What's on your mind? Speak Out messages are edited first before appearing in print and online.
Local flood group helped lower assessment
Thanks to the Des Plaines Flood Group. I received a letter from the Cook County Board of Review, which lowered my assessed value of my property due to the flood. The flood group had meetings with residents and they had Cook County assessors there to help fill out forms. I did this, attached pictures of the damage and submitted the forms. They made the process so easy. I just want to thank the people who organized this group. Bravo. It goes to show that when a group gets together with a goal, you can really accomplish something. Also, my house is on Eastview. You don't have to live next to the river to join this group. Thanks again.
Park District signs along path are old, faded
The Des Plaines Park Dist. should lay pavement striping on the Lake Park bike path so people stay on the correct side. No one can read the signs that are there now. They are old, faded and only in English.
I know what's up with unions
Once again I will try and get this published in Marty Moylan's personal journal and diary. Name one union that has significantly advanced their industry over the past 25 years? I can name three industries that have been destroyed by unions. The steel industry, the airline industry and drum roll, most recently, the U.S. auto industry. GM loses $82 billion over three years and their UAW employees refuse to make any more concessions. They prefer bankruptcy and a roll of the dice with a politician, but since the unions elected Obama, he is beholden, just like Marty Moylan. I can hear him already stating how badly we need the new police station.
(Ed. Note: Nearly every city of Des Plaines elected official has been saying for years that the city needs a new police station.)
Like to see more independent grocers
Why can't the Des Plaines area have decent food shopping besides the standard stores like Jewel? I would love to see an independent food store come into the empty space on Greenwood Avenue and have low prices plus a staff that treats their customers with respect. I have had it with the major food chains like Jewel who charge high prices and expect you to have a card for their discounts.
Believe site near MP Library is an eyesore
The vacant lot across from the Mt. Prospect parking garage and library is an eyesore. I find it hard to believe the village can't get this picked up. Where are all the "Central Park" activists when you need them? That would be a perfect place for a green area. Have the village trustees dropped the ball on this one? I sure haven't read any plans on this.
Here's suggestion to solve land use problem
I read an interesting article today in the Journal & Topics. The residents of Des Plaines are all up in arms about the Lurvey's proposed improvements because it is ruining the quality of life for the nearby Des Plaines residents. But it seems a casino is OK? Or is it just because it is not in their residential backyard? Sounds a bit hypocritical doesn't it? Maybe we move Lurvey's down to Devon and River road and put the casino up near Dempster and Potter. Problem solved.
Too bad Henry didn't run for office
Sorry to hear "Henry" the Rooster has decided not to run for public office, I think he would have done one heck of a job. That rooster is wise as he knows politics can be a dirty game, and maybe just being a chicken is enough of a job (someone has to do it). Thanks, Henry for your consideration, guess we need to leave politics to the "bird brained" politicians.
(Ed. Note: Maybe Henry decided not to run because he didn't want to ruffle any feathers.)
Residents failed to show up at the polls
Only 27.5% of Des Plaines' registered voters cast ballots for the recent mayoral election. I assume similar turnout, of not less, for the city council elections. Many residents gripe about the performance of Des Plaines government, but when it comes time to do something about it by voting, they don't show up.
Glad to see movie theater will show English language movies
How exciting that the movie theater in downtown Des Plaines will feature English-scripted movies this summer. Our town has finally done something right. Thank you to all that made this happen.
Voters did well in electing Gloria Ludwig clerk
I must congratulate the voters of Des Plaines for electing Gloria Ludwig as our next City Clerk.
Public Works has been without a contract since January '08
The residents of Des Plaines had better start motivating their city council and "new" mayor. It seems that the city council doesn't appreciate the job that public works does when there are floods and snowstorms. Does the city council really think that public works is going to continue long days and seven days a week when there are weather conditions that require a contract? This contract was due in January 2008 and the city council just voted it down again. Residents, who are you going to turn to when the next flood comes this summer - your city council or public works?
Support community by seeing movie downtown
Thank you Ald. Walsten for promoting the use of the downtown Des Plaines Theater to generate business in our downtown area. I remember going to a movie and then walk down to have ice cream at the crowded Sugar Bowl afterwards. The idea to show these movies is great. Now hopefully our residents will show support of this effort. Go see a movie and visit a downtown eatery.
