PeoriaStory

Masked Men and Mayors Past

Here's a fresh take -- a guest column:

Peoria City Council Meeting in a Nutshell
by David Berry
5/9/17

PEORIA, IL -- The May 9, 2017’s session of the Peoria City Council was four and a half hours long and action packed. The gallery was filled almost to capacity and many folks stood in the aisles.

A host of important issues filled the docket.

Citizens donned Mardi Gras style masks, as well as a few residents in Guy Fawkes style attire. Former Mayor Bud Grieves gave enlightening input on the IL American Water buyout option, to close out the passionate public input session.

The upcoming debate on city water buyout was discussed in policy session. Issues surrounding possession of small amounts of cannabis were also heavily debated. A non-binding “welcoming city” proclamation was also on the agenda.

Opening proclamations were standard fair. Most notably military veterans were saluted in appreciation of Poppy Days.
https://www.alaforveterans.org/Poppy/

Current At Large Councilman Eric Turner was recognized and the lone vet currently on the council (Turner served in the Vietnam conflict). This writer and all the readers thank him for his service.

Much of the “Consent Agenda” portion was pro forma. Details of this portion can be found in the city transcripts of the meeting.
http://www.peoriagov.org/city-council/council-meetings/

Regular Business
A non-binding resolution declaring Peoria is “Welcoming City” was unanimously passed. This document refers to the city being tolerant of people of all nationalities, faiths and race. The passage witnessed a silent protest from many attendees, who lifted signs demanding an actual ordinance which will state Peoria will not cooperate with Federal Immigration enforcement and the police will not profile people by immigration status. Such an ordinance is soon to be on the Council agenda. At Large Rep. Beth Akeson expressed support for the resolution.

A detailed update on the city’s “Discussion on Race” process was given by City Manager Patrick Urich . He outlined the recent activities of the “breakout groups” that have evolved from the large public meetings, held past. Seven groups of officials and citizens have formed and are currently continuing the discussion including:
1. Improvement of the minority business sector in Peoria
2. Public Infrastructure
3. Health
4. Justice. Specifically improving trust between police and residents. Recidivism and reentry of residents with criminal backgrounds was also mentioned.
5. Asset Development. Specifically tenants’ rights and encouraging home ownership
6. Workforce development. Specifically coordination of various agencies and job readiness.
7. Education

At Large reps Sid Ruckriegel and Beth Jensen were critical of the low attendance of these meetings and pushed for better marketing of future events.

A large portion of Regular Business was devoted to policy discussion of Peoria’s solid waste contract with Peoria Disposal Co. This $7 million dollar contract is the city’s largest. A survey of residents’ views was presented by Public Works Director Scott Reeise. In brief summation: 77 percent of respondents are satisfied with PDC service and have keen interest in more recycling and an extension of the yard waste pick-up season. Notably absent was discussion of the fact that PDC has no minority hiring requirement in the current contract, though it was mentioned during the public comments.

Council members then gave input. Second District Rep Chuck Grayeb showed interest in bringing waste collection “in house”, citing that combining snow plowing with collection would bring savings to the city.
More public recycling bins, alongside trash cans, in high traffic areas, was advocated by Jensen. Third District Rep Tim Riggenbach inquired about the added cost of doubling curbside recycling. Between $2 and $3 monthly was the response.

Perhaps the most important portion of the evening was policy discussion of Peoria’s option to buy back its own water supply from the publicly held corporation, IL American Water. The City Manager gave a detailed Power Point history of the city’s water politics. Most interesting was the account of Peoria’s attempt to use eminent domain to try to acquire this resource, in the 1930s.

The crux of his presentation was the fact that Peoria has the power to review ownership of the Sankoty Aquifer every five years, in perpetuity. “Control of water, equals control of (economic) growth” was a statement used several times.

This five year cycle is up again in 2019. The deadline to announce the city’s intention to peruse a buyback would be November 2, 2018. City officials estimated $600,000 to $1 million would be needed to do “pre-due diligence” on a purchase. Council members then proffered questions and suggestions.

Akeson expessed concern over how a city owned water utility would work and who would manage it.
Interest in starting the due diligence process as early as possible was pushed by newly elected At Large Rep Zach Oyler.

Jensen agreed that due diligence start early and added that this research could be done pro bono by many philanthropic organizations. She also stressed that city residents be well educated on the issue and their feedback be sought.

At Large Councilman Turner cited that revenue from the buyback could come to the city within seven to nine years and even questioned the need of “pre-due diligence.”

Grayeb brought up the cost of the impending EPA fine in connection with ther combined sewage overflow problem and how that may impact the city’s ability to buy.

