Looking through the East Village Growth Cell (EVGC) TIF materials the City helpfully provided online, one page in particular caught my attention. It’s the one that gives examples of residential TIF districts in Springfield and Decatur. I decided to do a little more research on Springfield’s TIF to see just how successful it has been. (I’ll look into Decatur at a later date.)
The EVGC website states, “The Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) was created in 1997. The TIF District generates approximately $450,000 annually. The TIF District contains both residential and commercial properties; however, it is approximately 90% residential.” The most recent TIF report published by the City of Springfield is the one for 2010, available here.
The Enos Park TIF’s equalized assessed valuation (EAV) in 1997 was $13,838,543. The EAV in 2010 was $17,314,380. So between 1997 and 2010 — 13 years — the EAV increased a total of just $3,475,837. That comes out to an average of 1.9% growth per year. According to the EVGC TIF Draft Redevelopment Plan, the proposed TIF area in Peoria had an EAV of $45,021,720 in 2004 which grew to $49,626,980 by 2009, or $4,605,260 in five years. That comes out to an average of 2.05% growth per year. That means that the East Village Growth Cell is experiencing better growth without any TIF at all than Springfield’s Enos Park TIF has experienced over the last 13 years.
Springfield is unhappy with the performance of Enos Park. Just last year they spent $122,500 on a new “master plan study” that recommends pumping $45 million into the area. They’re looking for additional funding sources as the TIF increment would not be adequate to cover an infusion of that much cash.
This whole tif idea is a bunch of smoke and mirrors the only one to benifet will be osf and some contractor buddies. The rest of us will just get screwed again just like mid-town. If they would just use the resources we already pay for the bluff would be better.
C.J., you only need to wait until the next EVGC TIF Advisory Board Meeting to hear the representative from Decatur. He will be at the meeting, just as Mr. Steve Combs from Springfield represented the Enos Park TIF at the meeting held last Monday. March 1st at the Glen Oak School (Community Center), whatever.
Eye, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. What we need right now are people who are willing to get to the meetings, make comments, and participate in structuring an advisory board more interested in improving the East Bluff than appeasing OSF or taking care of their own interests. Jim Combs, the president of the East Bluff Serenity Neighborhood Association, has yet to make an appearance at any of the meetings I have been to. Richard “Mitch” Mitchell stands to benefit greatly if the TIF passes (I’d say paying 2/5ths of the cost of a new roof is a substantial benefit, seeing as I had to actually pay for my improvements, Mitch), so his credibility is immediately suspect. There are a lot of people over at these meetings that have valid complaints and questions, but the problem is that the City Council has the option of listening to the neighborhood associations who will tout themselves as being the representatives of the area unless we act now to let them know that these people do not speak for the majority of the residents. Lisa Fisher (sp), recently appointed as the Public Member to the Joint Review Board for the TIF, is also the president of the Glen Oak Park Neighborhood Association, which somehow strikes me as a possible conflict of interest, but that is what it is. At least the people I have mentioned here are participating and trying to do what they feel is the right thing.
C’mon, Eye. Climb down from the high horse and jump in the pool. We could use the help of someone motivated to see this done the right way.
Fredrick E. Smith said:
“Lisa Fisher (sp), recently appointed as the Public Member to the Joint Review Board for the TIF, is also the president of the Glen Oak Park Neighborhood Association, which somehow strikes me as a possible conflict of interest”
She also sits on the board of the EBNHS whom I imagine would be a big part of the administration of the TIF. She also represents interests from the Boys and Girls Club who will benefit from the TIF and every other grant running through the East Bluff.
sorry mr smith I don’t play well with others. They would not like to hear the truth. I have been doing my part for 16 years and have reached a point of losing intrest in helping people that don’t want to help themselves.
Many older cities in the United States have serious economic and social problems. A city can either do nothing – Gary and Harvey’s decision – or you can try to something.
I am a do something guy.
It won’t always work – if it was easy we would not have any problems.
But giving up and letting the fair market run its course is defeatism.
