6/15/2011 Update: If you attended the forum, leave a comment....
MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNITY MEETING
"NORWOOD PARK, THE ROAD FORWARD"
Wednesday,June 15th,7 PM Norwood Crossing,Heritage Hall 6016 N. Nina
MEET OUR NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS: STATE SENATOR JOHN MULROE (10TH DISTRICT) & 41ST WARD ALDERMAN MARY O'CONNOR
From the Norwood Park Chamber of Commerce & Indusry website http://www.norwoodpark.org/
The 41st ward has already seen a bit of the bull crap that is to come. I called O'Connor's business to see about a garage sale permit and she doesn't even have any idea of where her office will be. And the inaguration is monday. Nice alderman, nice staff. O'Connor, the village is calling you. They're missing their idiot.
ReplyDeleteHopefully will see some sort of strategic plan from local pols... power point with their priorities and plans, interventions, strategies. Come on pols, professional presentation with goals, benchmarks, plans etc...
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThe village tried to call you but your phone isn't answering. You forgot to pay your bill.
Uncle Buzzkill
Am I the only one who feels very sad for people like 4:29 PM and
ReplyDelete9:27 PM?
I'm sure deep down, folks like you really care about your community. I really do. But for some unfortunate reason, the anonymous nature of this blog has convinced you thats it OK to say awful, mean-spirited things about people who care just as much about our tight-knit community. People on both sides are guilty of it.
It's almost as if you are rooting for this ward to fail because your candidate didn't win an election?
It's childish, counterproductive and it isn't anything like the people I spend time with in our parks, festivals, parades, schools and place of worship.
The bitter and personal nature of your comments lead me to believe that you are someone who is very close to the Gavin campaign. Although I hope not, because I like Brian Doherty on a personal level and it casts a dark shadow over his 18 years of genuine public service.
This blog has the potential to serve an important purpose in educating residents of the 41st Ward about some very important things that affect all of us.
I just hope that readers take time to draw their own conclusions about this alderman and what she does (or does not) do in the months and years to come. Otherwise, this great forum will become a place that concerned, reasonable people avoid because they're turned off by the lack of civility.
For what it's worth, Mary O'Connor's is being sworn in tomorrow morning and her first day in office is Tuesday AM.
I for one can wait till the city provides her with phones, email and a handful of meetings at City Hall before needing to see a Power Point presentation on anything.
well said 7:59pm. We need to give the new Alderman a few months to learn about systems, perform assessments and evaluate what is working and not working in the ward.
ReplyDeleteRight 8:55 p.m. and we need to raise expectations about the level of civility we going to expect on a 41st Ward blog. It seems reasonable to voice opinions but it also seems reasonable to do it with a little bit of grace.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in the 41st for over 2 decades and have watched local politics carefully over the years. Since I've lived here, I have only known one alderman and that in itself is a shame. Term limits are absolutlely needed, and what happened in the 41st Ward over the years proves this point.
ReplyDeleteBut for now, from listening to my neighbors and friends, reading this blog, and what local media there is, I have seen a few things. Sure, there are still Gavin supporters, angry over their loss. Gavin, Doherty, etal have been around along time and for a handful of supporters, they worked. But, truth be told, the Doherty/Gavin group was quite small - two dozen family and friends. Soon they will be a blip on the radar...
And then there are a few former O'Connor volunteers who assumed they would be appointed a paid position in exchange for their volunteer work, and at the end of the day were not given jobs. They are acutely angry right now. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard a campaign volunteer state they will get a job for working on a campaign..over the years. Anyone who thinks they will be appointed a paid position for working on a political campaign is seriously delusional. And if your only motivation for working for a politician is a self-serving one, then you will be seriously disappointed and angry at the end of the day.
Now, though, is the time for the average person in the 41st to wait and watch. Most of us have no ax to grind, and simply want to see our neighborhood maintained and our taxes kept at an affordable rate.
I agree with the overall attitude, in that we need to give this new alderman time to get acclimated with the ward and its people, create new systems, better communication and make educated voting decisions at city council meetings.
We also need to do our jobs as voters - question, challenge, disagree and/or applaud the new alderman so she knows how we feel.
I like this blog for that reason. Sure a few angry former supporters from both sides need to vent for awhile, but if you see that for what it is, you can see there are also some well thought out comments too. Discern for yourselves. Personally, I like reading about an issue from all sides and am glad this blog publishes a variety of opinions instead of just the sugary, sweet and complimentary stuff - plain and simple, life isn;t like that. But, I too, wish everyone would remain civil and not use words that cause harm or hurt others.
