Riggenbach and Gulley getting their ducks in a row?

Do the newly approved District Maps hint at a renewed vigor from the folks who live on the East Bluff and in Southtown to make sure they are represented by the people who will best support their interests?

The fight that the District 1 and District 3 Councilmen put up for the new maps show that Gulley and Riggenbach may realize that the time is NOW to answer to their constituents... finally.

The new map puts the City on the hook to make sure that there is some growth in District 1 and District 3. Unnfortunately, Councilwoman VanAuken was hoping to get in on some of that power growing North...

By a 6-5 vote, the council settled on what has been labeled "Map B." Spain, Van Auken, Ardis, and Councilmen Gary Sandberg and Bill Spears voted against Map B. Voting in favor were Gulley and Council members Chuck Weaver, Beth Akeson, Timothy Riggenbach, Dan Irving and Eric Turner.

The vote also comes about 13 months after the map-making process was first introduced with more than two dozen versions drafted and multiple meetings with sometimes passionate discussions. Source

You said it, I read it...

You join the school board and now you want to stop downtown redevelopment?

How dare you stand in the way of progress Ms. Costic...

There is a regular commenter on Peoria Chronicle that goes by the name "District 150 Observer". D150O is consisent with the use of the name and the level of information that he apparently has about the goings on in the City. The other day he posted this:

but in Saturday's pjstar, Councilman Turner said this:

Wow, that's a heavy burden to place on new BOE member Mya Lynn Costic, who is the owner of Mya's Just 4 Kids (the "learning center" of which Councilman Turner speaks). Just what we need MORE friction between the City and the BOE. Turner's comment kind of ramps it up, doesn't it?

I'm sure Ms. Costic is civic minded (she volunteered for the school board) and wouldn't want to cause the City any irreparable harm over her decision to protect her business interests and/or clients.

It just seems kind of unfair that an "at-large" Councilman (who is supposed to care about both Ms. Costic's interest and the strip club owner) would say that the future of downtown Peoria hinges on whether Ms. Costic stands up for not wanting a very popular strip club to re-locate 100 feet from her child care center.

African-Americans at-large

Usually I'm not one to expect that just because a candidate is African-American that they should automatically be expected to speak directly to the interest of that community. However, I think that hard working folks in inner city Peoria are dealing with such dire situations (what with all the crime and joblessness), that they deserve some kind of honorable mention by all candidates, especially those of the African-American persuasion.

They are all African-American; from North Peoria; and running at-large for the Peoria City Council. They have all made initial statements, but to date, only one of the three candidates have even come close to possibly touching upon anything that may be close to the problems that currently plague Peoria’s African-American community. The only problem is that he is an incumbent and many feel they have learned their lesson.

Gloria Cassel-Fitzgerald, is retired from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She has been inducted into the local African American Hall of Fame Museum; she has run for 5th district city council, at-large city council, and the District 150 BOE, all unsuccessfully.

To most Peorian’s in the inner city, Cassel-Fitzgerald is best known because of ACT Bending & Steel, a tubular products manufacturing company her father founded in 1970. The family business, which was once located on South Adams Street, was one of the longest running and most successful black businesses in Peoria, before going bankrupt in 2001.

Fitzgearldisms: “I think Peoria needs new ideas. I think my background would bring that.” “I’m known throughout the city.” “There will be people that will vote for me.” “We need to do what is best for the whole city.” Source

A former principal in Absolute Risk Management, Andre Williams sat on the Board of the Community Construction Outreach of Peoria (CCO). From COO's website: "COO is a community-wide, non-profit organization made up of owners, construction and business leaders, trade organizations, and civic and community organizations whose vision is to create “A community transformed through leadership, increased economic opportunity, innovative education, and diversity.”

Mr. Williams, a pastor, is originally from Peoria, but just returned to Peoria, from Atlanta, about 4 ½ years ago.

