guaranteed. Taxpayer of one class or another may be paying for something that perhaps a majority of people did not ever want and making up deficits for the next 50 years or more.
Show us the money. The Museum groups have not been able to do so. This information is of public record. In the end, at this late date, a pledge is still just that; a pledge. And to my knowledge, the larger pledges have not been certified. Caterpillar says the PRM can count on thier pledges and of this, I have no doubt.
I don't blame the mayor or the City of Peoria on any of the delays. But there is the possibility this Contract will be "dumped" on the City as the time marches on.
So what is the problem? The problem is Lakeview Museum has handled this Project poorly from the getgo. In fact, a $11 to $14 million Endowment fund needed to operate the museum is anywhere from $9,400,000 upwards, short. In fact, the whole Project may be short over $14 million. I think donors would be disturbed to find that over $11 million cash has been spent on this Project with NO GROUND AS YET BROKEN.
There are five entities involved in coming to an agreement; Lakeview Museum, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, (new group, new board, etc.), the City of Peoria, Peoria County and Caterpillar. Most of those on the county will quietly acknowledge that working with the Lakeview Museum, which includes getting accurate financial information and a current operating statement, has been anything but easy. Mark Johnson, formerly the liaison person from Caterpillar and now a hired liaison employee for the County has said the situation is a "mess".
Lakeview reports they raised $400,000 in their recent fund drive. I understand that most of this "new" money is in the form of pledges. According to Lakeview financial documents, over $1 million in pledges were cancelled by June 30, 2009.
The Project is in jeopardy of losing the $3.8 million secured by then U.S. Representative Ray LaHood in 2007 to be used to finance part of the $8+ underground parking deck.
It is my opinion that the County Board has some reluctance to start on the $8+ million dollar underground parking deck until Lakeview has guaranteed the money has been raised. I doubt that many of their constiuents might raise some concern. I also know that the majority of the bard is influnced by unions who are demanding the Project get started becuase their workers need jobs. (So do many workers in the non-union private sector)
No guarantee that the funds have been raised has been made to the full County Board. It would be most unfortunate to the taxpayers if this Project moved forward without the funding being guaranteed. Taxpayer of one class or another may be paying for something that perhaps a majority of people did not ever want and making up deficits for the next 50 years or more.
Show us the money. The Museum groups have not been able to do so. This information is of public record. In the end, at this late date, a pledge is still just that; a pledge. And to my knowledge, the larger pledges have not been certified. Caterpillar says the PRM can count on thier pledges and of this, I have no doubt.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Arizona - States Rights?
Forwarded to me by a friend:
IBD Editorials Boycotting Arizona
Posted 07:11 PM ET
Grijalva: At war with his own state.
Politics: Most members of Congress like to bring home the bacon to their districts. But Arizona's Raul Grijalva wants everyone to boycott his state to protest its immigration law. Who, exactly, is he serving?
It ought to astonish onlookers to see a congressman, elected to represent the interests of Arizona's voters, instead using his office to throw them out of work.
But that's what Grijalva, a radical Democrat who represents a state with 2.3 million unemployed, is doing.
Incensed over last Friday's signing of a tough law intended to reduce illegal immigration, the congressman Wednesday called on the rest of the nation to boycott a major part of its tourism industry.
"I support some very targeted economic sanctions on the state of Arizona," Grijalva told the left-wing Democracy Now! broadcast Wednesday. "We will be asking national organizations — civil, religious, political — not to have conferences and conventions in the State of Arizona. There has to be an economic consequence to this action and to this legislation."
He had a lot of punishment in mind for his constituents, no matter how they felt about the law: "Tourism is going to suffer. Import-export is going to suffer. A potential loss of up to 700 million tax dollars from immigrants that work in state," he said, adding that Gov. Janet Brewer would be to blame.
The one-time community organizer didn't really care that Arizona has an 8% unemployment rate or that boycotting conventions would force more people onto the dole.
Using the signature Alinskyite tactics of the community organizer he once was, the law had to be fought at "a political, legal and economic level," he said. Aside from a boycott, he also wants the federal government to stop cooperating with Arizona, a move he says "would render much of this legislation moot and ineffective."
Whatever the idea behind Grijalva's war on his own state, it shows major disrespect to voters, 70% of whom support this law, including most Hispanic residents.
Grijalva's stance mirrors the party line of the radical left. And it is they who still command his loyalties, not the Arizona voters he's sworn to serve.
I (Merle) have written numerous blogs on the subject of illegal immigration. "A Way Out of Immigration Mess", dated Oct 10, 2008; "Jerry Klein", dated 5/01/07; "Obama's Plan to Legitimize Illegals" October 25, 2009, "Immigration Spin Doctors", dated6/22/07; "Illegal Immigration Alleged Costs to Our Country:, dated 6/27/08, etc.
You can find them all on mu archive sidebar which contains the dates of all 1200 plus blogs I've written. None of what I wrote is a correct answer to the problem but rounding them up and shipping them back is NOT the solution. We need a national debate on the problem soon along with a national debate on legalizing drugs. Our eradication system is not working as most of the users are in our own country. Think the users of drugs are not in all our schools? Think again. And in a large quantity of our homes yet the dealers are getting rich and killing themselves and innocent people.
IBD Editorials Boycotting Arizona
Posted 07:11 PM ET
Grijalva: At war with his own state.
Politics: Most members of Congress like to bring home the bacon to their districts. But Arizona's Raul Grijalva wants everyone to boycott his state to protest its immigration law. Who, exactly, is he serving?
It ought to astonish onlookers to see a congressman, elected to represent the interests of Arizona's voters, instead using his office to throw them out of work.
But that's what Grijalva, a radical Democrat who represents a state with 2.3 million unemployed, is doing.
Incensed over last Friday's signing of a tough law intended to reduce illegal immigration, the congressman Wednesday called on the rest of the nation to boycott a major part of its tourism industry.
"I support some very targeted economic sanctions on the state of Arizona," Grijalva told the left-wing Democracy Now! broadcast Wednesday. "We will be asking national organizations — civil, religious, political — not to have conferences and conventions in the State of Arizona. There has to be an economic consequence to this action and to this legislation."
He had a lot of punishment in mind for his constituents, no matter how they felt about the law: "Tourism is going to suffer. Import-export is going to suffer. A potential loss of up to 700 million tax dollars from immigrants that work in state," he said, adding that Gov. Janet Brewer would be to blame.
The one-time community organizer didn't really care that Arizona has an 8% unemployment rate or that boycotting conventions would force more people onto the dole.
Using the signature Alinskyite tactics of the community organizer he once was, the law had to be fought at "a political, legal and economic level," he said. Aside from a boycott, he also wants the federal government to stop cooperating with Arizona, a move he says "would render much of this legislation moot and ineffective."
Whatever the idea behind Grijalva's war on his own state, it shows major disrespect to voters, 70% of whom support this law, including most Hispanic residents.
Grijalva's stance mirrors the party line of the radical left. And it is they who still command his loyalties, not the Arizona voters he's sworn to serve.
I (Merle) have written numerous blogs on the subject of illegal immigration. "A Way Out of Immigration Mess", dated Oct 10, 2008; "Jerry Klein", dated 5/01/07; "Obama's Plan to Legitimize Illegals" October 25, 2009, "Immigration Spin Doctors", dated6/22/07; "Illegal Immigration Alleged Costs to Our Country:, dated 6/27/08, etc.
You can find them all on mu archive sidebar which contains the dates of all 1200 plus blogs I've written. None of what I wrote is a correct answer to the problem but rounding them up and shipping them back is NOT the solution. We need a national debate on the problem soon along with a national debate on legalizing drugs. Our eradication system is not working as most of the users are in our own country. Think the users of drugs are not in all our schools? Think again. And in a large quantity of our homes yet the dealers are getting rich and killing themselves and innocent people.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Why Was Brian Elsasser Removed From the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission??
Don Gorman of 4914 Longview Place in the Heights (same Village where Management Services Committee Democrat Chairman Mike Phelan Represents) was appointed to replace Elssaser before his appointment expired. All Republicans and 2 Democrats voted no.
I was asked by an email to me as to why. Some say politics has entered more heavily into County government. As to the appointment, you will need to ask County Board Chair, Tom O'Neill who makes all appointments.
Maybe Brian who occasionally reads my blogs will make a comment in the comment section below.
I was asked by an email to me as to why. Some say politics has entered more heavily into County government. As to the appointment, you will need to ask County Board Chair, Tom O'Neill who makes all appointments.
Maybe Brian who occasionally reads my blogs will make a comment in the comment section below.
Municpal Bankruptcy - Painful Lessons
In the 3/27/10 of the WSJ, Steven Greenhut described how and why the City of Vallejo, Ca. went bankrupt. Mr. Greenhut is the author of "Plunder! How Public Employee Unions Are Raiding Treasuries" (The Forum Press, 2009) Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation. Mr. Greenhut adapted his article from an issue of City Journal in Sacramento. Two years after Vallejo declared bankruptcy, city officials are still unwilling to demand pension concession leaving the city with few options, one of which is raising taxes. (Isn't it always?)
Last year Cato Institute noted that 74%of the city's general budget was eaten up by police and firefigjhter salaries and overtime along with pension obligations. Compensations topped $300,000 a year for police captains and average $171,000 per year for firefighters. Regular city public employees can retire at 55 with 81% of their final year's pay guaranteed. Police and fire officials can retire at age 50 with a pension that pays them 90% of their final year's salary every year for the life of their life and live of their spouses. Most of you in the private sector should read the rest of this article and Mr. Greenhut's book.
It will make you sick especially if you live in the city of Peoria and see that your tax bill for city services are only one-half of the amount spent for city pensions. Plus the City of Peoria is backing a hotel developer who has little to lose if the planned loan goes sour; backing the project with your money.
Sure, the city wants to merge with the county whose pensions equal approximately one-fourth of the property taxes collected for the entire county.
Please read the attached reprint by the nationally renowed Fred Barnes, who was a recent guest speaker in Peoria.
Merle Widmer
The New Fat Cats
The indefensible pensions of public-sector employees.
BY Fred Barnes
May 3, 2010, Vol. 15, No. 31
ShareThis
John Edwards was right. There are two Americas, just not his two (the rich and powerful versus everyone else). The real divide today is, on one side, the 20 million people who work for state and local governments and the additional 3 million who’ve retired with fat pensions. On the other, the rest of us, roughly 280 million Americans. In short, there’s a gulf between the bureaucrats and the people.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey puts his fight with teachers and their union in roughly those terms. He says there are “two classes of citizens in New Jersey: those who enjoy rich public benefits and those who pay for them.” The teachers want to keep a pay raise and continue to pay a minimal share of their retiree benefits.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, state and local government salaries are 34 percent higher than those for private sector jobs. Okay, that’s partly because government workers tend to have white-collar jobs. Benefits, 70 percent higher for these workers, are the real rub. And benefits for government retirees are the most flagrant. They’ve become a national scandal, a fiscal nightmare for states, cities, and towns, and an example of unfairness of the sort liberals routinely complain about but are mostly silent about just now.
Let’s start with horror stories of pensions run amok. If these tales of wretched excess at the expense of taxpayers don’t infuriate you, you’re jaded from decades of overindulgence by governments large and small:
• In Contra Costa, California, the final salary of one fire chief, 51, was $221,000. He was given an annual, guaranteed pension of $284,000. Another chief, 50, whose final salary was $185,000, got a pension of $241,000. Credit the Contra Costa Times with uncovering this.
• Christie cited two tales in February when he declared a state of fiscal emergency in New Jersey. One retiree, 49, paid “a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments and health benefits.” A retired teacher paid $62,000. She’ll get “$1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime.”
• In New York, a pensioner in the state retirement system received $641,000 in state payments in a single year. He was a triple dipper. He had a pension of $261,000, the highest in the state. He had a post in the state university system in which he made $280,000. And he was paid $100,000 a year as a consultant for the agency from which he’d retired, the teachers’ retirement system.
• Except for new hires, state workers in New York can retire at 55 with guaranteed benefits to which they contribute only in their first 10 years of work. They pay no state income tax on their pensions, and overtime is counted in computing the size of pensions. “Compared with the average New York worker, state and local government employees receive the gold standard of pensions,” the Syracuse Post-Standard said last year.
• Also in New York, the retirement system is riddled with lucrative pensions for retirees who were fired or convicted of crimes related to their state jobs. Former comptroller Alan Hevesi, who once ran the state’s $154 billion pension fund, was found guilty of defrauding the state. Yet he’s got a pension of $104,123.
• In California, 9,111 retired government workers have pensions of more than $100,000. One retiree draws an annual pension of $509,664. Among retired teachers, 3,065 receive more than $100,000. One gets $285,460. Pensions for retired state workers and teachers will rise 2 percent this year, though Social Security recipients aren’t getting any cost-of-living increase. The hike in California isn’t tied to inflation.
• The city of Vallejo, California, declared bankruptcy in 2008, largely because the payroll for police, firefighters, and their pensions and overtime consumed three-fourths of the budget. City employees could retire at 55 with 81 percent of their last year’s salary guaranteed as pensions. In bankruptcy negotiations, however, Vallejo officials declined to reduce current pensions.
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TAGS: America, Benefits, California, Chris Christie, Economy, Employees, jobs, New Jersey, New York, pensions, Public Sector, Retiree, retirement, Salary, Senior
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Last year Cato Institute noted that 74%of the city's general budget was eaten up by police and firefigjhter salaries and overtime along with pension obligations. Compensations topped $300,000 a year for police captains and average $171,000 per year for firefighters. Regular city public employees can retire at 55 with 81% of their final year's pay guaranteed. Police and fire officials can retire at age 50 with a pension that pays them 90% of their final year's salary every year for the life of their life and live of their spouses. Most of you in the private sector should read the rest of this article and Mr. Greenhut's book.
It will make you sick especially if you live in the city of Peoria and see that your tax bill for city services are only one-half of the amount spent for city pensions. Plus the City of Peoria is backing a hotel developer who has little to lose if the planned loan goes sour; backing the project with your money.
Sure, the city wants to merge with the county whose pensions equal approximately one-fourth of the property taxes collected for the entire county.
Please read the attached reprint by the nationally renowed Fred Barnes, who was a recent guest speaker in Peoria.
Merle Widmer
The New Fat Cats
The indefensible pensions of public-sector employees.
BY Fred Barnes
May 3, 2010, Vol. 15, No. 31
ShareThis
John Edwards was right. There are two Americas, just not his two (the rich and powerful versus everyone else). The real divide today is, on one side, the 20 million people who work for state and local governments and the additional 3 million who’ve retired with fat pensions. On the other, the rest of us, roughly 280 million Americans. In short, there’s a gulf between the bureaucrats and the people.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey puts his fight with teachers and their union in roughly those terms. He says there are “two classes of citizens in New Jersey: those who enjoy rich public benefits and those who pay for them.” The teachers want to keep a pay raise and continue to pay a minimal share of their retiree benefits.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, state and local government salaries are 34 percent higher than those for private sector jobs. Okay, that’s partly because government workers tend to have white-collar jobs. Benefits, 70 percent higher for these workers, are the real rub. And benefits for government retirees are the most flagrant. They’ve become a national scandal, a fiscal nightmare for states, cities, and towns, and an example of unfairness of the sort liberals routinely complain about but are mostly silent about just now.
