To be honest, I've always felt smug driving through the newer subdivisions of north Peoria. My personal definition of tacky Americana has been those huge McMansions crowded against one another. After all, what is the point of a owning mini estate if you can smell your next door neighbor frying bacon? What is the point of an 8,000 square foot home with doors you can easily/accidentally put a foot through? Crown moulding is nice, but crown moulding composed of glue and saw dust? Puhleeze. What is with all the houses built with three sides of expensive brick and vinyl siding on the back? Do suburbanites think they are fooling anyone? I've always reserved an arrogant chuckle for lawns so big as to require a riding lawn mower, complete with tiny trees more accurately described as sprouts. More taste than money, I guess.
I spent this afternoon at a barbecue of a co-worker who lives in Dunlap. You know what? Dunlap is looking pretty damn good. Her house had all the cheapo elements previously mentioned, but I was too busy enjoying the surround sound system - echoing throughout the ENTIRE house - to notice. Her kitchen is something that would bring Julia Child back from the dead, complete with slate countertops and commercial grade appliances. You could put a king size bed in most of the closets. And the bathrooms... My God in heaven! Truly an ode to American plumbing. I could live in her master bathroom. Jacquzzi. Bidet. Chandelier. A shower with two heads. The surround sound was in the John too, along with a flat screen TV. Okay, and now the best part...
The neighborhood. These folks were nice, never snotty, and laid back. Kids were everywhere. Kids ran in and out of each other's homes, they rode bikes in the middle of the street, they chased each other up and down pristine sidewalks. This is the childhood I had. Apparently I just need to spend half a million bucks to provide it for my offspring. Everyone's kids, including the Catholics, attend public school. Mothers I talked to said Dunlap's Ridgeview Elementary doesn't have more than 20 students per class.
Can I tell you? Not ONE car drove over the speed limit. I didn't hear one freakin' boom box or feel a single car radio vibrate the house while driving by. No litter anywhere. Not even a cigarette butt! I didn't know how much fear I had incorporated into my being until this afternoon, when it dawned on me, I was more relaxed than I had been since... God, who knows? For the first time in a long time, I felt completely safe. And, yes, there were at least a couple of black folks living on the street. It doesn't matter what race you are. I have come to the conclusion that if you have a mortgage costing you at least $3,000 a month, it is all but guaranteed your neighbors will have their shit together. Lawns get mowed. Trash gets hauled to the curb. Snow gets shoveled. Peeling paint, repaired. Kids decently behaved. Well, there were a few brats and sullen teens, but their parents were present and accounted for, and they knew it.
I'm not sure why I live where I do anymore. What am I trying to prove? What are the chances my neighborhood will ever improve? Statistically, it is more likely to fall further into decline. Where are all the thugs going to go? Jail? Seattle? Siberia? The kids roaming the streets are unsupervised and probably unloved, and my staying isn't going to change it. My tax money hasn't succeeded in doing squat to improve the public schools. It's depressing as hell and life is short.
They may be in debt up to their receding foreheads in Dunlap, but they are also having a great time.
So, take my all brick house, my hardwood floors, my charming moulding and baseboards, my heavy six panel doors, my towering ancient oak trees... all yours... for the right price.
When I told my girlfriend I was considering a move to her neck of the woods, she smirked rather smugly, handed me an unnaturally cold Amstel Light, and said, "Pol, everyone was wondering what was taking you so long."
Sunday, September 11
Katrina: Millionaire. Billionaire. Zillionaire...
One of today's headlines reads, "Katrina May Cost Over $300 Billion." Wow. Who is doing the math on that one? I'm not saying they are wrong, I'm just wondering where they got their numbers.
Congress put their stamp of approval on a $50 billion aid package for Katrina's victims. I don't fault their generosity. I just want someone to explain how government can tap the Magic Money Fairy over night to aid those suffering the effects of a natural disaster but constantly claim poverty when it comes to public education, health care, anti-terrorism measures and social security?
How much of that $50 billion will ever appear? Of the dollars that do make their way out of D.C., how many of them will fund low interest loans to those businesses and individuals actually hurt or even slightly impacted by Katrina?
It was revealed this past week that Peoria's own Smoothie King was the recipient of $70,000 low interest 9/11 loan. Sucking down a tutti frutti smoothie must somehow soothe Peoria's collective 9/11 grief.
Nope. I'm not a liberal. I just believe it is wise to question government's priorities. Lately, I've been wondering if they have any.
Congress put their stamp of approval on a $50 billion aid package for Katrina's victims. I don't fault their generosity. I just want someone to explain how government can tap the Magic Money Fairy over night to aid those suffering the effects of a natural disaster but constantly claim poverty when it comes to public education, health care, anti-terrorism measures and social security?
How much of that $50 billion will ever appear? Of the dollars that do make their way out of D.C., how many of them will fund low interest loans to those businesses and individuals actually hurt or even slightly impacted by Katrina?
It was revealed this past week that Peoria's own Smoothie King was the recipient of $70,000 low interest 9/11 loan. Sucking down a tutti frutti smoothie must somehow soothe Peoria's collective 9/11 grief.
Nope. I'm not a liberal. I just believe it is wise to question government's priorities. Lately, I've been wondering if they have any.
9/11. Where were you?
When recalling national tragedies the question used to be, "Where were you when President Kennedy was shot?" More often than not the answer today is a youthful smirk followed by, "I was just a twinkle in my parent's eyes."
New generation. New scar. There has been some healing, but the scar from 9/11 is tender, easily inflamed and ugly. Wars have been declared. Countries have been invaded. Laws re-written. 9/11 casualties continue to swell. 1,900 American military dead. Countless Iraqis dead.
