John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 10:12 AM

Isn't it ironic that the VMA person that lets the posters know that their site is back up uses a pseudonym - VMA Shill from Oak Park -, Isn't the VMA opposed to the use of pseudonyms on WJ Comments? Double Standard?

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 10:07 AM

Proof that the VMA Website is back up and their Organization Goals are available again -- "Accountable and Responsive Government", Ongoing and Inclusive Diversity, "Balanced and Sensitive Economic Growth". Great to have the site back.

Unfortunately

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 9:42 AM

It never ends....lie, lie, lie. First, they insist that they are NOT a political party, but, per Tony, he sees them as one. Then they claim "technical difficulties" about their website - which is proven to be a lie and they say "who cares?" Transparency writes "work hard and vote" - which is what political parties do - and he claims that they are NOT "a political party!" Then they make it sound like EVERY candidate that they nominate is "independent" and "perfect!" Then why isn't OP "perfect"?

Who Really Cares

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 7:57 AM

Who really cares if their website is up or not? The trolls of the forum here and obviously no one else. Why don't you go outside and find something to do besides rag on stupid little issues?

Sack-VMA-SHILLY

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 7:27 AM

@ Shill, you did not have technical difficulties...you did not renew your domain until it was pointed out to you on this forum: Domain ID:D116574784-LROR Domain Name:VMA-OAKPARK.ORG Created On:15-Feb-2006 04:03:33 UTC Last Updated On:25-Feb-2012 03:15:14 UTC Expiration Date:15-Feb-2013 04:03:33 UTC you updated on feb 25. If you can't run your website, how can you be expected to have your organization run our village government? Another VMA lie for you, technical difficulties indeed.

Transparency

Posted: Sunday, February 26th, 2012 12:15 AM

Work hard and Vote and maybe you wont be so bitter. Night Night

VMA Shill from Oak Park

Posted: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 8:38 PM

Dear conspiracy theorists, cynics and just plain angry people. Our website is back up - we had some technical difficulties. Bash away at good government!

Tony

Posted: Saturday, February 25th, 2012 10:51 AM

Unfortunately, isn't that the goal of every political party? To occupy all seats? Did the Village Collection of Aholes run their campaigns any differently? No. The difference was no one likes the people they slate and most are one issue individuals who fail to grasp reality. Put up someone who has a brain and isn't a crack pot and I'll vote for them regardless of their affiliation. Sadly, the other parties have not done that so you only have yourselves to blame.

Unfortunately

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 6:24 PM

@Transparency. "Independent thinking people" is a contradiction with "a lot of 7-0 votes." Not to you? The "robots" that I'm referring to are the paranoiac VMA supporters who simply can't bear the thought of their candidates having anything but every board seat - as if a 6-1 or 5-2 group would bring Armageddon to OP! Hmm, don't they truly appreciate tolerant and "independent thinking people"? In a community of 50K ONLY the 3-4 candidates chosen by the VMA are worthy? Do you really think that?

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:43 PM

7-0 votes dont reflect anything but people agreeing on issues. Imagine that. To suggest otherwise is a discredit to the independent thinking people who are elected. No, they are not robots. I would imagine there a re alot of 7-0 votes in many Villages and towns through out this great nation. It the nature of the beast.

Unfortunately

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:37 PM

@Transparency. There are an awful lot of 7-0 votes - which suggest "group think" is taking place! Further, the "group think" issue is passed on thru to the VMA-Robots who go ape-poop if another candidate (or two) might actually, gosh, obtain more votes than their "perfect" candidates!?! I'd also take your posts more seriously if you, and others, didn't write in a manner which supports my "VMA-Robots" description. Really, and these are adults?!? Your candidates are ALWAYS "perfect?" Always?

epic lulz

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:35 PM

The VMA website's most recent archive is from 2009: http://web.archive.org/web/20090318234210/http://www.vma-oakpark.org/

MJS

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:31 PM

vma board votes party line all the time... the only time not everyone votes the same way is when not everyone is there for a vote or an occasional, they can't lose so let's throw in some objection votes to make it look like we are not one solid block vote.

