Huh?

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 3:35 PM

Let me get this straight: the VOP comes out on the losing end in both cases, yet it "did the right thing"? Sad part is this: there are tons of people around here who undoubtedly agree with you....and we wonder why VOP cannot (and will not) fix the sewers in NE OP....the "priorities" around here simply amaze me.

Silly

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 3:21 PM

The VOP did the right thing in both cases. Check the articles when the lawsuit was filed. Chicago told us they would pay our fines. Lets see how that gets resolved.

Epic Putz

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 2:46 PM

Silly, haven't you heard? The City of Chicago does not agree that the fees in the gun lawsuit are solely its responsibility. It appears that an enforceable agreement was never put in writing. Did VOP's lawyers AND its VMA board members screw up (again)?

Silly

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 2:38 PM

Im not the one making criticisms and suggestions from behind my PC.The sidewalks and streets look awesome. Worth the slight uptick in cost for good design. TIF dollars cant be spent on streets and alleys not in the TIF.Basic TIF 101. Oak Park spends plenty of money every year on streets and alleys.Where have you been? The lawsuits you speak of were worth every penny.OPRF was sitting on $80 Million dollars of your money and filed suit?!?! The gun suit was the responsibility of the City of Chgo

Unfortunately

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 1:53 PM

@Silly. Did you really just anonymously criticize that I am posting anonymously? Any way, want some specifics? Sure, spend less on blue granite utopia and more on alleys and streets. Next? I'd like an explanation why the VMA board is spending a million dollars on losing lawsuits (TIF and guns)? I agree that many VMA brd members work hard and are good people - but there is a reason why our taxes are so high and our streets/alleys are crumbling. Now go back to whistling past the cemetery!

Silly

Posted: Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 8:19 AM

It is unfortunate.How involved are you?Dont tell us what Oak Park needs. Put your words into action. You might have to start with letting us know your name. LoL The VMA works harder than any other group that has come forward in this Village. The results are clear. There's only a few nay sayers on here that account for ALL comments. We all know who they are. Good government is measuring what needs to be done and prioritizing as well as budgeting.I'd say Oak Park has done a good job.Nobody is perf

Unfortunately

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 8:38 PM

@Silly. Spoken like the true fool that you are - and will always be. VMA/TIF uber alles!!! Right, "Silly?" Warming up to play your fiddle?

Silly

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 5:44 PM

Is coughlin talking with himself again?

Unfortunately

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 4:58 PM

@focus on the topic. You're right - and now I'll add the ridiculous VMA and their mgmt of our tax monies as a problem with atrocious govt spending and planning - and with some assistance from Harmon. Don't see the connection? Now it's your turn - or do you just wish to play the role "Silly" - the VMA sanctioned court jester? OP needs less attorneys and govt employees on its boards - and more people interested in the non-glamorous role of fixing streets and alleys. Less sizzle and more steak!

focus on the topic

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 3:50 PM

The article is entitled "TIF lawsuit blows more holes in Oak Park's budget". Please keep your comments to this topic, and refrain from steering the discussion to your personal political interests, as per the last 16 posts.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 3:41 PM

My mistake, Unfortunately. I did not realize that you are an "Independent". You have singled out a number of Dems as examples of corrupt and ineffective politicians but I couldn't recall you mentioning any GOP or Tea Party officials who's performance in office has caused you an equal amount of concern. I do argue with your characterization of a "knee-jerk attack" regarding Scott Walker. My initial post on this forum was a response to someone describing Walker as a man of integrity,intelligence and courage.

Unfortunately

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 3:23 PM

@JC. Actually, you've missed my point - which, "unfortunately," hasn't been clear. But, first, you are mistaken when you wrote "You seem to hold the party (GOP) near and dear.." - which is YOUR fatal flaw - I've never said such a thing - but you have used projection and PRESUMED that I have. And then you, "logically," go on a knee-jerk attack with Walker, etc. What I truly want is to join with OP Dems (the majority) to work to drain the Harmon/Ill swamp. Sadly, VMA'ers aren't up to this task.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 2:50 PM

You're missing the point, Unfortunately. There's plenty of blame to go around. Dems, Repubs and the Tea Party all contribute to the lack of integrity,corruption and mismanagement that plagues government at all levels. We should demand accountability from our elected representatives but with such poor turnouts at the polls; it's nearly impossible to rid ourselves of these scoundrels. I've already expressed my displeasure with Don Harmon and agreed with you that he has not served us very well. Now, how about youself? Will you offer up an honest critique of the GOP? You seem to hold the party near and dear to your heart but have to have been dissapointed with some of it's members. We both should be able to create a rogues gallery of politicians who've failed to honor their office and contributed to what you have described as a "cesspool".