At what point can our government declare the War on Terrorism won? What are the chances we will ever be able to find and stop every single enemy before they attempt to harm us? How many little Iraqi boys are growing up hating America? How many Iraqi men grew up on a steady diet of U.S. hate following the first Gulf War?
That's one of the lessons learned from 9/11, isn't it? By saving Kuwait, we created an entirely new and unexpected enemy.
There is a difference between supporting the troops and supporting the cause. I haven't heard of any soldiers returning home only to be spit on by a fellow citizen. Lesson learned from Vietnam. I have profound respect and gratitude for those who sign up to protect, fight, and put themselves in harms way for this nation. I am also keenly aware those who are sent to fight our wars have no say in creating them.
Operation Iraqi Freedom doesn't seem to be freeing anyone. We may have successfully removed a cruel dictator from power, but we haven't done anything about the environment that created his power. We can't. Kurds. Sunnis. Muslims. What made anyone think that Americans had the power to heal ancient wounds that we can't possibly understand? Is a Civil War preferable to a vicious leader? Many civil wars conclude with the crowning of a vicious leader.
How are we ever going to get out of Iraq? When Iraqi forces can police themselves? Where have we heard THAT before? Answer for the twinkling eye crowd: Vietnam. Over the last two weeks, the hard lesson learned in this country was that we have a hard time policing ourselves. Another lesson taught by that bitch, Katrina, is that the United States is (or at least includes) the third world. Our country harbors those who are too poor and destitute to get out of harms way, and our government is either too inept or uncaring to do much for them.
But we care about those poor souls in Iraq. We do.
I remember where I was on 9/11. I can tell you what I had for breakfast. The street I was driving on when I heard the news on the radio. Where I stood in my kitchen for days, watching non stop news coverage. There will always be a part of me that remains in shock. Hi-jacking a plane, that, I knew was possible. Perhaps inevitable. Plowing planes into buildings? I still can't wrap my brain around the sadistic logic. Yet, the very best of American bravery and kindness was abundant on September 11th and the days and months that followed. We should be proud of the wounds we suffered and survived. We should allow them to heal. We could start by taking better care of our own citizens on a daily basis.
9/11 should leave a scar, not a chip, on America's shoulder.
New generation. New scar. There has been some healing, but the scar from 9/11 is tender, easily inflamed and ugly. Wars have been declared. Countries have been invaded. Laws re-written. 9/11 casualties continue to swell. 1,900 American military dead. Countless Iraqis dead.
At what point can our government declare the War on Terrorism won? What are the chances we will ever be able to find and stop every single enemy before they attempt to harm us? How many little Iraqi boys are growing up hating America? How many Iraqi men grew up on a steady diet of U.S. hate following the first Gulf War?
That's one of the lessons learned from 9/11, isn't it? By saving Kuwait, we created an entirely new and unexpected enemy.
There is a difference between supporting the troops and supporting the cause. I haven't heard of any soldiers returning home only to be spit on by a fellow citizen. Lesson learned from Vietnam. I have profound respect and gratitude for those who sign up to protect, fight, and put themselves in harms way for this nation. I am also keenly aware those who are sent to fight our wars have no say in creating them.
Operation Iraqi Freedom doesn't seem to be freeing anyone. We may have successfully removed a cruel dictator from power, but we haven't done anything about the environment that created his power. We can't. Kurds. Sunnis. Muslims. What made anyone think that Americans had the power to heal ancient wounds that we can't possibly understand? Is a Civil War preferable to a vicious leader? Many civil wars conclude with the crowning of a vicious leader.
How are we ever going to get out of Iraq? When Iraqi forces can police themselves? Where have we heard THAT before? Answer for the twinkling eye crowd: Vietnam. Over the last two weeks, the hard lesson learned in this country was that we have a hard time policing ourselves. Another lesson taught by that bitch, Katrina, is that the United States is (or at least includes) the third world. Our country harbors those who are too poor and destitute to get out of harms way, and our government is either too inept or uncaring to do much for them.
But we care about those poor souls in Iraq. We do.
I remember where I was on 9/11. I can tell you what I had for breakfast. The street I was driving on when I heard the news on the radio. Where I stood in my kitchen for days, watching non stop news coverage. There will always be a part of me that remains in shock. Hi-jacking a plane, that, I knew was possible. Perhaps inevitable. Plowing planes into buildings? I still can't wrap my brain around the sadistic logic. Yet, the very best of American bravery and kindness was abundant on September 11th and the days and months that followed. We should be proud of the wounds we suffered and survived. We should allow them to heal. We could start by taking better care of our own citizens on a daily basis.
9/11 should leave a scar, not a chip, on America's shoulder.
Friday, September 9
What a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man.
I like a guy who can apologize. I'm not looking for a long winded, angst filled, whiny poem. Just a simple, "It's my fault/responsibility. It won't happen again. I'm sorry."
Mayor Jim Ardis made just such an apology during Tuesday's City Council meeting for a comment he allegedly made to the Journal Star editorial Board. The JP Star quoted Ardis as saying that he believed City Manager Randy Oliver earned a solid "B minus" job performance grade. I was left with the feeling that the comment was taken out of context or a misquote, but Ardis didn't elaborate. Had he laid blame at the editorial board's feet, where it probably belongs, Ardis' apology wouldn't have been sincere. Hopefully, the classy apology will go a long way to heal any wounds inflicted unintentionally.
I also immensely enjoyed Mayor Ardis' Letter to the Editor in today's Journal Star. It seems the Editors were wrong (No! Really? Couldn't happen!) when they quoted Ardis as saying that he no longer supported eliminating the Garbage Fee or fully staffing Fire Station 11. The editorial Board decided to add insult to injury by stating Ardis' new position showed a new maturity that should be a complement to the recently unelected. Ardis' response was classic: Huh?
