Review of the FFCI by Terry Rowe

 

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.

1. 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