Seceding from Cook County's repressive taxation option on five township ballots

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins, who is leading a growing protest movement against the repressive sales taxes and bloated Cook County Government of County Board President Todd Stroger, was the keynote speaker at a Fight the Taxation Forum held Monday night at the Orland Park Civic Center.

Mullins was joined by National Taxpayer's United President Jim Tobin and by Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman, who is also the Orland Township Republican Committeeman. The forum, the first in a series to challenge Stroger's represssive and unjustified tax increases, was organized by Radio Chicagoland talk show host Ray Hanania (WJJG 1530 AM Radio, Mon-Fri 8-9:30 am) and was taped and will be broadcast Thursday (April 2) on the morning Show beginning at 8 am.

Palatine Township is one of five townships where voters are considering seceding from Cook County. The others include Barrington, Schaumburg, Elk Grove and Hanover townships. Although it takes much to secede -- a 50 percent plus one vote in each township and a similar majority vote in the county -- the very act of standing up to Stroger's taxation is energizing a fight the taxation movement that is spreading throughout the county.

Mullins, Tobin and Gorman agreed that there is already a quasi-secession taking place in Cook County. Many consumers in Cook County are simply already driving across the county's borders into neighboring counties to purchase big ticket items, a form of de facto secession.

"With my district running from the north to the southwest suburbs in Cook County along the western most border of the county, I am hearing from businesses that customers are chosing to cross over into neighboring counties to purchase big ticket items and that is hurting their business," Gorman said. "Those businesses need our support, not more taxation."

Gorman was one of eight commissioner who opposed Stroger's repressive sales tax hike.

Mullins said that while the likelihood of seceding is challenging, the very act of putting the measures on local ballots has caught the attention of Stroger, whose administration has turned a blind eye to the concerns of many suburban communities and leaders.

In fact, a spokesman for Stroger, who has ignored repeated requests to come on the "Mornings with Ray Hanania" radio show, called to see if a Stroger spokesperson could attend the meeting. Hanania, the show's host, said that Stroger should first come on the radio show and take questions fromt he audience and show that he has the courage to stand up to the concerns of the taxpaying public first.

No one from Stroger's office bothered to attend, which did not surprise the audience nor the speakers.

Also speaking was Orland park Mayor Dan McLaughlin who welcomed the guests to his suburb.

The evening radio forum was taped and will be broadcast on Thursday morning from 8 until 9:30 am on WJJG 1530 AM Radio. I will also have it podcast, possibly before Thursday so you can hear the comments and observations from the guests, Gorman, Mullins and Tobin, and the great questions fromt he audience.

And a special thanks goes out to one of the first professional journalists I met some 32 years ago, Jodi Marneris, whose mention in her column in the Southtown/Star helped get the word out about the forum and pushed the crowd. And thanks goes out to the Palos Regional News also for their ongoing publicity. Also covering the event is the Orland Park Prairie which has the largest circulation in Orland Park and most of the neighboring suburbs. The reporter there was Jamie Lynn Ferguson. Aaaannnnd! We also had FOX 32 News (Channel 12 on Comcast Cable) covering the event that evening and the next morning. Plus WBBM Radiow as there grabbing interviews ... great coverage!

http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Mudslinging in local Orland Township elections

Like many residents in Orland Park and Orland Township, I have been inundated with political mailers

Visit to Chicago Museum's expensive and, well, disappointing

Every year I try to bring my son to visit Chicago's museums. And every year, I leave with two impressions. First, the cost of the museums has increased prohibitively. Second, the museum's are falling apart.

Worse, once you pay to get inside the museu, you have to pay again to see some of the main special attractions. It ends up costing you a fortune, from the parking to the museum entrance to the shows.

But that isn't the worst part. The museums are in complete disrepair. They are falling apart. Too many of the "free" exhibits are broken. Over and over again, my son and I ran into signs that read something to the effect of "Please excuse. Exhibit is undergoing maintenance."

That didn't stop you from jacking up the cost of the ticket to get into the museum. For two people, we ended up spending more than $100.

Before the Museum directors increase the costs of tickets to get into the museum and the numerous extra costs required to purchase special shows inside the museum, they should fix the exhibits. I can understand one exhibit not working. But I counted 30 that were broken with the lame, lazy excuse that theya re in disrepair.

I was very disappointed with the Museum of Science and Industry, which I have visited since I was a very young child. Some of the best memories I have with my mother and father and family and cousins, relatives visiting from out of town, are when we went together to visit the Museum of Science and Industry.

It was free, but even if they had charged money, the exhibits all worked. There was a pride displayed by the museum regarding every single exhibit.

We purchased a ticket to go through the U-505. The guide, Lisa, was a very informative person. But the first thing she told us was we can't take pictures inside the captured Nazi submarine because the museum didn't want us to sell them on eBay. We did pose to take a picture with the Museum Photographer as we walked into the U-505 gallery area, that we purchased for $20.

What a rip-off. Why can't it all be a part of the package. Doesn't anyone care about the public. I really doubt anyone would pay anything to buy a stupid picture of the inside of the U-505. And when my son gets older and has his own family and kids, he won't be talking about the U-505 the way I did when I was a kid and the submarine was parked outside of the museum. What a huge attraction it used to be, instead of the altar of money and clout that it is today.

Can I say something else? They have former WBBM TV Reporter and anchor Bill Kurtis narating nearly every single video program. I like Bill Kurtis, but just him? How about some variety to add a little diversity. His monotone voice get's to be annoying. It's distracting.

I bet they paid a fortune for that!

No, if my son remembers anything, it will be the unkempt, little cared-for incubator that drew the largest crowd as children with huge smiles across their face stood and stared the way I did for hours years ago watching the eggs under the bright warm lamps waiting to mature to hatching. One egg did hatch while we were there and it was the most exciting moment of the museum visit. Just sitting there watching the chick peck through the shell from a small crack to a growing break that spilled pieces of shell around next to the Florence Flask with the thermometer. We watched in amazement as the chick finally spilled out, tired from the work.

It was phenomenal. In contrast, the U-505 was too much like a choreographed conveyor belt of tourist schmucks, paraded through and rushed out so the museum could cash our checks. No sovenirs, unless we paid for them in the expensive museum store. Very little to take back with us, except memories of how much it cost and a discussion about not wanting to go back there again. Except for the hatching of the little chick, a free exhibit that has been a core attraction at the museum for generations.

