Three things stick out to us about the City of Aurora's Finance Committee's non-discussion about proceeding forward with seeking red-light cameras.
1. First, they should figure out why there's a five-month delay on posting minutes of their meetings to the city's website.
2. For Alderman Leroy Keith, a frequent anonymous poster on this blog, having any role in the finances makes as much as sense to us as putting Tom Weisner on the next Dancing with the Stars. Only if you want to make a mockery and see things fall apart.
3. Alderman Abby Schuler on finance. This is the same Abby Schuler who was AWOL on various land deals and scams that cost taxpayers millions. Then again, she's a friend of Weisner.
Many of you have participated in an extensive discussion on red-light cameras after we followed up on the fishwrap's irresponsible and flawed editorial on the matter (we notice they are still providing misleading information in today's article).
But, the finance committee had NO discussion. Unless, you count this from Leroy:
"This is good stuff..."
-Leroy Keith
Legalisms
The only other notable thing we learned was they don't intend to call these as "moving violations." So, in other words, if you are caught going through a red-light by a police officer, it's a moving violation, but if you are caught by the red-light camera operated by a private company for the city, it's not a moving violation.
Be Careful What You Ask For...
The city wants to target five "to be determined" intersections. Some viewers of this blog have offered to selectively target five city officials and aldermen who have been observed going through red-lights. So, the question is that if we show the pictures of their vehicles (no charge to taxpayers), will the city have the courage to send these city officials and aldermen tickets in the mail?
1. First, they should figure out why there's a five-month delay on posting minutes of their meetings to the city's website.
2. For Alderman Leroy Keith, a frequent anonymous poster on this blog, having any role in the finances makes as much as sense to us as putting Tom Weisner on the next Dancing with the Stars. Only if you want to make a mockery and see things fall apart.
3. Alderman Abby Schuler on finance. This is the same Abby Schuler who was AWOL on various land deals and scams that cost taxpayers millions. Then again, she's a friend of Weisner.
Many of you have participated in an extensive discussion on red-light cameras after we followed up on the fishwrap's irresponsible and flawed editorial on the matter (we notice they are still providing misleading information in today's article).
But, the finance committee had NO discussion. Unless, you count this from Leroy:
"This is good stuff..."
-Leroy Keith
Legalisms
The only other notable thing we learned was they don't intend to call these as "moving violations." So, in other words, if you are caught going through a red-light by a police officer, it's a moving violation, but if you are caught by the red-light camera operated by a private company for the city, it's not a moving violation.
Be Careful What You Ask For...
The city wants to target five "to be determined" intersections. Some viewers of this blog have offered to selectively target five city officials and aldermen who have been observed going through red-lights. So, the question is that if we show the pictures of their vehicles (no charge to taxpayers), will the city have the courage to send these city officials and aldermen tickets in the mail?
245 comments:
1 – 200 of 245 Newer› Newest»This weekend we had a free for all in this city. At one point the entire police shift had to deal with a huge problem at the Outlet Mall, Whitneys Cafe' on New York street leased out their place to a bunch of gang bangers who all end up on New York St. and Pinney St.approx. 250 of them, a guy was shot multiple time at the Office, A house was shot up on fifth, and many more situations. We had to have Montgomery police cover for us because all of our officiers where tied up with all the problems.
We need to worry about people running red lights?
So why does running a red-light constitute as a moving violation when caught by the police but not when caught by the camera? This
makes no sense.
Can anyone explain why there's a difference in the law if this is so?
This is good stuff...
maybe the city needs to hire more officers. neighborhood groups have been asking for this for YEARS - so they have enough staff to deal with the 'big stuff', as well as dealing with speeders and the like.
for some reason neither the higher ups in both city hall and the department seem to not like this idea.
I think they think we'd expect results or something...
The reason red light camera tickets are not IVC moving violations is because there is no identification of the driver. The camera tickts are the same as parking tickets. The vehicle is issued the ticket, not the driver. The same thing if a car is parked illegally. The car, and therefore the registered owner is ticketed because there is no way to know who parked the car there. Your irresponsible brother may have parked the car there, or ran the light, but you have to pay. That is why it cannot be an IVC moving violation. The cameras are just a fine.
You would think the city would go after Whitneys Cafe.........Oh wait...the owner is Weisners buddy...And I wonder why that didnt make the paper??????
No one on the Police Dept. thinks the redlight cameras area good idea, nor will they be as effective as they say...Wait...The Command staff does...Once again..Dont listen to your employees. Instead of providing better police service and hiring more offiers, the city will once again waste your tax dollars...Just like lowering the speed limit..Yeah...that will work!
Thanks 5:12 for the fine explanation.
I read where these cameras have worked very well in Chicago. Can they utterly lose their effectiveness when they are established 40 miles to the west? Only on this blog, I guess.
Did you ever stop to think that the aldermen may have actually thought they were worth voting for? Maybe they did their homework ahead of time.
If you feel that strongly about their vote, then vote them out of office, but most people I speak with think this was the right decision.
I'd like to see your poll results showing that "no one" at the APD thinks the cameras are a good idea. I find it hard to belive that certain forward thinking officers do not advocate their use.
.
.
We don't enforce the 30 mph now, so who will enforce the 25mph?
Maybe we can install cameras on every street and we can get rid of the police department entirely. It may save money after all.
Just another feel good law. We have speed limit laws and look at how many people break those each second. This is nothing more than a revenue generator.
10:13
you are correct. This is about money. If this was about the spirit of the law, the city would issue warnings via the mail. Then a second time offender would receive a fine. After all, the law is intended to gain compliance first, not to simply impose sanctions. That is why police officers use something called discretion. They know when a warning may gain compliance and they know when it wont. Then, they take appropriate action which is not based on money.
This system is about $$ folks.
