Audience: about 175 people.
Great Questions from the audience. Many concerns about lack of follow through, lack of transparency, long-standing communication problems, untended public safety issues, and the cumulative effects of being ignored by the Mayor for 20 years.
Interesting answers from Gavin who is now describing herself as an "independent non-partisan" and "nothing like Alderman Doherty"
Post your comments about the March 10, 2011 Question and Answer Session here:
All I learned from it is that Mary O'Connor owns a small business, wants a farmer's market, and for airlines to sponsor "technology centers" at local schools--whatever those are.
ReplyDeleteAnd that Gavin is kind of just blah, but more realistic of the situation we are in and knowledgeable about the ward.
Both candidates are very lacking but I am giving the slight nod to Gavin...for now.
So, Gavin is no longer a Republican? Does the Republican party know?
ReplyDeleteGavin offered no solutions to anything...acted like she was the victim of the "system"
ReplyDeleteI missed Gonzalez. He had style and charisma. Both of these candidates are flat. I do agree with O'connor that we have to try to get along (somewhat) with Rahm or we will continue to get nothing up here.
ReplyDeleteWe are doomed
ReplyDeleteI was suprized to hear Gavin say she was an independent, free of partisan politics.
ReplyDeleteNorwood Park residents referred to themselves as the "stepchild" and Edison Park as the "golden child" in regards to money spent. I thought that was a fair perception.
ReplyDelete10:33, I was a bit confused by that. The money being spent in Edison Park is coming from businesses and investors, not by the alderman's office. The Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce is responsible for that.
ReplyDeleteI didn't attend tonight, but I was at the very first forum and Gavin mentioned Doherty and praised him at least a couple dozen times. Sounds like she is distancing herself big time.
ReplyDeleteWhat Gavin said was that she is "nothing like Doherty, except for their height"
ReplyDeleteI think Gavin still praises Doherty for many of the things he did but she is trying to make clear that things will be different with her. She pointed out a few specifics such as better communication through a website and more transparency in the ward office.
ReplyDeleteStop talking about other candidates not in the race. Shame on this blog for allowing that kind soft publicity. Just for the record, he is not missed if you do unbiased homework on his background.
ReplyDeleteThe forum was very well attended; civilized; uncensored questions from new faces, very refreshing. I wish I had a nickel for every time each candidate said "frustrating." O'Connor presented some new ideas of moving forward, Gavin spent a lot of time apologizing for unanswered calls and unresponsiveness coming from the ward office. Bottom line who does Rahm want?
ReplyDeleteIt was good to hear the specifics that bothered the voters and asking the really hard questions for a change. The other forums were "soft" compared to this one.
ReplyDeleteGavin didn't really verbalize that she thought there have been problems with service delivery out of the ward office for over a decade. She had no insight, most likely because she is to close and communication with the ward has been so poor. I'm voting for a change. If gavin can't articulate that there needs to be change, there will be no improvements.
ReplyDeletePeople had websites in the 20th century Maurita Gavin, welcome to the 21st century!
ReplyDeleteWhat is "frustrating" is our choices for alderman.
ReplyDeleteI know O'connor and Gavin and Gavin is her own person. She will take her vast knowledge from fifteen years of experience and devote herself 100% to the neighborhoods of 41. She also will never stab a friend in the back and never diseminate lies about any one. Win or lose O'Connor's reputation is toast. She is not a nice person. I was un-decided until I got one of those B.S. survey calls. Some one tell me where I go to volunteer for Gavin. Many of the statements above look like they are from some young David Axelrod wanna be trying to spin the media after a Presidential debate. What a joke!
ReplyDeleteCommunity members please comment...candidates and their staffers...lets hear from the community.
ReplyDeleteI think Rahm will be getting involved in this race very, very soon. The question is, will his endorsement be a 'kiss of death' or a boost?
ReplyDeleteI do think getting along with the next Mayor will work to our advantage. I like the idea of starting with a new mayor, new alderman and new chief of police. Time to clean house and work with people who are at least committed to try.
ReplyDeleteUnion Blogger here: So now Gavin is not Republican? She has worked for a Republican alderman who endorsed her to take his place for 15 years. All of a sudden she is pro-union and throwing her political party out the window? She sounds like she doesn't know who or what she believes in.
ReplyDeleteWrong again, Union Blogger. There is no 'all of a sudden' to the fact that Gavin is pro-union.
ReplyDeletemore than half of the questions were from people who said they never received answers to their questions, didn't receive follow up phone calls and thought their concerns were not properly addressed by the ward office. It sounded like people in the audience just wanted responses to their concerns, and there are currently no mechanisms in place to help them. Also, the only question that received a clapping applause was the question about improving communications including a website that would have info posted about how the alderman votes in city council. People want info, and haven't received any in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 1:49pm, I thought the audience was right on target with their questions.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the ward office didn't have the correct tracking data programs to address calls, requests and follow up. Also good customer service requires a QA component. Were constituents surveyed? Did anyone do follow up interviews? Were QA reports generated?
ReplyDeleteIf they didn't have a functional website, I sincerely doubt they had tracking software.
ReplyDeleteStop it already. You gals are killing me. There is a grain of sugar difference between the two candidates. One is a RINO and the other is a former Republican and seitched parties to be a democrat. The joke is on us. So keep blogging and think that we are affecting change.
ReplyDeleteWe ain't.
How can you run for an office with a "service" platform if you haven't been able to deliver services for 10 years?
ReplyDeleteI have delt with the ward office time and time again and I have always been very satisfied. I was at the meeting the other night, and I am wondering why these people never stopped in personally to the ward office if they had a problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the answer to 3/12/2011 7:55am's question was answered at the forum: constituents should not have to "stop in personally to the ward office", they should be able to receive answers via EMAIL or the Phone. People in the ward work and are busy - shouldn't have to go to an office to get answers.
ReplyDeleteAnd that ward office is in the worst place ever in terms of accessibility. No place to park at all.
Also good customer service requires a QA component. Were constituents surveyed? Did anyone do follow up interviews? Were QA reports generated?
ReplyDeleteI spit out my coffee laughing at this post. The ward office and "customer service" and "quality assurance" you gotta be kidding. And I sincerely doubt they even have a fax machine becasue they simply don't want to deal with anything, especially the voters.
I didn't attend this forum, but I did attend one of the Doherty/Mulroe forums last year. At that forum doherty bragged about sending $30,000 back to the city that was given to him to run the ward office. I remember thinking, no wonder no one answers my calls and there is only one office in the largest ward in the city.
ReplyDeleteThere is just a sense of hopelesness about this race
ReplyDeleteDid either candidate say anything about public meetings? How often?
ReplyDeleteScheduled public meetings sponsored by the alderman would be a great thing to implement.
ReplyDeleteO'Connor said she would continue the Zoning Advisory Board and set up an Education Advisory COmmittee. She also said she would hire representatives from each of the communities in the 41st ward.
ReplyDeleteGavin state anything.
I was suprized to hear Gavin say she was an independent, free of partisan politics.
ReplyDeleteMarch 10, 2011 10:20 PM
I think Gavin wishes she was free of both the Republican party and her association with Doherty, which turned out to be a double-edged sword.
Gavin/Doherty have been out of touch with voters for a very long time. Time for new leadership.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Gavin will bring her "clappy" ladies to sit in the front row and clap like trained seals at everything she says..oh, brother.
ReplyDelete