All links via the Peoria Journal Star:
- For the second day in a row, I find myself liking Phil Luciano’s column. Today he dispels a bunch of racist emails running around town about the owner of a gas station across the river from Pekin. Yes, it is possible to have an Arab-sounding name and be not only an American, but also proud of the fact.
- The award-winning (snicker) Peoria Journal editorial board at actually has the testicular fortitude to pontificate about how it’s a bad idea to over promise the benefits of city-funded/supported development projects like O-Brien Field. Residents have gotten used to hearing such promises and no longer believe them. This is true. “Meat and potato” loving Peorians have long memories, and one of the things we remember is how the people who run the PJS use this very same editorial page to insist that the very same politicians who’ve made these promises — the editorialists used the word “progressives” — are the best choices to run the city. And BTW, the proposed Warehouse District TIF and the Eagle View TIF are far closer to the meeting the “but for” test that is supposed to determine whether a tax increment financing district should go forward than anything the PJS’s “progressive” pals put forth during the previous 20 years. But that doesn’t stop the anonymous letter writers from taking a dig at Mayor Jim Ardis (who defeated PJS’s favorite “progressive,” Dave Ransburg, two years ago). I suppose it’s possible that reading this blog for five years has finally had an effect on Mike Baily, et al, and they’ve come around to the “essential services first” way of thinking. If so, welcome to the fight. We’ll see.
- Yet another reason to avoid Peoria’s downtown: The city might slap a boot on your car. Nothing says “welcome” to new visitors more than
revenue predatorsvigilant parking enforcement officers roaming the streets looking forvictimsperpetrators. They say the boot won’t be used until there are at least five unpaid parking tickets. I’m wondering how long it will be before some poor schmuck gets a boot by accident. Because, as you know, the government never makes mistakes.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
You don't think parking laws should be enforced?
By the way, are you moderating every comment now?
I nominate, Billy Dennis to be the new parking boot enforcer for the City of Peoria. This will give him a first shift job — increase in pay — and the citizens of Peoria will be sure that no errors are ever made in putting a boot on a car unwarranted. Â
Just read Luch's column, and the comments that go with it. Most comments are solidly behind Mr. Abdullah and apologetic for their fellow racist Central Illinoisans, but the usual idiots are in there, too. Sad.
First, the gas station is not in Pekin. It is in Peoria County on the west side of the river, at the intersection of 24 and 9. Its no wonder that Pekin gets such a bad name with comments such as these. Before you stereotype a whole town as being racist, you should probably get your facts straight.
C.J.: No. In fact, I received a reply from the Akismit people who say they think they've fixed the problem. This is the first comment you've made in several days that didn't have to be rescued from the spam filter.
PeoProud: You miss the point. OF COURSE I would make errors. The boot program is all about the city seizing property without adjudication.
Scott A: You are right. It is right across the river. My apologies. I will correct ASAP.
I still see that it still says Pekin….are you changing it? The article clearly said near Bartonville…(south of to be exact)
If I'm not mistaken, the station is closer to Pekin than it is to Bartonville, even if it is on the Bartonville side of the river. Be that as it may, it's not in Pekin, nor is it in Bartonville. I would be curious to see where the people are from that started the email campaign, could be from anywhere.
It's just across the river from Pekin, down the road from Bartonville, and below the bluff from Glasford, but not in any of the said towns.The fact remains, wherever the emails originated, there are many people still out there who want to live in their white utopian nation. The Journal Star comment section only helps to expose their idiocy.
Billy,Glad to know your realize that public employees are also human – kinda like you. But I think that YOU missed the point, there is no taking without adjudication. The boot is only used if you have 5 unpaid tickets….either pay them or contest them but don't ignore them. And everyone is forwarned so they proceed with full knowledge of the consequences.
I got booted in Fort Worth, Texas, when I was living in Dallas in 1962. Old procedure and it works. Go law enforcement in Peoria! Someone complained about getting a ticket for parking in a handicapped slot. Get real, you scoflaws. I've paid my parking tickets ever since.