Hey everybody--I don't mean to hijack this blog, but don't know how to contact Openline about this:
The D131 School Board From Hell is once again trying to destroy audiotapes of closed-session discussions held between January 2004-April 2005! (This was the period of time dealing with the land sale and band director blunders, among other things!)
The first order of business listed on this coming Monday's meeting is "destruction of closed-session audiotapes". I remember a couple of months ago they said they planned to destroy them, and readers of THIS BLOG spoke out and it was tabled. Well, it looks like they're trying once more--probably to get rid of sensitive evidence before some new school board members (with integrity?) are elected in the spring.
Is there any way we can speak out again and prevent this?
Maybe the reason Aurora cops don't want the cameras is that they might get caught running red lights. Unfortunately, some of our cops think the rules don't apply to them.
The cameras are a great idea. In Aurora, when I apply my breaks because the light turns yellow, I instinctively look in my rear view mirror to make sure the driver behind me isn't accelerating to beat the light.
This is about safety and enforcing traffic laws.
11:21 get a lawyer quick.
11:21
state attorney's office who can obtain a court order.
11:36 should post their address so that the police are sure to drive slow and stop at all lights and stop signs in case they call 911. That's the type of person that is all complaints about stuff like that until they call and the police are not there quick enough for them, then they will complain about that. You just can't make ignorant happy
So is the City supposed to wait forever until the police have good morale and want to enforce things? From what I have seen, that will never happen. Good laws still need to be passed. A good attitude will just need to catch up.
No posts for a whole day? Must be nice to cherry-pick stories that fit your biased world view. Yay, Openline!
If the city sends out notices I guess we will have to hire another director for that. As far as traffic enforcement 95% of collisions are due to driver error maybe we need to educate the drivers? Police morale goes with you can change the faces in command positions but you can't change the thinking. The good ole boy system has been there for years and will not change under the present administration. Can't get caameras in gang and drug areas but we can on traffic lights shows the city of Aurora's thinking,
I would like to know who the vendor is on the sale and instullation of these cameras? Could this be another payback? This should go through a bid process and will it?
12:07
Maybe there were no posts because we had a little thing going on called a blizzard.
Idiot.
Dear 6:02 a.m.:
Maybe the City will see how the traffic cameras work at intersections. If they are successful like Chicago's, then maybe they will move to crime cameras in higher crime locations. It would be wise for the City to work out the kinks with intersection lights first and then expand.
12:07
Why couldn't you get your paper delivered on time ?
Just wondering Mr. Nagel! I like the lame apology in the paper today nice spin.
As for Cherry picking what to report on, how about 1 article on the negative truth about just one of the dozens of scandles in this city. Just one would be nice instead of acting as the propoganda machine for the scum bag mayor and his rubber stamping council.
Must be nice to cherry-pick stories that fit your biased world view. YAY, Fishwrap!
Hey 9:11pm where is the independent data substantiating the fact that the ones in Chicago have been "successful"
8:40 a.m.,
I didn't realize snow shut down the Internets. My mistake. And here, I thought the Chicago suburbs had a pretty solid electrical infrastructure.
11:56 a.m.,
Oh, sure. You know exactly who I am. You figured me out. But, wait. If there was a blizzard, how would I be able to post when the Internets are down?!? And the c in cherry isn't a capital letter.
Dear 12:50:
It has been reported in the Tribune after independent fact gathering and analysis, the way a professional newspaper works. The largest newspaper distributed in the third largest metropolitan area of the country does that. And this is not meant to be a pick at the Beacon.
To 12/02/2006 8:40 AM
The blizzard didn't stop my computer from working IDIOT.
9:10 still no facts!
It's not that the snow shutdown the website or affected anyone's
internet access. Maybe the reason for no posts on Friday was of higher priorities like snow removal or tending to the children who were home from school.
USE YOUR HEAD MORONS!
Why does anyone care why there was no post on any particular day?
Is this blog a news organization?
If the moderators of this blog do not post that is their decision. If they lose readers because of failure to post it is their loss.
Why expend so much energy on a non-topic?
And yes I expended energy writing this comment on such a non-topic.
It's 10:00 AM Monday December 4th and I am posting this note on a November 30th site.
I believe the blizzard is over.
10:15
Maybe you could do better by starting your own blog website but I doubt it.
Complaining is your forte.
Did anyone catch the article in the Saturday Beacon about Shodeen?
The Shodeen article was a complete reaction to this blogs story. Congrats openline you are now controlling the Beacon.
I agree it was a reaction to this blog. There has been nothing in the press about the possible problems of the Shoden project. The Beacon seems to be answering a question that nobody beside Alderman Lawrence and this Blog have raised.
Alderman Lawrence has said that Shodeen would stop the project right at the 3.5 Mil that the city was responsible for, which came true. He called for a report of the status of the Shodeen project over 2 months ago. What ever happen to that?
It was irresponsible of the city toget involved ina project without any understanding of the issues and the challenges of it. I understand in the new budget the Mayor wants to float a 15 mil bond that would include environmental clean up I bet this is to cover for the Shodeen mess.
I will make a prediction; The Shodeen project will be the Mayors down fall over all other problems he might face.
I signed up at Montgomery Market Place to get the Beacon for 10 wks for a dollar a week on 11/17. Delivery was to start 5 to 7 days after I signed up. Also the free paper I was given was missing 2 sections. Yes, I called the Beacon to let them know about this. Not blaming the person handing them out, if fact, he was very nice to me. As, of yet have not received the paper. I called this weekend to find out if it was being delivered to the wrong place. No, it has not. Delivery has not been started yet. Also, their base showed the wrong address for my phone#. They do have the right address for delivery. Delivery is supposed to start tomorrow or Wes. What does this say for the Beacon?
It's 9:30, December 4th and I'm posting this on a November 30th site.
Even the Beacon came out today.
to annon 12/04 @ 9:28pm
And your point is what? This is a blog not a newspaper. What about the person stating waiting to get Beacon after they signed up for it.
