Update on 2/27/2011
Questions so far:
1. How will the candidates proceed with seeing to the 41st wards' interests and concerns regarding the O'Hare Expansion Project?
2. Are the candidates in favor of a "living wage ordinance" and the "employee free choice act"?
3. Articulate a housing plan for the 41st ward's future. How do the candidates plan to develop or not develop housing stock in the ward?
4. Communication plan: how will each candidate improve communication and transparency with ward constituents?
Take a few minutes to send a comment about what you want to see from the candidates. Now is the time. Let's get it all out there. What are the issues and services you want addressed...in detail. Let the candidates know what you really want for this community. Don't hold back a thing....
I would like to see specifics in how these candidates will keep citizens informed and participitory. When are the Ward meetings and forums? Take a look at Gonzalez's communication plan - one of the best I've seen in a long time... Who will be the first to say they have collaborated with Gonzalez or someone else to improve communication?
ReplyDeleteAnything, Neither one had much of anything to say in the past, and their websites are very limited. I agree with a previous commentator that its a popularity contest. There really isn't anything here. Even the newspapers aren't writing about this race, to boring. April 5th, I predict will have little participation. If these two generated just 25% of the vote combined, I predict less than 20% will come out April 5.
ReplyDeletewhat differences? There are no differences in these two. They represent no one really, certainly not representative of the ward - well, maybe a small minority of the ward - the brainless 25% of the ward.
ReplyDeleteNo stories about the 41st ward run-off,I;m sure no one will even notice in the media. a real snoozer here.
ReplyDeletecommunication? What is that?
ReplyDeleteRahm said he want to support run-off candidates who will work for change. Doesn't sound like either one of these two. The two "winners" in the 41st won due to apathy. 75% of the voters who did vote this week, tried to vote for change from to many candidates.
ReplyDeleteThe little groundworkers will be out littering the ward with yard signs and these 2 will call it a day.
ReplyDeleteI heard Gavin wants to work with Rahm and bring affordable housing to the 41st Ward.
ReplyDeleteApathy is already rearing its ugly head. The major papers aren't interested and from the recent tone of the blog, residents are also losing interest. Whomever Rahm wants will be the winner, oh boy, I'm starting to feel apathetic!
ReplyDeleteTo the comment at 8:06, where did you hear that?
ReplyDeleteMy guess would be that if Rahm decides to get involved, he'll throw his money behind O'Connor. She is the Democratic Committeewoman and is the candidate of the Democratic Organization. She would definitely be a great puppet for Rahm.
I think Gavin is the safe bet.
ReplyDeleteO'Connor I don't get what she is for? Business Expansion in the 41st ward?? How many people who live in the 41st actually work there? I would say less than .5% Why do we want more business in the 41st it doesn't impact our personal residential real estate taxes the money just goes in the general pool.
From her website:
"Using my experience from Edison Park, especially in championing the thriving restaurant row, to build retail districts in Edgebrook, Norwood Park, and the Harlem, Foster, and Higgins areas."
How did she champion Restaurant Row??? People actually believe this.
If she gets elected Im sure she'll claim she was the person in charge of the new Ace on NW Hwy near Nagle, The new retail buildings going up on NW East of the post office etc. Only Doherty can claim responsibility to that.
I'll take Gavin and the status quo thank you very much and I didn't even vote for her this past Tuesday.
Some one posted a comment about these two candidates being a "combine". A combine meaning that they are united by the same ideology, just different political parties. They are both status quo, chamber of commerce types, who will basically do what they are told.
ReplyDeleteMost of the comments on this site (candidates and moderator excepted) remind me of the old saying: the problem with Chicago is that everyone who should be running the city is either driving a cab or cutting hair (or sitting at home making cynical and insulting comments on some blog).
ReplyDeleteSorry I can't see Gavin WANTING Section 8 housing in the 41st.
ReplyDeleteAlthough she really has no control on Section 8, anyone can Section 8 a property and the Alderman has no control on approving that.
Taking credit for the Ace Hardware on NW Highway, are you kidding me????
ReplyDelete10 part-time jobs to 70 year olds? You call that economic development? Yeah, Doherty should take credit for that.
I want a champion in the council; I want services equal to the taxes we pay; I want business development; I want more than the status quo; I want a service-minded alderman; I want to be able to see my alderman somwhere other than the Isle.
ReplyDeleteFebruary 25, 2011 11:37 AM - point is how can O'Connor take credit on her website for "Championing Restaurant Row" what exactly did she champion?
ReplyDeletePeople actually believe her is what is so ludicrous.
There is NO WAY that either of these candidates would be in favor of low income section 8 housing. That is one of the most idiotic things I have ever read. Please do not spread lies about either of the candidates. If you have not heard them say it or read about it on their platform/interviews, DO NOT spread it on here like its a fact.
ReplyDeleteA good question to ask at the next forum, would be, "how do you differ from your opponent".