Let’s start with horror stories of pensions run amok. If these tales of wretched excess at the expense of taxpayers don’t infuriate you, you’re jaded from decades of overindulgence by governments large and small:
• In Contra Costa, California, the final salary of one fire chief, 51, was $221,000. He was given an annual, guaranteed pension of $284,000. Another chief, 50, whose final salary was $185,000, got a pension of $241,000. Credit the Contra Costa Times with uncovering this.
• Christie cited two tales in February when he declared a state of fiscal emergency in New Jersey. One retiree, 49, paid “a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments and health benefits.” A retired teacher paid $62,000. She’ll get “$1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime.”
• In New York, a pensioner in the state retirement system received $641,000 in state payments in a single year. He was a triple dipper. He had a pension of $261,000, the highest in the state. He had a post in the state university system in which he made $280,000. And he was paid $100,000 a year as a consultant for the agency from which he’d retired, the teachers’ retirement system.
• Except for new hires, state workers in New York can retire at 55 with guaranteed benefits to which they contribute only in their first 10 years of work. They pay no state income tax on their pensions, and overtime is counted in computing the size of pensions. “Compared with the average New York worker, state and local government employees receive the gold standard of pensions,” the Syracuse Post-Standard said last year.
• Also in New York, the retirement system is riddled with lucrative pensions for retirees who were fired or convicted of crimes related to their state jobs. Former comptroller Alan Hevesi, who once ran the state’s $154 billion pension fund, was found guilty of defrauding the state. Yet he’s got a pension of $104,123.
• In California, 9,111 retired government workers have pensions of more than $100,000. One retiree draws an annual pension of $509,664. Among retired teachers, 3,065 receive more than $100,000. One gets $285,460. Pensions for retired state workers and teachers will rise 2 percent this year, though Social Security recipients aren’t getting any cost-of-living increase. The hike in California isn’t tied to inflation.
• The city of Vallejo, California, declared bankruptcy in 2008, largely because the payroll for police, firefighters, and their pensions and overtime consumed three-fourths of the budget. City employees could retire at 55 with 81 percent of their last year’s salary guaranteed as pensions. In bankruptcy negotiations, however, Vallejo officials declined to reduce current pensions.
1 2 next › last »
TAGS: America, Benefits, California, Chris Christie, Economy, Employees, jobs, New Jersey, New York, pensions, Public Sector, Retiree, retirement, Salary, Senior
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Ignorance of the Young and Those Who Could Work But Won't
Forwarded to me by a friend. Most all know that you can live "free", often without working in Peoria and many parts of the country. Yes, I am aware that many jobs do not pay a living wage but this country still offers the chance of advancement or expansion in almost any endeavor. Free food is available from many sources. Free housing or at least room and board is available from many sources. Free health care has been available for many years. No emergency room can refuse you for any health problems, real or imagined. Free mental and financial advise, free help to fill out many forms one cannot do themselves. Free help to fill out ones Census Form. Free police and fire protection. Free protection from criminals both in our country and from radical terrorists abroad. Nearly free business loans; as low as 3% or lower from government agencies. Free bus passes to many. Free public schools. Free scholarships. Free libraries.
And now more free health care that few people understand; many attorney's and lobbyists will be working for high pay to find out; for both those who can't afford and those who could or can afford some type of health care coverage. And many I have left out.
What I won't leave out is that someone has to pay for all "free". It will be the working and (non-working meaning those who has acquired money through savings, pensions, inheritance, investments, etc.) taxpayer and those who donate. Profits made in the public sector go to support our ballooning government and bureaucracies who hire and pay people who work for them. And to hand out in entitlements, some worthy, many absolutely not, bailouts, subsidies, grants, etc.
The "story" is an interesting read.
Merle
This story is perfect in its simplicity and lesson. It's a story many need to read.
FREE HOUSE
I was in my neighborhood restaurant this morning and
was seated behind a group of jubilant individuals
celebrating the successful passing of the recent health care
bill. I could not finish my breakfast.
This is what ensued:
They were a diverse group of several races and both
sexes. I heard the young man exclaim, “Isn’t Obama like
Jesus Christ? I mean, after all, he is healing the sick.”
The young woman enthusiastically proclaimed, “Yeah,
and he does it for free. I cannot believe anyone would think
that a free market would work for health care. They are all
crooks and thieves and don’t deserve all of that
money.”
Another said, "The stupid Republicans want us all to
starve to death so they can inherit all of the power. Obama
should be made a Saint for what he did for those of us less
fortunate.”
At this, I had had enough. I arose from my seat,
mustering all the restraint I could find, and approached
their table. “Please excuse me; may I impose upon you for
one moment?”
They smiled and welcomed me to the conversation. I
stood at the end of their table, smiled as best I could and
began an experiment. “I would like to give one of you my
house. It will cost you no money and I will pay all of the
expenses and taxes for as long as you live there. Anyone
interested?”
They looked at each other in astonishment. “Why
would you do something like that?” asked a young man.
“There isn’t anything for free in this world.”
They began to laugh at me, as they did not realize
this man had just made my point. “I am serious, I will
give you my house for free, no money what so ever. Anyone
interested?”
In unison, a resounding, “Hell Yeah” fills the room.
“Since there are too many of you, I will have to
make a choice as to who receives this money free bargain.”
I noticed an elderly couple was paying attention to the
spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the old man shaking
his head in apparent disgust. “I tell you what; I will
give it to the one of you most willing to obey my rules.”
Again, they looked at one another, an expression of
bewilderment on their faces. The perky young woman asked,
“What are the rules?”
I smiled and said, “I don’t know. I have not yet
defined them. However, it is a free home that I offer you.”
They giggled amongst themselves, the youngest of which
said, “What an old coot. He must be crazy to give away his
home. Go take your meds, old man.”
I smiled and leaned into the table a bit further. “I
am serious, this is a legitimate offer.”
They gaped at me for a moment. “Hell, I’ll take it
you old fool. Where are the keys?” boasted the youngest
among them.
“Then I presume you accept ALL of my terms then?”
I asked.
The elderly couple seemed amused and entertained as
they watched from the privacy of their table. “Oh hell
yeah! Where do I sign up?”
I took a napkin and wrote, “I give this man my home,
without the burden of financial obligation, so long as he
accepts and abides by the terms that I shall set forth upon
consummation of this transaction.” I signed it and handed
it to the young man who eagerly scratched out his
signature.
“Where are the keys to my new house?” he asked in
a mocking tone of voice.
All eyes were upon us as I stepped back from the
table, pulling the keys from pocket and dangling them before
the excited new homeowner. “Now that we have entered into
this binding contract, witnessed by all of your friends, I
have decided upon the conditions you are obligated to adhere
from this point forward. You may only live in the house for
one hour a day. You will not use anything inside of the
home. You will obey me without question or resistance. I
expect complete loyalty and admiration for this gift I
bestow upon you. You will accept my commands and wishes with
enthusiasm, no matter the nature. Your morals and principles
shall be as mine. You will vote as I do, think as I do and
do it with blind faith. These are my terms. Here are your
keys.”
I reached the keys forward and the young man looked at
me dumb founded. “Are you out of your freaking mind? Who
would ever agree to those ridiculous terms?” the young man
appeared irritated.
“You did when you signed this contract before
reading it, understanding it and with the full knowledge
that I would provide my conditions only after you committed
to the agreement” was all I said. The elderly man chuckled
as his wife tried to restrain him. I was looking at a now
silenced and bewildered group of people.
“You can shove that stupid deal up you’re a** old
man, I want no part of it,” exclaimed the now infuriated
young man.
“You have committed to the contract, as witnessed by
all of your friends; you cannot get out of the deal unless I
agree to it. I do not intend to let you free now that I have
you ensnared. I am the power you agreed too. I am the one
you blindly and without thought chose to enslave yourself
too. In short, I am your Master.”
At this, the table of celebrating individuals became a
unified group against the unfairness of the deal.
After a few moments of unrepeatable comments and
slurs, I revealed my true intent. “What I did to you is
what this administration and congress did to you with the
health care legislation. I easily suckered you in and then
revealed the real cost of the bargain. Your folly was in the
belief that you can have something you did not earn; that
you are entitled to that which you did not earn; that you
willingly allowed someone else to think for you. Your
failure to research, study and inform yourself permitted
reason to escape you. You have entered into a trap from
which you cannot flee. Your only chance of freedom is if
your new Master gives it unto you. A freedom that is given
can also be taken away; therefore, it is not freedom.”
With that, I tore up the napkin and placed it before
the astonished young man. “This is the nature of your new
health care legislation.” I turned away to leave these few
in thought and contemplation and was surprised by applause.
The elderly gentleman, who was clearly entertained, shook my
hand enthusiastically and said, “Thank you Sir, these kids
don’t understand Liberty these days.” He refused to
allow me to pay my bill as he said, “You earned this one,
it is an honor to pickup the tab.”
I shook his hand in thanks, leaving the restaurant
somewhat humbled, and sensing a glimmer of hope for my
beloved country.
~~~Use reason, it is the closest you are going to get
to Godly conduct. ~~~Clifford A. Wright
And now more free health care that few people understand; many attorney's and lobbyists will be working for high pay to find out; for both those who can't afford and those who could or can afford some type of health care coverage. And many I have left out.
What I won't leave out is that someone has to pay for all "free". It will be the working and (non-working meaning those who has acquired money through savings, pensions, inheritance, investments, etc.) taxpayer and those who donate. Profits made in the public sector go to support our ballooning government and bureaucracies who hire and pay people who work for them. And to hand out in entitlements, some worthy, many absolutely not, bailouts, subsidies, grants, etc.
The "story" is an interesting read.
Merle
This story is perfect in its simplicity and lesson. It's a story many need to read.
FREE HOUSE
I was in my neighborhood restaurant this morning and
was seated behind a group of jubilant individuals
celebrating the successful passing of the recent health care
bill. I could not finish my breakfast.
This is what ensued:
They were a diverse group of several races and both
sexes. I heard the young man exclaim, “Isn’t Obama like
Jesus Christ? I mean, after all, he is healing the sick.”
The young woman enthusiastically proclaimed, “Yeah,
and he does it for free. I cannot believe anyone would think
that a free market would work for health care. They are all
crooks and thieves and don’t deserve all of that
money.”
Another said, "The stupid Republicans want us all to
starve to death so they can inherit all of the power. Obama
should be made a Saint for what he did for those of us less
fortunate.”
At this, I had had enough. I arose from my seat,
mustering all the restraint I could find, and approached
their table. “Please excuse me; may I impose upon you for
one moment?”
They smiled and welcomed me to the conversation. I
stood at the end of their table, smiled as best I could and
began an experiment. “I would like to give one of you my
house. It will cost you no money and I will pay all of the
expenses and taxes for as long as you live there. Anyone
interested?”
They looked at each other in astonishment. “Why
would you do something like that?” asked a young man.
“There isn’t anything for free in this world.”
They began to laugh at me, as they did not realize
this man had just made my point. “I am serious, I will
give you my house for free, no money what so ever. Anyone
interested?”
In unison, a resounding, “Hell Yeah” fills the room.
“Since there are too many of you, I will have to
make a choice as to who receives this money free bargain.”
I noticed an elderly couple was paying attention to the
spectacle unfolding before their eyes, the old man shaking
his head in apparent disgust. “I tell you what; I will
give it to the one of you most willing to obey my rules.”
Again, they looked at one another, an expression of
bewilderment on their faces. The perky young woman asked,
“What are the rules?”
I smiled and said, “I don’t know. I have not yet
defined them. However, it is a free home that I offer you.”
They giggled amongst themselves, the youngest of which
said, “What an old coot. He must be crazy to give away his
home. Go take your meds, old man.”
I smiled and leaned into the table a bit further. “I
am serious, this is a legitimate offer.”
They gaped at me for a moment. “Hell, I’ll take it
you old fool. Where are the keys?” boasted the youngest
among them.
“Then I presume you accept ALL of my terms then?”
I asked.
The elderly couple seemed amused and entertained as
they watched from the privacy of their table. “Oh hell
yeah! Where do I sign up?”
I took a napkin and wrote, “I give this man my home,
without the burden of financial obligation, so long as he
accepts and abides by the terms that I shall set forth upon
consummation of this transaction.” I signed it and handed
it to the young man who eagerly scratched out his
signature.
“Where are the keys to my new house?” he asked in
a mocking tone of voice.
All eyes were upon us as I stepped back from the
table, pulling the keys from pocket and dangling them before
the excited new homeowner. “Now that we have entered into
this binding contract, witnessed by all of your friends, I
have decided upon the conditions you are obligated to adhere
from this point forward. You may only live in the house for
one hour a day. You will not use anything inside of the
home. You will obey me without question or resistance. I
expect complete loyalty and admiration for this gift I
bestow upon you. You will accept my commands and wishes with
enthusiasm, no matter the nature. Your morals and principles
shall be as mine. You will vote as I do, think as I do and
do it with blind faith. These are my terms. Here are your
keys.”
I reached the keys forward and the young man looked at
me dumb founded. “Are you out of your freaking mind? Who
would ever agree to those ridiculous terms?” the young man
appeared irritated.
“You did when you signed this contract before
reading it, understanding it and with the full knowledge
that I would provide my conditions only after you committed
to the agreement” was all I said. The elderly man chuckled
as his wife tried to restrain him. I was looking at a now
silenced and bewildered group of people.
“You can shove that stupid deal up you’re a** old
man, I want no part of it,” exclaimed the now infuriated
young man.
“You have committed to the contract, as witnessed by
all of your friends; you cannot get out of the deal unless I
agree to it. I do not intend to let you free now that I have
you ensnared. I am the power you agreed too. I am the one
you blindly and without thought chose to enslave yourself
too. In short, I am your Master.”
At this, the table of celebrating individuals became a
unified group against the unfairness of the deal.
After a few moments of unrepeatable comments and
slurs, I revealed my true intent. “What I did to you is
what this administration and congress did to you with the
health care legislation. I easily suckered you in and then
revealed the real cost of the bargain. Your folly was in the
belief that you can have something you did not earn; that
you are entitled to that which you did not earn; that you
willingly allowed someone else to think for you. Your
failure to research, study and inform yourself permitted
reason to escape you. You have entered into a trap from
which you cannot flee. Your only chance of freedom is if
your new Master gives it unto you. A freedom that is given
can also be taken away; therefore, it is not freedom.”
With that, I tore up the napkin and placed it before
the astonished young man. “This is the nature of your new
health care legislation.” I turned away to leave these few
in thought and contemplation and was surprised by applause.
The elderly gentleman, who was clearly entertained, shook my
hand enthusiastically and said, “Thank you Sir, these kids
don’t understand Liberty these days.” He refused to
allow me to pay my bill as he said, “You earned this one,
it is an honor to pickup the tab.”
I shook his hand in thanks, leaving the restaurant
somewhat humbled, and sensing a glimmer of hope for my
beloved country.