Bet they would have wanted to read some of the articles they should have been getting.
9:28
If you're complaining about posting on a 4 day old site... what's that say about you other than you are not too bright.
Go read your Beacon.
I was waiting for the Beacon to finally come out and report on the terrible job the city did on the snow clean up.
My neighbors and I cannot remember such a terrible response by the city. Looks like alderman Beykirch agrees. My street is plowed finally, but it is the worst plow job I have seen in 20 years. Take a drive on indian trail going west bound and you will see the turn lane going onto north farnsworth is not even plowed that was as of last night. This is on Indian trail a four lane main artery in the city. I would hate to imagine what the city would look like if even a few more inches fell.
New mayor + newly promoted Public Properties Director = worst response in 20years.
Wow, still no new stories. What's wrong openline, you starting to like all the articles in the Beacon?
Does anyone know what happened at the D131 school board meeting last night? Did they decide to destroy the tapes, or did they possibly actually listen to taxpayers' concerns (for once)?
Meanwhile on the West Side, the super & school board are bending over backwards to be responsive to the public. Now they've announced that they will broadcast the recent discussions about the upcoming referendum on the local-access television station. Way to go, West School Board!
Meanwhile on the East Aurora school board, it's more of the same: secrecy, disrespect, repeated disregard for taxpayers' views & concerns. And they wonder why the referendum was voted down by what the Beacon called a "landslide"?
DUH!
I heard they voted to destroy the tapes, but not without discussion.
I also heard they gave a very good presentation at the public hearing that was also held last night about the tax rate change for next year.
Was "Outspoken" there? Whos post I read that encouraged people to come out.
I was told that only two residents showed.
7:53 I agree with some of what you are saying, but if you feel so strongly about what you post then I would suggest going to the Board and voicing those opinions.
I live in the newer area of the East side, have no kids in school yet am somewhat interested in the goings on at the district. I keep in touch with many people that are involved with city issues. I can say that if the people do not show up or even write letters then what message are YOU sending to the Board? So props to the few that showed up at last nights meeting.
FYI-The two that I was told showed at the meeting and public hearing last night are Bruce Schubert and Bob Koppenhoefer.
Hey openline--Whats Up? You guys take a vacation to hawaii or something?
Today is December 5th at noon. This post appears on November 30th.
What the hell???
Run out of venom?
I see the city has chosen which streets will be lowered to 25mph. They listed them in the Beacon the other day.
Hey Rick you out there? What do you think of all this?
I don't know how many people know this but Xerox will let you pick out a postcard that children have disigned and send them to the soldiers serving in Iraq. I went to the website and it is true so lets show them how much we appericate them not matter how you feel about the war.
www.letssaythanks.com
cool!
Where are the new stories? It's getting stale in here. Blog masters on vacation? What gives?
Hey, if you want new stories read your Beacon. This is a blog and if they decide not to post anything that is there choice. Or maybe your are worried what they are taking time to find out about.
Can anyone confirm the first post in this thread 11/30/06 at 1:30pm?
It's December 6th. HELLO!!!!
I too would like verification of the ordeal at Whitneys.
Anybody??
Ask the Police. This is the same group of people that was using the Brothers of Soul Building on Broadway. They would have a party just about every Friday night. It was nothing but a gang bangers rave party. Now since they can't use that location any more they have become a travelling circus. At one point you have almost every police officier on duty involved with triing to control the situation, sometimes it becomes very dangerous.
Why is it that the local paper fails to report this kind of thing?
it's too bad if it's true - the guy that owns that place is nice.
8:00AM
It's a matter of image. The fishwrap will not report news of a negative nature. The city and the fishwrap are in cahoots with one another.
Its ashame we cannot be told what the going-ons is around the town
even if it's not good. We have the right to know and NOT just what they want us to know.
Okay...should we call out the search parties?
they don't report negative stuff because their advertisers (developers) don't like negative stuff in the same place as their ads for new homes. they hate getting phone calls from people that spend tens of thousands of dollars for ad space, if not more.
I guess openlineblog left town.
Hey, Jason & Kent--what's up?
Did you get snowed in & still waiting for the City's snowplows?
Abducted by aliens and denied the use of your laptop?
Arrested on trumped-up charges & hoping one of us will show up with bail?
I'm concerned about you guys.
At least let us know you're among the living!!
:)
I think there dead.
Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
WANTED: DENNIS J. BURGIN
Thanks for the fresh air. Take your time coming back.
We the contributors, are taking a short vacation.
Don't you people have other lives?
I killed them all.
I am holding them hostage. If you want Jason, Clark and openline back you will donate one millllion dollars to the Wiesner defense I mean re-election fund.
To 12/07 at 1:03
My thoughts exactly!
2:09
Hey Tom,
Did you forget how to spell your
last name?
Idiot !
The city press girl spelled it Weiner
Who is Dennis J Burgin?
Who is Gerry Galloway?
Openline--
You're definitely entitled to a break. Enjoy it.
But won't you give your loyal readers at least a ballpark estimate of when there might be some new posts?
There's just nothing else out there like this blog, and I look forward to you guys' fresh take on local news & issues.
PLEASE COME BACK SOON--or at least keep us informed about your intentions!
While where waiting for openline to come back lets all do the click for cans from Campbell Soup for the Bears to give soup to food banks.
http://chunky.com/clickforcansvote.aspx
Oh, Mr. Openline, please talk to us. We are simple, pathetic folks, who have no sense of identity without you. Won't you please tell us when you are coming back, because we have no idea what to think unless you tell us.
We have so much to say about things we know nothing about, but you always listnened to us, Mr. Openline. We accomplished so much together. Remember when we saved that old drive-in theater? Or the time we helped get Terri Ann Wintermute and Kevin Williams elected?
We miss you so much, Mr. Openline! That rotten old Beacon News keeps printing papers every day, but they were never as objective or dependable as you! Now we have no one else to share our Weisner conspiracy theories with!
