Elections, Peoria Journal Star

Copley’s Obama poll question ambiguous

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Senator Barack ObamaThe Journal Star’s headline says, “Voters signal Obama support,” but that’s debatable. Dana Heupel of Copley News Service writes:

In the statewide survey, taken Monday and Tuesday, 59 percent of those polled said they would cast their ballots for the Illinois senator if he were the Democratic candidate for president. Twenty-eight percent said they would not, and 13 percent were unsure.

Yet, right above the article in the paper edition of the PJS, it reprints the actual poll question:

QUESTION: If Obama was the Democratic Party candidate for president in 2008, would you consider voting for him or not?

To “consider” means, “think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision” (New Oxford American Dictionary, emphasis mine). In other words, to say you would “consider voting for” someone is not the same as saying you would actually cast your ballot for that person.

If you were to ask me if I would consider voting for Obama, I would say “yes,” because it depends on who else is running, what his platform is at the time, who his running mate would be, etc. I wouldn’t just dismiss him out of hand. But if you were to ask me whether or not I would likely cast my ballot for him, I would say “no.”

That’s why these polls are so tricky. It’s all in how you ask the question and interpret the results. The headline could just as easily have read “Poll: 28% wouldn’t even consider voting for Obama for President.”

City of Peoria, Traffic

The Future Northmoor Road

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Northmoor Road of the Future

They say a picture paints a thousand words, so here’s what a five-lane road looks like with school children crossing in the middle with the help of a crossing guard. What do you think? Is that what you want Northmoor Road to look like? Would you want your children crossing the street in this picture?

Some would say that it’s no big deal — just put up more traffic lights or speed humps to control the speed of traffic. But as the “Safe Routes to School” website explains (emphasis mine):

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

Hat tip: Beth Akeson

Kellar Branch

Carver costs rise: no article. Trail costs rise: sound the alarm!

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Saturday’s Journal Star features another article on the Kellar Branch titled, “Costs rise as trail remains in limbo.” No mention of how much Carver Lumber’s costs have risen as the rail remains in limbo. Carver Lumber employs 50 people, so one would think their profitability would be of some concern. Nope, instead the story leads off with Bonnie Noble:

Delays in building a hiking and biking trail on the Kellar Branch railroad line through Peoria and Peoria Heights will cost taxpayers more than anticipated, as construction costs increase, Peoria Park District executive director Bonnie Noble said Friday.

On the contrary, I would argue that these delays have saved the taxpayers at least $4 million — the money that hasn’t been spent to tear up a $565,000 rail asset. If costs are going up, that’s all the more reason to start cooperating on a shared rail/trail use for that corridor and taking advantage of Pioneer Railcorp’s generous offer to buy or lease the line and help with trail construction alongside the tracks.

[Mike] Rucker [of Recreational Trail Advocates] said the trail advocates have tried to appeal to reason to work out the difficulties causing the delays. “We want to be nice. Let’s not go out and pick a fight,” he said. “I’m telling them to keep their powder dry,” for now.

Trails add to property values and people like them, he said.

“It’s frustrating to see an asset of this sort being wasted,” Rucker said. But he added, “I think it’s time for the city of Peoria to start playing hardball,” to resolve the delays.

I like how the Recreational Trail Advocates (RTA) see a $565,000 rail line that serves a 50-employee company (and could be used to bring more business and industry jobs into Peoria) as “wasted” since it’s not being torn up and converted to a dedicated trail. I also like how they supposedly “appeal to reason” yet disregard out of hand any attempt to construct a shared rail/trail use of the corridor, which would be the most obvious solution.

But the most laughable line of all is, “I think it’s time for the city of Peoria to start playing hardball.” I’m not sure what more the city can do at this point short of sending a letter to Carver asking them to leave town. The city has already created a hostile business environment for Carver and broken its promises to them. I guess that’s just not “hardball” enough for the RTA, who apparently care more about their own physical fitness than the good-paying jobs of their neighbors.

Advocates for the trail have scheduled a meeting with local officials for an update at 7 p.m. Monday in a meeting room at Independence Village, 1201 W. Northmoor Road. The meeting is open to the public, said Mike Rucker of Recreational Trail Advocates.

Hmmm, I wonder if some rail advocates should show up to this meeting… and maybe some Carver employees, so the RTA can see who they’re trying to put out of a job.

