Of the hundreds of thousands of dollars the PRM Board spent on advertising, the bulk of the money appears to have gone to the Simantel Group. After the referdum for the museum tax passed by 400 votes out of 30,000 cast, Simantel laid off 7 employees according to an ex-employee.
Interesting when Simantel Group was saying how badly the community needed jobs.
Hmmmm.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Merle Widmer's Negativeness
Some people have told me my blogs would be more widely read if I wasn't so negative. Interesting. I first came to Peoria when I was 36 and came to stay and open Widmer Office Products at the age of 39. With 2 employees and $5,000 , mostly borrowed. I sold it in 1992 for approximately $2.250 million. No office equiment company has eever been sold for that amount of money in Peoria. The buyer still uses my name. (Widmer Interiors)
So I'm a a negative person. Because I opposed the RiverPlex, still not paid for by taxpayer money and a park district so strapped for cash that they were never able to build the ball diamonds both Noble and Cassidy many times promised, nor instigated proper erosion controls on the 9.000 acres they own. See the growing delta on the west side of the Illinois River largely formed by erosion from park owned land.
And operating as a property tax free entity while it's competitors pay property taxes?
And the ball club which I said could become a white elephant, I was probably wrong because I should have known the City Council and the taxpayers would bail them out or some other PRIVATE investor would have bought and continued the ball club.
I knew a lot of lies would be told about "Heddington Oaks" and many truths stretched. Want to see the evidence? I have it all. Beautiful building? From the outside and maybe someday I will see the inside, (It was supposed to up and running with residents transferred by June 1) And $53 million not $45-48 million reported constantly and probably more later . And not the false figures that a totally Democrat Committee who met with the Illinois Health Commission in Chicago,who approved the construction based on these false figures.
And PRM. Getting off to the bad start I so often predicted and I was so badly misquoted by the JS, never saying that Merle Widmer was constantly asking "show me the money' the elites and their followers promised. The original amount to be shouldered by tax payers was to be 1/3rd of the now $97 million museum, probably more, with the taxpayers winding up paying 2/3rds, not 1/3rd of the cost. Yes, my Bankers Box full of evidence is available for any doubters to study.Peoria has a lot of wealthy people. Much of it inherited. They aren't wealthy by by free spending all their own money. They want those who may not be able to afford it ti spend their money too.
Many who pledged to the PRM didn't produce which was one of the major reasons the PRM staff couldn't produce a financial statement for the year ending June 30, 2012.
Where was the board of directors? Staff and administration is supposed to report to the board, a system usually disregarded by the "movers and shakers" in Peoria. And the JSEB saying "give the museum a chance". Did they forget that the museum board spent $630,000 promoting a referendum that out of 30,000 votes cast was passed by a slim majority of 400 votes?
Enough for one day from a guy who has lost the "fire in his belly".
So I'm a a negative person. Because I opposed the RiverPlex, still not paid for by taxpayer money and a park district so strapped for cash that they were never able to build the ball diamonds both Noble and Cassidy many times promised, nor instigated proper erosion controls on the 9.000 acres they own. See the growing delta on the west side of the Illinois River largely formed by erosion from park owned land.
And operating as a property tax free entity while it's competitors pay property taxes?
And the ball club which I said could become a white elephant, I was probably wrong because I should have known the City Council and the taxpayers would bail them out or some other PRIVATE investor would have bought and continued the ball club.
I knew a lot of lies would be told about "Heddington Oaks" and many truths stretched. Want to see the evidence? I have it all. Beautiful building? From the outside and maybe someday I will see the inside, (It was supposed to up and running with residents transferred by June 1) And $53 million not $45-48 million reported constantly and probably more later . And not the false figures that a totally Democrat Committee who met with the Illinois Health Commission in Chicago,who approved the construction based on these false figures.
And PRM. Getting off to the bad start I so often predicted and I was so badly misquoted by the JS, never saying that Merle Widmer was constantly asking "show me the money' the elites and their followers promised. The original amount to be shouldered by tax payers was to be 1/3rd of the now $97 million museum, probably more, with the taxpayers winding up paying 2/3rds, not 1/3rd of the cost. Yes, my Bankers Box full of evidence is available for any doubters to study.Peoria has a lot of wealthy people. Much of it inherited. They aren't wealthy by by free spending all their own money. They want those who may not be able to afford it ti spend their money too.
