Review of FFCI (Focus Forward Central
Illinois)
The September 12, special meeting of The Peoria
county Board, an update on FFCI, was mostly a repeat of previous information.
The most striking part was the revelation that they would include water
resources and the Illinois River in their purview.
If you want a flavor of the danger of unelected
boards, read the Peoria Journal star online article
titled “Documents show behind the scenes push
for Water Company buyout”. One of the FOIA documents required the assistance of
The Illinois attorney General's Office.
Be aware that FFCI is not going to follow the
open meeting laws, so you will have no opportunity to request documents thru
FOIA.
In view of the above, let us discuss FFCI. FFCI
is positioning itself as an organization of Regional Governance. Governance is
the act of governing.
Regional Governance will be the act of governing
our five county region. County lines will be blurred.
Two questions come to mind.
-
What is the limit of their governing power?
2. Where did they obtain the
authority for their power?
They proclaim an asset based strategy. Whose
assets are they?
Their goal # 1- Act Regional: Insures that the
region is putting in place regional community,
economic, innovation, workforce, quality of
place, healthy community and humane service ecosystems that work together.
(anyone care to interpret that?)
The FFCI will seek funding from State, Local,
Private, Federal, and Foundations. Federal funds will arrive with strings firmly
attached. Those strings are mandates and regulations which the voters have
neither requested nor authorized. The mandates are not negotiable.
Federal grants will be geared towards
sustainability which involves the three E's.
Environment; eliminate cars, increase public
transportation, bicycle or walk to work, constrict city boundaries, enhance
building codes, smart meters, reduce consumption.
Equity; social justice, redistribution of
wealth, fairness.
Economy; receive some of your own tax money if
you obey the mandates.
Summary;
Regionalism is the antithesis of elected
government. It will destroy traditional boundaries and transform our
understanding of private property rights. It will affect transportation, water,
farming,
and land use rights.
If you desire more information on the motives
behind all of this, attend a free meeting Thursday,
September 19, 6:00 PM at the North Branch
Library.
Terry Rowe
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