More about urban redevelopment here
http://peoriatif.blogspot.com/
http://cityofpeoria.blogspot.com/
http://planningnews.blogspot.com/
http://craighullinger.blogspot.com/
As a resident, former association officer, former neighborhood association officer and other issues oriented involvement I have seen things come and go with “neighborhood stabilization” POP program,NEAT program, Broken Windows program,Impact Zone, Med-Tec (now Ren Park),School in the park, on and on. This whole deal about a TIF that will be the silver bullet that will save the East Bluff is nothing more than a way the COP can get money to do anything the want as long as they follow the laws and rules. Seems like everyone has the answers to fix our problems but the don’t live here to see what problems are. Basic city services are the key, Police and crime, streets and lighting, support for home ownership, fair and even code enforcement, and a big thing Quality schooling for children. If all of those thing are met and exceeded people would be on a waiting list to live here. The meetings to date leave out the elephant in the room, OSF. Even if the TIF is adopted (and it will) OSF is in line for the money they put up for the study. So any “jump start “of funds will have to wait until OSF is paid from the TIF funds.
The OSF / Developers side of this issue is yet to be addressed and the clock is ticking as to the deadline for approval by the council. I have said all along something smells about the whole deal. The Joint Review Board meeting was a complete setup and is a joke. As for this TIF working for the residents if the strings are in the city’s hands the vast amount of money will go who knows where… I see this TIF linking other TIF’s and that in turn will allow the city move TIF money around without our input.
It has been said that other TIF’s that abut the EVTIF could transfer money in but Midtown is a sucking cash machine that is bleeding the city.
The man from the Springfield TIF said we need more than 20% of the total TIF funds to make an impact. Fat chance the city would put more than 20% in. I hope that when this TIF is approved all of the cards are on the table so everyone can see who and what is to be done. OSF has been silent I am sure they have a plan and the city knows what it is. Just us Blighted residents will not know what it is.
With all that said am I part of the problem or part of the solution? Well I was working for the betterment of the East Bluff for years but after you get kicked around so much it is time to say “see ya” I like living in the EB and have made and met great people but we are fed up with everything. We are building a new home and will move out. Unfortunately we will never get what we have invested in fixing up our home so someone will get a bargain but they are buying into a Blighted labeled neighborhood for 23 years.
WELL SAID MARTIN!!!!
emerge, Lisa resigned from the housing services right after Riggenbach announce their great accomplishment of filling all the board seats. They also got rid of Maleta King because she expected them to be transparent, submit projects for bids, and to stop using tax dollars to be landlords.
Thanks Paul. Interesting that she and Maleta are both now gone.
Martin, when a city is actively working to gentrify a neighborhood, I suppose they know there will be some attrition and belive in the long run it will be better for them. Do they care if I feel pushed out and will eventually put a nice home on the market, then you move out and there is another nice home on the market?
OSF is putting all that money in their campus, ideally they would like it if their employees felt comfortable enough to live in the neighborhood. At the end of the day, it will be a very nice area for hospital employees.
Do people have the energy to continue to fight for their rights as long standing homeowners, when it seems we are losing every battle – can we stick it out? Why continue to fight to live in a neighborhood that the City decided to deem “blighted”?
Emerge:
My wife works @ osf she did walk to work. Crime, Person in side alley exposed himself to her and children,Shootings, Murders,(Brian Alexander, OSF nurse)
As for OSF investing in , If they can make bucks on it the do it. I don’t see any adminastrators living or moving here soon.”move out and there is another nice home on the market” There is several nice homes avaiable now in the EB why are the empty? Crime, drugs,gangs,schools, Crime is a BIG issue.The core of parts of the city is in a death spiral. Neighborhood stabilization is a nice phrase but it realy means Neighborhood stagnation. Why the hell would you want to have stabilization of what we have now? I think we would want better, could do better. By the way I forgot another program the city had. Weed & Seed.