~~~Use reason, it is the closest you are going to get
to Godly conduct. ~~~Clifford A. Wright
Monday, April 26, 2010
Fat Cats
The New Fat Cats
The indefensible pensions of public-sector employees.
BY Fred Barnes
May 3, 2010, Vol. 15, No. 31
ShareThis
John Edwards was right. There are two Americas, just not his two (the rich and powerful versus everyone else). The real divide today is, on one side, the 20 million people who work for state and local governments and the additional 3 million who’ve retired with fat pensions. On the other, the rest of us, roughly 280 million Americans. In short, there’s a gulf between the bureaucrats and the people.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey puts his fight with teachers and their union in roughly those terms. He says there are “two classes of citizens in New Jersey: those who enjoy rich public benefits and those who pay for them.” The teachers want to keep a pay raise and continue to pay a minimal share of their retiree benefits.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, state and local government salaries are 34 percent higher than those for private sector jobs. Okay, that’s partly because government workers tend to have white-collar jobs. Benefits, 70 percent higher for these workers, are the real rub. And benefits for government retirees are the most flagrant. They’ve become a national scandal, a fiscal nightmare for states, cities, and towns, and an example of unfairness of the sort liberals routinely complain about but are mostly silent about just now.
Let’s start with horror stories of pensions run amok. If these tales of wretched excess at the expense of taxpayers don’t infuriate you, you’re jaded from decades of overindulgence by governments large and small:
• In Contra Costa, California, the final salary of one fire chief, 51, was $221,000. He was given an annual, guaranteed pension of $284,000. Another chief, 50, whose final salary was $185,000, got a pension of $241,000. Credit the Contra Costa Times with uncovering this.
• Christie cited two tales in February when he declared a state of fiscal emergency in New Jersey. One retiree, 49, paid “a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments and health benefits.” A retired teacher paid $62,000. She’ll get “$1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime.”
• In New York, a pensioner in the state retirement system received $641,000 in state payments in a single year. He was a triple dipper. He had a pension of $261,000, the highest in the state. He had a post in the state university system in which he made $280,000. And he was paid $100,000 a year as a consultant for the agency from which he’d retired, the teachers’ retirement system.
• Except for new hires, state workers in New York can retire at 55 with guaranteed benefits to which they contribute only in their first 10 years of work. They pay no state income tax on their pensions, and overtime is counted in computing the size of pensions. “Compared with the average New York worker, state and local government employees receive the gold standard of pensions,” the Syracuse Post-Standard said last year.
• Also in New York, the retirement system is riddled with lucrative pensions for retirees who were fired or convicted of crimes related to their state jobs. Former comptroller Alan Hevesi, who once ran the state’s $154 billion pension fund, was found guilty of defrauding the state. Yet he’s got a pension of $104,123.
• In California, 9,111 retired government workers have pensions of more than $100,000. One retiree draws an annual pension of $509,664. Among retired teachers, 3,065 receive more than $100,000. One gets $285,460. Pensions for retired state workers and teachers will rise 2 percent this year, though Social Security recipients aren’t getting any cost-of-living increase. The hike in California isn’t tied to inflation.
• The city of Vallejo, California, declared bankruptcy in 2008, largely because the payroll for police, firefighters, and their pensions and overtime consumed three-fourths of the budget. City employees could retire at 55 with 81 percent of their last year’s salary guaranteed as pensions. In bankruptcy negotiations, however, Vallejo officials declined to reduce current pensions.
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TAGS: America, Benefits, California, Chris Christie, Economy, Employees, jobs, New Jersey, New York, pensions, Public Sector, Retiree, retirement, Salary, Senior
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© COPYRIGHT 2010 THE WEEKLY STANDARD LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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The indefensible pensions of public-sector employees.
BY Fred Barnes
May 3, 2010, Vol. 15, No. 31
ShareThis
John Edwards was right. There are two Americas, just not his two (the rich and powerful versus everyone else). The real divide today is, on one side, the 20 million people who work for state and local governments and the additional 3 million who’ve retired with fat pensions. On the other, the rest of us, roughly 280 million Americans. In short, there’s a gulf between the bureaucrats and the people.
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey puts his fight with teachers and their union in roughly those terms. He says there are “two classes of citizens in New Jersey: those who enjoy rich public benefits and those who pay for them.” The teachers want to keep a pay raise and continue to pay a minimal share of their retiree benefits.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, state and local government salaries are 34 percent higher than those for private sector jobs. Okay, that’s partly because government workers tend to have white-collar jobs. Benefits, 70 percent higher for these workers, are the real rub. And benefits for government retirees are the most flagrant. They’ve become a national scandal, a fiscal nightmare for states, cities, and towns, and an example of unfairness of the sort liberals routinely complain about but are mostly silent about just now.
Let’s start with horror stories of pensions run amok. If these tales of wretched excess at the expense of taxpayers don’t infuriate you, you’re jaded from decades of overindulgence by governments large and small:
• In Contra Costa, California, the final salary of one fire chief, 51, was $221,000. He was given an annual, guaranteed pension of $284,000. Another chief, 50, whose final salary was $185,000, got a pension of $241,000. Credit the Contra Costa Times with uncovering this.
• Christie cited two tales in February when he declared a state of fiscal emergency in New Jersey. One retiree, 49, paid “a total of $124,000 towards his retirement pension and health benefits. What will we pay him? $3.3 million in pension payments and health benefits.” A retired teacher paid $62,000. She’ll get “$1.4 million in pension benefits and another $215,000 in health care benefit premiums over her lifetime.”
• In New York, a pensioner in the state retirement system received $641,000 in state payments in a single year. He was a triple dipper. He had a pension of $261,000, the highest in the state. He had a post in the state university system in which he made $280,000. And he was paid $100,000 a year as a consultant for the agency from which he’d retired, the teachers’ retirement system.
• Except for new hires, state workers in New York can retire at 55 with guaranteed benefits to which they contribute only in their first 10 years of work. They pay no state income tax on their pensions, and overtime is counted in computing the size of pensions. “Compared with the average New York worker, state and local government employees receive the gold standard of pensions,” the Syracuse Post-Standard said last year.
• Also in New York, the retirement system is riddled with lucrative pensions for retirees who were fired or convicted of crimes related to their state jobs. Former comptroller Alan Hevesi, who once ran the state’s $154 billion pension fund, was found guilty of defrauding the state. Yet he’s got a pension of $104,123.
• In California, 9,111 retired government workers have pensions of more than $100,000. One retiree draws an annual pension of $509,664. Among retired teachers, 3,065 receive more than $100,000. One gets $285,460. Pensions for retired state workers and teachers will rise 2 percent this year, though Social Security recipients aren’t getting any cost-of-living increase. The hike in California isn’t tied to inflation.
• The city of Vallejo, California, declared bankruptcy in 2008, largely because the payroll for police, firefighters, and their pensions and overtime consumed three-fourths of the budget. City employees could retire at 55 with 81 percent of their last year’s salary guaranteed as pensions. In bankruptcy negotiations, however, Vallejo officials declined to reduce current pensions.
1 2 next › last »
TAGS: America, Benefits, California, Chris Christie, Economy, Employees, jobs, New Jersey, New York, pensions, Public Sector, Retiree, retirement, Salary, Senior
Go Back
© COPYRIGHT 2010 THE WEEKLY STANDARD LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Contact | About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy
Friday, April 23, 2010
Teachers and Their Unions Assault State for More Money
I support non-union private and parochial schools to compete against the type of teachers and unions who took a day off from teaching to try to intimidate the Republican Lawmakers in Springfield. It is MY OPINION and the opinion of many others that if it weren't for the bad economy, the unions would have ALL the Democrats and some Republicans in the bag and their hands further in property tax paying citizens pockets.
Who paid for the buses to go to Springfield from Chicago? The teachers? It would be interesting to know. Also who organized the protesters? You should see the film of the major speaker ranting; a union boss.
More pay for better performance? Absolutely. Promote by tenure? That's a major portion of what's wrong with the system. How the school board is selected to run $150 million dollar budgets? Not working and hasn't worked in a couple decades. Until these things are changed down in Springfield, don't hope for much change even if the City, who has it's own sets of problems, takes over Peoria Public School District #150.
I have long been a supporter of public schools and I have listed before many good schools that I have visited and many I didn't visit. And most teachers are competent. It's the system that needs a drastic overhauling. Yes, i did attend the meeting at the Civic Center this week and it was interesting. Unfortunately, much of the same "we need everybody to participate" bunco. Participate if you aren't listened to? I think not.
I note that most of the people shown in the news appeared to be obese. But then a large of population of middle aged and kids are obese.
That should alert us to present and future dangers.
Who paid for the buses to go to Springfield from Chicago? The teachers? It would be interesting to know. Also who organized the protesters? You should see the film of the major speaker ranting; a union boss.
More pay for better performance? Absolutely. Promote by tenure? That's a major portion of what's wrong with the system. How the school board is selected to run $150 million dollar budgets? Not working and hasn't worked in a couple decades. Until these things are changed down in Springfield, don't hope for much change even if the City, who has it's own sets of problems, takes over Peoria Public School District #150.
I have long been a supporter of public schools and I have listed before many good schools that I have visited and many I didn't visit. And most teachers are competent. It's the system that needs a drastic overhauling. Yes, i did attend the meeting at the Civic Center this week and it was interesting. Unfortunately, much of the same "we need everybody to participate" bunco. Participate if you aren't listened to? I think not.
I note that most of the people shown in the news appeared to be obese. But then a large of population of middle aged and kids are obese.
That should alert us to present and future dangers.
More Gun Control by Big Government
Liberal Chicago Democrats and their continued assault on common sense individuals rights. Dan needs your vocal, written and financial support. Also, your important vote in November.
Merle
Dear Merle,
The current political make up of Illinois government continues to be difficult,
especially for sportsmen and hunters. Liberal Chicago Democrats are leading our
State and their attitude to infringe on our Second Amendment Rights has not
diminished.
Lawful gun owners continue to face increased efforts to erode their rights. Year
after year, legislation is proposed to make it more difficult to buy and possess
firearms.
Legislation has been introduced which would create a state licensing system for
firearm dealers. As you know, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
already licenses firearm dealers. Under this new Illinois system, ALL firearm
owners would be required to register their guns with the Illinois State Police.
Last year, our efforts started to pay off. Licensed conceal carry legislation
was finally heard in a substantive committee, rather than being bottled up.
Unfortunately, the conceal carry bills are assigned to committees made up,
primarily, of anti-Second Amendment Chicago Democrats and was defeated.
Conceal carry legislation has been introduced again this year. I believe if we
keep up the effort, we will have licensed conceal carry in our state at some
point in the not too distant future.
Unfortunately, most lawful gun owners in Illinois do not know about the negative
or positive legislation. They do not know the efforts hard working supporters of
the Second Amendment are putting in.
A number of years ago we launched the 'Committee for Legislative Action' (CLA)
with the express purpose of helping bring sunlight to certain legislative
initiatives. CLA has agreed to help get the word out about the Legislature's
negative and positive efforts in regard to your Second Amendment Rights.
Though a State Senator, I am putting together an 'independent' effort (no tax
dollars will be involved) to encourage other lawful gun owners and hunting
enthusiasts to be involved. We want them to be informed about what is going on
in the halls of the Legislature.
We have identified thousands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts ALL REGISTERED
TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS, but not engaged in the process. Our assumption is that
these voters will not be supportive of the negative legislation. We need them to
be informed and help in the fight.
Will you join with us by making a contribution to CLA to help fund this
outreach? We are asking you to donate a minimum of $44 to help pay for a roll of
stamps; larger amounts are very welcome and any amount is appreciated.
If you would like to help support CLA and its efforts, you can donate by credit
card at: https://egon.cmititestbank.com/cla/contribute/contribute.asp BE SURE TO
MEMO IN THE COMMENTS SECTION: "Gun" and we will know the specific purpose of
your donation. To contribute by mailing a check, please make it payable to
Committee for Legislative Action (CLA), c/o Senator Dan Rutherford,
220 West Howard Street, Pontiac, IL 61764.
As resources come in, CLA sends an outreach mailing of that many letters. Timing
is very important. Legislation is being considered and reviewed by the General
Assembly right now, as my letter arrives in your mailbox.
Your donation will help us keep you, and others, up to date on Second Amendment
issues in Springfield, first hand, from a Senator actually in the thick of it.
Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dan Rutherford
State Senator
Chairman CLA
220 W. Howard St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
http://www.CommitteeforLegislativeAction.org
P.S. I asked Barb to send this email to you from her account since I am in
Springfield at the moment.
Merle
Dear Merle,
The current political make up of Illinois government continues to be difficult,
especially for sportsmen and hunters. Liberal Chicago Democrats are leading our
State and their attitude to infringe on our Second Amendment Rights has not
diminished.
Lawful gun owners continue to face increased efforts to erode their rights. Year
after year, legislation is proposed to make it more difficult to buy and possess
firearms.
Legislation has been introduced which would create a state licensing system for
firearm dealers. As you know, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
already licenses firearm dealers. Under this new Illinois system, ALL firearm
owners would be required to register their guns with the Illinois State Police.
Last year, our efforts started to pay off. Licensed conceal carry legislation
was finally heard in a substantive committee, rather than being bottled up.
Unfortunately, the conceal carry bills are assigned to committees made up,
primarily, of anti-Second Amendment Chicago Democrats and was defeated.
Conceal carry legislation has been introduced again this year. I believe if we
keep up the effort, we will have licensed conceal carry in our state at some
point in the not too distant future.
Unfortunately, most lawful gun owners in Illinois do not know about the negative
or positive legislation. They do not know the efforts hard working supporters of
the Second Amendment are putting in.
A number of years ago we launched the 'Committee for Legislative Action' (CLA)
with the express purpose of helping bring sunlight to certain legislative
initiatives. CLA has agreed to help get the word out about the Legislature's
negative and positive efforts in regard to your Second Amendment Rights.
Though a State Senator, I am putting together an 'independent' effort (no tax
dollars will be involved) to encourage other lawful gun owners and hunting
enthusiasts to be involved. We want them to be informed about what is going on
in the halls of the Legislature.
We have identified thousands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts ALL REGISTERED
TO VOTE IN ILLINOIS, but not engaged in the process. Our assumption is that
these voters will not be supportive of the negative legislation. We need them to
be informed and help in the fight.
Will you join with us by making a contribution to CLA to help fund this
outreach? We are asking you to donate a minimum of $44 to help pay for a roll of
stamps; larger amounts are very welcome and any amount is appreciated.
If you would like to help support CLA and its efforts, you can donate by credit
card at: https://egon.cmititestbank.com/cla/contribute/contribute.asp BE SURE TO
MEMO IN THE COMMENTS SECTION: "Gun" and we will know the specific purpose of
your donation. To contribute by mailing a check, please make it payable to
Committee for Legislative Action (CLA), c/o Senator Dan Rutherford,
220 West Howard Street, Pontiac, IL 61764.
As resources come in, CLA sends an outreach mailing of that many letters. Timing
is very important. Legislation is being considered and reviewed by the General
Assembly right now, as my letter arrives in your mailbox.
