Of, By, and For “The People”! What a concept! I am just loving the Watchdogs this week! Thank you!

Didn’t Frimark recruit Kirke Machon (1st), Joe Baldi (5th) and Marc Mazzuca (6th) to run against candidates in those wards that were aligned with the sitting “independent” aldermen Anderson, Cox, Crampton and Parker? That’s the way I remember it.

If not for the St. Mary’s neighbors who fought the PADS shelter in their neighborhood, I wouldn’t have even known about it because it was not in my back yard. And nothing was said about PADS at St. Paul (I’m a parishioner) until after the St. Mary’s neeighbors started making noise about it.

Russ Stewart is an idiot. He doesn’t really understand much about Park Ridge and our history, and if anybody thinks a $250 campaign contribution is Schakowsky “pouring money” into a race they need meds.

Time has proved that Frimark can’t work with anyone that won’t kiss his ass and do exactly what he tells them to.

It’s about time the people in this community woke up and have started speaking up. We have all been sleepy suckers for Frimark’s crap for way too long.

Anonymous on 07.30.08 12:54 pm – you’re right about Stewart not knowing much about Park Ridge. He picked Tinaglia as a “slight favorite” for mayor, but Tinaglia lost by 60%-40%. He picked John Iberl to hold Tinaglia’s first ward aldermanic seat, but Iberl lost 61%-39%. And he picked Bruce Gilpin to defeat Joe Baldi, with the reverse happening by 66%-34%. A monkey with a dartboard could have done better.

From our experience contesting the parameters of the development at Executive Plaza, I learned that Park Ridgians have strong views about what should happen in our town. Of course they don’t all make it to council meetings to express their view. I think they rely on others to express their views for them– either citizen representatives (as you discuss in this thread), or their elected aldermen. Unfortunately, with only 7 aldermen, a simple majority of 4 makes the decisions for all of us, and sometimes they haven’t made decisions that reflect what the citizens clearly want. That’s what happened with the Executive Office development, to our great frustration after two years of speaking out. So what can citizens do to make a difference? Vote smart. Elect aldermen and a mayor who share a vision of Park Ridge with you.

With you 100%, Ms. Owen. And like you, my alderman is Robert Ryan. “Nuff said.

Ms. Owen, most members of our City Council – both the current 7 and the former size 14 – don’t want to actually know “what the citizens clearly want” because then they’d either have to do it (usually against their own wishes) or be accountable to the voters for not doing it.

That’s why they never want to put anything to referendum, even an advisory referendum. Instead, they spend our money on surveying 400 people and then saying it represents what all of “The People” think. Or they pull a Don Bach, say they talked to 30 of their constituents who favored giving Napleton millions of dollars, and then vote that way.

The only two times in recent memory that the City put anything meaningful to referendum (not counting Wietecha’s “do you want 747s from O’Hare crashing into the Pickwick,” yes or no?)was when the referendums were put on the ballot not by Council resolution but by citizen petitions.

The citizens have not had any chance to vote on such important, community-wide issues as the TIF, the development plan for Target Area II, the new public works bldg, a new police station, expansion of R-5 zoning, etc.

It’s interesting that most of the “quality” people listed simply are against something. Exec Plaza, Uptown, Napleton, Howard,…whatever. It’s always easy to be the opposition. There really is no courage required. How about someone with an actual fresh, progressive idea. I know that the local blogosphere is lead primarily by folks who would rather see the town erode from benign neglect, but perhaps a few of the anointed, like the almighty schmidt, will surprise us with an actual vision for the community, rather than the ridiculous waste of energy poking fun at Frimark.

Anonymous on 07.31.08 7:37 pm,

I could not disagree more strongly with your sentiments. It takes great courage for “the people” to stand and speak against the power brokers, the elite, the connected, those who command the bully pulpit, when all they have at their disposal are their voices and words.

Quite contrary to your view, I believe it’s always easy to nod one’s head in bobbling agreement with those who control not only the ways but also the means of power.  Those are the people who risk nothing.

The local blogosphere is lead by those who also have nothing more than words at their disposal. They’ve chosen to use available technology to “amplify” their words. It’s as close as they’ll ever come to sharing the power of words that the politicians and local press have always controlled in their sickly symbiotic relationship.

Anonymous on 07.31.08 7:37 pm,

“It’s always easy to be the opposition. There really is no courage required. How about someone with an actual fresh, progressive idea. I know that the local blogosphere is lead primarily by folks who would rather see the town erode from benign neglect”

Nothing could be further from the truth. Did the folks at EOP say NO to development? No, they said stay within the zoning ordinance.

Do the folks opposed to R5 expansion want NO expansion in Park Ridge? No, they want expansion that is intelligent and within the scope of the vision of those that drafted the comprehensive plan… or at least close to it. They don’t want R5’s creeping all over town, that’s for usre.

Do the folks opposed to a PADS at St. Mary’s or SPC want NO homeless shelter? No, they want one where they can be part of the process since opening a shelter is a character changing event for the whole city.

Do the folks that are opposed to the Cumberland over/underpass want NO under/overpass? Well, you got me on that one! ‘Cause it’s potentially the biggest waste of +$20 million or so that one could think of.

Alpha is right. It is not easy being the leader of a group or, for that matter, one of a group that stands in opposition to what the city leaders cook up behind closed doors or in closed meetings. If you want head bobbing, as in “yes, Howard”, idiot lemmings as citizenry it seems that time has passed.

Get a clue Anon.

To anonymous on 07.31.08 7:37 pm:

We are unaware of any critics of local government in Park Ridge who, in your words, “would rather see the town erode from benign neglect.”

Whatever “benign neglect” there might be is coming from the Frimark Administration, which can’t even come up with a plan to adequately pave our streets, reduce our flooding, or help get us reliable electric power – the kinds of things that competent government is supposed to be doing.

As for your complaint about “the ridiculous waste of energy poking fun at Frimark,” it really isn’t any “fun” to continually address his self-serving follies as mayor of our City. It’s actually sad and depressing, especially if one cares about the unique character of the community that “Let’s Make A Deal” seems so intent on changing – for the right price, of course.

But somebody’s got to do it, so we’ve volunteered. And while we’re expending a lot of energy, we’re not wasting any taxpayer dollars in the process – unlike Mayor Frimark and his Alderpuppets.

Finally, we echo the comments of “Alpha Female” and “Wondering.” It’s easy to be a “rubber stamp,” a “yes man,” or a “lemming.” In fact, for those so inclined, it’s the next best thing to apathy.