Gee, guys, should I just hand over the deed to OSF and forget the whole thing? With an area that is 62% rental properties, I have no delusions that the ideal of OSF is to watch the property values sink so low they can buy up the area at pennies on the dollar and build their ideal vision of the future, but you’ll forgive me if I actually want to try to recoup some of the funds I have put in my property over the years.
Yes, Frederick, just hand over the deed to OSF. Resistance is futile.
Frederick: Do you attend the EBNHS meetings?
Karrie, I have absolutely no idea when they are held or if my work schedule would allow my participation. I work Mon-Wed-Fri until 8 pm., Tuesdays until 6 pm., and Saturdays until 4 pm. If the meetings are held at a time when I am available, I would be happy to attend. Please let me know.
Perhaps this can be the topic of a new post.
Tea Party Caucus shows its true colors as a traitor to the people:
http://bit.ly/fLnD4r
And look who just voted for the Patriot Act……Aaron Schock!
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll026.xml
Thank you all for your comments. The BLOG may be just the tool needed to raise awareness of the EVGC TIF.
CJ, as Mr. Combs admitted, it took them almost eight years before the TIF District had the funds to do anything substantial. So instead of looking at all eight years, you should be considering the last five years. The money they have spent on a new master plan was in his words, the best money they have ever spent. The new master plan provided them with a guide line of including the two local hospital districts and additional direction of improvements.
Eye, The ideas within the EVGC TIF is not just smoke and mirrors. Something must be done to improve this area or we could just bulldoze the whole area.
Mr. Smith, you will not need to wait until the March EVGC Advisory Committee meeting to learn about the Decatur TIF project. We are working out the details of a time and available space for around the 20th of February. I agree that we need more participation of residence to learn and help draw up the proposal and contracts with the City. Although I cannot speak for Mr. Jim Combs, I do know that he has attended some of our meetings which may have been when you were not available.
I also agree that I may benefit, just as many other residents will, if the TIF passes.
A new roof would be nice but the one I have will last me another three to five years. The TIF concept was not available during the last two years when I spent almost as much on improvements to my home as the original cost of the home. These improvements included replacing a retainer wall, complete new roof on the front porch, new heating and air conditioning and thirteen new windows. All this, I did on my own without even looking to EBNHS for funds. It was also nice of you to include many of the organizations that Mrs. Fisher serves. At least she is doing something for the benefit of the entire community
Marty, you know that I am sorry to see you and JayRee leave the area. You are both a good friend and neighbor. I feel that if this TIF does not pass, the East Bluff as we have known it, will not survive. If you want to see crime, just wait, they and the slum lords will completely have the East Bluff. I actually feel good about being called a blighted area. It can get much more attention and hopefully more accomplished to make the area one to be proud of.
Emerge, I would hope that there will be a day when OSF will help to fill our empty boarded up houses or the new ones that will be built here with employees. This would be such a benefit to them and the EVGC.
I hope that all of you will attend our meetings to help our area grow and surpass what it once was.
Thank you CJ for taking an interest. I will keep you informed regarding additional meetings.
Mitch
Mitch, your comments are dead on, and if you took exception to my earlier comments, well, that is your right. But as a homeowner here in the Bluff, as you are, I take particular exception to those slumlords you mentioned getting sweet deals to improve their neglected properties while working stiffs like you and I had to do our improvements out of our own pockets. No matter where I got the loan, I paid it from my earnings, not from the tax dollars of my neighbors. And in essence, that is what this TIF is asking us to do: provide funds for property owners to fix their rental properties. Since approximately 62% of the homes on the East Bluff are rental properties, this will be inevitable. The additional funds to improve the infrastructure of the area are needed, no argument here. However, the use of the remaining funds, whether or not used for improvements to property or to promote job creation within the EVGC, and Promote and publicize development or redevelopment opportunities in the EVGC through marketing and other promotional activities means we need an oversight committee to work with, but not for, the local government. These two Purposes of the Committee are intended to promote and develop private enterprise, not further city goals. Now I am not saying the two would be mutually exclusive, but there may be a situation where the good of the City and the good of the East Bluff may not be in agreement. Under the current makeup of the Committee, the City wins by default, since they not only control the membership of the Committee, but have stacked the voting ability 6 to 3 in their favor.
