Karen McDonald reports in “Word on the Web” today:
Apparently, a $500,000 request for the installation of solar panels, which will cover 7.5 percent of the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s energy usage, and other improvements aimed at energy efficiency, was not made on the county or city’s behalf. That said, the county is supporting Lakeview’s request for that project.
I’m happy to hear that, considering two-thirds of the project is already publicly funded. I wish Caterpillar would just back out of the deal and let it die. I would like Cat to build their visitor’s center, but if we can only get it by throwing away nearly $40 million in public money, it’s not worth it. Sorry. And anyone who thinks that a visitors center can in any way be correlated to Cat’s ties to the community is delusional.
Some other interesting info from McDonald’s article:
Aren’t those leaders back in Illinois enough? Why not just talk to them while they’re here?
[County board member Jimmy] Dillon explained Monday that in person face time is key. It’s the whole they don’t come to you, we go to them thing. … Furthermore, Peoria officials met with key projects directors for the legislators, who are the one’s who really make things happen and those people typically don’t make it to Illinois.
The trip cost the county roughly $3,000.
How is “in person face time” different in D. C. than here in Peoria? If Schock is here, and you’re meeting with him, are you not getting “in person face time”? Dillon really didn’t answer the question. Besides, I again express my incredulity that we send a person to Washington to represent us, and then we have to send four representatives to our representative in order to get him to represent us. That whole system is as ridiculous as it is redundant.
But, of course, it gets even more silly, because despite Dillon’s protestations that “in person face time” is so important with our representative, our delegation didn’t actually meet with Schock or Durbin, but rather with their staff. But that’s okay, the article explains, because the “key projects directors … are the one’s who really make things happen.” So what are Schock and Durbin doing, exactly? I mean, call me crazy, but it would seem that a more efficient process would be for Schock and Durbin to meet their constituents here in Peoria, find out their needs, then travel to D. C. and talk to their key projects directors so they could “really make things happen.” Isn’t that the whole idea behind them “representing” us?
And what about that lobbyist? Aren’t we paying someone or some firm $85,000 to be our “representative to our representative” already? Isn’t he supposed to get the “in person face time” with “key projects directors” on our behalf?
The duplication in government is truly staggering.
Lobbyists to lobby for more federal funds when we critize the feds for spending our money on payback to their constituents, mostly those who fund their campaigns with large amounts of dollars, and special interest groups. The county is paying these lobbyists $7500 a month. Lobbyists hiring by the city/county is old hat going back to the Ransburg days.
I voted no on hiring the lobbyists but voted yes in saying I was willing to work with the city. I always have been in favor or working with the city to combine services without much in recent results.
Sorry this is off topic, but I don’t know where else to ask:
Does anyone know what the status of that Main Street Commons development project is?
Didn’t it get the code approvals it needed last summer?
How come it never went before council, or was it just not reported, or did I miss it? Does anyone know if that is still happening? I was really looking forward to some progress on Main Street. Oh well.
Perhaps the developer is still waiting for GAP loan financing from the City and County to be approved?
Schock represents us? I had come to the conclusion that he represented the lunitic fringe of the Republican party.
Re: County asking cities to subsidize animal control in PJStar…
“[County Board member Andrew Rand]also said the city might not have to pay on the subsidy this year, saying there are “certain fixed assets” that could be a part of a negotiation.”
People are assuming the fixed asset is the animal shelter, I wonder if maybe it’s a hole in the ground being referred to.
To John Lucia, what an amazingly original and profound thought. You should have that copyrighted.
Yes John, Aaron represents us. Also I saw Aaron on Saturday, maybe the county owes me $7500 for the lobbyist and $3000 to save them a trip to DC.
Those meetings should have been scheduled here in the state and most likely all could have been done in Peoria.
Cost to meet with Aaron about $1.25 to feed the meter downtown for each board member= $5.00 bucks. less if they car pooled.
Paul, please don’t cloud the issue with reason and facts.
Pfffft,
You are right to put John in his place! That A. Schock represents “the lunitic fringe of the Republican party,” is hardly profound,and certainly NOT original. Most people have known that Schock does a piss-poor job representing his district long before now.
New Voice, who are these “most people”? You can’t possibly be referring to the overwhelming majority of voters? And please note that my name has 3 f’s, not 4.
Pft,
I stand corrected. Schock has managed to move up the ‘political ladder’ with the overwhelming support of the voters in his district. However, don’t make the mistake of correlating his ‘ability’ to get elected with his ability to do the ‘job.’ With the moneyed support he has obtained from area Republicans, he could be a convicted criminal and still get elected to office. When you consider the number of impotent city/county officials that have managed to get elected [and re-elected], i would say that the voters need to take a little time-out, and reevaluate their priorities.
