Something to Consider

If Peoria buys the water company, does that mean the water that comes from my tap will stop tasting like cow dung?

Does anyone buy the "There's too much harmless algae in the river" story? Shouldn't the chlorine added to the water supply kill the algae? Something doesn't smell, or taste, right.

I think there might be too much harmful pesticide, chemical drain off from manufacturers, or cow dung in the river.

If Council still wants to buy the water company, start pledging better quality.

Simple Truths

There seems to be some confusion in this area, so I'm going to try to clarify.

Listed below are establishments no one wants to live next to or near by. Fair or not, these establishments are considered low brow, tacky, or dangerous. They are associated with a declining neighborhood and/or crime. Residents have a problem with the actual establishments themselves. Residents don't care so much who owns or runs them (i.e., Male/Female, White/Minority, Slum lord/Landlord, Taxpayer/Tax evader, Clean/Recovered/Recovering/Addict).

So that there will be no surprises, please know that if you intend to open any of the following, people will complain. Loudly. While your future neighbors may whine about parking, personal safety, and the well being of their children, their main concern is likely money.

In all fairness, should any of the following move in... bend over, grab your ankles, and kiss your property values goodbye.

Porn/Adult Book Shop
Pawn Shop
House of Hubcaps
Strip Club
Gas stations that sell booze
Bar
Low rent hotel
Homes rented by college students
Recovery/12 Step House
Yet another ugly strip mall
Used Car Lot
Homeless shelter
Teen dance club
Cash Store
Tattoo Parlor
Crack House
Pig Farm
Nuclear Power Plant
Poorly cared for rental properties

While any of the above may actually make money, they will also make you a lot of enemies. Please don't act surpised when it happens.

Peoria, Illinois: The Next Banana Republic?

It looks like Peoria's "new generation of leadership" may be taking its cues from the old one. Candidates have lined up, asking to be gifted Mayor Ardis' former At-large seat on the City Council.

Three of the candidates have liquor licenses. Mary Ardapple (Apples Bakery), Pat Sullivan (Kellehers) and George Jacobs (Brewers Distributing). These candidates all knew that those having a liquor license could not be on the Council as mandated by state law.

Behold! Legislation is introduced to overturn the law.

Behold! An amendment is added so that said legislation will take effect upon Blago's signature.

The law may be arcane. After all, its roots begin in the Al Capone days. Nonetheless, a old law is being overturned. You gotta ask. Why now?

I frequently see Ardis and Sullivan weekday mornings at Big Easy Coffee. Most of the fire department drinks at Kellehers. Sandburg is at Kellehers at least a few nights a week. I've seen Van Auken having lunch there too. Clearly, Pat Sullivan is a dear friend of the council. He has a big "in." Getting laws overturned at your convenience to serve on the Council with your buddies strikes me as a Ransburg type tactic. Or a banana republic tactic. I like Sullivan. I like Ardis. But this maneuver smells. Bad.

State Rep. Leitch asked for the amendment so that Ardis, "Could consider a beer distributor for the City Council." Huh?! Apparently Jacob has a pretty big "in" too. By asking for the amendment Jacob has hurt his buddy Leitch. The public just might remember that he pulls strings for social elite.

So what about the other eleven who applied for the job? You gotta feel a bit sorry for them. The mayor ran on a theme of "inclusive government" and these applicants believed it. It's amazing to me that its seemingly easier to overturn a law than run a campaign.

Maybe we need another new law. No appointments.

It was well known that Ardis' seat would be vacant if he won the Mayor's race. Perhaps we should have elected a first runners up or an alternate in the last election. Had Sullivan run he probably would have won. Instead, he has hurt his friend the Mayor by pulling strings and producing the first mini scandal of his administration.

PJStar Snubs Fire Department

We know the editorial board at the PJStar long has had concerns about Mayor Ardis' relationship with Local Firefighters 50. After all, his brother, Tony, serves as the Union's president. That really doesn't excuse what happened last Sunday.

At 2:00 p.m., bagpipes played "Amazing Grace." The Bugler played "Taps." The big silver bell rang for each life lost. Firefighters, adorned in formal dress blues, marched in formation to City Hall Park. Mayor Ardis spoke. Firefighter Mike Morrow, who had been critically injured years ago in a blaze, spoke. Fifth District Councilman Nichting read a tribute poem. Tony Ardis spoke. At large Councilperson Sandberg was there, bird on shoulder. So was Second District's Van Auken. Wanna be Councilmember Anderson was there, kids in tow. City Manager Randy Oliver was there. Treasurer Ray Willis was there. The new p0lice chief was there, in also in dress blues. Citizens turned out. It was a beautiful spring day. Television stations covered the event.

The Journal Star apparently doesn't think a touching ceremony honoring those who gave their lives is much of a story. No picture. No words. No Coverage. No taste. Pathetic.