The solution? Very simple. Make financial control of the TIF funds a joint agreement between a locally appointed board that is not directly controlled by the City Government and the City Council. Under the current charter, the Advisory Committee is entirely made up of City (two members), County (one member), School District (one member), OSF St. Francis (two members), and only three residential or business representatives (Members at large), one from each affected council district (Districts 1, 2, and 3), and even these three members are appointed by the Mayor. As I mentioned at the Monday meeting, transparency is the issue, and this looks too much like a city bulldozer awaiting the order to demolish anything that stands in its way.
As to my comments about Lisa Fischer, I don’t believe I said anything derogatory or out of line. I am certain Mrs. Fischer is a fine citizen and from all accounts a person who adds to the quality of our lives here in Peoria. Perhaps I should have repeated a line I have read many times from others who blog. “Funny how the same people keep showing up on appointed positions for projects.” Or to put it another way, in a city where the call for Affirmative Action and diversity are almost daily mantras, we do see the same people appointed again and again instead of talent lying dormant in our communities being sought out. We need fresh blood and new perspectives in our public offices, not the same old thinking that got us where we are today.
Thje city looks for yes people…Fit there direction. If they don’t follow city hall,the comittee dies (Heart of Peoria, Med-Tec-AKA Ren- Park)The current council needs new blood, If the people come out and vote for a real change for the at-large elections the city could come around to the basic services goal Mr. Sandberg pushes for. But the current council is apparentley rushing their ajenda before the spring election. New TIF, wonderful development,new manager,historic plan, and most likley other big items. Once done the new counicl would be bound. Funny the city felt bound to wait after the last election to hire the former manager.Not for our new one.
As for the TIF I agree with Mr Smith on transparency. But until all of the cards are on the table, somthing is hidden , will there be a developer(OSF is the developer per the city ) meeting with the public? Now that historic propery is in the hands of the owners fully White school will never be historic and be torn down for a “energy center” will OSF de- list Irving and tear that down? Will there be a meeting with public works as to there projects the will do with the TIF money? Is the $50m sewer still on the table? If so that will eat up a lot of money. So manny questions and so little time. The clock is ticking…
Mouse: yes, I would gladly sell my home to OSF as long as we can re-coup what we have invested.
Mr. Smith EBNHS meetings are 3rd Thursday @ 18:30hrs Unless the have changed. http://www.ebnhs.com The web site is not up to date.
Fred, you are dead on with the non-owner occupied assesment. The area’s biggest problem is the renter mentality. While there are great residents they have gotten pushed aside for a lot that don’t give a you know what. Now the TIF claims to use “potential” funds for improvements on homes. While an improvement here or there or a renovation here or there looks good at the surface it doesn’t address the current needs/interests of people who would be buying homes.
While the area has tons of character a young family can’t expect to grow in a 2 bed 1 bath. Or a 3 bed 1 bath and no garage. The housing in this area was built at a different time with different needs in mind. Not to say it’s right or wrong it just doesn’t jive with 2011. So what happens, a house gets sold for next to nothing and then rented out. This cycle continues and the neighborhood is at 62% renters. You can plant flowers outside but that doesn’t change the underlying problem. You stack this on top of the crime and other issues and TIF or no TIF 23 years later the problem still exists.
Sure OSF is going dominate the area, that’s great, they employ a lot of people and should take a vested interest. Midtown’s tab will get picked up and this cycle may continue. Just make it known what is really going on, include everyone, get to the root of the problem and then the people and the city will all benefit.
