Did Gulley just say he WILL NOT be seeking to retain his seat on the City Council

Just fast forward to the 0:51 second mark...

... and who is this "we" he keeps referring to?

On the upcoming edition of CAPtions 1st District Councilman Clyde Gulley, Jr., tells host Andre Bohannon what is happening there, including the attempt to transfer funds from the Southtown TIF. Gulley also indicates what his future will be regarding the Council. CAPtions will air on Sunday, Feb. 5th at 5 pm, then again 10 days later on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 7 pm and later at Midnight. It will be available on YouTube and FaceBook by Monday night. Hat tip Dennis in Peoria. 

First up on the 1st District appeasement list...

1st District Councilman Clyde Gulley

Spring Grove, which is the new gated subdivision that the majority of well do black people who live in Southtown reside in. 

At Tuesday's City Council meeting the local newspaper reporter who was live blogging, blogged that the Mayor accused Sandberg and Gulley of grandstanding for the audience. Now we know that Sandberg is always going to speak on behalf of constituents, but Gulley, ummmm, not so much. 

But hey, it appears that this Southtown TIF thingy has revived him.

Check it out he really has a lot to say: 

• 1st District City Councilman Clyde Gulley, who represents the Southtown area, said Urich's office should not "assume" there are no neighborhood concerns before the council tackles items. 
• "If you really don't know whether or not there are any concerns, you shouldn't say there are not concerns," Gulley said. 
• Gulley said the city should focus the TIF district money on projects of importance within Southtown. 
• Gulley cited a street lighting project within the Spring Grove subdivision he says has been needed for years, though the project is not specifically included in the city's capital budget plan. 
• Gulley said some of the passionate calls to keep the money in Southtown reflects the frustrations of residents in that area. 
•  "It's because there have been a lot of promises broken, I think the people in the south side are tired of it," said Gulley.
• There are a lot of things going on wrong in our community. It's almost like the State of the City is what everyone is talking about. But this is a whole different city we are living in, said Gulley.
• Gulley said we have 9.9 percent unemployment (but the city has) the best credit ratings because people with jobs are doing fine. You have people without jobs; they don't have a credit score." Source

Don't worry Southtown Gulley's got your back.

Just how sharp is Sharp?

In last night’s local newspaper, when live blogging about the City Council meeting, the local political reporter, who one would think would be in touch with the community, started his report like this:  

City Council meeting — 1/24/2012 Following along to the highlights of tonight’s Peoria City Council meeting. The meeting starts at 6:15 p.m

Expect a lot of discussion on the potential delay of the redevelopment agreement with EM Properties for the Marriott Hotel project. I wouldn’t anticipate any shocking decision tonight (aka, cancellation of the agreement…though it’s a possibility). 

A large crowd in the council chambers (not sure why). 

Ummmm, really? You don't know why? Isn't the Southtown TIF on the Agenda?

In today’s newspaper, that same reporter did a follow-up report on the Council meeting. In that report the reporter described the people who attended the meeting as “a mostly black crowd”. This description of the people who attended the meeting didn’t sit well with some of the folks who read the article...

PEORIA - 11 hours ago...John, WHY call attention to the majority of the audience's race? Which has nothing to do with municipal funding. I, highly, doubt that you would describe a crowded 5th district audience, in print, as the ' mostly white Peorians ' . These Southtown residents concerns are valid, about this issue, no matter what race they are!

Stormin Norman - 10 hours ago...PEORIA said it first and said it best...

Trustbutverify - 6 hours ago...PEORIA is exactly right!Just another shoddy piece of journalism from our local birdcage liner.

Mrdippy - 2 hours ago...PEORIA: Local government in my experience is very cautious to not offend demographic groups whether race, religious, neighbordhood, etc.. Perhaps its just part of being a politician and looking out for that career. Isn't it kind of racist for you to think that including mention of race in the article might imply some sort of lack of credibility for their concerns? When I read the article I didn't pick up on any sort of conotation along those lines and had to re-read the article to see what you commented about. I think it is fair to include that mention because demographics are relevant for politics, and the make up of different parts of the city are known facts lets hope we can all acknowledge.