Many who pledged to the PRM didn't produce which was one of the major reasons the PRM staff couldn't produce a financial statement for the year ending June 30, 2012.
Where was the board of directors? Staff and administration is supposed to report to the board, a system usually disregarded by the "movers and shakers" in Peoria. And the JSEB saying "give the museum a chance". Did they forget that the museum board spent $630,000 promoting a referendum that out of 30,000 votes cast was passed by a slim majority of 400 votes?
Enough for one day from a guy who has lost the "fire in his belly".
Heddington Oaks to Cost Paying Residents from $80,000 to $100,000 a Year
According to an article in the JS, this so called "safety net" for the poor will cost the approximate 60 total private pay residents from $217- 245 a day. Medicaid, which is abused by many families, residents costs will be borne by the property tax payers who are already paying approx. $3 million a year. Phil Salzer, longtime liberal Democrat Board member was quoted as saying these prices would be "competitive" with other similar nursing homes.
Competitive? Safety net? 2 months behind schedule? $53 million cost (JS article) from the the $45-48 million the JS Editorial Board said it would cost on May 16, 2011 and former Editorial Board member, Chris Kaergard, now a JS reporter wrote on 5/10, 2013, that the new facility would cost 45-48 million. Can the JS Editorial board explain the the $5 to 8 million jump to $53 million as reported in the JS on 6/6/2013???
And what about the old BelWood building? Still owned by the county?
Interesting .
Competitive? Safety net? 2 months behind schedule? $53 million cost (JS article) from the the $45-48 million the JS Editorial Board said it would cost on May 16, 2011 and former Editorial Board member, Chris Kaergard, now a JS reporter wrote on 5/10, 2013, that the new facility would cost 45-48 million. Can the JS Editorial board explain the the $5 to 8 million jump to $53 million as reported in the JS on 6/6/2013???
And what about the old BelWood building? Still owned by the county?
Interesting .
Carl Cannon of Peoria - Former Prison Guard
By reading and listening to the local media you might believe this person is a volunteer. Hardly. Person who knows him says he makes over $90,000 a year and will retire with pensions greater than the income of 7-8 families of the kids he "teaches".
Crime and personal safety appears to be on the increase in Peoria. Maybe the Concealed Carry Law, when fully legalized and the "Don't Shoot" program (in time) will ease the situation. Also increasing the penalties of really bad people and lightening the sentences of those committing their first or 2nd minor crime such as marijuana use, will ease the present situation by freeing up more enforcement people in the hood, the security forces and the courthouse.
Crime and personal safety appears to be on the increase in Peoria. Maybe the Concealed Carry Law, when fully legalized and the "Don't Shoot" program (in time) will ease the situation. Also increasing the penalties of really bad people and lightening the sentences of those committing their first or 2nd minor crime such as marijuana use, will ease the present situation by freeing up more enforcement people in the hood, the security forces and the courthouse.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Only in the United States of America
Can a brown man kill a black man and the white man gets blamed.
Leading black racists in Peoria: Pam Adams, Carl and Mrs. Carl Cannon and many others too numerous to list. Evidently Carl doesn't believe in jury verdicts.. Otherwise, why wouldn't he be teaching these kids about a jury acquitting black Simpson of the murder of a white woman? The majority of the black community applauded. Fortunately, Simpson is now in prison convicted of a different crime.
Racial divide? You bet led by Obama and his ilk which includes a lot of far left leaning liberal whites who are still lamenting the exodus of blacks from other countries where if these far left leaning radicasl liberals would read more history would find that these blacks who were brought to our shores were PERSECUTED by the greed for money by their own
"leaders". Their treatment in many cases was appalling and so was the persecution of the Jews seldom mentioned by black leaders who seem more in tune with the Muslim Brotherhood trying to take over Egypt and Syria..
I regret the death of community leader Gary Sandberg. I also regret losing some of "the fire in my belly" but my readers should hear more from me again.