Reagan Democrat

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 2:13 PM

Gallup: Americans rate Reagan, Clinton best of recent presidents.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-gallup-presidents-day-poll-20120220,0,3987420.story

Unfortunately

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 1:22 PM

@JCoughlin. "There you go again" - perhaps the Solyndra application started earlier, but, gosh, who fast-tracked it and bent and broke every rule, over the objections of inspectors, to ensure that it went to friends of Obama? And now we're out hundreds of millions and NO ONE is accountable!?! And you blame Bush? Now, I return to our backyard: Harmon lives in OP. Our state is a cesspool - and yet I hear nothing but crickets from the "good govt" OP liberals? Want to blame Bush for this, too?

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 11:39 AM

It's important to remember that the Bush adminstration started the loan process for Solyndra in 2007. And in fact, Bush sought to speed up approval prior to President Obama taking office. Should not blame for this fiasco be equally shared?

Reagan Democrat

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 11:23 AM

Well said.

Unfortunately

Posted: Monday, February 20th, 2012 10:09 AM

@JCoughlin. But my point, as diluted as it may appear, is that you are quite strident and one-sided in your criticisms of, say, Halliburton and Walker, but you ignore Solyndra and Harmon, etc. I think that it is fairly obvious that OP residents are a bunch of hypocrites when it comes to stuff like this - they overwhelmingly fawn over Harmon and Obama and cast evil spells against those on the "demonic" right. All the while ignoring that IL/Harmon/Madigan lead a state ranked #1 in corruption.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 5:34 PM

Solyndra vs Halliburton? One represents mismanagement and waste of tax dollars. The other war profiteering. Pick you poison. I'm not going to take a pledge to avoid commenting on national issues but generally do try to keep it local.

Unfortunately

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 5:20 PM

@JC. Alright, we are in agreement regarding the following: OP pol's (via TIF, etc.) are dangerous; Harmon and his crony/nepotism friends are dangerous - and that the Bears OL could use some work. Now can we possibly also be in agreement that comments on our OP website should minimize references to Walker, the Koch Brothers, Obama and Solyndra? Now, back to Harmon and how he effortlessly talks "good govt," but, well, does NOTHING to actually promote it! Yep, a Madigan "useful idiot!"

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 5:11 PM

Unfortunately is also looking for outrage from me. Wait no longer. I've posted on a number of occasions my opinion that public corruption and the influence of money threatens our republic. Polls have shown that few Amercians trust politicians and yet we relect incumbents at nearly an 80% clip. Go figure. I have expressed my displeasure with Don Harmon for blocking attempts to reform the Freedom of Information Act and his questionable involvement in a TIF issue not related to his district. Concerns I raised on this forum regarding our local taxing bodies have not gone unnoticed and on a number of occasions been debated with me by a local elected official or activist. That's about as outraged I'll get except when someone on the Bears OL false starts.

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 4:50 PM

You want outrage from me? Here's my position on wasteful spending and patronage; cut it out! I'm not familiar with reports of union members dues being misspent but suggest Efficent should express those concerns at the next lodge meeting.

Efficient 101

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 3:33 PM

The biggest waste of money and patronage starts with the Unions. Wheres Jim Coughlins outrage when it comes to wasteful spending of members dues? Patronage is also alive and well. Jimmy Hoffa and then Jimmy Hoffa. Hmmm Whos is getting the job openings?

Unfortunately

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 3:26 PM

And btw, I agree that we need to stop this "kind of white collar patronage deals" - should we begin with Solyndra? How about the corruption and nepotism right here in Cook County? Illinois? I'm still waiting for your outrage regarding WHERE WE LIVE - NOT WISCONSIN!?! Where to start? How about Madigan's lapdog - Don Harmon? Y'know - someone who LIVES in Oak Park!?! Stop with your WI garbage and start in our own front and back yards - PLEASE!!!