Williamsisms: “I want to help us develop a vision on who we want to be 20 years from now, 50 years from now.” “We’re four times the size of East Peoria, we should think more regionally and that our competition is St. Louis, Indianapolis and Chicago.” Peoria …should focus on having “one conversation,” not “two different conversations about economic development.” “The fact is, we all live in the same place and we need to all work together and move toward one conversation.” Source

One of the originators of the idea for the parental responsibility ordinance, Eric Turner is the incumbent in this trio. In the past, Turner’s stated goals and objectives included the development of neighborhoods by cleaning up streets, rehabbing housing and creating a focused approach to upgrading communities.

Turnerisms: “Cracking down on crime while ensuring citizens feel safe with their police department.” “… a vibrant City center surrounded by clean and safe neighborhoods for all citizens.” "The problem is, we haven't had a property tax increase in 14 years." "The park district and school district have raised taxes almost every year. If we have had ongoing tax increases, we wouldn't have as much deep of a deficit as we do now." In support of the liquor license fee increase proposal..."This is where the major market is at." This one-time-a-year fee is really not that much." Source

It would be wonderful for the Center Bluff if...

Sheridan Liquors would lose their liquor license for a year.

By Friday, Eric Turner, Peoria’s deputy liquor commissioner, will rule on the fate of a liquor license held by the owners of Sheridan Liquors, 2415 N. Sheridan Road.

Turner’s ruling will also address whether the property has “site approval” to continue the sale of alcoholic beverages. If Turner strips the store of its site approval, then no liquor can be sold out from the property for at least one year.

During a 2½-hour hearing at City Hall on Wednesday, the city argued that the liquor store had become a nuisance and a central place for criminal activity. Source

I hope they loose the license, it makes the whole Sheridan Triangle Business District look bad (and you know we can't have that).

Now, if only the Liquor Commission would turn their attentions to this dump on the East Bluff (at our house we call it "the GhettoquikMart"):

Parental Responsibility Ordinance

At Large Councilmen, Eric Turner and Jim Montelongo are once again hoping to parlay public fears into a parental responsibility ordinance. The recent ongoing crime wave is being used as impetuous to hurry through a ordinance that will hold parents accountable for the crimes their children commit. Just last week, the practice was deemed unconstitutional in Davenport, Iowa. However, Councilmen Turner and Montelongo are mindful, yet hopeful that their ordinance will make it here in Peoria. You know, Peoria is unique.

There are so many questions:

Will this ordinance tie into the District 150 truancy program? Will this ordinance also go after parents of children who are ticketed for underage drinking? Will this ordinance go after parents who children receive traffic tickets? Will this ordinance go after parents who children have illegal drugs at school? If the parents fail to comply in whatever way, what will be the final consequence? If fines are imposed, do we really think parents would be capable of paying hefty fines in this economy? Will the parent be required to serve community service? If so, what of the parent’s other children who may still be in the household?

What services will be available for a parent who can't control their child? If the parent is away from home paying for the problem child’s crimes, what of the problem child then? Will they become a ward of the State–an orphan, or they will be tried as adults because their parents couldn't control them.

Is the April 6th Forum just so people can come and complain, or will the Councilmen have some answers to the tough questions that surround an ordinance like this?

I am all for parents being held accountable, however, I am not so quick to believe that this is the answer. This parental responsibility ordinance is a slippery slope, that will cost the City money to enforce. Will the numbers for the cost of enforcing this ordinance be available at the Forum on April 6th.

Before Councilman Turner and Montelongo proceed down this route, they should try talking with the Police Chief, isn’t there something he could do to be more effective? How about that Race Relations Commission, couldn't they offer a suggestion on something by now?

As far as Peoria’s image that Councilman Turner is so concerned about—that image is a result of the decisions and/or indecisions of the Mayor and City Council. And while we are trying clever ways to stop the young troublemakers, let’s not forget about all of the adults who are committing crimes. Who will City Council hold accountable for that?