We didn't waste our time with the pirate exhibit. We can see better and more for far less elsewhere.

Too bad that culture in Chicago has come down to an emphasis on money and government apathy. If I didn't have a life, iw ould have walked through an inventoried on video the broken displays that dot the Museum of Science and Industry.

Tragically, you have to blame the museum's fall on the political mechanics who run it, like Dave Mosena. Oh, I saw him shove his face in front of the camera's at the Chicago Public Schools Science Fair competition. Him and Dave Huberman, the political meachanic Mayor Daley tabbed to help him squeeze the money out of the school system while smiling and distracting the public away from the continue decay of the city's educational system.

The truth is politics and clout mean more to the people who run the museums than service, excellence in exhibitions and respect for the consumer. In the old days, all the politicians cared about was your vote in exchange for a new garbage can lids. Now, what we get for our hardearned money is the garbage.

Here's the video of the chick hatching. Don't waste your time until the Mayor puts someone else in the museum's place who has better qualifications to lead and a dedication to culture and service.



-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Traffic cameras intended for pedestrian security and egregious violators, Chief McCarthy explains

Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said he is fully behind the idea of placing cameras at 151st and Harlem and Lagrange Roads, not to concentrate on soft-right turn drivers but mainly to insure there is security for pedestrians and to nail motorists who frequently blow through the red lights. (Click here to read the previous story?)

Another target includes motorists on 151st and LaGrange Road who are making left hand turns and who try to sneak through the red light after it changes behind cars that are waiting for the light to change. It's caused a lot of accidents.

McCarthy also said that Orland Park is supporting the lights at 159th and Harlem which were placed there by Tinley Park and are monitoring those. But no plans are in place for other traffic cameras. Yet.

McCarthy emphasized that making a soft right turn on the red light is illegal, "but that's not our main reason for putting in the cameras." In Bolingbrook and other communities, the majority of the citations have been given to cars making the right turn at lights that didn't fully stop. McCarthy hopes the cameras will help drive home the need for drivers to be more cautious. To obey the laws -- all the laws. And be more observant of pedestrians.

There is no need to rush folks.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

The mess called the Republican Party -- new leadership fighting to take control

State Sen. Chris Lauzen is in a fight, unbelievably, to give Republican Voters the right to directly pick their own leaders on the GOP "Board of Directors," the State Central Committee.

I say unbelievably because the biggest foes of changing the existing law which allows Republican committeemen in the 19 Illinois Congressional Districts to select their State Central Committeemen, rather than give that vote to Republican votes, are some of the Republican Party's own leaders, like State GOP Chief Andrew McKenna.

Lauzen has introduced Senate Bill 600 to change the practice and let Republican voters directly vote on selecting the State Central Committeeman and State Central Committeewoman in each of the state’s 19 Congressional Districts. The two posts are equal and have given women equal voice in state politics. Democrats already directly vote for their counterparts. It’s only the Republican voters who are denied that right.

Former Gov. Jim Thompson, who didn't blink at donating his legal services to help his corrupt pal former Gov. George Ryan, took away the right of Republican voters to select their leaders in 1988 in a move to consolidate his own power. If you had to trace the total collapse of the Republican Party to any single move or person, it would be to that date and to that former governor.

“If everything were going fine in the Republican party, would say we have other things to take care of. But we have been losing so many campaigns. We’re in the super minority in both chambers of the legislature, for practical purposes. We don’t have one of the executive branch officers in the state of Illinois,” Lauzen explained during an interview on RadioChicagoland on WJJG 1530 AM Monday (http://www.radiochicagoland.com/).

“We have problems in Illinois because the checks and balances of the two-party system no longer exist. And we have to believe in the founding principles that the people are in charge, not the politicians, and one-person and one vote, or we don’t.”

State Sen. Chris Lauzen and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno are planning to push for the adoption of a bill that would restore the right of Republican voters, taken away by Thompson in 1988, to directly elect the State Central Committeemen and State Central Committee Women (co-equals in a system that has empowered woman leadership in Illinois) and McKenna has threatened to file a lawsuit if the bill is passed.The Republican Party Chief, McKenna, wants to prevent Republican voters from deciding who should represent the party?

McKenna has been arguing that the state voters should get the right to elect the U.S. Senator, demanding that the seat held by controversy-plagued U.S. Senator Roland Burris should be decided in a special election -- give the voters a voice, he says.But when it comes to giving Republicans a voice in who should be leading the Republican Party, the voters of him, he doesn't want the Republican Party members to vote.

Citing McKenna’s opposition to SB600, Lauzen said, “The centralized leadership of the Republican Party has really come out very hard against this. I am surprised with all the problems that they have. All we are talking about is returning to the great traditions of this country where in the founding document of the Declaration of Independence it says the just powers of the government are derived through the consent of the governed. That is the many people, not the few. It starts out as We the people not we the politicians.”

Lauzen added, “McKenna says ‘special election, special election’ when it comes to Roland Burris. But when it comes to the board of directors of the Republican People, we can’t elect them by the people. On a good day, it is irony. On a bad day is just hypocrisy.”

He called McKenna’s threatened lawsuit “a sign of desperation. We want our vote back. This is about reform in Illinois. If we want better government we need better candidates coming from the grassroots. We need to reconnect the voters and make this party stronger.”

Listen to Lauzen's podcast interview from Radio Chicagoland last Monday on WJJG 1530 AM Radio by clicking here. Get more information at Lauzen's web site at http://www.lauzen.com/.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Republican leaders fight to give voters a voice, against their own leadership

State Sen. Chris Lauzen is in a fight, unbelievably, to give Republican Voters the right to directly pick their own leaders on the GOP "Board of Directors," the State Central Committee.

I say unbelievably because the biggest foes of changing the existing law which allows Republican committeemen in the 19 Illinois Congressional Districts to select their State Central Committeemen and Women, rather than give that vote to Republican votes, are some of the Republican Party's own leaders, like State GOP Chief Andrew McKenna.

Lauzen has introduced Senate Bill 600 to change the practice and let Republican voters directly vote on selecting the State Central Committeeman and State Central Committeewoman in each of the state’s 19 Congressional Districts. The two posts are equal and have given women equal voice in state politics. Democrats already directly vote for their counterparts. It’s only the Republican voters who are denied that right.

