First it was the "official spin." Don't worry, everything is fine in Orland Park. We (government elected officials) haven't screwed up, it's the bad economy that blind-sided us. We didn't know it was coming. We have a little budget problem ($4.8 million) short of what we need to cover the services we have been providing, but we have a new village manager from Rhode Island who will take care of it all. (He's staying in one of the homes that the village stupidly bought and is having a hard time re-selling for what it paid.)
Then it was, everything is "intact," including the Property Tax Rebate. Don't worry people of Orland Park. No need for you to worry your empty little brains. You haven't cared before, so why should you care now? We'll take care of it.
And then, it was, well, the Property Tax Rebate is going to be cut because some of the money should be going to cover the pensions, which means money that was going to cover the pensions can be used someplace else.
Then they fed the media stories about how Orland Park's Property Tax Rebate is far more generous than other communities, setting the stage for the big scissors.
Now, it's the Property Tax Rebate is going to be "capped."
Next thing, the Property Tax Rebate is going to be eliminated.
I have one question -- it's not easy getting questions answered from this administration -- they only want to talk to the media that embraces their spin (in exchange for advertising, of course): Do you think the village is in trouble because it paid millions to purchase certain, selected homes alleged to have had serious flooding problems -- while so many others that had flooding problems were ignored -- and the village can't resell those homes today to recoup the money they spent?
Or, possibly, is it because the village failed to see the economic signs, claiming as recently as Mayor Dan McLaughlin's speech to the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce that everything is fine. What's to worry? So no one did?
Or possibly, the village is trying to scurry to come up with enough obfuscation so that when it comes time for their re-elections -- in a few months -- they won't have to worry about losing their jobs?
Just some questions from an Orland Park taxpayer.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A lawsuit you probably haven't heard much about in Orland Park
About one year after the heated Orland Park Fire Protection District (OPFPD) trustee election battle on April 17, 2007 between Arthur Granat Jr. and Cynthia Nelson Katsenes on one side, and Marty McGill and Glenn Michalak on the other side, Granat filed a defamation lawsuit.
The lawsuit deals indirectly with that embarrassing event in January 2007 involving Lt. Lawrence Masa, who claimed he needed paid leave from the OPFPD because he was serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan, between 2003 and 2006. Masa was charged in January 2007 by the Cook County State's Attorney with ripping off taxpayers of $200,000 in salary during that period because, well, he wasn't serving in Iraq or Afghanistan at all, apparently. The Masa case is pending.
Granat alleges in his lawsuit, filed by attorney John Partelow, that his opponents for the trustee seat in collusion with the other board members -- the OPFPD attorneys, a computer company that has close ties to Mayor Dan McLaughlin, and the Orland Park Prairie -- used the Masa controversy to make it look like he was responsible. They defamed him, Granat alleges in his lawsuit, in order to make him lose the election.
Granat apparently had nothing to do with the Masa scandal, but the OPFPD quietly hired a contractor in February 2007, for about $10,000 according to Granat's attorney, to investigate Granat's "role" in the Masa affair, a role which apparently did not exist. Oops! It all centers around a computer that Granat was given permission by then acting Chief Donald Bettenhausen to take home. Granat's opponents on the board quietly hired a "computer forensic expert" to determine if Granat was hiding any files protecting Masa and that information was fed to the media to discredit Granat just before the April 2007 election.
Two of the 13 defendants in Granat's suit are McGill, Michalak, now OPFDP trustees. Of course, with the mud flying, they defeated Granat and Katsenes for the two trustee seats. Katsenes had been an outspoken champion to force the OPFPD to improve its sloppy and wasteful ways, which made her disliked on the board, and Granat, who was a 38 year OPFPD employee and deputy fire chief, had an impeccable record until the election mudslinging took place.
But, there are 11 other defendants in the lawsuit, and chances are you, the Orland Park taxpayer are most likely going to get socked with the tab if, as it should, Granat's suit is affirmed by a jury.
