I first met Bob McCord when I was seeking office space to open my business in 1964. Bob owned office space just around the corner from his company, Illinois Mutual Life Insurance Company, a site where the Civic Center, a development both he and I supported, now sits. I was fortunate to rent this space from Bob and hang out my shingle at 313 S.W. Jefferson. In an article in today’s JS, son Michael McCord, in praising his father, was quoted as saying “he was always reminding everybody to do what was right and what was fair.” Michael has assessed his Dad as he and I and other who dealt with Bob, correctly.
A short time after I signed a rental contract with Bob, I came to work to park in my allotted two cars space in the back of the building only to find a bright red sports car setting crosswise in my space. After inquiring around as to whom it might belong to and finding no owner, my employees and friends, proceeded to pick the car up and move it. About an hour later Bob and Michael stormed into my office and demanded to know what happened to Michael’s car. When I told Bob that my rental space included parking for two cars and someone had parked crosswise blocking both spaces, Bob looked at Michael. No further words were said and the McCord’s left my office. End of story.
But not quite. Over the years, his company became a very good customer of mine and Widmer’s bought our health insurance from Illinois Mutual. My relationship with Bob continued as he praised my work and interest in the community, even as late as last October, when I visited with Bob and Vicki at their lovely High Point home. Despite his deteriorating health, Bob and Vicki insisted that we converse about happenings in the community. Bob regretted not being able to get about and especially about no longer being able to go the Bradley basketball games.
Bob’s extensive obituary does not nearly cover all the community development accomplishments and happenings in which Bob played some type of leadership role. Back in 1999 and prior to the Promenade Shopping Mall financing proposal being presented to the City Council for approval, Bob sent me the following letter. “Dear Merle, After reading your letter (to the Editors) in the 11/28/99 Journal Star, I thought you would be interested in the enclosed letter which was sent to the Mayor, all Council members and the City Staff on 11/24/99.” Sincerely, Bob McCord.
This 11 page detailed document reviewed all the financial figuring that he figured were not accurately included by the Promenade promoters in the proposal to the City Council. He particularly pointed out that the document referred to the bond repayment to the city of $29,500,000.00 when the actual figure would be about $80,630,000.00. He pointed out that “The owner/or developer have repeatedly stated that the owner and/or developer “guarantee” the repayment of these bonds to the City. The agreement DOES NOT provide for any such “guaranty” at all.” He concluded that the actual cost to the taxpayers would have been almost 100 million dollars.
The night of the Council Meeting, I spoke against this project; Diane (then) Cullinan left her seat and the meeting. She has not spoken to me since except in 2000, she sent me a letter reminding me that my election margin “was not a mandate”. (People as outspoken as I seldom get large mandates but most of us do get elected.) The Council did have the wisdom to turn down Diane’s plea for taxpayer money and I remind the taxpayers that the “Promenade”; later named The Shoppes at Grand Prairie, somehow did get built with a minimal cost to the community.
If we had a dozen more community leaders like Mr. Robert Alan McCord, we might not be heading for the financial crises I foresee in the future. On my last visit with Bob, he expressed concern for the future of property tax payers in Peoria.
He will be greatly missed by this entire community.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Opening up Young Minds to Make Correct Decisions
As a follow-up of my too long blog on “Incentives to Learn”, I quote from an article appearing in the Science Journal titled “You Might Help a Teen Avoid Dumb Behavior by Nurturing Intuition”. The article is written by Sharon Begley who can be reached at sciencejournal@wsj.com She writes quoting Valerie Reyna of Cornell University “Deliberately weighing costs and benefits often encourage risky behavior. You have a better chance of getting thru to kids if you can get them to pick up, unconsciously, that a behavior is dangerous and intuitively avoid it”. Ms. Begley says “Social acceptance and the allure of rebellion right now outweigh the costs later. Even adults prefer immediate benefits to future ones. Teaching teens to assess risks accurately won’t decrease stupid behavior-they’re already pretty accurate at gauging the consequences. They just aren’t bothered by them. Young people are especially bad at resisting risk when they are with peers and when they make decisions on the spur of the moment. In these cases, the emotional brain hijacks the logical one. Risks area suppressed.”
That’s why so many kids drop out of school; they fail to recognize the risk of not having enough education and/or commit risky behaviors. Many are influenced greatly by their peers. Many parents have no idea of the character of the kids their kids associate with. I don’t believe my wife and I did but we had a lot of success and some failure with our three children, the youngest now 47.
This article mainly discusses why kids drive too fast, drink too much and doing their all to perpetuate the species. Adolescents believe danger bounces off them and they low-ball the chances that it will bring harmful consequences. This explanation implies that when teens do stupid things, it is for rational reasons. That’s the problem; “Adolescents don’t tend to underestimate the probability of major risks nor do they generally have feelings of invulnerability. That’s bad news for parents and schools.”
This brings me back to all our efforts to get kids to see things as we see them. They often don’t. Mature adults manage mostly to avoid risky behavior not because they are better at conscious deliberation, but because they intuitively grasp dangers. They don’t stop and deliberate on the costs and benefits of risky behaviors.
Maybe our approach to getting kids to learn is mostly wrong. Everybody, I believe wants their kids to stay in school, get good grades, go to college, avoid killing themselves in some ill advised risk, and want to keep them out of a group of 3,000,000,000 new cases of STDs that are diagnosed in U.S. adolescents each year. Maybe we are spending too much time looking at kids through our adult eyes; kids with still developing frontal brain lobes that don’t fully develop until the mid 20’s; looking at them thru adult brains.
Raising today’s generations of kids is kind of like playing the stock market. Some parents, and teachers, (stock buyers) know exactly what they are doing; they’ve done their part to raise kids successfully. Other parents and teachers haven’t got a clue how to teach and raise their kids (buy stocks that go down instead of up) and raising kids or buying stocks becomes like another gambling game, a crap shoot whether or not these parents and kids win or lose.
We need to get kids at an early age to grab the gist of something that they can manage. We need to drum into kid’s heads positive images of healthy and wise behaviors and negative images of risky behavior. The idea is to make the thought of risky behaviors to reflexively trigger a no-go decision.
The article concludes “All the evidence, as opposed to folk wisdom, says this is more likely to work than current tactics.”
That’s why so many kids drop out of school; they fail to recognize the risk of not having enough education and/or commit risky behaviors. Many are influenced greatly by their peers. Many parents have no idea of the character of the kids their kids associate with. I don’t believe my wife and I did but we had a lot of success and some failure with our three children, the youngest now 47.
This article mainly discusses why kids drive too fast, drink too much and doing their all to perpetuate the species. Adolescents believe danger bounces off them and they low-ball the chances that it will bring harmful consequences. This explanation implies that when teens do stupid things, it is for rational reasons. That’s the problem; “Adolescents don’t tend to underestimate the probability of major risks nor do they generally have feelings of invulnerability. That’s bad news for parents and schools.”
This brings me back to all our efforts to get kids to see things as we see them. They often don’t. Mature adults manage mostly to avoid risky behavior not because they are better at conscious deliberation, but because they intuitively grasp dangers. They don’t stop and deliberate on the costs and benefits of risky behaviors.
Maybe our approach to getting kids to learn is mostly wrong. Everybody, I believe wants their kids to stay in school, get good grades, go to college, avoid killing themselves in some ill advised risk, and want to keep them out of a group of 3,000,000,000 new cases of STDs that are diagnosed in U.S. adolescents each year. Maybe we are spending too much time looking at kids through our adult eyes; kids with still developing frontal brain lobes that don’t fully develop until the mid 20’s; looking at them thru adult brains.
Raising today’s generations of kids is kind of like playing the stock market. Some parents, and teachers, (stock buyers) know exactly what they are doing; they’ve done their part to raise kids successfully. Other parents and teachers haven’t got a clue how to teach and raise their kids (buy stocks that go down instead of up) and raising kids or buying stocks becomes like another gambling game, a crap shoot whether or not these parents and kids win or lose.
We need to get kids at an early age to grab the gist of something that they can manage. We need to drum into kid’s heads positive images of healthy and wise behaviors and negative images of risky behavior. The idea is to make the thought of risky behaviors to reflexively trigger a no-go decision.
The article concludes “All the evidence, as opposed to folk wisdom, says this is more likely to work than current tactics.”
Modifying Permit Denied
My blogs are too long for many of my readers. This blog will be short. I note the article on the PDC Landfill on 2/9/07 credited no reporter. JS reporter Molly Parker was present and appeared to be covering the meeting. The reporter that covers environment, Elaine Hopkins, is gone from the JS. Elaine, who appeared to write articles slanted in opposition to the application to expand, did a reasonable job in the years I’ve know her and I wish her well in the future. Molly Parker who sided with the no voters picked the wrong headline “Landfill Expansion Refused”. What the County Board did was deny a modification to its operating permit which Molly says PDC offered as a backup plan that would only be used if PDC is unsuccessful in reversing the boards siting decision now on appeal. This old news headline should have read “Modifying Permit Refused”. The application permitting expansion is probably a long way from over since 3 of the no voters are gone from the board and as far as I can determine none of the 6 yes voters have changed their position. Expect a long legal battle with costs borne by the taxpayer and all the special criteria offered by PDC off the table.
A few have criticized PDC for not offering these special criteria in their original application. The reason appears to be that PDC did not think the expansion created a hazard to the health of the communities involved. Evidently the Pleasant Valley Water District with deep wells adjacent to the landfill site did not believe the landfill to be a hazard to their water supply as I do not recall any protest from their board in any of the testimony submitted prior to the vote to deny.
For those of you who believed 700 doctors opposed this expansion thru spokesman Gary Zwicky should ask their doctors if they followed the testimony or visited PDC to see what PDC actually does. They do not accept anything and dump it in a hole in the ground as the most radical environmentalists would have you believe. Also read or reread Dr. Zwicky’ testimony which you can find on this site published on 4/13/06 and Dr. Smarts “letter to the editors” dated 4/5/06 also on this site.
The Coulter family who own PDC have stated they will give any group of people interested in see how they handle solid waste a tour. They have stated that Dr. Zwicky did NOT tour their operation but Dr. Smart did.
A few have criticized PDC for not offering these special criteria in their original application. The reason appears to be that PDC did not think the expansion created a hazard to the health of the communities involved. Evidently the Pleasant Valley Water District with deep wells adjacent to the landfill site did not believe the landfill to be a hazard to their water supply as I do not recall any protest from their board in any of the testimony submitted prior to the vote to deny.
For those of you who believed 700 doctors opposed this expansion thru spokesman Gary Zwicky should ask their doctors if they followed the testimony or visited PDC to see what PDC actually does. They do not accept anything and dump it in a hole in the ground as the most radical environmentalists would have you believe. Also read or reread Dr. Zwicky’ testimony which you can find on this site published on 4/13/06 and Dr. Smarts “letter to the editors” dated 4/5/06 also on this site.
