Mayor Dan McLaughlin said Monday he pushed through a resolution endorsing the Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid because "... what's good for Chicago is good for the suburbs."
That would come as a shock to most people living in the suburbs, including in Orland Park. Many suburbanites moved from Chicago to get away from the city's corrupt political system, seeking freedom in much the way as our immigrant ancestors once fled the persecution, corruption and repression of their countries to settle in America.
No, Chicago's interests are NOT Orland Park's interests, unless of course, you work for a union that has much at stake with Chicago politics.
But jeez, if you criticize Hizzonner "da Mayor" -- I'm not talking about Mayor Daley but Mayor McLaughlin -- he get's his royal monarchy feathers in a ruffle. McLaughlin's idea of "serving the public" is to serve those who are loyal to him. If you are a voter who doesn't agree with his policies, then he ostracizes you.
I've been there with da Mayor. We've had our differences. he didn't mind soliciting my support when he was first running as an officeholder in Orland Park ... but once in office, turned and got sour.
Now, without any public discussion, the Orland Park village board approves a resolution endorsing the Chicago bid for the 2016 Olympics.
Great. What do the Southwest Suburbs really get from the 2016 Olympics. As a reporter, I've spent a lot of time pouring through the proposals and the fact is the Southwest SUburbs get nothing. Zilch! Nada! The South Side of Chicago gets a lot. Daley is smart. He is using the Olympics as a plan to rebuild and revitalize the depressed South Side of the city, which has needed help for years. Even the South Suburbs -- which are NOT the same as the Southwest Suburbs -- get programs and benefits. Which is why the South Suburban Mayors Association has endorsed the plan.
Orland Park is NOT a rubber stamp for Chicago. We should be always defending the rights and needs of Orland Park First! We should be transparent about our conflicts of interest and insure that when our elected officials act they are acting in our interests and not the interests of others where they may work.
Some elected officials will get angry at this as they always do. It's their only response to demands that they be accountable.
But leadership means that they must be accountable to the people of Orland Park. And accountability means answering the tough questions and TAKING THE CRITICISM, which does not come often enough in Orland Park, where some of our officials seem to reign like monarchs and royalty.
Ray Hanania
http://www.themediaoasis.com/
http://www.orlandparker.com/
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Orland Lions get their dander up over criticism of Orland Days Parade
I went to the Orland Days Parade this past week, but decided not to go to the Orland Days festival. The fact is the past three years of Orland Days have been a real disappointment. They just haven't been the same as they were in past years where the quality of the events seemed to far better. That doesn't mean the volunteers who work hard each year with no pay do not deserve credit for their efforts. But it does mean that something has been wrong and recognizing that wrong should be as important as patting yourself on the back.
So, I wrote about my feelings about Orland Days and the parade for the TribLocal, which has a popular segment called "Citizen Journalism." I expressed my admiration for the efforts of the Lions volunteers -- they are all volunteers, but also expressing my feelings that the quality just hasn't been the same.
Dave Neubauer, President of the Orland Park Lions Club which hosts and organizes the event, wasn't too happy about the criticism. They always love the praise but some just hate to be held to the standard of accountability.
But Neubauer made some good points. The volunteers worked hard to make the festival as good as it was. Maybe I will bring my family back to it next year -- we've attended everyone except this year, intentionally because last year's just wasn't that great at all. That's my opinion, but, it must be one shared by many Orland Park residents because I just didn't see that many at the Parade.
Now, the fact is I made some legitimate criticism that Neubauer either doesn't want to hear or he just doesn't agree with:
1 -- turnout at the parade was low. Why?
2 -- the past few years of Orland Days have been terrible, among the worst of any prior year.
3 -- It could have been a lot better.
4 -- With the economy tanking, it just didn't seem like a place where I wanted to spend my money.
I will say that Neubauer may be too sensitive to criticism, but he is a volunteer trying to do good. My suggestions to him include: doing a better job of public relations. Bring some volunteers in to help you do a better PR Campaign. Second, if this year was better than past years, you can't say it was the best and not acknowledge the poor performances of the past. Say that the past years haven't beebn the best but that the Lions are trying to do better. I think in fairness to Neubauer I should say he deserves applause and credit for doing what he can. At least he has his eyes on the priority, making it better and achieving the goals of the Lions organizations, which is one of the nation's best community service groups.
