U.S. Congressional Representative LaHood is taking time away from representing our interests in Washington to try to broker a compromise between several local units of government and concerned citizens, according to the Journal Star today.
LaHood said he attended a meeting Monday where Mayor Jim Ardis and state Sen. George Shadid asked him to organize a future meeting with District 150 officials. At issue is the specific location for the school.
“I’m going to convene a meeting of all the parties to see if we can resolve whatever problems exist with the proposed project,” LaHood said Wednesday from his office in Washington, D.C.
Why? I remember going to a debate between LaHood and his Democratic challenger in Metamora several years ago. At issue for Metamorans at that time was the widening of Route 116. A local farmer got up and wanted to know which candidate was going to do something to stop them from widening the road and taking part of his farmland. Both of the candidates, to their credit, said that was a local issue and not within the scope of the office for which they were running.
How is the Glen Oak School situation different? What compelling reason is there for escalating this to a U.S. Representative? Have we exhausted all options locally? Are we at such an impasse that we need to bring in an arbitrator? At best, this course of action seems premature.
Perhaps Ray the Hoodlum doesn’t want to be embarressed by having his constituents turn down an earmark….?
CJ: On target once again, you sure do have a long memory for a citizen. Interesting to note Rep. LaHood comments ….
LaHood didn’t want to give his personal opinion on where the school should go, instead saying, “In order to be an honest broker on this thing, I really want to hear from the school district.”
Oops, forgot to invite the little people, how about a neighborhood leader, say Marty Palmer, or the Mitchells, etc. ….. or equally as important how about an invitation for one of the targeted property owners who hasn’t sold out yet??? Perish the thought — Be inclusive.
This is a city where all entities need to be included at the table —- that includes the rank and file taxpayer who get to pay for all of this finery whether they want to or not.
Councilman Manning will be there to represent the neighbors and taxpayers; it seems he is adamantly opposed to this site for the school=it would be nice to have some neighborhood representation and homeowners too,but probably not necessary.
No, the participation of us meaningless little mice is never necessary. Oh, except when it comes to paying the bills, or doing the real work, or fighting the wars, or any of that stuff the politicians are too good to dirty their hands with. Whatever happened to “Of the People, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR the People….”??
Mouse: you misunderstood me; I certinly think “we meaningless people” should be involved, I just meant that I think we will be represented at the meeting; I think everyone is invited anyway.