Mayor A. George Pradel gave his 17th annual address on the State of the City of Naperville and things, according to him, are in good shape.
Pradel cited things like redevelopment projects, an increase in income from local sales taxes and saving money on road salt and snow plowing, as things that are positive about the city.
"People are attracted to Naperville, because they get the best value for their tax dollar," he said.
The question is how do you feel about the state of the city? What's good? What needs improvement? What's bad?
Share your thoughts.
State of the City... Solid
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Maybe if a few other poster could get a few words in edgewise without being swarmed withe personal attacks and the blog would be more active. How many were chased off? Higgins, Pauly, anon1, me?
Please suggest a topic if you feel the threads are too limited.
What everyone guessed ended up happening with the new police chief announcement.
One one hand the mayors office has finally been liberated of one more staff person who definitely wasn't needed in the first place. The second mistake Doug will probably make is to replace someone who wasn't needed with someone else who won't be needed either. How else will Doug find time to do all the things he does during work time instead of what he is supposed to be doing?
On the other hand it is hard to believe someone like this has actually been promoted. Anyone ever heard of the Peter Principal? As the saying goes, only in Naperville. When they should have spent some money they pinch pennies on this clown yet waste millions on SmartGrid. Just shines a light on how dumb and small minded this group really is.
There have got to be a lot of long faces throughout the police department with this most unfortunate development. Expect a bunch of resignations from the top cops who won't work with him.
Maybe it is at least a good thing to get the police back in the police station. The sooner we get rid of retired police officer Mayor Bumbleweed the better off Naperville will start to be.
The incestuous infiltration of ex-police into all kinds of other government jobs was starting to become alarming and disconcerting from many perspectives, not the least of which is two government pension retirements being accumulated.
Potluck is on life support and in declining health. Most of this can be attributed to the lack of discussion threads that connect with the pulse of the community.
The are several problems:
1. Naperville Citizens need the ability to hold recall elections. I believe that most, or all, of the current crop of Council Members and Mayor would be recalled over their so called smart grid. It adds tens of millions to our debt, saves zero money and monitors every single thing we do in our formerly private homes, Orwell never imagined something this invasive. Oh yeah, forgot, radiates us thousands times per hour per home. Green radiation is harmless if supplied by large Corp campaign donors.
2. Residents were duped and most probably believed they would get Chicago style Wards with term limits. Instead we will get Chicago Wards with Chicago style leaders for life. Be sure to bring you contributions in plain white envelopes when you visit City Hall.
3. The US just passed debt at 100% of GDP aka the financial point of no return for national bankruptcy. The ends justify the means, get ready for more government and more government "sharing" aka Soviet style resource allocation to provide true equality. Rationing, right down to electricity via smart meters.
Perhaps we can have media induced Tevon (Obama's likeness according to our Pres ho threw gas on the fire) riots necessitating a state of emergency, postponed elections and gun roundups to provide safety. Lets see, maybe the trial of the guy with the smashed head will drag out to just before the elections.
Collecting guns from the Suburbs and Countryside will prevent city dwellers from burning and looting the cities. A new spin on disarming the Burbs and Country will eliminate Gangs in the cities, or is it child safety. Pools and trampolines are more dangerous, but where is the outcry against them?
Sun,
I find it troubling that you have just opened up a blog on the purse snatching gang that seems to be bringing the city to its knees.
Looking at past blogs, the city and school topics seem to get the most traffic. I'll bet your felony lane topic dies with less than 10 replies... unless it turns into a discussion about the Poilice Department. BTW, what's going on over there. I know that Dial is retiring and hear that a Deputy is leaving. No news?
Enough on that. With regard to the pension reform article, which should be a new topic IMO, anyone find it a little strange that the Mayor, who is receiving a Police pension, works in an IMRF job, and will get a second pension, is concerned about pension reform? The city manager is in the IMRF pension. The legislators are in a State pension system. Who is guarding the guards? The Daily Herald? The BGA?
No city giveaways to Dwight Yackley! No Bridge over our Main Street! What a terribly bad idea.
This guy is already making a ton of money and charges merchants an arm and a leg for rent. Financing is at all time lows, construction company's are begging for work. No tax subsidies, no sales tax rebates, no property tax abatements, no TIF, no nothing.
If the project can't support itself on it's own merits then it simply shouldn't be built. I don't object to people making a fair profit, but the greed here is just beyond belief.
The city paid how much for this property? The city is selling this property to Dwight Yacklery for how much? Are you kidding me? Clearly we need a law/ordinance that prevents the city from giving away our tax dollars like this.
Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor. Our city council is stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. Enough is enough. We desperately need a new city council.
Politicians and diapers need to be changed often and for the same reason.
If you have a topic you want to discuss why not suggest one?
No news worth a new topic in almost a month?
Really?