One of the things that everyone should keep in mind is is that good leaders are not people who pat themselves on the back. Good leaders are individuals like him who demonstrate that they are "accountable" to the publics they claim to serve by accepting both praise and criticism. Criticism is not destructive but rather a necessity to help make public good even better.
Dave Neubauer and the Lions Club deserve a lot of praise for what they have done for Orland Days ... I know they will make it better next year.
Ray Hanania
http://www.themediaoasis.com/
So, I wrote about my feelings about Orland Days and the parade for the TribLocal, which has a popular segment called "Citizen Journalism." I expressed my admiration for the efforts of the Lions volunteers -- they are all volunteers, but also expressing my feelings that the quality just hasn't been the same.
Dave Neubauer, President of the Orland Park Lions Club which hosts and organizes the event, wasn't too happy about the criticism. They always love the praise but some just hate to be held to the standard of accountability.
But Neubauer made some good points. The volunteers worked hard to make the festival as good as it was. Maybe I will bring my family back to it next year -- we've attended everyone except this year, intentionally because last year's just wasn't that great at all. That's my opinion, but, it must be one shared by many Orland Park residents because I just didn't see that many at the Parade.
Now, the fact is I made some legitimate criticism that Neubauer either doesn't want to hear or he just doesn't agree with:
1 -- turnout at the parade was low. Why?
2 -- the past few years of Orland Days have been terrible, among the worst of any prior year.
3 -- It could have been a lot better.
4 -- With the economy tanking, it just didn't seem like a place where I wanted to spend my money.
I will say that Neubauer may be too sensitive to criticism, but he is a volunteer trying to do good. My suggestions to him include: doing a better job of public relations. Bring some volunteers in to help you do a better PR Campaign. Second, if this year was better than past years, you can't say it was the best and not acknowledge the poor performances of the past. Say that the past years haven't beebn the best but that the Lions are trying to do better. I think in fairness to Neubauer I should say he deserves applause and credit for doing what he can. At least he has his eyes on the priority, making it better and achieving the goals of the Lions organizations, which is one of the nation's best community service groups.
One of the things that everyone should keep in mind is is that good leaders are not people who pat themselves on the back. Good leaders are individuals like him who demonstrate that they are "accountable" to the publics they claim to serve by accepting both praise and criticism. Criticism is not destructive but rather a necessity to help make public good even better.
Dave Neubauer and the Lions Club deserve a lot of praise for what they have done for Orland Days ... I know they will make it better next year.
Ray Hanania
http://www.themediaoasis.com/
Lane Bryant suspect still on the loose
Tinley Park police continue to hunt for the killer of five women at the Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park on Feb. 2, 2008. One woman, a sixth victim, survived the murder spree and provided this composite description of the suspect.
Tinley Park has set up a telephone tip line:
708-444-5394
and an email tipline
lanebryant-tipline@tinleypark.org
The web page of the Tinley Park Police Department is
http://www.tinleyparkpolice.org/
Contact police if you know anything about this suspect.
# # #
Tinley Park has set up a telephone tip line:
708-444-5394
and an email tipline
lanebryant-tipline@tinleypark.org
The web page of the Tinley Park Police Department is
http://www.tinleyparkpolice.org/
Contact police if you know anything about this suspect.
# # #
Village of Orland Park should start broadcasting its village board meetings on Cable TV
I think the village of Orland Park should start broadcasting its board meetings on Comcast Cable TV. Right now, the village has a municipal channel that is more or less a self-promotional vehicle for the village board members and its Mayor Dan McLaughlin.
The people of Orland Park deserve more accountability.
Go to our chat board and share your thoughts.
Ray Hanania
www.TheMediaOasis.com
The people of Orland Park deserve more accountability.
Go to our chat board and share your thoughts.
Ray Hanania
www.TheMediaOasis.com
BREAKING NEWS: Orland Park swimmers flee pool in squeamish panic
BREAKING NEWS: Orland Park swimmers flee pool in squeamish panic
By Ray Hanania
(Orland Park, Sunday June 1, 2008) – Swimmers enjoying the first real summer-like Sunday rushed out of the waters of Orland Park’s Centennial pool in a panic Sunday after what appeared to be an attack of “Baby Ruths.”
No injuries were reported, but the Orland Park pool was evacuated immediately.
