THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008
Letters To Our Editor
City Should Use Resources To Communicate Better
Editor, Journal:
In reading, Alderman Bach's recent letter to the paper, I had the following thoughts. First, I think Alderman Bach understated the modicum of respect due each of our elected officials. The amount of time each of these officials must devote to City business is immense. There are the lengthy bi-weekly meetings of the City Council, the attendance at the various sub-committees of the Council and attendance as a liaison at other meetings. Add to this commitment, the time required to read material and prepare for meetings and the time to talk to and listen to constituents. All of this takes away from the time these men could be spending with their family and friends or pursuing other interests. While I may disagree with them from time to time, each of them has my profound respect and admiration.
Second, one of the benefits of reducing the size of the City council from 14 members to 7 members is that the actions of City officials are more visible today than ever before.
Now, when a City official takes a position or casts a vote, he is more subject to question or criticism; that is, held accountable. The result is a better City government. This benefit will be even greater come the next election day when voters will be more knowledgeable of an elected official's record.
Third, and probably the most important point is that the "success" of the blog reflects a City government that is not altogether forthright and open. My experience, over the years, is that generally, the responses to my questions are not at all timely. When I do get a reply, it is either not responsive to the question or is so narrow, that it begs follow-up after follow-up questions. It seems the goal of the City is not to encourage citizens to ask questions about City operations but just to have them "go away". The blog has not "gone away" and, to this extent, it serves a useful purpose notwithstanding the shortcomings pointed out by Alderman Bach. However, our elected officials have the power and resources to make the blog go away. The City has a website and a public information officer. Use these resources to communicate with the public on a more timely and thorough basis and the blog will have little to talk about. It is up to you whether you wish to meet this challenge.
Ken Balaskovits, Park Ridge
Placing PADS Shelter At St. Mary's Flat Out Wrong
Editor, Journal:
(Ed. Note: The following is an open letter to Park Ridge city officials on the PADS homeless shelter issue):
I hope you will indulge me once again. As I learn more and more about this matter I feel compelled to continue to ask questions.
As FYI, I have blind copied my many neighbors and others on this to keep them informed as well.
On Wednesday, April 17th, Mayor Frimark and I discussed options to the proposed PADS shelter at St. Mary's. This discussion, of course, was in line with the Mayor's stated position that St. Mary's is probably not the best location for a PADS site. The Mayor told me that the Our Lady of Ransom facility on Greenwood would be a better site for a PADS shelter, except that it isn't in Park Ridge.
I stopped the Mayor and asked him a question I have been asking for weeks and to which I have yet to get an answer: all other things being equal, is it so important that there be a shelter in Park Ridge? The Mayor's response was: "Not to me...but it is to some people." Some people? How surprising is it that the neighbors to St. Mary's and much of the citizenry of Park Ridge are upset, critical, anxious, and even plain "anti" this proposed PADS shelter? Let me tell you why you should not be surprised.
* We were not "in the loop" on this decision in any way, shape or form until after this was decided---after far more than a year of contemplation, discussion and planning by PADS, Park Ridge, St. Mary's and, apparently, "some people."
* We have gotten no actual facts or communication of value from PADS aside from their brochures. What we have gathered and what we have learned, we have had to gather and learn on our own.
* We know that while St. Mary's volunteered to be the Park Ridge PADS site their interim Pastor Carrubba hadn't even visited one herself. And up until very recently, neither had more that just a few other members of the PRMA.
* We know that some PRMA members voiced their own concern about "starting slowly" since they were "not sure about what they were getting into" in opening a PADS shelter.
* We know that, when asked, the PRMA could not provide any details or background information about how it was decided that Park Ridge needed a PADS or how it was decided to locate it specifically at St. Mary's.
* We know that the Mayor and our own 5th ward alderman now think that St. Mary's is the wrong place for a PADS shelter, or so they each have said on more than one occasion.
* We know that the majority of the aldermen have gone on record with us as being opposed to the shelter at St. Mary's.
* We know that even many of the members of the PRMA have gone on record as saying that St. Mary's is probably not the best spot for a PADS shelter.
So why are we expected to just go with the flow and say yes - we need a PADS shelter in Park Ridge; and, yes - St. Mary's is exactly the right location for that shelter? In the face of how this was decided, the lack of any real due diligence and the reports that many of our city leaders and members of the PRMA now think St. Mary's is the wrong place for a PADS shelter, how are we expected to react? Two weeks ago a neighbor lamented the fact that we are called "un-Christian," "uncaring" and "unsympathetic" to the plight of the homeless. I recently had someone tell me that they felt "sorry" for me. Well, we are not un-Christian, uncaring or unsympathetic to the plight of the homeless. And, frankly, we don't need anyone to feel sorry for us. What we are is troubled and disturbed at how all of this has unfolded, especially given the facts available. Why are we being branded the "heavies" in this docu-drama?
Who exactly is deciding all of this? "Some people," as the Mayor related to me. And who are these "some people"? Are they Park Ridge residents? Are they our elected officials? Are they PADS representatives?
And who is PADS? Where is PADS? The controversy surrounding this PADS shelter at St. Mary's has now been brewing for weeks without real people from PADS showing up to give us their bonafides. "guests" into our neighborhood.
To forge ahead with the current mistake of placing a PADS shelter at St. Mary's in the face of so many now acknowledging the problems with that location is flat out wrong and an affront to the neighbors and community.
Dan Knight, Park Ridge