Since when did we begin to presume that the “majority of voters” had any clue as to who the candidates were and what they represented?
In the past, of course, when there wasn’t 320 million people in this country, there was an opportunity to know something about someone… nowadays with the dumbing down of our educational system, media and political rhetoric, it is surprising that anyone knows anything about anyone.
New Voice, I attended this event when Schock was campaigning and they all seemed to know him pretty well.
http://peoriarocks.blogspot.com/2008/10/politics-schock-sets-new-record-for.html
It’s a Brave New World, Charlie…
Diane,
I realize I was going over-the-top [a little] with my earlier [Schock] comments, but………….
Really…don’t you think that anyone who has the clout, MONEY, etc, to attend a campaign-related event for the Schockster isn’t going to KNOW him fairly well? Or he them?
Just for the record….
I do know that Repub or Dem…. that is the way the game is played. I am not just pointing the stick at A-Rod……
Diane: …unless you are a good looking young man working behind the counter at Starbucks.
Really…don’t you think that anyone who has the clout, MONEY, etc, to attend a campaign-related event for the Schockster isn’t going to KNOW him fairly well? Or he them? New Voice, where do you come up with this stuff? The last two Schock fundraisers I was at were $25 and $50 bucks respectively. When was the last time you took in a movie with your kids and bought them popcorn? If I knew who you were I’d call you to join me next time. He really isn’t the two-headed monster you imagine him to be.
“Really…don’t you think that anyone who has the clout, MONEY, etc, to attend a campaign-related event for the Schockster isn’t going to KNOW him fairly well? Or he them?”
I can’t speak specifically to this case, but from my experience no in most cases a lot of the people who attend fundraisers, high dollar or otherwise, don’t know the politician very well at least not on a personal level.
Take time out for a good laugh–visit Peoria Anti-Pundit to read about his visit with VP Biden.
I have been to multiple types of events with Aaron. He is comfortable around all types of people. it’s frustrating to see the comments when I know first hand how hard he works. He is all around the district and can’t win with many of you. You would seem to think that every move is calculated. When he is in the media people complain he is in the spot light, when it’s the media showing him doing a variety of things across the district to the other gambit of he’s not doing anything. It can’t be both ways. I will attest his schedule is exhausting. early mornings to late night.
I believe that like most people that he enjoys some activities better than others, One of which is out doing things with the people he represents. He’s help out with a neighborhood fundraisr, shot baskets for another, spoken to countless groups. He’ll be running late to his next event to accomidate people’s questions.
I have been to multiple schools with him where he talks about nation issues as well as giving information for high school students who are looking for careers to young kids by reading to them or doing other actitivties. He took time to speak with a troubled youth at one school event, to give that youth an opportunity to speak one on one. I have seen terrible comments made about some of these things. The kids don’t care about politics or whether Aaron is a rep. or dem. They know that someone they see on t.v., or who has an “important” job is taking time to spend it with them. I wish more people would take the time to spent with our youth, they wouldn’t be so lost.
To answer the specuation there are those of us across many ages, races, income levels who get to know him on various levels, but like any friendship or other relationship, you get out what you put into it. Whether you agree with the politics or not, No one works harder than Aaron.
I very much disagree with Biden and Obama, but was very glad that the V.P of the US took time to help raise funds and raise awareness of domestic abuse issues in our city today.
This being said, I believe we should hold our elected officials accountable, but griping on the blog changes things very little. contact them, their staff via call, email, make an appointment to talk in person to effect change. Recognize that our officials can only help facilitate change, we need to implement it.
“He really isn’t the two-headed monster you imagine him to be.”
What an almost perfect analogy… Does two headed = two faced?
Sharon is correct- anyone who likes to rewrite history to their liking will always provide good fictional humor.
Precinct,
Who [exactly] is guilty of re-writing history [besides EVERYONE of course…]?
Charlie you need to start working out or get a hobby. It might help help you with that hostility issue.
Diane, 11Bravo and Paul,
I am not attacking Schock personally. He is a politician and is learning to play the ‘game’ like any other politician. He has the baby-kissing down pat I think. I am sure he is ‘hard working’ [a relative term..,.don’t you think?].
You are entitled to support your candidate/political party, but please don’t be so naïve as to think Schock is anything but a “two-headed monster!” He IS a politician. In the end he will not do ANYTHING that will jeopardize his climb up the political ladder or interfere with his personal agenda. Don’t let your infatuation with this ‘kid’ cloud your better judgment.
11Bravo – Please see above.
Paul – Good post.
NV if you refer to the post by Sharon above you will have your answer. The poster has a hard time with stating history as it took place.
I can get the same effect (dealing with my hostility) by drinking alcohol or watching “reality” tv. I prefer to respond authentically to the nonsense I see around me.
I understand why many don’t want to admit the truth… it is quite disconcerting.