From 2019 through 2024, the village of Oak Park paid a large sum to two architectural firms for multiple ideas/drawings for a new village hall, and we are still barely off the ground. The cost estimate for this venture is over $100 million and counting, not including additional costs such as relocation during construction.
This approach is fiscally irresponsible. The funding for this venture will come from higher property taxes that may price many of us out of Oak Park. Don’t believe the claim that there will be significant funding from other sources. Oak Park needs to stay focused on what we really need, specifically a reasonably-priced new police facility and a larger, more diverse tax base through commercial and residential development. Let’s fill up all those empty storefronts and make Oak Park look more lively.
Ravi Parrakat has clearly demonstrated his ability to work with business enterprises and has accomplished impressive results by creating the highly successful Takeout25 to shore up restaurants during the COVID pandemic; he can do it again by revitalizing our suffering business district.
Ravi has committed to voting No for an unnecessary new village hall and Yes for a badly needed police facility. We need to keep Oak Park affordable and efficient. On April 1, I will vote for Ravi for Oak Park village president.
George Uslenghi
Oak Park resident
since 1971