Please come home for Christmas, Mr. Openline!
to annon 12/08 @5:17pm
You are really one pathetic person. Do you have nothing else better to do? Why don't you try getting the true Christmas spirit and share it instead of what you do on this blog.
OK, So what if there is nothing new here. I just wanted to thank all of the EXCELLENT police and fire employees. They put themselves out during this crappy weather with no complaints, they should get a raise and be able to retire at 50.
So which one are you...a policeman or a fireman?
I love your post 9:50am
I will be clicking away!
12/08 @ 8:44
On the contrary, I would like to extend my most sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to each and every person who reads this blog.
Everyone except you. You called me pathetic, and that does not embrace the Christmas spirit. Loser.
5:17
Your second sentence said quote,
"We are simple, pathetic folks, who have no sense of identity without you."
It was your own self-admission you referred to yourself as pathetic...not I.
May the Christmas spirit bless you with some smarts and kindness.
Why don't we show that people that blog care about others and show our spirit. Go to www.letssaythanks.com to our soilders out there in this holiday season when they are so far from home and their families.
Lets help our food banks with a click for the Bears to help food banks becaues the Packers our kicking our butts on this and show that how ever we feel about this blog we care about other people.
http://chunky.com/clickforcansvote.aspx
For the people that run this blog I hope you are ok and GOD BLESS.
5:17
Mr. Nagel
I thought you had better things to do then to post here?
What a loser!
OPENLINE.BLOG SUCKS!!!!\
I WANT A REFUND.
I suspect the local Gestapo.
Did you all read in today's fishwrap that they are going to vote again on the east side school referendum in April?
I still say no way.
Since no one seems to be miding the store here, openline SUCKS, it is politically motivated CRAP, the idiots that set it up are either in jail or ran into a bridge abuttment. Yeah, happy holidays too, you Republican penii, Hi, I'm Rick Lawrence and I love to smoke crack
too funny 4:52, but it's METH not crack...
This is good stuff.
To anon 3:29--
I guess after several years of "no comment" and secrecy the School Board From Hell is trying to convince us that they're suddenly willing to listen to taxpayers' opinions.
Too little, too late IMHO. Once a skunk, always a skunk--let's see if we can vote some folks in with integrity. I know of at least 3 great candidates who are looking for signatures right now!
Who are the three? I'll sign. Doesn't meann I'd vote for them, just think the more the merrier in the race.
Now the Beacon reports that the failure of the referendum may cut
the math or spanish clubs. Awwwwwwwwww.
Is this a scare tactic? I'm appalled we were paying for this crap in the first place.
I think the Beacon should run some articles like the Daly Herald does on school funding.
http://www.dailyherald.com/
Breaking down school funding.
4/10/05 is the date of the article.
Yes, these are last year but I bet they are running new ones.
Openline you really have let your readers and posters down. I am not sure what happened to you but one thing that is for certain is that you can never recover the respect you had garnered. To just stop posting, with no explanation has really been a let down. I just hope there is a very good explanation for this.
Openline, I am a loser and have nothing to do. I can't have a life without being able to post a comment and relieve my frustrations. I am miserable, and a don't know what to do with my free time. Oh, geez. I might have to go out and meet my neighbors and be sociable and do something.
8:35--
You are SO cynical. All some of us are asking for is a little information from a blog that has been very influential in this city over the past couple of years.
I most definitely DO "have a life", and that life includes expressing my opinions online, and hopefully influencing others to see my point of view.
Openline--enjoy your break, but please also show consideration for your readers by letting us know when we can expect you back!
Maybe the local Gestapo shut them down through some means (?)
"You are SO cynical. All some of us are asking for is a little information from a blog that has been very influential in this city over the past couple of years."
Influencial?, Couple of years?.. If I look at the comments from this blogs archive (May - 2006).(http://openline.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_openline_archive.html). The most comments where < 20. It is just too funny to consider this avenue the way that the city communicates with the majority of the community.
maybe the operators of this blog made a deal with the devil.
This must be driving the Beacon editors crazy not having their paper on the blog. I have been told that they have had meetings trying to figure out who the blog creator is. Well if they are not smart enough to figure that out then it shows why they can't do any investigative reporting.
The news reporters check the blog every day to see what is being said and then get upset about it. I find it amazing how much time and energy they spend on a blog which they say is irrelevent.
"I have been told that they have had meetings trying to figure out who the blog creator is. " Wow, that is very interesting inside information for a super blogger like yourself, you must be one of us!!!.
This is why comments are funny...such as, (I have been told...), (someone told me...), etc..., well, what an interesting way to make things up.
12/13 @ 3:26
Not much relevance now, is there?
This blog wasn't worth a fuck until the moderators left. Now we can post what we want without those cocksuckers removing it from the blog. The Beacon is a third rate piece of shit, but openlinebloggers are the flies that live on that shit.
FREE SPEECH! DIG IT! FUCK YEAH!
yep, openline you have now officially crashed!!!!!!!!!
To 3:26,
I can tell you that the Beacon editors do not have meetings trying to figure out who the bloggers are. They know exactly who they are and were. I say "were" because Brent Schepp was one of them, which is why there was such an uproar on this site when he got in trouble. And if someone in the community was constantly saying what an incompetent loser you are in a public forum, I'll bet you'd get mad about it too. Why should you be surprised that the reporters might not like to be constantly ripped on here? If people were ripping you all the time you wouldn't like it much either.
12/13 @ 6:40
Schepp took the coward's way out after he got caught playing hide the salami with his babysitters. Then openlineblog tries to blur the issue by attacking the victims.
If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
Fucking pussies.
The best thing that ever happened to the Beacon was this blog. They don't have reporters, they have kids in training.