Witnesses said that around 4:48 PM, as the Ed and Patsy Bruce Country music favorite “Mama Don’t Let Your Children Grow up to be Cowboys” was playing on the pool intercom system, a swimmer saw the shadow of the frightening image floating around in the “children’s section.”
Orland Park lifeguards acted quickly and ordered swimmers to flee the pool as other lifeguards braving the shocked gasps of nearby swimmers, cordoned off the section of water with chaise lounge chairs.
One witness said she was in shock. “This doesn’t happen in our neighborhood? My gosh!”
Another witness told this reporter, “Why do they have to call them Baby Ruths? I like Baby Ruths. Why can’t they call them Clark Bars? I don’t like Clark Bars.”
In fact, many witnesses stared at the cordoned off section of the pool in disbelief. “I’ve been through many evacuations at the pool. A lightening warning. They have a light for that. Thunder storm warnings. They use the same light. We’ve never had a Hurricane or Cyclone alert. Why no special alarm for Baby Ruth sightings?”
The pool was immediately evacuated of all its swimmers and closed for the remainder of the evening. “Baby Ruth” counselors were reportedly called in and made available to any families who might have suffered shock. It was even rumored that pamphlets were distributed that listed Comcast Cable TV showings of Harold Ramis’ 1980 movie “Caddyshack” as a part of the post-traumatic shock information campaign.
People who looked like pool officials said, “Baby Ruth attacks happen occasionally. This is the first one this season.”
According to other sources, “Baby Ruth” attacks happen quite often.
“I remember back in 2000 odd 2, we had a string of attacks,” one elderly swimmer with his swimsuit drooping down his backside remarked.
Health officials say pool operators have only one choice when a “BR” attack occurs: “Close the pool, period!”
No one was available from Orland Township to provide health guidance.
The Orland Park Centennial pool combines the baby swimming area with the adult swimming area in a “zero depth” setting. It was expected to be cleaned, sanitized and refilled with fresh water and readied for re-opening Monday morning.
In other news, the pool raised its fee for non-residents and non-season pass holders to $12 per day. Residents without a season pass pay $6 per day or $3 after 5 PM.
end
By Ray Hanania
(Orland Park, Sunday June 1, 2008) – Swimmers enjoying the first real summer-like Sunday rushed out of the waters of Orland Park’s Centennial pool in a panic Sunday after what appeared to be an attack of “Baby Ruths.”
No injuries were reported, but the Orland Park pool was evacuated immediately.
Witnesses said that around 4:48 PM, as the Ed and Patsy Bruce Country music favorite “Mama Don’t Let Your Children Grow up to be Cowboys” was playing on the pool intercom system, a swimmer saw the shadow of the frightening image floating around in the “children’s section.”
Orland Park lifeguards acted quickly and ordered swimmers to flee the pool as other lifeguards braving the shocked gasps of nearby swimmers, cordoned off the section of water with chaise lounge chairs.
One witness said she was in shock. “This doesn’t happen in our neighborhood? My gosh!”
Another witness told this reporter, “Why do they have to call them Baby Ruths? I like Baby Ruths. Why can’t they call them Clark Bars? I don’t like Clark Bars.”
In fact, many witnesses stared at the cordoned off section of the pool in disbelief. “I’ve been through many evacuations at the pool. A lightening warning. They have a light for that. Thunder storm warnings. They use the same light. We’ve never had a Hurricane or Cyclone alert. Why no special alarm for Baby Ruth sightings?”
The pool was immediately evacuated of all its swimmers and closed for the remainder of the evening. “Baby Ruth” counselors were reportedly called in and made available to any families who might have suffered shock. It was even rumored that pamphlets were distributed that listed Comcast Cable TV showings of Harold Ramis’ 1980 movie “Caddyshack” as a part of the post-traumatic shock information campaign.
People who looked like pool officials said, “Baby Ruth attacks happen occasionally. This is the first one this season.”
According to other sources, “Baby Ruth” attacks happen quite often.
“I remember back in 2000 odd 2, we had a string of attacks,” one elderly swimmer with his swimsuit drooping down his backside remarked.
Health officials say pool operators have only one choice when a “BR” attack occurs: “Close the pool, period!”
No one was available from Orland Township to provide health guidance.
The Orland Park Centennial pool combines the baby swimming area with the adult swimming area in a “zero depth” setting. It was expected to be cleaned, sanitized and refilled with fresh water and readied for re-opening Monday morning.