First District Rep Denise Moore shared her distain  for a city buyback, because of the need to address the more pressing problems of poverty and unemployment in her district.

The Mayor explained his desire to have a binding referendum on this issue.

An ordinance concerning possession of less than 10 grams of cannabis or drug paraphernalia was then hotly debated. Corporation Counsel lobbied heavily for an increase of fines concerning small amounts of cannabis possession.

Jensen brought strong condemnation of Peoria’s hearing officer’s conduct and moved to oppose any new ordinance until this issue is resolved.

Grayeb peppered the City Manager with questions of Colorado’s cannabis policy to demonstrate his view that Peoria is moving in the wrong direction, when it comes to its drug enforcement policy.

The most liberal stance on this issue, was held by Akeson. She suggested that these fines be treated like parking tickets, thus reducing the city’s court and processing costs. This was greeted with applause from the large gallery.

Legislation on the fly was thrown about by Moore. She admitted that she was “spitballing” fine amounts and vigorously disagreed with Jensen’s opinion on Peoria’s hearing officer.

Voting 6-5, the council passed an ordinance making the possession of cannabis or paraphernalia a $125 fine for a first offense. The fine doubles on a second offense. A third offense costs $500 with a subsequent fine of $750.

Citizens Opportunity to Address City Council
Nearly a dozen residents took to chance to speak their minds to the council. Topics ranged from cannabis law to demands for a binding law concerning immigrants’ rights and even arguments, both pro and con, on the water company buyback.

Two citizens were critical of Moore and her statements on the new cannabis fines and the water buyback. One young lady expressed disappointment in Moore’s stance on petty criminal fines, pointing out that minorities are disproportionally targeted for such infractions. Another speaker levied allegations of hypocrisy against Moore, on her water buyback statements. He alluded to Moore’s lack of use of available TIF funds to alleviate poverty in the First District, as well as her vigorous support of new luxury apartments on public park land.

The same speaker seemed to suggest a conflict of interest by Mayor Ardis, because of his position with the Peoria Promise program, which is largely supported by IL American Water. Several speakers voiced support for the decriminalization of cannabis, citing that even the police would support such a move. A male speaker cited a statistic showing that enforcement of petty drug crime in IL is 150 percent over the national average.

An insightful comment came from yet another citizen. He lamented the city’s complaining that it cannot afford the million dollar price tag on research into the water buyback, yet has no problem giving tens of millions in cash and bond money to private businesses such as the Marriott Pere Marquette and Peoria Chiefs. More than one citizen expressed emotional support for further, binding law concerning immigrants’ rights. Concerns of police cooperation with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)were also raised.

In what seemed to be a coordinated effort three  speakers defended IL American Water stewardship of Peoria’s water supply. An executive of the company pleaded that the city consider the welfare of its employees and touted the company’s support of local charities.

Former Peoria Mayor Bud Grieves ended the night with a bang. In an emphatic defense of a city water buyback, Mayor Grieves told a story from many years ago. During an expensive lunch, executives of IL American Water offered him a $50,000 bribe (AKA campaign contribution) to forclose the city’s purchase process.

The elimination of highly compensated corporate executives will also make the water works even more profitable, Grieves contended. These execs make upwards of $15,000,000 annually.

The council then adjourned to Executive session, where city issues are secretly discussed. Citizens are not privy to these discussions.

Overall this meeting was raucous and charged. The crowded gallery added an element of emotion and reality to usually staid proceedings. - 30 -

David Berry lost his bid for a seat on the council in April 2017 but says he will run again. He's a nephew of former council member Gary Sandberg.

Jackson at Rally for Thomas

PEORIA, IL -- Is Peoria ready for a black mayor?

Peoria’s black community is ready for a black mayor, Couri Thomas, who is challenging incumbent mayor Jim Ardis (see posts below).  The election ends April 4.

Surrounded by black ministers and other leaders of the African-American community,  Thomas on April 1 was also encouraged by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who attended a rally for Thomas at New Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church.

It’s great that a young person has ambition,” he said of Thomas.

 Couri Thomas, left, watches as Jesse Jackson speaks to the audience.

“Our country has become so polarized,” Jackson told the large audience. “There is such anger and bitterness, fear and frustration.  We must learn to live together.”

Jackson attacked Pres. Donald Trump’s wall, without mentioning Trump by name. “When walls come down and bridges are built, we learn to live together,  We can all heal. We can all grow,” he said.

“A poor peoples campaign lifts the nation from the bottom up, not the top down.  Every in, nobody out. We all matter,” he said.

"Under President Barack Obama, 25 million people have health insurance.  They never had it before," he said.