Leading black racists in Peoria: Pam Adams, Carl and Mrs. Carl Cannon and many others too numerous to list. Evidently Carl doesn't believe in jury verdicts.. Otherwise, why wouldn't he be teaching these kids about a jury acquitting black Simpson of the murder of a white woman? The majority of the black community applauded. Fortunately, Simpson is now in prison convicted of a different crime.
Racial divide? You bet led by Obama and his ilk which includes a lot of far left leaning liberal whites who are still lamenting the exodus of blacks from other countries where if these far left leaning radicasl liberals would read more history would find that these blacks who were brought to our shores were PERSECUTED by the greed for money by their own
"leaders". Their treatment in many cases was appalling and so was the persecution of the Jews seldom mentioned by black leaders who seem more in tune with the Muslim Brotherhood trying to take over Egypt and Syria..
I regret the death of community leader Gary Sandberg. I also regret losing some of "the fire in my belly" but my readers should hear more from me again.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Richerson Ousted as Peoria Riverfront Musuem Leader
A news conference will be called today to announce the dismissal of Jim Richerson. Losses in 2012 projected to be over one million.
Jim is a nice guy. I wish him better success in his next venture.
Jim is a nice guy. I wish him better success in his next venture.
Sunday, May 05, 2013
PRM Early Warnings About Support for the PRM
Never reported by any of the media was the result of a survey made by The National Citizens Survey in 2009 and paid for by Peoria County taxpayers, that was summarized by Peoria County Officials as follows:
Under "Policy Questions" it reads, 'Riverfront Museum 65% somewhat oppose or strongly oppose a sales tax increase".
This supports a survey done by the City of Peoria and promptly squelched by then Mayor Dave Ransburg. that was negative to the museum building that suggested "Peoria was more sports minded and beer drinking community".
I have a copy of that survey.
Move to my next two blogs.
Under "Policy Questions" it reads, 'Riverfront Museum 65% somewhat oppose or strongly oppose a sales tax increase".
This supports a survey done by the City of Peoria and promptly squelched by then Mayor Dave Ransburg. that was negative to the museum building that suggested "Peoria was more sports minded and beer drinking community".
I have a copy of that survey.
Move to my next two blogs.
Dr. Chester Danehower Says "Stop the Negativity and Let the Museum Shine"
So said the good doctor in an editorial to the JSEB and printed in today's paper. Start here and read my next blog and my 15 or so factual blogs about the probably impossible financial success of this project.
Note that the quote "33% of the $99 million museum would be all that the public would need to contribute, came from Brad McMillan in an address to County Board members and a subsequent LTE printed in the JS. Actual submissions show that the public so far has contributed over 67% of the $99 million museum.
Finacial results are not important as the quality of the product as attributed to Museum Director Richerson in the JS when revising attendance figure downward from 240,000 every year to a "possible' 150,000 the first 12 months of it's existence.
If citizen taxpayers need not worry about finances, we might all live in million dollars homes and drive expensive European cars.
Hm.
Note that the quote "33% of the $99 million museum would be all that the public would need to contribute, came from Brad McMillan in an address to County Board members and a subsequent LTE printed in the JS. Actual submissions show that the public so far has contributed over 67% of the $99 million museum.
Finacial results are not important as the quality of the product as attributed to Museum Director Richerson in the JS when revising attendance figure downward from 240,000 every year to a "possible' 150,000 the first 12 months of it's existence.
If citizen taxpayers need not worry about finances, we might all live in million dollars homes and drive expensive European cars.
Hm.
PRM Fiscal Year Ended June, 30, 2012 - Financial Results Still Not Made Public
Why not?? Start with the facts. When the Lakeview museum people started stretching the truth, (with Caterpillar's support) like Caterpillar blaming the county for delaying the projects start, an IMAX theatre that became a seldom if ever heard of Big Screen, at least in Central Illinois, funds in the banks but $10 million spent BEFORE A SPADE OF EARTH WAS TURNED and the museum was still called Lakeview, FOIA requests were never answered promptly and possibly not truthfully so I'm speculating why the delay as exposed by the JS and TV media, is a subject of worry to the taxpayers who supported it with their dollars. ( the elite, arrogant, wealthy or not, be concerned and who are ALWAYS sure they are right, why would the majority of the community who gives a damn, believe the ardent supporters now? Perhaps some strong supporters believe the economy or the flooding is surely the cause of the delay.
