A comment from The Mouse reminded me of something.
Since the Journal Star is now fervently defending property rights, I assume they’ll be shutting down their “Save the Journal Star” campaign. After all, it’s Copley’s (and their successor’s) right to do whatever the heck they want with their property, right?
The Journal Star weighed in this morning on the latest Kellar Branch ruling from the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
I have to confess I’m tired of reading these ridiculous editorials. They just keep repeating the same disinformation over and over. They’re not adding anything new to the debate, so if you want to read my response, just check out any of the myriad posts I’ve already done on this topic.
There’s just one comment I’d like to answer, and that’s this:
One final point about the federal ruling: It does not kill the bike path, contrary to claims circulating in the community.
No, it doesn’t kill the bike path. As has always been the case over the past 10-15 years, the bike path could happen in short order if the city and park district would stop this all-or-nothing approach and instead start planning a shared rail and trail use on this corridor. However, if they keep up their bullheadedness, they will likely get no trail at all.
Of course, when the Journal Star says the federal ruling does not kill the bike path, what they mean is that it doesn’t kill the dedicated bike path — the one that would kill the Kellar Branch as a rail line. That’s technically true, but in order for the city to continue pursuing that route, they’d have to hire yet a third carrier (i.e., someone other than Pioneer Industrial Railway or Central Illinois Railroad), sign a new contract, get them up and running, and have them petition the STB to discontinue service on the Kellar Branch — essentially starting the whole proceeding over again — and fight Carver Lumber and Pioneer and CIRY the whole time. The new proceeding could drag out for a year easily. This would be a foolish, expensive, time-consuming, and risky path to take. The chances of it being successful are not in the city’s favor.
It’s time for the city to change direction, pursue shared use of the rail corridor, and move on.
UPDATE: David Jordan has written a more thorough rebuttal over on the Peoria Pundits site.
The National Weather Service reports this tonight:
Overnight: Periods of snow after midnight. Low around 23. Southeast wind between 7 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Sunday: Periods of snow, mainly before noon. High near 29. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northeast. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Somebody get the Red Bull ready for street department manager David Haste; looks like some more 21½-hour days are on the way.
Of course, the good news is, maybe the poor guy will make enough in overtime pay to afford a stove for his house.
I see from Clare Jellick’s blog that Bruce Brown, among others, is running for the school board. The last time Mr. Brown ran for public office was in 2005 when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor.
One of the reasons he didn’t get past the primary is because of his bewildering mass mailing. Anyone remember this?
If you had a garden,
the Butterfly and the Bee
would be welcome additions.It’s art.
The Butterfly?
Color and whimsy…
A flight of light.The Bee?
Well, let’s just say
“purpose driven”.On paper and flowcharts,
the Bee isn’t supposed
to be able to fly…Perhaps it’s Ali…
“Float like a Butterfly,
sting like a Bee”?
Don’t you think he would be a perfect fit in a district that also boasts consultant Judy Harris Helm? “If it can happen to a bee, just imagine….”
Here is the question retiring city councilman Chuck Grayeb would like to have on the ballot in April:
Should the City of Peoria Join Other Smoke-Free Illinois Cities and Smoke-Free States (including California and New York), by Prohibiting Smoking in All Indoor Work Places and All Indoor Public Places?
Wouldn’t it be simpler just to say, “Should the City of Peoria prohibit smoking in all indoor work places and all indoor public places?” Does not the inclusion of “join other smoke-free Illinois cities and smoke-free states (including California and New York)” make this an argumentative and leading question?
I did some checking, and it looks like the Circuit Court of Cook County said in Leman v. County of Cook “that a municipality which initiates even an advisory referendum has the obligation to set forth the question in as neutral and non-argumentative a fashion as possible.”
Grayeb’s question does not do that; indeed, if you read Grayeb’s Request for Council Action, the adoption of smoke-free policies by other states and Illinois cities is a large part of his argument for making Peoria smoke-free. He can’t put his argument into the advisory referendum.
Of course, I think this is a waste of time anyway; but if they’re going to do it, they should at least do it right.
Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t more expensive to restore than rebuild, but when a consultant tells a government body exactly what they wanted to hear — and there’s money tied to their findings, to boot — I get skeptical.
