seriously, I prefer the point rather than maplestory power leveling

I agree, when will the Potluck question allow public disscusion on this subject,which has great local AND national interest. I hope this question is not out of bounds. Thanks SUN and all bloggers.

For the record I'll repeat the request to raise question; What was d. dial thinking when he became the frontman for giving illegal aliens driving certificates. Why zero tolerance enforcement actions against legal,taxpayers and a free pass to illegals. Now that you have returned refreshed and ready,can we tackle this serious question?

Ted, thanks for comment, Do any other bloggers,like you top dogs,want to run a question regarding why D. Dial supports and fronts a movement to allow driving certificates for illegal aliens.

Could we please do a potluck question regarding D. Dial letter and support ot DRIVING CERTIFICATES for illegal aliens.Hopefully we can let the people voice that opinion.

Note from Ted, host:

We'll consider that.

How about we discuss the sedentary, lazy, and apparently indifferent majority of the Naperville resident? Let’s query those wealthy, well-educated, and pretentious residents that apparently don’t think voting offers any validation of principal or embodies any real significance or importance.

Let’s see, in 2007 the Naperville Mayor and City Council were elected by approximately 15,000 voters, or 25% of the 59,000 registered. Oh my gosh what a turnout! Was someone giving away free Starbucks coffee at the polls? We all remember which council member received the second most recorded votes don’t we? At least that was an improvement over the 14,000 that voted in 2003. Remember which Councilman was the number one vote recipient?

Let’s see, how about the School Board election, the residents’ opportunity to select the people that control over 50% of their real estate tax dollar? That’s a whole lot of money right? School District 203 in 2005 couldn’t even muster a 15% voter turnout with only 8.000 of 55,000 registered voters able to make their ways to the polls. Ya think that maybe it rained that day? In 2005 School District 204 did significantly better with a whopping 22.9% deciding to participate. Wow!

What impact do ya thing all the recent school issues had on the wonderful, dedicated, and freedom loving 2007 Naperville voter? School District 203 responded with a 25% turnout, but alas, 204 could only muster 10% of the registered voter, that would be 10% that could be bothered to exorcise their franchise.

Yeah, Naperville, the home of the involved and concerned constituency. Does anyone realize that a lot of people died to insure your right to vote? How about if those that chose to not bother voting tell the rest of us just what was so much more important? I’ll be watching.

By the way, yup, that big vote getter was the one and only Dick Furstenau. And to all those voters out there - I wish you a happy and prosperous 2008!

Samantha,

It would be interesting if MS spent $18K to block BB because a certain area did not want to go to MVHS at BB and instead that area gets pulled to WVHS as the district tries to fill a northern location, if it's chosen. I sure hope it was worth the $18K as I would hate to think of that money going to waste.

I suggest a blog on Naperville Citizen of the year and the obvious winner is Mark Spangler.

Ted,
I am one of those newcomers in town and had no idea what Napergate was about when some residents mentioned it while walking their dogs a few days ago. I was afraid to ask as I was completely clueless!

Well anyway thanks to you and your bloggers, I finaly feel like I grasped what Napergate meant to longer term Naperville Residents. I read all the blogs here and on the Napergate blog with extreme interest.

From the title I initially thought it was a radical movement. But after reading what all the ladies had to say who owned homes along Spring Green, I realized it was nothing more than a grass roots organization to protect resident's rights.

I must say I wish we still had this kind of grass roots organization in town. It just seems that the battle being fought right now is being fought by one lonesome council man and he does not seem to have the firepower of those thousands of Napergatians who joined arms to draw the final lines in the sand for commercial development.

But my observation based on reading these blogs, is somehow the city is awakening the dead by picking on Dick Furstenau. He seems to have 3000 old friends in the Napergate Movement and elsewhere who seem upset and ready to go to battle in addition to his so called "30 neighbors." It seems like many tempers are boiling over and that is when people begin joining the battles on the front line.

