In a word… disgusting.

You are just an agent of Mayor Daley. Fold ’em is exactly what he would want Park Ridge to do.

Hang ’em high by the nearest telephone pole Dog!

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re still hoping a federal indictment finds its way into Li’l Richie’s hands, so “agent of Mayor Daley” is a new one on us.

But we reiterate the deck is stacked against Park Ridge – and the $10 million of fed dollars is just the tip of that iceberg.

Obviously if the airlines feel there’s no need for expansion right now, then then whom am I to argue?

I do have a question.

You say the noise decreases our property values.

OK them how do you explain people moving to PR tearing down older homes for these large supersize ones?

Also O’Hare has existed since 1955 and went through an expansion in the early 1960’s at which time O’Hare probably became what it is now.

I’m only 40 but if you look through old PR papers to the early 60’s you can see noise complaints back and people fearing decreasing property values.
Though I’ve often been critical of those complaining about air noise I can see some cases where it is understandable but let’s not get carried away with the property value losses.

hasn’t happened so far.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We explain it by pointing out that, as we understand it, property values are lower here than in comparable communities like Glenview, Northbrook, Deerfield, etc. that don’t have noise issue – but which are further from the Loop and, therefore, should be less desirable to commuters.

You can’t compare an actual old-timey town like Park Ridge with the upstart, North Shore wannabe suburbs like Glenview and Northbrook. People who choose to live there do so because it’s as close as they can afford to Kenilworth and Lake Forest. Their HHI is significantly more than ours. And in case it escaped your notice, over the last decade or more major employers have fled Chicago for the far northwest and west ‘burbs, so being near the Loop is not the factor it once was. The 40-year-old is correct; I remember my mother, on our old rotary phone that chained her to the kitchen counter,telling people to wait while a plane went over as the noise was earsplitting. This was in the early-to-mid-1960s, houses had no A/C and in spite of the Luftwaffe overhead, we lived and slept on our screened porch from May through September. I wish irresponsible people would stop spewing how uninhabitable they think O’Hare makes Park Ridge. The Big Lie, repeated enough, will indeed screw our property values. Don’t know about you but mine did not fare well in the Recession, which you may have heard something about.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Done being the Delphic Oracle already? Okay.

We agree with you on people irresponsibly calling Park Ridge “uninhabitable” and panic-peddling danger from crashing planes, emphysema and cancer. But if you want to tell yourself the noise from O’Hare has no effect on the desirability of Park Ridge residences, have at it.

Too Funny!!!! It is not the planes making all that noise that will effect property values….it is people talking about it…..shhhhhh!!!

11:37, I would not worry about it. If folks are telling this “big lie” while outdoors people will not even be able to hear them do to airplane noise!!

I agree there is no chance that PR, even in conjunction with surrounding communities, would have any influence in slowing or altering of the plan for the O’hare expansion. The federal and state machines have their plan in action, more east west runways, more parking, more freight, more jobs. I see 3 new spec warehouses being built in close vicinity to my office, one new extremely large freight fwd company all a block west of the airport. They know this plan is starting to pay off in jobs and investment in the surrounding area.
As a new PR resident I can say the proximity to the airport factored in to my decision to buy a house here and I have to say I wouldn’t spend a lot to have planes landing over my house, but this is certainly a very desirable place to live and probably always will be one. Who knows, maybe as technology advances and planes get quieter in the years to come, PR property values will skyrocket for being such a convenient commute to air travel.

EDITOR’S NOTE: So long as the character of the community remains the same, it will be as desirable as other “inner ring communities (like Elmhurst, for example), save for the noise – which you correctly point out will can be reduced by quieter engines.

I agree with 11:37 that it’s mostly factors other than airport noise that make our property values lower. The towns you mention have better parks, libraries and schools, all of which are going to contribute to higher property values.

While airport noise might be a slight deterrent to some, I’d think a bigger deterrent to those who aspire to well-heeled surroundings and suburban quality is that we just don’t have as much to offer. I’ve recently realized that even Maine South, once the undisputed the crown jewel of the 207 system and surrounding communities, seems to be declining in quality overall. The fact is we’re closer to a Niles or DesPlaines than to a Northbrook or Deerfield than you seem willing to admit.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Park Ridge’s location is better than Northbrook’s or Deerfield’s, save for the airport noise. But the next most significant factor in property values are the rankings of Maine South and the D-64 schools – especially as they relate to property taxes.