The Coulter family who own PDC have stated they will give any group of people interested in see how they handle solid waste a tour. They have stated that Dr. Zwicky did NOT tour their operation but Dr. Smart did.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Incentives to get Educated
Peoria Promise, as detailed to me so far, is an incentive for parents who might not see any college planning in the future of their children. There are as usual a number of questions that will be posed before some people will contribute to the fund. I haven’t talked to the Mayor recently but I will and receive more details but I will ask a few questions and make a few comments on this site. Who will be included on the oversight committee? If a large number of students enroll in the system, the selection process must be by lottery if there is a no qualifying minimum high school grade point average. I suggest anyone with a too low GPA is not ready for college. Since the Mayor says preference will be given to longevity of attending schools in the area and Mr. Collier says middle class and lower middle class parents are the ones that need help in educating their kids, it may appear that those in poverty levels or below will be given no special preference.
I believe the private contributors will insist that those families and children receiving scholarships, be citizens of this country and have mastered the English language. My experience has been that the oversight committee must be independent of any school of higher education these kids might attend. Committee members should not be selected from any school board and that none be administrators or staff of any school and those who do the selecting of who will receive scholarships do not have any kids that might be eligible. Members of the educational community should act as advisors; since this effort will be privately funded, the oversight committee should come from the private sector.
Over dozens of years, many ideas have been presented by the community to educators as to how to make our school programs more appealing to those who do not understand they need a good education to earn the good wages; wages they believe by some misguided thought process they feel they should be entitled to earn. The presentation of more Vo/Tech training and on the job training as shown in today’s WSJ titled “Playing at Professions” Job Theme Park for Children is a Huge Success in Japan”. The theme park called Kidzania can accommodate 3,000 children a day and is hugely successful. The importance of job preparation is stressed as one teacher said “otherwise, children would tend to choose the easy jobs.” The park was created because many young people lack the diligent work ethic and more young people are dropping out of jobs and many not even looking for them. About 640,000 single Japanese between the ages of 15 and 34 are neither at work nor at school.
Much dismay has been expressed as to why parents aren’t more involved in making public school systems more effective. There are about as many reasons why parents aren’t as there are reasons why many parents are. Many programs have been tried to get parents more involved in the good guidance of their children including one being designed by members of the City Council such as detailed in an article titled “Parental Responsibility Law on the Drawing Board” written by Jennifer Davis in the JS on 2/1/07. Articles have appeared quoting District #150 and the County Health Department stating that “we can’t raise and educate kids alone” and that the whole community must be more participatory. Hundreds of solutions and possible solution have been brought before the public in hundreds of books, news media and the spoken word. Many pockets of success are documented to be copied. I understand Peoria Promise is going to be tailored after a successful program in Kalamazoo, Michigan that was started in 2005.
What communities are realizing is that we must show kids incentives that they can understand to get them thru at least high school and some college time. However, it would be a serious mistake just to send kids to college before they are ready to accept the responsibility of applying themselves to the opportunities presented. It would be another mistake if these kids aren’t counseled as to what fields have the greatest need for educated graduates. It would be a mistake to make kids believe that since they are rewarded with a college degree they will all be “Chiefs and no Indians” a quote by Garrison Keillor’s in one of his recent books. It would be a mistake to let kids believe that just because they have a college degree, they are entitled to high paying white collar jobs.
When kids graduate from college, they must understand that their degree gave them a hunting license to get a financially adequate, community contributory and personally satisfactory job.
Also, on 2/1/07 and article appeared in the WSJ titled “Keeping up with the Chavez’s” written by Francis Fukuyama, Professor of International Economy at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies among other titles. The article states that there has been little new thinking in the U.S. on social policies for the poor. Part of the problem is that while social policy is popular, it has many pitfalls. Public social policies have a tendency to become entrenched entitlements controlled by teachers unions whose main interests are protecting the interests of adults in the system rather than the children. But other countries with a populist bent have tried to design educational programs that take incentives into account from the get-go. The Mexican Progresa Program pays poor people a stipend on the condition that they send their children to school, recognizing the fact that many poor families see greater benefit in putting their children to work rather than educating them. Studies document that Progresa has raised school attendance dramatically. Early success caused the program to be expanded broadly but long term educational outcomes are less certain.
Yet, the success of Progresa has led to its being copied by other parts of Latin America where the Bolsa Familia reaches some 15 million poor in Brazil and appears to have had an actual impact in lowering that country’s income inequality; Brazil’s inequality being one of the highest in the world. What has allowed people like Venezuela’s Chavez to win over the vote are policies similar to Progresa and Bolsa Families and their ability to promise, and to a certain extent, deliver on social policy—things like education and health and other social services particularly for the poor.
Most born in this community realized at some point in our early lives that we had to learn to read well, write well and speak well to avoid living in poverty.. The overwhelming majority of us accomplished these attributes thru our educational systems and our paying attention to what was going on around us and being sure those we mainly associated with were on the same upward mobility track on which we were trying to stay. We recognized incentives more easily than did many of the uneducated, middle class or poor. For those of us who made reasonable successes of our live, more thanks is owed to our parents, no matter what was, or is, their income or position in their community. Most of us never realized or appreciated our parental, school and community guidance in our in early lives. To have parents who did guide us and offer us incentives such as, “if you want to live here with us in OUR HOUSE and enjoy what we do have”; that was incentive enough to get us out of bed, go to school, pay attention while there and develop a work and responsibility ethic.
I have written dozens of articles on the successes and failures of the public school system. One article you may want to read was published on this site on 4/24/05 and titled “School Daze”. Another is titled “The Educational Battleground” published 11/20/05. Another blog is about a partial solution for the truancy problem dated March 26, 2005.
I wish the community and the Mayor success in this venture and realize it is another beginning. We need to create incentives that “kids can understand” (just because we do, doesn’t mean, they do) as to why they need to take advantage of what I believe to be the best overall educational system in the world. We need to get the best teachers we can get and pay them on a “performance” basis, the same as the private sector does with their non-union employees, and some performance pay with even union assistance. I refer you to my blog dated 10/21/05 “Incentive Pay for Teachers” and my blog dated 12/13/05 “Linking Pay to Performance”.
Thank you for reading me and I will appreciate your comments.
I believe the private contributors will insist that those families and children receiving scholarships, be citizens of this country and have mastered the English language. My experience has been that the oversight committee must be independent of any school of higher education these kids might attend. Committee members should not be selected from any school board and that none be administrators or staff of any school and those who do the selecting of who will receive scholarships do not have any kids that might be eligible. Members of the educational community should act as advisors; since this effort will be privately funded, the oversight committee should come from the private sector.
Over dozens of years, many ideas have been presented by the community to educators as to how to make our school programs more appealing to those who do not understand they need a good education to earn the good wages; wages they believe by some misguided thought process they feel they should be entitled to earn. The presentation of more Vo/Tech training and on the job training as shown in today’s WSJ titled “Playing at Professions” Job Theme Park for Children is a Huge Success in Japan”. The theme park called Kidzania can accommodate 3,000 children a day and is hugely successful. The importance of job preparation is stressed as one teacher said “otherwise, children would tend to choose the easy jobs.” The park was created because many young people lack the diligent work ethic and more young people are dropping out of jobs and many not even looking for them. About 640,000 single Japanese between the ages of 15 and 34 are neither at work nor at school.
Much dismay has been expressed as to why parents aren’t more involved in making public school systems more effective. There are about as many reasons why parents aren’t as there are reasons why many parents are. Many programs have been tried to get parents more involved in the good guidance of their children including one being designed by members of the City Council such as detailed in an article titled “Parental Responsibility Law on the Drawing Board” written by Jennifer Davis in the JS on 2/1/07. Articles have appeared quoting District #150 and the County Health Department stating that “we can’t raise and educate kids alone” and that the whole community must be more participatory. Hundreds of solutions and possible solution have been brought before the public in hundreds of books, news media and the spoken word. Many pockets of success are documented to be copied. I understand Peoria Promise is going to be tailored after a successful program in Kalamazoo, Michigan that was started in 2005.
What communities are realizing is that we must show kids incentives that they can understand to get them thru at least high school and some college time. However, it would be a serious mistake just to send kids to college before they are ready to accept the responsibility of applying themselves to the opportunities presented. It would be another mistake if these kids aren’t counseled as to what fields have the greatest need for educated graduates. It would be a mistake to make kids believe that since they are rewarded with a college degree they will all be “Chiefs and no Indians” a quote by Garrison Keillor’s in one of his recent books. It would be a mistake to let kids believe that just because they have a college degree, they are entitled to high paying white collar jobs.
When kids graduate from college, they must understand that their degree gave them a hunting license to get a financially adequate, community contributory and personally satisfactory job.
Also, on 2/1/07 and article appeared in the WSJ titled “Keeping up with the Chavez’s” written by Francis Fukuyama, Professor of International Economy at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies among other titles. The article states that there has been little new thinking in the U.S. on social policies for the poor. Part of the problem is that while social policy is popular, it has many pitfalls. Public social policies have a tendency to become entrenched entitlements controlled by teachers unions whose main interests are protecting the interests of adults in the system rather than the children. But other countries with a populist bent have tried to design educational programs that take incentives into account from the get-go. The Mexican Progresa Program pays poor people a stipend on the condition that they send their children to school, recognizing the fact that many poor families see greater benefit in putting their children to work rather than educating them. Studies document that Progresa has raised school attendance dramatically. Early success caused the program to be expanded broadly but long term educational outcomes are less certain.
Yet, the success of Progresa has led to its being copied by other parts of Latin America where the Bolsa Familia reaches some 15 million poor in Brazil and appears to have had an actual impact in lowering that country’s income inequality; Brazil’s inequality being one of the highest in the world. What has allowed people like Venezuela’s Chavez to win over the vote are policies similar to Progresa and Bolsa Families and their ability to promise, and to a certain extent, deliver on social policy—things like education and health and other social services particularly for the poor.
Most born in this community realized at some point in our early lives that we had to learn to read well, write well and speak well to avoid living in poverty.. The overwhelming majority of us accomplished these attributes thru our educational systems and our paying attention to what was going on around us and being sure those we mainly associated with were on the same upward mobility track on which we were trying to stay. We recognized incentives more easily than did many of the uneducated, middle class or poor. For those of us who made reasonable successes of our live, more thanks is owed to our parents, no matter what was, or is, their income or position in their community. Most of us never realized or appreciated our parental, school and community guidance in our in early lives. To have parents who did guide us and offer us incentives such as, “if you want to live here with us in OUR HOUSE and enjoy what we do have”; that was incentive enough to get us out of bed, go to school, pay attention while there and develop a work and responsibility ethic.
I have written dozens of articles on the successes and failures of the public school system. One article you may want to read was published on this site on 4/24/05 and titled “School Daze”. Another is titled “The Educational Battleground” published 11/20/05. Another blog is about a partial solution for the truancy problem dated March 26, 2005.