While it seems the city was trying to shut up Furstenau the complete opposite is happening.
I guess he has a a series of the 3 interviews with the Napervile Sun in which he is going to speak his mind. I can see the Napergate Club soon running ads for him again! I can easily see him being the next Mayor especially if Mayor Pradel decides not to run again. He is by far the most popular council member after the Mayor and the City is making him famous by assaulting him. Sometimes the opposite of what you wish for, actually happens. It seems like the City made the Napergate Man an icon of sorts and they are determined to make Furstneau another icon. And the more the city pounces on DF, the more of an icon he will become. I just wonder if the city realizes the counterproductiveness of their ACTIONS.

I hate to see any battles of this nature and understand the serious consequences on taxpayers. I just would love to see a reconciliation between Mr. Furstenau and the City as quickly as possible. Maybe if the police dept. simply apologized, Dick would drop his lawsuit. We will never know unless the police dept. apologizes! How likely that is, I don't know?

Merry X-Mas to all......hope we get some snow for Christmas......and of course A TRUCE!

Topic Suggestion:

As build-out of the community eventually marches on and re-building internally takes place what sorts of changes in the landscape would you want for the city?
Also, what is happening or has happened in that landscape that you don't like?

I think it would be interesting to hear what direction people would hope the city would go.

Southwest Taxpayer
******************************************************************
I am glad your question was answered and their is no hostility. Only discussion and debate which is healthy! You are a good sport!

I think this post is helping a lot of us understand how all this escalated so easily. If you ask me it seems like DF was a birthchild of Napergate. He obviously had very close ties with the anti-establishment community 2 decades ago as is becoming ever so abundantly clear.

I guess we are learning from Ted's record shattering historical longest post ever that in fact Napergate had 3340 petition signers and supporters. And obviously they felt DF was someone who would make a great City Council Member or they would have not supported him in numerous ads over such a long period of time....were even steadfast in their support of him even after his initial defeat in 1995...they must have really believed in him! This historical data and evidence defies those who claim his base of support are his 30 neighbors who spoke for him on Tuesday before the Council. It is almost laughable when you grasp the historical roots of DF's extreme popularity with Napervillians.

He seems to have continued with Napergate's agenda of fighting alleged corruption and maintaining fiscal responsibility. I think a historical perspective of this conflict was needed to understand city politics past and present. And I must say Ted is doing a wonderful job of piecing all the bits together for us. Thank you, Ted! Without your help most of us would be very CONFUSED!

Ted,

Yes, it was me, Maryann! And yes, your WEB people are right! It is us and not them who are failing. I went back 12 pages and found my letter and in fact I forgot to write my name and e-mail address. I would never post Anonymous! My apologies! I am going to try to insert my name before I write from now on.

I am sure you remember as I was the one having a great time that fled from Road Warrios when Joe appeared. I am hoping he has no interest in the Napergate subject... Maybe he is a newcomer and knows nothing about the subject...wishful thinking on my part...eh! Joes knows EVERYTHING about all SUBJECTS!

Thank you for telling us a little about yourself. I assume you must have seen those Napergate ads because of your roots to the area.

I did see the ad you just posted on another thread. I do agree with Marybeth this is a better way to present it and helps the newcomers comprehend what was going on in that print era before the internet and blogging gained steam a decade later. It was 1000 time better than your initial post of the scriptures of an old ad. It just proves the old adage of a picture is worth a 1000 words! It seems like you showed us a picture and I must say I could immediately see the effectiveness of those ads with the catchy title and sub headings.

Now I really understand what the Huntington Estates resident was talking about. The puzzle is suddenly becoming more clear. It is like you have taken the role of a history teacher and are teaching us very well after you do your RESEARCH. Keep teaching...I love learning!!!

I have to agree with your posting of new blog topics even if it meant posting historical information as the DF lawsuit was getting a little stale and this gives it a little perspective while staying on the periphery of the subject.

Ted's response:

Thanks Maryann, for contributing. I went back and added your name to your previous comment.

Ron,

Thanks. I remember 59 was being widened south of 75th Street from two lanes (oh, the backups) when the big flood hit in '96. I remember driving through White Eagle and the big, truck-sized loads of ruined drywall and other debris from basements piled at the end of every driveway.

Liebert,
No problem at all. My question was answered, and confirms what I know.

Hey Ted:

The speedway at 95th and 59 was put up - I want to say around '98 or '97 (not that long ago) Wheatland Salem church used to be at that corner, before they moved to 95th and Book.