The remaining defendants round out what Granat's attorney spells out was a conspiracy to defame Granat and destroy his reputation in a mudslinging effort just before the election. They are:
Patrick Maher, the son of the Orland Park Village Clerk and the president and a trustee on the OPFPD who allegedly authorized the spending of $10,000 in OPFPD and taxpayer money to investigate his political rival.
OPFPD trustees Patricia Corcoran and Salvatore Cacciato who also supported the decision.
The OPFPD district itself, as the abusive government entity.
The OPFPD district's law firm Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, (KTJ) which has very close ties to the Village of Orland Park, too.
Marjorie Owens-Klotz, daughter of the late Mayor Fred Owens and a "big shot" in the Village of Orland Park who handles media relations with the local newspapers and publicity and also handled media for the OPFPD, according to the lawsuit. She's married to a top ranking firefighter at the OPFPD, too. A sister was appointed to the OPFPD Commission.
Computer Bits, Inc., the firm hired by Maher and the anti-Granat/Katsenes board members to investigate the issue. Computer Bits Inc. has very close ties to the Village of Orland Park and is a major contributor to Mayor McLaughlin.
James T. Harmening, the owner of Computer Bits Inc., and a self-professed "forensic computer expert," according tot he lawsuit.
Apparently, the Daily Southtown ran the harmful and misleading story but later acknowledged, according to Granat's attorney, that Granat was unfairly slammed. The Orland Park Prairie (my favorite newspaper, or MFN), has not said anything.
Here's the lawsuit. Read it for yourself:
I've reached out to the attorneys, KJT, for a response to the lawsuit and will post it as soon as it comes in.
The lawsuit deals indirectly with that embarrassing event in January 2007 involving Lt. Lawrence Masa, who claimed he needed paid leave from the OPFPD because he was serving his country in Iraq and Afghanistan, between 2003 and 2006. Masa was charged in January 2007 by the Cook County State's Attorney with ripping off taxpayers of $200,000 in salary during that period because, well, he wasn't serving in Iraq or Afghanistan at all, apparently. The Masa case is pending.
Granat alleges in his lawsuit, filed by attorney John Partelow, that his opponents for the trustee seat in collusion with the other board members -- the OPFPD attorneys, a computer company that has close ties to Mayor Dan McLaughlin, and the Orland Park Prairie -- used the Masa controversy to make it look like he was responsible. They defamed him, Granat alleges in his lawsuit, in order to make him lose the election.
Granat apparently had nothing to do with the Masa scandal, but the OPFPD quietly hired a contractor in February 2007, for about $10,000 according to Granat's attorney, to investigate Granat's "role" in the Masa affair, a role which apparently did not exist. Oops! It all centers around a computer that Granat was given permission by then acting Chief Donald Bettenhausen to take home. Granat's opponents on the board quietly hired a "computer forensic expert" to determine if Granat was hiding any files protecting Masa and that information was fed to the media to discredit Granat just before the April 2007 election.
Two of the 13 defendants in Granat's suit are McGill, Michalak, now OPFDP trustees. Of course, with the mud flying, they defeated Granat and Katsenes for the two trustee seats. Katsenes had been an outspoken champion to force the OPFPD to improve its sloppy and wasteful ways, which made her disliked on the board, and Granat, who was a 38 year OPFPD employee and deputy fire chief, had an impeccable record until the election mudslinging took place.
But, there are 11 other defendants in the lawsuit, and chances are you, the Orland Park taxpayer are most likely going to get socked with the tab if, as it should, Granat's suit is affirmed by a jury.
The remaining defendants round out what Granat's attorney spells out was a conspiracy to defame Granat and destroy his reputation in a mudslinging effort just before the election. They are:
Patrick Maher, the son of the Orland Park Village Clerk and the president and a trustee on the OPFPD who allegedly authorized the spending of $10,000 in OPFPD and taxpayer money to investigate his political rival.
OPFPD trustees Patricia Corcoran and Salvatore Cacciato who also supported the decision.
The OPFPD district itself, as the abusive government entity.
The OPFPD district's law firm Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, (KTJ) which has very close ties to the Village of Orland Park, too.