Your donation will help us keep you, and others, up to date on Second Amendment
issues in Springfield, first hand, from a Senator actually in the thick of it.
Together, we can make a difference.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dan Rutherford
State Senator
Chairman CLA
220 W. Howard St.
Pontiac, IL 61764
http://www.CommitteeforLegislativeAction.org
P.S. I asked Barb to send this email to you from her account since I am in
Springfield at the moment.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
McCormick Place Excessive Union Costs
The JS reported this week that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority has approved proposed changes to reduce labor costs. The board voted 5-2 to make all trade show laborers public employees, eliminating their ability to strike.
Under the proposed changes, convention exhibitors would be allowed to hire outside contractors, thus eliminating the convention center's in-house electrical service, a source of customer anger. The Authority also calls for a reduction of the bargaining units from 5 to 3 to address exhibitors concerns of HIGH COSTS AND CONFUSING WORK RULES.
The board will forward its recommendations to an Illinois General Assembly panel studying how to make Chicago more competitive with rivals.
This is my second post on this subject. The unions have had a "honeypot" in almost absolute control of what came, was set up and moved out at McCormick Place for decades. The old joke question of how many union members to change a bulb or plug in a machine? The answer: a crew for a minimum of 4 hours even though it took only one minute to plug in an electrical cord or change a light bulb.
We have many of the same problems throughout Illinois. I recall here in Peoria, my off and on watching a union person in action for a full day. At the close of business, I approached him and asked him what he did all day? At first he was belligerent and told me he couldn't talk to me but to call his business agent. Finally, he admitted he did nothing all day and was going to ask to be transferred from that job as it was too boring.
Time for a change to keep the big Convention business in Illinois rather than Nevada and Florida. Also, some changes would probably keep more business in Peoria and the State of Illinois.
Which begs the question. After the unions pledged over $400,000 to the PRM, the cost of the building increased by approximately 15%. It couldn't have been material costs because the JS reported that some recent construction jobs, like the local libraries, have been coming in lower than estimates.
Under the proposed changes, convention exhibitors would be allowed to hire outside contractors, thus eliminating the convention center's in-house electrical service, a source of customer anger. The Authority also calls for a reduction of the bargaining units from 5 to 3 to address exhibitors concerns of HIGH COSTS AND CONFUSING WORK RULES.
The board will forward its recommendations to an Illinois General Assembly panel studying how to make Chicago more competitive with rivals.
This is my second post on this subject. The unions have had a "honeypot" in almost absolute control of what came, was set up and moved out at McCormick Place for decades. The old joke question of how many union members to change a bulb or plug in a machine? The answer: a crew for a minimum of 4 hours even though it took only one minute to plug in an electrical cord or change a light bulb.
We have many of the same problems throughout Illinois. I recall here in Peoria, my off and on watching a union person in action for a full day. At the close of business, I approached him and asked him what he did all day? At first he was belligerent and told me he couldn't talk to me but to call his business agent. Finally, he admitted he did nothing all day and was going to ask to be transferred from that job as it was too boring.
Time for a change to keep the big Convention business in Illinois rather than Nevada and Florida. Also, some changes would probably keep more business in Peoria and the State of Illinois.
Which begs the question. After the unions pledged over $400,000 to the PRM, the cost of the building increased by approximately 15%. It couldn't have been material costs because the JS reported that some recent construction jobs, like the local libraries, have been coming in lower than estimates.
Peoria County's New Asphalt Ordinance
Judge Mike Mihm reportedly said "slow down and get me the facts" while granting an injunction to Consolidated Paving, Inc., who was one of two pavers who filed lawsuits against this County's hastily presented questionable ordinance.
While the JS reporter said the County Board approved this ordinance, this reporter, as usual, left out some important detail, one being that the ordinance was opposed by Republican County Board members Bob Baeitto, Brad Harding, Carol Trumpe, Stephen Morris, Brian Elssaser, Merle Widmer and Democrat Bill Prather.
The Land Use Committee meets again next Wednesday at the Court House, Rm 403, at 1:00 P.M.
While the JS reporter said the County Board approved this ordinance, this reporter, as usual, left out some important detail, one being that the ordinance was opposed by Republican County Board members Bob Baeitto, Brad Harding, Carol Trumpe, Stephen Morris, Brian Elssaser, Merle Widmer and Democrat Bill Prather.
The Land Use Committee meets again next Wednesday at the Court House, Rm 403, at 1:00 P.M.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Obama's Fly Arounds
It is reported today that Obama will make his approximately 300th visits around the world in 17 months, this time to Missouri, Iowas and Illinois to tell the true believers how he is cutting their taxes and letting them take home more of their income. Taking home? Most of what this president says are half-truths, subtle falsehoods and a lot of outright lies. Has anyone calculated what it costs a community to host him for just a day? The JS said Biden's visit cost local taxpayers $44,000 plus attempting to charge the JS $265 to report on his visit including rental of a 15 passenger bus for 5 JS staffers.
And that was just local costs.
These fly-arounds give Obama opportunity to continue his efforts to unionize all U.S workers in the private sector; he, the Democrats and "big labor" have already succeeded in large private sectors and the public sector is being unionizing at a stepped up pace. Also, to brag how he is "leveling the playing field" incomewise for all who could but won't work and all who have their hands out, while assuring that certain big businesses like the unionized auto makers, share in the subsidies. Not to mention all the dozens of other subsidized industries from agriculture to ethanol to wind farms and bio-diesel plants and a multitude of other alternate energies.
If he visits the Peoria area, I'll be "out of town".
In the meantime the $11,000,000,000,000; that is $11 TRILLION, maybe $13 trillion by the end of the month national debt. The interest we are paying on our borrowings from foreign companies is obscene.
In case you non-voters have forgotten, "we" are the government. We elected these people. With turn-outs of 20+ of registered voters, we are not yet a dictatorship; give it another generation or so.
If some still believe that when elected officials brag about saving taxpayer dollars that they are really going to save it, you are wrong; they already have a dozen places selected where they are going to spend these "savings".
And that was just local costs.
These fly-arounds give Obama opportunity to continue his efforts to unionize all U.S workers in the private sector; he, the Democrats and "big labor" have already succeeded in large private sectors and the public sector is being unionizing at a stepped up pace. Also, to brag how he is "leveling the playing field" incomewise for all who could but won't work and all who have their hands out, while assuring that certain big businesses like the unionized auto makers, share in the subsidies. Not to mention all the dozens of other subsidized industries from agriculture to ethanol to wind farms and bio-diesel plants and a multitude of other alternate energies.
If he visits the Peoria area, I'll be "out of town".
In the meantime the $11,000,000,000,000; that is $11 TRILLION, maybe $13 trillion by the end of the month national debt. The interest we are paying on our borrowings from foreign companies is obscene.
In case you non-voters have forgotten, "we" are the government. We elected these people. With turn-outs of 20+ of registered voters, we are not yet a dictatorship; give it another generation or so.
If some still believe that when elected officials brag about saving taxpayer dollars that they are really going to save it, you are wrong; they already have a dozen places selected where they are going to spend these "savings".
Math Skills? More Important Today Than in My Day
Interesting. I'm sure our rate of success is not what it should be. Is it because are kids are not as intelligent? Could it be because some of our cultures and our systems of education are failing starting with too many incapable, unpaid, school boards in the U.S.? All the way to and through higher education? I believe most college board members do receive compensation but even that doesn't mean they are capable nor equipped to make the right decisions.
If you care then you are aware that the kids come from past generations who went through the same public school systems. Isn't it the "families" we always blame for kids lack of an education? Why would anyone expect things to change just because kids today have new schools with lots of windows and air conditioning?
My excuse? My Dad was taken out of school in the 3rd grade and put to work. My Mom, after the 1st grade. I was expected to finish high school and go to work on the farm. Three years of farm work convinced me to GET A FORMAL EDUCATION.
I guess I am what would be called a "late bloomer" still blooming as I near my 85th birthday. But, thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching me a work ethic. Work ethic for MOST of today's youth?
What's that?
Merle
*******************************
From the New York Times, Wednesday, April 14, 2010. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/education/15math.html
*******************************
U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers
By Sam Dillon
America's future math teachers, on average, earned a C on a new test comparing their skills with their counterparts in 15 other countries, significantly outscoring college students in the Philippines and Chile but placing far below those in educationally advanced nations like Singapore and Taiwan.
--------------------------
SIDEBAR PROBLEM/FIGURE: See http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/04/15/us/15math_CA0.html
--------------------------
The researchers who led the math study in this country, to be released in Washington on Thursday, judged the results acceptable if not encouraging for America's future elementary teachers. But they called them disturbing for American students heading to careers in middle schools, who were outscored by students in Germany, Poland, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan.
On average, 80 percent to 100 percent of the future middle school teachers from the highest-achieving countries took advanced courses like linear algebra and calculus, while only 50 percent to 60 percent of their counterparts in the United States took those courses, the study said.
"The study reveals that America's middle school mathematics teacher preparation is not up to the task," said William H. Schmidt, the Michigan State University professor who was its lead author. To improve its competitiveness, Dr. Schmidt said, the nation should recruit stronger candidates into careers teaching math and require them to take more advanced courses.
The 52-page report provides the first international comparison of teacher preparation based on a test given to college students in a significant number of countries, he said.
In the study, a representative sample of 3,300 future math teachers nearing the end of their teacher training at 81 colleges and universities in the United States were given a 90-minute test covering their knowledge of math concepts as well as their understanding of how to teach the subject.
There were two distinct tests, for those preparing to teach in elementary schools and for candidates for middle school.
The same tests, developed by an international consortium, were given to college students in 15 other countries, including advanced nations like Germany and Norway as well as underdeveloped ones like Botswana.
On the elementary test, students from Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan scored far above their counterparts in the United States. Students from Germany, Norway, the Russian Federation and Thailand, scored about the same as the Americans, and students from Botswana, Chile, Georgia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland and Spain scored well below, the report said.
On the middle school test, American students outscored students in Botswana, Chile, Georgia, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, the Philippines and Thailand, the study found.
The study found considerable variation in the math knowledge attained at different American colleges, with students at some scoring, on average, at the level of students in Botswana, the study said.
"There are so many people who bash our teachers' math knowledge that to be honest these results are better than what a lot of people might expect," said Hank Kepner, professor of mathematics education at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who is president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. "We show up pretty well here, right in the middle of the pack."
Gage Kingsbury, a senior research fellow at the Northwest Evaluation Association, which administers math tests in many states and in 60 countries, called the study ambitious but faulted it because of the limited number of advanced countries that participated.
"They don't have most of Europe," Dr. Kingsbury said. "And to suggest that you can't be a good middle school math teacher unless you've taken calculus is a leap, because calculus isn't taught in middle school. So I think they overreach a bit."
****************************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
If you care then you are aware that the kids come from past generations who went through the same public school systems. Isn't it the "families" we always blame for kids lack of an education? Why would anyone expect things to change just because kids today have new schools with lots of windows and air conditioning?
My excuse? My Dad was taken out of school in the 3rd grade and put to work. My Mom, after the 1st grade. I was expected to finish high school and go to work on the farm. Three years of farm work convinced me to GET A FORMAL EDUCATION.
I guess I am what would be called a "late bloomer" still blooming as I near my 85th birthday. But, thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching me a work ethic. Work ethic for MOST of today's youth?
What's that?
Merle
*******************************
From the New York Times, Wednesday, April 14, 2010. See http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/education/15math.html
*******************************
U.S. Falls Short in Measure of Future Math Teachers
By Sam Dillon
America's future math teachers, on average, earned a C on a new test comparing their skills with their counterparts in 15 other countries, significantly outscoring college students in the Philippines and Chile but placing far below those in educationally advanced nations like Singapore and Taiwan.
--------------------------
SIDEBAR PROBLEM/FIGURE: See http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/04/15/us/15math_CA0.html
--------------------------
The researchers who led the math study in this country, to be released in Washington on Thursday, judged the results acceptable if not encouraging for America's future elementary teachers. But they called them disturbing for American students heading to careers in middle schools, who were outscored by students in Germany, Poland, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan.
On average, 80 percent to 100 percent of the future middle school teachers from the highest-achieving countries took advanced courses like linear algebra and calculus, while only 50 percent to 60 percent of their counterparts in the United States took those courses, the study said.
"The study reveals that America's middle school mathematics teacher preparation is not up to the task," said William H. Schmidt, the Michigan State University professor who was its lead author. To improve its competitiveness, Dr. Schmidt said, the nation should recruit stronger candidates into careers teaching math and require them to take more advanced courses.
The 52-page report provides the first international comparison of teacher preparation based on a test given to college students in a significant number of countries, he said.
In the study, a representative sample of 3,300 future math teachers nearing the end of their teacher training at 81 colleges and universities in the United States were given a 90-minute test covering their knowledge of math concepts as well as their understanding of how to teach the subject.
There were two distinct tests, for those preparing to teach in elementary schools and for candidates for middle school.
The same tests, developed by an international consortium, were given to college students in 15 other countries, including advanced nations like Germany and Norway as well as underdeveloped ones like Botswana.
On the elementary test, students from Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan scored far above their counterparts in the United States. Students from Germany, Norway, the Russian Federation and Thailand, scored about the same as the Americans, and students from Botswana, Chile, Georgia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland and Spain scored well below, the report said.
On the middle school test, American students outscored students in Botswana, Chile, Georgia, Malaysia, Norway, Oman, the Philippines and Thailand, the study found.
The study found considerable variation in the math knowledge attained at different American colleges, with students at some scoring, on average, at the level of students in Botswana, the study said.
"There are so many people who bash our teachers' math knowledge that to be honest these results are better than what a lot of people might expect," said Hank Kepner, professor of mathematics education at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, who is president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. "We show up pretty well here, right in the middle of the pack."
Gage Kingsbury, a senior research fellow at the Northwest Evaluation Association, which administers math tests in many states and in 60 countries, called the study ambitious but faulted it because of the limited number of advanced countries that participated.
"They don't have most of Europe," Dr. Kingsbury said. "And to suggest that you can't be a good middle school math teacher unless you've taken calculus is a leap, because calculus isn't taught in middle school. So I think they overreach a bit."
****************************************************
--
Jerry P. Becker
Dept. of Curriculum & Instruction
Southern Illinois University
625 Wham Drive
Mail Code 4610
Carbondale, IL 62901-4610
Phone: (618) 453-4241 [O]
(618) 457-8903 [H]
Fax: (618) 453-4244
E-mail: jbecker@siu.edu
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Under Funded Teachers Retirement Funds
Somewhere in the neighborhood of $933 billion according to a lengthy article in the Manhattan Institute for Policy Reform. Find under Civic Report #61 April Edition 2010.
This country has no choice but to change pension planning and I believe what Governor Quinn brags about signing is but a tip of an iceberg.
This country has no choice but to change pension planning and I believe what Governor Quinn brags about signing is but a tip of an iceberg.
