PEORIA, IL -- The lies at the Peoria City Council meeting on Dec. 12 just kept coming, mostly from District 1 council member Denise Moore.
The worst one: "drive by activism," to describe the actions and comments of the people who oppose transferring land from a taxpayer-funded public park, Riverfront Park, to a private developer for upscale apartments.
That phrase is a lie.
Friends of Riverfront Park and its supporters have been in the park numerous times, for fund-raisers and other activities.
The truth is that Moore is a hands-on activist pushing businesses that sometimes benefit herself. She probably thinks or hopes the apartment project will somehow put money in her pocket. And it has.
The Illinois State Board of Elections campaign contributions page shows her getting $1,000 from Michael Freilinger,of the Downtown Development Corporation and received nice checks from various business groups.
But there's more from Moore. "Change is hard," she said. No, not always. Does Moore, a Democrat, support the Affordable Care Act? That was change.
And more Moore. She said the River Trail apartments would be a "$30 million development the city doesn't have to pay for." That's an outright lie.
Council member Beth Jensen noted the city is supposed to spend "$4.5 million" on the development. That's tax money, likely mostly TIF funding apparently, namely funds that have been denied to schools, parks and other deficit challenged tax funded entities, even fire, police and roads. Jensen opposes the apartments.
Then Moore commented that the city "should buy the property (the Detweiller Playground land) regardless of the apartments," since the city is working on a comprehensive riverfront plan. Say what? Why?
It would be crazy to buy this and the other replacement land, the former site of Hawkeye Rubber, a contaminated site, if the apartment plan fails. And these properties also flood, making them off limits to the public at times.
Read enough? Who will run against Moore in the next election and send her back where she came from?
WANTED: sensible candidates who listen to their constituents! And don't accept campaign contributions from people involved in their projects.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Don't take my word for it. Here is the Journal Star's editorial on Moore.
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