January 2009 Archives

BY DAN CAMPANA

This makes for the trifecta. Each mayoral candidate has now weighed in on reforming campaign finance rules in Aurora. Richard Irvin's camp released this today. Here's what Mayor Tom Weisner and Alderman Stephanie Kifowit had to say over the last week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mr. Christopher Hage
Campaign Spokesperson Irvin for Aurora

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Statement of Christopher Hage, Spokesperson for Aurora Mayoral Candidate Richard Irvin, on Mayor Weisner's Comments Regarding Ethics Reform

BY ROWENA VERGARA

If you saw even a piece of it, that's all that mattered.

Some were delayed on Washington's Metro rail system for hours, and feared that they would miss President Barack Obama's entire speech.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

Barack Obama strode in slowly and seriously before he was announced before the millions who've filled the National Mall.

Almost immediately after Obama's face appeared on monitors, the crowd let out a slow roar that gradually reached to the steps of the Capitol. Shouts of "Obama" erupted from the mall and spilled to the front and both sides.

The crowd is waving American flags that from a far, sparkle beautifully.

As you await more inaugural coverage, this just in from Alderman Stephanie Kifowit's mayoral campaign. The Beacon will have a full story on all the mayoral finance reports.

For Immediate Release: January 20, 2009

Alderman Kifowit Abstains from Donations from Contractors and Developers who do Business with the City of Aurora.

DONNELL COLLINS/FOR THE BEACON NEWS

Passengers crowd a Washington, D.C. Metro station en route to Barack Obama's inauguration early Tuesday morning.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

On Monday, I could've gone to the Capitol or visited the war memorials. I could have walked the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or strolled the National Mall, which I actually haven't done yet since arriving in D.C.

Like I said earlier, I didn't really have a plan for D.C., and I've done some things that were probably very unlike the usual trip to Washington.

But on Martin Luther King Day, I couldn't have spent my afternoon at a better place than on U Street, a historic black community in northwest Washington.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

The scientist was speechless.

Less than 48 hours before Barack Obama would become the nation's 44th president, Congressman Bill Foster stood behind the same podium Obama will take Tuesday to address the nation.

It was an experience even this former Fermilab scientist could not break down.

"This means so much to the country," Foster said sitting in his office in the Longworth building of the House of Representatives.

"You just couldn't imagine how this crowd was going to be," he added.

BY DONNELL COLLINS

Like several passengers on the train, Wilma Taylor of Chicago sports her Obama gear as we head to Washington, D.C. for the inauguraton. Taylor said that when she was a little girl growing up in Arkansas (born in 1953) and picking cotton, she would say, "I will be glad when we get a black president so we can stop picking cotton."

We are currently sitting in Pittsburgh -- about four hours behind the scheduled arrival to D.C. I'm fine with that. I have a rolling office with plenty of great people who have plenty of great stories to tell about what this event means to them. Most of them I can relate to.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

While most of D.C. was still waking up, hundreds braved the cold to get a glimpse of Spike Lee, Martin Luther King III and Tom Brokaw during a live broadcast of "Morning Joe" with Joe Scarborough on MSNBC.

Curious about the lineup, and about a show I've actually never watched, I waited two hours in line with my sister and brother-in-law outside The Dubliner pub north of the Capitol.

While we missed the entire show, we did get in to snap a few photos of the hosts, and a far-away shot of David Gregory, the new host of "Meet the Press."

BY DONNELL COLLINS

I was recently vacationing with my lovely wife off the shores of Florida, visiting the places of "no worries mon" -- unless you live there -- when I decided I would definately like to be in Washington for the inauguration of Barack Obama.

There are 50 countries being represented on this cruise ship and it appears that I am the only one wearing an Obama T-shirt. I don't recall ever seeing a president on a T-shirt let alone me buying one.

Who is this Obama and what does his being elected President mean to me?

BY ROWENA VERGARA

What would an inauguration celebration for Sen. Joe Biden be like without a few words from Sarah Palin?

As a way to recognize Delaware's favorite son, chefs at Delaware-based Nage Restaurant just blocks from The White House, have been hosting a Sunday Biden Brunch all this month. It comes with Delaware-style dishes like chicken in a blanket, and skillets of truffled mac and cheese, bacon and chorizo. And appropriately, a Palin impersonator, as well as "Joe Biden," who walks around with a mask on of the soon-to-be VP.