I suggest, merely suggestions of what may be going on with the museum Director and Dave Ransburg, supposedly the head of the museum Board of Directors. Side Comment: Remember what Dave was quoted by the JS when he became head honcho? The JS reported that Dave said he would easily raise the missing, at that time, $10 million, but would raise more. Indeed??
I list the possible reasons for the museum's financial result delay. I'm not saying these are facts, just sheer guesses:
Some money may be missing.
The museum accountant is ?????
The promoters are still trying to collect pledges and then , though late,convert them into actual dollars. (Fact, early on, museum figures showed some $565,000 deemed uncollectible.)
The outside accountants have not signed off on the figures submitted by the museum board for fear of????
Attendance figures, once PROJECTED to be 240,000 per year forever may now be PROJECTED to be as low as 150,000 per year. (In my blogs, I tried to reason with museum promoters, that one member with 4 kids visiting 4 times a year, causes misleading figures. They couldn't figure out how that affected REAL attendance; I'm sure my reader can figure it out if I could.
The economy of the area is so good, the private accounting firm is too busy to????
Previous lies to the public are being reviewed with President Obama as how to turn them into charismatic believable lies.
Some big egos are fearful of result publications and want to delay them until they are traveling away frrom Peoria,
Caterpillar, this is FACTUAL, who first said they would contribute a $51 million Caterpillar Visitors Center at their expense, then reduced that amount to $37 million and then placed Caterpillar Offices off limit to visitors, on the top floor of the $37 million Visitors Center, is laying plans to take over the museum as their NEW WORLD HEADQUARTERS.
All sheer speculations same as One Technology Center, Gateway Center, Cub Foods, new softball fields to take the overflow from Eastside, 25 new baseball fields (JS on 5/24/11, 5/25/11, and 5/30/11), 18,000 families joining the RiverPlex, the emptiness of the old Lakeview Museum Building and the former YWCA building, when the 20,000 potholes on Peoria public streets and the 10,000 potholes in private businesses entry ways and parking lots, untold dozens of empty buildings being quickly sold and occupied, the Peoria Historical Society displaying the thousands of historical items now safely in storage: almost all of the above are purely speculations but need to be submitted with the City's application to be named an All American City, thus fulfilling Henry Hollings predictions of three or so years past.
Hmmmm.
I plug C.J. Summer's blog the Peoria Chronicle for more on the PRM.
I suggest, merely suggestions of what may be going on with the museum Director and Dave Ransburg, supposedly the head of the museum Board of Directors. Side Comment: Remember what Dave was quoted by the JS when he became head honcho? The JS reported that Dave said he would easily raise the missing, at that time, $10 million, but would raise more. Indeed??
I list the possible reasons for the museum's financial result delay. I'm not saying these are facts, just sheer guesses:
Some money may be missing.
The museum accountant is ?????
The promoters are still trying to collect pledges and then , though late,convert them into actual dollars. (Fact, early on, museum figures showed some $565,000 deemed uncollectible.)
The outside accountants have not signed off on the figures submitted by the museum board for fear of????
Attendance figures, once PROJECTED to be 240,000 per year forever may now be PROJECTED to be as low as 150,000 per year. (In my blogs, I tried to reason with museum promoters, that one member with 4 kids visiting 4 times a year, causes misleading figures. They couldn't figure out how that affected REAL attendance; I'm sure my reader can figure it out if I could.
The economy of the area is so good, the private accounting firm is too busy to????
Previous lies to the public are being reviewed with President Obama as how to turn them into charismatic believable lies.
Some big egos are fearful of result publications and want to delay them until they are traveling away frrom Peoria,
Caterpillar, this is FACTUAL, who first said they would contribute a $51 million Caterpillar Visitors Center at their expense, then reduced that amount to $37 million and then placed Caterpillar Offices off limit to visitors, on the top floor of the $37 million Visitors Center, is laying plans to take over the museum as their NEW WORLD HEADQUARTERS.