Peoria's Uni Gov Efforts
The April 19, 1987 (correct, 1987 or 23 years ago) edition of the JS wrote of a new task force that would including planning and analyzing what this Ti-County Tomorrow task force predicted as a new county "Heartland" formed of Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties. The year this was supposed to be completed was 2010. "They were scenarios of what would happen in the future", said Rob Parks, President of the Greater Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, "there was one piece of fiction that was uni-gov." Bill Hall, a Bradley guru said "I believe its a wonderful thing to look at; however, my concern is that the will to see it through to reality is maybe there, maybe not. If it's not there, these kinds of efforts will crash and burn." Recently, other semi or outright negative comments were made and printed in the JS on 1/29/10; comments by the Mayor of West Peoria, ex-security officials such as Al Andrews and George Shadid, Eric Turner, and Blaine Duhs, president of the Peoria County Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police 157 who said "my initial reaction is it will never happen. Too many people have their hands in the cookie jar."
I say, you've got that right.
In the interim, many attempts have been made to combine services with very few accomplished that the taxpayer can recognize. Sure, long ago the landfill, booking fees, etc. But the City/County Health Department is mus-named. It is the Peoria County Health Department. Check it out.
In April Mayor Ardis, mayor of a city in DIRE FINANCIAL CONDITION called for a business uni-gov task force who who look into a regional approach for to governing, combining for efficiency and cost savings. (Please read this blog all the way to the bottom, it gets more interesting) A meeting is held between the Greater Peoria Area of the Chamber of Commerce and the Peoria City Council with some county officials in attendance. Ardis thanked Peoria County for picking up the tab for a shared lobbyist being paid $90,000 a year by the County and the Counties frequent trips to Washington D.C. to talk to Durbin and aides to other elected Washington politicians, about evidently trying to get more taxpayer funds for the apparently defunct FireFly and the private sectors failed promises to raise the funds needed to break ground for a new museum. Also, $500,000 for a mental health court, money not yet recived. Credit for this grant already claimed by two Congressmen. City Councilman and former County Board member, Tim Riggenback, gave details about his latest of five trips, at taxpayer expense, to D.C.. Riggenback, a Republican, who I have noted before has never been bashful to expand government, said "it was problematic that the Republican caucus in Congress would not be participating in any earmarks this year". My next nick-name for Riggenbach may be "Earmark Tim".
County Board Chairman said "the current relationship between the City and County has never been so good", possibly referring to the fact that the County is stuck with the total cost of the lobbying bill in total for 15 months or more into the future and that the City recently dumped the animal pound on the County with no offer at the time to pick up any of the expenses yet with a request that the County should buy the buildings, land and equipment from the city.
Recently, Ardis, Urich, O'Neill, City Manager Moore, County Board member Andrew Rand?, Spears and Jacobs went to Chicago where (they?) met with a Mr. Bob Grand who was supposedly instrumental in in Indianapolis' transition to uni-gov. Mr. Grand indicated that he would be a good resource for Peoria to use as the community moves forward with uni-gov.
I'll bet he would as would at least another half dozen paid "consultants" would like to receive some of the hundreds of thousand of dollars paid out to consultants by all the governmental bodies who will eventually make Peoria one of the most heavily taxed entities in the Midwest.
One simple question. Why didn't this expert Bob Grand come to Peoria to talk to ALL 29 County Board and City Councilpeople, plus local "movers and shakers", where ALL could have heard what he offered and could ALL have asked questions instead of hearing it second hand? Mayor Ardis once called "hearsay" when he rallied the City Council to vote AGAINST combining the independent City and County into one body to SAVE EXPENSES. Ardis challenged my statement that Ray LaHood had commented to me that the cost savings combining should be a "no-brainer" to the voter. Typical LaHood, when he found out which direction the wind was blowing, LaHood denied he made that statement when he was complimenting me for the good work I was doing on the County Board while visiting at Beachlers Filling Station a few weeks before the vote. Similar when he tried to back out of his statement about closing Toyota out of the U.S.? Aren't almost all Toyota factories in "right-to-work states?
Anyway, the mayor says we should do our due diligence on whet er uni-gov is now right for Peoria. He says the City and the County are in DIRE financial condition. He's right about the city and its future. As to the County, we appear to be heading that way with a majority of the board appearing to position the county into spending more than we take in. With the uncertainty of the financial condition of the state in reimbursing Medicaid, the uncertainty of the economy, the trend to more home care will all probably lead to more taxes. The Utility Tax amounting to approximately $3.6 million per year for 20 years to help fund the failed Museum Committees Fund Drives is just a start. We recently spent $12 million or so, most. if not all borrowed with interest, we are planing a new collaborative minority Opportunity Center that was projected in 2007 to require 30,000 sq.ft. with $4.7 million needed then to renovate a building. We are on the verge of spending $51 million or so for a new Bel-Wood where we will need to borrow up to $47 million or so, we just settled a $385,000 B-W lawsuit, the second low 6 figure one in nine years at B-W while the census has dropped to a 220+ ranges as home care is on the rise and competition is heavy from many vacancies in the private sector.
And now we have been spending money (Chicago attorneys, consultants, engineers, environmental impact studies, new sewer alignment to accommodate the museum) for month trying to position the County into owning the $78 million museum building and the approximately $9 million dollar parking deck.
Back to uni-gov. It makes good copy in the media and the consultants hired will be positive....After all, isn't that what they are hired to be? Chances for success? Slim and none and then not until probably 2033. My guess is as good as the guess at the start of this blog.
I say, you've got that right.
In the interim, many attempts have been made to combine services with very few accomplished that the taxpayer can recognize. Sure, long ago the landfill, booking fees, etc. But the City/County Health Department is mus-named. It is the Peoria County Health Department. Check it out.
In April Mayor Ardis, mayor of a city in DIRE FINANCIAL CONDITION called for a business uni-gov task force who who look into a regional approach for to governing, combining for efficiency and cost savings. (Please read this blog all the way to the bottom, it gets more interesting) A meeting is held between the Greater Peoria Area of the Chamber of Commerce and the Peoria City Council with some county officials in attendance. Ardis thanked Peoria County for picking up the tab for a shared lobbyist being paid $90,000 a year by the County and the Counties frequent trips to Washington D.C. to talk to Durbin and aides to other elected Washington politicians, about evidently trying to get more taxpayer funds for the apparently defunct FireFly and the private sectors failed promises to raise the funds needed to break ground for a new museum. Also, $500,000 for a mental health court, money not yet recived. Credit for this grant already claimed by two Congressmen. City Councilman and former County Board member, Tim Riggenback, gave details about his latest of five trips, at taxpayer expense, to D.C.. Riggenback, a Republican, who I have noted before has never been bashful to expand government, said "it was problematic that the Republican caucus in Congress would not be participating in any earmarks this year". My next nick-name for Riggenbach may be "Earmark Tim".
County Board Chairman said "the current relationship between the City and County has never been so good", possibly referring to the fact that the County is stuck with the total cost of the lobbying bill in total for 15 months or more into the future and that the City recently dumped the animal pound on the County with no offer at the time to pick up any of the expenses yet with a request that the County should buy the buildings, land and equipment from the city.
Recently, Ardis, Urich, O'Neill, City Manager Moore, County Board member Andrew Rand?, Spears and Jacobs went to Chicago where (they?) met with a Mr. Bob Grand who was supposedly instrumental in in Indianapolis' transition to uni-gov. Mr. Grand indicated that he would be a good resource for Peoria to use as the community moves forward with uni-gov.
I'll bet he would as would at least another half dozen paid "consultants" would like to receive some of the hundreds of thousand of dollars paid out to consultants by all the governmental bodies who will eventually make Peoria one of the most heavily taxed entities in the Midwest.
One simple question. Why didn't this expert Bob Grand come to Peoria to talk to ALL 29 County Board and City Councilpeople, plus local "movers and shakers", where ALL could have heard what he offered and could ALL have asked questions instead of hearing it second hand? Mayor Ardis once called "hearsay" when he rallied the City Council to vote AGAINST combining the independent City and County into one body to SAVE EXPENSES. Ardis challenged my statement that Ray LaHood had commented to me that the cost savings combining should be a "no-brainer" to the voter. Typical LaHood, when he found out which direction the wind was blowing, LaHood denied he made that statement when he was complimenting me for the good work I was doing on the County Board while visiting at Beachlers Filling Station a few weeks before the vote. Similar when he tried to back out of his statement about closing Toyota out of the U.S.? Aren't almost all Toyota factories in "right-to-work states?
Anyway, the mayor says we should do our due diligence on whet er uni-gov is now right for Peoria. He says the City and the County are in DIRE financial condition. He's right about the city and its future. As to the County, we appear to be heading that way with a majority of the board appearing to position the county into spending more than we take in. With the uncertainty of the financial condition of the state in reimbursing Medicaid, the uncertainty of the economy, the trend to more home care will all probably lead to more taxes. The Utility Tax amounting to approximately $3.6 million per year for 20 years to help fund the failed Museum Committees Fund Drives is just a start. We recently spent $12 million or so, most. if not all borrowed with interest, we are planing a new collaborative minority Opportunity Center that was projected in 2007 to require 30,000 sq.ft. with $4.7 million needed then to renovate a building. We are on the verge of spending $51 million or so for a new Bel-Wood where we will need to borrow up to $47 million or so, we just settled a $385,000 B-W lawsuit, the second low 6 figure one in nine years at B-W while the census has dropped to a 220+ ranges as home care is on the rise and competition is heavy from many vacancies in the private sector.
And now we have been spending money (Chicago attorneys, consultants, engineers, environmental impact studies, new sewer alignment to accommodate the museum) for month trying to position the County into owning the $78 million museum building and the approximately $9 million dollar parking deck.
Back to uni-gov. It makes good copy in the media and the consultants hired will be positive....After all, isn't that what they are hired to be? Chances for success? Slim and none and then not until probably 2033. My guess is as good as the guess at the start of this blog.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Which One Are You?
It is said there are three types of decision making people in this country. Those who believe they are right and back their positions up with facts, those who feel the "rights" are wrong and back their positions up with facts and those who "straddle the fence" to see which way the wind is blowing before making a decision.
That is rather a blanket appraisal. I try my best not to be a "straddler".
That is rather a blanket appraisal. I try my best not to be a "straddler".
Maybe Wait a Few Years for Al-Mari to Get Early Release For "Good Behavior"
He will surely come back to visit his Bradley friends and maybe one of the local media. This all would be funny if it wern't so sad.
This is partial of what was passed on to me by an email friend.
Merle
WALK NAKED IN AMERICA DAY
>> Don't forget to mark your calendars.
>> As you may already know, it is a sin for a Muslim male to see any
>> woman other than his wife naked and if he does, he must commit
>> suicide . So next Saturday at 1 PM Eastern Time, all American women
>> are asked to walk out of their house completely naked to help weed
>> out any neighborhood terrorists.
>> Circling your block for one hour is recommended for this anti-
>> terrorist effort.
>>
>> All patriotic men are to position themselves in lawn chairs in front
>> of their houses to demonstrate their support for the women and to
>> prove that they are not Muslim terrorist sympathizers. Since Islam
>> also does not approve of alcohol, a cold 6-pack at your side is
>> further proof of your patriotism.
>>
This is partial of what was passed on to me by an email friend.
Merle
WALK NAKED IN AMERICA DAY
>> Don't forget to mark your calendars.
>> As you may already know, it is a sin for a Muslim male to see any
>> woman other than his wife naked and if he does, he must commit
>> suicide . So next Saturday at 1 PM Eastern Time, all American women
>> are asked to walk out of their house completely naked to help weed
>> out any neighborhood terrorists.
>> Circling your block for one hour is recommended for this anti-
>> terrorist effort.
>>
>> All patriotic men are to position themselves in lawn chairs in front
>> of their houses to demonstrate their support for the women and to
>> prove that they are not Muslim terrorist sympathizers. Since Islam
>> also does not approve of alcohol, a cold 6-pack at your side is
>> further proof of your patriotism.
>>
Peoria County Owned Laptops
A proposal came out of Management Services last week to purchase up to $28,000 of personal laptop computers for board members. The idea was to save money and trees. Fortunately for the taxpayers Republicans Elsasser, Trumpe and Widmer plus Democrats Watkins, Hidden, Salzer and Hester voted the purchase down.
Would there have been a savings? No, board members would be allowed to keep them at home, use them personally (what would stop them?) and bring them to meetings. Extensive, on-going training costs were not taken into consideration nor was the fact that the supposedly $9,000 a year in paper, mailing, etc., savings would be offset by possible theft of these laptops with confidential information, early obsolesce of laptops meaning new replacements, service costs, and errors made by inexperienced and experience operators. At least 5 board members are not computer literate.
The horseshoe around which 18 board members sit was not designed to hold all the paperwork we receive and still have space for a computer. Plus the horseshoe is desk height, not computer keyboard height that would make use awkward. Volumes of paper would still need to be printed out for the public, the news media and for those who would not use these laptops.
A couple of years ago IT installed a new Board voting system. The system is much slower than the system used by the city and is awkward to use, often failing to react to input causing the clerk on almost every issue to be asking for someone to try to vote again.
The County sometimes makes up to four mailing a week. It has been suggested several times over the years that mail be accumulated and mailed less frequently. Also, those of us who have computers at home receive agendas by email now.
Let those who want to own their own computers buy them, don't dump another cost on the taxpayer. If the County and City too, want to save money then the 6 who made the all day trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago to talk to an "expert" (Indianapolis, a much large population than Peoria County) on uni-gov could have invited him to Peoria to address a joint meeting of City Councilpeople and County Board members. Then we would ALL hear the pros and cons, at this time far more cons if you examine how few have been successful, none in Illinois I'm aware of.
Sure, the mayor and the city would like to combine services. Suddenly urgent now. The City with their extremely generous pensions, are in far DIRE shape, as Mayor Ardis said, than the County.
I remind people that the City Council was unanimous in there opposition to combining the two separate election commissions and combining emergency services???? Lots of talk and discussion, very little action.
Another way for the County to save money is to stop the yearly hiring of a consultant friend of our administrator to come down from Chicago or up from Florida to put on all day sessions; this year at Wildlife Prairie, a session that had only 11 of 18 board members attending with 2 leaving before the session was over. Cost? Our administrator doesn't know but since the cost was in the $9,000 range several years ago, I suggest the total will be in the $13-15,000 range.
Our administrator is capable of handling most of the sessions where we bring in outside consultants. Also, at least 2 trips consisting of 3 days where made by select County individuals to Washington, D.C. already this year asking for subsidies, grants, earmarks for "priorities" like the riverfront Museum.
There are a lot of ways to make County Government less costly to taxpayers. But it is very little of their money they spend, so.....
But it is yours and if you don't mind spending it, then complete the $7-14 million needed to start build a museum, fund the missing $2.5 million for the Childrens Playhouse, the $5 million, maybe more, to complete the new zoo, etc.
Would there have been a savings? No, board members would be allowed to keep them at home, use them personally (what would stop them?) and bring them to meetings. Extensive, on-going training costs were not taken into consideration nor was the fact that the supposedly $9,000 a year in paper, mailing, etc., savings would be offset by possible theft of these laptops with confidential information, early obsolesce of laptops meaning new replacements, service costs, and errors made by inexperienced and experience operators. At least 5 board members are not computer literate.