@Fred. You’re right; you do see a lot of the same people doing things in the community. I think you see that because they are usually the ones that answer the calls for things that happen in the community. Community Activism and involvement is not an exclusive club. I don’t know of a single neighborhood association who wouldn’t welcome an influx of people who want to be involved. I understand that people are busy with their lives, but I also think taking even a small amount of time to be involved in your neighborhood can yield positive results. The people you have mentioned in your various posts have answered the call of the community more than one time in the past. I don’t believe they are tools of the Council. Some of them have actually gone on record with their disagreements with various Council actions in the past. I think we have way too many residents who choose to sit on the sidelines and complain, rather than try and take constructive action. I do believe that if we had more involved Peorians fighting for positive change, the Council would not have been able to get away with many of the ridiculous things they have done. I applaud your efforts to step up on this East Bluff TIF and hope the residents will also be involved.
@conrad. Sir, that is a coherent and well stated comment which I can totally agree with. We do need more people to get involved and participate, and that is exactly what I am trying to do. My only concern with using the same people over and over again is that you lose connection to the community, since you are relying on the same people with the same insights and perspectives, instead of seeking out new ideas and fresh perspectives. I must admit that I am also at a loss as to how the Mayor or any other public official might go about finding those people. Perhaps if we had a Mayor who took the time once a week to practice what the 80’s motivational guru Tom Peters called “MBWA” (Management By Wandering Around), he might be able to discover people in the community who could be motivated to participate. I realize that Mayor Ardis is a very busy individual, but even Sam Walton found time in his schedule to meander through his stores, visiting every store at least once a year. His philosophy was that delivering service to the customer was the heart of the matter, and we can hardly disagree. The fact of the matter is that this city is a business, and the CEO of any business has a responsibility to his customers (in this case, the residents and taxpayers of Peoria) to check up on his employees and make sure the business is running smoothly. Regardless of the tone of some of my posts, I do appreciate and acknowledge the efforts of many of the people I have mentioned who have tried to serve us well, and I also hope that these posts and other comments will spur others into active participation. Thank you again for your comments.
We already pay for the things that can make the area better as far as crime and the code violations.
However they say they are complaint driven so there is no one actually going out and looking for problems they wait for someone to complain which I find to be BS why should we have to complain then get told that its not a violation. I have had this happen but then they turn around and tell me I’m in violation and its the same thing I called and was told is not a violation.
Now as far as law enforcement if they would enforce the curfew laws and actually detain the kids and make the parents get off there ass and come get the kids I would bet a lot of it would stop real FAST.
@Martin, thank you for the information. I have been in email contact with Mrs. Shadid and will attend the next EBNHS meeting on February 17th at 6:30 pm at the Neighborhood house on Wisconsin.
@Eye, I’ve got to agree with you that the police have not been enforcing the curfew or jaywalking laws, but in all honesty, they have had their hands full with more serious matters, like shootings and burglaries. Like many cities, we simply do not have the police resources to patrol every area every hour. As to the parents controlling their children, you are talking about opening a whole different can of worms. Wish I could offer you some brilliant advice on that one, but the fact of the matter is that I would not feel comfortable telling anyone how to raise their children.
Frederick: Do you pay the EBNHS annual levy? If yes, you may wish to consider asking what the EBNHS taxpayers are getting for their money. Approximately 2/3 of the approximately $63,000 levy pays for the salary and benefits of one person to accompish what? For the past twenty years that is a huge chunk of change and what has been accomplished? These are the same questions asked for years and the answers remain elusive. Welcome to the pond!
Mr. Smith
If they would enforce the curfew law word would spread you walk around the Bluff the PO-PO will stop you and get your name. Then the would be burglars would think twice about the bluff. Yes the police are busy but not as busy as you would think. I monitor there radio traffic and most nights are pretty mellow.
As for telling the parents how to raise their kids thats not the issue its telling them not to break the law letting them run wild at night.I’m sure they would rather be woke up to come get there child from the station as opposed to come and pick up the body at the morgue. I also know if they were to actually start to enforce the LAW they would have Don Jackson pulling out the race card so fast it would make your head spin.