In other news, the pool raised its fee for non-residents and non-season pass holders to $12 per day. Residents without a season pass pay $6 per day or $3 after 5 PM.
end
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wanted to thank the listeners for their support
My weekly radio show "Radio Chicagoland" is off the air, mainly because we lost a major sponsor who was with us for so long and we couldn't find a substitute in time to keep the show going. Regardless, I wanted to say thank you to all of the listeners who spent the past 9 months with me as we had so much fun, forst on WJJG AM Radioa nd later WCEV 1450 AM Radio. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to call my "radio friends."
We may or may not make it back ont he air. It all depends, so I will look at this as a brioef sabatical from on-air rboadcasting. Maybe find another radio station. Who knows.
But I did want to say thank you especially to Neha Mehra, our intern and Special Reporter on Youth News. She did a GREAT JOB! And so did Ali Ido, who provided special reports from the street in his "Street News" segments. What a great job they all did.
In the meantime, I will probably continue to podcast interviews that will be posted on both the Radio Chicagoland web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com, and also at the Southwest News-Herald web site at www.SWNewsHerald.com. Those interviews will be of general interest. I also plan to do some special interest interviews on the Middle East and Chicago's dysfunctional Arab American community in the hopes of shaking some sense into their senselessness. You can find those on Radio Chicagoland and also on my web site at www.Hanania.com.
Thanks and talk to you soon
Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com
We may or may not make it back ont he air. It all depends, so I will look at this as a brioef sabatical from on-air rboadcasting. Maybe find another radio station. Who knows.
But I did want to say thank you especially to Neha Mehra, our intern and Special Reporter on Youth News. She did a GREAT JOB! And so did Ali Ido, who provided special reports from the street in his "Street News" segments. What a great job they all did.
In the meantime, I will probably continue to podcast interviews that will be posted on both the Radio Chicagoland web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com, and also at the Southwest News-Herald web site at www.SWNewsHerald.com. Those interviews will be of general interest. I also plan to do some special interest interviews on the Middle East and Chicago's dysfunctional Arab American community in the hopes of shaking some sense into their senselessness. You can find those on Radio Chicagoland and also on my web site at www.Hanania.com.
Thanks and talk to you soon
Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Radio Show may be at an end
Well, we had a great 9 month run on radio, first one show every Wednesday with WJJG and the great Joe Gentile beginning in September 2007, and then at WCEV 1450 AM Radio every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 until 6 PM with its stronger signal on the South and Southwest Side and Suburbs. But alas, it is all about sponsorship and while we enjoyed some strong support for the majority of the show, the media market is collapsing and advertising is weak.
So, I am not sure if I will be back on radio Tuesday at WCEV. The station needs a stronger signal, is too "ethnic" -- although that's the call letters of WCEV "Chicago;s Ethnic Voice." But the ethnic angle sure turned off a lot of listeners. Wow! The feedback on the content of the rest of the stationw as harsh.
Still, during our brief two hours every Tuesday and Thursday we had a blast, getting more call-ins from listeners than any other show during the week.
Radio Chicagoland, the only radio show giving Southwest Siders and Suburbanites a voice on local, regional, state, national and international issues will be back! :)
Thanks everyone for making it so much fun.
The past show segments are either online or podcast at www.RadioChicagoland.com.
In the event I don't come back to radio, I will continue to do radio interviews and podcast them through the web site.
Thanks
Ray Hanania
PS ... read my columns on the www.HuffingtonPost.com, the Internet's highest rated web page ... numero uno!
So, I am not sure if I will be back on radio Tuesday at WCEV. The station needs a stronger signal, is too "ethnic" -- although that's the call letters of WCEV "Chicago;s Ethnic Voice." But the ethnic angle sure turned off a lot of listeners. Wow! The feedback on the content of the rest of the stationw as harsh.
Still, during our brief two hours every Tuesday and Thursday we had a blast, getting more call-ins from listeners than any other show during the week.
Radio Chicagoland, the only radio show giving Southwest Siders and Suburbanites a voice on local, regional, state, national and international issues will be back! :)
Thanks everyone for making it so much fun.
The past show segments are either online or podcast at www.RadioChicagoland.com.
In the event I don't come back to radio, I will continue to do radio interviews and podcast them through the web site.
Thanks
Ray Hanania
PS ... read my columns on the www.HuffingtonPost.com, the Internet's highest rated web page ... numero uno!
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