I wish the community and the Mayor success in this venture and realize it is another beginning. We need to create incentives that “kids can understand” (just because we do, doesn’t mean, they do) as to why they need to take advantage of what I believe to be the best overall educational system in the world. We need to get the best teachers we can get and pay them on a “performance” basis, the same as the private sector does with their non-union employees, and some performance pay with even union assistance. I refer you to my blog dated 10/21/05 “Incentive Pay for Teachers” and my blog dated 12/13/05 “Linking Pay to Performance”.
Thank you for reading me and I will appreciate your comments.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Happy New Year
Just some 2007 forward thinking and then I won’t be blogging till early February. Time to enjoy my retirement by doing for one month the things I want to do while I can still do them.
My forward thinking may be mostly rambling but not without a lot of serious research and thought. Here goes:
Peoria has the talent, expertise, leadership and finances to support many of the one billion plus spending projects in process or are on the drawing boards if facts and big egos don’t bankrupt the retirees and lower middle classes finances in the process. To be too optimistic about the disregarding of facts and controlling egos are at times a stretch.
It seems like determing priorities have been a problem forever in this community. Local major media has not been a lot of help to determine the sequence of or how to identify and determine how these priorities are to be sold to the public. Also, the problem of funding these priorities hasn’t received much help from our major source of printed news. If you carefully reread their Editorials you will see a trend to favor almost everything but the editors seldom ask for business plans and financial data or question how these exspenditures they favor will be sensibly funded.
One of my first “Letters to the Editors” published in 1994 pointed out that I believed our priorities were askew. Since then I have had at least 30 letters published in various news media and have created some hundreds of blogs for anyone who wishes to can read. In most of these blogs I play the "devils advocate".
Most of the priorities I have written about concerning this community are sensible and attainable. I wrote that if you have the product people want and price and service it properly, then people will come regardless of being able to save 10 minutes on a new billion dollar highway..
When the “Highway to Chicago” drive became a mania to some in the community I tried to point out that was what it would become; just that; a highway TO Chicago. What I sought was more reasons for people to come to Peoria and if the reasons were there, people would find us; new highway or not.
My #1 priority was our public school systems. It still is. Many Peorians are seeking competition for the union dominated Peoria public school system and are getting it from Christian, Catholic, Lutheran and other schools of choice such as the Edison concept. We want better paying jobs but we must have a ready and willing to work labor force. We must have less belligerent unions and workers with better work ethics and better attitudes.
Peorians believe strongly in their kids getting a good education. Yet educating a child can not be all about how well kids do on tests but on how education, community and school participation and parenting turn out a well rounded product. The ability to read and read well is absolutely essential. However, reading without understanding what one has read will not turn out kids who know how to think. The major goal of public and private schools and teachers, parents, union bosses, capitalist barons, public leaders and all others who profess to lead is not to tell people what to think but teach people how to think.
We need less concern about victimization of some of our populace and more concern about leadership that shows young people what they need and how to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
Peorians need to realize that racism is a two way street and stop acting with feelings of guilt; guilt that should never have been solely placed on past and present generations of people living in the United States
People are concerned about safety although history says this country was never safe. Just read about the early settlers and the Indians they removed from the land the settlers wanted. Parts of the country were never safe for Caucasians, Irish, Italians, Hispanics, Blacks, Chinese, and Jews, to name a few. We fought wars with Mexico to claim a large part of the far west as part of the United States. We fought among ourselves; just 160 short years ago, one of the worst Civil Wars in all of history. Violence ususally is a product of an inadequate education.
People want low taxes, especially property taxes. They want convenient shopping areas. They want affordable housing and green space. They prefer less congestion on our highways although they move to suburbia by droves. People want well maintained roadbeds and roadways. Peorians look to travel from one part of the county to another part on well maintained roads and in safety and convenience.
Peorians do not appreciate someone else’s garbage dumped in any neighborhood. They do not want to live by abandoned or structurally unsafe buildings. They want reasonable parks, recreation and workout areas including a reasonable amount of trails. They want to pay resonable prices to live in safe and clean neighborhoods.
Peorians want to be known as living in the same community as Caterpillar, Bradley and our large and growing medical center. They do not want to go to Barnes or Mayo if we offer the same medical services and expertise locally. They want to shop locally with a variety of selections and the convenience of parking to shop. They want a variety of convenient grocery stores and restaurants. They want to pay reasonable prices for these priviliges.
Peorians want smaller government with less regulation of every step of their lives. Many believe that the best functioning governments do no harm and support a free market. However, they want the government to strongly regulate all types of pollutants from second hand smoke to clean rivers. They want to feel safe whevever they go at reasonable times of the day.
Peorians want accessible libraries but want those asking for more tax money to come up with a business plan and more proof of need to the entire community that supports them with their taxes.
These are my viewpoints as we look back as we enter 2007. We have already completed questionable projects such as a partly taxpayer funded ballpark and RiverPlex. Neither has come close to living up to their projections. After a shooting on RiverPlex property last week, the Journal Star reported that the RiverPlex had 8,000 members. Going back to the original Park board and Administration projections in June, 1999, if they really did have 8,000 members, the operation would be operating at over $800,000.00 profit. Instead. It is still on track to lose well over a million dollars in 2007. As a stockholder in the ballpark, my yearly financial report has shown no return on my investment since I bought my stock in 1994.
While I certainly am an advocate of wildlife in park and zoo natural settings, it takes no financial wizard to figure the new zoo will be a major drag on the taxpayers of Peoria. The current zoo loses approximately $400,000.00 a year and after the $32 million expansion, the park projects an increase of only 70,000 visitor a year. Remember these are the same people who projected that the RiverPlex would be profitable. At even $10 per person admission, (Maybe they will charge $10 instead of the $7 first discussed but after the first year, expect attendance to fall off dramaticall) these attendance fees would bring in a maximum of only $700,000.00 new dollars a year which will not leave much for the greatly increased maintenance, larger payroll and benefits and payoff of principal and interest of the approximately $12,000,000.00 dollars borrowed on new bonds to date.
The Civic Center is a big gamble with all the competition in Bloomington, East Peoria, Pekin and especially larger communities across the nation who have now and will have in the future, much more to offer than the Peoria area amenities and climate. Enough said; watch and see results as the project is nearing completion.
The Museum is a long way from being funded and expect the annual maintenance to run over $4 million a year. Funding is not even half raised, earmarks from the feds and state are very uncertain and Caterpillar who can afford it has said they will not proceed unless the publicly funded Museum is under construction.
It was only 4 years ago that representatives of the Peoria Library Board stood before the city council and pleaded for money to buy 7 acres of land out north on Allen Rd. Now plans have changed completely and they are asking for a referendum to be placed on the ballot this year asking the taxpayer for $32 million with no specific location for a new north side branch. This referendum with no more proof of need than presented so far should fail on the gitgo. The community has far greater needs than a plea for more computer and meeting room space. Trashy fiction books which abound at all libraries are a “dime a dozen” in every household and library in Peoria. All local schools have libraries and computers largely paid for by the taxpayer. Plus we live in a highly mobile community. As a consistent(seldom the trashy fiction books unless it is Carl Hiassen) user of Lakeview Library, I still note over 1300 linear feet of unused bookshelves and I have never seen a longer waiting line then at the grocery stores where I shop and PAY FOR WHAT I BUY.
Our politicians in Springfield and Washington, D.C. believe their main job to satisfy those special interests who fund their campaigns and to bring back spending projects to Peoria in the form of grants, earmarks and subsidies such as the museum parking project, now at $800,000.00 and growing, $1.6million for Rt. 29 including land acquisition. Land acquisition?? Compare to Peoria Public School Districts buying $800,000.00 of properties on Prospect, now sitting on the books as an asset with no buyers. Also in the Transportation bill signed by President George Bush includes $2.4 million to for the Eastern bypass and bridge (Ring Road) study and land acquisition. Land acquisition? There has been no new route plan presented to the public so how can the government be buying land for the by-pass? Then we complain that the federal budget is so large the average citizens has no comprehension of how much this country is in debt with little decrease in cutbacks and entitlements on the horizon.
The Journal Star Editorial “Not too late to look at sensible highway to Chicago” (Dated 7/09/06.) brings up the ill-fated “Highway to Chicago” projected project; this proposed highway being called a “road to ruin” and one of the 50 most wasteful road projects in the nation (JS April 28, 1999). No matter that the USDOT has changed their road building philosophy from “mobility and efficiency” to “feel and function” and putting their dollars on maintaining and improving roadbeds such as they did on improving RT. 74 thru Peoria. ( I suggest some dollars be put in by IDOT to bring Knoxville from War Memorial North up to first world standards. Did anyone note that the snow plow drivers dug up more landscape than snow in many places?)
In 2005, Peoria County and City partnered in bringing in a business attraction consultant, a firm with national acclaim and this firm concluded that this community had superior highway access, scored high in higher education access and culture. We scored lower in crime, local property taxes, community appearance and workman compensation costs. The full report is on www.peoriacounty.org
Peorians who care about more tax sharing revenues from private ventures, should hope that the Surface Transportation Board will rule that Peoria is a lucky city to have a railway passageway from downtown all the way out to Pioneer Park and possibly beyond, to move merchandise and people. Trails do not bring much revenue to any community and this railway to trailways would bring next to none. No cost estimate has been professionally made to see if rails and trails can work in the same allotted space. (The Peoria Park district has been paying former Mayor Richard Carver's expenses as he travels back and forth from his East Coast home to consult in favor of convering the railway to trails)
Peorians should hope that there is competition for each board member up for election on the park board and #150 board. The greatest need is that at least one board member be a person who has met a fair sized payroll and operated a successful business. I fear apathy and fear of media character attacks will prevent the running of the type of person best suited to bring common sense back to these boards. These boards have some good representatives. It only takes one or two new members with background experience in common sense and business success and a strong personality (big ego?) to make a big difference. Use as an example; the Peoria County Board.
District #150 has a number of new programs including some expanded Vo-Tech opportunities and other math and reading programs. I will try to make an evaluation of progress this spring. I have always been a proponent of good facilities and teaching equipment but believe when architects are given a free hand to design the ideal new structures, costs often soar out of ability to pay without eventual severe property tax increases. When boards come up with solid financing plans the architects will work within these financial boundaries established by availability of funding. It has long been proven that new buildings and equipment do not have much effect, if any, in turning out a hirable and retainable product.
Meanwhile, 162 acres of farmland bought by Bradley University for $13,000.00 an acre sits idle four miles north of the Shoppes while Bradley attempts a $100,000,000.00 fund raising drive. Bradley took out a $2.1 million dollar mortgage to buy this property with the hope that the Peoria Park district and Dunlap School District would acquire the land from Bradley.. Both deals have apparently fallen thru. In the meantime, the Peoria Park District is 12 years of more behind East Peoria in building softball fields that meet National Tournament Standards. Their skateboard board if you can find it is a travesty and potential accident prone and potential drug dealing location. It is located on the far east end of Becker Park in a draw next to a wooded area. The last time I looked the recreational facilities had no restroom facilities. Also there is no public vehicle access to the softball and skateboard area.