Sounds like you need to hire some web people from our side of the Pacific Ocean. ;)

Maryann (Anonymous)

I think you posted this, because I remember you mentioned GretaWire in the Road Warriors thread. By the way, our Web people tell me they could not recreate the problem with anonymous posts--the assumption is that people are forgetting to fill out the commenter field!

So if you're not Maryann, I apologize.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words, and to answer your questions, I started at The Sun as a reporter in 1998, though I have family who have lived in Naperville since the 1970s. My nieces and nephews attended Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley high schools. I worked for my brother Paul's Naperville-based construction business, Bud's Concrete, and helped build many of the fine homes in and around Naperville during the boomtown years. I could regale you with stories about how I remember when 91st Street used to go through and there was nothing but a Speedway at 95th and Route 59 and nothing but a Shell station at Boughton and Weber, but that would probably bore you. I left The Sun in 2000 for an opportunity at the company's paper in Joliet where I live and spent six years there before coming back here in mid-2006 when another opportunity came along.

TED,
I think the difference between what you and other bloggers are saying regarding the number is very simple. I recall him running and repeating his ads 2 and 3 times each. So if you take XXXXIV which I think is 44 and multilpy it by 2.5 times you get 110. So both sides are correct! If everything could be so simple!

Just out of curiosity Ted when did you move to Naperville and when did you begin working for the Sun. I am very impressed with your moderation of these blogs. You are really doing a GREAT JOB!

I was bloggin on GretaWire.com before I switched to the Sun. She did not have a moderator, no delay, and you could say a circus atmosphere has developed over there.

It just seems the Sun blogging is much more professional, educational, and much more pleasant. It got so bad on that blog that people were discussing household chores and what they ate for breakfast instead of discussing the Sgt. Peterson case. I am so glad I left there and came here. Honestly!!! Keep up the good work. You seem so dedicated! It seems you sometimes update these blogs on your own time when you are suppose to be home resting or sleeping!

Ted,
I think your description of Napergate is the best one I have seen so far. However, I have a minor objection to your characterization of his ads being a "soapbox." His ads were mostly factual, effective and somehow achieved the results he aspired to acheive as can be easily seen by your Huntington Estates blogger.

I recall his ads as being very well laid out with subtitles and sections. Easy to read! Not like the sample you posted which was not easy to read. He may have rambled a bit in that one ad but most of his ads I recall as being very different and easier reading on the eyes as they were very nicely laid out!

Can you post one showing his Title and Subtitles as it appeared in the Sun so the newcomers can get a better feel for the ads and why they were so effective.

Comment from Ted:

Grrr. I've printed out a Napergate ad from microfilm, not the greatest quality but passable, had it scanned as a .jpeg and attempted to post it following the instructions provided to me but ran into problems, apparently with authorization to install Flickr software on this computer. I've asked Web editor for help and hopefully we'll get a Napergate ad up there soon.

Lierbert,

What's posted is all I've been able to uncover. Nothing shows up under SpringGate or any other gate. I even called the retired librarian at home and spoke to her. If there were more ads I'm unable to retrieve them, but I'm inclined to believe whoever said there were 100 was mistaken.

TED,
I don't think Napergate XXXXIV was his last ad. It appears from the Huntington Resident blog just posted, he changed the title to SpringGate and just continued rolling. What other names could he have used besides these 2? Can the libarian track all "GATES" down. I would suspect they are all his.

Many of his ads were published more than once or under different titles. I think that explains the discrepancy between your stated 40 ads and the bloggers previously stated over 100 ads.

I am surprised SWTaxpayer does not see the correlation which goes far beyond legal costs. There are way to many similarities. The Napergate man could have been DF's mentor! He gave him his highest ratings in his ads and constantly promoted him during election time. DF exhibits the Napergate man's relentless pursuit of helping residents break thru the burecarcy of City Hall which is never easy. There is a very eerie similarity! Why is SWTaxpayer having such a difficult time!