Former Gov. Jim Thompson, who didn't blink at donating his legal services to help his corrupt pal former Gov. George Ryan, took away the right of Republican voters to select their leaders in 1988 in a move to consolidate his own power. If you had to trace the total collapse of the Republican Party to any single move or person, it would be to that date and to that former governor.

Now, State Sen. Chris Lauzen and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno are planning to push for the adoption of a bill that would restore the right of Republican voters, taken away by Thompson in 1988, to directly elect the State Central Committeemen and State Central Committee Women (co-equals in a system that has empowered woman leadership in Illinois) and McKenna has threatened to file a lawsuit if the bill is passed.

The Republican Party Chief, McKenna, wants to prevent Republican voters from deciding who should represent the party? No wonder the Illinois Republican party is an absolute mess. McKenna has been arguing that the state voters should get the right to elect the U.S. Senator, demanding that the seat held by controversy-plagued U.S. Senator Roland Burris should be decided in a special election -- give the voters a voice, he says.

But when it comes to giving Republicans a voice in who should be leading the Republican Party, the voters of him, he doesn't want the Republican party members to vote.

Tragic.

Listen to Lauzen's podcast interview from Radio Chicagoland last Monday on WJJG 1530 AM Radio by clicking here. Get more information at Lauzen's web site at http://www.lauzen.com/.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

With few exceptions, voter turnout in suburban elections will be low

Once again, important local elections in most Chicagoland suburbs will be anti-climactic with the incumbents sweeping the polls and returning to office.

It's not because they have all done such a good job. It is because voters in the Chicagoland suburbs are both apathetic and confused.

Didn't we just vote for President Barack Obama to replace the nation's historicaly least liked and least effective President George W. Bush? Why do we have to vote again? Remind me?

The fact is the elecion system is made intentionally by the government to be confusing and to foster apathy. Low voter turnout in suburban elections has been the rule, with only few exceptions.

Here's the system we have now: The most important election is the election for President and major statewide offices. Voters go to the polls in larger numbers at this election.

Local officials through their state obfuscators -- also called legislators in the state House and Senate -- made sure to separate the national elections from the local elections, they claimed, because it was tooc onfusing for voters.

Too confusing?

The year after the presidential elections -- last March (in Illinois but earlier and later in other states) and in November, voters voted for president and the Congress. This February and now April 7, in Illinois, voters will vote for local government officials like village President and city mayor in the suburbs.

There are no elections in Chicago, where the media focus is intense. And media coverage which drives voter awareness, is lacking in the suburban elections reflecting a "who cares?" attitude. Any media coverage will be token and local.

So, if you are a voter, no one in the media is paying attention to your local suburban election, which means you will not get much awareness nor background information on the candidates. And that means the lower the voter turnout, the better it is for the incumbents. The supporters of incumbents who usually have jobs beholden to the incumbents, vote. And there are a lot of them usually reflecting the employee base of a village where incumbents usually sweep the majority of votes, as much as 95 percent. And so do their families and their friends. The supporters of the challengers, who usually are not beholden to the challenger for their jobs, may vote.

The local incumbents, who get ver little real journalism scrutiny -- most suburban papers publish "happy talk" features about how great the incumbents are in order to reduce animosity that might result on losing advertising (in today's repressive economic situation, it's even worse).

On top of all this, the election process is even more confusing. The "consolidated election" process has made public participation even less likely because no one knows when to vote. Cosnolidated elections mean that primariues have been eliminated and candidates (usually incumbents) who get 50 percent plus 1 vote are declared the winners in what used to be the Primary election date. (A primary used to be when members of an established party select their candidates from a field of candidates from within their party who then run in the general election representing their party.)

It isn't like that everywhere. So media coverage of those contests confuse the public into believing elections are over.

What should be done? We should have one election for every office in the country on the same dates. A Primary and a General Election. One year every four years, except for Congress, which would be every two years. Make special elections on the off years for Congress for those offices where vacancies have occurred at least three months before the Congressional elections.

If the suburban elections had taken place last November, almost 50 percent of incuments who have been challenged in the elections -- many are never challenged and run-unopposed -- would be defeated and replaced by fresh faces, fresh voices, fresh ideas and office holders who at least going into the system will be more likely to champion the needs of the voters and the public rather than line their own pocketbooks.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Sign of the times: Orland Park joins traffic camera revenue club

Sign of the Times
Orland Park joins traffic camera revenue club













































They passed the ordinance months ago but the first traffic light cameras were installed during the past week, one at 151st Street and Harlem Avenue and another at 151st Street and LaGrange Road. The LaGrange Road camera faces south, catching catches heading south on LaGrange Road as they speed through lights or, more likely, making soft stop right turns into ticket violations.

























Want to know what other's are experiencing with these menacing monitors?

The Protagnonist Blog

MSNBC Report on the Bolingbrook fiasco.

We called chief McCarthy to double check on how these cameras will be used. Will they be used to hammer drivers who make soft right hand turns on to 15st Street -- the west side of LaGrange Road include a neighborhood that is lower incomed -- or will they be used to monitor cars that shoot through red lights?

We'll post the chief's response as soon as we can connect with him. He is very accessible as a community leader and official.

Yikes!

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Can we suburbanite taxpayers sit back and do nothing?

Can we suburbanite taxpayers afford to sit back and do nothing?

We are facing a tsunami of tax increases from Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois. At a time when we, the taxpayers, have to tighten our belts to make ends meet -- cutting back on family travel, working more, trimming back on meals, savings, new cloths, and trying to cover the basics of life, the politicians are doing just the opposite.

They get their top-notch healthcare. They get their steadily increasing salaries and benefits. They get their perqs, including bodyguards and chauffeurs like Mayor Daley, Alderman Burke and other big shot politicians who don't feel they have to answer to our needs.

They get their family members jobs. Their friends jobs.

And they do it with our money. taxpayer money.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a patsy for Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, is proposing a whopping 50 percent increase in the Illinois Income Tax. Quin didn't start out by saying he planned to tighten the state's fat, obese, overweight belt. No. He started by saying we have to raise taxes.

They said the alleged corruption of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich cost us millions. But have the losses stopped? No. Blagojevich was a distraction, to take our eyes off the ball. Our money and the elected officials failure to do their jobs.

Mayor Daley, who lies about his office indiscretions taking free jet rides from contributors and pals who put his wife to work, wants the suburbanites to pay more to bail out the inefficient, waste-bloated CTA. They keep saying how it will help the suburbs, but the fact is the suburbs get bones while Chicago gets the cash. Chicago doesn't get good service. Don't misunderstand what I am saying. They get lousy transportation service just like the suburbs. But Chicago gets the jobs. Well, pals of the mayor and his top aides and the alderman and the politicians, get the jobs.