One must realize that, "Huh?" is polite code for, "What the hell are you freaks smoking?" As it turns out, Ardis would very much like to eliminate the garbage fee and restore Fire Station 11, but understands that it would take a continuous revenue stream to do so. That is, Ardis knows he is Mayor, not a benevolent king. It will take six votes and the right priorities from Council to get the job done.
So, about Fire Station 11... If Bob Manning, Councilman and CPA extraordinaire, can devise a prudent financial plan to purchase a severely overpriced water company, I'm thinking this guy can find us $700,000 a year to fully re-open Station 11. No pressure Bob. I'm very impressed with Manning and so is everyone I know on the East Bluff. He is kind. He is humble. He has good manners. He returns phone calls. He gets stuff done. Refreshing in a politician.
I'm going to make a very premature prediction, just so I can be the first to say "I told you so" in the very distanct future. Manning is the heir apparent for the Mayorship should Ardis not seek another term.
I hope City Council (and all government bodies, everywhere) learned a lesson from Hurricane Katrina. Forgiveness is possible for raising taxes or not eliminating an unfair fee. However, you will be ridden out of town on a rail if you bank on a tragedy not occurring on your watch. Tragedies inevitably happen. They always have. If people die because proper equipment and manpower are not available to put out a fire at a school, nursing home, or factory, there will be no excuse or reason worthy of forgiveness.
Mayor Jim Ardis made just such an apology during Tuesday's City Council meeting for a comment he allegedly made to the Journal Star editorial Board. The JP Star quoted Ardis as saying that he believed City Manager Randy Oliver earned a solid "B minus" job performance grade. I was left with the feeling that the comment was taken out of context or a misquote, but Ardis didn't elaborate. Had he laid blame at the editorial board's feet, where it probably belongs, Ardis' apology wouldn't have been sincere. Hopefully, the classy apology will go a long way to heal any wounds inflicted unintentionally.
I also immensely enjoyed Mayor Ardis' Letter to the Editor in today's Journal Star. It seems the Editors were wrong (No! Really? Couldn't happen!) when they quoted Ardis as saying that he no longer supported eliminating the Garbage Fee or fully staffing Fire Station 11. The editorial Board decided to add insult to injury by stating Ardis' new position showed a new maturity that should be a complement to the recently unelected. Ardis' response was classic: Huh?
One must realize that, "Huh?" is polite code for, "What the hell are you freaks smoking?" As it turns out, Ardis would very much like to eliminate the garbage fee and restore Fire Station 11, but understands that it would take a continuous revenue stream to do so. That is, Ardis knows he is Mayor, not a benevolent king. It will take six votes and the right priorities from Council to get the job done.
So, about Fire Station 11... If Bob Manning, Councilman and CPA extraordinaire, can devise a prudent financial plan to purchase a severely overpriced water company, I'm thinking this guy can find us $700,000 a year to fully re-open Station 11. No pressure Bob. I'm very impressed with Manning and so is everyone I know on the East Bluff. He is kind. He is humble. He has good manners. He returns phone calls. He gets stuff done. Refreshing in a politician.
I'm going to make a very premature prediction, just so I can be the first to say "I told you so" in the very distanct future. Manning is the heir apparent for the Mayorship should Ardis not seek another term.
I hope City Council (and all government bodies, everywhere) learned a lesson from Hurricane Katrina. Forgiveness is possible for raising taxes or not eliminating an unfair fee. However, you will be ridden out of town on a rail if you bank on a tragedy not occurring on your watch. Tragedies inevitably happen. They always have. If people die because proper equipment and manpower are not available to put out a fire at a school, nursing home, or factory, there will be no excuse or reason worthy of forgiveness.
Wednesday, September 7
I got the curse
Gas prices will drop big time tomorrow.
How do I know? Because I spent $48.00 at the friggin pump today. Low life evil bastard oil company scum. No, I do not drive a huge SUV.
My long time curse has been that gas prices always fall significantly the day AFTER I fill up. As I was digging under my car seats for spare change and wondering if the lint covered Life Saver discovered beneath the driver's side could suffice for dinner, it dawned on me! The price gouging that has occurred since Hurricane Katrina was probably a conspiracy to get Americans to appreciate the sky high gasoline prices that were around before the disaster. Get it? Soon we will be relieved, content and even happy to pay "only" $2.25 for per gallon of gas.
Evil genius oil company bastard scum.
Note to self: Call Smith Barney in the morning. Buy Exxon stock.
How do I know? Because I spent $48.00 at the friggin pump today. Low life evil bastard oil company scum. No, I do not drive a huge SUV.
My long time curse has been that gas prices always fall significantly the day AFTER I fill up. As I was digging under my car seats for spare change and wondering if the lint covered Life Saver discovered beneath the driver's side could suffice for dinner, it dawned on me! The price gouging that has occurred since Hurricane Katrina was probably a conspiracy to get Americans to appreciate the sky high gasoline prices that were around before the disaster. Get it? Soon we will be relieved, content and even happy to pay "only" $2.25 for per gallon of gas.
Evil genius oil company bastard scum.
Note to self: Call Smith Barney in the morning. Buy Exxon stock.
Beat up by a girl.