The Park District has made plans to temporarily relocate from the Pavilion to the old IDOT Building on Knoxville to make room for the yet unfunded Playhouse. You need to ask those sponsoring these activities where this money if coming from. I think I know.
Rumor on the street is that the Peoria Park District Plans to buy the 12 indoor tennis courts from the River city Racquet Club at the same time a private firm is trying to raise money to build a new tennis facility in the vicinity of the Shoppes. One board member says that is not true.
Many Peorians are hoping all these dreams come true. Many taxpayers are highly concerned that they will come true and drive property owners to live in less costly communities, especially the growing number of retirees, where they can come back to Peoria and pay the users fee without being burdened by the excessive property taxes I forsee.
The Greater Peoria Airport Authority planned expansions should include funding from all counties around Peoria whose citizenry use this facility and not just stick the residents of Peoria County with the costs.
TRANSPORT is off to a slightly shaky start with apparently unforseen rising costs of renovating the massive warehouse donated by Caterpillar. The Renaissance Center is in early stages but taxpayers can only hope it has more success then One Technology Plaza. Industrial development of the Southside along the River has been a subject for many years and like TRANSPORT has a lot of optimism but is a long way from fruition. Locks and Dams and river cleanups are in jeopardy with the cutting back of federal projects that do not prove an immediate cost saving benefit.
I predict more closing of restaurants and retail stores and relocation of several businesses such as last year's out right closure of Cohen Furniture and Siegrist Furniture. I would be surprised if Bergner’s is still in Sheridan Village at the end of the year and I predict several small retailers and some resturants will close up shop in 2007 because all indications induce a surplus of both and a lack of competent service oriented clerks and good help in general. Where you able to find sales clerks who knew the merchandise and it's selling points? Some overworked and probably underpaid clerks were doing their best to handle the traffic. But I fear salesmanship is becoming a lost art for many businesses.
Look for more transparency in public bodies. Supossedly unauthorized erasure of Executive Committee Tapes should be a felony. Anyone with a few months experience knows that tapes of private executive sessions are not erased without full board approval and the recommendations of the attorney representing the public body.
I project that 2007 will be a combative year among competing egos for the spending of non-revenue producing projects but not much will change to put Peoria on a solid financial basis. If the boom of 2006 repeats itself and the economy remains strong wealthy people will be more apt to contribute money for essential projects. It will help also if Caterpillar regains its $10 a share stock drop last quarter.
Now vacant properties will need to be occupied by tax paying private business.
Look for PDC to have a at least a good chance of getting approval from the IEPA to continue exactly what they are doing with little change in procedure and that PDC also has a good chance of the IEPA or the Pollution Control Board overturning the "No" vote on the PDC Expansion Application.
My final prediction or observation that it is going to be tough sledding for all the fund raising drives underway in Peoria. Even in the best of economic conditions this community has an awful lot of expensive planning and building underway.
Not least is the growing sprawl of the City of Peoria without a real growth in overall population. This means more services cost to the taxpayers and a steady rise in assessed valuation taxes fueled by continued construction of new houses in the cities suburbia.
Since I will not be blogging again till February, those of you who didn’t pick me up when I started blogging 30 month ago might enjoy following my themes in my easily found archives; archives extensively researched and sprinkled with common sense.
My widely constructive criticism of the Bradley Basketball program may have had a hand in turning the Bradley program around last year.as the first to call attention the mysterious erasing of the Park Board Executive Tapes, my synopsis of the Peoria City Election commission may shed some light to why Jeannette M was terminated and my blog revealing the potential conflict of interest between Tim Cassidy, President of a tax collecting body and representing Weaver Ridge in a futile attempt to get their property taxes sizeably reduced as highlights of my sporadic blogging endeavor. My numerous blogs on the public school system which I support must have some drastic changes in the way they operate if they area going to escape governmental takeover.
My 12 article dissertation on the controversial Landfill Application included some of my best informative blogging to date.
In the meantime feel free to comment and make your views known for the entire world to see if they wish. I would hope some of you would give me additional information and help correct my boo-boos and please present the facts and sources when you disagree with me so I can do the proper research and correct my mis-information.
Demand more transparency on all public taxpayer funded bodies and support my friends at Rally Peoria financially, no matter how small the amount, They are working for you and bearing the cost burden almost alone.
Have a safe and prosperous New Year and thanks for reading me.
My forward thinking may be mostly rambling but not without a lot of serious research and thought. Here goes:
Peoria has the talent, expertise, leadership and finances to support many of the one billion plus spending projects in process or are on the drawing boards if facts and big egos don’t bankrupt the retirees and lower middle classes finances in the process. To be too optimistic about the disregarding of facts and controlling egos are at times a stretch.
It seems like determing priorities have been a problem forever in this community. Local major media has not been a lot of help to determine the sequence of or how to identify and determine how these priorities are to be sold to the public. Also, the problem of funding these priorities hasn’t received much help from our major source of printed news. If you carefully reread their Editorials you will see a trend to favor almost everything but the editors seldom ask for business plans and financial data or question how these exspenditures they favor will be sensibly funded.
One of my first “Letters to the Editors” published in 1994 pointed out that I believed our priorities were askew. Since then I have had at least 30 letters published in various news media and have created some hundreds of blogs for anyone who wishes to can read. In most of these blogs I play the "devils advocate".
Most of the priorities I have written about concerning this community are sensible and attainable. I wrote that if you have the product people want and price and service it properly, then people will come regardless of being able to save 10 minutes on a new billion dollar highway..
When the “Highway to Chicago” drive became a mania to some in the community I tried to point out that was what it would become; just that; a highway TO Chicago. What I sought was more reasons for people to come to Peoria and if the reasons were there, people would find us; new highway or not.
My #1 priority was our public school systems. It still is. Many Peorians are seeking competition for the union dominated Peoria public school system and are getting it from Christian, Catholic, Lutheran and other schools of choice such as the Edison concept. We want better paying jobs but we must have a ready and willing to work labor force. We must have less belligerent unions and workers with better work ethics and better attitudes.
Peorians believe strongly in their kids getting a good education. Yet educating a child can not be all about how well kids do on tests but on how education, community and school participation and parenting turn out a well rounded product. The ability to read and read well is absolutely essential. However, reading without understanding what one has read will not turn out kids who know how to think. The major goal of public and private schools and teachers, parents, union bosses, capitalist barons, public leaders and all others who profess to lead is not to tell people what to think but teach people how to think.
We need less concern about victimization of some of our populace and more concern about leadership that shows young people what they need and how to succeed in a competitive marketplace.
Peorians need to realize that racism is a two way street and stop acting with feelings of guilt; guilt that should never have been solely placed on past and present generations of people living in the United States
People are concerned about safety although history says this country was never safe. Just read about the early settlers and the Indians they removed from the land the settlers wanted. Parts of the country were never safe for Caucasians, Irish, Italians, Hispanics, Blacks, Chinese, and Jews, to name a few. We fought wars with Mexico to claim a large part of the far west as part of the United States. We fought among ourselves; just 160 short years ago, one of the worst Civil Wars in all of history. Violence ususally is a product of an inadequate education.
People want low taxes, especially property taxes. They want convenient shopping areas. They want affordable housing and green space. They prefer less congestion on our highways although they move to suburbia by droves. People want well maintained roadbeds and roadways. Peorians look to travel from one part of the county to another part on well maintained roads and in safety and convenience.
Peorians do not appreciate someone else’s garbage dumped in any neighborhood. They do not want to live by abandoned or structurally unsafe buildings. They want reasonable parks, recreation and workout areas including a reasonable amount of trails. They want to pay resonable prices to live in safe and clean neighborhoods.
Peorians want to be known as living in the same community as Caterpillar, Bradley and our large and growing medical center. They do not want to go to Barnes or Mayo if we offer the same medical services and expertise locally. They want to shop locally with a variety of selections and the convenience of parking to shop. They want a variety of convenient grocery stores and restaurants. They want to pay reasonable prices for these priviliges.
Peorians want smaller government with less regulation of every step of their lives. Many believe that the best functioning governments do no harm and support a free market. However, they want the government to strongly regulate all types of pollutants from second hand smoke to clean rivers. They want to feel safe whevever they go at reasonable times of the day.
Peorians want accessible libraries but want those asking for more tax money to come up with a business plan and more proof of need to the entire community that supports them with their taxes.
These are my viewpoints as we look back as we enter 2007. We have already completed questionable projects such as a partly taxpayer funded ballpark and RiverPlex. Neither has come close to living up to their projections. After a shooting on RiverPlex property last week, the Journal Star reported that the RiverPlex had 8,000 members. Going back to the original Park board and Administration projections in June, 1999, if they really did have 8,000 members, the operation would be operating at over $800,000.00 profit. Instead. It is still on track to lose well over a million dollars in 2007. As a stockholder in the ballpark, my yearly financial report has shown no return on my investment since I bought my stock in 1994.
While I certainly am an advocate of wildlife in park and zoo natural settings, it takes no financial wizard to figure the new zoo will be a major drag on the taxpayers of Peoria. The current zoo loses approximately $400,000.00 a year and after the $32 million expansion, the park projects an increase of only 70,000 visitor a year. Remember these are the same people who projected that the RiverPlex would be profitable. At even $10 per person admission, (Maybe they will charge $10 instead of the $7 first discussed but after the first year, expect attendance to fall off dramaticall) these attendance fees would bring in a maximum of only $700,000.00 new dollars a year which will not leave much for the greatly increased maintenance, larger payroll and benefits and payoff of principal and interest of the approximately $12,000,000.00 dollars borrowed on new bonds to date.
The Civic Center is a big gamble with all the competition in Bloomington, East Peoria, Pekin and especially larger communities across the nation who have now and will have in the future, much more to offer than the Peoria area amenities and climate. Enough said; watch and see results as the project is nearing completion.
The Museum is a long way from being funded and expect the annual maintenance to run over $4 million a year. Funding is not even half raised, earmarks from the feds and state are very uncertain and Caterpillar who can afford it has said they will not proceed unless the publicly funded Museum is under construction.
It was only 4 years ago that representatives of the Peoria Library Board stood before the city council and pleaded for money to buy 7 acres of land out north on Allen Rd. Now plans have changed completely and they are asking for a referendum to be placed on the ballot this year asking the taxpayer for $32 million with no specific location for a new north side branch. This referendum with no more proof of need than presented so far should fail on the gitgo. The community has far greater needs than a plea for more computer and meeting room space. Trashy fiction books which abound at all libraries are a “dime a dozen” in every household and library in Peoria. All local schools have libraries and computers largely paid for by the taxpayer. Plus we live in a highly mobile community. As a consistent(seldom the trashy fiction books unless it is Carl Hiassen) user of Lakeview Library, I still note over 1300 linear feet of unused bookshelves and I have never seen a longer waiting line then at the grocery stores where I shop and PAY FOR WHAT I BUY.