And then there is County Board President Todd Stroger. He zapped up the sales tax with out even a blink of the eye. Oh, the politicians who were running for higher office, like larry Suffredin, screamed in taxpayer agony. And then when they lost and went back to the County "Bored" room, they flipflopped and supported th etax increase.

Now Quinn wants to jack up taxes.

And what are you going to do about it?

On Monday, March 30, Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins will keynote a community forum to fight increased local, county and state taxes. Mullins has proposed seceding Palatine Township from Cook County. It's not easy to do, but the proposal has caught the attention of the lazy politicians who tax and tax and then lie.

The forum is at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Road (1 block west of LaGrange/Mannheim Road). Doors open at 6 PM. The fight the taxes revolution starts at 6:30.

Be there. It's free.

Go to www.RadioChicagoland.com and check out the activism page and read about more steps you can take to fight the tax increases.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Candidate Gerald Maher comes out swinging

Politics is starting to come alive in Orland Park with less than four weeks left to the April 7 election. That might tell you about how tough it is for non-incumbents to find the resources to challenge incumbents.

Gerald Maher is running a second time against Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. They're both good men. They both love Orland Park, but one of them is the incumbent with a huge campaign warchest. The other is not, with a huge hurdle -- convincing voters to take notice.

While McLaughlin's warchest is significant -- I've written about it -- it does reflect his 16 years in office. He's built up a lot of alliances, good will and a decent track record. The current economy has put the spotlight on the village's taxes and the decision to trim back the property tax rebate has ruffled some feathers.

But it still takes a lot to mount a campaign.

Maher is focused squarely on the taxation issue, a smart move with taxes rising all around Orland Park and revenues dropping like fundamental words out of Chicago Mayor Daley's sentence structure. It is the heart of a two-sided, yellow flyer with black ink that was inserted into the weekly home-mailed edition of former Senate candidate Jack Ryan's Orland Park Prairie newspaper. It's an affordable way to get the word out, but far from what is needed.

His single disclosed campaign contribution came two days ago from Kang Lee, the restaurant in the heart of the controversial dust-up of the village's stalled multi-million dollar "Main Street Triangle" project and the planned razing of the Orland Plaza Shopping Center. It's the last parcel of land the village needs to begin plans to create an old town atmosphere around the train station west of LaGrange Road at 143rd Street. But the $2,000 from Kang Lee two days ago is small change to fuel the ambitions of the Concerned Citizens of Orland Park and its admirable slate of candidates. (Between now and the election candidates need only disclose contributions of more than $500 so the donation amount may not be a true indicator of what he has available.)

There are five positions up in the April 7 elections in the village. Mayor, clerk and three trustees. Two of the incumbent trustees running with McLaughlin are vulnerable, Kathy Fenton and Jim Dodge. The other incumbent is trustee Brad O'Halloran and the Village Clerk Dave Maher.

Dodge, who has more ambition than successes in politics, has a campaign photo that haunts him with a smile that looks like a bent tin can. He's close to Orland Township Republican Committeeman Elizabeth Doody Gorman, who doesn't have a great record in terms of helping the Republican Party at all, but that her friends in politics keep insisting has great potential. I've yet to hear from her and can only go by her public record. Gorman's biggest anchor is her political ties to Ed Vrdolyak, who pled guilty to corruption but managed to skate out of a jail term only through what observers conclude is either the senility of U.S. District Court Judge Milton Shadur, or political cronyism.

While Maher is known by many, his slate is not as well known, but courageous. They are Patrice Pykett, the candidate for clerk, and trustee candidates Kenneth Wzorek, Kenneth Houston and Marian Klemme.

Although Maher is basically a Republican, and McLaughlin a Democrat -- he's the Orland Township Democratic Committeeman, in fact -- party labels won't help much.

Maher's literature makes some good points, like addressing the village's mounting debt of $94.2 million. But using the term "pay-to-play" goes a bit too far. When asked about Maher's candidacy, McLaughlin asked where Maher has been the past eight years since the last election, but then took a swipe quoted in the newspapers that was too negative. Still, the election will help bring out issues citizens of Orland Park need to understand.

The expected turnout for April 7 will probably be low, though past mayoral elections have drawn some 9,000 votes.

But without deep pockets and more Kang Lee's, it will be very tough to mount the kind of campaign one needs to bring out the votes and crack McLaughlin's very tough to beat record.

It's going to take a lot more than an insert in the Orland Park Prairie to move people to vote on April 7 and Maher's people, despite a soft campaign warchest, are promising more. Money is the measure of a candidate's viability, not just the issues.

The Township race is also starting to percolate, too, with Maher's brother and Orland Township Supervisor Robert Maher being challenged by Paul O'Grady, who is not related to the former sheriff nor any of the powerful O'Grady clan. O'Grady's blue and white signs have already popped up on LaGrange Road.

For more information, you can visit Gerald Maher's web site at www.CCOP.us. McLaughlin's slate does not have a campaign web site that I know of and I couldn't find one for Robert Maher, either, but you can find info on both McLaughlin and Robert at their official government sites, www.orland-park.il.us and the township's web site is http://www.orlandtwp.org/. Paul O'Grady's web site is www.otfp2009.com for the Orland Township First Party.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

First mailer in Orland Park isn't from a candidate -- yet!

It’s a little surprising, but the first political mailer I have received in Orland Park this political season doesn’t come from any of the candidates, but someone who many believe has a very prosperous political career ahead of him.

I’m talking about the mailer the Orland Fire Protection District mailed this week to tell me that they are not going to take all the money in taxes they had planned to take and will in fact be taking less. It’s called a tax abatement – not a rebate. The OFPD will abate $1.3 million, which you will see on the Fall Tax Bill. And you don’t have to fill out any paperwork. The mailer, a single two-sided color card is signed by Patrick Maher, the Fire Protection District president and son of village clerk, Dave Maher.

I call it the “first political piece of the season,” but that’s if you don’t count the two other “political pieces” I’ve already received in the mail from the Village of Orland Park. Yes, they are the very expensive, slick and full color “Village of Orland Park Public,” and the “Village of Orland Park Recreation & Parks Department” magazines and they are, in part, political.

Both publications do a great job of reminding us of who are our mayor, clerk and six trustees.