I live on Higgins and this morning I was woken up by contruction noise at 7 am at 6730 W. Higgins (the Law Office of Kevin Dillon) where tuck pointers were blasting the morter causing not only noise, but huge clouds of dust forming for blocks and coming through my apartment windows. I went over there and saw no permit for contruction work. Huge clouds of concrete dust are still in the air and throughout my apartment as I am typing this. What gives? And what kind of neighbor allows this to go on?
ReplyDelete100% agree with term limits. Doherty and his office became complacent after 2 terms. Two term max, with an option to run again after four years.
ReplyDeleteI agree - present all opinions, even the less than positive ones, but don't make it personal. nasty, etc.
ReplyDeleteIs Kevin Dillon related to the police top brass family of Dillon's involved in discrimation lawsuits that they benefitted from?
ReplyDeleteI usually don't go to events like this, but I am interested in hearing what the elected officials have to say. And I am hoping they will take questions from the audience and dialogue with the audience.
ReplyDeleteI walked by 6730 W. Higgins yesterday and noticed the tuck pointing job was halted... are they getting a permit or waiting until next Sunday 7am to re-start the work?
ReplyDeleteI am going to attend, and I hope I am allowed to ask questions.
ReplyDeleteI hope State Sen. Mulroe takes a few minutes to talk about the state's last legislative session and expalin why he voted as he did on some of the more critical issues.
ReplyDeleteTo 2:23 can you be more specific on what critical issues and how he voted on them?
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I was surfing the net when I came upon a website that had the following information: Ward 41
ReplyDeleteAlderman Mary O’Connor
Office: 6107 N. Northwest Highway
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: 773.594.8341
Ward 41 is located in the Edison Park neighborhood. Click here to view the neighborhood map for Edison Park on www.ExploreChicago.org.
This is one question that should be asked as I know others have noticed this one the net and not only on this website. The 41st Ward is not just Edison Park. It is Norwood Park, Edgebrook, O'Hare, Edison Park, Foster Harlem, and Oriole Park. Also some websites will take you to pictures of what they consider to be the 41st Ward which are pictures of only Edison Park. This needs to get changed!
To 6:31pm, the website you are referring to is the City of Chicago website. The alderman has a website too www.ward41.com
ReplyDeleteThe alderman's website is suppose to be interactive, but is still under construction. I'm wondering when it will be functional?
Brief Summary:
ReplyDeleteGreat forum Norwood Chamber of Commerce!
The forum was attended by about 50 or so people. The Alderman and Senator made opening statements and provided updates about city and state news.
After opening comments, people from the audience were allowed to ask questions to either or both elected officials.
One of the key topics brought up over and over, had to do with communication, and how difficult it has been for community residents to receive community news, especially since the Pioneer Press neighborhood paper was discontinued last year.
The Alderman mentioned that her office has been working with Nadig news to expand circulation of the Nadig Newspapers ("The Review") in Norwood park and Edison Park. Senator Mulroe asked the audience how we thought information could be shared in the community. Ideas mentioned: Posting info at The Norwood Senior Center, post office, library, local banks. A member of the audience suggested www.friendsofnorwoodpark.org
The Alderman mentioned that she will be sending out email notifications with ward news and events, and her website will also be providing ward and community info soon.
Other concerns: Specific streets in poor repair, poor drainage/flooding on specific streets, safety concerns related to traffic issues around Norwood Park School, funding cuts for local chambers of commerce, business revitalization in all the neighborhoods of the 41st, city & state budget concerns, pension reform for both city& state workers and a request for the Senator to hold a forum to listen to concerns of State and City retirees & current workers about pension reform.
Tonights forum was very informative and I look forward to future forums, and the community dialogue and ideas they generate.
I was at the forum and thought the alderman and senator did a good job. I thought the police officer representing the 16th District Commander could have said she would address the traffic safety problems around Norwood school with the commander instead of flat out saying there are no cops, "you need to form a parent patrol". As one of the parents, I don't think the question was send cops everyday, I beleive a solution could be to send a squad by randomly even twice a month - be a presence, write a few tickets - to send a message.
ReplyDeleteWe all know we are short cops, but that isn't an answer to serious safety concerns regarding the children.
As far as the police officer's response "you have to form parent patrols" - the parents tried to tell her the speeders and illegal parkers are other parents who swear, cuss and act like fools - no parent patrol is going to deal with other parents swearing at them.
I left that meeting thinking the police are using the manpower shortage to ignore community safety concerns and downplay their own responsibility.