Our politicians in Springfield and Washington, D.C. believe their main job to satisfy those special interests who fund their campaigns and to bring back spending projects to Peoria in the form of grants, earmarks and subsidies such as the museum parking project, now at $800,000.00 and growing, $1.6million for Rt. 29 including land acquisition. Land acquisition?? Compare to Peoria Public School Districts buying $800,000.00 of properties on Prospect, now sitting on the books as an asset with no buyers. Also in the Transportation bill signed by President George Bush includes $2.4 million to for the Eastern bypass and bridge (Ring Road) study and land acquisition. Land acquisition? There has been no new route plan presented to the public so how can the government be buying land for the by-pass? Then we complain that the federal budget is so large the average citizens has no comprehension of how much this country is in debt with little decrease in cutbacks and entitlements on the horizon.
The Journal Star Editorial “Not too late to look at sensible highway to Chicago” (Dated 7/09/06.) brings up the ill-fated “Highway to Chicago” projected project; this proposed highway being called a “road to ruin” and one of the 50 most wasteful road projects in the nation (JS April 28, 1999). No matter that the USDOT has changed their road building philosophy from “mobility and efficiency” to “feel and function” and putting their dollars on maintaining and improving roadbeds such as they did on improving RT. 74 thru Peoria. ( I suggest some dollars be put in by IDOT to bring Knoxville from War Memorial North up to first world standards. Did anyone note that the snow plow drivers dug up more landscape than snow in many places?)
In 2005, Peoria County and City partnered in bringing in a business attraction consultant, a firm with national acclaim and this firm concluded that this community had superior highway access, scored high in higher education access and culture. We scored lower in crime, local property taxes, community appearance and workman compensation costs. The full report is on www.peoriacounty.org
Peorians who care about more tax sharing revenues from private ventures, should hope that the Surface Transportation Board will rule that Peoria is a lucky city to have a railway passageway from downtown all the way out to Pioneer Park and possibly beyond, to move merchandise and people. Trails do not bring much revenue to any community and this railway to trailways would bring next to none. No cost estimate has been professionally made to see if rails and trails can work in the same allotted space. (The Peoria Park district has been paying former Mayor Richard Carver's expenses as he travels back and forth from his East Coast home to consult in favor of convering the railway to trails)
Peorians should hope that there is competition for each board member up for election on the park board and #150 board. The greatest need is that at least one board member be a person who has met a fair sized payroll and operated a successful business. I fear apathy and fear of media character attacks will prevent the running of the type of person best suited to bring common sense back to these boards. These boards have some good representatives. It only takes one or two new members with background experience in common sense and business success and a strong personality (big ego?) to make a big difference. Use as an example; the Peoria County Board.
District #150 has a number of new programs including some expanded Vo-Tech opportunities and other math and reading programs. I will try to make an evaluation of progress this spring. I have always been a proponent of good facilities and teaching equipment but believe when architects are given a free hand to design the ideal new structures, costs often soar out of ability to pay without eventual severe property tax increases. When boards come up with solid financing plans the architects will work within these financial boundaries established by availability of funding. It has long been proven that new buildings and equipment do not have much effect, if any, in turning out a hirable and retainable product.
Meanwhile, 162 acres of farmland bought by Bradley University for $13,000.00 an acre sits idle four miles north of the Shoppes while Bradley attempts a $100,000,000.00 fund raising drive. Bradley took out a $2.1 million dollar mortgage to buy this property with the hope that the Peoria Park district and Dunlap School District would acquire the land from Bradley.. Both deals have apparently fallen thru. In the meantime, the Peoria Park District is 12 years of more behind East Peoria in building softball fields that meet National Tournament Standards. Their skateboard board if you can find it is a travesty and potential accident prone and potential drug dealing location. It is located on the far east end of Becker Park in a draw next to a wooded area. The last time I looked the recreational facilities had no restroom facilities. Also there is no public vehicle access to the softball and skateboard area.
The Park District has made plans to temporarily relocate from the Pavilion to the old IDOT Building on Knoxville to make room for the yet unfunded Playhouse. You need to ask those sponsoring these activities where this money if coming from. I think I know.
Rumor on the street is that the Peoria Park District Plans to buy the 12 indoor tennis courts from the River city Racquet Club at the same time a private firm is trying to raise money to build a new tennis facility in the vicinity of the Shoppes. One board member says that is not true.
Many Peorians are hoping all these dreams come true. Many taxpayers are highly concerned that they will come true and drive property owners to live in less costly communities, especially the growing number of retirees, where they can come back to Peoria and pay the users fee without being burdened by the excessive property taxes I forsee.
The Greater Peoria Airport Authority planned expansions should include funding from all counties around Peoria whose citizenry use this facility and not just stick the residents of Peoria County with the costs.
TRANSPORT is off to a slightly shaky start with apparently unforseen rising costs of renovating the massive warehouse donated by Caterpillar. The Renaissance Center is in early stages but taxpayers can only hope it has more success then One Technology Plaza. Industrial development of the Southside along the River has been a subject for many years and like TRANSPORT has a lot of optimism but is a long way from fruition. Locks and Dams and river cleanups are in jeopardy with the cutting back of federal projects that do not prove an immediate cost saving benefit.
I predict more closing of restaurants and retail stores and relocation of several businesses such as last year's out right closure of Cohen Furniture and Siegrist Furniture. I would be surprised if Bergner’s is still in Sheridan Village at the end of the year and I predict several small retailers and some resturants will close up shop in 2007 because all indications induce a surplus of both and a lack of competent service oriented clerks and good help in general. Where you able to find sales clerks who knew the merchandise and it's selling points? Some overworked and probably underpaid clerks were doing their best to handle the traffic. But I fear salesmanship is becoming a lost art for many businesses.
Look for more transparency in public bodies. Supossedly unauthorized erasure of Executive Committee Tapes should be a felony. Anyone with a few months experience knows that tapes of private executive sessions are not erased without full board approval and the recommendations of the attorney representing the public body.
I project that 2007 will be a combative year among competing egos for the spending of non-revenue producing projects but not much will change to put Peoria on a solid financial basis. If the boom of 2006 repeats itself and the economy remains strong wealthy people will be more apt to contribute money for essential projects. It will help also if Caterpillar regains its $10 a share stock drop last quarter.
Now vacant properties will need to be occupied by tax paying private business.
Look for PDC to have a at least a good chance of getting approval from the IEPA to continue exactly what they are doing with little change in procedure and that PDC also has a good chance of the IEPA or the Pollution Control Board overturning the "No" vote on the PDC Expansion Application.
My final prediction or observation that it is going to be tough sledding for all the fund raising drives underway in Peoria. Even in the best of economic conditions this community has an awful lot of expensive planning and building underway.
Not least is the growing sprawl of the City of Peoria without a real growth in overall population. This means more services cost to the taxpayers and a steady rise in assessed valuation taxes fueled by continued construction of new houses in the cities suburbia.
Since I will not be blogging again till February, those of you who didn’t pick me up when I started blogging 30 month ago might enjoy following my themes in my easily found archives; archives extensively researched and sprinkled with common sense.
My widely constructive criticism of the Bradley Basketball program may have had a hand in turning the Bradley program around last year.as the first to call attention the mysterious erasing of the Park Board Executive Tapes, my synopsis of the Peoria City Election commission may shed some light to why Jeannette M was terminated and my blog revealing the potential conflict of interest between Tim Cassidy, President of a tax collecting body and representing Weaver Ridge in a futile attempt to get their property taxes sizeably reduced as highlights of my sporadic blogging endeavor. My numerous blogs on the public school system which I support must have some drastic changes in the way they operate if they area going to escape governmental takeover.
My 12 article dissertation on the controversial Landfill Application included some of my best informative blogging to date.
In the meantime feel free to comment and make your views known for the entire world to see if they wish. I would hope some of you would give me additional information and help correct my boo-boos and please present the facts and sources when you disagree with me so I can do the proper research and correct my mis-information.
Demand more transparency on all public taxpayer funded bodies and support my friends at Rally Peoria financially, no matter how small the amount, They are working for you and bearing the cost burden almost alone.
Have a safe and prosperous New Year and thanks for reading me.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Peoria Park Board Meeting Last Night
The subject was whether the park would cooperate with the school district in relocating and building a new school partially on park grounds. The presentation of EXPERT Judy Harris Helms detailed why our educational system has had such a hard struggle to educate our youth. In her loud and abrasive efforts to sell the Park District on the School/Park idea, she totally ignored the fact that our kids are in school mainly to learn to read, write, compute, communicate and develop a work ethic and understand discipline (which many don’t get at home).
Ms. Helms was all into zoo’s botanical gardens, aquatic study at the nearby lake, art and science (which can is taught in most schools no matter where they are located), and trips to the zoo and the African exhibit and playground. They can take all the educational field trips they want if the present school is renovated and expanded. All these advantages are only six blocks away!
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal titled “Flabby, Inefficient, Outdated” Michael Bloomberg, Mayor new York /city writes that “Only 18 out of one hundred high school freshmen will graduate on time, enroll directly into college and earn a two-year degree in three years or a four-year degree in six years. Only 18!”
Totally overlooked by expert Ms. Helms is that school is not in session in the summer when school is closed most parents that are good parents, take their kids to parks, playgrounds and lakes. She does not say where the money would come to visit the African Exhibits and the zoo. Someone tell me if you know because Superintendent Ken Hinton told me the schools could not afford to pay more than what they pay now, let alone after a $32 million dollar expansion. Was dialogue about who would pay for these excursions part of the erased tapes? The Park District is in the process of spending $32 millions dollars for zoo renovating and construction. Who is going to pay for this zoo if kids are let in free? And if Glen Oak kids will be let in free, all school k ids must be let in free. I occasionally see school buses from Havana, Elmwood; ect., parked near the zoo on what I understand is a free day for kids. I believe District #150 can transport by bus from Glen Oak School if kids are transported by bus from, say, Havana.
To think that Mss. Helms is PAID to disseminate the grandeur visions of the intellect that has put our educational system in the position it is now is a travesty of common sense.
Most school kids get Saturday and Sunday off totaling 102 days plus 90 summer days in which they can go to parks and zoos with their parents or social agencies like the Boys and Girls Club and Sun Foundation to name a few out of a hundred agencies and programs. Plus dozens of programs offered by the Peoria Park District.
My belief is that four members of the park board will nix this whole fiasco and leave the taxpayers in #150 stuck with $800,000.00 of real-estate.
Talk about financial inefficiency in government. Also talk about apathy. Despite the fact that Glen Oak School is approximately 70% black, less than 10 black people attended the meeting and two were on the park board and two on the school board or administration.
P.S. I’m corrected by a reader that the 2007 budget for the Park District is $49,700,000.00. The budget was $13 million in 1993.