By the way, you can read the two publications the way they used to read the May Day Parade in the old Soviet Union: You can tell who has the most clout based on how many times names are repeated in the publication. Mayor McLaughlin’s name is mentioned 9 times, of course, as it should be. The next closest mention is of Trustee Brad O’Halloran, six times. Brad’s considered the political heavy on the board. Then there are Maher and Trustee Kathy Fenton, with four mentions each. (I only counted two mentions for Trustee Bernie Murphy, the lowest total. He’s not running for re-election this round, and if you put it to a vote, he'd probably say "no.")

The village publications are informative detailing what programs the village has to offer. Although I wonder: would anyone in the village be upset if it came out after the April 7 election instead of before?

BACK TO THE ORLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Back to the Orland Fire Protection District. Their piece was a bit of a surprise. Or, maybe not. Maher is not up for election, although he has ambition and the backing of many fans in the village. I met him. Very nice guy. Says he’s just into it all because he wants to bring “change.” Kind of “Obama-ish.” The meeting was arranged by former Trustee Tom Dubelbeis, who is working part-time community relations for the OPFPD and has political smarts.

There is an election for a trustee on the board. But none of the incumbents are running so the piece doesn’t promote anyone. So why the notice?

There has been so much negative press about the OFPD. Reports that they’re buying three trucks next year are not true. Although the OFPD added 10 more employee spots to the budget, they are not hiring.

Maher insists the hires will only happen if there is an emergency, a retirement or disability. “I’m comfortable at the manpower level we are at now, unless there is a need and I don’t see it yet,” he said. “We have it in the budget in case we need it.”

Maher also said rebating taxes has always been his goal. “My goal has always been to rebate taxes and I think we have tried to cut back,” he said. “We had six open public meetings on the budget last year and six public meetings the year before. I want the public to know what we are doing. We want to do it again next year too.”

Although Maher says he doesn’t have any plans yet to announce for any public office, the word on the street is he may run for the Cook County Board seat in this, 17th District. And that would put him head-to-head with the incumbent, Republican Committeeman Elizabeth Doody Gorman who has the seat now but is rumored to be ready to step aside for let Paul Vallas, the former Chicago CEO. Vallas wants to against beleaguered and controversy-plagued Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and being on the board gives him a stronger platform to take Stroger on.

If Vallas does replace Gorman, that would be good news in and of itself. But, it might make it a tougher race for Maher. Maher will be a shoe-in to beat Gorman if she is still holding the seat when the time comes to file at the end of this year.

Here is what the Orland Fire Protection District says about the Tax Abatement from their web site:

Did the Board of Trustees approve a property tax abatement?
Yes, the Board of Trustees approved abating $1.3 million from the district’s property tax levy. The abatement means that for the year 2009, you will pay less for the OFPD portion of the tax bill than what was projected in our taxing ordinance. This is not a recurring abatement and is only applicable to the 2009 tax year at this time.

Based on our calculations and projections, the District’s portion of your property tax bill will decrease from last year.

A FINAL NOTE ON AMBULANCE SERVICE

And I’ve come to reconsider the whole issue of the ambulance service after Maher insisted that not one resident will have to pay for ambulance service out of their pocket. The whole idea was to get residents who need ambulance service to fill out the paperwork so the OFPD can seek reimbursement for the service from the Insurance Companies.

If there is one thing I hate more, it’s the robber baron low-lifes who run the health insurance industry. So, yes, make them pay for the service. We need to put them out of business anyway with universal health care.

Oh, and if you are an Orland Park resident and you don’t have health insurance, don’t worry. You don’t have to pay the OFPD anything.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Never too early to clean up that barbecue grill

It's still too early to enjoy an outdoor barbecue but it is never too early to hope fo rgreat weather.

I bought new steel burners for the inside of the barbecue. And I decided to buy a push buttown igniter to light the new burners.

Barbecues always work great the first summer you have them. But they are like American cars. They fall apart fast. The first to go is the push button igniter that lights the burners. I remember that second summer. I nearly broke my thumb, cussing and screaming because the ignitor button snapped but wouldn't crackle. Isn't it always that way?

Heck with it. I bought one of those long Bic lighters. And I have to bend my arm around the table to get the lighter into the hole near enough to the burners after I turn the gas on full blast. Boom!

The next thing to go is the burners. They rust out faster than a Chevrolet on the Winter salted Streets of Chicagoland. Which reminds me. Since most cities skimped out on salt this year to save money in this bad economy? Will the body of my car actually hold out and not rust before the transmission locks? The insure everything on a new car except the things that break.

So I went out and bought a new steel burner. It cost $29.95 at Lowes. And as I was walking out to pay for it, I saw the push button ignitors. Another $19. Could I do it I asked myself?

As certain as I am about finding my way when I am lost driving my rusting Lincoln LS beater. My wife tells me to ask for directions, but I won't. I don't need no stinking directions! I can do it myself. And as my wife watched from the comfort of the dinner room room, I stood out in the chill of what I thought looked like a nice day. The rain finally stopped. The sun was out. And it was still 38 degrees outside. It felt colder though because I wasn't wearing a coat. Another reason my wife was shaking her head.

Do you ever notice that the stores are more concerned about security than they are with service? I mean, if I wanted to get help to do something, I can never find a store clerk.

But, buy something like a new steel burner, and it comes encassed in an almost impossible to break-into plastic container. I can see the burner inside but for the life of me, I can't break through the plastic to get it.

That's whent he first burst of cuss words comes streaming out. My wife can't hear me through the window panes with heat running in the background int he comfort of the dining room. But she knows I'm swearing something awful.

I try ripping it open, Pulling it apart. Cutting it with scissors. Anything. It's double sealed. I get through the first layer and there's another one inside. And it's not like soft plastic, either. It's made like a brick wall.

Finally, the steel burners, screws and instructions spill out all over the cold patio and I spend the next 10 minutes looking for "Screw A" which the instructions say must be used to insure the burner burns safely.

Why?

I don't know.

Of course, I don't discover that until I am almost done putting it all together because the instructions come in 16 languages including six variations of Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Greek, Arabic, and some other languages I don't even know. Somewhere in the tiny squares of small type are the English instructions. But why would you put instructions in English when you are selling something so American to an American?

Hell with the instructions. Who needs them? I know what a burner looks like. And I know what an igniter looks like and is supposed to do.

