What's on your mind? Speak Out messages are edited first before appearing in print and online.
Arredia's efforts came from his heart
Oh knock it off about Arredia. Then man did a lot of good for Des Plaines. My husband and I were driving down River Road and I couldn't help seeing how good the east side of River Road looks. Tony worked very hard for Des Plaines for little money. It came from his heart. Give credit where credit is due. How much money do you actually think he's going to make working for Maryville? God speed, Tony Arredia.
Does the heart good to reject pay raises
I hope all the whiners are congratulating Jason Bajor and the rest of the administration for passing up their increases. I'm really proud of these people. We live in a greedy society and it does the heart good to such people leading our town.
Hope we all don't get stuck with Olympics bill
Duh, the reason for city stickers is revenue. You should live with Mayor Daley, he gouges you. Look what's happening with the Olympics. I just hope we don't get stuck with the bill in this economy.
Noticed some improvements in Des Plaines
I have noticed a lot of cleanup in Des Plaines in the past two months. Take off your blinders, people, and open up your eyes. If you can't see it I'll be happy to give you a tour. Oh, and the city that is the best place to raise kids? Does that include some of the apartment complexes in Mt. Prospect? Where is the parenting? Last time I checked, nowhere.
Didn't notice anything about pizza contest
When was this pizza contest? Was it free? Will it happen again next year? I never heard anything about it.
(Ed Note: Oh yes, it was held last winter. Hundreds of people attended and it was quite successful. We should have it again next February or March.)
Consider levee along Methodist Campground
Has anyone investigated the cost of building a levee to ward off the river from flooding the Methodist Campgrounds? Seems better than raising all those structures.
(Ed. Note: It probably has never been seriously considered because all it will do is push water faster downstream.)
Mayor made sure pizza place stays out
And so it starts. New Prospect Hts. Mayor Vole has killed the deal to bring in a pizza place to Rte. 83 and Palatine. Worried about traffic noise. What's next, shutting down Palatine Road? Do you think her motive was because she lives next door? No one seems to talk about that. Oh well, there goes some tax monies. Maybe that old vacant building will remain for the next five years.
Henry now has his own cartoon gig
Have you seen that comic strip in the Sunday newspaper? Henry is the star in one of the cartoons from time to time. So Henry has a job. I wonder what the going rate for a cartoon character is these days?
Whatever happened to old O'Hare runway?
O'Hare is now using a new runway designated 9L/27R. What did they do with the old runway 9L/27R? This new runway is closer to Des Plaines.
Looking for story on former Mayor Arredia
Why hasn't the Journal printed the news about the ex-mayor Tony Arredia's new position as Maryville director of government relations? I may have missed the article but I looked through two editions and not one word. What a nice position after bringing the casino to Des Plaines. I thought all the churches were against the casino. Well, maybe I was misinformed. But I think Maryville could have made a better choice than a casino advocate. Sincerely, Black Jack.
(Ed. Note: See page 2A of the May 6th Des Plaines Journal).
City resources used to clean up property
Oh my goodness, Des Plaines actually cut your grass? Are you one of those who complain about everything and let your lawn turn into a jungle? I want to help the city and be the ticket person. You not only make your property look like trash, you make the community look bad. While we're on employees, it takes four Metro Water Reclamation employees to lift a five-gallon bucket from the sewer. Talk about overkill. Let's start with the county instead of Des Plaines workers. It probably took that many people to clean up your property.
Arredia wasted no time getting himself a new job
Tony Arredia sure wasted no time making sure he had a "comfy" pad after being mayor. In a horrible economy and with a non-for-profit, he made sure to secure a job for himself.
What are these politicians doing to help Willsons?