There are many people who work to put this blog together and they do a great job, you may disagree with some of the stories but it has always been much closer to reality then the Beacon ever was. You might say that there were only 15 people who read this but your wrong, most of the city employees, school district employees, political people, The Mayor, the Alderman and a whole bunch of voters read this on a daily bases. The Beacon could only wish to have writers as talented as this Blog. Ed Fanselow was the only writer who showed a talent in that organization. It might have been time to take a break and re-think the focus here but it will continue in the near future. So for all those like Tom W., Mike H., Gerry G., Leroy, Rick N. and staff who think you have created this pause, I say just wait.
Merry Christmas To All.
By the way when the Mayor goes to Florida the blog get hits from Florida.
Merry Christmas
Wonderful langauge......Did the fascists cause this sight to shut down for a while?....I would not be surprised.
Now this is REALLY good stuff.
12/13 7:34
You're the facist, dickbreath. Free speech rules. Fuck you and your bullshit conspiracy theories. This blog is dead and nobody gives a flying fuck. The Beacon still sucks, but at least they didn't bail out without a word, like the pussies that run this blog.
Does your mother know you talk like that in a public forum?
wow has this blog really just hit a brick wall. You ruined a good thing here openline. Bye....
Well I can see the intelligence level of weisner and his boobs has gone up since the alien obduction of the moderators here.
I think this is just a big experiment of how stupid the ediots are that run this town and post here are without a moderators.
I think the blog will be back online soon.
Thank God !
You heard it here first!
I just spoke with the owner of Whitneys Cafe on New York street and asked him about the "riot" that was posted on this blog. He was surprised and unaware of any riot and could not imagine why anyone would spread such gossip.
I guess blogs are not trustworthy.
Alas, poor Yorick!
Who's this Yorick guy?
Is he running for alderman?
If you all must use such vile language, Please direct it to those who deserve it like:
Tom Weisner
Bob Vaughn
Gerry Galloway
Perry Bigelow
The East Aurora School board
And the Editors of the Beaconfused.
Didn/t Google buy this blog site? Maybe they forgot to run it.
Did you actually think that the stuff on this blog was not ridiculously biased? As long as it makes someone look bad (no matter who it is) it will be top news here.
Whether you like this blog or not it is unfortunate that the people that hate this blog have to resort to the language used above. That alone speaks volumes about those individuals.
I do not recall that the moderators of this blog have ever claimed that this blog is a news organization or that they are unbiased in their position on any matters posted here. Of course it is biased. It is a blog that is run by people that like it or not, have positions on issues. There is no requirement that the moderators be unbiased and there is no requirement that anyone like what they post. Do you think that the usual and regular news organizations are not biased? If you do think again.
Having any position on any subject creates bias. All of us have positions on many subjects and are biased towards those positions.
Are the people that post here and complain about biases shown on this blog unbiased in their own beliefs and positions? I think not. Like it or not all of us that read and post on this blog have to accept this blog for what it is. If any reader does not like what is posted then your choices are two, read it and post your opinion or do not read it.
As with this blog I would venture to say that there is not an organization or person on this planet that is not biased. So why waste so much energy and space on this blog ranting about bias?
Merry Christmas!!!
Hey Leonard?
Fuck
Cunt
Shit
Cock
Gaping Ass Hole
Dangling labia
Oozing jizm
Merry Christmas
Dangling labia? The correct term is beef curtains, Lets try to be more sensitive.
Thanks for the reminder that evil people are all around us, even at christmas time.
So few words say so much.
It's Leroy.
It appears that Openline has been reduced to nothing more than a bunch of "porn and sleaze." Ahh, the delicious irony!
Now, I understand that "beef curtains" is a more politically-correct term for "dangling labia." This is the type of cutting-edge social commentary I just don't get when I read the local Fishwrap.
Thank you, Openline, for exposing a truth that the editors of the local Fishwrap would rather ignore.
so any know what happened to this blog? I think it is officially dead. At least it will never be what it was. Too bad. They left everyone high and dry, no word, nothing. I guess that is the difference between this blog and the paper. The paper would never have done this to its readers.
The Beacon had a front page article today on none other than Joe VanTreese. Hey, I thought this blog said the Beacon was biased against that guy. Could it be that the Beacon embodies balanced, fair and unbiased reporting of the news? Do you think?
hey 2:29 lets not go overboard. Unbiased and the Beacon do not go hand in hand. Look what they did last year when most of the City gave Weisner a D- for his performance. They up and went and gave their rating, edited the readers results and then wrote a story.
Look at how they did not cover the brawl at the Outlet mall up on Farnsworth that was causually mentioned weeks later(in todays paper) as part of another story. What about the shootings on Lenhertz avenue that were never covered. My sister lives a block away and heard multiple gun shots and it turns out car after car had their windows shot out. Lets hear about the unsolved crime rate in Aurora. Or the fact that they endorsed every incumbant up for election in November (how could that be statistically possible?)what about the lack of coverage of far east and southeast side issues? I would say they have a big bias just like this blog.
What does everyone think the top story of 2006 should be?
Hey All--
There's a new District 131 blog. Check it out:
http://ea131.blogspot.com.
New blog is good. Hope everyone is respectful and not the way some have been on this blog. I think the story of the year should be about the Drive-In and how Bigelow got what he wanted and did not do what he implied at the HomeTown meeting this summer,ie., donation to D131. Where is the monies for D131. I also think that Vantresse should be separated from Shodeen about the River Front, as Vantresse is doing what he started out to do and on schedule, but there is no concrete plans from Shodeen. Shodeen has really done nothing yet, as far as I am concerned and therfore should not be put with Vantresse.
Pat I agree. Note to the new blog admin. never leave your readers high and dry because you will never again get any respect.
The drive in has to be the #1 story by a mile. #2 is Vantreese even with all the obstacles the mayor put in front of him.
All this blog has ever been good for is biased opinions and crying over spilled milk.
It's time to move on people that's why I'm moving away from this blog that has died.