Eye: It’s Mr. Jackson’s job, so to speak, to challenge the police to ensure that arrests are done correctly and that there’s no profiling going on. The important thing to remember is that if the police are performing their jobs correctly, it doesn’t matter what Mr. Jackson or anyone else thinks.
Billy do you really believe that???? My neighborhood is 80-90% African-American that would make it pretty hard not to stop folks and it not to be considered profiling. All he would have to do is claim it then the city has to prove other wise which will waste time and then they will just back off from doing there job just like they have done in the past without his BLESSING and we are right back to where we are now.
@Karrie…thanks, just getting used to the waters, but I do know that several years ago my wife and I were able to get a low interest loan from the EBNHS to replace a roof, siding, windows, and rebuild a garage. Don’t remember a lot of red tape, and pretty sure the only qualifications were living in the East Bluff and being able to pay the loan. Since I am not familiar with the inner workings of the EBNHS, I will keep an open mind. And I will be attending their meeting on the 17th at 6:30 pm at their house/office on Wisconsin. Hope to meet you then.
Frederick: No, I will not be there, perhaps our paths will cross some other time. Perhaps Martin or Paul will be able to recall the last time that EBNHS made a loan — it has been several years to the best of my recollection that EBNHS has made any loans. EBNHS has gone into the rehab and rental business. It is troublesome that they had the debt of the office and now have the debt of several properties without giving any loans. You draw your own conclusions and it will be interesting to dialogue after you have had time to do yoru research. Again, welcome to the pond! 🙂
Eye: I think it’s more likely that some white people assume there is going a false charge of “racism” than there are false charges of racism. And the solution to false charges of racism is to call bullshit when it happens. Bear in mind that sometimes it is racism, so keep an open mind.
Alright billy open mind on the racism bit i’m calling Bullshit on the the whole TIF project.
Karrie:
You could asume Mr. Smith pays the tax. since he recieved a loan from them in the past. It has been a long time since they made any loans.
Mr. Smith, I am sometimes unsure of your sources or if you are simply shooting from the hip. The Mayor does go around town and does witness what goes on. He and councilman Jacob would ride their motorcycles through town at odd hours of the night looking at trouble/hot spots. Councilman Montolongo has been out and about in troubled areas at odd hours at times. They simply don’t hold a press confernce when doing so. You will be hard pressed to find others doing this, hence the great loss with Councilman Jacob to the neighborhoods. I know this based on personal eyes on experience. I have even had our Congressman out at late night hours before a while back and yes I have pictures to prove it. Again, not a media event, so not widely known.
Re: the housing services, I do not know when they made their last loan. As far I as know there have been no loans made by the most recent leadership in the past two years. The concentration has been to take the special assessment tax dollars and buy rental property to become landlords. They have said that they were rehabbing properties themselves, meaning that they are paying their now former treasurer to rehab them and were going to sell them to homeowners. To my knoweldge they have not sold a house. They have blamed the economy. Altough they recieve tax dollars, their processes have not been open and transparant and their own verbal reports compaired with their actions when watched closely are incongruent. Although members of the council were fully apprised of the residents’ concerns and provided with documentation of said concerns, they ignored the documentation and the wishes of the those paying the special assessment and voted to continue to charge the residents a special assessment, give the money to the housing services, and have secured that the residents’ have no voice as to the use of their tax money either on the board or on the council. You will however see campaign literature which states the support of older neighborhoods. Please note their are several wealthy sections of town that are in fact old. Fast forward to the TIF. At the first Glen Oak meeting, I was in attendance. I wrote down 5 questions, all apparantly too tough for the gentleman paid $1 million to do the study or were ignored by both he and city staff. They kept trying to fit the questions into their talking points, couldn’t and therefore ignored them. Watch candidates that speak much, say little, and never answer the question which was asked. They are the first crossed off my list. Anyway, I sent a text to a councilman present at that meeting because one of the goals of the TIF was to provide low cost loans to residents to help them fix up their property. I thought that was a great idea, and inquired, however, why residents were essentially being taxed twice for a service which they are not and most likely would not recieve. The response was “loans were a good idea.” This was one of the counicl persons who pretended to care about the facts in the EBHS concerns, then midstream flipped completely over and there was no discussing the topic with him. Furthermore this councilman was confronted about the misinformation from the housing services during the council discussion to no avail. Long story short (too late): Why continue to ask questions? they are ignored. Why did and present facts, they are downplayed and then ignored. If you attend and voice concerns and are ignored then they say, “we’ve had meetings with the residents.” Ignore that concerns aren’t addressed and vote yes. Or you can simply not go and save yourself the headache and then they say, “no one had any concerns, or we offered to ‘Listen'” and still vote yes. Where is the hard core planning with a specific vision, plan, funding, etc. No one has seen this come about therefore, OSF has it, and you’ll never see it, or it will not be done. As there are no plans to upfund any projects in the Bluff then the money spent by OSF will be the money which is reimbursed. Additionally everyone else was asleep at the wheel when the council approved moving the Methodist cooling plant even closer to R&R neighborhood. It will now be only 100 ft away. The current location makes everyone’ back yard unsuable due to the noise, so it makes sense to move it closer to the residences per the council. This sets up a prescident for OSF to build that power plant at White School on the Bluff.