Writingmomma - 2 hours ago...I think it is time for some real changes in Peoria. There needs to be more diversity on the ballots there. Get busy Peoria residents. Out with the old and in with the new. It is high time to get the racist rhetoric away from the present way of life. Yes, African Americans make up the largest majority in south Peoria, but it doesn't matter. People are people! There are also White Americans living there too. There are also Asian, Indian and several other races. Stop grouping people together and thinking that they are less worthy of the tax dollars that 'they' too pay as well. Where do you think TIF monies come from, a fairy? People are not blind. When shady business practices are being done or racist articles are printed, corruption is present, it is seen!  It is time to put Peoria on the map as a place with diverse quality of living. No racial profiling. There needs to be transparency in governmental hiring practices, that includes, police officers, city council, fire departments. 

And for the PJ Star , you need to hire more than just Pam Adams to go into the black neighborhoods to report. Race baiting while reporting on a story is just sad in 2012.

Suffy - 2 hours ago...I think John Sharp's description of the audience in attendance was appropriate. I could not attend but listened to the meeting on Bradley University's 89.9. It was wonderful to hear so many Southtown Residents show up and speak so passionately about the TIF and the area that is their home and neighborhood. They articulated their ideas and finally the council listened to someone other than Matthews and the others that seem to have a magic hold on them. Everyone knows all the financing is not in place, the documents are not signed and finalized and there are legal issues as well among the various partners in this project.

... And then something really strange happened...

John Plevka JS Managing Editor - 1 hour ago...

John Sharp is an excellent and experienced reporter. His attention to detail is razor sharp. However, we agree with commenter PEORIA, the need to describe the racial mix of Tuesday nights audience was not salient to the issues being weighed at the meeting. Race had not been introduced as a factor in the debate and, thus, describing the crowd in this fashion was not relevant. We have since removed the reference from the online version of the story.

What do you think? Was it worth the mention that the people who turned out to protest this issue were mostly black? Isn't it a fact that the majority of residents who would be most affected by the City giving the Southtown TIF funds to Matthews and the Warehouse District black? Why would the Peoria Journal Star be so sensitive about this one story?

Peoria City Council caught with their hand in the cookie jar

Tonight the attempt to take money out of the Southtown TIF and give it to Gary Matthews and the Warehouse District was thwarted when folks from Southtown showed up to stand up for their community. 

The measure was unanimously defeated and left Councilman Gully trying to save face when he was more than likely prepared to vote for the measure to pass. After being confronted by the people who would vote his behind out of office, his tone changed. See what happens we stand up for our community?

Congratulations Southtown, stay vocal, stay strong!

Note to the inner city: The COP does not care about you

The School District shuts down schools because they "can't afford to keep them open" and inner city neighborhoods are ripped apart. The Park District closes down inner city YMCA/YWCA, limiting places where inner city children can play, thereby leaving children to make do on the streets. 

In the meantime, the COP is creating TIF Districts specifically for private developers and as soon as the TIF reaches maturity, giving payouts to private developers, rather than returning the monies back to the Districts. 

The Southtown TIF district, which was created in 1978, currently has a $4.6 million balance and will expire next year. The TIF-generated payouts SHOULD go back to taxing districts such as the School District and the Park District. Instead the COP has decided that a private developer is entitled to three-quarters of the payout. In addition, the Southtown TIF could also be tapped to pay for ongoing work in the Warehouse District. 

pjstar

 “…in 2010, $3.5 million in property tax revenues that would otherwise have gone to District 150 was redirected to City Hall for projects within the TIF districts.”

David Kinney, the comptroller and treasurer of District 150

Does this sound like a City that cares about inner city children and the neighborhoods in which they live?  Not to me.