So I start screwing all the pieces together that I can find. Not bad. It balances in the grill. Next is the igniter. Who needs a ground wire? The igniter goes in a two piece metal triangle that comes together somehow with the do-hickey. And no matter how great the thing is, I have to gerrymander something. I have to bend the "teeth" that grip the edge of the burners when it's finished. And I am pushing to try and get the wire around the igniter when my hand slips and the wire connector slams my thumb. Now. I couldn't have aimed to hit the spot between where my nail and my skin meet, but that's exactly when the wire metal connector thing-a-ma-jog slammed.

And I drew first blood. So with a paper towel wrapped around my thumb, eyes squinting and tongue know sticking out of the right side of my clenched teeth, I get everything together only to discover I have to take it apart so I can work the wire through the hole in the grill. Fine. I did it once. I can do it again.

Three hours in to it – my wife has long ago left the window – I finally get everything together. I open the gas tank, turn the knobs, pump the igniter one time and wahlah! The fire starts.

That’s when my wife opens the door and asks. “Feel going out to get something to eat at Olive Garden.”

Fine!

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Community Forum March 30 to fight rising Cook County Taxes planned

Fighting Cook County’s Rising Taxation: A community forum with Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins

Orland Park – How citizens can fight back against skyrocketing taxation in Cook County will be the focus of a public forum featuring Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins.

The forum will be held Monday, March 30, 2009 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Drive (1 block west of LaGrange Road).

Mullins, who has suggested that her Palatine Township secede from Cook County in protest of excessive taxes imposed by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, will discuss how communities like Palatine, Orland Park, Tinley Park and other communities on Cook County’s Western most borders can network to stem the taxation Tsunami.

“I think it is important for communities to come together and have these discussions,” Mullins explained on a recent appearance on Radio Chicagoland on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

“Secession is difficult to do and requires 50 percent plus one vote of the citizens of a township and 50 percent plus one vote of the voters in Cook County all to agree. And that is challenging. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have these conversations.”

Mullins said she believes these public discussions can help make our county officials like Stroger recognize that taxpayers deserve better and that government should first find ways to make their governments more efficient before turning to taxation.

The forum is sponsored by Radio Chicagoland, hosted Monday through Friday mornings (8 to 9:30 am) by award winning columnist Ray Hanania (www.RadioChicagoland.com).

The forum is open to the public.

“It’s not just for voters in Orland Park but the whole Southwest region so that we can engage this very important issue,” Hanania said.

For more information, contact Hanania or visit the radio web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com.

The program will be recorded for broadcast on radio the following morning on WJJG 1530 AM Radio "The G" at 8 am.

# # #

5th District Race creates impending vacuum on Cook County Board

Most political observers recognize that Cook County Board Commissioner Mike Quigley's victory in the March 3 special election in the 5th Congressional District in the Democratic Primary seals his fate as the district's new congressman succeeding Rahm Emanuel who resigned the seat to become President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

That would create a vacuum on the Cook County Board where Quigley has led the reform movement challenges to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, whose administration is beleauguered with failed leadership and controversies involving excessive taxation. Many observers do not believe Stroger will have the backing of the Democratic organization whe he seeks election to the spot his late father, John Stroger, held for years.

Quigley was the more fearless of the reformers who challenged Stroger's continued missteps and mistakes, a group that included Forrest Claypoole and Larry Suffredin. Suffredin flipflopped on Stroger's sales tax hike opposing before when he ran for state's attorney and supporting it after he lost. Claypoole is a power hungry political wannabe whose interest in reform has more to do with his personal ambitions than genuine concern for the voters.

Quigley, on the otherhand, was always genuine and consistent although hsi background years ago began as a worker in a Chicago Machine Ward organization of Alderman and Commiteeman Bernie Hansen.

It's not wrong for people to expect Quigley to win. The votes, despite a record low turnout, show that Quigley far outdistanced any of the competitors in the Republican or Independent field. Quigley receive over 12,000 votes. The Republican victor, Rosanna Pulido, won only 1,001 votes (several hundred higher than her closest challenger in part because of the fire-charged issue of illegal immigration that she espoused). The five candidates running on the Independent slate, all members of the Green Party, barely got close to 450 votes total among them all.

One might argue that the Democrats who did vote for other candidates -- Quigley's impressive 12,000 votes is impressive compared to the 11 people who ran against him but not when compared to the total Democratic Party primary vote. The vast majority of Quigley's vote like the other Democratic contenders, came from the Chicago portion of the District, 12 percent and that means 88 percent is still out there. But there is no reason to believe the majority of those Democrats will vote Republican, or that the Republican Party can mount a significant campaign head-to-head considering they had no money going in to the race.

So it is fair to say Quigley will win Tuesday April 7 in the general election. And when he does, the Democratic Committeemen in the 5th Congressional District will meet to appoint someone to take his place.

Everyone was impressed despite their losses with the performances os State Rep. John Fritchey and State Rep. Sara Feingenholtz. Both Fritchey and Feigenholtz spent the most money in purchasing TV ads which helped them lead the field but not win. There were three candidates with Machine names that stood out: Frank Annunzio, the grand nephew of the former congressman of the same name, Cary Capparelli, related to representative Ralph Capparelli, and Pat O'Connor, a Chicago alderman. Their Machine credentials gave them boosts but not enough to score significant votes. Capparelli got713 votes, Annunzio got 750 votes and O'Connor got 6,371 votes which was substantial but only half of Quigley's winning turnout.

The lessons: The Machine does not rule the 5th District; a real reformer can put together a coalition to win enough votes; the Republicans have a long way to go; the green Party needs to assess its own future as a 3rd party or better yet a faction in the Republican or Democratic parties. And who swings the decision on Quigley's succession in the 5th district among the district's commiteemen will be significant.

The vote to replace is based on a weighted system among the committeemen and Tom Tunney of the 44th Ward carries the largest weighted vote. He may decide who succeeds Quigley, and he may pick from a large field too that includes two current and former county board aides to Quigley, and a former State Representative who may be dragged down by her ties to disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

On a completely different plain, the low voter turnout in the highly contentious 5th Congressional District race suggests voters remain as apathetic as they always have. And that may reflect general apathy across Cook County and the six-county Chicagoland region.

Why? Voters seem content with the election of Obama as president. They're not going to jinx their luck; voters rarely get the best candidates.