Ms. Helms was all into zoo’s botanical gardens, aquatic study at the nearby lake, art and science (which can is taught in most schools no matter where they are located), and trips to the zoo and the African exhibit and playground. They can take all the educational field trips they want if the present school is renovated and expanded. All these advantages are only six blocks away!
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal titled “Flabby, Inefficient, Outdated” Michael Bloomberg, Mayor new York /city writes that “Only 18 out of one hundred high school freshmen will graduate on time, enroll directly into college and earn a two-year degree in three years or a four-year degree in six years. Only 18!”
Totally overlooked by expert Ms. Helms is that school is not in session in the summer when school is closed most parents that are good parents, take their kids to parks, playgrounds and lakes. She does not say where the money would come to visit the African Exhibits and the zoo. Someone tell me if you know because Superintendent Ken Hinton told me the schools could not afford to pay more than what they pay now, let alone after a $32 million dollar expansion. Was dialogue about who would pay for these excursions part of the erased tapes? The Park District is in the process of spending $32 millions dollars for zoo renovating and construction. Who is going to pay for this zoo if kids are let in free? And if Glen Oak kids will be let in free, all school k ids must be let in free. I occasionally see school buses from Havana, Elmwood; ect., parked near the zoo on what I understand is a free day for kids. I believe District #150 can transport by bus from Glen Oak School if kids are transported by bus from, say, Havana.
To think that Mss. Helms is PAID to disseminate the grandeur visions of the intellect that has put our educational system in the position it is now is a travesty of common sense.
Most school kids get Saturday and Sunday off totaling 102 days plus 90 summer days in which they can go to parks and zoos with their parents or social agencies like the Boys and Girls Club and Sun Foundation to name a few out of a hundred agencies and programs. Plus dozens of programs offered by the Peoria Park District.
My belief is that four members of the park board will nix this whole fiasco and leave the taxpayers in #150 stuck with $800,000.00 of real-estate.
Talk about financial inefficiency in government. Also talk about apathy. Despite the fact that Glen Oak School is approximately 70% black, less than 10 black people attended the meeting and two were on the park board and two on the school board or administration.
P.S. I’m corrected by a reader that the 2007 budget for the Park District is $49,700,000.00. The budget was $13 million in 1993.
Open Meetings Act Alleged Violation by the Peoria Park District
On December 12, the JS reported that the Peoria Park Board broke the law on the erasure of Executive Minutes tapes. Judge Barra also ruled that “the Peoria Park Board discussions at two closed meetings may have violated the open meeting act means the case can go to trial where the facts can be decided.”
The plaintiffs, Karrie Alms/Sara Partridge (Rally Peoria) need funds to pursue this action. Those of you who are supporting the plaintiffs and citizens of our community, should help them financially. Please send your donation whatever size to RALLY PEORIA, P.O. Box 44, Peoria, Il 61650-0044.
This lawsuit was filed to protect all taxpayers from public bodies operating as private entities with taxpayer dollars. The erasing of tapes allegedly covering Park Boaard/#150 School District dialogue while SUSPOSEDLY done accidentally, was ruled in violation of State of Illinois law by presiding Judge John Barra.
Thanks for your financial support and please do it today. This suit was brought to protect all citizens from public entities doing business in the dark rather than thru transparency.
The plaintiffs, Karrie Alms/Sara Partridge (Rally Peoria) need funds to pursue this action. Those of you who are supporting the plaintiffs and citizens of our community, should help them financially. Please send your donation whatever size to RALLY PEORIA, P.O. Box 44, Peoria, Il 61650-0044.
This lawsuit was filed to protect all taxpayers from public bodies operating as private entities with taxpayer dollars. The erasing of tapes allegedly covering Park Boaard/#150 School District dialogue while SUSPOSEDLY done accidentally, was ruled in violation of State of Illinois law by presiding Judge John Barra.
Thanks for your financial support and please do it today. This suit was brought to protect all citizens from public entities doing business in the dark rather than thru transparency.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
"Judge: Park Board Broke Law"
“Park Board Broke Law” and “Erased Audiotape Violated Open Meetings Act” are the headlines in today’s JS. The Park may have violated the open meeting act but it also violated anyone with common sense, common sense. The attorney for the park said a “number of tapes were deleted.” Of course many were; who would just erase the most damaging tape without erasing a bunch of others to make it look like just a housecleaning act.
No one in the tax funded public sector erases a tape from an executive committee closed session without the approval from at least three entities: The administrator, the attorney and the full board.
The actions of the Peoria Park District in recent years indicate to the taxpayer that the park will do whatever they want to do, at whatever cost it takes and let the public revel in the after glow of all their good deeds. It is no secret who runs the park district and calls the shots; the park board president is a figurehead and three other members of the board make a majority. The other three remaining members might as well vote “present”.
I believe the community paying taxes to the park district does not realize what is happening. We all want good parks but the $48,800,000.00 budget this year is beyond most people’s comprehension. So is the approximately $35-37 million dollars now in outstanding bonds that are all accumulating more debt and must someday be paid off. A couple of years ago I predicted a park budget of $60 million dollars in 10 years. I move that up to $60 million dollars by 2010. The addition to the zoo will lose millions of dollars a year unless some philanthropist steps forward with a check for many millions of dollars.
The RiverPlex, if not for the park’s “creative accounting”, would show on “factual” accounting books as losing the equivalent of 4 to 5 thousand dollars a day. In all the years it has been open, it has never been able to meet even one payment on the large loans the park indebted itself with at the time of construction.
A simple equation will show that the new zoo addition when completed will lose large sums of money daily. Here are the facts: The Park claims to have 100,000 visitors a year and expects to increase attendance to 170,000 when the zoo is complete. That figure is in the parks own projections. The current zoo loses approximately $400,000.00 a year. If the new zoo would charge ALL visitors, school kids and all children, $10 a visit, which, of course if they do, they will find that is not be a fee that will be sustainable. Even then the total amount raised will be $1,700,000.00 plus concession sales of maybe $100,000.00 or less than $2,000,000.00. Most new ventures like zoos have an attendance fall off after the newness wears off.
It is a consensus that the most the new zoo could charge would be $8 per adult and maybe $4 dollars per child. Cash strapped school districts will not be sending bus loads of kids at even $4 dollars a visit. Based on a split of adults and kids at the $8 and $4 dollar levels would be 85,000 adults times $8 dollars or $680,000.00 and 85,000 kids at $4 dollars would bring in another $340,000.00 or a total of $1,200,000. 00, enough to cover principal and interest payment on the loan but not nearly enough to cover the massive new expenses for the overhead of maintaining a new structure with expensive exotic animals.
Park grounds, activities offered and maintenance have declined and fees have risen along with property taxes. The park recently said they received a million dollar grant from the state, a grant funded by tax dollars. The budget book states that “100 part time employees would; not be rehired.”
I believe that certain park officials sold District #150 on the idea of locating partially on park grounds so that the park administration could later on point to the increased number of visitors per year albeit on a no charge basis. District #150 board members have compiled a list of schools and parks sharing the same grounds. None of the examples I have read about are similar to what is being planned at Glen Oak Park.
Four park board positions are open this year. It would show total apathy of the community to not put candidates on the ballot that could be elected and would impel the administrator to report to the board the way tax supported public bodies are supposed to be operated.
If the JS was doing the job they should be doing they would ask to see a business plan. When the RiverPlex was built the JS was showing figures that by this time the operation would be operating in the black by hundreds of thousands of dollars. But than anyone can show a set of figures beforehand and get away with their wrong guesses unless the media or bloggers point out the facts. The JS who gets income from the park district appears to be reluctant to come forth with the facts.
Again, I say, wake up Peoria!
No one in the tax funded public sector erases a tape from an executive committee closed session without the approval from at least three entities: The administrator, the attorney and the full board.
The actions of the Peoria Park District in recent years indicate to the taxpayer that the park will do whatever they want to do, at whatever cost it takes and let the public revel in the after glow of all their good deeds. It is no secret who runs the park district and calls the shots; the park board president is a figurehead and three other members of the board make a majority. The other three remaining members might as well vote “present”.
I believe the community paying taxes to the park district does not realize what is happening. We all want good parks but the $48,800,000.00 budget this year is beyond most people’s comprehension. So is the approximately $35-37 million dollars now in outstanding bonds that are all accumulating more debt and must someday be paid off. A couple of years ago I predicted a park budget of $60 million dollars in 10 years. I move that up to $60 million dollars by 2010. The addition to the zoo will lose millions of dollars a year unless some philanthropist steps forward with a check for many millions of dollars.
The RiverPlex, if not for the park’s “creative accounting”, would show on “factual” accounting books as losing the equivalent of 4 to 5 thousand dollars a day. In all the years it has been open, it has never been able to meet even one payment on the large loans the park indebted itself with at the time of construction.
A simple equation will show that the new zoo addition when completed will lose large sums of money daily. Here are the facts: The Park claims to have 100,000 visitors a year and expects to increase attendance to 170,000 when the zoo is complete. That figure is in the parks own projections. The current zoo loses approximately $400,000.00 a year. If the new zoo would charge ALL visitors, school kids and all children, $10 a visit, which, of course if they do, they will find that is not be a fee that will be sustainable. Even then the total amount raised will be $1,700,000.00 plus concession sales of maybe $100,000.00 or less than $2,000,000.00. Most new ventures like zoos have an attendance fall off after the newness wears off.
It is a consensus that the most the new zoo could charge would be $8 per adult and maybe $4 dollars per child. Cash strapped school districts will not be sending bus loads of kids at even $4 dollars a visit. Based on a split of adults and kids at the $8 and $4 dollar levels would be 85,000 adults times $8 dollars or $680,000.00 and 85,000 kids at $4 dollars would bring in another $340,000.00 or a total of $1,200,000. 00, enough to cover principal and interest payment on the loan but not nearly enough to cover the massive new expenses for the overhead of maintaining a new structure with expensive exotic animals.
Park grounds, activities offered and maintenance have declined and fees have risen along with property taxes. The park recently said they received a million dollar grant from the state, a grant funded by tax dollars. The budget book states that “100 part time employees would; not be rehired.”
I believe that certain park officials sold District #150 on the idea of locating partially on park grounds so that the park administration could later on point to the increased number of visitors per year albeit on a no charge basis. District #150 board members have compiled a list of schools and parks sharing the same grounds. None of the examples I have read about are similar to what is being planned at Glen Oak Park.
Four park board positions are open this year. It would show total apathy of the community to not put candidates on the ballot that could be elected and would impel the administrator to report to the board the way tax supported public bodies are supposed to be operated.
If the JS was doing the job they should be doing they would ask to see a business plan. When the RiverPlex was built the JS was showing figures that by this time the operation would be operating in the black by hundreds of thousands of dollars. But than anyone can show a set of figures beforehand and get away with their wrong guesses unless the media or bloggers point out the facts. The JS who gets income from the park district appears to be reluctant to come forth with the facts.
Again, I say, wake up Peoria!
