There was a big article in the Central Illinois Journal Star’s Cue section yesterday about the Apollo Theater showing several Alfred Hitchcock “films.” However, buyer beware! They’re not really showing the films — they’re showing DVDs.

I went to see “White Christmas” last December at the Apollo and was shocked to find out that they weren’t showing an actual film print of the movie, but rather a DVD (the same one I have at home, as a matter of fact) projected on their screen using a large LCD projector. I felt duped. Here I had paid $5 and trudged downtown to see one of my favorite movies in glorious Technicolor, and instead I see… the DVD on a giant TV screen, essentially. We already solved this problem in our backyard, when I researched how to choose a projector that works in daylight for our kids playdates and picked something out on Amazon.

I’m sorry, that’s not a film. It shouldn’t be billed as a film, and it shouldn’t be listed in the CIJS under the “film” heading. When I go to the theater, I want to see an original film print. If I want to see it on DVD, I’ll go to Blockbuster. I asked the gentleman at the Apollo that night why they don’t show film prints anymore, and he said that most theaters were “going digital.”

First of all, playing a DVD through an LCD projector can hardly be considered “going digital,” as if that’s the technology Lucas is using for “Star Wars.” This is not digital film. Secondly, I don’t know of any theaters around here that are digital (Rave may be an exception — I’m not sure). But one can hardly say that most places are “going digital.” They all still show film prints. Even the Normal Theater in Normal shows film prints, and they’re in the same situation as the Apollo — a restored theater showing old movies, charging $5 a ticket. I saw “The Music Man” in Normal a couple years ago and let me tell you, there is a difference between DVDs and film prints.

Now, I realize that the word “film” can be used to describe the medium (flexible strip of plastic) and/or the motion picture itself. But it’s not fair to hide behind technical definitions like this. The clear connotation of going to a movie theater to see a “film” is the expectation that one will see a film print. Otherwise, one could just as easily set up a 20″ TV in a movie theater and play a VHS tape of “Gone With the Wind” and still say they’re showing a “film.” It’s misleading.

Just to make sure that this was still the state of affairs, I called the Apollo and Normal theaters today and verified their media. Apollo: DVD. Normal: film. The Apollo should stop marketing their presentations as “films” if they’re not going to be using film prints, or at least provide full disclosure.

This bill effectively shuts down all inspections of existing properties. The impact to local communities is life threatening and will decrease property values. Municipalities will have to get a court order to inspect property for building code violations if the owner does not permit them.

The lack of inspections will permit slum lords to continue to rent their properties to anyone with glaring violations. When properties are sold with violations, the new owners may br unknowing purchasers of problem properties.

When properties are not maintained values go down. I strongly urge all Neighborhoods to contact your representatives and strongly oppose this bill. If the bill passes however it may be time to considermobile homes for rent in las vegas as a more affordable option.

SB 1727, an initiative of the Illinois Association of Realtors, will severely impact the quality of housing stock in municipalities and counties throughout the state. The bill specifically states that any local ordinance, law, rule or regulation calling for the inspection of residential property shall require the consent of the owner or occupant. If consent by either party is denied, an administrative warrant must be obtained. No municipality or county may hold up the sale of residential property on the basis that a required inspection has not been completed or that code violations have not been corrected. Home rule authority to deviate from these new restrictions on municipal power is expressly prohibited. This proposed legislation puts all residents, especially the low-income homebuyer and renter, at the mercy of unethical property owners, landlords and realtors.

Senate Bill 1727 will allow property owners to rent out substandard living spaces. These are frequently older single-family homes that have been converted illegally into multi-family apartments. In those instances, families may live in basements and attics that have only one way out in case of a fire. Some of the tenants living in these substandard conditions are not legal citizens – thus they do not report violations of the building code because they are afraid that they will get deported or their landlord will kick them out. The intent of municipal building codes is to protect everyone.

Senate Bill 1727 will assist landlords who make no effort to maintain their properties or flaunt health and life safety codes. Over time, such activities lead to decreasing property values and blight and in some instances may threaten the life of inhabitants. Instances of activities threatening inhabitants include removal of load bearing walls and elevated porches resulting in structural failure and collapse. Exemplary of inadequate maintenance is an incident in Cicero where improper and inadequate maintenance of tuck-pointing in a brick façade resulted in the collapse of the wall and the death of the tenant occupying the property.

Senate Bill 1727 will allow homebuyers in many communities, often low-income homebuyers, to buy property that does not meet minimum code standards.

Municipal inspection programs are designed to protect citizens, maintain housing stock, and prevent the development of unsafe and blighted properties. The inspections, and the process they follow, are guided by nationally developed maintenance codes for residential properties. This legislation, ostensibly introduced to address the problems in one community, will affect all communities throughout the state and the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens within those communities.

OTHER GROUPS OPPOSED:
City of Chicago, DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, Metro Counties of Illinois, Northwest Municipal Conference, South Suburban Mayors and Managers, West Central Municipal Conference, Will County Governmental League, IL Fire Chiefs Association, IL Association of Fire Protection Districts, IL Fire Safety Alliance, IL Firefighters Association, IL Fire Inspectors Association, IL Fire Service Association, IL Code of Council Administrators, and the IL Plumbing Inspectors Association.