It's the same politicians running this blog that will turn on you just to make themselves look better.
Or maybe the blog just has died because Stephanie is too busy trying to cover up her trail of lies and deceit. Yes, even I, a devout openline blogger has finally seen the light.
I have a theory of who is behind this blog.
Where are you Richard?
http://www.tpbmovie.com/
Brent Schepp + Richard Irvin + (?) = Openlineblog.com
If you go back to the Thanksgiving post you will see that openline mentioned something about being gone for awhile. Go back and look at it.
I wish to apologize to the men and women of our country who have died to protect our freedom, the ones still fighting. this also includes the veterans, alive and dead, their family and friends. They should be the number one story of the year. It is these brave people who give us the right to post on this blog, yes, even the vile postings, that gives us the right to do what we do, even to harass the military for protecting our rights, and to give the illegals the right to do what they do. God Bless each and eveyone of you for protecting us!!
#2-Drive-In
#3-Vantresse(not Shodeen)
ANON 12/18 4:01 Ah, the mudslinging is beginning. Must by that Hometown person. Well, I think the last election proved that if you have nothing but negatives, then you have nothing. However, it will be fun to watch an out-of-touch "Hometown Boy" try to get the vote on the east side. I predict he will lose in the primary and it will be Ruben Zamora and Kifowit in the general. What a fun race to watch.
Shelton vs. Irvin
I think Shelton still has a good shot at holding his seat.......really!
Mr. "rubber stamp" Shelton has the support of the mayor. Weisner does not want Irvin on the council.
I don't like Irvin but Shelton is a waste of space. Irvin will shake things up. We could use some shaking.
One other thing: Why do we have to have a Christian prayer open the meetings a city council. I thought religion was to be separate from government.
As a Christian, I resent the mixing of politics and religion.
Irvin next to Weisner.....Yikes.
That has dysfunctional written all over it.
There is a difference between being a Christian and religion.A Christian accepts Christ, but does not always go to church. Many people go to church, but are not always Christians. I, for one, think it is time that these United States had better start blessing God, as God has always been good and blessed America.
Leave prayer out of these meetings.
I don't want these dirty lying rotten crony-loving scoundrels soiling up my religion.
To Everybody:
Start a petition against prayer in politics and present it to your alderman to introduce a resolution at city council.
I am going to do it. so should all of you.
Cock!....Balls!
You don't have to celebrate it Frank.
Wow, I feel like such a loser posting to a blog that has been dead for over 20 days, but just wanted to REMIND everyone to insist that all Alderman take random drug tests, should be intersting for Rick and Stephanie, aka crack heads
Shelton vs. Irvin
I agree with 12:53. Shelton has a good shot at holding on. Will be interesting to watch how this one plays. Both have some high negatives. Who will the local Republican Party support?
December 21, 2006
BY ANDRE SALLES Staff Writer
AURORA -- With only days left to go in 2006, city aldermen approved the 2007 budget this week.
Described as a budget of execution, the $412 million document paves the way for several high-profile projects, including the proposed new police station on Indian Trail and the continued upgrade of the city's sewer system.
The City Council Finance Committee sent the budget through its customary review process, meeting with department heads and wrestling with numbers for the past eight weeks.
The final budget ended up $15 million above the original proposal. About $7 million of that came from carryovers from 2006, and the rest from a variety of sources, including committee requests.
The largest change requested by the committee saw $7 million earmarked from the SHAPE (Safety, Health and Public Enhancement) fund, to help pay for a new radio system for the Aurora Police Department. The current system is outdated, and replacement parts are becoming more difficult to find, officials say.
Aurora police have joined with other Fox Valley communities in a consortium, hoping to use their collective buying power to purchase a system that is both interoperable and inexpensive. The $7 million will go toward paying a portion of Aurora's share of that system, should one be purchased next year.
The 2007 budget shows an increase of $23.7 million in expenditures over the 2006 budget, owing to larger projects like the police station that will get off the ground next year.
Much of the revenue for those projects will come from bonds taken out in 2006, and from last year's increase in property taxes, the first in more than a decade.
Taxes will remain the same in 2007 -- $1.92 per $100 of assessed valuation.
Only one alderman, Rick Lawrence, 4th Ward, voted against the budget, protesting what he sees as the city's lack of commitment to fixing roads and infrastructure. In particular, Lawrence singled out as too small the $4.8 million of gaming tax money allocated to the city's 10 wards for street improvements, which will see at least 29 lane miles of road resurfaced in 2007.
"We commit to these projects to build parks, we throw millions to other projects, but when it comes to the people who pay taxes and live in these wards where the streets need to be fixed, we're not doing it," Lawrence said.
Non-arterial street repairs are largely left up to the ward aldermen, who each have $480,000 in discretionary funding. (at-large aldermen get $20,000 each.) Lawrence said these funds will only allow him to repair one street in 2007, and he will have to tell the rest of his neighborhoods that "next year, maybe we'll get to you."
Though city officials say that 90 percent of ward funds are used for street repair, the money's use is still up to the discretion of the aldermen. Public Information Officer Carie Anne Ergo said the 2006 budget, as originally proposed, would have reallocated some of those ward funds to the city for street repair, but that was voted down at the committee level.
"If the majority of the aldermen want to look at pooling their ward money and handling residential streets that way, we'd be willing to look at that," she said. "But for the most part, this works well, since it lets individual aldermen prioritize projects in their own wards."
Mayor Tom Weisner responded to Lawrence's concerns by saying that the city is committed to its infrastructure, as evidenced by the $10 million earmarked for sewer separation in 2007 and several other downtown improvement projects scheduled to get off the ground next year. The city also will resurface 13 lane miles of arterial streets in 2007, at a cost of $1.8 million.
Alderman Bob O'Connor, chairman of the Finance Committee, noted that the budget process is never truly at an end, and that committee members will continue to look for ways to improve the document.