Michael J. Duggan and Dennis G. Walsh, lawyers with KTJ.
The Orland Park Prairie Newspaper, which published the stories apparently fed to it by a certain Orland Park employee.Marjorie Owens-Klotz, daughter of the late Mayor Fred Owens and a "big shot" in the Village of Orland Park who handles media relations with the local newspapers and publicity and also handled media for the OPFPD, according to the lawsuit. She's married to a top ranking firefighter at the OPFPD, too. A sister was appointed to the OPFPD Commission.
Computer Bits, Inc., the firm hired by Maher and the anti-Granat/Katsenes board members to investigate the issue. Computer Bits Inc. has very close ties to the Village of Orland Park and is a major contributor to Mayor McLaughlin.
James T. Harmening, the owner of Computer Bits Inc., and a self-professed "forensic computer expert," according tot he lawsuit.
Apparently, the Daily Southtown ran the harmful and misleading story but later acknowledged, according to Granat's attorney, that Granat was unfairly slammed. The Orland Park Prairie (my favorite newspaper, or MFN), has not said anything.
Here's the lawsuit. Read it for yourself:
I've reached out to the attorneys, KJT, for a response to the lawsuit and will post it as soon as it comes in.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Lawn care, fast food and a Rocky Raccoon Obituary
(Read the Rocky Raccoon obit in the section below:)
I had to go out to get gasoline for the lawn mower. I like to do my own lawn rather than hire the sloppy lawn services that seem to operate around here under the village's licensing radar screen. (Maybe the village should require that these lawn maintance companies that slop around the neighborhood cutting grass and destroying other people's property should be licensed. That might be a great way to raise money.)
Anyway, after filling up the two gallon gasoline can for more than $8, I passed through McDonalds. I figured, if I am going to mow the lawn and pollute the environment, I might as well fill up on cholesterol, too. I don't normally eat at McDonalds. Well, I wouldn't call consuming their cholesterol sandwiched between muffins "eating."
Getting the gasoline was easy. I went to the Clark station where the pumps don't talk back to me like they do at Gas City. Simple. Fast. Efficient. Easy to use. But the Clark costs weres till pretty high. Getting the breakfast was not so easy.
Cholesterol is very popular, apparently. The line through at the drive-through was all around the building. When it was my turn at the speaker, it was all rattled and hard to hear, of course.
"Can I yelp you?" the voice asked.
Ignoring the voice, I just muttured my order, "Two number 3s and 1 number 5. With orange juice." Hey, I might as well go "healthy."
"Thats zoo bumers twees and a numer un."
"Yea. Whatever."
Then the speaker blurted out what the employees are ordered to do, push another "special" or a product.
"Wood you lick a cholesterol for one dollah?"
Huh? "I can't understand what you said."
"Wood you lick a cholesterol for one dollah?"
"Did you say would I like a shot of cholesterol directly into my arteries and a health insurance application?" I wanted to ask, but didn't. "I can't understand you."
This went on three more times, which was just as well for me. The breakfast sucked. Cold. Already made and wrapped sandwiches. The muffins were like rocks. Hey. If I'm going to have cholesterol build-up I might as well add kidney stones.
RACCOON OBIT:
Rocky Raccoon, age unknown but definitely a mature adult based on his size, died suddenly sometime in the evening on Friday, possibly after partying or being chased by homeowners with water canons. Suspected victim of hit-and-run animicide. Sources said Rocky -- a carnivorous North American mammal (Procyon lotor) having grayish-brown fur, black masklike facial markings, and a black-ringed bushy tail often associated with Davy Crockett -- was an incessant wanderer always getting into trouble with the humans. A constant forager and recluse, Rocky made a name for himself when he was pictured on the OrlandParker.com running on his tiptoes from a homeowner who happened to be a writer and photographer who chased him out of his mulberry tree with a garden hose. He is survived by six racconesses and 32 children and grandchildren, most hidden in trees, chimneys, roof eaves, attics in homes throughout Orland Park. Services held as soon as Orland Park's Animal Control division can pick him up off of Windsor Drive near 152nd Street in the middle of the street. Homeowners are too afraid to lift him as they have no idea what kind of social diseases Rocky may have picked up during his wild life. (Photo not published pending notification of family and relatives.)