11:37-In case you have not noticed-this town has its fair share of “North Shore” wannabes and we are not north and have only the shores of the Des Plaines river and a few small private lakes.

For those of us in the Belle Plaine corridor the use and enjoyment of our homes along with market value has decreased since the new runway opened on Nov. 20, 2008. The planes start flying over our house about 6:40 am and go on for most of the day. Then we are subjected to the large cargo planes that take off during the night between about 10:30 pm and 2:30 am. For some this might be tolerable or white noise-for others it is not.

And do you think people looking for a home are going to be excited to send their children to Maine South where the airplanes fly over the grounds at about 800 to 1000 feet? It is a joke to go to an outdoor sporting event there day or evening with the planes flying over every few minutes. How safe can this be? There are plenty of other suburbs with better high schools people can choose to move to. For those of us here already we are kinda stuck unless we want to realize the loss on what we have invested in our homes and move our children to a different school.

So we are not irresponsible people spewing about how uninhabitable Park Ridge is because of O’Hare. This statement is true-a reality for some people in parts of Park Ridge. For those of us who did not have the planes constantly flying over our homes before 11/20/2008, this has caused a permanent reduction in the value of our homes. Value lost from the recession may be recovered.

But the reality is no one in Springfield or Chicago or DC cares at all for what has become and will continue to happen to PR because of O’Hare expansion. We are deemed expendable for whatever the greater good is.

I have so many issues with the comments above….
Let’s start with market value.
Below are stats from July 2013:
Park Ridge- AVG Sale Price- $481,852 UP 21%
Park Ridge Median Sale Price- $380,000
Park Ridge New listings Average- $534,492
Park Ridge Inventory- 3.4 months (52% less than last year).
I’d upload the file to show, but there is no way to do that. Park Ridge Real Estate was on fire in 2013 and airplanes even flyover when houses are being shown.

Talk to any realtor in the area, and ask them how many homes have had multiple bids this year. People want to live in Park Ridge and pay a premium in home cost and taxes to do so.
Many many people choose Park Ridge because it’s next to the airport.

The loud & rude minority (MEANGENE) of the “stop O’Hare at all costs” crowd have been used by politicians for decades. Have you won ANY battles? It’s over. I suggest to move to Huntley or Gurnee or somewhere where you won’t hear any noise. The market is back. Unfortunately, your crowd hasn’t come up with effective solutions. Your local Democratic Party (Durbin, Jan, Kotowski & Moylan) which you’ve supported appreciated your support and sold you down the river. Former Mayors have squandered hundreds of thousands.

For anon 806am talking about “wannabes”…what does that even mean? Also, people would lie, cheat and steal to get their kids into Maine South from neighboring areas.

Maybe the anti-airport people should go have a beer at Murphy’s to get together with the cubs rooftop owners who also are shocked by their problem neighbors.

@8:34, good points. Houses in my neighborhood have been selling like hotcakes. And I just heard from a D64 teacher this weekend that Emerson enrolled over 50 new students for this year, a huge jump compared to previous years.

One theory: all the recent drama within CPS is pushing families out of the city at an accelerated rate. Park Ridge is a logical move for many since it’s not too big a leap and the urban amenities some people leaving the city might miss are still within a reasonable distance.

And heck yes, being close to the airport is pretty darn convenient, especially for those who travel a ton.

8:34 am- Please compare your home price increases to a year. Up 21% from what year-2012? How do these prices compare to the pre 2006 levels? Because before 2006 lots in our area of PR were selling upwards of $600,000. Post 2006 prices fell to the low $300,000.

When we bought our home a bit over 20 years ago we were not directly under the landing pattern for a runway at O’Hare. Now we are-thanks to the runway that opened on 11/20/2008. Hopefully when we move we can find some of those people who do not mind having 200-300 airplanes a day (when the winds come from the west which is estimated at 80% of the time) flying directly over their home. And when all the cargo facilities are completed at O’Hare we will get to enjoy the night time cargo flights, too.

When you say people will lie, cheat and steal to get their kids into Maine South-is their alternative a Leyden school or Taft of Maine East or West? Because those are the schools for the neighboring areas. But some PR residents don’t want to be compared to these neighboring areas. They want to be compared to the North Shore-hence the wannabes label.