I was subconsciously raised, more by society than my parents, to believe I had won life's biggest lottery by just being born American. As a kid, I thought the entire Soviet Union was a grey, bleak, cold place where people spent their days waiting in long lines for toilet paper and returned home to a one bedroom apartment overflowing with extended family. Citizens THERE weren't FREE like they are HERE. They couldn't gather as they wish, or have meetings, make money, or travel on a whim. Ah, what a blessing to be born American, where if you work hard anything is possible. Greatest nation on earth. Superpower. Strong, Technically superior. Wealthy. Nations cower at our shadow. They come to us for money. They come to us for aid. The richest nation on earth, we have a plethora of whatever anybody might need, want or desire. Screw with us and you will pay. Merely wound us and we will hunt you down and make you regret the day you ever chose to tangle with mighty America. Iran calls us "The Great Satan." There's a lot of respect in that insult. From the comfort of my living room, I have witnessed chaos and pain that followed natural disasters in other corners of the world. Droughts and famine. Earthquakes and floods. The tsunami. I was led to believe that because of our well funded government, with its superior planning and organization skills, along with a kick ass military, the same type of aftermath wasn't possible here. If not invincible, we were close.
Katrina put us in our place. Like everyone else, I couldn't understand why help didn't get there faster. Why weren't there convoys and warehouses of food and supplies ready to go at a moments notice? As always, the media found a way to arrive in a timely fashion. Why not the National Guard? We have an Office of Homeland Security for Godsake! "Disaster Preparedness" has been the national sirens song since 9/11. I was led to believe that I lived in a sturdy brick house. Nope. It's stucco, Baby. The cheap kind that cracks. Our wealth, just veneer. The Leher Newshour interviewed a representative from the Army Corps of Engineers Friday. He stated New Orleans' levees were never intended to stand up to a Level Five hurricane. Using probability formula, it was decided that making stronger levees was too expensive and unnecessary, as category five hurricanes happen "only" every one to two hundred years or so. Huh. It appears they knew we were about due. No doubt, there will be plenty of contestants in the Blame Game in the next few months. Also, powerful ammunition has been loaded in the racism gun. The fact that the ones who suffered most were poor, African American, and in many cases infirm and elderly will be a stain on America for the foreseeable future.
I don't know if more could have been done earlier for New Orleans. I'm not an expert in disaster relief. It was painful as hell to see other Americans suffering and held captive in inhuman conditions, surrounded by a city drowning in fetid water. It was a scene thought possible in a place like Haiti or Bangladesh but certainly not in the capitalist land of milk and honey, these United States of America.
Time may prove that no amount of preparedness could have matched Katrina's force.
That said, I am humbled and no longer confident someone will appear to pull me or my loved ones out of the rubble after a tornado. I won't be feeling safe at airports, even with extra security. We are a nation that has nickled and dimed away our infrastructure. What else are we unknowingly doing without? The same government entities responsible for this weeks agonizing slow rescue are the same entities stating another terrorist attack is inevitable. If we can't shelter a city from a hurricane, one clearly visible on radar screens days before striking, what chance is there for survival after -say- a dirty bomb?
Was it not possible to get aid to New Orleans sooner, or is our military stretched too thin? Is it realistic to expect that we can fight a war on the other side of the world and still have resources for emergencies at home without implementing a draft? Was the Bush Administration gambling a disaster of this magnitude wouldn't hit while they were busy fighting for Iraq's soul? If we can't save one of our own cities, is it arrogant to think we can save a deeply divided foreign country so far away?
America is the land of the free. America is home of the brave.
It may also serve as World Headquarters for the cheap and the naive.
Katrina put us in our place. Like everyone else, I couldn't understand why help didn't get there faster. Why weren't there convoys and warehouses of food and supplies ready to go at a moments notice? As always, the media found a way to arrive in a timely fashion. Why not the National Guard? We have an Office of Homeland Security for Godsake! "Disaster Preparedness" has been the national sirens song since 9/11. I was led to believe that I lived in a sturdy brick house. Nope. It's stucco, Baby. The cheap kind that cracks. Our wealth, just veneer. The Leher Newshour interviewed a representative from the Army Corps of Engineers Friday. He stated New Orleans' levees were never intended to stand up to a Level Five hurricane. Using probability formula, it was decided that making stronger levees was too expensive and unnecessary, as category five hurricanes happen "only" every one to two hundred years or so. Huh. It appears they knew we were about due. No doubt, there will be plenty of contestants in the Blame Game in the next few months. Also, powerful ammunition has been loaded in the racism gun. The fact that the ones who suffered most were poor, African American, and in many cases infirm and elderly will be a stain on America for the foreseeable future.
I don't know if more could have been done earlier for New Orleans. I'm not an expert in disaster relief. It was painful as hell to see other Americans suffering and held captive in inhuman conditions, surrounded by a city drowning in fetid water. It was a scene thought possible in a place like Haiti or Bangladesh but certainly not in the capitalist land of milk and honey, these United States of America.
Time may prove that no amount of preparedness could have matched Katrina's force.
That said, I am humbled and no longer confident someone will appear to pull me or my loved ones out of the rubble after a tornado. I won't be feeling safe at airports, even with extra security. We are a nation that has nickled and dimed away our infrastructure. What else are we unknowingly doing without? The same government entities responsible for this weeks agonizing slow rescue are the same entities stating another terrorist attack is inevitable. If we can't shelter a city from a hurricane, one clearly visible on radar screens days before striking, what chance is there for survival after -say- a dirty bomb?
Was it not possible to get aid to New Orleans sooner, or is our military stretched too thin? Is it realistic to expect that we can fight a war on the other side of the world and still have resources for emergencies at home without implementing a draft? Was the Bush Administration gambling a disaster of this magnitude wouldn't hit while they were busy fighting for Iraq's soul? If we can't save one of our own cities, is it arrogant to think we can save a deeply divided foreign country so far away?
America is the land of the free. America is home of the brave.
It may also serve as World Headquarters for the cheap and the naive.
Monday, September 5
Oh, Quitcherbellyachin' !