Lyrics of song to be sung at his wake:
Born on a moraine slope in an Orland tree
The greenest suburb in the land of the free
Raised in the woods knew ev'ry garbage can
Kilt him a recyclable when he was barely a man
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Fought single-handed through many home war
Till the human was whipped and his tail was in store
And while he was handlin' this risky chore
OrlandParker made him a legend forever more
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, the raccon who knew no fear
Went off to 151st serving there a spell
Eatin' up vegetables and Orland's laws as well
Flipped a few garbage cans, so I heard tell
And hatched up a racket in the Taco Bell
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, seeing his foraging clear
When he came home his foraging was done
And that's about when the water hosin' begun
So he packed his gear and his black striped tail
And lit out a-grinnin' to follow his sail
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, fell victim to a fast-driving SOB
(Village of Orland Park Animal Control information, FYI.)
# # #
I had to go out to get gasoline for the lawn mower. I like to do my own lawn rather than hire the sloppy lawn services that seem to operate around here under the village's licensing radar screen. (Maybe the village should require that these lawn maintance companies that slop around the neighborhood cutting grass and destroying other people's property should be licensed. That might be a great way to raise money.)
Anyway, after filling up the two gallon gasoline can for more than $8, I passed through McDonalds. I figured, if I am going to mow the lawn and pollute the environment, I might as well fill up on cholesterol, too. I don't normally eat at McDonalds. Well, I wouldn't call consuming their cholesterol sandwiched between muffins "eating."
Getting the gasoline was easy. I went to the Clark station where the pumps don't talk back to me like they do at Gas City. Simple. Fast. Efficient. Easy to use. But the Clark costs weres till pretty high. Getting the breakfast was not so easy.
Cholesterol is very popular, apparently. The line through at the drive-through was all around the building. When it was my turn at the speaker, it was all rattled and hard to hear, of course.
"Can I yelp you?" the voice asked.
Ignoring the voice, I just muttured my order, "Two number 3s and 1 number 5. With orange juice." Hey, I might as well go "healthy."
"Thats zoo bumers twees and a numer un."
"Yea. Whatever."
Then the speaker blurted out what the employees are ordered to do, push another "special" or a product.
"Wood you lick a cholesterol for one dollah?"
Huh? "I can't understand what you said."
"Wood you lick a cholesterol for one dollah?"
"Did you say would I like a shot of cholesterol directly into my arteries and a health insurance application?" I wanted to ask, but didn't. "I can't understand you."
This went on three more times, which was just as well for me. The breakfast sucked. Cold. Already made and wrapped sandwiches. The muffins were like rocks. Hey. If I'm going to have cholesterol build-up I might as well add kidney stones.
RACCOON OBIT:
Rocky Raccoon, age unknown but definitely a mature adult based on his size, died suddenly sometime in the evening on Friday, possibly after partying or being chased by homeowners with water canons. Suspected victim of hit-and-run animicide. Sources said Rocky -- a carnivorous North American mammal (Procyon lotor) having grayish-brown fur, black masklike facial markings, and a black-ringed bushy tail often associated with Davy Crockett -- was an incessant wanderer always getting into trouble with the humans. A constant forager and recluse, Rocky made a name for himself when he was pictured on the OrlandParker.com running on his tiptoes from a homeowner who happened to be a writer and photographer who chased him out of his mulberry tree with a garden hose. He is survived by six racconesses and 32 children and grandchildren, most hidden in trees, chimneys, roof eaves, attics in homes throughout Orland Park. Services held as soon as Orland Park's Animal Control division can pick him up off of Windsor Drive near 152nd Street in the middle of the street. Homeowners are too afraid to lift him as they have no idea what kind of social diseases Rocky may have picked up during his wild life. (Photo not published pending notification of family and relatives.)
