The Community Word

While the news media is heavily invested in telling everyone how terrible the economy is supposed to be, Peoria and central Illinois, for the most part, continues to roll merrily along. Caterpillar just announced a huge contract with the government, home sales are up, lines at many restaurants are common, and the medical community totals nearly three quarters of a billion dollars in new construction. Methodist Medical Center is the largest investor in new construction. The hospital will spend an estimated $425 million for what will be virtually a new medical center at the edge of downtown Peoria.

But wait. Les Kenyon, an architect who lives in East Peoria, is apparently seeking to thwart hospital plans. You see Kenyon is part of the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation. This is a small group that comes out of the ground now and then to wave its historic flag to halt or alter any plans for building that Kenyon or someone opposes. Kenyon opposes any changes Methodist would like to make to Hamilton Boulevard. After all, it’s the oldest street in the city. And golly gee whiz it was named after Alexander Hamilton by his son, Billy the Kid Hamilton. Now that’s heavy history.

Good reasons to stop Methodist in its tracks. After all, just because the hospital is one of the community’s largest employers, and just because it was founded to heal the sick and disabled while saving lives, and just because it’s willing to invest close to a half billion dollars in its future, is no reason to let them change the street. Change is only for Presidential candidate Barack Obama, not Methodist Medical Center.

Listen to what Kenyon said in filing his complaint with Mayor Jim Ardis. “If you keep tearing things down, you won’t have any history left.” I might counter with, “If you don’t, you’ll wind up like East St. Louis.”

One might ask Mr. Kenyon where is the old Proctor Hospital? Where are the Palace and Rialto Theaters? Longfellow School? Pabst and Gipps Brewing Companies? Hiram Walkers? Caterpillar’s East Peoria plant? It’s called progress, growth and development. Cities that don’t encourage and support it, wind up with high unemployment and no growth. Cities that do, grow and expand and don’t look back. Hopefully, Peoria will ignore the letter from East Peorian Les Kenyon.

TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY

There have been at least two troubling incidents in recent weeks in Peoria. The first took place during Heritage Days at Holy Family School/Church at Sterling and Gale. A group of young people created terror and havoc at the annual family event that features carnival rides for children. It’s a fun fund-raiser for the school that is bordered by Sterling Avenue and residential neighborhoods. There’s never been any trouble. However, this year adults and children were startled when thugs entered the carnival area and went on a rampage that lasted until police arrived and scattered the trouble-makers. Reportedly, attendees to the Heritage Days event worried about their safety.

Not to be out-done, several groups engaged in the same kind of behavior during Steamboat Days, again in the carnival area along the Riverfront. Once more police arrived to put an end to the antics. This time it required a larger police presence and some pepper balls.

The Peoria Journal sheepishly referred to the gangs as “the crowd.” Funny how the newspaper finds it easy to refer to our men and women serving at Guantanamo Prison as “Gitmo goons,” but become wimps when describing trouble-makers in Peoria.

Heart of Illinois Fair officials privately worry some of these same goons might try to create problems at the Fair’s Midway. I think they’re safe due to the cost of entering the Fairgrounds and increased security. We’ll see.

“A MAN’S GOT TO KNOW HIS LIMITATIONS”

Clint Eastwood, the former Mayor of Carmel, California, and champion of law, order and justice on the movie screen, is one of my heroes. In one of his movie roles as a good cop, Eastwood stands over the bad guy and says, “A man’s got to know his limitations.”

That line comes to mind in reading almost daily about the ongoing dispute between Mayor Jim Ardis and the City Council with the Peoria Public Library Board and its President, Mike McKenzie. I don’t know McKenzie and don’t know about his governmental experience. I can tell, however, that Mr. McKenzie needs a course in high school Civics and it would be helpful if he took along some of his board members and supporters. Whether it’s the library board, the health board, zoning board of appeals, or the zoning commission, members are appointed. That’s the key word…”appointed.”

Based on my experience after years of service on a variety of city and county boards, I know there are appointees who believe they should be the final vote on any and everything. They are not. Final votes rest with “elected” officials, as on the City Council and the County Board. What part of that Mr. McKenzie and his band of book binders don’t understand is beyond me, other than an attitude of arrogance.

I’m not surprised some City Council members are irritated and agitated by the library board. The quotes in the newspaper have been insulting and board members need to be reminded they serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council. That’s not to say they should be muzzled, but neither should elected officials be pressured to rubber stamp recommendations from those who’re appointed. That’s like saying the CEO of a company should do what the mailroom clerk recommends for the delivery of company mail. The Council has a fiduciary responsibility to ask hard hitting and challenging questions. After all, they take the heat when real estate taxes rise, not “appointed” board or commission members. Let’s hope Mr. McKenzie and his board learn their limitations.