All sheer speculations same as One Technology Center, Gateway Center, Cub Foods, new softball fields to take the overflow from Eastside, 25 new baseball fields (JS on 5/24/11, 5/25/11, and 5/30/11), 18,000 families joining the RiverPlex, the emptiness of the old Lakeview Museum Building and the former YWCA building, when the 20,000 potholes on Peoria public streets and the 10,000 potholes in private businesses entry ways and parking lots, untold dozens of empty buildings being quickly sold and occupied, the Peoria Historical Society displaying the thousands of historical items now safely in storage: almost all of the above are purely speculations but need to be submitted with the City's application to be named an All American City, thus fulfilling Henry Hollings predictions of three or so years past.
Hmmmm.
I plug C.J. Summer's blog the Peoria Chronicle for more on the PRM.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
Heidi Heitkamp, Democrat I Support
I count few political Democrats I like. Heidi recently moved to the head of the type of Demo politician I like.
Sorry I'm not blogging much but I have other issues right now. Not financial. (My shares of IMAX were up $1.39 per share, not bragging but I suggested quite awhile back that if you were in the market buy IMAX and CAT, who will soon bloom again) I really would like to turn my history of this community and world issues to someone who is interested. Approimately 8 file drawers, most sorted and labeled in file folders.
In the meantime, go to my search bar to read about ring roads, musuems, ball parks,. highways including the one time "highway to Chicago", Obama, Romney, ObamaCare, poverty, School Dist. # 150, etc.
Thanks for reading me. I never expected eveyone to agree with me.
Sorry I'm not blogging much but I have other issues right now. Not financial. (My shares of IMAX were up $1.39 per share, not bragging but I suggested quite awhile back that if you were in the market buy IMAX and CAT, who will soon bloom again) I really would like to turn my history of this community and world issues to someone who is interested. Approimately 8 file drawers, most sorted and labeled in file folders.
In the meantime, go to my search bar to read about ring roads, musuems, ball parks,. highways including the one time "highway to Chicago", Obama, Romney, ObamaCare, poverty, School Dist. # 150, etc.
Thanks for reading me. I never expected eveyone to agree with me.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Moving to Mexico - An Interesting Summation
|
Sent to me by a friend. Hey, writer, you clear the way with Barak and I'll follow you.
Merle
Dear Mr.
Obama:
I'm planning to move my family and extended
family
into Mexico for my health, and I would like
to ask you
to assist
me.
We're planning to simply walk across the
border from the U.S.
into Mexico, and we'll need your help to
make a few arrangements.
We plan to skip all the legal stuff like
visas, passports,
immigration quotas and
laws.
I'm sure they handle those things the same
way you do
here. So, would you mind telling your
buddy, The President
of Mexico, that I'm on my way
over?
Please let him know that I will be
expecting the following:
1. Free medical care for my entire
family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats
for all services
I might need, whether I use them or
not.
3. Please print all Mexican Government
forms in English.
4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish
by English-
speaking (bi-lingual)
teachers.
5. Tell their schools they need to include
classes on
American culture and
history.
6. I want my grandkids to see the American
flag on one
of the flag poles at their
school.
7. Please plan to feed my grandkids at
school for both
breakfast and
lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's
license so I can get
easy access to government
services.
9. I do plan to get a car and drive in
Mexico, but I don't
plan to purchase car insurance, and I
probably won't make
any special effort to learn local traffic
laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police
officers does not get
the memo from their president to leave me
alone, please be
sure that every patrol car has at least
one English-speaking
officer.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my
housetop, put U.S. flag
decals on my car, and have a gigantic
celebration on July 4th.
I do not want any complaints or negative
comments from the
locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job
without paying any taxes,
or have any labor or tax laws enforced on
any business I may start.
13. Please have the president tell all the
Mexican people to
be extremely nice and never say critical
things about me or
my family, or about the strain we might
place on their economy.
14. I want to receive free food
stamps.
