On Sunday’s editorial page, the Peoria Journal Star looks back at Mayor Jim Ardis’s first election campaign — the one in which he blamed then-mayor Ransburg for increased crime in Peoria — and judges Ardis’s performance by the same measure. They couch it in language of “getting beyond politics,” but make no mistake, this is a new smackdown of Ardis’s campaign tactics, of which the paper was harshly critical at the time.
A classic case of the pot (in this case the Journal Star) calling the kettle black.
surprise.
The Goper disagrees with using Ardis’ own words against him.
This editorial by Mike Bailey is patently unfair. It is not fair to pin the commitment that rivaling gang members have to blow the crap out of each other on one person, and that is essentially what Bailey is doing. The same gang warfare is going on in Chicago. I suppose that is Ardis’ fault too? This should not come as a surprise however, because Bailey has never hidden the fact that he despises Jim Ardis – a trait that, when uncontrolled, is extremely unprofessional and a very poor reflection on a paper that is already substantially readership and credibility challenged.
All that said, I think many would agree that Peoria has never had a Mayor that has worked so hard to bridge the gap between the Black and White communities. It’s a shame that Bailey couldn’t have curbed his vitriol for even a few sentences and mentioned the extensive community outreach programs he sponsored with Representative Jehan Gordon. Or the outrageously successful ELITE program with Carl Cannon that has all but obliterated the risks associated with evening public events in Peoria – not to mention putting 100’s of our disadvantaged youths into responsible jobs. Or finding common areas of agreement and building on them with the NAACP and Black spiritual leadership.
I for one am praying for peace right alongside our Mayor and his partners. It is anyones individual choice whether they want to support and help him, or lob grenades at him and clap their hands in glee. We have seen Bailey’s choice. What is yours?
Didn’t Ardis vote to cut police officers? I think we are done here.
“It is not fair to pin the commitment that rivaling gang members have to blow the crap out of each other on one person, and that is essentially what Bailey is doing.”
And what did Ardis do with Ransberg in the previous election?
My guess is that Ardis doesn’t care one bit about gangbangers shooting it out as long as they stay out of his neighborhood and it doesn’t effect his political career.
Observation – It’s funny you mention all that he’s done to bridge the gap between Black and White communities. Yet he’s done very little to try and stop the white flight to the edges of Peoria. In fact I’d say he’s more on the side of enabling white flight than opposing it. Ofcourse thats probably not his intention just a side effect of putting developers ahead of the community.
As far as Carl Cannon’s wonderful ELITE progam, which continues to SHUT OUT HARDWORKING YOUTHS who are not a part of the wonderful ELITE program, do you have any idea how many hard working youths (and adults) with experience Mr. Cannon and his special group of family and friends shut out of summer work because Carl Cannon got them first?
Won’t you be my neighbor? This question was often asked by Mr. Rogers, a concept that many in Peoria fail to understand. No one wants to live in “certain” areas of Peoria for fear of a criminal element intruding upon their household. Did it occur to anyone that modeling positive behavior like “Mr. Rogers” is what this community needs? Mayor Ardis has over and over again “put his money where his mouth is” and for this the Peoria Journal Star wants to crucify him? Jim is a breath of fresh air in Peoria. Jim Ardis has bridged the gap between the black and white community like no other mayor before him has. He was instrumental in creating the Peoria Promise (college education for all Peoria graduates). Instead of writing articles that put him down and denegrate the city of Peoria, why not write about all the good that he does and continues to do. I know, I know, negative stories sell papers, but hey, the Journal Star appears to be making it their personal mission to run people out of Peoria. No community members = NO PAPERS SOLD. Get a clue PJStar…
PS. Bob, Jim Ardis is not running people out of Peoria, negative newspaper articles are. Jim is doing his best to promote Peoria, how about a little help,…
GOPer and Observation — The following is a Journal Star report of a debate that took place between Mayor Ransburg and mayoral candidate Ardis in March 2005:
The way I see it, if Ardis was going to hold Ransburg responsible for not stemming drug-related crime in 2005, I think it’s fair for voters or the Journal Star editorial board to hold Ardis responsible for not stemming gang-related crime in 2010.
It does appear to be a campaign tactic. What goes around comes around. This crime problem is more a result of tying the hands of the police behind their backs and expecting them to keep the community safe anyway.
