The Community Word

PJS political gossips Jennifer Davis and Molly Parker apparently were ticked off because Congressman Ray LaHood was not available when they tried to contact him relative to his interest in replacing the departed Bradley University president David Broski. Media types love to report, “He was not available and did not return our phone calls.” Well hello.

 Others have a life you know besides waiting for the phone to ring from the media. PJS reporter Claire Jellick did the same to Bill O’Brien, who was defeated for Peoria school board. O’Brien was out of town, he reports, when she apparently tried to contact him. So when Jellick wrote about O’Brien’s recount effort, she ended with the same disclaimer. Here’s a suggestion for the media. Just say, “Efforts to contact (name of person) were not successful.” Wouldn’t that be more appropriate?

Bradley President

When former Bradley president David Broski retired the Peoria Journal wrote a real fluff piece on his term. What the piece didn’t include was what people on and off the campus really thought about his leadership or lack of. Some privately said they were glad to see him go. So eager to leave, Broski failed to attend the celebration of the successful career and life on the hilltop of former basketball player and coach, Joe Stowell. Stories continue to circulate about an alleged confrontation between Broski’s secretary and Mrs. Broski, resulting in the transfer of the secretary. Another rumor had Mrs. Broski looking forward to weekends in their home in Michigan rather than staying in Peoria during their tenure at Bradley. Perhaps it would be accurate to say the Broski- Bradley relationship was not a good match regardless of the Journal’s fluff piece.

Now the search is on for a new president. I’m told the Search Committee has reviewed applications and reduced the list for additional consideration. Many are rooting for the personable Jim Erickson who now lives in California after a successful career as a college administrator. I didn’t think he would be interested in leaving the sunny West Coast for Bradley, but apparently he is. Erickson is a graduate of Bradley and has a doctor’s degree in education to go along with his years of administrative experience. Meanwhile, some are supporting Congressman Ray LaHood’s interest. Though he doesn’t carry the educational credentials of other applicants, LaHood is well-known, well-connected and knows how to fund-raise, a definite job requirement in today’s educational environment.

LaHood versus Lyons

With a new date for the primary looming next February, look for more political news on the local scene. And here’s a possible contest heating up the conversations among Republicans and Democrats. As Ray LaHood ponders presidential possibilities at Bradley, son Darin, a former state and federal prosecutor, is considering a run against Kevin Lyons for Peoria County state’s attorney. I’m hearing rumblings that the younger LaHood is very interested in seeking the office held by Lyons for over 20 years. While Lyons reportedly would like a federal bench appointment, he intends to run for re-election again and will tap former state senator George Shadid to be his campaign manager. Meanwhile, LaHood has been talking with Mayor Jim Ardis to be his campaign manager. If all of this becomes fact, it could be one of the most exciting political races since the Richard Carver versus Bruce Brown battle for Peoria mayor years ago. Brown won the primary, but Carver won the general election.

Oops

I goofed in last month’s column when discussing the vote for continuing the Edison program in District 150. Two people opposed continuation of Edison. They were Alicia Butler and Debbie Wolfmeyer. I gave credit for the nay vote to Martha Ross. Wolfmeyer wrote to let us know of the error. We thank her for letting us know.

Another District 150 member, Jim Stowell, also sent an email claiming I was in error when I wrote that board president Dr. David Gorenz flip-flopped on his vote supporting Edison, “unlike,” I said, “Alicia Butler who hadn’t flip-flopped on the Glen Oak site.” Not so says Stowell, and he will prove it when executive committee minutes are released.

While Stowell refused to discuss the Gorenz flip-flop, he wanted to criticize Butler. Not sure why. Stowell, say Butler supporters, worked hard to defeat Butler. He won. She lost. So why the attack by Stowell who wasn’t on the school board when discussions began about locating a new school on Glen Oak Park property? Butler says Stowell is wrong in his assertions. She did participate in a consensus poll to explore the possibility, but never supported an actual vote or movement for the park site. By the way, it’s illegal to vote in executive sessions so no official vote was taken. Personally, I’ve always felt a consensus vote while in executive session was inappropriate if not illegal. Regardless, Stowell might want to focus on the district’s ongoing deficit and how to make up the lost revenue in the settlement with teachers rather than worry about Alicia Butler who leaves the board in July. Let Dr. Gorenz explain his flip-flop.

Anti-business culture?

For as long as I can remember, Peoria’s Zoning Department has had a reputation for being anti-business. Back in the days when I served in administration at Methodist Medical Center the hospital had to jump through hoops and zoning obstacles. Other businessmen frequently moaned and groaned about what many considered an “anti-business culture” at City Hall.

