Peoria, Illinois, is taking the New Year in stride, building on past successes and moving forward with new ideas to prompt increased safety, better employment and community growth.
New Decisions from Washington
U.S. Senator and Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin’s decision that states should not impose the death penalty except in cases of national crimes involving terrorism and treason could have far-reaching implications for citizens of Peoria and throughout the state. Durbin says national crimes should be the “compelling exceptions” for not enforcing capital punishment.
Durbin says that although he has always supported the death penalty he believes that capital punishment is unfair and that life in prison is sufficient enough for the state’s criminals. Furthermore, the senator says Americans have been unable to prove justification for the death penalty except in the cases mentioned above and claims the death penalty should be done away with on a national scale.
But Durbin isn’t telling Governor Pat Quinn what to do. The Illinois General Assembly placed a bill on the Governor’s desk in mid-January to abolish the death penalty in the state.
New Tax, Wrong Direction?
The death penalty isn’t the only bill the Governor has considered as of late. Eager to pass new tax legislation before the onset of a new General Assembly, House Democrats in the Illinois Legislature approved a 66 percent income tax hike by a narrow margin of 60-57 to help mitigate a nearly $15 billion record-setting budget deficit. The Senate narrowed the gap even further, passing the bill 30-29. Pat Quinn campaigned on a platform to raise the income tax and now backs a 5 percent increase, two-thirds higher than the current 3 percent tax rate. The rate will drop to four percent at the end of four years. The new tax increase will bring in an additional $7 billion per year; however, the tax hike will include 2 percent limits on spending growth, which if violated, could mean the end of the new tax increase.
The state is already set to borrow nearly $9 billion to pay off overdue bills. Republicans in the House, claiming they were excluded from negotiations on the opposite side of the aisle, were dead set against the plan and failed to support any portion of the bill. The GOP blames Democrats for the state’s current fiscal failures while the opposing party says the problem took root under Republican governorship when the GOP supported budgets that increased state spending. Democrats also argue that Illinois’ tax rates will remain much lower than many other states. The tax increase will prevent government services from becoming impeded, Democrats say, and will help ensure state employees receive their end-of-the-year pay.
The new tax will balance the state’s yearly budget and allow lawmakers to begin repaying some of the state’s debt with the tax hike. While some balk at the idea of borrowing more money to repay current debt, others view the state’s decision as a step in the right direction.
Although the governor has refused to discuss the tax proposal publicly, his aides say he supports it. GOP lawmakers accused Democrats of hurting Illinois families and businesses while businesses summed up the legislation as a job killer.
A New Look
From grocery markets to restaurants to larger health care projects, Peoria is experiencing an upgrade in city development. Despite the state’s looming budget deficit, Peoria has been experiencing a boon in development during 2010 and 2011. Mayor Ardis has cited numerous examples of recent activity and admits that in spite of what he calls a “very difficult economic climate,” several projects were completed within the last year. A jump in construction projects has caused the value of commercial construction permits to increase from $142 million in 2009 to $196 million in 2010.
The number of Peoria restaurants has also received a boost. New locations for McDonald’s and Taco Bell as well as the construction of Einstein Bagels, Panda Express, Cracked Pepper, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Famous Dave’s, 309, Hick’ry Stick and Tilted Kilt have added much-needed variety for those who love to dine out for dinner.
Peoria’s grocery market has enhanced significantly over the past several months. A passel of new stores has sprung up in locations such as Sheridan Village and North Peoria, among them Hy-Vee, North Peoria’s Aldi’s and Fresh Market. Both Kroger’s and Schnuck’s have undergone renovation and remodeling.
Turning the Page in Health Care
While the massive health care bill passed last February has become an anathema for fiscal conservatives in Washington and at home, the construction of OSF’s new Children’s Hospital has initiated an upgrade in Peoria’s health care system that’s been bringing smiles to both old and young. The project, known as the OSF Milestone Project, also features a new data center for the health care facility. Joining OSF in its health care advance, Methodist constructed the new Methodist MedPointe building and added the new entry into Methodist Medical Center from Hamilton.
Schools and churches, among them Bradley University, the Glen Oak and Harrison community learning centers and Grace Presbyterian Church, have also undergone improvements while developer funds strengthened infrastructure along Hamilton Boulevard and Berkley Avenue with the Berkley Avenue Road project at OSF St. Francis Medical Center.
New Beginnings for Old Projects
Construction continues with the $28 million building program for the Peoria Public Library. The McClure Branch located at 315 W. McClure Avenue will close for remodeling at the end of the day, Saturday, February 19th. The refurbished McClure Branch will reopen in the fall pending nearly five months of construction. Improvements to the building will include increased efficiency and the return of some original architectural elements.
Two floors and the parking lot of Peoria Public Library Main Branch are currently closed for construction. The Main Library will house the Local History and Genealogy Department at the beginning of February. The newly constructed North Branch will open this spring, the remainder of the Main Library will open in the summer and McClure Branch and the newly expanded Lincoln Branch will open in the fall of 2011. Lakeview Branch is also slated for remodeling during 2011. For more information regarding open facilities, visit www.peoriapubliclibrary.org.
Looking Forward
Mayor Ardis says he believes the coming year will bring success with massive projects, among them the opening of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria’s cancer center, Family House, the Peoria Public Library Projects, construction at the Riverfront Museum as well as the Caterpillar Visitor’s Center and Riverfront Museum, to name a few.
Upcoming projects soon to be announced include the OSF Simulation and Education Center, the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center at Bradley University, the O’Brien Steel expansion, as well as road projects along Pennsylvania Avenue, Orange Prairie Road and Pioneer Park.