BY DAVE PARRO
It's interesting that Mayor Tom Weisner's State of the City address this week contained no major announcements. Especially considering that we're heading into election season.
Last year during his address, Weisner announced the winning concept design for his proposed river park and committed $5 million toward its first phase. In his first address to local business leaders after he took office in 2005, he made optimistic promises about what his administration would accomplish.
But his address Wednesday really didn't tell us anything we don't already know. In this case, is no news good news?
Two aldermen - not surprisingly the two running for mayor - would argue that his address reflects the fact that very little of note has happened in Aurora over the past year. "The city was stagnant last year," said Alderman Stephanie Kifowit. Rick Lawrence wondered how the city will pay for what Weisner would call progress.
Other aldermen, however, seem optimistic about the direction of the city.
There are two ways of looking at Weisner's speech. His opponents might see nothing exciting there and conclude that nothing is happening. His supporters might argue that all of the projects and initiatives mentioned - the river park and cleanup of other river parcels, Waubonsee Community College's downtown campus and a decline in violence - show that the Weisner administration is steadily working toward accomplishing long-term goals.
How do you define "progress"?
Weisner's address was very boring. It was a "Thank You" fest at best. Shodeen has done nothing in two years, it is still vacant land. Last I checked Copley Hospital is vacant, the declining crime figures can be attributed to Stover's administration that started the ball rolling. Waubonsee Community College was announced under Stover in addition to the Sewer repair projects. Bally Doyle is new, but the City is paying them to come here. Not much going on in the City in my opinion.
I think that the Shodeen project's standstill makes it difficult to argue that the long term initiatives have been moving forward at a good pace. That development was a centerpiece of the plan, and it appears to me to be stalled. When you contrast it with River Front Plaza, it is stuck in the mud. Maybe I'm missing something because I don't hear a lot of criticism about the lack of progress on the Shodeen development.
The engineer for the River Park project stated at a Council meeting that the first phase budget was approximately 12 Million. The Mayor seems to be 7 million short.
What a disappointment. I’m finally ready to concede to what everybody says about Aurora.
Aurora was a ghetto in the past, still is, and always will be.
We could see the possibilities that the city was touting about year ago and decided to move here. Living here among the large homeless population and the lack of quality businesses and stores has opened our eyes. Downtown Aurora is only for the low income folks and alcoholics.
What a huge mistake it was to move here!
It was $65 a seat to see the Mayor give the State of the City address. How about that for open and honest government! Why not have this address for the general public to see. Why does this have to be tied to the Aurora Economic Development Commission's annual meeting? And held at Piper’s Banquets? Wouldn’t a more appropriate venue for this event be at the Paramount? Or some other hall? Perhaps if more people saw this “relatively unspectacular” address, they would be asking more questions of their elected officials.
CETERA REPLIES:
You have a point. But to be fair, Weisner's decision to host this at a business meeting (and not at an open public gathering) isn't unusual. When I was a reporter covering City Hall, Dave Stover held his annual address during a lunchtime meeting of the Rotary Club. I'm not sure how much they charged people to attend.
While it may not be unusual, let’s remember, it’s a long way from being right!
In today’s age of technology, I wonder if this event was even recorded. I am further astonished that Aurora—-the second largest City in Illinois—-does not have their City Council meetings recorded and available to the public. On the other side of Route 59, they seem to have found a way to make this work: http://www.naperville.il.us/ccinfo.aspx
Why couldn't this have been televised on Public Access? Then all of Aurora could have heard it without paying anything.
Oh silly me....what am I saying? Maybe Tom will set up a pay-per-view instead.
The economy is to blame for much of the delays in projects. Shodeen is another problem and should be made to get back on track to develope the east side of the river. Staying on budget is another issue entirely. Why does the River Park Project have to be so expensive? Can't we make the necessary road repairs downtown and get Waubonsee College's Downtown campus under construction already? We need to resolve the shortage on parking downtown; possibly add a few floors on to existing parking garages and have Waubonsee incorporate parking constructed into their plans for downtown as well. Instead of blaming this Mayor, who has had his own setbacks this past year with a health crisis, yet continues to work hard at making Aurora a better place. Let's remember that there are many factors involved with why things have not moved forward as planned, yet there is growth and improvement here in Aurora in a time of what experts call a recession.
Good points, anonymous. I'm certainly not blaming Mayor Weisner for everything about the Shodeen standstill, I'm just wondering why it is that there has been no discernable progress while River Street Plaza has gone up, has a Jimmy Johns operating in it, people moving in, a restaurant coming, a bar coming, etc. all under the same macroeconomic conditions that allegedly are preventing progress from Shodeen. I guess I'd like to see the City government and the press hold Shodeen's feet to the fire to make progress.
Anonymous on May 3, 2008 6:46 PM - "The economy is to blame for much of the delays in projects"
Funny, I have yet to see my tax bill reduced because of an ailing economy!
So let's be honest here, the City has assimilated budgets the tax estimates for these projects. Any shortfalls in tax revenue or budgeting should be placed squarely on the shoulders of those preparing these. The lack of preparedness to get these projects COMPLETED isn’t something that should be scapegoated onto a “poor economy,” but rather onto the administration for over extending themselves.
To that extent, the Administration, including the Mayor, must be held accountable.
The state of the city address should be on cable access tonight at 6pm. I think it will be replayed during the month.
Could you please tell us what channel this is on or how to find out more information on this? Mike, can you help us out here so those of us who want to watch it ca? Thank you. Also, why is it so hard to post here when what is typed in right in Captcha is right? It takes many times for it to take comments and they says at times, posted to many comments, try again and only have been trying to post one and it will not take.
Comcast channel 10. It will air at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays through May 29, according to the city.
Why no one in local gov't or the media has considered utilizing webcasts or podcasts for such events is rather telling. Given it's quite simple and inexpensive to produce and distribute them, perhaps
it's time give it serious considerations.
An archive of such content could be maintained as well. Campaigns could make effective use of them as well (and many have already incorporated a Web2.0 presence on the web). Elected officials could also use this technology to host virtual town hall meetings, hear from constituents and be far better informed of what issues or concerns are important to those they represent.