Don't Shoot and District 150

The website for the Mayor's Don't Shoot initiative has been launched. It holds a lot of good information about how the program should work in our community. There is also a component for involving District 150. There are four components to the school program.

• First - the program uses the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. The pledge is signed by the student at school and is a voluntary promise that they will never carry a gun to school, will never resolve a personal problem or a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence with their friends to keep them from resolving disputes with guns.
• Second - is a speaker’s bureau where Mayor Ardis and other members of the task force will make anti-gun violence presentations to the students throughout the school district.
• Third - is a “Stop Gun Violence” poster contest. It is hoped that the task force can turn the top three posters from four age groups into a “Don’t Shoot” 2013 wall calendar.
• Fourth - is a reading program modeled after the Peoria Reads! program, but using age appropriate books dealing with the issue of gun violence. Source

In the meantime...

Since when is the 1800 Block of North Bigelow Street in the West Bluff

School Board candidate General Parker summoned to the State's Attorney Office

UPDATED: See Lyon's Complaint and General's Response

I must admit, I was disappointed to hear that the State's Attorney has summoned General Parker to his office. Some of the problem in the black community is that after folks do their time, they are often the first to be "pulled over and/or in" when they are just walking down the street. This thing with General and Kevin Lyons reminds me of that exact same type of relationship - only General is not committing crimes or being pulled over by the police - he is being pulled in by the State's Attorney for attempting to having a voice in his community. I don't know, but somehow this does not seem to be fair.

The Press Release below is from General Parker, a candidate for the second district BOE seat that is currently held by Debbie Wolfmeyer. Parker, frustrated by the prospect that he has turned his life around, but feels that the powers that be, won't let him move forward and he questions their motives...

Peoria County States Attorney Playing Plantation Politics

PEORIA, Ill. – With the April 5 election just six weeks away, voters are being left in the dark about the political backdoor dealings that are manipulating County Board races to help the status quo remain in power.

2nd District candidate, General Parker, a previous mayoral candidate, has been summoned by the Peoria County State’s Attorney office to appear in courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse to answer a complaint seeking and injunction to bar him from not only holding office for school board but to keep him from being on the ballot also.

Why? Because rumor has it the Democratic Leadership wants to teach Parker a lesson that no one runs, especially a black man, without their approval. “You know, I can understand if they choose not to support me like they didn’t for mayor, but to actually do things to harm me is beyond comprehension” Parker said. I am really hurt if Dave (Senator Koehler) has any part in this. He’s like a father to me even calls me his Godson and vice-versa.

Kevin Lyons seems to have different rules for different people in this town. He seemed to want to give Mayor Ardis a pass for something he was quoted in the paper as saying was a “felony if committed by an elected official. “Me, I guess I’m not light enough for his liking” quips Parker.

What’s hard to understand is are the organizations that supposedly stand up for a person’s rights? Do we just stand back and allow Lyons to misuse this office and the taxpayer’s money. Shouldn’t Parker be allowed face the will of the people and not Kevin Lyons? Shouldn’t the office of the State’s Attorney use its resources as a shield for the people by prosecuting active crimes and criminals and not be allowed to be used a weapon for personal vendettas against minorities or those who don’t support you politically? That’s the question that will be answered today in Courtroom 203 of the Peoria County Courthouse, located at 323 main St., Peoria, IL 61602.

Dan Fishel, mayor of Brimfield, IL had a felony conviction and held that office for eight years until a complaint was made and he gave it up and sought a pardon by Blagojevich and was able to run again for mayor of Brimfield again uncontested in 2009. Kevin Lyons office allowed him to hold office for eight years without saying a word even though there was a statute that prevents him from holding municipal office. There seems to be no such requirement for school board.

Parker is an activist and was recently leading a rally in the State Capitol on February 10, 2011 in support of the Steven Watkins’ Bill. This bill increases the penalty for visitation interference for custodial parents attempting alienate their children from the non-custodial parents. Being an activist, Parker has called out Lyons on unfair practices in prosecutions of cases and his disparities in applying the death penalty and charging minority youth as adults.

Related article: Parker — a convicted felon — has week to withdraw from mayoral race

Lyons' Complaint (click thumbnails to view document)














General's Response (click thumbnail to view document)

See you at the Giant Screen Cinema Association's Meeting

International Conference and Trade Show
September 25-27, 2010
Tennessee Aquarium and
IMAX 3D Theater
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Giant Screen 101 and committee meetings on Sept. 24

The other day I was researching something/nothing on the computer. For some reason I was on the track of Bass Pro Shops. Anyhow, in just about every location Bass Pro Shops existed, there was an IMAX theatre near by. Interesting.

It had to really be difficult for the Mayor to admit no IMAX considering how hard they were on the people (CJ, Widmer, et al) who knew all along that the CITY over promised on the deal. But when I read the article in the pjstar, it sounds like the COUNTY over promised on the deal.

Good thing the Mayor is looking out for our best interest and checking the County on this IMAX switcharoo thingy AND bless the pjstar for keeping us informed with the facts.

Governor Quinn wants to explore having more influence in the City of Peoria

Peoria’s crime rates, crumbling infrastructure, cuts in essential services, failing schools, middle class flight and a reputation of failure has convinced Governor Quinn that the City of Peoria is failing.