"There is interest in the committee to do better if we can," O'Connor said. "The budget is not anything that goes away, and we are prepared to go forward."
carrie anne ergo needs to go away. what does she know about successful governing? she's a mouthpiece.
The city council should pass a resolution regarding ward funds. No ward committee, no money. Alderman Beykirch has no ward committee and has a $480K slush fund to do as he pleases. That stinks.
He's running unopposed. Must be doing something right out there. But don't worry, you can blog away for the next four years denigrating him. It's where most of you do your best work anyway.
Shelton vs. Irvin. Who is the smart money behind? Will the Police Union support Richard? Let's hear it.
Dear 1:48 p.m.:
Press secretaries are a common thing around Mayors of larger cities like Aurora. Move with the times, please. She sounds pretty well grounded and factual when she's quoted, in case you've never paid attention.
I couldn't agree more. Cities half the size of aurora have press people. It is about time this city got with the program.
I thinm it is more important as to who the Firefighters Union 99 back for elected positions. The Weisner endorcement backfired on their labor negoiations let's see if they learned anything. All city unions should just work at increasing the cities ratings and not who can they back in an election or primary. When will they learn that they are only puppets to the ones they support?
Big endorsers i.e., unions typically do not get involved at the aldermans level. If they do it usually does not affect the outcome of a race. Endorsers can be double edged swords for candidates.
Yes, the Police Union has backed a number of losers in the past. For aldermanic and mayoral races. Who cares who some of the City Unions back anyway? More and more City workers no longer live in Aurora.
Glad to see that everyone is posting decently now. Thank you to all who are doing this.
Why should city workers be allowed to be employed by a city that they choose not to live in?
The police have been quoted as saying it's too dangerous to live here and raise a family. I gues the rest of us are too stupid to move.
Hard to blame them. The tanner house was broke into and gangs desecrated the inside. I heard the Banana Split over on Shaffer and Church street recently got tagged with gang grafitti.Peoples cars and house windows are being shot out. There have been break ins over at Orchard Valley and continue all over the city.
The city can spin the stats anyway they want, Aurora is still very unsafe compared to our neighbors.
The problem you have with Irvin is that he is dishonest. Ask Irvin about that incident at McCues right before the election involving himself a very young woman (Melinda)and a high speed auto accident that was very artfully covered up by the police department. Oh yeah, could it be that the Irvin was the Police Dept defacto candidate that had something to do with Irvin not having made the papers.
Folks this city can do a lot better than Irvin.
1:35
Can you Document it? NO!
But lets talk about what we can document.
Tom Weisener being a pot head communist dratft dodger during viet nam.
Merry Christmas!
AMEN to that! I hate draft dodgers, especially ones that think it doesn't matter that they left their fellow Americans to fight for the freedoms they enjoy. How many died, and his sits there with a smug smile on his face. Did anyone see him parking (in his white van) in the handicapped spot last week? He used his son's handicapped status to get a close spot, talk about total disgrace and it really disgusted me because his son has been dead for quite a long time, and he is abusing the system. I saw it, but I was wondering if others did to collaborate.
First of all I hope everyone had a nice Christmas.
To annon 12/24 @ 1:35PM
I have no problem asking Richard Irvin about what you stated and I will. Also about some other things I have heard about him.
To annon 12/25 @ 10/06PM
I did not see this, but if I see something like this I hope I have my camera to back up my statement.
Not disagreeing with you, this is just how I do things. Better yet, if I have my cell phone with me I will call and report what I saw and see if someone comes and does something about it.
Maybe if the police lived in Aurora, they would be more inclined to "serve and protect" the community. At least they would have a stake in the outcome of reducing crime.
I don't want someone policing my town who won't even care enough about it to live here. What do they care what happens as long as they get their paycheck and pensions.
It is a sad state of affairs when the ones who are supposed to protect the people who live in the city of Aurora do not do what they are hired to do. I think this is also (hired ones) who live here that do not do what they should do, do not mean that there are not ones who care, but far and few in between. Could state what I know, but then I would have to state my name and do not want to do this at this time. Everyone, take a look around for yourself and you will know. How many of us have seen people not stopping at stop signs, seeing people do over the speed limit, running red lights and many more things and also seeing the police being there and something has not been done about this? When I have called and questioned about this, I was told that the police was going after something bigger, but yet still seen the same police car right where it was when I called and nothing being done about anything. What was bigger? Their break? New speed limits, nothing was done when anyone violated the old speed limits. More money being spent in vain. If the old speed limit was not enforced, why would the new one be? Let us get some officers who are willing to care and do their job. Know that there are officers out there who cares, but it seems that they are stiffled every time they try to do their job.
It is a shame that Aurora has got to this point. Weisner walked into this, but he has not done a thing about it.
Hey everyone, we can have good postings without OpenlineBlog being here. It is good to see that the postings are current with what is going on. Let us keep up the good work! Thank you to all who are doing the good postings!
Has anyone seen the beautiful reconstruction that is taking place at the old Fox Theatre across the river from City Hall? Looks great. I wish more posters would post on the positives that this City has to offer.
I think City workers have a right to live where they want, but they simply have no validity when they endorse aldermanic or mayoral candidates.
The simple fact is that they do not have to live with the outcome on evenings or weekends, when I deal with the problems in my community.
Many City workers are losing touch with the reality of life in Aurora. That goes for police, fire, managers, and regular City workers. Their community connections are non existent and their Union endorsements way out of touch.
I am a city employee and I live in the city. Our great leaders want us to "buy" in to this city. However most of the leadership lives out of the city, especialy the police were most of the command officers and the deputy chief live far out of town. They only have to worry about city problems for 40hrs a week. Those who choose to live in this city know the good and bad of this city every day. I think all city employees should live in the city, maybe they would be more accountable as what they do would effect their own family.(by the way this blog has been blocked on all city computers by order of TW)
The City employeess should not be looking at this blog on company time. Where I work they block alot of things that employees should not be looking at on their time so I see nothing wrong with that. If they want to look at this blog they can do so at home.