Paul: Dammed if we speak up and dammed if we don’t. Speaking up was proven when OSF wanted to change ther campus plan and our councilman shrugged off a petition and concerns of residents. We know who he stands for 530 N.E. Glen Oak.http://peoriachronicle.com/2009/08/03/riggenbach-takes-neighbors-to-task-for-opposing-osf/
Bingo Martin. When the heavy hitters like OSF want something, they are going to get it…residents be damned. They will come up with any reports, speakers, etc. to prove their point. Your complaints will be listened to but not heard.
C.J., here’s a posting from someone over on Peoria.com regarding this issue:
“I think also that CJ, who I respect very much, is using this for political points against his City Council opponent Eric Turner, which is again, fair play. But let’s not use the kids as props. Kids are not safe unsupervised. Period. Big Al’s being on Main Street or Washington will not change for better or worse the safety of children anywhere.”
I’m not singling out this poster, just using what they wrote as what may be to come as this election draws nearer.
I have a feeling that there are some Peorians who really hope you don’t get elected.
Mazr: “I have a feeling that there are some Peorians who really hope you don’t get elected.”
Ya think?
Paul, it is all well and good that the Mayor and other councilpersons have been out driving their motorcycles looking for trouble spots and observing, but that is hardly getting off the bike and talking with people. And no, I am not suggesting the Mayor or anyone in his right mind get off the bike and go hang on the street corner with the thugs. Going into an area on an unpublicized door to door visit for an hour or two, actually talking with people in the neighborhoods, daylight hours, bodyguards if he feels it is necessary. He is the Mayor of all of Peoria, not just the nice areas. But Kudos for what he does do, and I don’t need to see the pictures. It just isn’t the same as what I was suggesting, and I am pretty sure you already know that.
As to the dissertation on the EBNHS, thank you for the education. I will bear all that in mind and do a little more research before I get to that meeting. Thanks also to Karrie, Billy, and the rest. Good to hear all this coming from this diverse and obviously well studied crowd. Or as Karrie indicated…nice pond.
I don’t get all this OSF bashing.
Never did.
@Paul…this calm in the hurricane of comments has given me a chance to reread your comments and wanted to add a couple of interesting facts that gave me pause about the whole EVGC miasma.
At that Monday meeting with the gentleman from Springfield, I made mention of the reported $100,000.00 study (not $1 million) to Mr. Hoffman, the representative of Teska, who claimed they were paid $38,000.00. I have no idea who is telling the truth, but I will say that anyone who would pay $100,000.00 or $38,000.00 for a report that relies on 10 year old census data is either not very astute or wants the report slanted a particular way. I’m betting on the latter.