Obviously Maine South is a good school and provides a fine education to its students-but the topic here is all the cost of ORD expansion to PR and part of that cost is the fact that lots of airplanes now fly directly over MS on a daily basis at a low altitude when they did not before 11/20/2008. Whether you want to admit it or not this has diminished the experience of attending MS.

Here is a link to the US News and World Report list showing the schools with higher rankings in the area which don’t have airplanes flying 800-1000 feet over their campus. This is what was referred to in the post above if you had not seen it.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/illinois/rankings?int=c0b4c1

EDITOR’S NOTE: If Maine South was THE highest ranked public high school in the greater Chicagoland metropolitan area, would more people accept plane noise and spend more for a house in Park Ridge than with a lower ranking Maine South – much as Yale ameliorates the downside of New Haven, or U of C the fringe areas of its neighborhood?

Sure! How much? Choose your WAG.

This issue involves a constantly-shifting interplay of numerous interdependent factors such as educational quality/reputation of the schools (of both Maine South AND D-64), home prices, taxes, airplane noise, parks, location, etc. That being said, airplane noise in Park Ridge will keep getting worse as O’Hare expands until engines get quieter – and no Democrats (state or federal) and no Republicans (ditto) have any reason to care.

It’s the FEDERAL Aviation Commission under Republican rule until about five years ago that determined that international commerce-facilitating air travel trumps local quality of life. And be careful what you say; MeanGene and the other anti-development, anti-O’Hare folks would rather be boiled in airplane fuel oil than pull a Democratic ballot. And as a Maine South student in the olden days whose brother went to Yale, and whose kids have also gone through Maine South, I can say that three generations of students who adore music at ear-splitting levels are not deterred from their academic ambitions due to airplane noise. The noise ruins outdoor socializing and family life, especially on Sunday summer afternoons, but let’s face it; even in the ‘burbs, most of life goes on in the air-conditioned comfort of the great/family room. And of course talking about the noise doesn’t make it worse — but for those not living here already, bad word of mouth will definitely be self-fulfilling on your property values. How could it not be? So think what matters more to you: Venting your ire or getting out of Dodge on your terms.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Let’s not let revisionist history obscure the fact that O’Hare expansion is, always has been, and always will be, nothing but a revenue source for the Daley-dominated Chicago Democratic Machine, with the assistance of the Madigan-dominated, Democrat-controlled state government. The fact that Li’l Richie and Dumbya Bush were buddies simply helped grease the skids, as did the fact that Li’l Richie and former Gov. George “No. 16627-424” Ryan were tight as a drum.

The plane noise only ruins your summertime if you allow it to.

Growing up here none of us hid inside our homes because of planes, even in the days of the old 707’s and 727’s. I even go to the park and watch the plane land and take off.

It’s a wonderful past time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Nostalgia is often better than reality, but not necessarily as accurate.

Anon 3:23. Not true my friend. MeanGene is the typical “illinois republican.” You know that guy who claims he is but votes for self interest. I remember his “highly decorated lawn” with a Moylan sign last election.

See his comment: http://www.journal-topics.com/news/article_e819893c-289a-11e2-ad68-0019bb30f31a.html

or in his own words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q0wJ4rjOWU

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are not sure that the “MeanGene” who posted that comment is Mr. Gene Spanos. In fact, we doubt it because we doubt that he has adopted that monicker for himself.

I find it hard to believe that the 2008 runway is really detrimental to Maine South. I didn’t live here back then but from what I can gather, didn’t some schools in PR get funding for soundproofing? I would guess that MS would have been at or near the top of the list given its proximity to O’Hare. I know that wouldn’t affect outdoor activities or sports but given that much more happens inside than outside I’d imagine that not much has changed for the school despite the new flight path.

EDITOR’S NOTE: C’mon, folks, let’s get relevant here. The central issue of this post is whether we’ve got a snowball’s chance of getting the kind of relief from airplane noise some people are demanding.

Yes, Maine South got soundproofing which basically eliminates the sound problem indoors. So anybody who brings up noise inside MS is just a whiner.

Now, does anybody have a plan for dealing with O’Hare that has any reasonable chance for success – rather than just spending money tilting at windmills?