Nice that the Beacon DID NOT choose to share the below story with the people of Aurora.
Associated Press 12/26/2006
Aurora police have ruled the death of a 44-year-old woman found in her Aurora apartment early Sunday morning a homicide.
The body of Maria Guadalupe Lopez was discovered in the two-story apartment’s basement bedroom at 6:45 a.m. by her son, according to a statement from Police Chief William Powell.
Lopez suffered trauma to her head and upper torso, according to preliminary results of an autopsy performed by the Kane County Coroner Sunday.
Powell said police are questioning family members who lived with Lopez at the apartment and are looking for Lopez’s 33-year-old boyfriend Joel Enriquez.
Lopez was last seen with Enriquez at the apartment late Saturday night.
Too many APD officers just do the time and get the pension. Some of the newer recruits like Scoggins lack intelligence and civility. Back when the officers were required to live in the city, they would just circumvent the rule by keeping a mailing address in Aurora although they did not actually live there. The Department as a whole does a poor job solving murders, and is in need some public relations training for some of their Officers.
Was also in the Daily Herald
What next for your City computer? Taxpayer-funded hip hop videos so you are kept stress free each day?
12/26
I did read that tragic story in the Beacon, it was towards the back of the first section, they also printed a photo of the suspect. In that regards I think the Beacon did a decent job of letting the public know who to look out for.
As far as the postings. I think they are great! I love the new Fox look. It is a good thing to see new renovations in the downtown.
As far as City Employees. I think you need to lead by example. If the leaders in this city don't choose to live here, then they shouldn't be leaders. I am truly disturbed that the Superintendent of D131 does not live in the area. He had the option to move in within a year; how can you support a district and not live here??
I hope the Beacon writes about how much United Way has raised so far, last year they have hundreds of stories about that.
To 11:43:
There's a good reason why Dr. Roberts doesn't live within the boundaries of District 131. It is my understanding that he has teenaged stepchildren, and felt it was in the best interests of his family not to uproot them. As the mother of teenagers myself, I understand how strongly teens are tied to their friends, school, and neighborhood. If the district had insisted upon hiring a superintendent who was willing to live within the district, they might have severely limited their choice of candidates.
I know that the Superintendent of District 129 relocated his whole family from Seattle Washington to take on the role of superintendent. Before you take a job, you should be prepared to support the school district and move in district. That is a decision to be made before applying for the job "Am I willing to relocate?" and the answer should be Yes, or don't apply. Now, I agree, about moving children in the middle of the school year, however, at the end of the school year I would expect the superintendent to move into D131.
ask Irvin about marital fidelity as well...
Do you really think Irvin can win?
1:21 I have to say that is a buch of Bull. If you are the superintendant of a district you live in it and if you have school aged kids, you send them to the schools. Period-no excuses.
Again, can we stop saying "its for the kids" it is getting real old.
East High teacher charged with felony pot possession. Our fine tax dollars at work paying the salaries of druggies who are educating our children.
And then they expect us to pass a referendum. HA! NEVER.
Read the Beacon for more details.
Lets not foget this one either:
Teacher accused of sex abuse
East Aurora middle school instructor charged with molesting seventh-grade boy
Beacon News, The (Aurora, IL)
October 17, 2006
Love today's Beacon headline
"EX-EAST Coach faces felony charges"
Yes, he may be an ex-couch BUT he is a CURRENT East High Science teacher. Should that not be the headline?
The Beacon has to be one of the worst daily papers I have ever read.
To 10:11--
Would you want YOUR company to tell you where to live? I know I wouldn't--so I'm not hypocritical enough to say that Dr. Roberts MUST live within D131 boundaries.
And I think that the hardest, most thankless job in the world is being a good step-parent. Imagine the anger and bitterness those teenagers would have toward someone WHO ISN'T EVEN THEIR REAL PARENT jerking them out of their school and away from their friends. I have a lot of respect for a man with the b*lls to say to a school board, "Yes, I would like to take the job, but only if my family is not uprooted".
No, I'm not a supporter of Dr. Roberts or the School Board From Hell--in fact, I campaigned vigorously against the referendum. But I definitely give the super his props for being a caring family man!
give us a break 9:08
If you are super of a district you live in the district
If you are mayor of a city you live in the city
If you are police chief of a city you live in the city.
You sentimental posting pulls at the heart, but this is the real world. He should have never taken the job if he did not want to move into the district. simple as that. His children should go to east schools , he should feel the pain of a tax increase, he should realize how his property values are flatlined, he should live with the crime that the schools bring to our neighborhoods, and on and on......
He should live here just like our school board members should send their kids to the east schools (which they do not)
The board needs to go then a new super needs to be searched out.
What he is doing aligns him with an uncle tom.
Again the school board hired him because he was an insider and they do not want all the skeletons and incompetance revealed.
Roberts did not have the ba**s to talk back to the school board. He was salivating at that $100+K paycheck yet was shakin in his boots hoping to God he would not have to move to the east side of Aurora and send his stepkids to these obismal schools.
9:22, you showed your true colors in your last statement: referring to Dr. Roberts as an "Uncle Tom". Seems to me that a man who would speak up to a School Board to act in the best interests of his family is anything BUT a "Tom"--he is a strong leader and deserving of respect, at least in this particular instance.
And would you use the expression "Uncle Tom" if Dr. Roberts were Caucasian? Seems to me a bit racist, don'tcha think??
nope!
you can prop up Roberts all you want. He is not a strong leader.
He does not seem that intelligent when he interacts with teachers and the public. He is know where near what East Aurora needs to get it to the place it needs to be. He is a follower not a leader, just compare Ryland of West and Roberts to get your answer.
Maybe all teachers should be subjected to drug tests.
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