Monday, December 11, 2006
DISAPPOINTING THE JSEB (JOURNAL STAR EDITORIAL BOARD) REVISITED
My original blog on this subject was posted on 12/05/06. I received a rather blistering comment from one Matt Jones. You can read my blog of 12/05 and Mr. Jones’s comments. I wrote a comment back but my comments got lost out their in cyberspace. So here are basically my answers to Matt Jones:
First Matt, you are presumptuous to think you are the only Matt in town, I could have been talking about half a dozen Matt’s who I know.
Second, you left out that you approached me this summer and asked if I would consider stepping down, not run for reelection. You said you knew many Republicans who would not vote for me and that the Central Committee, you, I’m told, are on the Executive Committee and on the political Advisory Committee and I’m told you area also attorney to the Central Committee. You said Republicans wanted to hold District 11 for the Republicans and those did not think I could win. When I told you I would not even consider not running, you then asked me if I would consent to a poll to determine my elect ability. When I said no way, you then asked who was going to run my campaign. When I told you, I would run my own campaign; you told me again, I could not be elected without a campaign manager. You told me I would have to pay for these services. Later you called me and asked if I was going to do a mailer. I told you no, I was doing handouts. You were not pleased.
When I won both the election and the Vice-Chairmanship I couldn’t resist giving you a little “needle”. Sorry you got so upset but am glad with all your other time constraints that you have time to read my blogs.
As a result of your negativity, I set out to prove I could win without spending more than $1000 (one handout), no yard signs and do no mass mailing and do no phone bank. While my win was narrow, my election for Vice-Chairman of the Peoria County Board, was, using the terms of miffed former politician and Republican Roger Monroe, a “landslide”.
My comments about the JSEB, they who said I lacked communication skills, was long-winded and strident, (partly so on the strident), Roger Monroe who after I won my first election, said in his 3rd rate column that I was dirt, and coupled with your activities, Matt Jones, I decided to give you all the “needle” or rub it in a bit.
Matt, I know you are a Republican candidate wannabe. You had better develop thicker skin because my comments could hardly be called an attack. I have been attacked by many people in many different ways including Penny Radley, wife of a judge or former judge, who said she worked with me on the Peoria Park Districts Citizens’ Recreation Advisory Board and I was uncooperative and unpleasant to work with, probably because I concluded the Advisory Committee was really “useless as tits on a boar” and totally dominated by the administrator. (The last year I served under the “leadership” of Rocky Vonachen, one half of all meeting were cancelled), I resigned, Park Board President Tim Cassidy who asked that people vote for him to “save the parks” from Merle Widmer, Tim is saving the park district with it’s $48,800,000.00 budget all right for present and future taxpayers to receive the property tax jolt soon forthcoming; a letter to the editors from R. W. Slonneger who insinuated I was on the payroll of PDC (sorry, R. W., not one thin dime) and from many emails, letters both positive and negative from concerned citizens (and rightly welcomed) as I was concerned, and some from people who favorite “whine” was “we don’t want no toxic waste in our backyards”. Never mind that it is hazardous waste, not toxic when it is deposited and that the landfill had been there for TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS. Just a few extra "needles".
Several months earlier Matt Jones had blistered me about speculative comments I made about the some County Board members. I remind Matt that I was elected Vice-Chairman by 15 out of 18 votes including all three African-Americans now on the Peoria County Board an by all but two voters on whose vote I had speculated on and apologized to them for doing so. Just as a reminder, PDC is suing the County and you will soon hear more details about additional hearings out at the ITOO. The "yes" voters are not involved
Matt is a nice fellow well met, and I can appreciate being up at three AM to feed a new baby can make you irritable, but we all worked and raised kids. I believe Matt is most upset because I work with all people of all parties’, races, religious beliefs, who use facts and have sane beliefs. Suffer fools gladly, I don’t.
And didn’t I warn you this was not a politically correct blog site? It isn’t.
First Matt, you are presumptuous to think you are the only Matt in town, I could have been talking about half a dozen Matt’s who I know.
Second, you left out that you approached me this summer and asked if I would consider stepping down, not run for reelection. You said you knew many Republicans who would not vote for me and that the Central Committee, you, I’m told, are on the Executive Committee and on the political Advisory Committee and I’m told you area also attorney to the Central Committee. You said Republicans wanted to hold District 11 for the Republicans and those did not think I could win. When I told you I would not even consider not running, you then asked me if I would consent to a poll to determine my elect ability. When I said no way, you then asked who was going to run my campaign. When I told you, I would run my own campaign; you told me again, I could not be elected without a campaign manager. You told me I would have to pay for these services. Later you called me and asked if I was going to do a mailer. I told you no, I was doing handouts. You were not pleased.
When I won both the election and the Vice-Chairmanship I couldn’t resist giving you a little “needle”. Sorry you got so upset but am glad with all your other time constraints that you have time to read my blogs.
As a result of your negativity, I set out to prove I could win without spending more than $1000 (one handout), no yard signs and do no mass mailing and do no phone bank. While my win was narrow, my election for Vice-Chairman of the Peoria County Board, was, using the terms of miffed former politician and Republican Roger Monroe, a “landslide”.
My comments about the JSEB, they who said I lacked communication skills, was long-winded and strident, (partly so on the strident), Roger Monroe who after I won my first election, said in his 3rd rate column that I was dirt, and coupled with your activities, Matt Jones, I decided to give you all the “needle” or rub it in a bit.
Matt, I know you are a Republican candidate wannabe. You had better develop thicker skin because my comments could hardly be called an attack. I have been attacked by many people in many different ways including Penny Radley, wife of a judge or former judge, who said she worked with me on the Peoria Park Districts Citizens’ Recreation Advisory Board and I was uncooperative and unpleasant to work with, probably because I concluded the Advisory Committee was really “useless as tits on a boar” and totally dominated by the administrator. (The last year I served under the “leadership” of Rocky Vonachen, one half of all meeting were cancelled), I resigned, Park Board President Tim Cassidy who asked that people vote for him to “save the parks” from Merle Widmer, Tim is saving the park district with it’s $48,800,000.00 budget all right for present and future taxpayers to receive the property tax jolt soon forthcoming; a letter to the editors from R. W. Slonneger who insinuated I was on the payroll of PDC (sorry, R. W., not one thin dime) and from many emails, letters both positive and negative from concerned citizens (and rightly welcomed) as I was concerned, and some from people who favorite “whine” was “we don’t want no toxic waste in our backyards”. Never mind that it is hazardous waste, not toxic when it is deposited and that the landfill had been there for TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS. Just a few extra "needles".
Several months earlier Matt Jones had blistered me about speculative comments I made about the some County Board members. I remind Matt that I was elected Vice-Chairman by 15 out of 18 votes including all three African-Americans now on the Peoria County Board an by all but two voters on whose vote I had speculated on and apologized to them for doing so. Just as a reminder, PDC is suing the County and you will soon hear more details about additional hearings out at the ITOO. The "yes" voters are not involved
Matt is a nice fellow well met, and I can appreciate being up at three AM to feed a new baby can make you irritable, but we all worked and raised kids. I believe Matt is most upset because I work with all people of all parties’, races, religious beliefs, who use facts and have sane beliefs. Suffer fools gladly, I don’t.
And didn’t I warn you this was not a politically correct blog site? It isn’t.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Who has the Upper Hand?
I quote from an article in Forbes titled the “Upper Hand” by Andrew C. MCCarthy, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and who is also found on National Review Online. I’m typing his name as printed with 2 cap CC’s; he writes “When I grew up in the Bronx, there were street gangs. You mostly stayed away from them, and, if you really had to, you fought with them. But I never remember anyone saying “Gee, maybe if we just talk to them….”. Nor do I remember in two decades as a prosecutor, anyone saying, “Y’know, maybe if we just talk to these Mafia guys, we could achieve some kind of understanding…” Sitting down with evil legitimizes evil. As a practical matter, all it accomplishes is to convey weakness. This spring---after trumpeting the Bush Doctrines “you’re with us or you’re with the terrorists” slogan for five years---Secretary of State Rice pathetically sought to bribe Iran out of its nuclear program with a menu of carrots and no sticks…and certainly no demand that the mullahs stop fomenting terror. The result? They’re still laughing at us, even as they build their bombs, harbor al Qaeda operatives, and arm the militias killing American soldiers in Iraq.
While our rhetoric blathers that we’ll never let them build a nuke, our talks beg them, pretty please, to stop building one. And our actions all but hand them one. If all that makes you wonder who the superpower is, what do you suppose they’re thinking?
Most of us felt numerous times that we have mishandled this war and called for many heads to literally roll but few did. Who was most responsible for the mishandling? The buck stops at the top. As a Republican and an aging senior I am most disappointed in many of the actions of the top echelons of our government. Democrats can share much of the blame for letting the situation get so far along that terrorists were able to crash our systems and kill thousands of our citizens on our own soil. For those of you who point out the many mistakes we made in other wars had better start believing this is the most important war of our history and the mistakes made will affect this continent forever. Only one thing will change the outcome and we don’t have the political guts to do it and that is to go to an all out war against those who do not even want to capture us but want us dead.
Cal Thomas has it right in his column Friday in the JS titled “Only Force Can Finish Iraq Job”.
For those of you who think these evil and misguided people will “make nice” with us if we just go home and stay home will someday go down in history as either being foolishly ignorant or cowardly traitors.
There is an old saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough get tougher.”
The Baker Kissinger commission reports should be studied, now that they have been erroneously done but inviting Syria and Iran in for peace talks is like inviting the Hamas, al Qaeda and Hezbollah terrorists over to visit your teen age daughters when you are not at home.
It’s most likely that there is another error in bible and the meek will not inherit the earth.
Like most things in life, I cannot guarantee who and what will inherit the lands I love but history so far has proven that it will not be the weak.
While our rhetoric blathers that we’ll never let them build a nuke, our talks beg them, pretty please, to stop building one. And our actions all but hand them one. If all that makes you wonder who the superpower is, what do you suppose they’re thinking?
Most of us felt numerous times that we have mishandled this war and called for many heads to literally roll but few did. Who was most responsible for the mishandling? The buck stops at the top. As a Republican and an aging senior I am most disappointed in many of the actions of the top echelons of our government. Democrats can share much of the blame for letting the situation get so far along that terrorists were able to crash our systems and kill thousands of our citizens on our own soil. For those of you who point out the many mistakes we made in other wars had better start believing this is the most important war of our history and the mistakes made will affect this continent forever. Only one thing will change the outcome and we don’t have the political guts to do it and that is to go to an all out war against those who do not even want to capture us but want us dead.
Cal Thomas has it right in his column Friday in the JS titled “Only Force Can Finish Iraq Job”.
For those of you who think these evil and misguided people will “make nice” with us if we just go home and stay home will someday go down in history as either being foolishly ignorant or cowardly traitors.
There is an old saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough get tougher.”