15. Naturally, I'll expect free rent
subsidies.
16. I'll need income tax credits so that
although I don't pay
Mexican taxes, I'll receive money from the
government.
17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican
Government pays
$4,500.00 to help me buy a new
car.
18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll
me free into the Mexican
Social Security program so that I'll get a
monthly income in retirement.
I know this is an easy request because
you already
do all these things for all his people
who walk over to
the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure
that the President
of Mexico won't mind returning the favor if
you ask him nicely.
Look how crazy this looks when you put it in
writing!!!
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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Local Events in Peoria
The electors just showed a disdain for politics, 17% turnout, and in many ways, you can't blame them. Few want to take the bullshit handed out by their opponents and the media as witness the lie told about candidate John Kunski who lost to a not exactly truthful, Jim Montelongo, who predicted the riverfront? museum "would be a great success and the dissenters where pretty stupid to oppose it's construction" (See my blog "Councilman Concerned About Museum Opposition" dated 9/15/2010 and easily found on my blog site search bar, upper right hand side).
It appears the lie circulated in a flier by Montelongo and his chief supporters cost Kunski the election Had. Kunski lived in a cave with no outside contacts would he NOT know that the downtown ballpark was a long way from being a revenue producer. But maybe Kunski's detractors were talking to Roger Monroe "See my blog of 3/24/2008, titled 'Peoria Chiefs Baseball Club'' where Monroe told a "big one"
Lies like this one are reasons why more people don't run for public office and when the "good" ones are elected, the take a bashing from the medias who for one reason or another, have an axe to grind.
I read where the Peoria Public Library Director was fired, no surprise, if you read the blog, "The Peoria Chronicle, and my blogs, widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com We published the reasons he "left" Indianapolis which were known by the board that hired him. It appears more "firing" of some board members should be done by library supporters and the city who mostly funds the libraries. (Did you by chance note the "increased"?? attendance at the costly Lincoln Branch Library?) That's the site where the "movers and shakers" in this community failed to research what was under the site grounds and had to relocate and rebury, or did they?, the remains of those buried under the expansion site at a rumored cost of $600,000
Actually, most of the increase in library use was free computers. Check it out..
I read where Developer Matthews is running behind, despite a mild Peoria winter, in this someday boondoogle, the renovation of the Pere and would be fined fined $41,000 per month for every month he misses the guaranteed completion date. Will the city actually charge and collect the money? We will maybe find out or maybe not.
I see where the Peoria City Police Super, the Mayor and the SA are going to, this time, really crack down on Peoria gangs..
Hmmmm.
It appears the lie circulated in a flier by Montelongo and his chief supporters cost Kunski the election Had. Kunski lived in a cave with no outside contacts would he NOT know that the downtown ballpark was a long way from being a revenue producer. But maybe Kunski's detractors were talking to Roger Monroe "See my blog of 3/24/2008, titled 'Peoria Chiefs Baseball Club'' where Monroe told a "big one"
Lies like this one are reasons why more people don't run for public office and when the "good" ones are elected, the take a bashing from the medias who for one reason or another, have an axe to grind.
I read where the Peoria Public Library Director was fired, no surprise, if you read the blog, "The Peoria Chronicle, and my blogs, widmer-peoria-watch.blogspot.com We published the reasons he "left" Indianapolis which were known by the board that hired him. It appears more "firing" of some board members should be done by library supporters and the city who mostly funds the libraries. (Did you by chance note the "increased"?? attendance at the costly Lincoln Branch Library?) That's the site where the "movers and shakers" in this community failed to research what was under the site grounds and had to relocate and rebury, or did they?, the remains of those buried under the expansion site at a rumored cost of $600,000
Actually, most of the increase in library use was free computers. Check it out..
I read where Developer Matthews is running behind, despite a mild Peoria winter, in this someday boondoogle, the renovation of the Pere and would be fined fined $41,000 per month for every month he misses the guaranteed completion date. Will the city actually charge and collect the money? We will maybe find out or maybe not.
I see where the Peoria City Police Super, the Mayor and the SA are going to, this time, really crack down on Peoria gangs..
Hmmmm.
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