The horseshoe around which 18 board members sit was not designed to hold all the paperwork we receive and still have space for a computer. Plus the horseshoe is desk height, not computer keyboard height that would make use awkward. Volumes of paper would still need to be printed out for the public, the news media and for those who would not use these laptops.
A couple of years ago IT installed a new Board voting system. The system is much slower than the system used by the city and is awkward to use, often failing to react to input causing the clerk on almost every issue to be asking for someone to try to vote again.
The County sometimes makes up to four mailing a week. It has been suggested several times over the years that mail be accumulated and mailed less frequently. Also, those of us who have computers at home receive agendas by email now.
Let those who want to own their own computers buy them, don't dump another cost on the taxpayer. If the County and City too, want to save money then the 6 who made the all day trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago to talk to an "expert" (Indianapolis, a much large population than Peoria County) on uni-gov could have invited him to Peoria to address a joint meeting of City Councilpeople and County Board members. Then we would ALL hear the pros and cons, at this time far more cons if you examine how few have been successful, none in Illinois I'm aware of.
Sure, the mayor and the city would like to combine services. Suddenly urgent now. The City with their extremely generous pensions, are in far DIRE shape, as Mayor Ardis said, than the County.
I remind people that the City Council was unanimous in there opposition to combining the two separate election commissions and combining emergency services???? Lots of talk and discussion, very little action.
Another way for the County to save money is to stop the yearly hiring of a consultant friend of our administrator to come down from Chicago or up from Florida to put on all day sessions; this year at Wildlife Prairie, a session that had only 11 of 18 board members attending with 2 leaving before the session was over. Cost? Our administrator doesn't know but since the cost was in the $9,000 range several years ago, I suggest the total will be in the $13-15,000 range.
Our administrator is capable of handling most of the sessions where we bring in outside consultants. Also, at least 2 trips consisting of 3 days where made by select County individuals to Washington, D.C. already this year asking for subsidies, grants, earmarks for "priorities" like the riverfront Museum.
There are a lot of ways to make County Government less costly to taxpayers. But it is very little of their money they spend, so.....
But it is yours and if you don't mind spending it, then complete the $7-14 million needed to start build a museum, fund the missing $2.5 million for the Childrens Playhouse, the $5 million, maybe more, to complete the new zoo, etc.
Obama's Deception - Another One
U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.
The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.
On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States . The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.
The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.
Forwarded to me by email by a friend.
Obama, Daley, Bloomberg and others fear an armed law-abiding citizenry. For the direction they are taking this country, they probably should, especially Obama.
To our politicians, don't let it happen.
Merle
This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.
Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed.
We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.
The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.
On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States . The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.
The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.
Forwarded to me by email by a friend.
Obama, Daley, Bloomberg and others fear an armed law-abiding citizenry. For the direction they are taking this country, they probably should, especially Obama.
To our politicians, don't let it happen.
Merle
This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.
Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed.
We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter
Peoria Crime Down or Less Arrests?
Peoria County Juvenile Detention Courts Stats show "intakes" for the months of January and February 2010 are down from 102 to 72 for the same period in 2009. African-American intakes, both male and female are down from 88 in 2009 to 55 for the same period in 2009. Child Care Days are down approximately 30%. Caucasion male and female are down from 30 in 2009 to 26 for January and February 2010.
Does this mean less crime by juveniles or less officers to maintain order? Does this mean all the prevention efforts are working? Does this mean we are going to need less space in our systems at less cost or is more crime going on un-detected because of the cutbacks in officers on the streets?
Does this mean less crime by juveniles or less officers to maintain order? Does this mean all the prevention efforts are working? Does this mean we are going to need less space in our systems at less cost or is more crime going on un-detected because of the cutbacks in officers on the streets?
Transportation Secretary LaHood Drinks More "Kool Aid"
LaHood says the government is going to give bicycling and walking the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning and the selection of projects for federal money. LaHood, a Republican or was, is proving monthly to be a misfit for this position. I suggest LaHood look more closely at the sorry condition of our highways. But of course, he doesn't drive them much; he flies. He should look at his own city who went to the expense of putting in bicycle lanes narrowing two lane streets like Howett and Lincoln into one lane with bicycle paths. As many times as I've driven these streets, I have yet to see a person riding a bicycle in these paths.
With LaHoods efforts to kill off competition to GM (now called Government Motors) now, with this hair-brained idea, I hope there is a complete change in 2012. But then, as many people believe, all politicians of any party have "first things first", in mind, take care of special interests and tax and spend.
If you recall, LaHood supported the $800,000,000++++ "highway to Chicago", then Rt. 29 to Chicago, then the ring road and the new bridge over the Illinois river to support Caterpillar, one of his major sponsors, (it takes CAT equipment to build bike paths and walking lanes) all, of course, in the best interests of the rest of us who no longer have jobs nor pensions.
Maybe he has us in mind believing that soon, we won't be able to afford vehicles. How about thinking of buggy paths? He also supports an Amtrack route from somewhere to Peoria to somewhere when Amtrack loses millions of taxpayer dollars yearly.
But I should remember that LaHood runs in an elite monied crowd that supported $27 million borrowed money for "high priority" libraries, the high priority unfunded Riverfront Musuem, the.......
I've always said there is no "glory" in repairing things so let more bridges collapse, more highways, sidewalks and curbs crumble.
But some folks really ought to cut down on what they are drinking.
With LaHoods efforts to kill off competition to GM (now called Government Motors) now, with this hair-brained idea, I hope there is a complete change in 2012. But then, as many people believe, all politicians of any party have "first things first", in mind, take care of special interests and tax and spend.
If you recall, LaHood supported the $800,000,000++++ "highway to Chicago", then Rt. 29 to Chicago, then the ring road and the new bridge over the Illinois river to support Caterpillar, one of his major sponsors, (it takes CAT equipment to build bike paths and walking lanes) all, of course, in the best interests of the rest of us who no longer have jobs nor pensions.
Maybe he has us in mind believing that soon, we won't be able to afford vehicles. How about thinking of buggy paths? He also supports an Amtrack route from somewhere to Peoria to somewhere when Amtrack loses millions of taxpayer dollars yearly.
But I should remember that LaHood runs in an elite monied crowd that supported $27 million borrowed money for "high priority" libraries, the high priority unfunded Riverfront Musuem, the.......
I've always said there is no "glory" in repairing things so let more bridges collapse, more highways, sidewalks and curbs crumble.
But some folks really ought to cut down on what they are drinking.
"The Future's So Bright"
Peoria County Adminstrator Patrick Urich is going to explain the County's vision for our community's future tonight at ICC North Campus on University. Time is 6:00 P.M. Call 999-4545 to register.
Citizens Against Government Waste
Forwarded to me by a friend.
Merle
From: Citizens Against Government Waste
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:35 PM
To: sgtmac1@comcast.net
Subject: CAGW's 2010 Pig Book Unveiled!
Dear DAVID,
The 2010 Congressional Pig Book is here!
Earlier today, at a press conference at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) unveiled the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Pig Book and divulged publicly for the first time that after two decades of CAGW's pointing a finger at the corruptive influence of pork-barrel earmarks and stoking public ire, Congress is beginning to lose its appetite for pork. From 10,160 pork-barrel projects costing taxpayers $19.6 billion in fiscal 2009, the price tag for our politicians' self-serving spending decreased 15.5 percent to $16.5 billion in fiscal 2010, while the number of projects dropped 10.2 percent to 9,129.
CAGW President Tom Schatz has appeared today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CNBC's "Street Signs with Erin Burnett," and "MSNBC Live with Peter Alexander," while CAGW Media Director Leslie Paige has appeared on FOX News Channel's "It's All Your Money" and "Your World with Neil Cavuto." CNN.com has also featured the Pig Book prominently on its homepage.
Topping this year's list of outrageous special-interest projects featured in the Pig Book are:
$465,000,000 for the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine;
$4,841,000 for wood utilization research;
$2,573,000 for potato research; and,
$693,000 for beef improvement research.
Search the Pork Database of all 9,129 projects; check out the recipients of CAGW's "Oinker" Awards, which recognize the worst of the worst in this year's Pig Book; and find out your state's ranking in our breakdown of pork per capita by state.
DAVID, you can also get your own hard copy of the 2010 Congressional Pig Book Summary by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more to CAGW today.
And finally, please help us spread the word about the 2010 Pig Book to your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can put a stop to this unconscionable waste of our tax dollars!
***
Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group with more than one million members and supporters nationwide. It is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Contributions to CAGW are tax-deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. For more information about CAGW, visit our website at www.cagw.org. To support CAGW's war on government waste and the 2010 Congressional Pig Book, make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.
Merle
From: Citizens Against Government Waste
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 4:35 PM
To: sgtmac1@comcast.net
Subject: CAGW's 2010 Pig Book Unveiled!
Dear DAVID,
The 2010 Congressional Pig Book is here!
Earlier today, at a press conference at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) unveiled the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Pig Book and divulged publicly for the first time that after two decades of CAGW's pointing a finger at the corruptive influence of pork-barrel earmarks and stoking public ire, Congress is beginning to lose its appetite for pork. From 10,160 pork-barrel projects costing taxpayers $19.6 billion in fiscal 2009, the price tag for our politicians' self-serving spending decreased 15.5 percent to $16.5 billion in fiscal 2010, while the number of projects dropped 10.2 percent to 9,129.
CAGW President Tom Schatz has appeared today on ABC's "Good Morning America," CNBC's "Street Signs with Erin Burnett," and "MSNBC Live with Peter Alexander," while CAGW Media Director Leslie Paige has appeared on FOX News Channel's "It's All Your Money" and "Your World with Neil Cavuto." CNN.com has also featured the Pig Book prominently on its homepage.
Topping this year's list of outrageous special-interest projects featured in the Pig Book are:
$465,000,000 for the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine;
$4,841,000 for wood utilization research;
$2,573,000 for potato research; and,
$693,000 for beef improvement research.
Search the Pork Database of all 9,129 projects; check out the recipients of CAGW's "Oinker" Awards, which recognize the worst of the worst in this year's Pig Book; and find out your state's ranking in our breakdown of pork per capita by state.
DAVID, you can also get your own hard copy of the 2010 Congressional Pig Book Summary by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25 or more to CAGW today.
And finally, please help us spread the word about the 2010 Pig Book to your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can put a stop to this unconscionable waste of our tax dollars!
***
Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest taxpayer watchdog group with more than one million members and supporters nationwide. It is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Contributions to CAGW are tax-deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by law. For more information about CAGW, visit our website at www.cagw.org. To support CAGW's war on government waste and the 2010 Congressional Pig Book, make a tax-deductible contribution today.
Unsubscribe from receiving email, or change your email preferences.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Peoria Riverfront Museum Progress - PRM
Show the referendum "no" voters, the money. And now, also show a large number of the "yes" voters, the money. After all these years and all the promises, funds to start building an underground garage and museum is as much as $14+ million short.
Oh, there is apparently enough money to build the approximately $9 million garage. (Do you suspose that a lot of "yes" voters, the same ones who are now asking doctors to treat them free), realized they would have to pay to park, pay to see the IMAX Theatre (will there be one with FIRST run shows?? Or even one at all?) and pay to enter and pay to see certain gallery shows and exhibits?
And maybe pay to visit the Caterpillar Visitors Center?
On 12/23/09 a short 4 months ago, Mark Johnson, Peoria County Museum Project Manager was quoted in the Times newspaper, "Johnson said the group has about $4 million in cash. I don't have a breakdown of where the approximately $12 million in cash has gone."
Our County Administrator last week, said the group has about $2.2 million in cash.
Don't blame Peoria County for the delays; Museum supporters, show the public the money or drop this farce abetted by Bradley Professors and community dreamers who apparently won't part with the funds to fund the PRM.
Oh, you best and the brightest, you're still waiting on Durbin, Smith, Koehler, Leitch and Schock to fund it with more taxpayer dollars? I see. Maybe they should FIRST pay the bills they have been responsible for not paying.
My readers may oneday want to go back in my archives and read my blog of Monday, December 3, 2007, titled "Peoria Riverfront Museum Fund Raising Progress". Might be interesting.
Oh, there is apparently enough money to build the approximately $9 million garage. (Do you suspose that a lot of "yes" voters, the same ones who are now asking doctors to treat them free), realized they would have to pay to park, pay to see the IMAX Theatre (will there be one with FIRST run shows?? Or even one at all?) and pay to enter and pay to see certain gallery shows and exhibits?
And maybe pay to visit the Caterpillar Visitors Center?
On 12/23/09 a short 4 months ago, Mark Johnson, Peoria County Museum Project Manager was quoted in the Times newspaper, "Johnson said the group has about $4 million in cash. I don't have a breakdown of where the approximately $12 million in cash has gone."
Our County Administrator last week, said the group has about $2.2 million in cash.
Don't blame Peoria County for the delays; Museum supporters, show the public the money or drop this farce abetted by Bradley Professors and community dreamers who apparently won't part with the funds to fund the PRM.
Oh, you best and the brightest, you're still waiting on Durbin, Smith, Koehler, Leitch and Schock to fund it with more taxpayer dollars? I see. Maybe they should FIRST pay the bills they have been responsible for not paying.
My readers may oneday want to go back in my archives and read my blog of Monday, December 3, 2007, titled "Peoria Riverfront Museum Fund Raising Progress". Might be interesting.
Caterpillar's Jim Owens
The Saturday JS reported Chairman Jim Owens took a sizable pay cut. Weep not for Chairman Owens as my computer shows he owns almost 400,000 shares of Cat stock worth approximately $26 million, most of his stock accumulation came through exercising options from $19 a share, maybe lower. Sure he has made money for a lot of people but not for those who say bought at $75 downward through, say, $34 and sold when they could no longer stand the downward spiral to it's low of around $19+ (I note it appears Owens exercised 108,000 share buy options at $19+).
The museum that Caterpillar has promoted and still stands behind, is as much $15 million short in funding if you believe City National Regional President Doug Stewart, who while Chairman of the Lakeview Museum fund raising committee claimed the PRM would need a $14 million dollar endowment. On 2/05/2005, the JSEB quoted Doug Stewart, a museum board member, and committee Chair at that time as saying, "I feel very comfortable that we've asked the hard questions," noting that part of the #65 million goal is a $14 million endowment.
Fact are, Mr. Owens, you had to lay off approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees, saw naive stockholders take lose large amounts of money, many employees are still unemployed or working at jobs 2-3 times below their skill level, so whatever few millions you sacrificed in your total compensation package last year, you still earned far more than probably most people will earn in a lifetime and will probably be subsidized a golden parachute going away present when Oberhelmann takes over, have a lifetime of benefits including health and other insurances.
The museum, so weakly supported by referendum but so strongly supported by the promisers, has burned through $11+ in cash through 12/31/09 and has an endowment of less than $1.3 million, according to our museum enthusiast Administrator Patrick Urich, as through April 1, 2010.
Kudos top those who were able to ride Caterpillar stock down and bought more as it was going up. Let them now step forward and finish funding the probably $15 million doughnut hole that was promised to be filled by now by our politicians and their gofor's, the wealthy elite and the arrogant who promised to have it fully funded with construction at least a year underway.