Here is my take on NaperGate which was followed by SpringGate:

I live in Pembroke Commons subdivision. A very well known developer friendly attorney, Bill Brestal, was trying to jam a commercial shopping center on the NW corner of Hobson and Naper Blvd. kown as Spring Green. There had never been any commercialization on the North Side of beautiful Hobson and residents of both Huntington Estates and Pembroke Commons Subdivisions seemed to be outraged and losing the battle to City Hall.

We approached the Napergate Man and asked him for help. He organized us working with an activist named Donna Rogers who lived in Pembroke Commons. Suddenly he was running weekly SpringGate full page ads for us at his expense instead of his weekly NaperGate adds. At least a half dozen of them 2 times each. He and Donna Rogers organized huge peaceful rallies involving hundreds on the corner of Hobson and Naper Blvd. They would carry large balloons and huge signs protesting the development! The rallies would be advertized in his ads thus assuring large numbers from throughout Naperville!

One time I recalled the Napergate Man brought over a hundred residents to City Hall to speak. Not all were allowed to speak or maybe there was simply not enough time. Basim Esmail, the Napergate Man, did speak and used his 3 minutes to launch a blistering attack on attorney Bill Brestal who he claimed was controlling all development in Naperville and only cared about the almighty dollar and not about the residents best interest. Bill Brestal and Basim Esmail did have a very heated loud exchange outside of the chambers that Bill Brestal started because he was outraged by Basim's speech stating he did not have the residents best interest at heart and more concerned about his personal wallet.

Anyway to make a long story short, after this SpringGate battle which was very effective, the City Council backed off on putting its first shopping center on beautiful Hobson Rd. Instead 11`homes and a very homey looking day care center were built to the satisfaction of both adjoining subdivisions.

Without the efforts of the Napergate Man, we would have had an ugly shopping center on beautiful Hobson. He apparently had much experience fighting City Hall and knew what he had to do. As the battle progressed other subdivisions along Hobson also joined in the battle to draw a line in the sand as pertaining to commercial development. No other developer has attempted to build a shopping center on Hobson Rd. since that day....and hopefully no one will!

We in Pembroke Commons and Huntington Estates subdivisions will be always indebted to him. He paid for the cost of the battle and all of the ads out of his own pocket. Never asked us for a dime or anything in return!

Eli,

Toward the end of the Napergate ads, our retired librarian Laurie Kagann entered the text of the ads for prosperity. Here's the text from the last Napergate ad, XXXXIV, March 30, 2001, followed by a list of publication dates for other Napergate ads:

Disclaimer: The following is an advertisement paid for by Extra Value Video and does not constitute the opinion of or an endorsement by the Naperville Sun.

***

FIRST: LET'S REVIEW

In our previous two ads, we pointed out how the system works - or doesn't, depending on your point of view - in Naperville.

The Brestal law firm, Dommermuth, Brestal, Cobine, & West, brings most development projects before the city council. Three of the incumbent Councilmen - Macrane, Gallaher and Rosanova - repeatedly vote for most if not all of the requests of developers, including commercial projects in residential neighborhoods like Spring Green and safety horrors like the
104th Street Death Pit. These three incumbent Councilmen seem willing to sacrifice the safety of residents and the property values of homeowners on the altar of developer profits.

Then comes election time. These three incumbent Councilmen print up wonderful ads and brochures and street signs, telling us how they represent resident interests on the Council. Who do you think is paying for those ads and brochures and signs? Did you ever notice how many signs for these incumbent candidates are placed on empty for-sale properties? Who do you think those developers will need to go to for their variances and zoning changes? In the last ad we wrote about the big contribution - a total of $9000 - that these three incumbent Councilmen
accepted from developers after the close of the pre-election disclosure period the last time they ran. Did Sam Macrane, Kevin Gallaher, or John Rosanova ever recuse themselves on the projects brought by their big contributors? Not once.

If they really represented resident interests, the thousands of residents who came to Council meetings or signed petitions against some of these projects, like Spring Green, might have budged them from their pro-developer positions. Nope.

And come election time, our local newspaper endorses these same
developer-biased incumbent Councilmen. Everything is great in Naperville, why change? But the Naperville Sun's commentary editor is Tim West, whose wife Kathy West is the West of Dommermuth, Brestal, Cobine, & West. Whose side of the story does he hear around the kitchen table?