The Republicans would reverse that, he said.

“I saw people in Kentucky that wanted affordable care insurance.  They didn’t want Obamacare," he said.

“Don’t let anybody break your spirit, he said. "When your back is against the wall, resist.”

The rally was filled with religion, as hymns were sung and prayer occurred. Jackson prayed with a group that came to the front of the church sanctuary at the close of the event.

Other speakers stressed the necessity to vote, and urged the audience to tell their friends, and take advantage of Illinois’ law which allows people to register and vote on election day.

After the rally, a group was to march to the Peoria Election Commission office to vote.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Illinois Central College Board elections: eight candidates three slots

PEORIA, IL -- The nonpartisan race for three open seats on the Illinois Central College board has attracted eight candidates.

They seemed sane and qualified at a March 30 candidate forum, though only five of the candidates appeared.

The Journal Star recently did a thorough piece on all the candidates and their backgrounds. 

Here is a recording of the forum begun about 30 seconds late with Rachel Reliford. 

Download ICC candidate forum Mar 30 2017

Those at the forum were right to left below, Rachel Reliford, Patti Polk, Rhonda Guyton, Carl Cannon and Angelito Capati. Photo by Al Harkrader.

Cannon was a standout when he raised a controversial issue, full time faculty.  He is opposed to letting them go, to be replaced by part time faculty members.  Full time staff create the culture of higher education, he said. "I don't want to see a reduction."

Cannon also said "leadership" was an important quality for ICC board members. He led by attacking this issue.

All the candidates talked about their important qualities to contribute to the board. All opposed property tax increases and indicated they didn't want to see tuition increases either.  All said they would not close the Pekin facility, when asked that question.

Some discussed how the community college helped them overcome lives of poverty and aim for higher education. "It's a bridge, a chance to change course. A chance to dream," Cannon said.

Since I have not seen all these candidates in person I won't endorse any. All looked fine.

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

Water Company Buyout

PEORIA, IL -- From a news release:

Peoria Families Against Toxic Waste and Sierra Club Heart of Illinois group are pleased to announce a free public presentation on the benefits of publicly owned water utilities.

Jessica Fujan, Midwest Director of Food and Water Watch, will present “Public Water for All” on Thursday, March 30 at 7PM at Forest Park Nature Center, 5809 N. Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights.

Peoria is in a unique situation, having privatized its water over a century ago, but still retaining an option to buy it back. Food and Water Watch has studied water privatization for years and believes that for most communities it is a bad deal. Not only are water rates higher, privatizing water supplies often brings unintended consequences.

Jessica, one of the foremost environmental organizers in the Midwest,  will recap Food and Water Watch’s extensive research and share her experiences in communities fighting privatization (http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/sites/default/files/report_state_of_public_water.pdf).

At the Enviromental Forum, Candidates Love the Environment

PEORIA, IL -- A March 27 Peoria city council candidate forum sponsored by the Global Warming Solutions environmental group revealed that the candidates who showed up support environmental issues. They recycle. They care about green space, though two hedged about giving Riverfront Park to developers. They hate air pollution.

Presumably the ones that couldn't make it feared environmental issues.   Mayor Jim Ardis, for example, blew off the event, and has never found time to schedule a meeting with the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club. He's running for reelection.

The candidates were given written questions before the event, and even invited to submit written answers.  The Global Warming group is debating whether to publish these on its website, and likely will do so.

Here is a recording of the forum.

Download Peoria enviro forum 3-27-17

There's also a report on the Global Warming Solutions website, linked above.

On Riverfront Park apartments: Dave Berry, candidate for District 1, opposes the apartments. Green space should be saved, and construction should go into the vacant buildings, he said.

Incumbent Denise Moore, who is sick with a laryngitis and did not attend, was an early backer and remains in favor. She sent written statements to the questions, and Helen King read them for her.

Her answer hedged: "I support the due diligence. It's not the same as an endorsement."  Say what? That answer alone should disqualify her as a candidate.

Ardis supports the apartments. His opponent Couri Thomas is against them.

Jim Montelongo has shifted and now opposes them. "This thing has gone down the rabbit hole," he said. He suggested green space should be considered in city plans, and said it not is considered now. His opponent, Mike Eddleman did not attend but has said he opposes them, in another forum.

So District 4 is a win for Riverfront Park. If a couple of other candidates opposed to the apartments can win, the River Trail Apartments will be history.

Rita Ali, candidate for District 5, is opposed to the apartments. Her opponent, Dennis Cyr, hedged, and said he has "no opinion on the apartments," but "we need green space. We've got to save our parks."