So there are no elections, or terrorists, or SCOTUS cases of interest, to bother with?
Really?
Ouch! Great questions. I knew they got a lot of stuff, but all of the subsidies? Really? I wonder, would the Council try to get the referendum thrown off of the ballot in order to save all of us slugs from voting on something we don't understand-like term limits.
Maybe the good citizens of Naperville should put an information referendum on the ballot of the next election and ask these questions:
Should Naperville city council members receive compensation?
If yes, should Naperville city council members receive compensation for meetings they do not attend?
Should Naperville city council members receive a pension?
If yes, should Naperville city council members be allowed to double dip on pensions?
Should Naperville city council members be eligible to participate in benefit programs offered to city employees, such as health insurance?
Should Naperville city council members be provided with expense accounts?
If yes, should the daily per diam rate follow the rates allowed for federal employees?
Should Naperville city council members be reimbursed for travel outside the city of Naperville?
Should Naperville city council members be reimbursed for travel outside the state of Illinois?
Should Naperville city council members be reimbursed for travel outside the continental United States?
Should Naperville city council members be provided with city vehicles?
If no, should Naperville city council members be reimbursed at the business IRS mileage rate or the volunteer mileage rate?
Should Naperville city council members receive a clothing allowance?
Should Naperville city council members be provided with city owned computers?
Should Naperville city council members be provided with city owned cell phones?
Should Naperville city council members be subsidized for cable tv or internet service?
Should Naperville city council members be subsidized for newspaper or magazine subscriptions?
Even more outrageous, you have to ask why people eligible for Medicare are given high-octane health insurance by the taxpayers!
Tweedle Dee, Sir Kenn,etc all qualify, so why the drain on the Naperville citizens?
Even worse, check out the townships --- what is going on there HAS to be criminal!
LC:
Yes to all. I just voted early and saw old DF on the ballot for county board. I lean right of center and would in no way vote for him after his time and antics on the council, and didn't.
With regard to the pensions - What in the heck is going on that a position on the council deserves a pension?? I knew they received benefits and even that is not necessary. Some of them work so they would have benefits and those that are retired would have theirs. DF used to work for Lucent in which my retired father did as well. Believe me, they are well covered on both fronts without the city having to provide for this. My co-worker recently showed me an article from the Herald in which township lobbyists are also eligible for pensions at taxpayer expense (as if we need townships at all with more pensions to pay out).
Just more of the onion that keeps getting peeled back.
PS,
Good points. The hypocracy of the Mayor and Council is unreal. They'll vote to spend our money on crap they like (carrillon, children's museum, smart grid), but never, ever would they consider cutting their pay, their health insurance, or their pensions. They all talk a good game. Even Last-to-know (Furstenau) took the benefits, which cost much more than their salaries. Until they stop the salaries, benefits, and pensions (yes pensions for a part time job) not one of them can say they are doing this for public service-not one.
Agreed and I am aware of your points as well. With the money these politicians are paid and bring into their campaigns, the hardest part is getting the job. If you ask me, our own city council should be non-paid. I mean really? If they stuck to the real business of running the city, they would not be in council meetings and workshops all hours of the evening. And why does it take them so long to implement the wards and term limits that we the voters approved? I want these matters to start going into effect now and not in 2015 (I believe).
As far as politicians go, I heard the other day that Mike Madigan (who really runs this state) has now been in office 42 years (I know he has been in a long time). That is insane and he has run this state into the ground. But he does not apparently have to answer for anything because he is "reclusive" as the media says. This is the media's failure and they should be on his rear end every day to answer for this state's massive problems.
Time to do my taxes.
Another related aspect that needs to be debated is how much any elected office is actually worth in terms of salary and benefits vs. how much is spent by candidates trying to win the office.
For example, US Reps and Senators start at $174K yet they spend tens of millions of dollars on election campaigns. It makes you wonder why anyone in their RIGHT MIND would spend many multiples times how much they would ever actually earn during their time of service. And we are talking about individual spending which sometimes blushes in comparison to the total spending depending upon how many candidates are vying for the same office.
To me a lot of these candidates come across as either crooks who will be getting paid back by graft and other corruption to make all of this worth their while or the spoiled, idle rich who simply will outspend or even deliberately bankrupt their competition in order to buy their way into the history books.
Seems like OMB or state and local election commissions could put a reasonable cap on how much could be spent on campaigning for elected office by any candidate. That will lower the cost of elections, level the playing field among candidates, encourage less wealthy yet possibly better qualified candidates to run, and result in better decisions on when, where, and how campaign funds are spent.
Another unfair advantage had by incumbents is the hoard of surplus cash they can accumulate and hold in their campaign fund. Most people would be shocked to learn how these funds can "legally" be spent and what eventually happens to these funds after a candidate looses an election, doesn't run for reelection, resigns, or even gets thrown out of office. Really shocked.