The Baker Kissinger commission reports should be studied, now that they have been erroneously done but inviting Syria and Iran in for peace talks is like inviting the Hamas, al Qaeda and Hezbollah terrorists over to visit your teen age daughters when you are not at home.
It’s most likely that there is another error in bible and the meek will not inherit the earth.
Like most things in life, I cannot guarantee who and what will inherit the lands I love but history so far has proven that it will not be the weak.
Growing Class Divide
Much has been written about the division of money and status of the people living in this country and in the world. Many blame the inability to rise from one’s birth condition to the effort needed for upward mobility and self suffiency in our society. Even those born rich or middle class must work to keep their status in the community. If born in circumstances beyond your control such as a product of poor parenting, inadequate education, and poor mentoring or bad luck, the challenge to a higher status is often daunting. Or people can also be indifferent or lazy. But one thing is certain; one is at an incredible disadvantage if not educated, has a bad attitude and a poor work ethic.
No matter under what circumstances one is born, (serious health problems not included), the United States offers everyone an opportunity to learn to read, write, communicate, work and do basic computations. Without these skills and attitudes, most people have little chance of upward mobility. An article in the 12/26 edition of Forbes titled “An unhappy childhood doesn’t kill” says that when Walt Disney was 9 years old, his family was so poor that young Walt would rise in the darkness and get his newspapers to deliver and deliver them and be home by 5:30 A.M. to take a nap and eat his breakfast before going to school.
When I meet or read about a student who doesn’t like to read, doesn’t like school, doesn’t like to work or doesn’t like to participate in community activities, I can almost always be sure I am looking at a person who by failing to participate in what is being offered, will whine all their lives about circumstances that has affected his or her present or future well being.
True, the most fortunate or best prepared of us have a certain responsibility to those who never rise from poverty. However, most of us understand it is difficult for a person to have upward mobility if that person does not apply some of the self-help tools that are free for the taking (like a free public education). Government micro-bombing of money to poverty stricken areas, loaning money that will never be paid back, free food pantry’s, housing and clothing with no obligations, is not an answer. Unless those people capable of upward mobility take responsibility on themselves, these programs have little success. (I’m tired of hearing the old saw “teach a man to fish---, but the saying is true.)
A number of years ago I saw a woman fishing for food in a trash can. I gave her $10 and asked her to go get some decent food. By chance, I saw her coming out of a convenience store minutes later with two 6-packs.
We are all teachers whether we realize it or not. Someone is always watching what we do and say and if we do or say it, why can’t they? Unfortunately, what people are most likely to emulate is what we do that is not a benefit to society. Leaders must set examples. We should be demanding that people be responsible and showing people how to be responsible instead of being their nanny. I believe that while all of us should be compassionate, this country is creating more people to be dependent on others rather than showing people how to be more dependent on themselves.
In 1997, I wrote an article on responsibility that was published in a local paper under the heading “Responsibility has been replaced”. In this article I wrote “Fear of ones own children is widespread because some parents are afraid of disciplining their kids or make them do chores, accept responsibility or study for fear of being charged with child abuse. Teachers and others are afraid of disciplining for fear of lawsuits. Principals often promoted on seniority; weak administrations and boards who let kids grow up without accepting responsibility on the school grounds, hallways, sports teams and classrooms add to the problem. Lack of parental training and in turn kids born to untrained parents, conflicting doctrines on how to raise children and welfare programs from both the private and public sector; all these things visited on those who could learn to pay their own way and be contributors to society. All contribute to the in jail, in court, can’t find a job, can’t hold a job, won’t work, pregnant without support, won’t work if that’s all they pay me or undependability has led to a most severe breakdown in our society.
Faith based compassion often does not help the problem as those that need the help are laughing at those who think they are helping. Look at those in the world who we have helped with trillions of dollars and are now saying get out or be killed or get out and we will kill you sooner or later.
It may occur to some of our leaders someday that many people do not want to be free because of the responsibility freedoms demand of them. “Do-gooders" cannot fathom this reality that many “homeless people” do not want to come off the streets because keeping their status quo is the only power they have.
Think about it.
No matter under what circumstances one is born, (serious health problems not included), the United States offers everyone an opportunity to learn to read, write, communicate, work and do basic computations. Without these skills and attitudes, most people have little chance of upward mobility. An article in the 12/26 edition of Forbes titled “An unhappy childhood doesn’t kill” says that when Walt Disney was 9 years old, his family was so poor that young Walt would rise in the darkness and get his newspapers to deliver and deliver them and be home by 5:30 A.M. to take a nap and eat his breakfast before going to school.
When I meet or read about a student who doesn’t like to read, doesn’t like school, doesn’t like to work or doesn’t like to participate in community activities, I can almost always be sure I am looking at a person who by failing to participate in what is being offered, will whine all their lives about circumstances that has affected his or her present or future well being.
True, the most fortunate or best prepared of us have a certain responsibility to those who never rise from poverty. However, most of us understand it is difficult for a person to have upward mobility if that person does not apply some of the self-help tools that are free for the taking (like a free public education). Government micro-bombing of money to poverty stricken areas, loaning money that will never be paid back, free food pantry’s, housing and clothing with no obligations, is not an answer. Unless those people capable of upward mobility take responsibility on themselves, these programs have little success. (I’m tired of hearing the old saw “teach a man to fish---, but the saying is true.)
A number of years ago I saw a woman fishing for food in a trash can. I gave her $10 and asked her to go get some decent food. By chance, I saw her coming out of a convenience store minutes later with two 6-packs.
We are all teachers whether we realize it or not. Someone is always watching what we do and say and if we do or say it, why can’t they? Unfortunately, what people are most likely to emulate is what we do that is not a benefit to society. Leaders must set examples. We should be demanding that people be responsible and showing people how to be responsible instead of being their nanny. I believe that while all of us should be compassionate, this country is creating more people to be dependent on others rather than showing people how to be more dependent on themselves.
In 1997, I wrote an article on responsibility that was published in a local paper under the heading “Responsibility has been replaced”. In this article I wrote “Fear of ones own children is widespread because some parents are afraid of disciplining their kids or make them do chores, accept responsibility or study for fear of being charged with child abuse. Teachers and others are afraid of disciplining for fear of lawsuits. Principals often promoted on seniority; weak administrations and boards who let kids grow up without accepting responsibility on the school grounds, hallways, sports teams and classrooms add to the problem. Lack of parental training and in turn kids born to untrained parents, conflicting doctrines on how to raise children and welfare programs from both the private and public sector; all these things visited on those who could learn to pay their own way and be contributors to society. All contribute to the in jail, in court, can’t find a job, can’t hold a job, won’t work, pregnant without support, won’t work if that’s all they pay me or undependability has led to a most severe breakdown in our society.
Faith based compassion often does not help the problem as those that need the help are laughing at those who think they are helping. Look at those in the world who we have helped with trillions of dollars and are now saying get out or be killed or get out and we will kill you sooner or later.
It may occur to some of our leaders someday that many people do not want to be free because of the responsibility freedoms demand of them. “Do-gooders" cannot fathom this reality that many “homeless people” do not want to come off the streets because keeping their status quo is the only power they have.
Think about it.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Disappointing the JSEB
Yes, JSEB, the vote last night was 15-3 to reelect me as Vice Chairman of the Peoria County Board. The Journal Star should know; Molly P. does know, (she was in attendance) that the person nominating me was my friend Bob Baietto and the board member seconding my nomination was my friend Lynn Pearson. “Widmer’s weakness – communication” said the JSEB.
Communications skills my ass! The JSEB and a few of their writers, should look in the mirror.
When the JS is finally sold, which can’t be too soon for many of us, maybe we will get editors who “report the news rather than try to “make the news around their own prejudices” and revel in their character assassinations.
Yes, my reelection for a third term was closer than I would have liked but a win is a win. I didn’t put up any yard signs, send out a mailing, use a phone bank or spend any of my money; my handout was donated to me by a retired friend, his daughter and my daughter Mary Jo, a total of $900 plus, so I ran a calculated risk of not being reelected. If I had not been reelected, no big deal; I have plenty of things I still wish to do to add to a career some of the Journal Star “writers” and “editors” really do envy. To some of them I say “get a life”. It’s also past time for some in upper management to retire and enjoy their generous pensions and contemplate what they would have liked to have been.
I’ll start blogging again with more frequency in February. Right now I’m doing some more of the things I want to do. Like raising money for kids thru the Noon Optimist Club, spending time with my friends and family, reading books; just finished a good one by Fanny Flagg, and playing tennis. Yes, tennis indoors at the Clubs at River City. And some tennis tournaments in warmer climates, too.
People tell me “Merle, you can pick the time you want to step out of politics.”
Probably so.
I also want to say hello on this blog to Republican Matt Jones, political analyst and attorney. Hey Matt, how’s it going? You didn’t call to say congrats. Cat got your tongue? And I don’t want to miss acknowledging ex-politician turned “columnist” Roger Monroe. Hi Rog, how’s it going? And to Eldon Polhemus who said that the county is well run and attributes that to our capable administrator Patrick Urich and now out of office Dave Williams. Eldon is correct, but all board members, elected officials, employees, administration and staff make Peoria County one the best run boards in the country.
And all this in spite of the Journal Star which at times is this communities worst enemy.
Communications skills my ass! The JSEB and a few of their writers, should look in the mirror.
When the JS is finally sold, which can’t be too soon for many of us, maybe we will get editors who “report the news rather than try to “make the news around their own prejudices” and revel in their character assassinations.
Yes, my reelection for a third term was closer than I would have liked but a win is a win. I didn’t put up any yard signs, send out a mailing, use a phone bank or spend any of my money; my handout was donated to me by a retired friend, his daughter and my daughter Mary Jo, a total of $900 plus, so I ran a calculated risk of not being reelected. If I had not been reelected, no big deal; I have plenty of things I still wish to do to add to a career some of the Journal Star “writers” and “editors” really do envy. To some of them I say “get a life”. It’s also past time for some in upper management to retire and enjoy their generous pensions and contemplate what they would have liked to have been.
I’ll start blogging again with more frequency in February. Right now I’m doing some more of the things I want to do. Like raising money for kids thru the Noon Optimist Club, spending time with my friends and family, reading books; just finished a good one by Fanny Flagg, and playing tennis. Yes, tennis indoors at the Clubs at River City. And some tennis tournaments in warmer climates, too.
People tell me “Merle, you can pick the time you want to step out of politics.”
Probably so.
I also want to say hello on this blog to Republican Matt Jones, political analyst and attorney. Hey Matt, how’s it going? You didn’t call to say congrats. Cat got your tongue? And I don’t want to miss acknowledging ex-politician turned “columnist” Roger Monroe. Hi Rog, how’s it going? And to Eldon Polhemus who said that the county is well run and attributes that to our capable administrator Patrick Urich and now out of office Dave Williams. Eldon is correct, but all board members, elected officials, employees, administration and staff make Peoria County one the best run boards in the country.
And all this in spite of the Journal Star which at times is this communities worst enemy.
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