Have you heard of the “Streisand Effect?” The website Informy.com provides a brief description of it: “We know now that the more fuss somebody makes about something on the internet, attempting to get it removed, the greater awareness people have of it, making it more popular that it might otherwise have been. It is named after the American singer Barbra Streisand who in 20013 attempted to suppress images of her house in California. Yet, the campaign led to greater publicity, meaning that more people saw the “offending material.”

There it is once more, the “Law of Unintended Consequences.” Those occasions when organizations or individuals exercise knee-jerk reactions, only to have “consequences” which were not considered, and perhaps are worse than the initial situation. Almost 80 years ago, the sociologist Robert K. Merton listed five possible causes of “The Law.” The third of his “causes” was, quite simply, “immediate interests overriding long-term interests.” As one looks at this, there may another way to avoid “The Law.”

Over time, in working with multiple organizations and now, in my work with Richwoods Township, I have seen the value of looking beyond the immediate. Yet, dovetailing this is to provide “facts” so that any planning is not guided by emotion or personal agenda.

Let me provide some examples of what is unfolding in Peoria Heights and Richwoods Township. The Village of Peoria Heights has received a grant from the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission to do corridor planning along some areas of Prospect and War Memorial Drive. Such planning is to consider economics, traffic patterns and residential concerns. Now, in and of itself, that is important for the life of the Village of Peoria Heights, but the encouraging aspect of this planning process is the cross-section of individuals who are involved. On Dec. 16^, a public meeting was held in which the “community” attended and provided excellent discussion. As one who attended, I can say that the Group pulled together to reduce the possibility of the “third cause of unintended consequences” by factually and creatively crafting the future of Peoria Heights. You may see more discussion on the corridor planning process by going to www.peoriaheights.org.

Another example is the planning being done by the Graduates of the 2015 Richwoods Township/Peoria Heights High School Leadership Academy. They are engaged in developing their chosen Academy project which is to develop a community appreciation night and fund-raiser. What these young people are learning in this phase of the Academy is to look beyond the immediate and, in so doing, reduce the possibility of The Law of Unintended Consequences. A synopsis of the 2015 Academy and a discussion of their project may be viewed by going to www.toi.org/richwoodstownship.

We continue to anticipate your visits and experiencing the expected, eventful results.