Troubled times call for serious local government
We live in a time that calls for a serious government. We are a small community compared to Chicago, and hope the nonsense stops in Des Plaines. Am glad we have term limits, as what we had in the past was an out of control government. This city lacked control and discipline and hope the new elected officials will serve the people and their interests and not their own egos. This town needs to be cleaned up and fast.
Why did police chief attend victory party?
I would like to know why the chief of police, a city department head who is not a resident of Des Plaines, was at Marty Moylan's headquarters the night of the election. Little bit of a conflict of interest? And why was his sidekick there also?
(Ed. Note: More than one city department head, who lives outside of Des Plaines, attended the event.)
Wants to see townhouse area improved
I agree with the person who wrote into Speak Out about cleaning up the townhomes in the Mannheim/Prospect and Howard/Pine areas.
Appreciates patch job on Third Avenue
Bravo! Thank you for patching and rolling Third Avenue.
Police need to be complimented for solving crimes
I would like to compliment the work of Des Plaines Police Dept. on the recent rash of car burglaries on the south side of Des Plaines. These officers took the crime very seriously and were able, with the help of someone in our community, to find the culprits. They returned the missing items, one of which was my son's wallet, which had a very sentimental value item inside. It belonged to his father, whom had passed away. I hope these kids see this and realize that they weren't just taking someone else's property they were stealing peoples memories as well. Shame on them. And a great big thank you to the Des Plaines Police.
Who cares what he did when he was a teenager?
I've known George Alpogianis through his business for a long time. He's always been a class act to everyone who he has contact with. Who cares what happened when he was a teenager? We need good honest men in our community pick on someone else. He's a class act and a good man.
He could have won if he ran as a Republican
The reason Peter Ryan was defeated for the position of supervisor of Maine Township was because he ran as a Democrat. He should have run as a Republican where he voted 90% of the time on all of the Republican board's issues. Instead, he joined up with Committeeman Laura Murphy and Senator Dan Kotowski.
Des Plaines should consider seceding
Maybe Des Plaines should look into possibly seceding from Cook County also. This way Mayor Daley and our new mayor will not get their way and have Des Plaines and Bensenville become Chicago.
How about a different location for casino
Now that the election is over, let's ask the newly-elected mayors to get together and select a different location for the casino. Keep it away from the schools, put it in one of the industrial areas and near streets that can accommodate the traffic.
(Ed. Note: The proposed casino's location is nowhere near a school.)
She is one of kindest officials in Maine Township
Todd Wessell delivered a volatile, hateful, invalid rant directed toward Laura Murphy who is one of the kindest hard working democratic officials that Maine Township has. I wonder what kind of vendetta Todd Wessell is carrying and I wonder where it stems from.
Casinos bring problems, low paying jobs
For the people who think casinos equal jobs, can you get expectations any lower? Waitstaff and bartenders are not the kind of job opportunities I want for my children. Casinos bring problems.
Looks like most people don't care
One thing is for sure. With the number of voters who turned out for the Des Plaines elections, most people do not seem to care.
Candidate did a lot to help neighborhood
I know the elections are over and the residents have spoken. I was a supporter of Ald. Carla Brookman in the 5th ward. I believe the residents of the 5th ward made a big mistake. I had a problem and I could not get any return phone calls from Carla. There was a rental house on Plainfield Drive with four families living in there. Supposedly the house went into foreclosure and the families were evicted. The house is trashed and I mean trashed, windows broken, cockroaches, etc. I called Dan Winiecki, who was running, just to see what his concerns would be and what he would do. Within three days he had the house red-tagged meaning unlivable and took immediate action. I was also informed that public works would clean the outside and board the windows up. Here we had a person who took action to clean up the ward and acted immediately. After the action he took I changed my opinion on who to vote for. Maybe he was inexperienced in politics but we have to start somewhere. Dan Winiecki came close in winning and I believe he is the only candidate that came that close in winning against Brookman. Now we have Jim Brookman who is suing the city and now 5th ward alderman. Maybe he is experienced but what has been done in the 5th ward for the past 12 years? How can he vote for the interest in the city when he has a problem with the city?
