The Slumlords of Aurora Housing Authority (AHA), led by Little Al Schuler and Bill Burns, continue to defy the community, taxpayers, schools and city officials by pushing ahead with their scheme to rebuild the Jericho Circle slum on the near west side, as illustrated above by the AHA's draft annual plan for 2013.
NOTE: A public hearing will be held on December 6, 2012 at 7pm at the AHA offices to review their 2013 plan, which includes rebuilding Jericho Circle and continuing to promote failed policies of warehousing the poor and needy instead of giving them vouchers to live in respect and safe, clean housing. Public comments for the plan will be accepted until 4pm on December 13, 2012.
As a legal battle continues between the AHA and Mayor Tom Weisner over the expiration of terms for Schuler and Burns, Jericho Circle is slated for demolition, BUT the Slumlords of AHA are embarking on new deals with developers who play politics by stuffing money into the pockets of politicians.
Alderman Rick Lawrence says the City of Aurora must get control over this situation and in a communication to the city council and mayor, urges yet again the mayor should take immediate action that he has thus far delayed:
If we as Council would have done our job and questioned perspective appointees to the AHA board instead of rubber stamping anyone the Mayor suggests, we would not be in this situation. Al Schuler and Bill Burns were not qualified for this position given their performance during their tenure on the AHA board and the conditions of the facilities under their control which has led us to this point. As previously provided, under statute the Mayor has the power to remove members of the board for a variety of issues but has failed to take action.
310 ILCS 10/4(from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 4)
Sec. 4.Whenever it shall appear to the presiding officer having appointment authority that a commissioner of a Housing Authority is incompetent or guilty of neglect of duty or malfeasance, the presiding officer shall require such commissioner to appear before the presiding officer or his designee to show cause why he should not be removed from office. At least fifteen days' written notice of such a hearing shall be given to the commissioner whose conduct is in question and to all other members of the Authority. At the hearing the commissioner may be represented by counsel and may appear personally and present such pertinent evidence as he wishes or as the presiding officer or his designee may request.
If after a hearing the presiding officer determines that a commissioner has been incompetent or has been guilty of neglect of duty or malfeasance, he shall remove such commissioner from theAuthority within seven days, and there shall thereupon be deemed to be a vacancy of such office.
(Source: P.A. 82‑780.)
Moving forward, the Mayor needs to get control of this situation and the individuals he appointed. The Council needs to send a clear message once again, that we will not tolerate a rogue organization wasting our money in a legal battle against the tax payers of Aurora. Enough is enough, these individuals (Bill Burns and Al Schuler) who want to continue to operate a failed organization hurting the residents and this community, need to be held accountable. We should also make it clear to HUD the AHA is not operating consistent with our Consolidated Plan.
7 comments:
Where did openline get its law degree Only in the openline world view is an opinion that differs with openline considered "incompetence."
Did the injunction get lifted? If not, calling for the mayor to violate it by removing Burns and Schuler is irresponsible and would cost the taxpayers' dearly.
why didn't the mayor remove those clowns last year instead of waiting until their "expiration" dates, which he only worried about at the last second?
And, the injunction is regarding the expired terms, not removing them for incompetence or other issues.
Weiner has really messed up.
Yes, the injunction is about the expired terms BUT if Weisner removes them for incompetence they'll just claim it was for the term issue, muddy the water, the judge will extend the injunction and accuse the city of trying to sneak around his injunction.
If the mayor wants to remove someone for "incompetence" he should start with the corporation counsel.
With a competent lawyer he might get something done.
Maybe the City can piggy back and use the same lawyers defending Ryland and the D129 administrators. After all, it's taxpayer money any way you slice it.
And you can bet that D129 hired the best taxpayer money can buy.
Wonder who's representing the custodian who failed to report to DCFS as he was required by law.
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