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:26 PM

Politics is whats played in Springfield and Washing DC every day-NOT Oak Park. Political parties like to have their people vote according to party line-again not the VMA. I would think there are Democrats,Republicans and Independents who support the VMA. I cant imagine they have a blank check to get everyone's support every election. They earn their votes and have a heck of a track record. Some on here make it seem as if the VMA elected candidates think exactly the same about every issue. Wrong

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 5:06 PM

Previous post should have said "..about eighteen months."

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:57 PM

MJS - I was on the VMA website a couple of months ago so its dismantling was recent. They have a Facebook Wall with six members enrolled despite several appeals to members to join. No activity on that site in about 8 months. I checked the Yahoo account and it looks like it was never used. The only reference on the page was Evanston, Illinois. Maybe they are moving.

Unfortunately

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:52 PM

@Transparency. What you just "glowingly" described sounds like a political organization to me. I do agree that a lot of "smart, active & independent people" are involved with the VMA, but there are also a lot of mean, petty, and vindictive people who, honestly, are so insecure that they go ballistic if even ONE board seat is not held by their "anointed ones." Do you honestly expect me to believe that you are part of a "perfect" organization? Sadly, too many of you robots actually believe this.

MJS

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:35 PM

the vma used to have a website: vma-oakpark.org, but they must have let the url expire. the site used to have stacks of information about directors and membership brochure. too many directors were on board appointment and approved committees, so they must have taken that down to hide that fact. VMA has a yahoo group which you can find here: http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/vmaMembers/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=9

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:33 PM

The VMA has clearly rolled with the changes of time. Oak Park has never been stagnant. Oak Park is and has been a constant changing creature and the VMA is no different. The only constant in the VMA has been good, well liked, engaged candidates that have made Oak Park what it is today.

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:24 PM

Wow. Just wow about John M saying "I could be wrong about the VMA and am willing to learn more." I'd like to see this in action. First of all, the VMA doesnt have an agenda of any kind that they put their candidates to a test every month. This isnt about ongoing politics. To my knowledge the VMA is group of civic minded , respectable residents and business owners in this community who come together to slate a set of candidates every 2 to 4 years for Village wide elections. No more no less.

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 4:24 PM

I'm sure at the candidate slating process there's discussion about big picture & longterm policy issues that are talked about in reference to the potential candidates.At that pt a group of smarter people than I choose from a list of candidates based on qualifications, life experiences & vision for the future. There is no mandate as to HOW they have to vote once elected. This is not the communist party of OP.The people who support the VMA consist of all kinds of smart, active & independent people

Unfortunately

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 3:59 PM

@ P. O'Shea. The "VMA" can't have much of a "presence" - because they'd then have to OFFICIALLY acknowledge what they really are - a political organization! Then what? They'd have to do a lot of registrations and paper work and have missions, goals, etc - all filed for public review. They therefore proceed with the pretense that they are not a pol. org....and then can do much of anything and/or everything that they want to - wink/wink. Translated: "we don't need no stinkin' transparency!"

Patricia O'Shea Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 3:46 PM

I come from the camp of if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...fact is, the VMA is a pretty silent group. No voice here, no website, not much in the paper outside of election time. There is a Facebook page very light on content. Silence suggests lack of transparency. Political groups are typically aligned on an agenda..a vision. (continued)

Patricia O'Shea Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 3:45 PM

What is the VMA vision for the Village? Do they want the hoi polloi to know or will we put a kink in it if we're aware? I've seen principles on their facebook, but they are at 40,000 feet. What is the plan? The agenda? I for one will be looking for it - now and at the next election.

Q from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 2:42 PM

John, you're not wrong about the VMA, they move around like gas prices, and the only thing you know for sure is gas is going to cost a lot. Gas at Ridgeland & Madison "Shell", is cheaper because it's Canadian owed. Today it was 3.89 so you think that's the best price but at another Shell, Harlem and Roosevelt, not a Canadian station, it's 3.79. With the VMA, they show you care, but then they give it to you in the rear.

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 1:55 PM

I could be wrong about the VMA and am willing to learn more.