But everything's great in Naperville. That's why we have people
demonstrating outside their recently constructed ramshackle apartments, why "luxury apartments" in Brestal-speak look a lot like enlisted men's housing, why commercial building are being proposed and built in residential neighborhoods. It's because things are going so great in Naperville, and the process is going so well. We can hardly wait for how great in-fill is going to be.

AND NOW: $70,000,000 OF MISSING ROADS?

In 1997, the Traffic Management Advisory Committee (TMAC) voted 4-3 to reduce impact fees by almost 60%. Impact fees on developments offset City costs in improving roads to handle additional traffic the developments bring. The tie-breaking vote on TMAC was cast by Paul Lehman of big developer Macom Corporation. The City Council rejected the reduction, and
developers brought a lawsuit against the City.

State statute mandates the TMAC process for impact fees. Ultimately, rather than risk losing the lawsuit and refunding all impact fees collected since 1987, the Council in 1998 passed a settlement reducing the impact fees per the TMAC decision for five years. This settlement had the effect of transferring $70 million of the costs of new development from developers and new home buyers onto taxpayers who owned existing homes.

The result? Important improvements to alleviate traffic congestion, improve traffic flow and add capacity were dropped as part of the impact fee reduction. If we want these improvements, we'll have to pay $70 million in taxes to get them. Eventually we'll have to pay it, because traffic congestion will get much worse as Sector G and in-fill are completed if we don't do these and other projects.

Who represented the developers in this lawsuit that transferred $70 million of developer costs to taxpayers? Curt Cobine the Cobine of Dommermuth, Brestal, Cobine & West, the same law firm that represents developers supporting these three developer-biased incumbents.

Who owns options on the majority of land in Sector G, the last open land for development in the City? Macom Corporation and Paul Lehman, who cast the tie-breading vote on TMAC to reduce the impact fees on developers, including Macom Corporation.

Now you see why Sector G is so important, and why developers might be in a hurry to build anything, everything they can, before 2003, when new impact fees must be set.

Every one of the Councilmen elected this election will be on the Council that determines those fees, and approves all development in Naperville in the meantime. Do you really want the people setting those fees to be people who accept large contributions from developers?

For questions or comments contact Napergate at 986-6331.

IF NOT THEM, WHO?

Doug Krause, Darlene Senger, Rick Strawbridge, and Patty Mathewson are Napergate's endorsements, in ballot positions 1, 2, 6, 8 on April 3rd.
These four candidates are the true representatives of the
residents. Their agenda is your agenda.

Vote 1-2-6-8, KiSS `M Goodbye and Celebrate!

Vote Krause / Senger / Strawbridge / Mathewson April 3!

1.
Napergate - Gate; Unmasking the man behind the slanderous Napergate ads and the facts about his Extra Value Liquors candidates
04/01/2001
SUN PUBLICATIONS
26

2. Napergate XXXXIV
03/30/2001
SUN PUBLICATIONS
29

3. Napergate XXXXIII
03/23/2001
SUN PUBLICATIONS
16

4. Napergate XXXXII: We're ba-a-a-ack!!
02/23/2001
SUN PUBLICATIONS
21

5.
Pucky Zimmerman / STAFF WRITER
In good company; Chamber of Commerce recognizes top small businesses
05/28/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
21

6. Napergate XXXXI: On behalf of our four endorsed candidates, We thank you for your support!! | Park Director should resign | Good-bye Napergate, Hello Napergate.Com
04/21/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Naperville City Council; Mary Ellingson,; Gary Von Behren; Dave Fiore; Dick Furstenau; Spring Green; building; zoning;

7. Napergate XXXX: Vote 1-2-3-4 for Naperville; Vote "No" on Park District Referendum
04/07/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Naperville City Council; Mary Ellingson; Gary von Behren; Dick Furstenau; Dave Fiore; Naperville Park District;

8. Voters should do their homework on council election
03/28/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
9

After reading the latest chapter of "Napergate," I would hope there couldn't be too many residents who put credence in t