The manager tells me Biden's staff was here last week, and ABC Nightly News featured Nage as well.

Here's a photo of the happy duo. Do you think she looks like the governor?

BY ROWENA VERGARA

So far, I've made it into D.C. as scheduled. I didn't have to wait for the Metro and didn't get delayed on the ride. I would hate to jinx it, but it's been fairly stress-free in D.C. so far.

And it seems most travelers in town for the inauguration are taking it as it goes, too. Passengers on my flight helped one another with their bags. Others answered strangers' questions about where certain sites were and how to get around.
And I admire what feats people have gone through just to attend the inauguration. And I may be even a tad jealous.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

I've arrived at O'Hare where everything appears to be just fine. Of course, the busiest of gates are those boarding for Washington.

The gate's crowded already an hour before the flight. Like many others, I've taken a seat on the floor. United is doing things a lot differently for flights to Washington and it's very confusing. Some people are assigned to a seating area where it's first come first serve. I waited until my name was called to get my assigned seat.

No one, no matter when you booked, had a seat on the plane prior to check-in. There are several names on a standby list. But overall, they're handling everything in a timely manner. We all just have to listen.

Other than that, it's a peppy crowd aboard Flight 606. Lots of teens led by chaperones.
In about two hours, we'll be in D.C. In what could be a really busy crowd with the free concert at Lincoln Memorial.

BY ROWENA VERGARA

Hi there and thanks for checking in! Usually, I'd be in the newsroom this week, probably chasing a business or local government story. Or like all of you, battling the bitter-cold weather that has clearly extended its stay in the Fox Valley.

But starting today and ending Tuesday, I'll be in our nation's Capitol to witness the swearing-in of our 44th and first African-American president, Barack Obama. I hope to update you on my travels and the people I meet along the way.

When it comes to trips, I'm the type of person who enjoys --- yes, enjoys--- planning an itinerary to make the most of my time. I get excited about going to new places and experiencing things I can't get anywhere else in the country or world. But there's a not-so adventurous side to me, too: I desperately need to know where to go and when, every hour of my trip.

Not on this trip, I told myself.

While I did gather notes for myself on Tripit.com (I highly recommend it), I haven't made any concrete plans for this trip to D.C. Not when 2 to 4 million people plan on making the same trek as myself and my family.

And I've been to a few fairly populated areas, the busiest being Manila, Philippines, an extremely crowded city where you can sit for hours in traffic; Mexico City, and for U.S. cities, I'd say Boston on July 4th was chaotic. As for the presidential inauguration, I'm expecting it to be unlike any other trip I've taken.

So, I've thrown all plans out and am ready to be as flexible as possible. And I will need to be: The Washington transit authority says Inauguration-goers should expect at least an hour wait for the Metro commuter rail.

I'll be blogging every now and then to let you know how it's going. And you can feel free to chime in with your stories, too, by writing us here.

This just in from the Weisner campaign...

This just in ...

For Immediate Release For more information contact:
Thursday, January 15, 2009 Jordan Lystad, 630-264-8150

State Treasurer Alexi Giannuoulias Endorses Incumbent Mayor Tom Weisner

BY DAN CAMPANA

Money either has everything or nothing to do with politics, just ask frontrunners and underdogs.

With the amount being relative to the office being sought -- billions for president, hundreds for alderman -- if you're supposed to win, you probably have some campaign cash to work with. If you behind in the polls, lose or are broke, then money is irrelevant.

Like I said, just ask winners and losers. They'll tell you.

So, what does it mean when the big dog gives the new kid on the block a couple of bucks?

BY DAN CAMPANA

With apologies to other newspapers harping on Roland Burris' "Senate Showdown," The Beacon cornered the market on showdowns months ago when it tagged Aurora's upcoming election Mayoral Showdown 2009.

The petitions are filed. The candidates are set. Let the games begin.

Tuesday marked the first round of campaign fun, with Alderman Richard Irvin trotting out the grand request for four debates between now and April 7.

Irvin's move begs several questions.