Unfortunately

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 3:16 PM

@JCoughlin. Please provide citation where you gleamed the information that Scott Walker's "plan" would allow "the Koch brothers" to "pay just pennies on the dollar to create a monopoly..." I'm guessing that you read this on some leftist site - in a continuation of your crusade of hate against "Scott Walker and the Koch Brothers!" Do you have daily nightmares of these people? My turn? Obama is working with Bill Ayers to turn the US in to a socialist country! That's my nonsense quote of the day!

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Sunday, February 19th, 2012 2:12 PM

Boy, was I surprised to read a comment praising the integrity of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker. That's a tough sell considering that Walker is seeking to permit the sale of state-owned power plants without an opening bidding process. His chief benefactors, the Koch brothers could pay just pennies on the dollar to create a monoply that will result in higher rates for residents and huge profits for Kochs Industries. No-bid contracts, paid consultants and "expert" studies are examples of the kind of white collar patronage deals that need to be curtailed.

Wealthy Lawyer

Posted: Saturday, February 18th, 2012 11:28 AM

We always win.

Angry (Taxpayer) Bird from OP

Posted: Saturday, February 18th, 2012 6:48 AM

Tracyzk surprised by Barwin's comment? Really? The only thing clear to me in that whole TIF debacle was that each party was out to make sure that they got theirs -- D97 wanted the tif in place to ensure their funding (apparently so that they could squander it on fast for word), D200 wanted to increase their hoard, and VOP wanted to continue their reckless spending on Sertus, et. al. After lots of legal fees were spent, they all got what they wanted. But we taxpayers only got hosed again.

Read this

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:42 PM

well Peter Traczyk, you respond to this article, but not any on fast forWord... you have your own mouthpiece, al roberts, who likes to take bites out of people and does not let the teachers speak out against his pet project; the same one from his previous school district, fast forWord. what say you and the entire board about this expensive software that is proven to not do what it claims? $500,000.00 of our tax money on garbage! You should be ashamed of yourself.

epic lulz

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 3:44 PM

The next time various local taxing bodies have to resolve a law suit with the Village (and as long as the VMA controls the Board, we all know that there will be more law suits), I suggest that a "no trash talking" clause be added to the agreement. We can call it "The Barwin Clause".

OP Taxpayer

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 1:45 PM

No TIF lawsuit = no TIF lawyer fees. Seems simple to me. I find it amazing that PT promotes the ref and says classes will be cut and then turns around and approves $500K for something that has nothing to do saving anything.

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 1:36 PM

I appreciate Peter Traczyk, D97 Board Member, adding clarity to the village's TIF condition. Any board's (corporate, government, non-profit) primary responsibility is fiduciary, that is, they are entrusted with our funds and property. Fiduciary responsibility is not limited to budgets, taxes, and operating expense. The responsibility includes having the foresight and judgment to identify signs of crisis before they erupt. Of all the OPV board failure in the last decade, the most grievous is denial that the Greater Downtown TIF and Plan was in serious trouble. The OPV board ignored warning of danger (declining property tax income, a national financial crisis, changes in county tax interpretation, the disappearance of its fund balance, a national financial crisis, etc.) Instead of modifying or scraping the plan, they schemed in hope for a miracle. When it became obvious to all that the plan was in trouble, the board tried to hide the verdict of economics until the lawsuit made that impossible. The reward for residents in the whole affair was the revelation that there is skilled and forthright board talent at both D97, D200, Park and Recs, etc. Perhaps, after decades of one political organization selecting and electing almost all OPV Board candidates are behind us and objectivity, cooperation, and communication will return.

take responsibility

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 1:14 PM

Barwin's polemic remarks and Traczyk's revisionist TIF story from a D97 perspective simply proves there is no honor amongst thieves. Since the Village Manager reports only to the village board, we will see whether Barwin's remarks are the expressed opinion of the village board, as demonstrated by their concurring silence; or not, as demonstrated by their public refutation.

Peter Traczyk - addendum to post

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 11:56 AM

Tom should have stuck to the last part of his quote, "It is what it is", and left out the poke in the eye.