I appreciate politicians who are consistent, even if their positions are directly opposed to mine. Those politicians who govern with a philosophy or a moral code they refuse to stray from (even if wrong) deserve more respect than those who put a wet finger in the air and judge their popularity before making any decision or casting a vote. I also don't appreciate public bickering from elected officials. I resent politicians who take shots at one another in the press. As adults, I expect pols to get along, especially when they don't agree. One should always read the job description before applying for employment. Politicians should expect colleagues and constituents will often times disagree. A mature pol will handle disagreements with grace and not by roasting them in the press (that is what bloggers are for). A mature pol will air grievances face to face, behind closed doors.
I am profoundly disappointed with our newly elected City Council. My disappointment stems not from decisions or votes, but childish behavior.
Personally, I am relieved we didn't buy the water company. Nonetheless, I am concerned why certain councilmembers voted as they did. The calm voice of reason on the Council has long been Bill Spears, Councilman for the Fourth District. Spears voted for continuing due diligence a few months back but voted against this time around. Hmm. Then we discover Spears is a Democratic Party contender to run against Aaron Schock. Ultimately, a candidate will be chosen by the Illinois Democratic Party Chair. I respect Spears' desire for more power and influence, ala Springfield, but Peoria citizens voted for Spears, not party chair Michael Madigan. Madigan is also a Chicago Ward boss, and solid devotee of nepotism. His daughter, Lisa, was given the party nod for State Attorney General after practicing law for just a couple of years. No kidding. Madigan was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994 after graduating from the night program at Loyola Law School. I hope Spears didn't base his vote on future political aspirations, but his flip flop is suspicious. I can only pray that Jacob's vote against buying the water company wasn't influenced by his ambitious brother-in-law. Yet another conflict of interest to arise from the Jacob appointment.
Lately, Gary Sandberg's behavior has been disconcerting. Publicly name calling those colleagues who disagreed with his position to buy the water company "spineless" lacked judgment. I'm sure Sandberg's position is heartfelt, especially considering his position might have been political suicide had the purchase actually gone through. Sandberg needs to give voters more credit. Trust those who put you in office to see the transparent motivations of others. Or, at least trust Schock will aptly reveal Spears' motivations come campaign time.
Today's Journal Star quotes Mayor Ardis as giving City Manager Randy Oliver a "solid B minus" job performance grade. A tasteless move, straight from the Ran$burg Book of Manners. Attaching the "minus" to Oliver's grade was a public insult and I wonder if it was designed to send Oliver packing. Regardless, the petty statement hurts Ardis more than Oliver.
This past week Mayor Ardis announced that he doesn't see restoring Fire Station 11 to full capacity or eliminating the garbage fee as being financially feasible any time soon. Disappointing to be sure, but not as disappointing as Sandberg's very bitter, and public roasting Ardis for the statement. I have yet to hear Sandberg put forth a motion to fund basic services first and fluff second. After all, what politician wants to tell constituents there will be no new basketball hoops, no flower baskets hanging from street lights, or funding of neighborhood association newsletters unless and until council finds a way to plow streets, pick up trash, and put out fires with tax money already allotted?
That the new council needs to reminded why they were elected only four months after being sworn in to their posts is profoundly disappointing. Voters were sick of the bickering and in fighting. Voters wanted things to get done, and wanted them done with a bit of class. We thought if we elected a Council that had the same priorities, basic city services, we wouldn't have to endure pettiness played out in the press and on the chamber floor.
Grow up. Get it together. Get along.
I am profoundly disappointed with our newly elected City Council. My disappointment stems not from decisions or votes, but childish behavior.
Personally, I am relieved we didn't buy the water company. Nonetheless, I am concerned why certain councilmembers voted as they did. The calm voice of reason on the Council has long been Bill Spears, Councilman for the Fourth District. Spears voted for continuing due diligence a few months back but voted against this time around. Hmm. Then we discover Spears is a Democratic Party contender to run against Aaron Schock. Ultimately, a candidate will be chosen by the Illinois Democratic Party Chair. I respect Spears' desire for more power and influence, ala Springfield, but Peoria citizens voted for Spears, not party chair Michael Madigan. Madigan is also a Chicago Ward boss, and solid devotee of nepotism. His daughter, Lisa, was given the party nod for State Attorney General after practicing law for just a couple of years. No kidding. Madigan was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1994 after graduating from the night program at Loyola Law School. I hope Spears didn't base his vote on future political aspirations, but his flip flop is suspicious. I can only pray that Jacob's vote against buying the water company wasn't influenced by his ambitious brother-in-law. Yet another conflict of interest to arise from the Jacob appointment.
Lately, Gary Sandberg's behavior has been disconcerting. Publicly name calling those colleagues who disagreed with his position to buy the water company "spineless" lacked judgment. I'm sure Sandberg's position is heartfelt, especially considering his position might have been political suicide had the purchase actually gone through. Sandberg needs to give voters more credit. Trust those who put you in office to see the transparent motivations of others. Or, at least trust Schock will aptly reveal Spears' motivations come campaign time.
Today's Journal Star quotes Mayor Ardis as giving City Manager Randy Oliver a "solid B minus" job performance grade. A tasteless move, straight from the Ran$burg Book of Manners. Attaching the "minus" to Oliver's grade was a public insult and I wonder if it was designed to send Oliver packing. Regardless, the petty statement hurts Ardis more than Oliver.
This past week Mayor Ardis announced that he doesn't see restoring Fire Station 11 to full capacity or eliminating the garbage fee as being financially feasible any time soon. Disappointing to be sure, but not as disappointing as Sandberg's very bitter, and public roasting Ardis for the statement. I have yet to hear Sandberg put forth a motion to fund basic services first and fluff second. After all, what politician wants to tell constituents there will be no new basketball hoops, no flower baskets hanging from street lights, or funding of neighborhood association newsletters unless and until council finds a way to plow streets, pick up trash, and put out fires with tax money already allotted?