Or should I say "pledged" to fund it with 67& PRIVATE dollars; 33% public dollars when right now, it is close to being the reverse????
Weep not for the wealthy nor for the poor who are able and could work but don't even though there are always enough low paying jobs available. Many of these openly apparent jobs are taken by the illegals who not only take jobs but a lot of middle or lower class subsidy dollars. Some dollars from the wealthy too, but they can evidently afford the losses and the subsidies. The dollars from the wealthy and the unions are mostly responsible for those who get elected and run the economy.
The museum that Caterpillar has promoted and still stands behind, is as much $15 million short in funding if you believe City National Regional President Doug Stewart, who while Chairman of the Lakeview Museum fund raising committee claimed the PRM would need a $14 million dollar endowment. On 2/05/2005, the JSEB quoted Doug Stewart, a museum board member, and committee Chair at that time as saying, "I feel very comfortable that we've asked the hard questions," noting that part of the #65 million goal is a $14 million endowment.
Fact are, Mr. Owens, you had to lay off approximately 25,000 Caterpillar employees, saw naive stockholders take lose large amounts of money, many employees are still unemployed or working at jobs 2-3 times below their skill level, so whatever few millions you sacrificed in your total compensation package last year, you still earned far more than probably most people will earn in a lifetime and will probably be subsidized a golden parachute going away present when Oberhelmann takes over, have a lifetime of benefits including health and other insurances.
The museum, so weakly supported by referendum but so strongly supported by the promisers, has burned through $11+ in cash through 12/31/09 and has an endowment of less than $1.3 million, according to our museum enthusiast Administrator Patrick Urich, as through April 1, 2010.
Kudos top those who were able to ride Caterpillar stock down and bought more as it was going up. Let them now step forward and finish funding the probably $15 million doughnut hole that was promised to be filled by now by our politicians and their gofor's, the wealthy elite and the arrogant who promised to have it fully funded with construction at least a year underway.
Or should I say "pledged" to fund it with 67& PRIVATE dollars; 33% public dollars when right now, it is close to being the reverse????
Weep not for the wealthy nor for the poor who are able and could work but don't even though there are always enough low paying jobs available. Many of these openly apparent jobs are taken by the illegals who not only take jobs but a lot of middle or lower class subsidy dollars. Some dollars from the wealthy too, but they can evidently afford the losses and the subsidies. The dollars from the wealthy and the unions are mostly responsible for those who get elected and run the economy.
Friday, April 09, 2010
Asphalt Ordinance & More
Most hard core union Democrats will tell workers anything to get all workers unionized and to support their causes. One major fault of unions is that they promote most usually by seniority or cronyism. Most union members work at the same pace so they don't show up any of the more senior members. Take time to watch highway workers this summer. Once members gain seniority, last in, is first out of a job in case of an economy downturn and emplyer forced cutback. Being the best worker has nothing to do with holding a job. Certain hard to find skills, eniority and cronyism is everything.
The County Board Meeting last night was attended by a large number of unionized owners and union members supporting a resolution that appears to basically put some non-unionized asphalt pavers, their workers, and their families; out of business. These union members have been regular attendees on this subject this year. In a conversation with some of the union members, they said the issue had nothing to do with possibly forcing the non-union pavers to become unionized.
My question is, "were they all good citizens just out to make sure no unsuspecting citizen gets ripped of by non-union, shoddy workmanship type, pavers?" Or ripped off by fly-by-nighters" with false addresses and phone numbers? Tell me how you stop or proseucte FBN's who are in Peoria today doing a shoddy rip-off job and in Missouri or Kentucky tomorrow? Most of the people who get suckered in signing thes phony contracts are more interestedin the money saved than looking up the number of the BBB. I have seldom seen any of them at a County Board meeting in my more than 9 years on the board (except for heavy union support and possible (obvious?) pressure on the Democrat controlled County Board for the un-funded museum project) until these Democrat proposed code resolutions suddenly appeared in 2010 as a surprise dumped on the non-union pavers. Did our County Admistrator or our Planning and Zoning officer have anything to do with the untimely (timely?) HIGH PRIORITY of these resolutions?
Hmmmm.
The Democrat controlled board voted 10-7; a vote that would appear to put the non-union pavers out of business for this paving season. One Democrat, Bill Prather, voted with the 6 Republicans to oppose the resolution.
Would I believe everything a union person tells me? Or some of the non-union elite? (Think the "Regional" PRM) Do pigs fly?? I have a massive file with stories of how radical unions have hindered organizations all the way from educational institutions to being a major cause for GM's failure and the later massive taxpayer bailout of GM now known as "Government Motors". This taxpayer funded entity should be called Obama GM or OGM.
Why do you think local resident, I think, Transportation Chief Ray LaHood, and his new buddy, Barack Hussein Obama, is cracking down so very hard on Toyota? You think all those unionized so-called "American" motor companies haven't had massive recalls for dozens of failures and resulting lawsuits in the past decades? LaHood learned very well from Illinoisan Rahm Emanuels's realistic statement that "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Ask my wife and I who drive "American" made vehicles.
Hmm.
Read "Union Baggage Claims" in the December 30, 2009 issue of the WSJ detailing the unions efforts to unionize all airport baggage handlers. The reason being their union people would be "better prepared" to stop shoe bombers, etc.
Hmm.
And then our president is strongly pushing for the EFCA, called the Free Choice Act; the only thing free about it is your money. Fortunately their are enough moderate Democrats who have helped the Republicans stop this bill from going forward. So far. This bell would stop "secret balloting" and make voting to unionize or not, open balloting so every radical union member would know how his co-worker voted. See any problem in that?
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Big unions represent 85+% of all organized labor, but total union membership accounts for less than 5% of the workforce.
Interesting.
How may union bosses do you know that are registered Republicans, the last beacon of hope along with the majority of Tea Party people, for stopping the further spread of Socialism and perhaps stopping the government from spending a lot more than they collect? But then there is "Republican" City Councilman who is a strong supporter of more government spending. The JS this week reported Riggenback made 5 trips to Washington, D.C,, at taxpayer expense, to generate more government tax dollars for things like museums, minority opportunity centers, etc., all funded by tax-payers, of course.
Why do people like Riggnback, Koehler, Leitch, and Gordon never talk about DC and Springfield taking "less" taxes from our communities and let us determine spending priorities in our communities. of course these politicians would have to cut back on their taxpayer funded junkets to luxury resorts, their taxpayer funded airplanes (think Pelosi) and their frequent trips to foreign countries in taxpayer funded airplanes.
Many unions are corrupt just like some in the public and private sector. Read the WSJ issue of June 10, 2009, "Unions in Debt".
In 2008, the California Teachers Association (a union)spent the most money to defeat Proposition 8; an initiative on the November 4 ballot that would define marriage as between a man and a woman in California. (Marriage had better remain between a man and a woman or before long in the U.S., marriage will be possibly between a woman and a horse??? Or a man and a sheep????)
Who is stopping free trade between Columbia, South Korea, etc? Pelosi, her Democrat ilk and of course; the unions.
Re-read my blogs of February 10, 2010, March 23, 2010, October 24, 2008, February 4, 2008, etc. I am not anti-union; my company was unionized in 1972 and the company bearing my name still is unionized. Difference was that I ran the company the union didn't. The union bosses; the Gauwitz father and son were really good hard-nosed men.
Not true in the public sector today where union and Democrat bosses make every effort to make sure their candidate is in a mostly registered Democrat voting District. I note that the Republicans are making an effort to create districts (redistricting) with even numbers of Dems and Reps.
To the Republicans, lot's of luck; the Demos remember 2000.
Peoria and the State of Illinois, especially Mayor Daley's Chicago, are Democrat controlled but abetted by a lot of free spending Republicans like Leitch and Riggenback. Schock too. Doesn't he support extending the farmers subsidies, didn't he support the $180 million (with interest on the loans) new schools and renovations, the un-need $55 million library projects (with interest on the loans)and %500,000+ to dig up graves that any thinking person new were in the Lincoln Library expansion area, the un-funded downtown museum and the agrarian public school system (Think of the still ongoing failures of #150 School District)? Think new building will solve the problems? If you guess yes, you probably guessed wrong.
Our problems in the nation, Illinois and Peoria are certainly not all the unions fault or the passions of the elite. Voters, that's us, who are allowing this accelerating slide to Socialism where a growing minority is mainly interested in government services, environmental virtue and "free" medical care. Tip - invest in companies that provide ambulance service and the companies that make these vehicles.
The County Board Meeting last night was attended by a large number of unionized owners and union members supporting a resolution that appears to basically put some non-unionized asphalt pavers, their workers, and their families; out of business. These union members have been regular attendees on this subject this year. In a conversation with some of the union members, they said the issue had nothing to do with possibly forcing the non-union pavers to become unionized.
My question is, "were they all good citizens just out to make sure no unsuspecting citizen gets ripped of by non-union, shoddy workmanship type, pavers?" Or ripped off by fly-by-nighters" with false addresses and phone numbers? Tell me how you stop or proseucte FBN's who are in Peoria today doing a shoddy rip-off job and in Missouri or Kentucky tomorrow? Most of the people who get suckered in signing thes phony contracts are more interestedin the money saved than looking up the number of the BBB. I have seldom seen any of them at a County Board meeting in my more than 9 years on the board (except for heavy union support and possible (obvious?) pressure on the Democrat controlled County Board for the un-funded museum project) until these Democrat proposed code resolutions suddenly appeared in 2010 as a surprise dumped on the non-union pavers. Did our County Admistrator or our Planning and Zoning officer have anything to do with the untimely (timely?) HIGH PRIORITY of these resolutions?
Hmmmm.
The Democrat controlled board voted 10-7; a vote that would appear to put the non-union pavers out of business for this paving season. One Democrat, Bill Prather, voted with the 6 Republicans to oppose the resolution.
Would I believe everything a union person tells me? Or some of the non-union elite? (Think the "Regional" PRM) Do pigs fly?? I have a massive file with stories of how radical unions have hindered organizations all the way from educational institutions to being a major cause for GM's failure and the later massive taxpayer bailout of GM now known as "Government Motors". This taxpayer funded entity should be called Obama GM or OGM.
Why do you think local resident, I think, Transportation Chief Ray LaHood, and his new buddy, Barack Hussein Obama, is cracking down so very hard on Toyota? You think all those unionized so-called "American" motor companies haven't had massive recalls for dozens of failures and resulting lawsuits in the past decades? LaHood learned very well from Illinoisan Rahm Emanuels's realistic statement that "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste." Ask my wife and I who drive "American" made vehicles.
Hmm.
Read "Union Baggage Claims" in the December 30, 2009 issue of the WSJ detailing the unions efforts to unionize all airport baggage handlers. The reason being their union people would be "better prepared" to stop shoe bombers, etc.
Hmm.
And then our president is strongly pushing for the EFCA, called the Free Choice Act; the only thing free about it is your money. Fortunately their are enough moderate Democrats who have helped the Republicans stop this bill from going forward. So far. This bell would stop "secret balloting" and make voting to unionize or not, open balloting so every radical union member would know how his co-worker voted. See any problem in that?
Hmmmmmmmmm.
Big unions represent 85+% of all organized labor, but total union membership accounts for less than 5% of the workforce.
Interesting.
How may union bosses do you know that are registered Republicans, the last beacon of hope along with the majority of Tea Party people, for stopping the further spread of Socialism and perhaps stopping the government from spending a lot more than they collect? But then there is "Republican" City Councilman who is a strong supporter of more government spending. The JS this week reported Riggenback made 5 trips to Washington, D.C,, at taxpayer expense, to generate more government tax dollars for things like museums, minority opportunity centers, etc., all funded by tax-payers, of course.
Why do people like Riggnback, Koehler, Leitch, and Gordon never talk about DC and Springfield taking "less" taxes from our communities and let us determine spending priorities in our communities. of course these politicians would have to cut back on their taxpayer funded junkets to luxury resorts, their taxpayer funded airplanes (think Pelosi) and their frequent trips to foreign countries in taxpayer funded airplanes.
Many unions are corrupt just like some in the public and private sector. Read the WSJ issue of June 10, 2009, "Unions in Debt".
In 2008, the California Teachers Association (a union)spent the most money to defeat Proposition 8; an initiative on the November 4 ballot that would define marriage as between a man and a woman in California. (Marriage had better remain between a man and a woman or before long in the U.S., marriage will be possibly between a woman and a horse??? Or a man and a sheep????)
Who is stopping free trade between Columbia, South Korea, etc? Pelosi, her Democrat ilk and of course; the unions.
Re-read my blogs of February 10, 2010, March 23, 2010, October 24, 2008, February 4, 2008, etc. I am not anti-union; my company was unionized in 1972 and the company bearing my name still is unionized. Difference was that I ran the company the union didn't. The union bosses; the Gauwitz father and son were really good hard-nosed men.
Not true in the public sector today where union and Democrat bosses make every effort to make sure their candidate is in a mostly registered Democrat voting District. I note that the Republicans are making an effort to create districts (redistricting) with even numbers of Dems and Reps.
To the Republicans, lot's of luck; the Demos remember 2000.
Peoria and the State of Illinois, especially Mayor Daley's Chicago, are Democrat controlled but abetted by a lot of free spending Republicans like Leitch and Riggenback. Schock too. Doesn't he support extending the farmers subsidies, didn't he support the $180 million (with interest on the loans) new schools and renovations, the un-need $55 million library projects (with interest on the loans)and %500,000+ to dig up graves that any thinking person new were in the Lincoln Library expansion area, the un-funded downtown museum and the agrarian public school system (Think of the still ongoing failures of #150 School District)? Think new building will solve the problems? If you guess yes, you probably guessed wrong.
Our problems in the nation, Illinois and Peoria are certainly not all the unions fault or the passions of the elite. Voters, that's us, who are allowing this accelerating slide to Socialism where a growing minority is mainly interested in government services, environmental virtue and "free" medical care. Tip - invest in companies that provide ambulance service and the companies that make these vehicles.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Unions and Mayor Daley Continue to Drive Conventions From McCormick Place
It was bad enough 18 years ago when I was in business. I understand it is getting more costly at McCormick Place. I agree 100% with this article from the Chicago Tribune. Why do the unions and their Democrat minions think we are losing more business to 46 other states?
Merle Widmer
High costs at McCormick Place are driving conventions and trade shows out of Chicago. We can fix that, or we can watch the jobs and dollars keep marching to other cities.
The people who run the shows and attend the shows love this city. They love the convention facilities. But the onerous costs and other hassles — starting and ending with McCormick Place work rules — are chasing them away.
Goodbye, Chicago. We'll send a postcard from Orlando.
That was the blunt message the managers of some of the biggest trade shows delivered to Illinois legislators on Thursday. The venue was a Thompson Center hearing before a 16-member Senate-House committee that's desperately looking for a way to stop the exodus of shows and conventions.
It's not news that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state- and city-run organization known as McPier that operates the city's convention venues, needs an overhaul. Its dysfunction has been apparent for years. What was different and refreshing Thursday was a sense of urgency that punctuated testimony over three hours at the packed-to-capacity hearing run by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago.