“Ardis said city residents are scared because there’s a crime problem that isn’t being addressed”
Note the three italicized words, CJ. Surely you aren’t saying that Ardis isn’t trying to address the crime issue. I believe that a majority of Peorians do believe that he cares deeply about crime and is doing his very best to instate effective policies and community outreach. Who would have ever predicted this recent bout of gang violence? Very unfair to suggest that he is in any way responsible for this anomaly. In fact, misplaced blame on anyone other than the individuals doing the killing only emboldens them.
Let’s also remember that Mike Bailey endorsed Ransburg over Ardis in that election, and it would appear he has never come to the terms that Ardis won. Twice. Handily.
Also consider that Mr. Ransburg, his opponent at the time, carries his own baggage:
“How do you know when Ransburg is lying? His lips are moving” CJ Summers, Peoria Chronicle, June 2010
“Given your history of being untruthful with the public, why should we trust anything you say in this interview?” – proposed question to Mr. Ransburg by CJ Summers, Peoria Chronicle June 16, 2020
“Ransburg has a track record with saying one thing and meaning another…He excels at making deals behind closed doors but hates to do public business in the open.” Phil Luciano – Peoria Journal Star.
Whether or not it was politically correct for Ardis to have made crime a central issue of his campaign is all water under the bridge. He wasn’t the first. He won’t be the last. If there were another run-off between the two men, I know where I would put my money – all of it!
Yeah, I think Ardis is a good guy who has the best interests of Peoria at heart. How anybody can blame Ardis for crime problems in Peoria is beyond me. These problems go way deeper than a mayor.
You guys are missing the point. Of course it’s ridiculous to blame the mayor for a spike in crime. But that’s what Ardis did in 2005 to score points in his election bid. He tried to pin the crime problem on Ransburg. The point here is, if we evaluate Ardis by the same standard he evaluated Ransburg, then we’d have to conclude that Ardis is not doing enough to take care of the crime problem.
As you point out, I’m no fan of Ransburg, but I will say this — when he was mayor, we had more officers on the street (25 more, according to the Journal Star), a street crimes unit, and POP (problem-oriented police) teams. I felt a lot safer then, personally.
“Yeah, I think Ardis is a good guy who has the best interests of Peoria at heart.”
– I have Peoria’s best interests at heart! Can I be mayor?!?
I am sure that everyone who serves in city government has SOMEONES best interests at heart. Just trying to figure out WHO that someone is….?
From what I understand the Police Layoffs could have been avoided with Union concessions. The fact is, CJ, that our economic picture is far different now then it was when Ransburg was Mayor, not only in Peoria but across the State and Nation. Ardis has some fiscal realities that must be addressed. We can only imagine how Ransburg might have dealt with them.
New Voice says “I have Peoria’s best interests at heart! Can I be mayor?!?”
Yes, you can New Voice, assuming you have a compelling enough message and the skills for it’s effective delivery. That is the beauty of a Democracy. Have at it.
Observation: Yes, there are many things that are out of a mayor’s control. If Ardis didn’t realize that before he became mayor (and from his 2005 campaign rhetoric, it appears that way), he’s learning it now.
“We can only imagine how Ransburg might have dealt with them.”
You mean fund white elephant museums and private hotel developments with city dollars at the expense of police officers? Not putting basic services first? I could see Ransburg doing that.
“Police Layoffs could have been avoided with Union concessions.”
Yes… because an already understaffed, underpaid, overworked police force, …. er wait what? Why exactly should they have to make concessions? It would seem the concessions have already been made. Hotel, museum, Keller trail, TIF madness… priorities? If we really are rock bottom, then taxes need to go up. Cutting police as the city has done is gross civic irresponsibility and the public is now paying for it. Pay for it in taxes or pay for it in declining home values, increased medical and insurance costs, or even their very lives. The public is most certainly paying for it either way.
Didn’t the paper have an article about a year ago that showcased what Peorias highest paid police officers were making? I think there was a list of at least a dozen making over $100k a year. Can anyone post that link?
Putta Bear, yes I can. Check JS edition September 8, 2009. #32 were making over $110,000 a year in 2008. The same 32 were on target to make more than that in 2009. Many more were making over $100,000. You can find who by visitng pjstar.com and searching for officers or police officers salaries and benefits and adminstration salaries and benefits.
Police administration had 45 officers making from $110,000-$133,000 in 2009.
Probably the reason police weren’t given more rasises was because their powerful unions would not agree to any concessions during this ongoing depression. 16,000 plus known unemployed here.