That the new council needs to reminded why they were elected only four months after being sworn in to their posts is profoundly disappointing. Voters were sick of the bickering and in fighting. Voters wanted things to get done, and wanted them done with a bit of class. We thought if we elected a Council that had the same priorities, basic city services, we wouldn't have to endure pettiness played out in the press and on the chamber floor.
Grow up. Get it together. Get along.
Tuesday, August 30
And you thought District 150 had little to offer...
It seems the news from Peoria School District 150 gets bleaker by the week. Surrounding Districts don't want to take Manual High School students because none of them have room. Yeah, right.
I was dismayed by the area school test scores printed in the JPStar last week. Anyone else notice that Richwoods High School, serving north Peoria's more economically privileged, did not meet the state standard for math?! I'm not a huge fan of President Bush or the underfunded "No Child Left Behind" program. However, NCLB allows every state to choose which standardized test to administer, and Peoria kids aren't making progress.
In light of District 150's huge deficit, poor scores, impending school closures, obnoxious book fees, the firing and paying off of Kay Royster, and last year's school shootings, I have been harassing my sister to remove my nieces from their public school. I formerly believed that any diligent parent raising diligent children could get an education at any public school. I don't believe that anymore. I think my nieces learn in between distractions, but for the most part, their school day consists of a non stop exercise in crowd control.
Sis won't home school. "My kids deserve a break from me." I grew up with this woman and she is absolutely correct. Our family isn't Catholic and not comfortable enrolling the kids in Catholic school. We checked out Peoria Christian. Initially we were impressed with Peoria Christian's challenging curriculum and well behaved students. However, when we read the application we were informed they require a written recommendation from your pastor. We were also to answer questions such as, "Who is the spiritual thunder in your home?" A little creepy. I'm all for exposing the girls to Christianity and have them choose it as their faith, but the application left us with the feeling we would be giving continual permission for the school's administration to judge our commitment to God. Er, no thank you, kinda think it's a private matter. This left Montessori, the private Lutheran school on Glen (name escapes me), and Peoria Academy which are all pretty pricey.
So, the girls are still enrolled in public school. After less than a week both girls came home with colds and sore throats and kindly passed them on to yours truly. Say what you will about District 150, I promise they will give your child ample opportunity to develop a strong immune system.
Hey, I'm just trying to be positive! Oh, never mind. Please pass the Kleenex and could someone pour me another shot of Nyquil?
I was dismayed by the area school test scores printed in the JPStar last week. Anyone else notice that Richwoods High School, serving north Peoria's more economically privileged, did not meet the state standard for math?! I'm not a huge fan of President Bush or the underfunded "No Child Left Behind" program. However, NCLB allows every state to choose which standardized test to administer, and Peoria kids aren't making progress.
In light of District 150's huge deficit, poor scores, impending school closures, obnoxious book fees, the firing and paying off of Kay Royster, and last year's school shootings, I have been harassing my sister to remove my nieces from their public school. I formerly believed that any diligent parent raising diligent children could get an education at any public school. I don't believe that anymore. I think my nieces learn in between distractions, but for the most part, their school day consists of a non stop exercise in crowd control.
Sis won't home school. "My kids deserve a break from me." I grew up with this woman and she is absolutely correct. Our family isn't Catholic and not comfortable enrolling the kids in Catholic school. We checked out Peoria Christian. Initially we were impressed with Peoria Christian's challenging curriculum and well behaved students. However, when we read the application we were informed they require a written recommendation from your pastor. We were also to answer questions such as, "Who is the spiritual thunder in your home?" A little creepy. I'm all for exposing the girls to Christianity and have them choose it as their faith, but the application left us with the feeling we would be giving continual permission for the school's administration to judge our commitment to God. Er, no thank you, kinda think it's a private matter. This left Montessori, the private Lutheran school on Glen (name escapes me), and Peoria Academy which are all pretty pricey.
So, the girls are still enrolled in public school. After less than a week both girls came home with colds and sore throats and kindly passed them on to yours truly. Say what you will about District 150, I promise they will give your child ample opportunity to develop a strong immune system.
Hey, I'm just trying to be positive! Oh, never mind. Please pass the Kleenex and could someone pour me another shot of Nyquil?
Friday, August 26
Fine. Go ahead and sue me! The week in review.
The week has been entertaining, to say the least. I started off the week by seeing The Forty Year Old Virgin at The Rave. Funny, but not side splitting. It is a good flick but after all the great reviews I expected to be convulsing with laughter. Funny, this was my same reaction to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Is it a good idea to be laughing at a forty year old virgin in this era of AIDS and angst? After all, forty is the new thirty and thirty is the new twenty, and there is nothing weird about a twenty year old virgin. Rare maybe, but not weird. (And no, not that it's any of your freaking business, but I'm neither.) The Rave Theatre annoyed me. When they opened you could buy decently priced drinks and popcorn... and you could get refills. Now everything is obnoxiously overpriced and refills are available only on large size stuff. Note to The Rave: Popcorn is about fifty cents a silo. No one's overhead is that high. Besides, if you can eat a large sized popcorn and large drink and then roll (literally) yourself out to concessions for a refill... well, Friend, it may be time to check into a lap band or gastric by-pass surgery.
Monday was so long ago, and I can't remember anything worthwhile happening.