Major lack of parking around library
What is one of the major flaws this town has when it builds something? Parking. There is never enough. Tonight I attempted for a second time to attend an evening program at the downtown Des Plaines Library. I love the library, I think it's one of the nicer things we have in town. Problem: no parking. My program is 1-1/2 hours long. I get there about 1/2-hour prior. All the covered parking spots are full; I'm told I can't use the 2d floor parking area. That pretty much leaves me with parking out in front, which I have no problem with. The 3-hour spaces are full and all that's left are a few 1-hour spaces. Well, if I am computing correctly, I'm looking at about 2 hours from my arrival and the program to park my vehicle. Just where am I supposed to park? Why do we have a $20 million library and not enough parking? I guess I'll start going back to the Mt. Prospect Library where parking isn't an issue. What is this town's problem with parking? Oh and the library meetings that they telecast on channel 17---don't bother wasting the taxpayers time and money with it. No one speaks into the microphones so you can't hear what they're saying anyway. I can't believe we entrust our money to these people. Very sad.
Show compassion for homeless
These people speaking out against the PADS site at St. Mary's Church are totally ignorant. It's so frustrating to see grown adults speaking about people of misfortune in such a terrible way. These people are homeless not criminals. Everyone who is speaking here should be grateful they aren't in a similar situation. And look at the times we are in. Some of these people are homeless because they lost their jobs and their homes were foreclosed. Who knows, this could be someone you know. People really need to have compassion for others, we are all God's people are we need to love one another.
"Red light" traffic fine of $100 too high
A fine equal to the offense? As a neighbor resident to the village of Rosemont, I have often enjoyed many of the fine restaurants and lounges your village has to offer. However, in the course of enjoying one of your fine establishments, I feel my wallet has been robbed by your latest revenue scheme, your "seeing eye" traffic camera at Higgins and River roads. After receiving your $100 "surprise" and my first "moving violation" in years, I immediately went to the website thinking that surely there was a mistake. Unfortunately for me, I see that I did not completely stop before turning "right on red." My second thought was; wow, does a fine of $100 really "fit" the offense? If there were pedestrians in the walkway, perhaps so. But there were none. Would a $25-$50 ticket or a "warning" had I been observed by one of your finest been enough to "change" my behavior? Probably. I can say with certainty that a hundred-buck fine gutlessly posted to my address (probably by an "outsourced" Carol Stream firm managing the delivery and collection of fines) will change my behavior. My behavior change is to go out of my way to not visit the village of Rosemont.
Offers clarifications on stories
Two mistakes in Friday's paper. The headline indicates that Elk Grove lost the battle by throwing in the towel. This, of course, comes from the fight trainer who throws in the towel when his fighter is getting beaten to a pulp and he wants to stop the fight. The headline should have read either Elk Grove wins or O'Hare throws in the towel. The second is the Todd Stroger article. Stroger wants to cut the sales tax 0.25% not 25%. The cut is only 1/4 of one percent. This person wants either Daley's job or the governor's job.
(Ed. Note: The Cook County Board increased the sales tax about a year ago by 1%. Stroger last week proposed reducing that by one-quarter percent. That's where the 25% proposed reduction comes from. Sorry for the confusion.)
People need to toss trash in containers
Thanks go out to the Des Plaines park workers who are out there every day helping keep our parks looking good. You give these guys a hand by tossing your garbage in the designated trashcans. It won't hurt you or your figure to walk a few yards to a container to deposit your trash.
Gave Taliban $43 million before 911
Yes, yes George Bush was a great leader who helped keep our homeland safe. That's why he gave Afghanistan's Taliban $43 million in May of 2001, only three months before Sept 11. That's the same Taliban that helped hide Osama Bin Laden. Great job Bushie.
A law against height of trees?
Is there an ordinance that specifies how tall can a tree be? I know someone who doesn't want to cut the tree because it gives them a good shade. Sorry, the shade is on my side---cut it. On top of that the tree looks ugly.
(Ed. Note: Not that we know of. Trees, like people, grow and there's no law against how tall a person can be.)
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