9. Napergate XXXIX: Your petition registers 3340 signatures! | The Council rejects your petition! | They can't reject your votes! Vote 1-2-3-4 for Naperville!
03/24/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Spring Green; Naperville City Council; Michael Roth; Margaret (peg) Price; Mary Ellingson; Gary von Behren; Doug Krause;

10. Napergate XXXVIII: We have a fourth!!! ... David Fiore | The strategy of the opposition | A tale of two referendums
03/10/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

David Fiore; Naperville City Council; Mary Ellingson; Gary von Behren; Dick Furstenau; Willard (Bill Brestal); Spring Gr

11. Napergage XXXVIII: We have a fourth!!! --- David Fiore | The strategy of the opposition | A tale of two referendums
03/10/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Naperville City Council; Naperville Park District; Naper Blvd.; David Fiore; Mary Ellingson, Gary von Behren; Dick Furst

12. Napergate XXXVII: Take 5 minutes to save your neighborhood--Petition to submit the Annexation of Spring Green to Referendum
02/24/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

advertising; Spring Green; Naperville City Council; petitions; Naper Blvd.; Hobson Rd.; Extra Value Liquors; Basim Esmai

13. Napergate XXXVI: Election Forum - tomorrow | Spring Green - The Final Vote | Crucial Election - Feb. 23, 1999
02/10/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Naperville City Council; Spring Green; Hobson Road; Pembroke Commons; Huntington Estates; Mary Ellingson; Gary von Behre

14. Napergate XXXV: Spring Green-- A true nightmare; Council members...Flip flopping; Crucial election for residents
01/27/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Spring Green; Naperville City Council; Hobson Road; Naper Blvd.; Sam Macrane; George Pradel; Willard (Bill) Brestal; Mar

15. Napergate XXXV: Spring Green-- A true nightmare; Council members...Flip flopping; Crucial election for residents
01/27/1999
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Spring Green; Naperville City Council; Hobson Road; Naper Blvd.; Sam Macrane; George Pradel; Willard (Bill) Brestal;

16. Napergate XXXIV: Protest rally in Naperville / City wide rally at Riverwalk (May 16) / Support the Plan Commission / Keep Commercial & High Density projects out of out neighborhoods!!!!
05/13/1998
SUN PUBLICATIONS


Spring Green development; Hobson Road; 75th Street; Naper Blvd.; Amurol site; Moser Lumber; Avalon Station; Timber Creek

17. Napergate XXXIII: A Huge Victory / Brestal Blasted / And now ... S. W. Gate at 75th Street
11/12/1997
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Spring Green development; Hobson Road; Naper Boulevard; 75th Street; Pembroke Commons; Huntington Estates;

18. Napergate XXXII: Spring-Gate; Macrane deceives resident; Does Brestal control certain councilmen
10/22/1997
SUN PUBLICATIONS
11

Spring Green development, Hobson Road and Naper Boulevard; attorney Willard (Bill) Brestal; Naperville Plan Commission;

19. ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE XIX--THE JUDGE'S 2ND ORDER;71 LAWSUITS FILED, LEGAL DEPT. BUDGET
02/25/1994
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A33

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE XIX--THE JUDGE'S 2ND ORDER;71 LAWSUITS FILED, LEGAL DEP

20. ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE XVIII--CONSPIRACY CONFIRMED, CITY CONVICTED, ETC. (EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS)
01/28/1994
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A13

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE XVIII--CONSPIRACY CONFIRMED, CITY CONVICTED, ETC. (EXTR

21. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XVII
12/17/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A17

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XVII ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQ

22. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XVI
11/10/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A17

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XVI ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQU

23. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XV
10/29/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A21

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XV ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQUO

24. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XIV
10/20/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A13

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XIV ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQU

25. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XII
10/15/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A13

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE XII ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQU

26. ADVERTISEMENT: NAPERGATE XI (BASIM ESMIAL/EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS)
10/08/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A11

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: NAPERGATE XI (BASIM ESMIAL/EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS) ADVERTISING SHA

27. ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQURORS--NAPERGATE X
09/24/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A11

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQURORS--NAPERGATE X ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS

28. ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE IX--TENISON SALVAGES CONSTITUTION; AT & T SOLD DOWN THE RIVER; HYPOCRITAL LEA
09/17/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A13