STS Consultants told the School Board yesterday “it would cost $8.36 million just to bring the [Glen Oak School] building up to code. Replacing the school with a building of the exact same size would cost $7.95 million,” reports Clare Jellick who adds later, “The studies are part of a process to secure money to build new schools.”
I’ve requested a copy of the study through the Freedom of Information Act. I’d be curious to know what exactly is included in the $7.95 million “building of the exact same size.” For instance, I wonder if it’s a brick building (like Glen Oak is now), or cheaper siding. I also wonder what they mean by “bring[ing] the building up to code.” Does that mean the city code or the State Board of Education’s code?
I’ve also written to STS Consultants asking for examples of historic renovation work they’ve done. From their website, I couldn’t find any evidence that they’ve ever done any historic renovation, but perhaps they just don’t advertise it. If they haven’t done any historic restoration, I would want to know if they consulted a specialist in that field when preparing their study for District 150. It makes a difference.
Forget that car stereo or your old copper pipes. What thieves are really after are your used books. That’s right, there’s a huge crime spree — people stealing books, then pawning them off at used book shops for a buck apiece.
At least, I assume that’s what’s happening since Peoria Police are cracking down on used book shops. They’ve mysteriously started enforcing this little-known ordinance:
Technically, used bookstores fall under the city’s ordinance dealing with secondhand dealers. It requires they keep a register including the following information: “a succinct and accurate description of all property taken, purchased or received,” as well as the full name and description of the person they received it from, including date of birth and home address and a signed statement from that person that they have the legal right to sell the property.
The ordinance also requires they wait a week before selling or trading anything.
Who knew there was such a big black market in stolen books? I’m glad the police are on it. Maybe this will help them find the killer in one of the 11 unsolved homicides of 2006.
WMBD-AM reports that District 150 Superintendent Ken Hinton is going to school board members trying to drum up support for his plan to close Manual High School:
Sources say the Superintendent has been holding separate meetings with school board members to explain his proposal, and while a school board vote once taken may not be unanimous, Hinton appears to have the four votes necessary to approve the plan.
Why is it so hard for Mr. Hinton to conduct public business in public? Why are all his dealings seemingly under the table? Now it appears the fix is in to close Manual High School. Hinton has been skirting the Open Meetings Act by having separate meetings with board members, a clear violation of the intent, though probably not the letter, of the act.
But why should he care? The school board doesn’t have a pair of balls among them to stand up to him or he would have been fired by now, so I guess we’ll just have to get used to these kinds of shenanigans happening as standard D150 operating procedure. I guess we’ll just have to keep our ears to the media and their sources to find out what public business is being discussed in separate private meetings with the superintendent.
Billy’s idea of the city taking over the school district is sounding more and more like a good idea.
UPDATE: The Journal Star reports that Hinton’s office has released this statement about WMBD’s report: “At this point, the superintendent has made no formal recommendation regarding the closing of any high school, nor has he polled any board members regarding this topic.”
Eyebrows McGee did, and she’s published a very nice primer on how to see through all the ways Ameren has tried to disguise the new price increases. Check it out!
Billy Dennis has posted an e-mail he received from Peoria Heights Mayor Mark Allen regarding the Heights’ role in the Kellar Branch saga. In it, Mr. Allen states:
I have spoken with representatives of Pioneer Line, and have made them aware that we would appreciate that Peoria Heights be considered as the SEPARATE entity that it is from Peoria. I do not plan on following lock-step with the City of Peoria, or the Peoria Park District. While we will always consider what is best for the area, we must also put first priority as to what is best for Peoria Heights.
I’m guessing this might have something to do with the fact that the Heights has just lost Cohen’s warehouse at the site of the former Pabst plant, and it may behoove his village to keep the Kellar Branch in order to lure a good rail-served business to that location.
However, if Mr. Allen wants to be considered “separate” from Peoria, I hope he’s aware that the Village of Peoria Heights is a co-petitioner with the City of Peoria in the Adverse Discontinuance proceeding against Pioneer Industrial Railway (PIRY) that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) just reopened. If the Heights now wants to retain PIRY as operator of the line, they need to inform the City of Peoria and the STB that they are withdrawing themselves as parties to the petition.