It appears that culture is alive and well today. Just ask councilman Clyde Gulley and businessman Hussien Alsalahi. Alsalshi is owner of the proposed Adams Street Supermarket at 4101-4103 South Adams. That area is sorely underserved for groceries. You would think the city would embrace the proposal and bend over backwards and forward. When was the last time anything new and exciting was developed at that end of the city? Not so. Listen to what the city requires of the Adams Street Supermarket before it can open for business:

· Exterior lighting acceptable to the city - How in the hell do you define “acceptable?”

· Signs and security cameras to prevent loitering. I thought that was the city’s responsibility.

· Private security provided by off-duty City of Peoria police officers. With due respect, what’s wrong with off-duty county officers, or police from other county cities and towns?

· One tree on the west side - One tree in the parking lot? In the middle? On the end? Which end?

· Three evergreen trees in the parking lot and 19 shrubs

Now get this. The man can’t open his supermarket until all of these conditions are met. However, the new Burger King Restaurant on N. University was allowed to open, says Gulley, without completion of landscaping and other requirements. Gulley will watch to see if Burger King has off-duty police officers working to prevent loitering.

Bottom line, the south side is considered a war zone and businessmen who are foolish enough to invest down there are treated differently and that’s too bad. Gulley says the security requirement will cost Alsalashi an estimated $174,000 a year. Anyone else eager to open a business on the city’s south side?

Cheap shots

It’s no secret I’m not a fan of our local newspaper. The tilt to the far left is reason enough with constant columns by liberal journalists like Trudy Rubin, E. J. Dionne, Gene Robinson ad nauseum. Combine that with the barrage of vilifying personal editorials about local leaders and one has justification for canceling a subscription.

A perfect example of the latter was the recent editorial attack on Pete Vonachen. No one is more honest and more community-minded than our local Mr. Baseball. Yet, an editorial appeared attacking Vonachen for providing the leadership for a new baseball field in a deteriorating part of downtown. The focus of the attack was the failure by Pete Vonachen to help develop additional new businesses around O’Brien Field. Huh? Vonachen never claimed the new park would create a local Wrigleyville. Obviously, he hoped, as did other investors, the park would stimulate some new businesses. And then the PJS cartoonist, drawing like an 8th grade art major, headlined his juvenile cartoon, “Field of Schemes.” That was a journalistic cheap shot. The inference was Pete Vonachen had schemed and lied. Between the Civic Center and O’Brien Field, there’s not much downtown. Vonachen should be praised rather than vilified. Sadly, the cheap editorial attacks came shortly after the death of his wife, Donna. Then again, no one ever said the people at the newspaper had any class.

Remember when downtown was going down the toilet, it was the Peoria Journal among the first to leave. How dare they criticize those who invest in the city’s future?

Mayor Jim Ardis did do some criticizing about the local media, namely the newspaper. How did they handle it? They started with another silly column, “Half-empty” and “Half-full.” It was designed as a cheap shot at Mayor Ardis. It failed.

Royster quits

Former District 150 superintendent Kay Royster dropped her discrimination suit against former and current board members Vince Wieland, Aaron Shock, Sean Matheson and Mary Spangler.

While two were quoted in the media that Royster didn’t have a case and that’s why she decided to drop her legal claim, some others believe she had cause for action. No doubt many were relieved despite what they said publicly. Shock had the most to lose. Facing charges of racial discrimination in the middle of a re-election campaign would’ve been devastating for him.

Court hearing

Another legal issue is moving forward. A judge will hold a July 13th hearing regarding the petition seeking the dismissal of City Election Commissioners Mary Harkrader and Camille Gibson. The petition implies incompetence by the two for a variety of decisions. Not included in the petition is the removal of Jeanette Mitzelfelt who was executive director of the election commission. I’ve read the petition and it doesn’t paint a very nice picture of Harkrader and Gibson.

Celebrating the 4th

This is an exciting time of the year as we celebrate the founding of our country. There’ll be parades, picnics, family gatherings and flying flags. It’s a time to remember the great men who penned the Declaration of Independence. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. It’s considered the country’s most cherished symbol of liberty. The Continental Congress adopted it July 4th, 1776. By late that afternoon, copies were printed by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap. Early the next morning the copies were on their way to all thirteen states by horseback.

There was a time when students were required to memorize such historic lines as, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

Among the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence were John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Penn, Samuel and John Adams.

Since then America has celebrated the event. In 1942, fireworks in most cities were canceled due to war blackouts, but in 1945 in Berlin, the American flag was hoisted over the Adolf Hitler Barracks in a formal 4th of July ceremony punctuated by a 48-gun salute.

On the 4th this year, Peoria and East Peoria will join in a gigantic fireworks display along the riverfront. However you celebrate, let us not forget the sacrifice being made by our men and women in the military so that the people in Iraq and Afghanistan may also experience the same “pursuit of Happiness” as Americans have done since 1776.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!