ReplyDeleteNeither of these candidates wants a another forum or a debate. No one would go.
ReplyDeleteModerator, please -- it's one thing to allow negative opinions, and another to permit people to repeatedly post inaccurate and distorted information that could cause false rumors to start. Maurita Gavin's campaign platform clearly states that she will fight to "protect the single family integrity of our neighborhoods". She also has, in her statements to the Trib and the Sun Times, expressed reservations about TIFs. So I respectfully request that you take down the 8:06AM, 11:03, 11:08, 12:55 and 2:14 posts. Otherwise you are allowing your site to be used to promote typical dirty tricks, which I believe is not something you favor. Thank you for your consideration.
ReplyDeleteOk, there must be a lot of O'Connor people on here. "I heard Gavin wants this..." "I heard Gavin wants that..."
ReplyDeletePLEASE stop letting these people post this stuff like its fact. Read their platforms and remember what they said at the forums. Neither of these candidates are in favor of low income housing.
To 2:50pm: I took a few of the comments down, like you asked, because they are redundant. I'm not sure what people are hearing and understanding, so it is up to you and others to explain why these statements are not so, which I think you did in your comments.
ReplyDeleteI think there is an assumption being made here that affordable housing is not what the electorate wants. I am a voter in the 41st and I am not against affordable housing. I don't see this issue as a political "dirty trick". And 2:50, if you are a candidate or represent one, don't sign in as anonymous. My opinions are just as valid as yours.
ReplyDeleteI think some people were construing "affordable housing" to be "Section 8 Housing." There is a big difference. I haven't really heard either of the candidates talk about these two things so I am not sure where this is all coming from...
ReplyDeleteSounds like it is a question that needs clarification and should be asked.
ReplyDeleteThe answer isn't vacant forclosed McMansions like we see all over the ward. The feral cats living in the empty McMansions are grateful to the former alderman who allowed these monstrousities to be built. But rather, affordable housing would help the integrity of the community.
ReplyDeleteBurke is going to want to support Gavin. Rahm will support O'Connor.
ReplyDeleteI hope you all see what we have let this pending runoff devolve into.............a cat fight. Its this constant she said, she said or she didn't say, she didn't say crap. If the two best candidates, Gonzales and Murphey were in the upcoming runoff we'd be having substantive conversations about maintaing the integrity of the ward. And, planning for the future. Shame on the apathetic voters in the 41st for not participating and for, quite possibly, being responsible for the mess we find ouraelves in.
ReplyDeleteDefinition of Affordable Housing:
ReplyDeleteThe generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care. An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more then 50 percent of their annual incomes for housing.
For those of you interested in local housing & zoning issues: the next 41st ward zoning board meeting is set for Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 6:30. The location of the meeting is the Olypia Park Field House, 6566 N. Avondale Ave. According to the Chicago Northwest Side Press newspaper, one agenda item to be discussed is the rezoning of the property at 6405 N. Avondale from M-1 to C-1 for an office building building to house a bank with a drive-through facility.
ReplyDeleteIf someone goes to the zoning advisory meeting, ask what bank is moving in. And ask if it is a community based bank that will reinvest our dollars back into our own community or a large corporate bank who will send our dollars overseas and further destabilize our own economy. Thanks
ReplyDeleteWe had a huge 3 story home built on a lot that previously held a very small one bedroom ranch on our block. Everyone complained that it simply didn't fit and blocked sunlight to neighbors on both sides. No one listened. Now, this ugly structure, sits, abandoned by the owners who went back home to their country of origin, foreclosed, and is broken into by squatters and animals. A complete eyesore. Worse yet, it is listed at a price no middle class family can afford, even in this market. So, affordable - yes.
ReplyDeletePages and pages of properties, buildings, condos and home bank foreclosures for sale in the Press
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can tell from this exchange is that one of the camps over-reacted/doesn't understand the term affordable housing. Housing is an issue in the 41st.. As much as the candidates try to avoid it. And it was majorly avoided in the first election.
ReplyDeleteThe O'Hare Expansion Project should be brought up. No one will talk about it. Rahm will just do what he wants.
ReplyDeleteI noticed Gavin picked up a few union locals endorsements at the last minute. Does this mean Gavin supports "card check recognition" a/k/a "Employee Pre-choice Act"?
ReplyDeleteI can't believe any union, today, would support a republican candidate, and I also noticed these locals have a high number of out of work members..
Union members who are voters in the 41st..watch out and ask both candidates if they will support worker friendly legislation, such as the living wage ordinance and the employee free choice act. If neither one does, then why did the unions support them in the first place? What did they get in return for their endorsement?
Why bother voting. It's evident voters don't know how to choose a qualified candidate. Whoever voted for O'Connor and Gavin to begin with must be over the age of 65, unemployed, uneducated, or probably graduated from the same school!
ReplyDelete