LET THE LIES BEGIN

Actually, the lies in the media began long time ago. Now that the liberal media has its candidate for President, the lies and gross exaggerations have predictably increased from national TV networks to newspapers, including our local paper. Here’s a good example:

Peoria Journal, Saturday, June 7, front page headline: “What’s happened to the jobs?”

AP writer Jeannine Aversa said, “..the nation’s unemployment rate zoomed to 5.5 percent…” Zoomed? From a his toric low of 5% to 5.5%? That’s “zoomed?” A half percentage point to a still historic low unemployment rate of less than 6%. In the 1970’s unemployment was nearly 7%. By the way Jimmy Carter (ahem, Democrat) was President. During George Bush’s Presidency unemployment has been as low as 4.5% and more jobs were created than at anytime in the history of the U.S. Now that’s “zoomed.”

While we will continue to hear negative stories about the economy, here are some positive news facts to take to the bank of public opinion:

Per capita economic output in 1982 was $22,400; last year it was $37,807

U.S factories produced more last year than in any previous year in history

The Dow Jones began the 1980’s at 825. Despite declines from a high of over 13,000 last year, it remains around 12,000

In 1989, the median family net worth was $69,000. In 2004, it was a fantastic $93,000.

Patrick Toomey, President of the Club for Growth and a Harvard graduate, is among many who praise President Bush for pushing successfully for tax cuts.

Toomey says, “It’s simply a matter of fact that the tax cuts shifted the tax burden substantially to higher income earners and took millions of lower income workers off the tax rolls altogether. The economy took off and ran for at least five years and the federal deficit shrank dramatically.”

As someone once said, “Liberals are entitled to their own opinions, but not entitled to their own facts.”

SHORTER DAYS ATTACKED

Teachers, parents, and taxpayers are among those who are critical of the District 150 school board’s decision to shorten one day out of the week next year. Students will be released at 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday. One of the most out-spoken to the board-approved plan is former teacher, coach and union representative, Terry Knapp. Knapp appeared on “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” on 1350 WOAM and explained the reasons for his opposition. He pointed out that a shorter student work day flies in the face of declining test scores and failing grades. “Students need to be in the classroom longer.” He added, the new proposal doesn’t save money which was the original reason for discussing a shorter school day. Knapp threatens legal action if the school board doesn’t rescind its decision. He cites a part of the contract between the teachers’ union and the school district that stipulates such things as changing the school day must be agreed to by both parties. According to Article XII, “Any recommendation that leads to changes in terms or conditions of employment will result in interim bargaining.”

COMMUNITY TALK

Did you notice the staff appointment made by Democrat Colleen Callahan in her race for the seat currently held by Republican Ray LaHood? Terry Towery is her newly hired press secretary. Surprise! He used to work for the Peoria Journal. Can you imagine a Democrat working for our local newspaper? Question is, “Are there any Republicans on staff there?” Perhaps that explains the puff piece the newspaper did for Callahan on the front page of the Saturday, June 21, edition. Reporter Karen McDonald claims Callahan had “generated excitement in (her) race…” against Republican Aaron Shock. Apparently, that “excitement” has failed to generate dollars. Not counting the $50,000 she loaned her campaign, Callahan has raised $57,826 while Shock, has generated his own “excitement,” raising $1.1 million.

Turning to other exciting news, best wishes to WEEK-TV news director Jim Garrott. Garrott ends his second tour of duty at Channel 25 to begin work at the American Red Cross.

Have you noticed how local TV and radio people escape the news media business to earn a real living? Just kidding. Amy Paul left WMBD-TV for Saint Francis and years ago Duane (Wallace) Funk did the same for a new job at Methodist Medical Center. Others in the electronic and print media have moved to the fertile fields at Caterpillar.

While the media remembered one of its heroes, Tim Russert, Peoria and central Illinois remembered a true hero, the late General Wayne A. Downing. A special ceremony was held in Peoria Heights honoring General Downing’s life and service to America. With due respect to the NBC newsman, Downing’s achievements were far more spectacular and significant. It was a honor for me to meet and know General Downing prior to and after he spoke at the dedication of the World I and II Veterans Memorial at the Peoria County Courthouse. A review of his service record has always left me in awe.

CELEBRATING THE FOUNDING OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY

Within a few days of the distribution of this newspaper, flags will fly, bands will play, speeches will be delivered and songs will be sung in patriotic remembrance of the founding of America. God, how proud I am to be an American. We are world leaders in giving, in service, in freedom, in medicine, and in opportunity. While the media wrings its hands and worries about world opinion, our shores and borders are being over-run by thousands who want to get into this country. We must be doing something right.

As a student of history, I’ve loved reading the words of people like Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Ben Franklin, and others. This country will never see leaders like these ever again.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Lobbyists have more offices in Washington than the President. You see, the President only tells Congress what they should do. Lobbyists tell ‘em what they will do.” – Will Rogers