If Mr. Spanos had a Moylan sign on his lawn it’s only because Provenzano and Moylan are personally related and for all of these folks, politics is just a job. Idealists not welcome.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Spanos DID have a Moylan sign on his lawn, which makes his anti-Kotowski rants even more meaningless. But so what?

The sign ISN’T Gene’s. If Kotowski, Schakowsky, and the IEA cared about Maine school ranking, health, safety, and home values, there would be no need for such signs. Secondly, Gene doesn’t rant. We leave Chicago style bullying to Dan Kotowski.
At least Mr. Moylan ACTS on suggestions, answers calls with a respectful tone, and is currently working on saving the air quality monitor at Maine South. If you think the jets are loud now, get ready for 9 center which will bring group 6 type aircraft such as AB380 and 747 800F. The altitude will be 750 ft. AGL over the 7th ward.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Moylan is the embodiment of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden’s maxim: “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” He’s another one of Mike Madigan’s lapdogs, and if you think he’s going to bring any meandingful relief to Park Ridge homeowners we’ve got some swampland in Florida we’d like you to look at.

Yes to the above comment can anything be done at this point during the build out.

Seeking a full time and perm Home Owners Aviation Fly Quiet program can happen. If San Fan, LAX, Minn, Minn airports can have a fly quiet program – then why can’t we ? Let’s give the voices of the 6,000 that did vote yes on the last referendum – election cycle to seek night time relief. We look forward to hearing Dr.Barbara Lichman,Phd. [ the top aviation Atty in the country – we think ] have a voice on Nov 4th in front of the city council. We applaud those who support this potential option for all of the impacted community.

Let’s also help save the current Quality Air Monitor located near MSHS. We fought to see this installed and with Sen. Dan K’s help along with State Rep.Marty Moylan’s assistance – we need to keep it until full build out is completed.

Remember….UAL and AA still refuse to pay for runway Nine Center, The ext of 9 Right and the West Terminal– that was too promised.

Lastly, thanks Bob for keeping this blog site open and above the belt.
Thank you.
Gene Spanos

I’d like to respond to the Editor’s note about Moylan.
These are the reasons I voted and will vote for Mr. Moylen:
I wrote to the president of The Maine Township Republican Women’s Group the last election with questions…..NO RESPONSE.
I called Ms. Sweeney’s office with questions and concerns the last election…….NO RESPONSE. I received a call from the Republican Women’s group inviting me to leave my name and phone in order to make reservations for a luncheon and speaker. I did so……NO RESPONSE. Do only Country Club folks count? I contacted Mr. Kirk’s office with questions…..NO RESPONSE. You seem so shocked that someone who is a registered Republican would vote for a Democrat. I have made my views about Democrats CHRYSTAL CLEAR. Anyone who drives down Greenwood and reads my fence knows where I stand.
Mr. Moylan responds!!!!!!!!!!!
Republicans didn’t loose my vote. They GAVE it away.

EDITOR’S NOTE: You didn’t give your vote to Moylan the Stooge, you gave it to Mike Madigan. Well done!

You missed the point and went for ungentlemanly.
The candidates you support can easily win back votes by actually CONTACTING constituents,
answering questions and presenting plans that would address concerns. All are welcome to stop by my home and will be graciously received.
Mrs. Michelle G. Spanos

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ms. Spanos, we’ve spent 50 years dealing with politicians. We know how they operate. Moylan is a politician in Madigan’s back pocket, and O’Hare expansion is one of Madigan’s pet projects. If you can’t connect those dots, that’s not our problem.

So help me understand your position and persistence in avoiding my question. The 6,000 people of Park Ridge who voted in favor of fighting O’Hare expansion can do nothing to fight O’Hare, but the one candidate you support who’s only credential is that she served as head of The Park Ridge Women’s Voters will be able to make an impact fighting the Madigan machine?
Is it any wonder that the Republicans are viewed as elitist and out of touch? Kindly answer my question about lack of response from your candidate. Can she and is she able to face questions and address concerns? You seem to support some women while speaking condescendingly to others. Avoidance is Jan Schakowsky’s style. Mr. Moylan obviously knows how to “play the game” the old fashioned way. He knocks on doors. The impacted families have not been given an opportunity to face your candidate.
You can’t persuade from the comfort of your couch. Does she know her way south?
Mrs. Michelle Spanos

EDITOR’S NOTE: The point you’re missing is that NOTHING will be done about O’Hare because Madigan and Cullerton and Quinn and Emanuel – the people who run Illnois – want O’Hare expansion; and YOUR candidate, Moylan, is a Madigan stooge who also will do nothing. That he answers you phone calls and lies to you doesn’t change that fact.