Peter Traczyk Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 11:53 AM

I'm extremely disappointed by Tom Barwin's snide remark. I was pleased by the three parties' ability to come together through the TIF mediation process. Say what you will about any Board's past decisions, no one can deny that Oak Park would be better served by Boards and officials that work collaboratively and transparently, and don't "stick it" to each other in the press. The lawsuit was directly the result of mistrust and animosity developed over time; the details of the interpretation of the agreement could have been worked out long ago if any trust had existed. The settlement was a major move in the right direction to building better relations between the various parties. Why is the Village Manager picking a new fight? How does this help good governance? The lawsuit concluded because it was accepted by all parties that the TIF would not have enough money left to pay the obligations under the existing Inter-Govermental Agreement (IGA); regardless of which sides' interpretation of the language was used. The Village could not have afforded to "win" the lawsuit. The TIF was a victim of the dramatic decline in the EAV of the TIF properties resulting from the declining economy, which was exacerbated by the County Board's assessment shift from commercial property to homes. The IGA had included projections that did not (and probably could not) predict the economic cycle between 1995 and today. But it is also a fact that the current and previous Village Boards spent funds on projects with associated debt that extended long past the actual life of the TIF. It is a fact that not every investment made with TIF dollars was a good one. Thankfully, all parties understood the impact to District 97 and Oak Park taxpayers from an early and abrupt termination of the TIF. The settlement required good faith sacrifice on both sides. So why start blaming the Village's budget issues on the TIF lawsuit? Tom should have stuck

Scott Walker Investigation Leads To Felony Charges

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 10:54 AM

oops, scott walker may be going to jail as well as being booted from office. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/scott-walker-investigatio_n_1186726.html Luke you once criticized outsider fro protesting the wi capitol and walker. look it up, all of his money is coming from outside the state and the koch bros. if he goes to jail he will have some inside and outside sugar daddies.

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 10:21 AM

Shopper, everything in Oak Park is political. It's the quality of the politics that are in question. A decade of failure by the OPV boards has provided sufficiently that the current political regime needs replacing. They chose to give the residents a TIF driven illusion of prosperity while taxes went up, services went down, and debt grew. It is time to face reality. The village is broke. A half-full glass would be welcome by the board. Their current glass is empty. The national economy is improving. That might help the DTOP restaurants and shops, but that is not enough to drive an Oak Park recovery.

Luke ScottWalker from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 10:12 AM

We in Illinois could only hope for a Governor w/ the integrity, intelligence and courage of Mr Walker. But no, we settle for real idiots like Quinn, Blago & Ryan. Credibility? Are you kidding? And by the way, Walker isn't going anywhere. His reforms are working and the working folks know it. The "makers" in Wi will keep him in office. The "takers" and their union thug pals will not win. It'll be fun to watch!

@luke

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 9:31 AM

you are a fan of Scott Walker, the soon to be ex governor of wi. You have as much creditability on government and governing as he does.

Luke ScottWalker from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 9:26 AM

ih8idiots...not complaining nor whining. Merely pointing out the obvious. Your reply further proves my point. The clear need for you to mature as you project a false sense of intellectual superiority is perfectly consistent, & very typical of today's American leftist. You have no ability or desire to debate based upon facts, & therefore simply spew personal attacks on anyone with an opposing viewpoint. David Axlerod would be proud, but I see how insecure you are. I bid you peace my brother.

take responsibility

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 8:53 AM

I think Barwin's remarks speak for the hegemonic mindset of village hall. Similar to his response when the IL State Attorney reprimanded village hall for violating the Open Meeting Act last March, Barwin and Pope continue to place blame on all others, even when found with both hands in the cookie jar. This failure to find fault with themselves, allows the narcissistic culture of being beyond refutation to continue at village hall, to the detriment of our greater good.

Done from Oak Park

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 8:35 AM

"Obviously there are going to be some things that we're not going to be able to pursue in the short-term that we might have otherwise pursued, but the schools are probably feeling pretty good about having $100-plus million bucks in the bank." And as a taxpayer, so the hell am I. What a stupid comment.

Shopper

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 8:12 AM

Seems as if times are improving, hence the raises!! John Murtagh has dark colored glasses on that only see the glass 1/2 full. I would call him an unsatisfied customer with little to no room for change. I think Oak Park, for the most part, can see past the political nature of all of his comments. Yet he says he is not running. Maybe the fact that he no longer is on any commission has him bent out of shape. The DTOP parking lots are full and bodies are in the restuarants and stores.

ih8idiots

Posted: Friday, February 17th, 2012 4:18 AM

I can only assume that someone complaining that it is "time to grow up" while simultaneously whining about "condescending elitism" is being satirical. Surely no one is stupid enough to have meant that seriously.