I would like to know what Durbin and Burris, our Illinois senators, and Schakowsky, our Illinois representative, are doing to get Willson freed out of that Moroccan prison. They are not making any public statements on their activities. It would be so easy with the large staff and budget they each have. All they need to do is send a monthly e-mail to all local newspapers on this. In it could be listed their monthly activities in this regard. I do not think they are representing this community well. I doubt they ever read the local papers. At least they could have one of their local staff keep them apprised of issues in various areas of Illinois. But then I forget, national senators and representatives are in office to ensure they are reelected. Please remember how they are helping Des Plaines in this matter when the next election comes. I will remind you.
(Ed. Note: We are aware that the Willsons credited Schakowsky and U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk's offices with helping James Willson get freed late last week.)
Maybe ice cream complainer works at night
Maybe the daytime napper complaining about ice cream trucks works nights.
Happy new Ald. Brookman knows value of abstaining
I am so glad to learn that 5th ward Alderman Jim Brookman knows the meaning/process of abstaining from a city council vote due to a possible conflict of interest.
There's much, much more to professional police work
This response is for the person who wrote the comments titled, "Police tied up traffic too long!" On June 5, 2009, there was a terrible traffic accident that involved a vehicle striking a pedestrian, which resulted in a death. I feel for all the families involved in the incident. I couldn't believe that someone who was inconvenienced for 2-1/2 hours because police tied up traffic made some really careless and self-centered comments. Because all citizens believe they know police work because they see it on TV, let me set some things straight. When police investigate a potential crime and a potential lawsuit, they have to spend maybe two to three hours (if not longer) to make sure they do everything right and investigate it thoroughly. Why? Because families of the offender and the victim (including lawyers) spend years tearing apart that investigation. That is why the scene can't be cleared in an hour because there is a lot of investigative work involved, not just photos and it's good to go. Do officers get paid extra? Someone did, but not everyone. Have you ever told someone's family that their loved one was killed? Officers deserve extra pay for that and the investigative work. Does it take that long? Yes and it could even be longer. Would you want the police to short change your investigation because someone couldn't get around in traffic? There's a big world out there. You are not the only one. The problem with police work today is that the police have to cater to politicians and citizens. Officers understand that sometimes, but it's out of control. Your comments were uneducated about police work and extremely in poor taste to everyone involved in that tragic incident. Maybe you should leave earlier, park your car and walk, ride a bike or just plan ahead. To all the police officers out there, keep working hard and be safe.
Thinks choice for chief in Park Ridge was great
Frank K. is a great choice for Park Ridge Police chief. He lives in town and has the background to take the police department to the next level. Tom S., the acting DC, also does a great job and the pair working together will only be a plus as we move forward. Great job by city manager and all involved here.
Why doesn't she demand reduction in plane noise?
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has her own agenda. If she was really concerned about the people in her district then she would be knocking on Daley's door asking for a reduction in the amount of planes that fly over all of the suburbs. We also have Sen. Dick Durbin who, too, has sided with Daley and O'Hare expansion.
In awe of recent dance recital
I was in awe and amazed at how beautifully and professionally the Des Plaines Park District School of Dance recital was performed this past weekend. The teachers (all professionally trained) did an absolutely wonderful job. I could've watched it a million times. Thank you, Miss Nancy. You're the best.
Happy to see section of Touhy Avenue now smooth
How wonderful Touhy Avenue under the I-90 overpass is now. I could drive all day up and down Touhy between Lee and Wolf now that the state finally repaved that stretch, arguably the worst in the Northwest suburbs. Nice and smooth, baby.
Not in favor of using tax money to raise cottages
I do hope that the rest of the citizens of Des Plaines will not have to foot any bill to help the residents of the Methodist Campground's raise there cottages. They have chosen to live there. Historic or not I will not use my tax money to assist in anyway.
Des Plaines, it seems, will always have fireworks
I'm reading that cities are cutting back or getting rid of their fireworks shows. Have them come to Des Plaines, we'll always have a show, thanks to our lucrative billboard deal.
Why are Niles village employees getting pay raises?
Why is it that all of the Niles village employees are getting raises (that we pay for) when we are all losing our jobs? They should be lucky just to have a job.