City Council, Illinois American Water

CEO: American Water to be an “aquirer”

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The Houston Chronicle reported yesterday that American Water CEO Donald Correll wants to see his company be an “aquirer.” American Water is the parent company of Illinois American Water, which serves Peoria. American Water’s parent company, RWE AG of Germany, will be spinning off the water works through an initial public offering next year — Correll hopes by the second quarter.

They’re certainly big enough to be an aquirer. American Water serves 18 million people and earned over $2 billion in 2005 according to the article. In contrast, the “biggest publicly traded U.S. water utility is Aqua America Inc., which has over 2.5 million customers and $496.8 million in 2005 revenue.”

[The] small pool of publicly traded U.S. water utilities makes Correll hesitant to talk about American Water’s acquisition strategy.

“We will be a consolidator,” he said. When pressed for more details, he said he feared the industry’s makeup makes it difficult not to “name names” when discussing possible deals.

[…] Looking ahead, Correll said the biggest long-term growth opportunity likely comes from partnerships with municipal systems.

Municipalities and other non-private entities control about 85 percent of the country’s water systems. Few have been willing to sell their systems, so such outsourcing deals offer the best opportunity, Correll said.

Once the IPO is complete and American Water is no longer “foreign-owned,” At-large Councilman Chuck Grayeb will have to drop the xenophobia from his perennial pro-buyout spiel. That’s a shame because, from a purely theatrical standpoint, that was the most dramatic part of his performance.

City Council, City of Peoria

I stand corrected… again

Dang. I tell ya, it would be a lot easier to write these things if I didn’t have to get my facts straight all the time. “The Rest of the Story” is back and had this comment on my last post:

The utility tax/franchise fee would only be placed on water only – no other utility. Currently, Illinois American pays nothing for use of the public right-of-way, however, damages it the most (ie. water leaks, etc.).

Since no one is suggesting a fee to be added to AmerenCILCO bills, I’m afraid I’ll have to retract Van Auken’s award for “most ill-timed revenue proposal” and give it back to the reigning champion, School District 150 (PBC funding). My apologies to Ms. Van Auken.

However, I stand by my previous statement regarding the likelihood of not-for-profits paying this utility tax/franchise fee. “The Rest of the Story” makes a good case:

Approximately 65% of the the properties pay 100% of the real estate tax. This approach would make the non profits particpate in the cost of providing needed services.

I wholeheartedly agree that it makes perfectly logical sense. I just don’t believe it’s going to happen. The three hospitals alone are going to have the council in a pressure cooker on this issue, not to mention all the other charities, churches, foundations, etc.

City Council, City of Peoria

Winner of “Most Ill-Timed Revenue Proposal”: Van Auken’s 5% Utility Tax Idea

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The Journal Star reported Thursday that Second District Councilwoman Barbara Van Auken has an alternative plan to a property tax increase:

Another option for raising revenue comes from Van Auken, who wants to replace the $6-a-month garbage fee with both a 5 percent utility tax and 5 percent franchise fee on water bills.

“My goal in this budget is to get adequate police and fire protection for the 2nd District and to replace the garbage tax with a source that is more fair and equitable,” Van Auken said. “I want to see where my colleagues are on it. The mayor and I have discussed it, and he has spoken favorably of the idea because it spreads the cost throughout the community – not just the residents who pay the garbage tax and not just the residential and commercial, as it is with the property tax.”

I appreciate “outside-the-box” thinking as much as the next guy, but honestly, I can’t think of a worse time to suggest this revenue-raising idea. Surely Van Auken is aware that electricity rates are going up 55% in January. Is proposing the city tack on another 5% a good idea right now?

I’m going to guess that the logic behind this is that, since it would apply to not-for-profits, businesses, and residents, the cost would be spread out more and thus, coupled with the 5% franchise fee on water bills, this whole plan would be cheaper for residents than the current $6 per month garbage fee. Maybe, but I’m not buying it until I see the numbers — with and without not-for-profits included.

Why without not-for-profits? Because we all know the chances of a tax on not-for-profits passing are about 10,000 to 1. Every health-care provider, every church, every fine arts organization, every college and university, and every charity — to name just a few of the institutions affected — will be out in force to put the kibosh on that idea. Of course, there will be exceptions, but I predict if this idea starts being pushed, the push-back will be enormous and the city will back down.

I’ve e-mailed Ms. Van Auken asking for clarification on her plan; when she writes back, I’ll post her response as a follow-up to this post.