People should remember that the Chief said he could put 25 new officers on the street with the $60 million (with long term interest) that went to build and upgrade un-needed libraries such as the one behind Menards, the Downtown Library which the library Board considered closing in year 2000, and Trewyn Library; the library Councilman Turner put his name on a circular demanding expansion while admitting in an email to me that he had never visited (graveyard) Trewyn Library. More information on public salaries may be found by visitng merle widmer’s blog.
Sorry, correction. 5 police adminstrators, not 45.
There you go. Thank you, Merle. The unions could have agreed to some concessions and kept more of our officers on the street and the public proportionally more protected.
I’m sorry. But Mayor Ardis first ran on an anti-crime platform. It got him elected. In office, he was too quick to cut police staffing levels. He can say he regretted doing it, he can blame it on economics.
But the fact IS that he chose to make the loud complainers at the Chamber of Commerce happy rather than raise the revenue needed to keep police staffing where it needed to be. Recent events prove that more cops on the street help solve and prevent crime.
Mayor Ardis has to take responsibility for the positions he advoctes. He would be wise to do so, and take a stand that more revenue is needed to for police, and take action to make it happen.
On his worst day, Jim Ardis is still a better mayor than Dave “The Liar” Ransburg on his best.
“Dave “The Liar” Ransburg ”
City improvements-Ransburg? Museum-Ransburg? Marriot Hotel-Ransburg?
You all oughtta’ know by now, to get elected in a Republic(Democracy) such as this, ya gotta’ fib…it’s been going in since George Washington…he did tell a lie or 2 in his time…so, what’s the big outrage? It’s just the way it is and sorry to break this to all of you, but it’s not gonna’ change either
NV: the moving van arrive yet?
Naah, PC haven’t you heard? New Voice is staying and running for Mayor. At least that’s the plan for now. It may change when he realizes he has to back away from the computer and use his real name.
I know NV, his name Bob. Okay? Jeez, get over it.
“t may change when he realizes he has to back away from the computer and use his real name.”
Well…. on that note, all I can say is pleased to meet you Mr. Precinct Committeeman & Mr. Pffft. Is that really your name or did you develop a slow leak [hot air maybe]?
Ransburg = Garbage Fee inventor. Just think. If he was still in office today, the fees we would have to cover the police.
If any person wants to see me and what my name is click on the screen name, go to my blog click on Black Socks link and wander thru the site and you will see my photo and my name.
Sheep.
You can learn a lot from the wooly creatures
I’m not going to get into a Ransburg v. Ardis debate about who was better, nor do I want to get into a union v. mayor debate, because the fact is they BOTH could have done a better job in that situation, but I just want to add this:
When you back a guy who has given us as his main idea to fight crime “40 Days of Prayer”, then you really don’t have a leg to stand on in this argument.
BJ -didn’t you back Blagojevitch? Twice? Your credibility and the credibility of your party affiliation is a big fat -0-. Did you not realize that Illinois is in the crapper? Clean your own house then you can work on Ardis. K darlin? Thnx!
There is that slow leak again.
In YOUR opinion Pffffffffffffffft, why is Peoria in the crapper?
It isn’t in the crapper… It’s Better Here.
Agree with Charlie. Has anyone seen BJ? He’s probably out back burning his Blago posters.
Hey, Pffft, I never backed Rod B. I also never backed any of the opponents the GOP threw at him, and I will say the mess would be just as bad with any of them in office. It is okay, you know, to write in a candidate or vote for a third party candidate. So pffft you.
I voted for Blago in 2002 because it was time for a change in Illinois back then, with the George Ryan fiasco and ultimately jail time. We all got duped by Blago’s words, looks, and theatrics. But that wore off soon after inauguration when he wouldn’t move to Springfield..launched health care programs the state couldn’t afford even then…and started widening the gap between him and lawmakers. So I voted for Topkina in 2006. But even with her margins of victory in many counties downstate, it was not enough to overcome all the Blago votes in all of Chicagoland.
As far as the local scene..well, you’ve got a couple of new guys on board…they’ve only been on council just over a year…so how do you judge their performance so far…their response to constituent requests, questions and issues? (This is an actual question to others, not an opinion)
Ardis needs to go.
Now that I read this thread again…I have but one question of “pffft”: What in the hell did Blago have to do with what we were talking about? What part of my original comment had ANYTHING to do with D vs. R?
And “work on Ardis”? Hey, I moved out of Peoria in 2006 and couldn’t vote either way in that election, hence the reason I stayed out of the “Ransburg or Ardis” discussion. I just put in my two cents about the RIDICULOUS “40 days of prayer” nonsense, and that is all I said. So, again, pffft you.