He says he's looking at larger states for inspiration to initiate change here that would intertwine his job as governor with the decision-making of the City of Peoria.

My interest is not in running the City of Peoria, and I think that's one of the misconceptions that people have when they hear 'gubernatorial control,' Quinn said.

But Quinn said he is "exploring" the gubernatorial appointment of Peoria's City Council members, who in turn approve or reject which direction the City goes.

The Governor didn't say how far his interests go, whether he is thinking of appointing the entire City Council or just a few members.

He contends that with a governor in charge, there is just one elected official who can be held accountable by voters as to whether they're doing a good job or not.

Peoria's Mayor, Ardis favors the current system. I think an elected mayor and city council is a good thing, Ardis said. It's important for all the different public bodies to communicate with each other, but I think it's also important that we all keep our own identities. I think an elected mayor and city council is important to keep.

City Council member Gary Sandberg said he's willing to listen to the governor but didn't know if there was a need. If it's just a power play, then I'm against it, but if it's a collaboration approach - I would just have to hear more about it, Sandberg said, . . . it's worth the discussion.

Quinn said he believes there are both positives and negatives. I think it needs a good vetting to talk about the pros and cons, he said, I'm going to keep pushing the discussion. I can't think of another city that has a greater importance on downstate than the City of Peoria.

Source

Calling the Mayor out on the Community Call to Action

Word on the Street says that Mayor Jim Ardis will join state Representative Gordon and state Sen. Dave Koehler to host a Community Call to Action forum and workshop from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Dream Center, 714 Hamilton Blvd.

The forum is aimed at addressing crime in Peoria with a goal of identifying causes of violent crimes in the Peoria area, developing community-generated violence prevention methods and establishing a timeline for implementation of new methods.

Pastor Harvey Burnett is calling the Mayor out for what he alleges is politicizing the Community Call to Action forum, instead of making a real grassroots effort to effectuate change...

Mayor Ardis,

First, I do not wish to rebuke you, for I do not believe that it is my place and I certainly respect your office. I do wish, however to express my concern over your actions regarding the upcoming Community Call To Action that will take place Saturday Feb. 13th 2010 at the Peoria Dream Center.

First, my concern is not with the forum itself as the Pastor's Association under my direction endeavored to do this type of event, having a meeting almost exactly one year ago, Thursday Feb. 12th 2009, as confirmed HERE under the EXACT name, A Community Call To Action. Our second meeting was at the same location, The Peoria Dream Center. This information is confirmed HERE.

Personally, as you know, I encourage efforts rendered to the community from multiple facets as you and I have discussed as recently as 2 weeks ago. I think that it is in the best interest of the community for as many individuals as possible to be involved in this important task especially in light of the crime that we witnessed last year. None of us want to see those things duplicated at any time in the future.

The problem I have is that you, in planning this event, totally overlooked or minimized the participation of people who have been identified to avail themselves in service to this community. Speaking frankly, if there is anyone that should have been asked to participate in this event, I would think it certainly would have been myself. I can't speak for others as I don't know if they were asked to be involved, but I know that myself and others who I can identify and have also availed themselves openly over the last few years were not asked or considered by your office for this event.

I don't mean and or intend to sound like I or we deserve some sort of special treatment or am prideful in any way, but for you to totally exclude me and persons like me as a part of a process to develop effective strategies against crime and violence, especially in light of the fact that I personally have such a great investment into the issue and a proven track record of community service addressing this issue, makes your actions highly suspect as political posturing. I hope and believe that I am totally wrong, but this is how it appears.

This event, to me, signifies that it is business as usual in Peoria. None of the people, including the State Representatives that you feature in this event, have ever contacted my office in any way shape or form to assess the needs of the community, victims or the victims families. Although that isn't a measurement of their commitment to the community, I can only say that I have personal dealings and interactions with many of families of violent crime victims and have been vocal in looking for solutions and preventive measures in times past.

I don't believe that I am unique in my efforts, but I have taken measures that others haven't from time to time and have gladly done what others haven't done in service to this community. This is why I find it difficult to understand the motivation behind calling a community to action and not involving leaders who have been identified through personal service to be dedicated to that cause and the betterment of our community.

In conclusion, I don't believe that there is anything that I would like you to “do” regarding this other than make a commitment to better involve citizens such as myself who are on the front-line of this battle for the safety of our community in all aspects. I believe that there must be a greater interaction between political, and social factions of this community to truly address the issue of crime and violence and promote the message of community safety in the best possible manner.

Thank you for your time.

Pastor Harvey Burnett

Granny get your gun

Mayor Ardis wants Peoria to become a test city for concealed-carry legislation. I don't dislike Mayor Ardis, but on a smaller scale, he kind of does for me, what Ken Hinton does for a lot of you. :) I ofen find myself asking "wth"? To raise the highly excitable issue of concealed carry at a time when the City of Peoria is in the midst of a rash of shootings - once again I am left asking "wth".

I hope that he has seen the ignorant, immature comments in the Journal Star in response to his suggestion. I pray that he will be embarassed by what he sees there and drops the issue. If you arm these people along with the criminals and the police, it's time for Granny (and everybody else) to get her gun.

(Granny already got the gun, just need to get her papers in order).