I’m a millionaire!! Yes indeed. Well if you use the logic of the museum people I am. After all, they are ready to go with that great museum. They got the money but they are a little short. 1.2 million dollars short but it’s a go!
Using that logic, I am a millionaire! Just short 1.2 million is all.
Now that our city leaders have seen fit to cut of all things, police and police services, I thought it would behoove me to let my readers in on what they may expect down the road in a few years and after more cuts in non vital areas such as, well, police services continue. After all, robberies happen, shootings happen, car jacking happens, fights break out at bars. But nothing beats a great sunset blocked by a brand new hotel shimmering off the twinkling light, sunlight that is, as street lights don’t need to be repaired either.
So, if you pick up your phone and call the police, this is what you might hear….
Hello! You have reached the Peoria Police Emergency line. Crime is important to us. Please listen carefully as the menus have changed.
For English………………Press 1
If you’re Lebanese, hang up an dial 911
If you are a hostage……………Press 2
If you are holding hostages……………Press 3
If you are armed……………….Press 4
If you just robbed a bank or business……….Press 5
If you were just robbed or shot……………..Press 6
If you wish to report a burglary or break in……….Press 7
So, let’s say you are robbed and shot: DINNNNNNG! (Pressing 6)
Hello! You have reached the robbery and shooting victim division. Your crime is important to us.
If you are bleeding………………….Press 1
If you are not bleeding………………Press 2
If you need an ambulance………………….Press 3
If you are about to pass out………Press 4 now
If you would like to request a special officer and know their side business number, you may dial that now…………..
If you are a City Council member and this is an emergency…….Press 0
DINNNNNNNNNNNG (Pressing 0)
Goodbye…
Our City Council decided the other day to make some tough choices so they can balance the budget out. One of those choices was to eliminate at least 17 police officers and more depending on who spins it. The City claims it had no choice and the police union says it had no choice as wage freezes could go on for years.
The truth of the matter is simple. The city and the police just signed a contract last June. This is after the fact that the old contract had been expired for months and months. The police union was frustrated with the city’s slow bargaining or lack there of and of course the city was pissed that the police were holding out as it were. In the meantime, no officers received a raise or a COLA for over a year. This pissed a lot of officers off and never mind that fact that it’s a family affair at the Mayor’s office and firefighter’s union.
So the animosity was there between the two long before the city’s financial woes. Don’t let the press releases shit you. City of Peoria thinks it’s police force is overpaid and the police think our City leaders are full of shit. Crime? What crime. That’s backseat crap now. Pardon the pun because you just might have a backseat robber after your next mall visit.
This all got me to wondering about the Garbage Fee we all pay on our water bills under threat of shut off if we don’t. Funny how the water company a few years back as been seen as Satan and now the same city leaders are sleeping with them. Anyway, this garbage fee that doesn’t go to garbage collection but is supposed to go to public safety or to keeping police officers on the streets is still being taxed. Now, with the down scaling of the police department, are we getting rid of the garbage fee? Why the hell not? It was touted as a temporary tax when Ransburg clan announced it. Laughable. A temporary tax. That’s funny.
If not, then where is that money collected being spent? Anyone? If that money is indeed being used to keep officers on the job, then why not raise it 2 bucks and keep more on the job? It’s an ugly unfair tax that I have felt was jammed down our throats and to slap us all in the face it was named a garbage fee but if it is helping to keep police on the streets, why not up it. It’s not like you are upping the property tax? Of course only residential water users are being taxed the garbage fee, not places like hospitals and businesses that use police services are being taxed. That alone doesn’t seem fair.
So, we are going forward with an under funded museum, probably going to sell bonds to fund a $40 million hotel, paying for an empty Mid-Town Plaza, and with crime all over the city from Wall-Mart on Allen Rd to the shores of Tripoli, we cut back police, reduce snow routes, and nobody can say where is that garbage tax money going?
Reading the forum in the PJS (HERE) Ms. Becky Atkinson wrote a very insightful and truthful letter. She basically hit on the mark in regards to closing one of the high schools, Woodruff in this case. She made mention that some people would put trophy cases and alumni over the fact that our District is just plain old broke. She mentions that as a community, we should all come together and make the best of this situation and do our best to make the new high school at PHS work.