But by the way: When and where did 6,000 Park Ridge voters vote “in favor of fighting O’Hare expansion”?

6,000 votes appeared on the last referendum…look it up! Where is your support for those voices? You are right. Nothing will be done. I am certainly no Madigan supporter, but change cannot occur if you just roll over and fatten on the fodder of apathy.
You STILL avoid the original question. WHY don’t Republicans that YOU support respond?????????????
Thank you for the opportunity to engage in this lively debate.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In November 2010, 7,592 Park Ridge voters said “no” to spending as much as $500,000 fighting O’Hare espansion, while 5,737 voters said “yes.” Our support is for those 7,592 “voices” – and for the remainder of the voters who chose not to cast a ballot at all, presumably because “no” worked for them, too.

But by supporting Moylan, you really ARE a “Madigan supporter.”

Sir, to throw away those 6,000 voices and plead,
“nothing can be done”, you are supporting Madigan. He feeds on apathy. If you won’t fight for the O’Hare issue, why fight him on anything?
Why have an Il. Republican Party at all if they won’t speak up, or address concerns of voters?
FLY QUIET IS ATAINABLE!!!!!!!!!!! Other cities have achieved this goal. I don’t understand why you don’t encourage your candidates to HEAR us.
Sweeney was incredulous that Republicans wouldn’t vote for her. I can only speak for myself. I would have voted for her had she and others RESPONDED. We ask to be heard and receive equal representation. The problem might not be important to the country clubbers, but ignoring it is ringing a death knell for their campaign.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ma’am, the last time we looked at the Constitution it said that majority rules; and those “6,000 voices” (actually 5,737) lost to the 7,592 “voices” in an official vote. So why would/should anybody listen to those losing voices on this issue?

Similarly, you have admitted to voting for Moylan, the Madigan stooge who defeated Ms. Sweeney thanks to folks like you and all those fake “Republicans” like Rosie Mulligan and the Maine Twp. cabal. So why do you keep talking about her: she’s not your representative, and she’s not a candidate any longer.

If you think “Fly Quite” is attainable under Madigan’s Democratic regime, have your boy/Madigan stooge Moylan get it done.

I admire your ability to read the minds of non voters. Notice I have not resorted to name calling. You seem fond of the word stooge. Your energy would be better spent supporting your neighbors. Oh, that’s right the issue isn’t as important as spending money on a park across form a park in the country club neck of the woods.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Using that single word (“stooge”) to describe Moylan saves us all the additional words of the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition: “a weak or unimportant person who is controlled by a powerful person, organization, etc.” – in this case, Madigan the prince of darkness.

We try not to waste valuable time on hopeless causes despite our desire for their outcome. Maybe you’ll figure that out in a few more years after Moylan actually accomplishes nothing of value for your cause.

Wait until they decommission the 14/32’s Left and Right. Those aircraft planned for departure will be programmed over our flight tracks ….then add in the mixed fleet to the last and final r/way…9C that will crest just over the homes of the 7th ward at less than 2,000 Feet AGL during the daytime approach/glide path. Yes – the hundreds of emails we have received from the families where the sleep disturbances continue…are not pretty. Noise does matter [ see studies and papers written by Dr. Arlene Branzaft, PhD. She also sits on the FAA’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Jet Noise vs. Kids Learning. Note: School district # 64 is part of the overall current study. Lastly, the most recent U.S. Hse Bill H.R. 3650 does not hit it’s mark. Cong. Jan’s attempt at Silent Skies Act and the complete phase in of Stage Four Aircraft is not going to help solve the night time over flights from the mixed aircraft take offs. A Workable fly quiet can be achieved along with an Aviation Complaint Resolution State Bill where all complaints are filed shared with the state’s I-UCR System.

Yes – we care about our neighbors, the kids and this community. Don’t let politics get in the way here. Thanks Bob — for allowing this short speech to post. Be safe to all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Gene, we wish you well. Unfortunately, nobody – N O B O D Y – but the people directly impacted by these new flights and flight paths cares, which is why no elected officials, including Jan Schakowsky and her Republican counterparts, are going to the mat on this.