Peoria Park District, Peoria Public Schools

Reminder: Keep Dec. 13 open for the big Glen Oak meeting

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As I was reading the Peoria Park District Board’s minutes from their Oct. 18 meeting, it reminded me to mark Dec. 13 on my calendar for the big Glen Oak Park/School discussion:

Trustee Allen requested an upcoming agenda carry a discussion for review of the non-binding Letter of Intent with District #150 on the proposed school in Glen Oak Park. Particularly, what a school site would do to Glen Oak Park Lagoon, Amphitheatre, Tri-Centennial Playground and the Zoo.

Trustee Cummings weighed in on the discussion, noting questions he has concerning cost of new school construction and the site plan, and hearing the arguments of residents.

President Cassidy stated promise made to neighbors about notifying them of any discussions material to the school issue. Perhaps a larger venue will be needed to accommodate the number of attendees. President Cassidy suggested the meeting be held at Glen Oak Primary School
Gymnasium.

TRUSTEE ALLEN MOVED TO HAVE THE DECEMBER 13, 2006 PARK BOARD AGENDA CARRY A DISCUSSION OF THE NON-BINDING AGREEMENT REGARDING THE BUILDING OF A SCHOOL ON OR NEAR GLEN OAK PARK. STAFF WILL NOTIFY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS BY MAIL OF THE MEETING. Motion seconded by Trustee Cummings and carried on
unanimous voice vote. (Results: 5 Ayes; 0 Nays)

All together now: It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

General News

Obama just another partisan politician after all

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Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us — the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of “anything goes.” Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America.

–Barack Obama, 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address

Today we write to urge your attention to one race in particular. Our friend, Todd Stroger, former state representative and alderman is candidate for president of the Cook County Board. Please consider voting for Todd…. Todd is a good progressive Democrat, who will bring those values and sensibilities to the job.

The same can not be said of his opponent, a conservative Republican, who has sided with the NRA and against our police by opposing a ban on the military style assault weapons favored by gangs and drug dealers. He also is a long and avowed opponent of reproductive rights. The County board president has discretion to end reproductive health services, which would deny poor women their basic rights. We’ve come too far for that.

–Barack Obama with Dick Durbin, 2006 endorsement of Cook County Board presidential candidate Todd Stroger

Hat tip: Eric Zorn

Peoria Journal Star, State of Illinois, Voting

Poll results and the future of polls

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According to the Journal Star’s midday update, the latest poll numbers for governor are as follows:

  • Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) — 44%
  • Judy Barr Topinka (R) — 40%
  • Rich Whitney (G) — 7%
  • Undecided — 9%

The margin of error for this poll (provided by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research) is ±4%, so the front runners are in a “statistical dead heat.”

I got to thinking about these polls…. Peoria County Clerk JoAnn Thomas has stated that 1,500 people have already voted in the county (not including the city) — that’s roughly 3% of the total registered voters in the county (approx. 50,000). If that’s the trend statewide, that’s a significant percentage. In contrast, Mason-Dixon polled 625 “likely voters” out of 7.3 million registered voters in Illinois.

So, the question is, how long do you think it will be before we start seeing polls of early voters instead of likely voters? If there are enough early voters to make the sample statistically diverse enough, couldn’t you just see pollsters calling an election before election day even arrives? I think it’s just a matter of time.

Peoria Journal Star

Copley Press to sell Peoria Journal Star

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The Journal Star reports this afternoon that their parent company, Copley Press, is selling all its newspapers in Illinois, which includes the Peoria Journal Star, Galesburg Register-Mail, Springfield’s State Journal-Register, and the Lincoln Courier:

Journal Star publisher John McConnell revealed the news to employees at a 1 p.m. companywide meeting today.

Copley said in a midday release that those papers, along with three in Ohio, will be subject to “possible mergers, sales or other transactions.”

[…] A company spokesman said the company’s decision to sell the Illinois and Ohio properties was affected by both a contraction in the newspaper business and by a looming inheritance tax related to the death of Helen Copley in 2004. Her sole surviving son David is CEO of the company.

[…] The announcement was met with stunned silence by Journal Star employees, many of whom recalled hearing about 11 years ago that the Journal Star, after more than a century of family ownership, was for sale. It was eventually acquired by Copley.

Wow. I don’t know what to say, except that I sincerely hope the employees are treated well.