No question anymore that we need term limits for all at all levels. Our own city council is a good start, but needs to eventually move on to state and federal representatives. In fact, federal senators should only serve 4 years with a max. of two terms. No more 6 year terms. Maybe house reps. should serve 4 years instead of 2 with max. of two terms. It is kind of ridiculous that they are elected and basically have to campaign almost from the get go. So, yes, 4 year terms for everyone with max. of 8 years and NO MORE!!
That is just about the absolute dumbest excuse I've seen posted here so far by the Naperville Sun.
This is primary season and most Republicans are running unopposed. The Dems are fielding candidates. Just like the national media is focused on the GOP primary for President.
A story about the 4 GOP hopefuls in Illinois District 42 is running.
Can you guys PLEASE start using screen names. Everybody can't be "Anonymous."
-The moderator
To: Anonymous replied to comment from Anonymous | March 4, 2012 8:48 AM |
I agree.
I will add that it should be ILLEGAL for an elected politician to change parties during an elected tenure ---- they should have to waitnuntil an election and run for the other party's nomination. Otherwise, theynhave stolen my vote, disenfranchised me, and IMHO violated both my voting and civik rights.
That's the point. They are all terrible-led by the bumbling, sleepy Mayor. Ever notice that at Council meetings he's virtually asleep. The staff that sits around him pokes him and tells him what to say and do.
Anonymous,
If a merchant tries to lure someone in with one offer and then try to switch the buyer to something else once they arrive the law says it is illegal and calls it bait and switch.
The same consumer protection principles should apply to what is said and done by those who run for elected office in order to persuade us to vote for them. A candidate's "campaign" or "platform" should be a legally binding contract with voters as to where a candidate stands on bills and issues and how they will vote, represent us, and conduct themselves once elected. If they say they won't do something or will do something and then turn around and do the opposite of what they promised such action should be just cause for their immediate removal from office.
Voters should not need to wait up to 4 years to throw the lying bum out and certainly should not need to hold their breath wondering how much more damage will be done by someone who lied to us, violated our trust, and stole our votes.
Hey, question/observation:
The Sun says it is not endorsing any candidates, yet it keeps running all of these really fluff stories on only Democrat candidates.
Really, guys --- quite pretending! A rose by any other name! These are de facto endorsements, so you must think your readers are idiots, which is more than a tad insulting.
Nmae one other politician who never voted for a tax increase, or a boondoggle like the carillon or the children's museum?
I did not know about the legalities with tricky Dick or the authority does or does not have. However, it still seems wrong to me, but it is what it is. Thanks for the info on this.
It will also be interesting to see how tricky Dick does in the election. Hopefully we will not dupe enought people so he gets in.
Yes, but now he is running for DuPage County Board. They just don't go away, do they....
Mr 77,
"Why didn't the council suspend him when he was sueing the city ???"
Simply because they couldn't. They have no legal authority to do so and that is probably a really good thing looking at a bigger picture than just DF.
Prince Wherli? Please! There is nothing princely about Wherli other than he is a royal pain in the ass. Grant the rant is far more fitting.
Don't forget Ken (hey! where's Barbie?), Judge Judy, Chirco the Jerko, Bob the Bobblehead, and "Dug-In" Krause.
And of course there is Mayor Bumbleweed himself... thankfully he is now a short timer.
The amazing thing about a democracy is how much incompetence can be consolidated in one place at the same time.
They all need to be voted out. We need town council that will listen to We the people and not to their own personal adjendas.
Tricky Dick gone ---------- Hooray!!! Here is a good one. Why didn't the council suspend him when he was sueing the city ???
How about the Smart Grid system ---------- People don't want and are penalized if they do. How about the bail out of the Carillon ?? And the list goes on and on.
When I moved here 30 years ago this was a great town. Not no more. We have a town council which is nothing but a farce. They should be reprensenting us and not us representing them not to mention TAXES that are out of sight because of an over rated school system and all of the Egos that have to be satisfied.
Hopefully this will be Pradel's last "State of the City" speech.
Pradel is the poster child for the days when Naperville was nothing more than uneducated farmers and blue collar workers.
Hopefully our next mayor will bring some class, dignity, and a higher degree of professionalism to the office.
Thank God Richard Furstenau is finally gone....that alone makes the city solid.
With any luck, we will get rid of him and others that have been there too long. We need serious people in which all they need to do is run the city and say "no" to the fluff and other things they get involved in that is not the city's business. Too many "yes" men.
OH please no Prince Wherli - would that make Chirco the Court Jester? It would be hard to make things worse in Naperville than they are right now, but THAT would certainly do it.
Solid, as in you can't see through it, or lack of transparency. Long live the Republic.
BTW, who is the next Mayor? Prince Wehrli?