Lyrics of song to be sung at his wake:
Born on a moraine slope in an Orland tree
The greenest suburb in the land of the free
Raised in the woods knew ev'ry garbage can
Kilt him a recyclable when he was barely a man
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, king of the wild frontier
Fought single-handed through many home war
Till the human was whipped and his tail was in store
And while he was handlin' this risky chore
OrlandParker made him a legend forever more
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, the raccon who knew no fear
Went off to 151st serving there a spell
Eatin' up vegetables and Orland's laws as well
Flipped a few garbage cans, so I heard tell
And hatched up a racket in the Taco Bell
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, seeing his foraging clear
When he came home his foraging was done
And that's about when the water hosin' begun
So he packed his gear and his black striped tail
And lit out a-grinnin' to follow his sail
Rocky, Rocky Crockett, fell victim to a fast-driving SOB
(Village of Orland Park Animal Control information, FYI.)
# # #
Friday, August 1, 2008
Chicago Mayor Daley hopes for inspiration from Chinese Olympics trip
Click comic strip to view larger image
Ray Hanania's World Comic Strip
August 2, 2008
Mayor Daley hopes to find inspiration during his visit to Beijing, China for the Olympics next week.
Go to http://professivecomicstrips.blogspot.com/ to view more comics
Chinese Olympic strategies inspires Mayor Daley
Click comic strip to view larger image
Ray Hanania's World Comic Strip
August 2, 2008
Mayor Daley finds inspiration in Chinese Olympics visit
Go to http://professivecomicstrips.blogspot.com/ to view more comics
A documentary you MUST SEE online -- how to run for public office
Here's a documentary you have to watch, about one man's struggle to get on the ballot in the 10th Congressional District.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Allan Stevo
Stevo for Congress
C: (630) 452-7309
allan@StevoForCongress.com
www.StevoForCongress.com
Documentary Released on Highwood man's Congressional Bid
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, August 1, 2008 - Documentary film maker and editor of Republic magazine, Gary Franchi has released a scene from his upcoming film How to Run for Congress. Franchi's documentary, currently being filmed, is about Highwood resident Allan Stevo and his independent bid for U.S. Congress in the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. The film seeks to encourage others to run for U.S. House by demystifying the process.
In the recently released selection, Stevo is shown arguing his case for ballot access before the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Stevo, on Monday of this week, July 28, filed suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of a ballot access law that randomly requires 5,000 signatures for ballot access for independent candidates after a census is taken, but 10,285 in all other years. He will submit evidence showing that in years in which the requirement is only 5,000 signatures, the ballot is never crowded. The 5,000-signature requirement for years after redistricting has been in effect starting with 1982, and when one looks at the record for 1982, 1992, and 2002, one finds that there were no U.S. House races in Illinois with more than four candidates on the ballot. The case is Stevo v Illinois State Board of Elections, U.S. District Court, Central District, no. 08-3162.
This year, Republican candidates in the 10th Congressional district needed 687 signatures in order to be placed on that ballot. Democrats needed 1,001 signatures. In addition to being difficult for independent candidates to get on the ballot, election practices in Illinois make it relatively easy for independent and third party candidates to be thrown off the ballot with relatively little effort from their opponents. Illinois is considered by ballot access experts to have some of the most biased election laws in the nation, behind only Georgia and North Carolina.
A University of Illinois graduate, Stevo's campaign is based on the need for the federal government to operate in obeisance to the U.S. Constitution. "No undeclared wars, innocent until proven guilty, no searches without probable cause, everyone gets his or her day in court, small central government," he said.
His campaign website touts personal choice on health care and a "more humble" foreign policy. Stevo also vows, on his website, that he never would vote to increase taxes, spending or national debt. He believes strongly in the need to protect all individual rights, no matter how popular or unpopular those rights may be.
"As our founders understood from their dealings with the tyrannical King George III, it is the job of the federal government to protect life, liberty, and property, and to do little else beyond that. Their concerns about an overly powerful government resonates with many Americans today. Yet Congress, and our representative in the 10th District especially, refuses to perform its constitutional duty to uphold that vision. In fact, it does quite the opposite."
