State Still Smothering School Bill

Kathy Ryg

The squeeze is getting noticed…

This letter appeared in The Daily Herald at the beginning of the month. District 59 State Rep Kathy Ryg is one of four Illinois House representatives who have  sponsored and filed HB5769 – Education Fiscal Accountability amendments to the School Code

“as a result of research and collaboration by elected officials, advocacy groups, educators, administrators and school board members. As you suggest, the bill provides for increased transparency so taxpayers understand how money is being spent in their local schools and can evaluate if that investment is leading to good outcomes for students.”

Planning Examples

http://ashlandplanning.blogspot.com/

Is an example from Ashland, VA- strapline “Center of the Universe”.  It uses a free blogspot website with free forum poll software to solicit different types of input.

In theory at least, DG could make use of freebie tools to keep the costs of TCD3 and a new Comp Plan to a minimum.

Houston We Have A Problem

Red Light Cameras, the gift that keeps on giving…

RLC stopping an accident...no, wait, scratch that...

more accidents and less safety…

I had thought about categorizing this as humor because Houston Mayor Bill White insists the increased accidents prove RLC is reducing accidents.  The news report repeats as fact the suppositions and misinformation provided by the IIHS.  I also tried to verify a Texas Transportation Instsute study that the news article says was published in December that supported the contention accidents had gone down.  No such luck, that study does not appear to exist, although I did find at TTI study from 2004 showing a slightly longer yellow decreases accidents.

The comments section is worth the read, over 350 comments, almost all negative on RLC, and on Houston Mayor Bill White for allowing RLC to happen in the first place. Don’t think that guy has an elected office in his future anymore.

In Houston it’s all about the money, about $20 million in fine revenues since September of 2006-which gets divided up with the RLC company.

Novi MI Shoves It Under Resident Noses

That’s what I’m talking about…

On-line someday?

Right now, I’m watching a city council meeting in Novi, MI.  No, they aren’t holding a meeting on Tuesday December 30th, 2008; this meeting was held on October 6, 2008.  It’s in their archive.  I just watched a part from December 15th where they interviewed potential City Council replacement candidates.

2008 Illinois Pork

Mmmmm…needless spending…mmmm…

A New Years Wish

After all the good things congress has done and allowed to happen, it’s only fair they pat themselves on the back with a nice pay hike.  They’ve even rigged the thing so they don’t have to actually vote to get the raise; Thursday congress will not vote to not take an automatic 2.8% pay raise, all while our national debt, the budget deficit, any claim of common sense governing, and our savings are all being blown straight to hell.

Merry Christmas From Sock Puppets

RLC: Which Plate is Real, Which Is the Fake?

Color laser printers find new uses everyday…

“Pimping” Red Light Cameras. Click on the link and read the latest on RLC.

Park District Makes Two

While I don’t follow the PD budget process, I guess I should so I would have seen this coming:

Village Recognized for Financial Excellence

This should come as no surprise.  Budget Director Judy Buttney has methodically improved the budget reporting and organization, making it easier (not easy-parsing budgets never are) to follow the money as it comes in as revenues and goes out as expenses.

What Was Blago’s Kickback for Red Light Cameras?

Soon to be former Governor Blagojevich was a point man in rigging the Illinois Compiled Statutes to allow the seven collar counties around Chicago to employ Red Light Cameras.  It was one of the few things that has made it past the war between Blago and Mike Madigan.  Ah, how money can bridge the mightiest of gaps.

Exactly how much did RLC comanies promise him in campaign contributions for allowing this travesty?

Mooch: 2001-2008

This year’s been weirdly centered, for me, on duodenums other than my own, letting others make tough decisions, and being supportive without second guessing.  There’s probably a lesson there.  This one has a sad ending.

No I’m Not Filing For Council

Subtitle: A one word answer in 1361 words.  How typical of me.

No, I am not filing to run for council.  That may disappoint 7 or 8 people around town, but I think the world will keep spinning the correct direction.

I had been urged to run to focus discussion on our biggest issues.  I tried to do that last time, and the timing was right: streets and flooding.  This time the issues are a bit less cut and dried.

Issues this time?

Evanston May Charge NFP’s For Zoning Relief

Should DG be thinking along the same lines?

This probably wouldn’t survive a legal challenge if someone wanted to play hardball, but it certainly bears watching.  After all, council is going to be looking for fees and revenue enhancers to help the budget, and right now Mr. and Ms. Average Taxpayer are a bit thin, having watched years of IRA and 401K savings dissolve away into nothing just as the national economy does a convincing recreation of the Hindenburg…

2009 Village Budget Done Deal

“Tough times can be a learning experience.”

The 2009 budget, after a fairly clean and well documented process that serves well as a template for future budgets, passed tonight with little fanfare.  Not a wonder, there have been several opportunities for the public to be heard.  Every council member had something to say, and listening to it on the audio file seemed to highlight some interesting commentary.