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE IX--TENISON SALVAGES CONSTITUTION; AT & T SOLD DOWN THE

29. ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE VIII
09/03/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A9

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISEMENT: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE VIII ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQ


30. ADVERTISING: QUICKSAND "SYNDROME" EXCERPT FROM "NAPERGATE V" (EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS)
09/01/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A13

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: QUICKSAND "SYNDROME" EXCERPT FROM "NAPERGATE V" (EXTRA VALUE LIQU


31. ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE VII--WE'RE BACK; DISCRETION OR DISCRIMINATION; ETC. (NOTE: V & VI NOT PUBL.)
08/20/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A20

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: NAPERGATE VII--WE'RE BACK; DISCRETION OR DISCRIMINATION; ETC. (NO


32. ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE IV
06/30/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A7

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE IV ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS


33. ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE III
06/11/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A7

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE III ADVERTISING EXTRA VALUE LIQUOR


34. ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS: NAPERGATE II--GOLFGATE: THE DARKER SIDE
06/02/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A7

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS: NAPERGATE II--GOLFGATE: THE DARKER SIDE ADVE


35. ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE: THE BIG COVERUP...
05/19/1993
SUN PUBLICATIONS
A11

(*** See microfilm for text of story ***) ADVERTISING: EXTRA VALUE LIQUORS--NAPERGATE: THE BIG COVERUP... ADVERTISING EX

Ted, are you able to go through the NaperSun archives and scan a couple of these advertisements? The whole fiasco sounds pretty entertaining. I imagine the library has archives of The Sun on microfiche if you guys don't keep archives, where would be a good place to start looking? Do you have any specific dates when the ads were published readily available?

SNT,

As stated above, the similarities are that both Basim Esmail's and Richard Furstenau's suits claim persecution by the city.

In my response to Caroline's question I don't see where I gave any indication that the facts of Esmail's case had anything in common with the facts of Furstenau's case.

Ted,
Other than the possible legal costs, how does that relate to the facts in the Furstenau situation?

Many others here have offered summaries about Napergate, so here's my version. The Furstenau situation recalls Napergate because they both involve federal civil rights suits filed against the city, claiming unfair persecution. A merchant by the name of Basim Esmail owned a liquor store in Naperville, near Baily and Washington, called Extra Value Liquors. He was a loyal advertiser in The Naperville Sun. And he was really tough on underage drinkers. His full-page ads had more than just items on sale; he used to report how many kids had been busted trying to buy beer in his store. In 1992 the city revoked his liquor license, claiming he had given alcohol to a minor and other charges. Esmail sued, saying the then-mayor and liquor commissioner felt slighted by his ads because they accused the city of being lax in enforcing underage drinking laws. Anyway Esmail spent tens of thousands of dollars fighting the case in court, and in 1995 an appellate court ruled in his favor. The city eventually settled with Esmail; I don't know how much it ended up costing the city. During the course of the court battle, in the early 1990s, Esmail started using his full-page ad space in The Naperville Sun as a soapbox, exercising his free-speech rights to criticise those in power. Like many commenters on the blogs today, he did his homework, dug up documents back before information was so readily available on the Internet, and when City Council elections came around he endorsed candidates he felt would help end what he called corruption in the city. Current council members Doug Krause and Darlene Senger were among those he endrosed. Ironically, apparently, so was Richard Furstenau. After the election and 40 or so total Napergate ads, they eventually stopped. They were wildly popular in their day.

Many bloggers in recent weeks have compared this Fursteanu fiasco of present to a Napergate fiasco of the past. I have only been living in Naperville for 4 years so I have no clue what they are talking about. I think Naperville has many new residents due to growth plus a high turn over of residents due to transfers by large corps.

Is there anyway the Sun can get us up to speed on what this Napergate was all about??? How is or was it so similar to DF's case? Did Tim West ever succeed in getting the true cost of this legal battle out of city officials? I remember seeing a blog in which he attempted but failed or got roadblocked! What was that about? It does not seem this DF occured in a vacuum but had roots somewhere!!!

Would a blog about Napergate bring us some knowledge from the long time residents? I must admit I have some curiosity!

THANKS!