You can hear a discussion of these and other issues from Friday's radio broadcast of Radio Chicagoland (WJJG 1530 AM Radio, http://www.radiochicagoland.com/) with Pioneer Press Newspaper reporter Patrick Butler and FOX TV News County Reporter Dane Placko. ... (Click HERE to Listen to the Podcast interview with Patrick Butler -- first 30 minutes -- and Dane Placko, 2nd 30 minutes of the show?)

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Low vote turnout in 5th District foreboding for Orland Park?

The low voter turnout in the 5th Congressional District was really shocking. Literally, 10 percent of the registered voters in the district turned out to vote this past week on Tuesday March 3 to select a candidate to lead their parties in the April 7 election for congress.

Some might say the primary election is always low and the April 7 election will have a higher voter turnout. The voters are merely waiting to let the Democrats, Republicans and Independents fight it out amongst themselves first. And, they will then go to the polls April 7 to select from that final round.

If that is true, it only shows how naive voters really are. The primary election pretty much sealed the fate on that district. Fortunately, Cook County Board Mike Quigley, who won the Democratic nomination, will almost certainly become the congressman in the seat once held by Rahm Emanuel, a very controversial former congressman who is now President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff.

What does it mean for Orland Park. This week, candidates in the village elections and township elections will be able to start putting up their campaign election signs.

The key contests are between Village President (Mayor) Dan McLaughlin and his slate versus Gerald Maher and his slate, and on the Township level between Township Supervisor Robert Maher and his slate and his challenger Paul O'Grady and his slate. And, there is an important contest to fill one trustee seat on the Orland Park Fire District. There are four candidates and one known name, Cindy Katsenes along with a young candidate Chris Ciciora.

In the past, Orland's mayoral contests have drawn strong voter participation, more than 10,000 voters (our town only edged towards 60,000 population this past year so that's a great turnout). Will it last? It takes community interest in the issues, not the fluff, and it takes money to reach the voters.

I'll get into all three elections in the coming weeks.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Mayor McLaughlin's "State of the Village Address"

Mayor McLaughlin provided me with a copy of his State of the Village address to the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce and I offer it here intact for your review. I'd love to hear your feedback:

Ray Hanania
===== ========== ===========
Mayor Daniel J. McLaughlin
State of the Village 2009
Orland Area Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
February 25, 2009

Good morning. I want to thank the Chamber for again inviting me to report on the state of the village. I also want to thank the Chamber for inviting me to be a part of their recent installation of officers.

(Mayor introduces Village Board members and Department Heads in attendance.)

Today’s headlines are scary: “Stock Market Down, State and Federal Budgets Tank, Foreclosures Up, Consumer Confidence Shaken, and Almost 8% Unemployed.”

Did you ever wonder what the level of consumer confidence would be if the headlines read: “92% Employed, Consumer Buying Power Best in Years, and Gasoline Prices at 10 Month Low?”

Well, I am going to tell you that Orland Park is not immune to problems facing the nation. When the national economy is struggling and the State of Illinois is worse, it’s no surprise that we, like every community, will have some problems.

We receive income from four main sources:
Sales tax revenue was 6.8% under budget in 2008, which was 5% less than Fiscal Year 2007;
Motor fuel tax in 2008 was 7.5% under budget in part because the state changed the distribution rate;

Real estate tax was relatively unchanged;

Income tax was actually up 6.8% over budget.

In addition, impact fees, which are part of the permit fees, were down considerably because so few new homes were built in 2008. Only 44 permits were issued for new construction of single family residences or townhomes. And like every town in America we have some residential foreclosures. However, we are working to identify families having problems before they reach foreclosure to try to help. Right now, we don’t find out until it’s too late.

However, I am here today to give you the confidence building headlines. One of our best decisions of 2008 was hiring Paul Grimes. I have repeatedly stated that we have the best municipal staff in Illinois. Well it just got considerably better. Paul’s background and experience and the way he works with people make him a great asset to the village. And the fact that he is still here after six months shows he has a great sense of humor.

Since I started talking about finances, let me continue there. We maintain an Aa2 bond rating from Moody’s and an AA+ rating from Standard and Poor’s. These are some of the best bond ratings in the suburbs and a very positive position to be in.

A few years ago we adopted financial policies to maintain very strong fund balances which today are proving to be critical and one more area that will help Orland Park weather the storm.

Because our budget year ended in October when most projects were winding down and looking for final payouts we found ourselves constantly carrying funds into the next budget year which was burdensome and at times confusing.

Last October we took on the extra task of planning and approving a 15 month budget. It was once again balanced but it involved trimming in some areas, cutting in other areas and pushing back some projects in light of our projected revenue being lower.

In addition, I directed the village manager to put a freeze on hiring full time positions unless public safety was an issue -- in my office as well. I know some of you came to know Jack Knight. Jack moved to a different position in another community and we are happy for him. That position and others will not be filled until it is appropriate.

While the village is a large operation, in many ways it’s no different than your small business or your home budget. If there is less money coming in you spend less.

We are very happy to have been able to continue rebating homeowners their Orland Park property taxes. We began a different procedure to help us in planning our balanced budget, and homeowners will still receive 80% to 85% of their real estate taxes paid to the Village of Orland Park.

The Village has always applied for the various grants that are available and last year was no different, also the results of a Special Census conducted last year will provide us with an additional $350,000.

I will tell you that our staff and I have been in constant contact with all of our representatives in Congress to make sure Orland Park is considered in the Federal Stimulus Package.

With new leadership in the State, I feel confident that we will finally see a Capital Bill which will help on several projects that we have been working on.

Our Recreation Department was busy in 2008 building four new parks and a disc golf course. I have gone frolfing myself several times at the new course and it is becoming very popular.

The 159th and LaGrange Road intersection improvement was finally completed and I think you will agree that it was a great improvement to our traffic flow in that area. We are now looking at some utility relocation in the spring and going out to bid with a fall start to the improvement of the 143rd and LaGrange Rd. intersection. These were the two biggest bottlenecks on LaGrange Rd. and I am looking forward to having both completed.

This might be the time to mention (as I touched on last year) the amount of public improvement projects done in the last 15 years and I mention this, so you know, that this board recognizes the need for infrastructure improvements and works hard to provide those improvements. $270 million dollars was spent in water main, sanitary sewer, storm water, road projects and building construction projects. Of that $270 million dollars the Village of Orland Park paid $161 million dollars towards those projects.