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 12:30 PM

Look at the comments for Scott Gaalaas and there you will see people who support the VMA. Solid, dedicated, respectable people who have made this Village a great place for a long time. Welcome.

Transparency

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 12:27 PM

Not my place to answer, but the VMA is (are) residents of Oak Park. Some of the most involved and dedicated people of Oak Park. They are a huge cross section of Oak Park. I'm sure they talk to one another outside of elections. You make no sense John.

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 24th, 2012 12:13 PM

OP REZ - As long as the VMA has full control of the board, it is unlikely that it will ask for advise from any village resident.

Silly Seconds

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:55 PM

op rez: like what? the colt building? like south marion, 100% occupied before project? what has been done on south OP ave? Chicago ave? madison? not much, that is what. but thanks for asking Silly questions.

OP Rez

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:47 PM

No TIF= NO TIF Projects that produce more taxes than before.

wow

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:20 PM

@op rez, if there had not been a tif all those $$$ would have been in the general account and the village could have still fixed the sewers under marion and the ones in NE OP...i wonder how old the pipes under my street are? transparency? can we get the village engineer to post the age of pipes by block?

OP Rez

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:17 PM

TIF dolars can only be spent inside the district.

OP Rez

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:16 PM

Every year that is the same thing every board has to figure out. We saved a bunch of money this year on road salt. The pipes and street on Marion were over 100 yrs old. If thats not a priority, what is? I think murtagh has his priorities which VOP is suppose to cross check before making any budgetary decisions. Ha

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 1:38 PM

Enuf - your budget assessment is right on the mark.

Enuf is Enuf from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 11:21 AM

The Village of Oak Park has limited budgetary resources. For every dollar expended for item A, the same dollar cannot be spent for item B. Therefore, it is a question of prioritization and trade-offs. While the $5M spent on S. Marion St. streetscaping certainly improved its appearance, it is $5M that cannot be spent on other projects and services of higher priority towards providing basic public services, and $5M that cannot be recovered via any meaningful return on investment.

OP Rez

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 10:13 AM

My comment was in reference to Enuf is Enufs comments about enhancing an area with already high occupancy rates.

WOW

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 9:34 AM

op rez, you are not making much sense there.

OP Rez

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 8:21 AM

The idea isnt to put brick pavers in the ghetto and turn it around. Good design is good design.It works the same way in areas with 50% occupancy as it does with 95%. Beauty is beauty. People like to be in places that are beautiful and well designed. Pleasant District meets both of those. You dont have to paint your house just becasue your going to sell it!

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 11:24 PM

I think the WJ editorial protest is a little late. The money is gone.

Enuf is Enuf from Oak Park

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 6:08 PM

Prior to the streetscaping project, I inventoried the entire district in terms of storefront occupancy, property and sales taxes. Difficult to understand how the village will get a reasonable return on their $5M investment when pre-construction occupancy was 100%, and all the key buildings were recently built or renovated prior to construction. One business (d. michael floral design) already has been lost due to construction. What is the plan?

Q from Oak Park

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 10:25 AM

Don't anyone get their bowels in an uproar. The boy's behind closed doors know what they're doing. Editorial, "get this right" That's funny saying get this right. That's what the republicans always said, and you know how well they got it right The saying is just stupid. Get this right, no, we are going to get this wrong. Yeah right, that what they really want to say, good thing you are letting them know to get it right.

OP Resident from Oak Park

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 9:17 AM

Yes Mr. Johnson, you and the BOARD better revisit this soon. Cannot believe this was allowed after all this money was spent on beautification of this area and then this. The need is for businesses to bring in tax generating dollars to Oak Park! You are suffocating this. I am sick and tired of seeing my tax bill going thru the roof!

Observer

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 9:03 AM

When the Village Board revisits this issue again, be sure to do it behind closed doors. I am sure you don't want Oak Parkers to know what you are doing. You need to whip the "no" voting trustees into line so that when it finally comes to a vote, you are all in agreement so it has the appearance that you know best.

Ray Johnson from Oak Park

Posted: Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 8:32 AM

I couldn't agree more....and the board will revisit this issue soon. No final action was taken when this was first discussed.