These hedges are very annoying, Moore and Cyr. Tell us where you stand.

Some good ideas came out of this forum, for example planning should include green space, and efforts to reach out to minority workers should be included in city projects such as the garbage hauling contract (amazing it is not now included in contracts).

Everyone said they believe in global warming caused by humans, and they agreed that energy efficiency studies should be done.

The city needs leadership to advance solar projects, Montelongo said. (He would make a good mayor as he knows much about the city and how it works.)

He also mentioned how he supported making people responsible for their storm water runoff, in response to a question about the storm sewer overflow issue. He said he made a motion in executive session, but got no support.  If that's correct, it was an illegal closed meeting, as this kind of talk can only take place in public!

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

 

 

Peoria City Council Info RE: Riverfront Park

PEORIA, IL: Here is information on Peoria City Council candidates who oppose the apartments in Riverfront Park:

The Peoria City Council candidates meet the NAACP

PEORIA, IL -- Democracy may be in jeopardy in Washington DC, but in Peoria it still functions.

The candidates in contested races for the Peoria City Council in the municipal election ending April 4 met in a three hour event on March 23, sponsored by the Peoria NAACP and an activist sorority, the Deltas.  A very large audience witnessed the forum.

It proved to be fascinating and enlightening.  All of the candidates sounded sane and thoughtful.

Here is a recording of the candidates for mayor:

Download Peoria mayor Mar 23 17

Here is the recording of the city council candidates:

Download Peoria candidates March 23 17

Some of the questions asked of the candidates were a bit vague or squishy, and the candidates, like true politicians, knew how to dodge giving a 'yes' or 'no' answer to many of them.  I didn't detect any outright lies in the answers. There were some omissions, however.

The mayor's race pits incumbent Jim Ardis against challenger Couri Thomas. Ardis is smooth and knows a lot, including where the bodies are buried. (joke). He has strong ties to the police and fire unions, and likely will be reelected.

Thomas can be incoherent and doesn't know enough.  He's a young black man, who may be able to learn on the job if elected. He has one great point in his favor -- he opposes the awful apartments in Riverfront Park, and would be a vote on the council to drop the project.

Ardis has a problematic history that was ignored during the forum. First, there was the serious civil liberties and free speech violation that cost the city some $500,000, the Twittergate scandal, where he sent police to arrest a young guy who put up a mock Twitter account in Ardis' name, a practice that is widespread with celebrities.

The ACLU sued, the city settled. Ardis ignored calls to resign this awful abuse of power.

Then Ardis touted the River Trail apartments after taking a campaign contribution from one of the developers.  (Others also took the contributions.) That should be made illegal. The project is still in limbo before the National Park Service and a lawsuit against it is likely if the NPS approves it.

There's also the bankruptcy of the Marriott Hotel project with the city on the hook for $7 million -- still unresolved.  

A question did come up about failed city projects with developers, and the answer was that this happens because of incompetent vetting or cronyism or both, David Berry said. 

Other highlights from the comments: Rob Hanauer:  "I don't lie to get votes."

John Kelly: "No public risk for private profit."

Zack Oyler: "Eighty percent of the time people don't move into Peoria because of the schools. We need to better promote the schools."

Ardis: "Punishing bad landlords needs to be done" (with fines, though he could do that now).

Thomas: "I am a fresh face, a different direction."

The group mostly supported a study on whether to buy the water company, if someone else, not the city, will pay for it.

So after all this, here are my recommendations, based on opposition to the River Trail apartments in Riverfront Park. These candidates all oppose those apartments and will vote to stop the project. That's something concrete, not fine words about punishing landlords or promoting entrepreneurs to create jobs.

Mayor: Thomas. He likely will learn on the job. Ardis has too much baggage, too many mistakes in judgment.

At large: Rob Hanauer, John Kelly, Zach Oyler. (Your vote has more power if you vote for only one candidate).

District l: David Berry. 

District 4:Either Jim Montelongo or Mike Eddleman, though Eddleman has been opposed from the beginning, and Montelongo took a developer's contribution and voted for the apartments. He now says he's changed his mind.

District 5: Rita Ali.

There were a few mild confrontations with the audience, when some shouted out comments. There are more forums before the election. See the coming post on those.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Candidate forum Feb. 23

PEORIA, IL -- A large audience attended the final Peoria City Council candidate forum on Feb. 23, even though it was not nearly as interesting as the previous forum. 

The six at-large candidates spoke first, followed by the three District 4 candidates.Perhaps they learned a little from sitting through the boring six, as they were more specific in their answers.