Stevo is running full-time but he has previously worked as a writer and teacher, having lectured in British literature. He also has participated in several better-government projects and served as an international observer of the 2004 Russian presidential elections in addition to having trained Iraqi NGO leaders.
The scene from Franchi's film How to Run for Congress can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuB2B90_XE0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Allan Stevo
Stevo for Congress
C: (630) 452-7309
allan@StevoForCongress.com
www.StevoForCongress.com
Documentary Released on Highwood man's Congressional Bid
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, August 1, 2008 - Documentary film maker and editor of Republic magazine, Gary Franchi has released a scene from his upcoming film How to Run for Congress. Franchi's documentary, currently being filmed, is about Highwood resident Allan Stevo and his independent bid for U.S. Congress in the 10th Congressional District of Illinois. The film seeks to encourage others to run for U.S. House by demystifying the process.
In the recently released selection, Stevo is shown arguing his case for ballot access before the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Stevo, on Monday of this week, July 28, filed suit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of a ballot access law that randomly requires 5,000 signatures for ballot access for independent candidates after a census is taken, but 10,285 in all other years. He will submit evidence showing that in years in which the requirement is only 5,000 signatures, the ballot is never crowded. The 5,000-signature requirement for years after redistricting has been in effect starting with 1982, and when one looks at the record for 1982, 1992, and 2002, one finds that there were no U.S. House races in Illinois with more than four candidates on the ballot. The case is Stevo v Illinois State Board of Elections, U.S. District Court, Central District, no. 08-3162.
This year, Republican candidates in the 10th Congressional district needed 687 signatures in order to be placed on that ballot. Democrats needed 1,001 signatures. In addition to being difficult for independent candidates to get on the ballot, election practices in Illinois make it relatively easy for independent and third party candidates to be thrown off the ballot with relatively little effort from their opponents. Illinois is considered by ballot access experts to have some of the most biased election laws in the nation, behind only Georgia and North Carolina.
A University of Illinois graduate, Stevo's campaign is based on the need for the federal government to operate in obeisance to the U.S. Constitution. "No undeclared wars, innocent until proven guilty, no searches without probable cause, everyone gets his or her day in court, small central government," he said.
His campaign website touts personal choice on health care and a "more humble" foreign policy. Stevo also vows, on his website, that he never would vote to increase taxes, spending or national debt. He believes strongly in the need to protect all individual rights, no matter how popular or unpopular those rights may be.
"As our founders understood from their dealings with the tyrannical King George III, it is the job of the federal government to protect life, liberty, and property, and to do little else beyond that. Their concerns about an overly powerful government resonates with many Americans today. Yet Congress, and our representative in the 10th District especially, refuses to perform its constitutional duty to uphold that vision. In fact, it does quite the opposite."
Stevo is running full-time but he has previously worked as a writer and teacher, having lectured in British literature. He also has participated in several better-government projects and served as an international observer of the 2004 Russian presidential elections in addition to having trained Iraqi NGO leaders.
The scene from Franchi's film How to Run for Congress can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuB2B90_XE0
At least one newspaper is talking truth about Orland Park's budget problems
It amazes me how easily local newspaper reporters have allowed Mayor McLaughlin and the Orland Park Village Board to tell residents, "Don't worry, everything is intact." There is a $4.8 million budget shortfall, a word the village doesn't like, and no one seems to really care, and the only real answer so far is to cut the property tax rebate by 35-40 percent.
The biggest mistake is in accepting the false claims by the village that "everything is okay" with the property tax rebate and that increases in fees are okay because there are other places that charge far more. Isn't that why Orland Park is BETTER than other communities?
The truth is, things are not going to be okay, even though Mayor McLaughlin is on record only a few months ago patting himself on the back claiming Orland Park is financially sound and has no problems.