If you love America, respect the flag
There can be no 50-50 Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism and nothing else. The man who loves other countries as much as his own stands on a level with the man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife. It's one country, one language, one loyalty. My ancestors came from Germany but I do not consider myself as a German-American. I do not have loyalty for Germany. I am an American and nothing but an American. I fly the American flag and nothing else. God Bless America. If you don't like it, no one is keeping you here. Go back where you came from and have loyalty there. If you love this country then speak our language and show respect to the flag.
Village attorney should stick with the law
Why is the Niles village attorney, who we pay with our tax dollars, defending a convicted felon instead of the best interest of the residents? His job is to follow the law, not to take sides.
Time to throw ice cream man out of town
I'd have to agree with the writer who wrote about the noisy ice cream van. I'd like some quiet, too. I agree, they're noise is a nuisance. Time to do what most of the other communities around here have done, run them out of town. Or at least, regulate the noise they emit or limit the volume. There is enough noise in this town, we don't have to add to the noise pool by licensing it so someone can sell junk food. Have a look at the label on one of those bars. 18 grams saturated fat. Are they crazy?
(Ed. Note: No pun intended, but chill out. Run the ice cream man out of town?)
Why are you happy with misfortunes of Park Ridge?
I don't believe I have ever read any comments wishing misfortune to come to Des Plaines, so why are the Des Plaines people so happy about the misfortunes of Park Ridge? I think it only reinforces the notion that the casino is a playground for undesirables.
Doesn't feel too optimistic about our country
Recently the new CEO of GM stated he knows nothing about cars. The president doesn't know anything about running government. Pelosi and Barney would love to put our troops in dire danger but were stopped. Spending will demise our children's future but the uneducated president keeps spending. No one reads the budget and it passes. The U.S. is being branded a wimp? We are now giving terrorists their Miranda rights. Terrorists are still killing innocent people by the bushel and the only right we have is to have our heads sliced off. God help us. We are in trouble and the people who are running this country are corrupt beyond our help now. Arm yourselves, that's the only thing you have.
Seems like mayor of Niles in denial
Why is Niles Village President Robert M. Callero in denial about former Village President Nicholas Blase and current Niles village Trustee George D. Alpogianis's multiple felony criminal convictions?
Our Supreme Court picked who they wanted to be president
I don't get it - what's the big deal about vote fraud in Iran? We had massive vote fraud during the 2000 presidential election and instead of anybody investigating it, our Supreme Court just stepped in and appointed who they wanted as president. Doesn't Iran have a supreme court?
City manager doing a good job
I think Des Plaines' city manager is doing a great job and will continue to do so if our city government would just step aside and let a professional do his job. He is qualified to run this city. Now if the light bulbs go out get the mayor, the union 134 man.
Doesn't like idea of casino sewer run off
I live in Park Ridge and I like my Des Plaines neighbors. What I don't like is the sewer run-off of a casino that will be put basically in my neighborhood. Why take offense to that? If you like the idea of a cesspool in your community, then put it in your community and not in mine. That's all. But to take delight in devaluing your neighbors property and way of life is sad and selfish.
Constitution protects the people the government
What is our country coming to? The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government lest it come to dominate our lives and interests. Patrick Henry.
Bogusz has done a lot to bolster Dems
Democrat leadership in Maine Township is going through some exciting changes. People are embracing Matt Bogusz as he is making some great moves to lead the party. Matt has proven his ability to raise money and win races. Look to him to take over the mantle post, Laura Murphy. Dan Kotowski should have been the next leader, but he has only done a fraction of party building that Matt has done.
Aldermen performed well overriding veto
Thank goodness we have strong and clear thinking aldermen in Park Ridge. The override of the mayor's refusal to properly fund social service agencies in our community is a breath of fresh air. The mayor is showing his stripes as a bully and apparently thinks he can ram anything he wants down our collective throats. Baloney. Take that, Smittie.
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