Not only that, but one of the appendices (Appendix “B”, to be exact) was initially released without all the applicable data, namely a Median Household Income survey, which I obtained from the US Census Bureau in Chicago in less that 24 hours with a simple email. Now since the Public Member of the Joint Review Board must reside in the area and be of “very low, low, or moderate household income” (according to the Illinois state codes regulating TIF’s), I am still wondering how Debbie Ritchel ever got appointed to the JRB in the first place, and how Lisa Fischer, who resides on Hillcrest Court to my understanding, was appointed in the second place. And no, folks, no sour grapes over not being appointed myself, because in spite of Mr. Ray’s comments to the contrary when I spoke to him, I believe I am also out of that consideration based on income requirements. And no, I am not Lisa Fischer bashing. I believe she is a very public minded person who is seeking to do the right thing.
Perhaps the most telling problem is the Project Charter of the EVGC Committee. Under section III. Membership, we find the real cause for concern.
“The Committee shall consist of members selected as follows:
Two (2) Members of the City of Peoria
One (1) Member of the County of Peoria
One (1) Representative of School District 150
Two (2) Members of OSF St. Francis Medical Center
Three (3) Members at large, one resident or business owner from each Council District within the EVGC ”
and the next section makes it even more worrisome.
“IV. Membership Governance”
“The members at large shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City.”
So even if the members at large are upstanding citizens who are trying to act in the best interest of the citizens of their communities (and no one is saying they are not), they can be outvoted 2 to 1 on any issue or disagreement with the members of the City, County, School Board, and OSF. Now, does that seem like a fair way to run an exploration of the possibilities of a TIF, or does it seem like a bulldozer getting ready to plow under any objections?
Oh, and New Voice, the problem with OSF in this particular instance is the same as the problem with any big corporation. Their interests do not always coincide with the interests of the City or the community. And please tell me why you believe, if you do, that OSF should rate two seats on the Committee instead of one.
You are definitely correct about this, Paul, there is a lot more going on than meets the eye. Oh, what were the five (5) questions?
“And please tell me why you believe, if you do, that OSF should rate two seats on the Committee instead of one.”
cuz’ OSF is twice as “patriotic” as the school district?
… they hire more white people?
… they got God on their side?
… they aren’t losing 6 million a year down the toilet?
… they are only 1/2 likely to show up?
… they shovel more cash under the table?
Charlie, you may be correct, but I can’t prove any of that. What I can say in all fairness is that we are talking about the Corporate side of OSF, not the excellent physicians, nurses, and staff members who treat patients every day. While I am certain we could find some who would disagree, my personal experience with OSF as a patient was nothing short of exceptional. I realize this is not on topic, but I think New Voice is asking a legitimate question.
OSF paid for the study so I guess they need 2 votes. Methodust has a school of nursing in the proposed TIF and they are left out. Humm…Who are the city people? and who apoints them? Mr. Smith you are right on with a “buldozer” Also the 2nd district part is real small (strip of land along Knoxville) BVA has not been at any public meetings that I know of. With the up coming election wonder who will take cash from OSF,another way to influence a possable current at large councilperson running for re-election for there vote to approve the TIF.
OSF will control this TIF no if and’s or buts.
It is now been confirmed that we willl be having another presentation centered around a representative from the Decature TIF Area. The meeting will be held, Monday evening February 21st, at the New Beginnings Church on Wisconsin. The meeting will start at 6:00 PM
Mitch
Mitch,
who is coming up from Decatur. I am hoping that Stephanie will as she was highly involved. It would also be beneficial for her with her involvement with the RNNC, therefore neighborhood ties. Let me know if you need anything with that one.
@fredrick, will hit you up later with the questions…off an running again.
@Paul, since the meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on a Monday, I probably will not make it. I work from 8 to 8 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, had to take time off to go to the last one, and since the weather is warmer and their might actually be clients coming on the lot, I will have to pass. If anyone is going to this next Informational meeting, I would love to hear what they have to say. Is there an OSF involved in that TIF? I have a few questions for this one too.
YES PAUL, IT IS STEPHANIE THAT WILL BE HERE.
MITCH