PEORIA, IL -- The Peoria City Council for the fifth time has re-upped its contract with a developer to destroy Riverfront Park with upscale apartments.
The vote was 6 - 4, and took place at the June 27 meeting after a lengthy special comment session. A recording of the comments is posted below.
The vote was a downer for Friends of Riverfront Park, which has worked hard to educate the public about the dreadful apartment project. The public showed up at the meeting (thanks everyone) but the council isn't listening to the public.
One newly elected member, Oyler, told voters he was opposed to the apartments but at the meeting defended them them with an error-laced commentary. Here is what I wrote on the Journal Star's website story:
Oyler's comments were full of errors. Memorials won't be touched? Not true. There will be no space left for people to gather for programs at the memorial sites. Better access to the lake from the swapped property? Not true. It floods, and there is a similar access next to Detweiller Marina now. ETC. Oyler said he was opposed to the apartments when he was running for office. Now he's for them. Remember that when he runs for reelection.
So Oyler is a liar and hypocrite. Others who voted to destroy the park: Cyr won his council seat by one vote. His opponent was against the apartments. Mayor Ardis, Mr. Twittergate, would never have been reelected without a weak opponent, and he barely won anyway. Moore has taken council money for her private business. Riggenbach's only reason for voting is cowardice, fear of Ardis. He says to let the National Park Service decide. His family reportedly opposes the apartments. That leaves Ruckriegle, the 'partner' of the powerful Peoria County Board chairman who depends on union support.
The unions favor the project because they want the work, but the apartments could be built at many vacant properties near the park and riverfront. They should shut up and help find an alternative site. It doesn't look good for unions to support taking away a valuable public park that taxpayers bought for the public, to be given to a developer.
For more on Riverfront Park, see the category in the list on the right side of this page and FORP's Facebook page.
Here are the comments:
-- Elaine Hopkins
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