In 2008 we began the construction of a new 7.5 million gallon reservoir which will increase our storage capacity by 40%. This project will add another $9.1 million to that already impressive list.

Continuing in the spirit of providing some positive headlines, I believe you will find these numbers rather interesting. A retail vacancy rate under 10% for a community has always been considered positive. The national average for vacancy rates available from the beginning of the fourth quarter were at 13.4%. The vacancy rate in Orland Park is 7.36%. This continues to be a very strong retail market. We have over 8.5 million square feet of retail space and we continue to be in the top ten largest revenue producers in the state.

There is a certain amount of retail projects that were started a year or two before the economy hit the brick wall. Those projects were completed but never occupied. If you took that square foot figure out because we didn’t lose businesses at those locations, our vacancy rate would be 5.56%.

The National Average for office space vacancy is at 9.8% and Orland Park’s rate is 3.75%. Taking out the space that was never occupied and we are at 2.31%.
I have a list here with the names of 83 businesses that opened in Orland Park in 2008.

There were 18 new commercial construction projects in 2008 with a value of more than $20 million. There were also 226 businesses that took out remodeling permits, continuing to invest in their property.

Marcus Theaters expanded and we had several new restaurants including Fat Burger, Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Robin and Ottimo’s. A couple of side notes worth mentioning, the general manager of Red Robin said that this store’s opening week was the best opening week they have had in forty years. Plus, after six weeks, it is still the busiest in their national chain.

Ottimo’s was written up in the March edition of Chicago Magazine as one of the top ten new restaurants in the entire Chicago area.

American Technical Publishers built a green building in the I-80 corridor and are already employing more than 50 people.

Cooper’s Hawk opened a new winery in the Orland Park Business Center and expanded their restaurant on Harlem. They were recently invited to provide the wine for the Illinois Ball at President Obama’s Inauguration.

Speaking of the Presidential Inauguration wasn’t it great for Orland Park that Sandburg’s Band participated in the inaugural parade! I want to thank all of the businesses in Orland Park that helped sponsor their trip.

2009 already looks promising. Nordstrom Rack will be opening in April. Staybridge Suites Hotel at Southmoor Country Club will begin construction in spring. BMW is expanding. Terry’s Lincoln Mercury was just awarded a Subaru Dealership and they will begin their expansion project this year. Five Guys Burgers will fill the old Einstein Bagel location, and Culver’s Restaurant will be opening on 159th street. A new Sushi Bar is coming to 131st and LaGrange Road.

There are several retail developers talking with our planning department on specific properties and we are looking forward to those plans coming to fruition in 2009.

I mentioned earlier the small number of new residential permits issued in 2008, however it is a very good sign that 1,500 permits were issued last year for residential remodeling and/or additions. Fourteen hundred new families moved into Orland Park over the last two years which means homes in Orland Park are still selling and people still want to move here in spite of the economy.

We are proud that Orland Park received several honors in 2008. Money Magazine once again named Orland Park as one of the top 100 Best Places to Live in America.

The Orland Park Civic Center was named one of Illinois 150 Best Places by the American Institute of Architects.

The Government Finance Officer’s Association honored the village for its budget, and Orland Park received the Clean Air Counts Award for climate protection issues, our community tree ordinances, and development review process encouraging conservation.

The Orland Park Police Station received first place in the 2008 Merit Award Program for Rehab Construction from the Chicago Building Congress, along with having received LEED Gold certification for being the first “green” police station in the country.

Speaking of the Police, we continue to be a very safe community and can boast of having what I think is the best police department in the state.

The Public Works Department keeps us safe in a different way and they have been tested in December and January like never before. The amount of effort this season on snow removal and salting our streets was record setting.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give you an update on our downtown, Main Street Triangle project. While we continue to negotiate with the property owners, several retailers as well as developers have continued talking with our staff and have shown a great deal of confidence in this project. But as they say, timing is everything and even those businesses with a strong interest, need financing. Until the financial institutions begin to open up we will have to be patient. But keep in mind that the Board’s vision is to create a downtown district, and that vision has to be longer and more resilient than a short-term economic cycle.

I know there are many people here today, including myself, that shop at any number of the stores in the Plaza. And while some people like to create or spread rumors, I want you to know that every effort will be made to work with and assist those retailers in the Plaza with the sincere intentions that they stay in the project or very close by in Orland Park.

With all of the effort we make to attract retailers to Orland Park, we certainly wouldn't want to lose the good longstanding businesses we have.

Our numerous community events in 2008 provided the opportunities for activities that any great city would be proud of and which enhance our quality of life.

I know that I mentioned last year that in addition to the many areas of green construction, open space, energy conservation and recycling that we already lead the way on, I was going to introduce a major Green Initiative. We are working on some additional details and we look forward to rolling it out very soon.

Recently, Orland Park was selected as one of only 12 communities in the Chicago area to participate in the Commonwealth Edison Energy Challenge.

This is a challenge that we will need the help of the Chamber, along with other agencies and businesses in the community, to be successful.

As you can see we have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to be thankful for. But, we don’t take any of it for granted. We have tried to make tough decisions keeping the village moving forward with a keen eye on what’s going on around us. Decisions that I feel are appropriate and in the long-term, best interest of Orland Park.

I appreciate your patience once again as I try to bring you critical information about the village without sounding too much like an accountant explaining an audit.

We have once again provided a handout with some additional information. Have a great day!
end

Palestinian and Israeli leaders discuss peace on Comcast Cable TV program in Chicago

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ray Hanania
708-403-1203
rayhanania@comcast.net

Palestinian & Israeli leaders discuss Middle East peace on local TV show

Orland Park – Leaders from the Palestinian and Israeli community are the featured guests on the latest edition of TV Chicagoland on Comcast Cable TV Channel 19.

Guests Fadi Zanayed, President of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Chicago Chapter, and David Steiner, president of Friends of Peace Now, talk about ways to overcome the divide that separates the two important Chicagoland communities as events spiral out of control in the Middle East.

The show, hosted by journalist Ray Hanania, is broadcast every Friday night in 145 Chicagoland suburban communities on Channel 19 on Comcast Cable TV at 7 pm and 8:30 pm, the broadcast time depends on your suburb.

The show features an interview Zanayed and Steiner conducted on Hanania’s morning radio show “Radio Chicagoland” which is broadcast every Monday through Friday at 8 am on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, “The G.”

For more information on the TV or radio shows, visit www.TVChicagoland.com and also www.RadioChicagoland.com.

END