Five organizations testified: the National Restaurant Association, American College of Surgeons, International Housewares Association, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Graphics Arts Show Co. Their shows brought nearly $300 million worth of economic activity to Chicago last year. They all might leave because of the high costs fueled by special handling fees, surcharges, overtime and general level of difficulty that come from dealing with the various jurisdictions connected to McCormick Place.
Some nuggets:
• Contracting for electrical service at Orlando's convention facilities costs 40 percent less than in Chicago, said Mary Pat Heftman of the restaurant association: "I can't explain that 40 percent differential to my exhibitors. Exhibitors in other cities can drive up to the dock and unload equipment themselves. Not in Chicago."
• Setting up a stage for an opening ceremony (with black drape, logos, flags, lighting, etc.) costs $46,000 in Chicago — and $32,000 in San Francisco, said Felix Niespodziewanski of the College of Surgeons. Organizers have to deal with a bewildering array of unions with different minimum rates, overtime rules, break times, etc.
• Chris Price of the Graphic Arts Show Co. said the quality of work at McCormick Place is top-notch, but the work rules make it uncompetitive. Example: 100 Chicago laborers are being flown to Orlando to help set up the plastics show there. "They will be put up in hotels, fed, and all the rest, and it's still cheaper to do business there than here," he said.
• Setting up an ice machine in Orlando costs $720. Setting one up in Chicago costs $1,700, said Eric Holm of Manitowoc Foodservice. Ordering power for the company's booth in Orlando costs $9,200. Chicago? $12,800, plus $5,000 for labor. The cost for 24-hour service for one refrigerator is $48 in Orlando, $400 in Chicago.
You get the idea. Everybody's tired of getting fleeced here. They're leaving. That's going to put a lot of Chicagoans out of work.
Legislators will hear Wednesday from McPier's managers and unions. It won't help if they use that opportunity to point fingers elsewhere. They need to propose radical changes in the structure of management and labor. The reconstituted McPier board has some old faces, but it also has some new, no-nonsense members whose instinct will be to force changes now. We're counting on them to rise to the crisis.
Other cities are watching what's happening here. They're banking on our lethargy.
"Most are convinced nothing will change," Deborah Sexton, president of the Professional Convention Management Association, told the lawmakers. "They hope nothing will change."
Get more stories like this. Sign up for home delivery today.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
Merle Widmer
High costs at McCormick Place are driving conventions and trade shows out of Chicago. We can fix that, or we can watch the jobs and dollars keep marching to other cities.
The people who run the shows and attend the shows love this city. They love the convention facilities. But the onerous costs and other hassles — starting and ending with McCormick Place work rules — are chasing them away.
Goodbye, Chicago. We'll send a postcard from Orlando.
That was the blunt message the managers of some of the biggest trade shows delivered to Illinois legislators on Thursday. The venue was a Thompson Center hearing before a 16-member Senate-House committee that's desperately looking for a way to stop the exodus of shows and conventions.
It's not news that the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state- and city-run organization known as McPier that operates the city's convention venues, needs an overhaul. Its dysfunction has been apparent for years. What was different and refreshing Thursday was a sense of urgency that punctuated testimony over three hours at the packed-to-capacity hearing run by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago.
Five organizations testified: the National Restaurant Association, American College of Surgeons, International Housewares Association, Society of Manufacturing Engineers and Graphics Arts Show Co. Their shows brought nearly $300 million worth of economic activity to Chicago last year. They all might leave because of the high costs fueled by special handling fees, surcharges, overtime and general level of difficulty that come from dealing with the various jurisdictions connected to McCormick Place.
Some nuggets:
• Contracting for electrical service at Orlando's convention facilities costs 40 percent less than in Chicago, said Mary Pat Heftman of the restaurant association: "I can't explain that 40 percent differential to my exhibitors. Exhibitors in other cities can drive up to the dock and unload equipment themselves. Not in Chicago."
• Setting up a stage for an opening ceremony (with black drape, logos, flags, lighting, etc.) costs $46,000 in Chicago — and $32,000 in San Francisco, said Felix Niespodziewanski of the College of Surgeons. Organizers have to deal with a bewildering array of unions with different minimum rates, overtime rules, break times, etc.
• Chris Price of the Graphic Arts Show Co. said the quality of work at McCormick Place is top-notch, but the work rules make it uncompetitive. Example: 100 Chicago laborers are being flown to Orlando to help set up the plastics show there. "They will be put up in hotels, fed, and all the rest, and it's still cheaper to do business there than here," he said.
• Setting up an ice machine in Orlando costs $720. Setting one up in Chicago costs $1,700, said Eric Holm of Manitowoc Foodservice. Ordering power for the company's booth in Orlando costs $9,200. Chicago? $12,800, plus $5,000 for labor. The cost for 24-hour service for one refrigerator is $48 in Orlando, $400 in Chicago.
You get the idea. Everybody's tired of getting fleeced here. They're leaving. That's going to put a lot of Chicagoans out of work.
Legislators will hear Wednesday from McPier's managers and unions. It won't help if they use that opportunity to point fingers elsewhere. They need to propose radical changes in the structure of management and labor. The reconstituted McPier board has some old faces, but it also has some new, no-nonsense members whose instinct will be to force changes now. We're counting on them to rise to the crisis.
Other cities are watching what's happening here. They're banking on our lethargy.
"Most are convinced nothing will change," Deborah Sexton, president of the Professional Convention Management Association, told the lawmakers. "They hope nothing will change."
Get more stories like this. Sign up for home delivery today.
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
The Peoria Chronicle Museum Facts
Reprinted from The Peoria Chronicle blog by C.J. Summers.
County ready to build without counting the cost
The Journal Star reports that members of the newly-formed Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors were chosen. But that’s not the really newsworthy part of the story. The real news is contained in these two paragraphs:
Once convened, [board appointees] will work to finish the redevelopment agreement for the museum block, assist in closing the remaining private funding gap [emphasis added] and in various aspects of the construction phase and develop an operating agreement….
[Peoria County Board Chairman Tom] O’Neill said he expects to break ground on the parking deck in June. [emphasis added] The total cost of the parking lot project, including design work, is estimated at $8.5 million.
Jesus said, “‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”‘”
Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Find out how much the project will cost, and then figure out how much money you have, before you start building the foundation. You’d do that if you were building a home for yourself, right? But what is Peoria County doing?
They don’t know how much the project will cost. The first design (the one with the big sphere) was rolled out to the public in January 2006. In July 2007, just 18 months later, they rolled out the current, smaller design. The reason given for the change at that time was “construction costs [had] risen at a much quicker rate than could have been anticipated based on historical data.” It’s now April 2010, 33 months after that design was presented. Even if construction costs rose consistent with historical data, it’s still going to be more expensive to build the project now than it was in 2007. What is that cost? Nobody knows.
They don’t have enough money raised to complete the project even at 2007 costs. Despite years of fundraising efforts, federal grants and earmarks, a successful sales tax referendum, IDOT funding, and the promise of state funding, they still do not have all the money raised that they needed three years ago. What makes anyone think they can raise the remaining funds now? Much of the private funding that has been raised is still in pledge form, not cash in hand, so there is even a question as to whether that money will really materialize.
The parking deck is the foundation. The parking deck is the first stage of constructing the museum. It is, of course, completely unnecessary since there is a glut of parking downtown as numerous studies have shown. Regardless of that, the parking deck is not designed or sited to be a stand-alone deck. Its design is specifically tailored to the 2007 museum plan. It’s an underground deck over which the museum building and grounds will be built.
The County doesn’t own the Sears block. Seemingly forgotten in all of this talk of construction is the fact that the City still owns the Sears block, and the County can’t construct anything on it using federal funds unless they own it or at least have some agreement with the City. So far, there is no such sale or agreement.
And so, the question is, why would the county even think about starting the foundation when they don’t know how much the whole project will cost and they know they don’t have all the money raised to finish it, and they know the prospects of getting the rest of the money is slim? Isn’t this foolish use of taxpayer funds, regardless of their source (federal, state, local)? Why this push to start construction by June? Are they hopeful that they’ll have final costs and all money in hand by then? I doubt it.
And then there are those assurances the County gave to voters before the referendum passed last year. Remember those? The County told us they wouldn’t start construction until all the money was raised. If they start construction in June, they will be going back on their word.
The only explanation I can see is that it’s a capitulation to Caterpillar. You may recall that Cat threatened to pull out of the project if the County didn’t start construction this year. They don’t want to “lose another construction season,” they explained.
Rather than capitulating and beginning this building project, the County should stick to a fiscally-responsible course. Here’s how to kill the museum project in three easy steps:
Bid out the project and find out how much it will cost in real numbers to build the museum, and compare that number to the amount of cash in hand raised by the museum folks.
If there’s not enough money to cover the project (and there won’t be), the County should insist that construction not start until the money is raised.
Since that will entail losing another construction season, Caterpillar will pull out of the project, at which point the project dies.
To make up for the loss of construction jobs, the county could then reallocate the money from the sales tax to other public facilities that need constructing/rebuilding, thus giving the trades just as much work as they would have gotten from the museum boondoggle, but less long-term loss to the taxpayers.
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April 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Peoria County, Peoria Riverfront Museum | Category: Museum Block, Peoria County | 14 comments
County ready to build without counting the cost
The Journal Star reports that members of the newly-formed Peoria Riverfront Museum board of directors were chosen. But that’s not the really newsworthy part of the story. The real news is contained in these two paragraphs:
Once convened, [board appointees] will work to finish the redevelopment agreement for the museum block, assist in closing the remaining private funding gap [emphasis added] and in various aspects of the construction phase and develop an operating agreement….
[Peoria County Board Chairman Tom] O’Neill said he expects to break ground on the parking deck in June. [emphasis added] The total cost of the parking lot project, including design work, is estimated at $8.5 million.
Jesus said, “‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”‘”
Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Find out how much the project will cost, and then figure out how much money you have, before you start building the foundation. You’d do that if you were building a home for yourself, right? But what is Peoria County doing?
They don’t know how much the project will cost. The first design (the one with the big sphere) was rolled out to the public in January 2006. In July 2007, just 18 months later, they rolled out the current, smaller design. The reason given for the change at that time was “construction costs [had] risen at a much quicker rate than could have been anticipated based on historical data.” It’s now April 2010, 33 months after that design was presented. Even if construction costs rose consistent with historical data, it’s still going to be more expensive to build the project now than it was in 2007. What is that cost? Nobody knows.
They don’t have enough money raised to complete the project even at 2007 costs. Despite years of fundraising efforts, federal grants and earmarks, a successful sales tax referendum, IDOT funding, and the promise of state funding, they still do not have all the money raised that they needed three years ago. What makes anyone think they can raise the remaining funds now? Much of the private funding that has been raised is still in pledge form, not cash in hand, so there is even a question as to whether that money will really materialize.
The parking deck is the foundation. The parking deck is the first stage of constructing the museum. It is, of course, completely unnecessary since there is a glut of parking downtown as numerous studies have shown. Regardless of that, the parking deck is not designed or sited to be a stand-alone deck. Its design is specifically tailored to the 2007 museum plan. It’s an underground deck over which the museum building and grounds will be built.
The County doesn’t own the Sears block. Seemingly forgotten in all of this talk of construction is the fact that the City still owns the Sears block, and the County can’t construct anything on it using federal funds unless they own it or at least have some agreement with the City. So far, there is no such sale or agreement.
And so, the question is, why would the county even think about starting the foundation when they don’t know how much the whole project will cost and they know they don’t have all the money raised to finish it, and they know the prospects of getting the rest of the money is slim? Isn’t this foolish use of taxpayer funds, regardless of their source (federal, state, local)? Why this push to start construction by June? Are they hopeful that they’ll have final costs and all money in hand by then? I doubt it.
And then there are those assurances the County gave to voters before the referendum passed last year. Remember those? The County told us they wouldn’t start construction until all the money was raised. If they start construction in June, they will be going back on their word.
The only explanation I can see is that it’s a capitulation to Caterpillar. You may recall that Cat threatened to pull out of the project if the County didn’t start construction this year. They don’t want to “lose another construction season,” they explained.
Rather than capitulating and beginning this building project, the County should stick to a fiscally-responsible course. Here’s how to kill the museum project in three easy steps:
Bid out the project and find out how much it will cost in real numbers to build the museum, and compare that number to the amount of cash in hand raised by the museum folks.
If there’s not enough money to cover the project (and there won’t be), the County should insist that construction not start until the money is raised.
Since that will entail losing another construction season, Caterpillar will pull out of the project, at which point the project dies.
To make up for the loss of construction jobs, the county could then reallocate the money from the sales tax to other public facilities that need constructing/rebuilding, thus giving the trades just as much work as they would have gotten from the museum boondoggle, but less long-term loss to the taxpayers.
ShareThis
April 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Peoria County, Peoria Riverfront Museum | Category: Museum Block, Peoria County | 14 comments
Monday, April 05, 2010
"Walking With Dinosaurs"
This event is May 7 at Lakeview and May 11 at the Civic Center. If you mention Lakeview when purchasing tickets for the show you receive a 5% discount and Lakeview receives 5% of the sale.
More info? Contact Anne Marie Rosen at annemarie@lakeview-museum.org
More info? Contact Anne Marie Rosen at annemarie@lakeview-museum.org
Tea Party Groups - Get Organized, Select Leaders We Can BELIEVE in and WHO CAN GET ELECTED
An email received from a friend.
Stufflebeam and Proft types have or had good messages. Proft proved he couldn't get elected and Stufflebeam cannot get elected to a high position. Palin is HIGHLY questionable as being electable though I do like most of her positions. Support candidates that can win with as message that they won't take as many tax and fee money OUT OF COMMUNITIES and then they will have less to give back to SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, some of who are as bad as perpetual welfare people.
Merle Widmer
Thought this is important. Please read it through. Thanks
Subject: 545 vs. 300,000,000
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be - read it!!
The article below is completely neutral, not anti republican or democrat.
Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail
directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.
It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
545 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq , it's because they want them in Iraq .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Whatever you do, next election, DO NOT RE-ELECT ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OR LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ELECT THEM!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
And the gas that's in it,
Tax him til he says
He's finished.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom.
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Other taxes that We Pay (to feed the politicians):
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the world happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
Stufflebeam and Proft types have or had good messages. Proft proved he couldn't get elected and Stufflebeam cannot get elected to a high position. Palin is HIGHLY questionable as being electable though I do like most of her positions. Support candidates that can win with as message that they won't take as many tax and fee money OUT OF COMMUNITIES and then they will have less to give back to SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, some of who are as bad as perpetual welfare people.
Merle Widmer
Thought this is important. Please read it through. Thanks
Subject: 545 vs. 300,000,000
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be - read it!!
The article below is completely neutral, not anti republican or democrat.
Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel has hit the nail
directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day.
It's a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000
EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.
Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.
545 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq , it's because they want them in Iraq .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Whatever you do, next election, DO NOT RE-ELECT ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OR LISTEN TO THOSE WHO ELECT THEM!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
And the gas that's in it,
Tax him til he says
He's finished.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he's laid.
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom.
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Other taxes that We Pay (to feed the politicians):
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the world happened? Can you spell 'politicians?'
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 100 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!
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