Ah, but Tuesday! That was damn good fun. This week's extra long episode of As the Toilet Flushes ,a/k/a Peoria City Council, did not disappoint. The Council debated the pros and cons of a water company buyout and things got a bit crunchy between Councilmembers. There were moments when I thought Sandberg was going to have a stroke and Manning might cry. There were many catchy quotes, it's hard to pick a favorite. Bill Dennis has some good ones on his site. I think I will go with Fifth District's Patrick Nichting's reply to one councilman's question, "I wonder kind of water the City's appraiser was drinking?" (In reference to the City's original estimated purchase price of $90 million.) Nichting replied, "I think the city's appraiser was drinking the kind of water with scotch in it."
Regardless of how you feel about the final 6-5 vote against buying the water company, it is clear that we have a new and much better leader at the helm. Mayor Jim Ardis kept things far more civilized than former Mayor Ran$burg ever could, and did it with humor to boot. Ardis was able to reign in Wildboy Sandberg, putting Sandberg politely in his place after he called those opposed to the purchase "spineless." Could you imagine how Tuesday's council proceedings would have progressed under Ran$burg? Talk about vitriol!
Wednesday. Damn. I wish I would have been at the PETA protest. I didn't know they were gonna be naked! Well, nearly. This is the second nearly nude protest PETA has held downtown in recent memory. I think PETA is a group of perverts and exhibitionists. Matt Hale, The Klan and pro-lifers know you need a permit to protest, why can't PETA pervs make the same effort? Because they want to get arrested. The protestors were wearing flesh toned panties. Tease. My momma always said, "If you're gonna do something, might as well do it right." Seriously, why couldn't the female put on a flesh toned Wonderbra too? When we hear PETA is coming to town next time, lets all get together and stage a counter protest/pig roast. I loved the pic in the PJ Star showing a guy in the crowd taking a picture of the pervs with his cell phone. I'm with Vonster on this one. PETA stands for: People Eating Tasty Animals.
Thursday. The truth hurts. Before I let loose on this next topic, let me just say, Polly is not at her ideal weight. It sucks. Big Time. (No pun intended.) Calorie counting, working out and just saying "NO" to chocolate is hell. That said, and assuming the print media got the story right, someone should give the following woman a hard kick in her big, fat, lard ass. From Thursday's PJ Star:
Rochester, N.H. - Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I told a fat woman she was obese," Bennett says. "I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.'"
He says he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he found out she was offended. But Bennett rejected a state medical oversight board's proposal that he attend a medical education course and acknowledge that he made a mistake.
"What really makes me angry is he told the truth," said Mindy Haney, a patient of Bennett's who credited him with helping her lose more than 150 pounds. "How can you punish somebody for that?"
To answer your question Mindy, this is America and we like to punish for any perceived slight. Apparently, no one told Ms. Lard Ass that if she didn't like Dr. Bennett's bedside manner, she was free to find a kinder, gentler doc. One who would ignore the fact she is overdue for a massive coronary. Ah, but then she wouldn't be able to sue for malpractice. Speaking of which...
Friday. Today's PJ Star has an article regarding the new medical malpractice legislation Blago signed yesterday. The new law says that NON economic damages such as pain and suffering will be limited to $500,000 from a doctor and $1 million from a hospital. Plaintiff's attorneys are whining. If you are hurt by a doctor or hospital the law still allows for an unlimited amount of economic damages such as lost pay from work, medical costs, day care, etc. Something in our system has to give. If a drunk surgeon cuts off the wrong leg, I'd want his hide. I would want to make the twit suffer. Yet, Dr. Drunk won't be the one paying my jury reward, whether it is $1.5 million or $150 million - for which I would cut off my own leg. Insurance companies write the check, but their customers (docs) pay in the form higher mal practices premiums, who pass the extra cost to patients like you and me, who then bitch and moan about a $200 two minute routine doctor's visit. Opponents say that insurance companies pay very few jury rewards. The reason malpractice premiums are so high is that insurance companies are trying to pad losses suffered in the stock market. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but I'm going to side with the docs. Medicine is not a precise science and it is likely that most injuries are due to complications and not incompetence. Even if the doc is at fault, winning big money only punishes other patients by increasing the cost of medical care.
Peoria City Council debated this issue a few months back. After reading a billboard, then At-large Councilman Ardis was deeply concerned doctors were fleeing en mass from Illinois. (Don't you love it when a politician doesn't realize he is being lobbied?) The Council considered a motion to limit jury rewards in the City of Peoria. It isn't unheard of, some county in Wisconsin passed a similar ordinance. Although it is not clear if the Wisconsin ordinance will hold up to a legal challenge. After hearing from plaintiff's attorneys, doctors, and hospital administrators, Peoria City Council scratched itself, shrugged its shoulders, and courageously voted to ask Springfield to do something. At the time I rolled my eyes and thought, "Yeah, that'll happen."
If Peoria really wants to become the premier medical provider in the State (think Med Tech District), this legislation might help things along. At least it would put sleazy and greedy attorneys on notice that they aren't likely to find an overly generous jury here.
Have a nice weekend.
Monday was so long ago, and I can't remember anything worthwhile happening.
Ah, but Tuesday! That was damn good fun. This week's extra long episode of As the Toilet Flushes ,a/k/a Peoria City Council, did not disappoint. The Council debated the pros and cons of a water company buyout and things got a bit crunchy between Councilmembers. There were moments when I thought Sandberg was going to have a stroke and Manning might cry. There were many catchy quotes, it's hard to pick a favorite. Bill Dennis has some good ones on his site. I think I will go with Fifth District's Patrick Nichting's reply to one councilman's question, "I wonder kind of water the City's appraiser was drinking?" (In reference to the City's original estimated purchase price of $90 million.) Nichting replied, "I think the city's appraiser was drinking the kind of water with scotch in it."