The Regional's mistake was to play the property tax rebate at the bottom of their story. It's the LEDE! It's what people really care about. The real headline that every newspaper missed is this:
Village Proposes Major Cut in Property Tax Rebate
Every paper has been afraid to say that. Too bad. That's the real story out here. That's what everyone is talking about. That's what concerns everyone.
The village has a $3 million hole in the pension fund and they need to take it out of the capitol budget so they are going to cut the property tax rebate by as much as 40 percent -- that's huge -- and shift the savings to the pension funds.
That's outrageous! Do the math, people. You're getting screwed. But maybe you don't care. Or more likely, you think there is nothing you can do about it.
There is something you can do about. Make your voices heard. Tell the village that just because some things are great in Orland Park (some dude in New York working at Money Magazine says we're one of the best places to live, not as great as last year but still on their list, way down), it's not acceptable for them to hide behind that to do things that are not so great.
Orland Park is one of the best places to live not because of the government doing their job, but because of the people who live here. We're a great community.
Although nothing has been formally approved by the village yet and all the proposals from our newly hired village manager Paul Grimes are just that, proposals, you, the community, can still stop the changes. Each and every trustee has to vote on the changes. You can make your voices heard.
Recreation Department fees may increase 10 percent. That's huge.
Costs for other services are going to increase, too.
They're not talking about the routine increases that the news media has failed to cover like the increases int he Water Bill -- 60 percent of which are unrelated to the increase in the cost of water. (That's only 40 percent of the bill.) The village is increasing fees for sending you the water bill, and collecting garbage, sewer services and rain water drainage.
I say if the village board can't protect the property tax rebate, then they don't belong in office any more and we should find someone else. And Paul Grimes can go back to where he came from. He's starting to sound more like a Chicago Machine Bean Counter than someone who understands what makes Orland Park what we really are.
Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com
The biggest mistake is in accepting the false claims by the village that "everything is okay" with the property tax rebate and that increases in fees are okay because there are other places that charge far more. Isn't that why Orland Park is BETTER than other communities?
The truth is, things are not going to be okay, even though Mayor McLaughlin is on record only a few months ago patting himself on the back claiming Orland Park is financially sound and has no problems.
The Regional, at least, has outlined the cuts in services and the increases in costs that the Village is considering. And increases in fees are soft tax increases because "fees" are a form of taxes.
Village Proposes Major Cut in Property Tax Rebate
Every paper has been afraid to say that. Too bad. That's the real story out here. That's what everyone is talking about. That's what concerns everyone.
How about some real reaction from real residents of the Orland Park, instead of printing word-for-word the press releases issued from McLaughlin's office? I can read the same press releases on the village web site (which is very good because the village has one of the nation's top IT Departments and staff). Why do I need to read them in a local newspaper. Word-for-word?
That's outrageous! Do the math, people. You're getting screwed. But maybe you don't care. Or more likely, you think there is nothing you can do about it.
There is something you can do about. Make your voices heard. Tell the village that just because some things are great in Orland Park (some dude in New York working at Money Magazine says we're one of the best places to live, not as great as last year but still on their list, way down), it's not acceptable for them to hide behind that to do things that are not so great.
Orland Park is one of the best places to live not because of the government doing their job, but because of the people who live here. We're a great community.
Although nothing has been formally approved by the village yet and all the proposals from our newly hired village manager Paul Grimes are just that, proposals, you, the community, can still stop the changes. Each and every trustee has to vote on the changes. You can make your voices heard.
Recreation Department fees may increase 10 percent. That's huge.
Costs for other services are going to increase, too.
They're not talking about the routine increases that the news media has failed to cover like the increases int he Water Bill -- 60 percent of which are unrelated to the increase in the cost of water. (That's only 40 percent of the bill.) The village is increasing fees for sending you the water bill, and collecting garbage, sewer services and rain water drainage.
I say if the village board can't protect the property tax rebate, then they don't belong in office any more and we should find someone else. And Paul Grimes can go back to where he came from. He's starting to sound more like a Chicago Machine Bean Counter than someone who understands what makes Orland Park what we really are.
Ray Hanania
www.OrlandParker.com
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