The incumbent, Jim Montelongo, is being challenged by Mike Eddlemon and Benjamin Thornton. The two challengers spoke eloquently about keeping Riverfront Park a park, and not letting it be destroyed by apartments.

Montelongo was not as forthcoming. He initially voted for the apartments in the park, but now says the scheme has dragged on too long and is costing the city too much. But will he vote to drop the contract rather than extend it? He didn't say.

He touted his efforts in organizing neighborhood associations and business associations in his district, and has coffee with constituents weekly, a good idea.

The two challengers complained about the bad condition of the roads, and wondered why Peoria spends money on consultants to tell them which roads to fix when the bad conditions are apparent.

Here is a recording of their comments:

Download Peoria Dist 4 forum 2017

The at-large candidates spoke mainly in the usual generalities, but the questions they were asked were weak.  When that occurs it's difficult to understand which candidates should be elected.

The Riverfront Park apartments did not come up during the questions. But that's a key issue, in that it shows how a candidate can deal with a contentious issue, instead of asserting obvious generalities such as more jobs are needed.  

Here is a recording of the at-large candidates comment.

Download Peoria at large forum 2017

You can also watch the video on the Change Peoria Facebook page here.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Muslim announces Peoria City Council run

PEORIA, IL  -- An impressive group of liberals stood with Amr Elsamny on Nov. 21, as he announced his run for an open seat on the Peoria City Council. The election is next spring.

Elsamny, 36, would be the first Muslim elected to the council if he wins a seat. He is the fourth candidate running for two at-large seats. 

At his official news conference to announce his run, Elsamny said he was born in Egypt, brought to the US as a child, and has lived in Peoria for a decade. He has also lived in several other cities. "I feel Peoria has a lot of potential," he said.

He spoke of an aggressive effort to find jobs for Peoria's minority community, saying that more jobs will decrease crime. The entire community also needs to be united, he said.

"Minorities feel like they are left out and the government does not care" about them, he said."We can help them be entrepreneurs," he said.

Peoria recently was name one of the worst cities in the U.S. for black residents.

Elsamny did not take questions, but he told me that he opposes the apartments in Riverfront Park and would vote to withdraw the application to give the parkland to developers. The National Park Service has to approve the application since the land was purchased using federal funds.

Elsamny is President and Global Project Director for a not-for-profit group, Mercy for Mankind.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

 

 

 

Akeson nails it

PEORIA, IL -- With poise and razor sharp language Peoria City Council member-at-large Beth Akeson apologized, clarified and explained a couple or recent Twitter comments that some criticized as racist.

Her August 9 news conference in City Hall drew an overflow audience of activists and interested people, as well as the local news media.  It soon became clear that some of the activists, who said they are members of the local Black Lives Matter group, were concerned with more than Akeson's unfortunate comments.

They want support from City Hall, some said. "Since we don't own homes down there (Southtown) we don't take care of it," one admitted. "Tell us where the money is," she said. "We're not asking for a handout."

Another said "nobody comes out to help our community."

The woman, a teacher, said "girls feel like our lives don't matter." 

(My take here -- that's sad, but they should stop worrying about what others think and learn and achieve something.)

"You didn't validate how I felt," said one, responding to Akeson's detailed explanation, that when she criticized Black Lives Matter after the Dallas police shooting, it was because she saw people on television advocating violence against the police.  She later learned that these were fringe characters who were not part of the group's platform, she said.

(My take -- has anyone seen the recent take down on "feelings" as opposed to facts on the John Oliver TV show? Facts win every time.)

Akeson,a Republican but liberal on some social issues, is a strong supporter of urban planning, historic preservation, and other measures that make a city desirable.  She works for those goals, she said, but is only "one person out of 11" council members.

She criticized Peoria's "slum landlords" whose tenants may live in terrible conditions.

She had been supporting Donald Trump, she said. But since he lately went "off the rails," she likely will vote for the Libertarian candidate, she said.

She turned to Twitter to express her opinion about a Fox TV show, she said, though she watches all the TV networks, both liberal and conservative.

She had done 842 Tweets, but "nobody ever paid attention." Then a couple of Tweets went viral, drawing so many obscene and vulgar comments that she shut down the account, she said. 

But it's not all bad. This an opportunity to talk about race and poverty, she said, and engage people "who feel like they are not heard." 

She will hold a Town Hall meeting soon, she said, for more discussion. "Too many people are afraid to talk about these things." 

Change is messy, she said. "I am willing to be one of the people that moves in the right direction....If you really want change, you suffer the consequences." 

Here is a recording of the first hour of the news conference.

Download Akeson

Here's the later version of the PJS story on the event.

 --  Elaine Hopkins