Count me among the “gullible” (your dismissive word) who voted “for” the voter-initiated referendum proposal. Empowering voters to overturn laws and to enact laws that their elected representatives fail to enact puts the ultimate power where it belongs — directly in the voters.
Yes, voters sometimes make regrettable choices. Elected representatives make regrettable choices too. Regrettable choices are an inescapable consequence of our form of government.
Reference to fair-housing ordinances is a red herring. Nothing in the voter-initiated referendum process precludes the village board from passing resolutions. While the voters in the 1960s likely would not have approved a fair housing ordinance, it is not a given that they would have voted to overturn such an ordinance after its enactment.
To analogize, I would have voted against a referendum to implement the current revised leaf-collection practices. Nevertheless, I would vote against a referendum to overturn them. I don’t think it is a good idea lightly to overturn a reasonable-enough ordinance adopted after considerable debate on a hot-button subject even though I might disagree with the ordinance.
Of course, I’m a gullible fool who doesn’t bother to actually think through these things.
Bob Stigger
Oak Park