To 7:32. How's this for a compromise? An incognito parent patrol (spies) could be formed to do an analysis of the problems and then submit a report to the police, and then let's see what the police do about it.
ReplyDeleteTo 7:32 and 11:08 When are parents and CPS going to take responsibility for themsevles? This is NOT a police issue. I would much rather the police actually doing their job on serious crimes then parents that can not be decent when dropping off their students. Why not contact your principal to come up with a plan to safely drop off children. I have worked at many schools that have done this very effectively without ANY police involvement. For goodness sakes most of the students that attend Norwood should be able to walk to school!
ReplyDeleteDude and dudess if the parents can't drop off their kids properly, expel the kids due to the parental recklessness or inability to follow school handbook guidlines concerning traffic safety. Kick out the ignorant, and increase the test scores. Send the parents and kids back to the ghettos that thier families started from. Incidentally, in case someone thinks that is insensitive, almost all American families started out in the ghetto. It's the right of passage in America.
ReplyDeleteMy kid walks to Norwood and has almost been run over by some of these maniacs.
ReplyDeletepublic safety is ABSOLUTELY a police concern, 6:21pm. Our kids safety needs to be our number one priority. The traffic issues around that school need to be dealt with professionally and NOT by a parent patrol. If the 16th wants community support in fighting for more officers for the district, mind what we deem our priorities!
ReplyDeleteI agree with 9:17am. If my kids aren't safe outside of their own school, I need to move. CPD better take child pedestrian safety seriously.
ReplyDeleteI attended the forum, but am not a Norwood School parent. I heard what the parents were saying and observed that they specifically came to the forum to verbalize this one concern. A member of the Local School Council came, too, and framed the problem well.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I think the police officer should have let the alderman address the issue with the parents. Her office could have said they will speak with the commander to look into the problem. My understanding is that the parents wanted some one to listen to them and their concerns and when the police officer minimized their concerns and basically dumped the problem back in their lap, they left frustrated. The police office spoke like a line office and had no pc skills to handle the situation.
If I were the alderman, I would reach out to the Norwood Park School parents, attend their next council meeting and try to work out some sort of plan with the commander. Lets work together.
"the police officer minimized their concerns and basically dumped the problem back in their lap" ... sounds like every time I've ever been to a CAPS meeting!!!
ReplyDeleteThe police should at the very least say they will go out and look at the situation and should have asked to meet with parents. Everyone knows the police are busy, etc, etc...(I'm busy too, doing the job of three people, working for the city) but if there really is a safety problem, the police blow off the parents and a kid gets hurt...
ReplyDeleteThe comment about the CAPS meeting is so true..I stopped going to them, because all I heard was there was "nothing we can do".
ReplyDeleteThe CAPS meetings need to be run by citizens and not CAPS officers. When CAPS was originally set up, it was set up to be run by the community liason
I would like to see regularly scheduled forums sponsored by the alderman and senator, quarterly.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the elected officials should wait until a community group decides to invite them. Lets see some proactive communication, especially since communication has been identified as a serious issue.
Quarterly Ward meetings with elected officials is a GREAT idea. Communication has been very poor in the ward and it would be beneficial to hear municipal and legislative news first hand from people who really know what's going on. The alderman and senator could invite guest speakers too, like the police commander, CPS chief Brizzard, CPD McCarthy, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd, they could be videotaped for ward residents who can't make the meetings - now that is communication!
I wasn't at this forum, but I do agree that communication has been a real problem in the ward. I think communication needs to be in many forms - forums/meetings, interactive websites, newspapers/flyers/postings.
ReplyDeleteThe best and most direct communication would be the quarterly community forum. But, will the alderman and senator commit to forums four times/year?
Why do the residents of the 10th congressional district have to pay $30.00 to hear Senator Mulroe report on the goings on in Springfield?
ReplyDelete11:17pm
ReplyDeleteCan you explain your question? Where and who states there is a $30.00 fee?
To June 24 7:45AM
ReplyDeleteCheck out friends for Mulroe. He states "I am back from session and would like to see all of my friends family and community members to continue to inform you about what has happened this year as well as start thinking about the next election cycle Teamsters Local 734 hall 6643 Northwest Hwy Thursday June 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 Tickets are $30.00. RSVP 708-307-9351. This was also sent via email
I thought that Mulroe campaigned on the fact that he was not a politician. Looks like things have changed very fast!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone heard if that hookah lounge is going to be allowed at 5001 N. Harlem? More importantly, did alderman oconnor vote yes or no?
ReplyDelete