You can read her letter by clicking the link I provided. I want to throw my two cents in because there were some commenter's on the PJS site about her letter critical of the District. Some so shallow all they see is the money being “wasted” by the district on their tax bills. Few seem to remember the Mr. Hinton inherited this mess from past Supers and no one seems to remember the money wasted by and paid to Royster to get rid of her. Where were these loud parents then? I know, they had no children in the schools so they, like most of us, ignored the schools. But when THEIR kid enters the schools, then they want to know everything and they know everything. OK, it's in our interest, all of ours, to know and understand our school district whether we have kids there or not. Home values go as the schools go. So if you own property in Peoria, you pay for the schools and you should care. That is why I am so jaded sometimes when it comes to District 150. I see generation after generation of parents parade up, bitch, get their kids through the schools, and disappear. Next!
I love the way people look at their tax bill and then decide too much money is going to and being wasted by District 150. District 150 has been land locked for years and as home values drop in old neighborhoods and as vacant lots increase, the Districts money goes down. Then you got a slap happy city council who has turned the entire town into TIFs which many last 20 years and many if not all, have failed to produce any growth whatsoever and yet the District receives no monies from TIFs and the taxes go to repaying for the bonds. We are stuck with Mid-Town Plaza as an example and that debt is not being paid by sales tax but now being paid by us, the taxpayers to the tune of what? $14 million?
Ms. Atkinson’s letter is right on the mark. The sad fact is District 150 is broke.
IMO, the County should combine all the school districts into 1 District with 1 Super and 1 board. That savings alone would be millions and then the county wide tax base could be distributed evenly throughout the district for all the schools. Districts like in Dunlap wouldn't be sitting on a million dollar surplus and buying $100,000 trailers to haul band equipment when the neighboring school is broke and using a wagon to haul a trumpet and a tuba. This would be the fairest way to distribute the monies to the schools but it won't fly because the folks in Dunlap and richer little Districts won't have it. Imagine how smooth our schools could run if there was just one board, one super, and one county wide district.
Silly? Actually not. This has been bantered around down in Springfield by our drunk happy reps. The same ones who find $5 million for a museum no one wants. I think it’s actually a great idea and think maybe the state should be divided in no more than 4 super districts. This way, little or even bigger broke districts can share in the state wide tax base. No District would then be considered land locked as far as tax base is concerned thus ending District 150s biggest problem. Well, second biggest problem. The first being and insensitive city council who would rather make sure a developer has a nice place to stay instead of our school children.
Oh, they will tell you that’s a lie but only one council member I know of will tell you the truth and that is Sandberg. The TIFs, the Enterprise Zones have hurt our schools funding. The way our council has paid attention to our schools in the past is liken to the Captain of the Titanic saying; “What feakin Hole? Full speed ahead!”
The single county wide district won’t fly. No body in a smaller wealthier district that runs a surplus, that can buy fancy equipment and weight rooms for sports will want to give that up and even the playing field. It might mean some students from “other” places may be able to attend their school. (If you get my drift) Hell, it might even mean a tax break for some and maybe a tax increase for others. I don’t think any school district should be hoarding tax money, period. Not when so many schools are suffering.
What it might do is even the schools out, relieve some money problems for a lot of schools which means a better education opportunity for all the children and with a county wide district, more board members to represent the public which means less six figured over priced egg heads acting as Generals over their districts which might make them extinct. Pay ONE Super and his/her staff, that’s it.
Boy, I would like to see the bitching at those school board meetings by the parents. BTW, no wheel for the school board. You guys can’t afford it.
Remember the Shoe Carnival? A store that sold shoes in a circus like atmosphere with a few employees standing around a big spin wheel that offered usually meaningless prizes like buy 10 pair get one free or 10% off any purchase over $300. Every once in awhile they would announce over the PA a spin was going to take place or, you got a chance to get a spin on checkout. Well, the place is gone but, I had to wonder what ever happened to that wheel and what it would be like if we had a…..
Council Carnival!!!
It’s in the council chambers with a circus like atmosphere and circus music being piped in. No need to wonder where the clowns are. I can hear it now. The “Big Wheel” is in the middle of the room and after bids and two very costly studies, only cost the city $50,000 installed. I digress…
Each council person takes a turn……… Walks up and gives it a spin…click click click click…click……click…. “A new TIF!” Wow what a stroke of luck. Another council person walks up….click,click,click…..click……..click. “A lighting Grant!” Wonderful, now we can install ornamental lighting on Ellis Street so police have the light at night to see the shooting victims laying on the ground. Yet another council person takes a spin…..click, click,click,click…….click………..click. ahhhh, sorry, Lose two police officer positions and one turn. Oh well, who needs police.