Regardless of how you feel about the final 6-5 vote against buying the water company, it is clear that we have a new and much better leader at the helm. Mayor Jim Ardis kept things far more civilized than former Mayor Ran$burg ever could, and did it with humor to boot. Ardis was able to reign in Wildboy Sandberg, putting Sandberg politely in his place after he called those opposed to the purchase "spineless." Could you imagine how Tuesday's council proceedings would have progressed under Ran$burg? Talk about vitriol!
Wednesday. Damn. I wish I would have been at the PETA protest. I didn't know they were gonna be naked! Well, nearly. This is the second nearly nude protest PETA has held downtown in recent memory. I think PETA is a group of perverts and exhibitionists. Matt Hale, The Klan and pro-lifers know you need a permit to protest, why can't PETA pervs make the same effort? Because they want to get arrested. The protestors were wearing flesh toned panties. Tease. My momma always said, "If you're gonna do something, might as well do it right." Seriously, why couldn't the female put on a flesh toned Wonderbra too? When we hear PETA is coming to town next time, lets all get together and stage a counter protest/pig roast. I loved the pic in the PJ Star showing a guy in the crowd taking a picture of the pervs with his cell phone. I'm with Vonster on this one. PETA stands for: People Eating Tasty Animals.
Thursday. The truth hurts. Before I let loose on this next topic, let me just say, Polly is not at her ideal weight. It sucks. Big Time. (No pun intended.) Calorie counting, working out and just saying "NO" to chocolate is hell. That said, and assuming the print media got the story right, someone should give the following woman a hard kick in her big, fat, lard ass. From Thursday's PJ Star:
Rochester, N.H. - Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I told a fat woman she was obese," Bennett says. "I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.'"
He says he wrote a letter of apology to the woman when he found out she was offended. But Bennett rejected a state medical oversight board's proposal that he attend a medical education course and acknowledge that he made a mistake.
"What really makes me angry is he told the truth," said Mindy Haney, a patient of Bennett's who credited him with helping her lose more than 150 pounds. "How can you punish somebody for that?"
To answer your question Mindy, this is America and we like to punish for any perceived slight. Apparently, no one told Ms. Lard Ass that if she didn't like Dr. Bennett's bedside manner, she was free to find a kinder, gentler doc. One who would ignore the fact she is overdue for a massive coronary. Ah, but then she wouldn't be able to sue for malpractice. Speaking of which...
Friday. Today's PJ Star has an article regarding the new medical malpractice legislation Blago signed yesterday. The new law says that NON economic damages such as pain and suffering will be limited to $500,000 from a doctor and $1 million from a hospital. Plaintiff's attorneys are whining. If you are hurt by a doctor or hospital the law still allows for an unlimited amount of economic damages such as lost pay from work, medical costs, day care, etc. Something in our system has to give. If a drunk surgeon cuts off the wrong leg, I'd want his hide. I would want to make the twit suffer. Yet, Dr. Drunk won't be the one paying my jury reward, whether it is $1.5 million or $150 million - for which I would cut off my own leg. Insurance companies write the check, but their customers (docs) pay in the form higher mal practices premiums, who pass the extra cost to patients like you and me, who then bitch and moan about a $200 two minute routine doctor's visit. Opponents say that insurance companies pay very few jury rewards. The reason malpractice premiums are so high is that insurance companies are trying to pad losses suffered in the stock market. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but I'm going to side with the docs. Medicine is not a precise science and it is likely that most injuries are due to complications and not incompetence. Even if the doc is at fault, winning big money only punishes other patients by increasing the cost of medical care.
Peoria City Council debated this issue a few months back. After reading a billboard, then At-large Councilman Ardis was deeply concerned doctors were fleeing en mass from Illinois. (Don't you love it when a politician doesn't realize he is being lobbied?) The Council considered a motion to limit jury rewards in the City of Peoria. It isn't unheard of, some county in Wisconsin passed a similar ordinance. Although it is not clear if the Wisconsin ordinance will hold up to a legal challenge. After hearing from plaintiff's attorneys, doctors, and hospital administrators, Peoria City Council scratched itself, shrugged its shoulders, and courageously voted to ask Springfield to do something. At the time I rolled my eyes and thought, "Yeah, that'll happen."
If Peoria really wants to become the premier medical provider in the State (think Med Tech District), this legislation might help things along. At least it would put sleazy and greedy attorneys on notice that they aren't likely to find an overly generous jury here.
Have a nice weekend.
Wednesday, August 24
Somebody (Bill Dennis) is cranky and needs a nap!
Bill Dennis doesn't like my critique of Barbara Van Auken's speech justifying her vote to buy the water company. If I was a true intellectual/journalist I would spew a bunch of First Amendment crap Dennis' way. I could spend a lot of time and energy justifying why I'm right and he and Barbara are wrong. I could regurgitate numbers and formulas. I could remind Dennis that a lot of the folks that he likes, admires and endorsed in the last election voted against buying the water company last night. I could accuse him of being too tight with Gary Sandberg and having a huge crush on Barbara Van Auken. I could remind Bill that Barbara is a grown up, not to mention one tough cookie, and most likely doesn't give a rat's ass about my oratory critiques. Fortunately, I'm just an armchair critic/blogger and I like Bill Dennis. A lot. I also like Barbara Van Auken. A lot. I just hated her speech. A lot. So, I'm going to forgive Bill for chastising me on his Peoria Pundit Blog (still can't get the blogspot link thingy to work) and chalk up his petty comments regarding my petty comments to the fact that he stayed up very, very late last night covering the Council proceedings and is a bit testy.
Oh, and Bill,
One more thing... NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH!!! YOU LOST!!! WE WON!!! SUCKS TO BE YOU!!!
All my love, Polly
Oh, and Bill,
One more thing... NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH!!! YOU LOST!!! WE WON!!! SUCKS TO BE YOU!!!
All my love, Polly
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