Luke ScottWalker from Oak Park

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 11:52 PM

Well said indeed, Mr Murtagh. Also, to ih8idiots...in the many months I've observed your posts, you have never brought anything of value to the discussion, only condescending elitism. Clearly you're not as smart as you believe yourself to be. Time to grow up...

Q from Oak Park

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 11:17 PM

If Pope can ask for the land back from Sertus, then Pope can sell the land to someone and have the money to do the repairs. I know that's not as exciting as all of the expecting money coming in from Sertus, but sometimes you just can't have what you want and you have to think of others. Oh why did he ever give that land away to Sertus. Aren't there any taxpayers who want to know why their property was taken away?

American

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 11:01 PM

@ J.B.M. Well said, sir.

John Butch Murtagh from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 10:55 PM

I am appalled that Tom Barwin could even hint that OPRF is in anyway a cause of OPV's fiscal crisis. OPRF did not deplete OPV's fund balance. That was done by the bad decision of the free spending OPV Boards' during the last decade. People Soft, the Taj Mahal of Public Works, TIF's, the Greater Downtown Development, Bricks, specious real estate purchase, the abandonment of Madison, Westco and its missing ROI, Sleezy Politics, the Madison Housing fiasco, The Sertus deal and more have to be accounted for. There is no way that it is fair or honest to to blame a decade of failure on OPRF. It is also wrong to blame Tom Barwin solely. He was not even here when OP's roof began to collapse. Of all the bad decisions, the worst was the Greater Downtown Proposal that was hatched by the Plan Commission, endorsed hardly by the OPV, and blindly accepted by a community that is used to following the path of "buddy politics." This community badly needs a major change in the makeup of the board. The days of blind loyalty has to end before the recovery of OP can begin.

ih8idiots

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 10:26 PM

Do you gun fetishists really have to pollute every single thread with your inane drivel?

American

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 10:15 PM

Oak Park is a micro-organism of the current administration that resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Constitution of the United States is the Supreme Law of the United States of America. The greatest document ever conceived in the history of mankind. If you don't like it, you are FREE to move elsewhere.

Observer

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 9:46 PM

The saddest part of this story is that Village Hall thinks they did nothing wrong. PoJo and company want us all to believe that they are never wrong and it is the schools that are wrong or the NRA that is wrong. When will they realize that Oak Park needs to follow the laws like everyone else? When Village Hall does not follow the laws they can and do get sued, leaving the taxpayers on the hook for the legal costs. The Board acts like the protagonist in the Confederacy of Dunces.

Disconnect

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 5:18 PM

Despite this hole, VOP is still giving employees raises? Also, what happens when VOP is required to cut a $400,000 check like Chicago did in connection with the gun control lawsuit? What is the budget going to look like then?

Jim Coughlin Facebook Verified

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:48 PM

The trustees are going to have cut back on services, raise fees,reduce staff or agree to halt the practice of awarding no-bid contracts. A moratorium on the hiring of outside consultants would also reduce costs.

Jupitor from Way out there

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:38 PM

what if we were to get the $225,000.00 dollars, paid at increments of $24,999.00(just under the max that of Barwin's signing authority, from village staff accountant Lesner's friend and people soft consultant? we could do the street, the pigeons and the brick pavers and have money left over for Barwin's good bye party...like the one we had and paid for retired village attorney, Ray "still on the books" Heise!

epic lulz

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:37 PM

By the way, did Barwin ever apologize for the unprofessional and incendiary comments he made when the law suit was initiated? Any sane Board would have fired him over that.

Joe

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:25 PM

Why don't they raise property taxes 10%? Oh wait, they already did that! Seriously, we're in a recession, stop WASTING money.

Silly Seconds

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:23 PM

too bad over the life of the tif money was sucked away from the taxing bodies and general operating that our streets are crumbling and the folks who live in NW OP get to canoe from their basement stairs to their washer and dryers.

Hello

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:19 PM

trustees of this village, please do not renew barwin's contract. he is trying to pit the schools vs the village,when he would not open the tif books because there was something to hide. and dumb not to add the pigeon remediation into the $10,000,000.00 rehab of marion street...idiots.

epic lulz

Posted: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 4:18 PM

This is pretty simple folks. We don't have the money to implement a redo of Lake Street from Harlem to Euclid, so don't waste $100k on the plan. Problem solved.