Oh, the irony of it all...

Apparently the City of Peoria, Illinois has hired Scott Moore as Peoria City Manager. Mr. Moore, who was previously Assistant City Manager in Wichita, is African-American. If this City Manager will be visible and choose to live in the City, hopefully we will let him slide if he chooses private school for his children.

While the prospect of an African-American City Manager appears progressive, the irony of this situation is not lost on me. I hope Mr. Moore is not taken aback by what Peoria’s black community is facing once he sees it up close. I am referring specifically to the lack of basic city services (see no sidewalks, run down buildings, crumbling streets, etc); inadequate schools (most of which are shuttered); lack of police protection (see high crime rate in black neighborhoods); segregated dance clubs (see Club Apollo); restrictions on youth access to city events (see Carl Cannon); and limited access to quality shopping facilities (see Midtown Plaza and Northwoods Mall).

Good luck Mr. Moore.

March Madness and the Peoria Riverfront

Over the lunch hour I was watching that little cutie Marcus Bailey over on WMBD 31, tell the weather. Marcus reports that “we are still watching the Illinois River rise as we head into the weekend. The river will crest at 28 feet Saturday, which would make it the 4th highest crest on record, and the highest we have seen since 1985!” I imagine the local powers that be hated to hear that weather report.

The Riverfront is flooded out and will continue to be flooded through next week. Therefore, restaurants are a major hassle to get to. If you were in Peoria to participate in the “madness” that is March Madness, would you park blocks away from the restaurant you want to go to, and then walk across a rickety, lil bridge just to get some eats? No, you are going to pile your family in your SUV and high tale it across the very accessible bridge to the restaurant mecca that is East Peoria.

The Community Word reports that Kelleher’s is still open. This is good for Kelleher’s, as St. Patty’s day is quickly approaching. However, most people are going to be looking for a more family friendly type of fare.

Sure some folks will head up Main Street to Avanti’s, some may even shoot out to the restaurants by Northwoods Mall. But more than likely, most of them will be spending the bulk of their March Madness dollars in East Peoria. To bad for Peoria.

People are always talking about the things the City has done wrong - look at how spot on they were when they named Water Street.