Yes a real carnival type atmosphere to get the city’s business done and yes even guests who appear before the council can take a spin. Let’s have Mr. Joseph step to the big wheel. He’s earn it for spending countless hours showing the council how he can hide the pea under three different coconut shells. Click, click,click,….click….click. “$40 million for Mid-Town Plaza!” Holy cow and don’t worry, we can afford it.
Yes the Council Carnival can be a helpful tool for our city leaders to govern. It’s makes those bullet to the head long dragged out meetings just sail by and it incorporates all the virtues this council has shown, paying no attention to the elephants in the back room. Every circus has elephants they’re just not named “Sewer Overflow”, “Garbage Fee”, and ugliest elephant of them all…”Build the Block”.
At the Council Carnival we are all winners unless of course you happened to be just a plain ordinary schmuck, then you’ll never get a spin. Of course high rollers like Rep. David Leitch will get a spin. Why? Well, the City has pretty much gave away the best piece of real-estate this side of Chicago to Peoria County so they may build a museum. You might recall this “contract” being made and how it will bring millions in dollars to our area. It’s right there on the carnival wheel next to “Free Legal Representation” or just to the left of “Fire a city snow plow driver” .
Mr. Leitch along with 3 other of our fine state reps have found it in their hearts and our wallets, $5 million dollars laying around our already broke state. Amazing and I thought Houdini was good. Go ahead Mr. Leitch, give the good ol wheel a spin! Click click click click….click…….click…………click. “A Get Out of Jail Free Card!” Wow, and you should need it for robbing us taxpayers and giving it to the biggest hole in the ground this side of St. Louis. I hope at the grand opening of the museum, the minimum wage worker spills your gin and tonic all over your pants cause you just pissed on every working and laid off taxpayer’s leg in Peoria.
Meanwhile, we are laying off police, eliminating police jobs to the tune of 29, cutting snow routes, giving developers spins on the wheel and $40 million for a hotel downtown, dreaming up fees to add to the already unfair Garbage Fee, the State can’t pay it’s bills, people going out of work, CAT refuses to build it’s Visitor Center until the economy comes back and our local State Reps stroll in like Oral Roberts will a brief case full of cash for a museum that the museum people said they didn’t need because they can raise the money in a blink of an eye. Well, folks, it’s hard to blink your eye when it’s black and blue and swollen. We taxpayers have been beaten up enough already. Mrs. Ricca, devoted neighborhood and long suffering activist, you can spin the Council Carnival Wheel.
Click click click click…..click…..click……….click. Ohhhh sorry. It says; “No money for neighborhoods” Better luck next time!
….”Yes it’s fun at the good ol Council Carnival where parking has a fee and so does your garbage…”
Here are a few things I ponder about;
*October has been a cold and wet month. Where is our Indian Summer? Isn’t supposed to turn shitty 5 minutes after trick or treaters start out on their rounds?
*Speaking of weather, nice to see Chuck Collins make a new gig at WEEK. His forecasts haven’t improved any though just by going out on this beautiful sunny Saturday which he said would be cloudy and cool with rain at times. Glad he was wrong in this case since this is what, the 3rd sunny day this month?
*The country is in a swirl over H1N1 flu and everyone seems sick. Can’t wait until I get it. But it’s not a problem, no wait, the President just issued a National Emergency for it.
*The world must be tilted or off balance when the two best football teams in the NFL right now are the Denver Broncos and the New Orleans Saints.
*The best comment on a post I have read today was from CJ’s blog and, guess what, another District 150 issue. No wonder the schools have a bad name when one blogger hits them with everything and 40 commenter's throw their 2 cents in. anyway here is the comment: By Sharon Crews… “…..There has always been a major cover-up–don’t want the district to look bad….”
Huh, Too late, you guys make the District look bad every single day of the year. I little late for concern there.
*On the same issue, District 150, I wonder how these same couch quarterbacks will dis the new superintendent when he or she takes over the job. You couldn’t please some people if you hung them with a new rope.
*I ponder why I keep blogging and keep this blog up at times. Met some nice people while doing this but I have also run into some assholes.
*My fun tonight? Waiting online for the new Blackberry 5.0.0.328 software release to hit the web and then loading it on my phone. Now that’s entertainment.
Meanwhile, over on the cesspool of knowledge site, all I got to say is; “Hang in there Jim, I for one appreciate your efforts with the schools.”
Here is a little list of things I’d like the City of Peoria and or other government bodies, including the State adopt. Mainly, this is about Peoria Public Schools. First, I would like to see the new hotel ($40 million) dropped. It is clear the developer can’t get his share so shelve it and shelve the museum idea. We have Lakeview, work with that. Still, the people who, pull the strings don’t think we little people have any idea how a city should be run so neither of those projects will bite the dust. We’ll get them no matter how far down our taxable throats they have to shove them.
Now for my list:
1. If you are a parent with a child in District 150, on public aid, and enrolled in the free lunch program, then you must serve 50 hours of volunteer time with the school district unless your child makes the honor roll. Then you are exempt. Fail to show? Then aid is stopped as is the lunch. Time to take responsibility.
2. If your child is failing or in trouble or both, then you must serve 100 hours in the schools per school year. Failure to do so will result in suspension of your public aid and free lunch program. You and the failing child shall attend after school classes. If you are not on public aid or free lunch, then you will be fined. First offense $100. Second Offense: $200, third will require appearance before a juvenile judge.
3. The father in both cases above must also show for volunteer hours. Before the child can be registered in District 150, the father’s name must be registered if not married or divorced. The Secretary of State will revoke license plates of the father’s car if the father fails to show for his service work and involve himself with his child’s general care and education.
4. If the father fails to show, he shall be fined 50% of the cost for his child to be in school and his wages shall be garnished. Not working? Un-employment benefits will be stopped until payment is received.
5. You will no longer be able to come to any high school for classes if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant, then you will be required to fulfill your classes at a special high school. You forfeit graduating with your class. Failure to graduate means you do not qualify for state aid to pay your hospital bill. If you are determined to be the father of a pregnant high school girl, then you too will have to finish at that high school. You will have to graduate to avoid being assessed the hospital bill for your child. If you are already out of high school, then the total hospital bill becomes your responsibility. No more absentee fathers. Think! before you do.
6. If a student strikes a staff member or is caught with drugs, then that student will be sent to a special education class and the parent will be held responsible for the crime committed. No more passing the buck.
7. Automobiles in Peoria will need to show a Safety sticker on their rear bumper. This safety inspection will make sure your car has working lights, no cracked glass, and an exhaust, and all instrument panels gauges are working. The sticker shall be displayed on the right rear bumper and cost $20 a year. $10 to any service station that wants to be an inspection site (including Sears, Tires Plus etc etc) and $10 to the city. This will help fund the police and make streets safer. You will be required to show a current safety sticker to get a new plate or plate sticker and vise versa.
8. You will have to show a valid insurance card to get either the plate sticker or safety sticker. If the car has been modified from original equipment, then a “Re-Build” sticker must be shown on the right corner of the windshield. Cost: $50 a year. This is for cars that have 20” wheels and mags on them or any modification not from the manufacture including pickup trucks with oversize tires.
9. If you run out of gas and need police assistance because your car is blocking traffic, then you will be ticketed $75 for services rendered under the “Driver Stupidity Act”. You have a gas gauge, use it. If it doesn’t work, then it should have failed the Safety Inspection.
10. If the police are called to your house more times than the Pizza Hut delivery guy to settle family disputes, then you will be charged $200 a visit. Police resources are valuable and because you drink and beat your wife means get help or pay. Can’t pay? Jail time equals $10 a day credit on your fine. Of course meals in jail will cost your $10 a day and a booking fee of $50 shall apply.
Just my wish list and I know, this would go over like a concrete cloud but wouldn’t it be nice if people took responsibility for their actions, for their children, more so, than they seem to do now? At District 150 alone, kids are basically dropped off and forgotten until the 3pm bell. Feed the kid, teach the kid, and sometimes clothe the kid but don’t you dare discipline the kid. Maybe it’s high time to drive home the fact that having a child is forever and after the cuteness wears off and the child is passed to Grandma to raise, some responsibility must be shown. It takes two to have a child. The father often disappears and it seems not being held for his responsibility to the child either. I think it’s time to hit where it hurts. Benefits and pocket books.
