Comments on: Number 7 and proud http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/ Media and news from the original river city Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:32:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Peo Proud http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89531 Peo Proud Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:03:12 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89531 A few more (though not as enlightened  as C.J.'s):10.  They have no desire to be associated with a dysfunctional entity.11.  They don't have a background they feel is needed for a qualified board member (experience, education, etc. - though I guess a degree isn't actually needed is it!) and have the  integrity not to create it out of thin air. 12. They don't have the time available to commit to a "job" that will be all-consuming if done correctly.13. They aren't willing to submit themselves and their family to the public scrutiny that comes with a leadership role as an elected official.14. They are not connected to the Peoria political "dynasties" and therefore don't have the ties needed to raise support and funds.15. They are too busy packing boxes and looking for houses in the suburbs.16. They have  committed themselves to other public service endeavors. A few more (though not as enlightened  as C.J.'s):10.  They have no desire to be associated with a dysfunctional entity.11.  They don't have a background they feel is needed for a qualified board member (experience, education, etc. – though I guess a degree isn't actually needed is it!) and have the  integrity not to create it out of thin air. 12. They don't have the time available to commit to a "job" that will be all-consuming if done correctly.13. They aren't willing to submit themselves and their family to the public scrutiny that comes with a leadership role as an elected official.14. They are not connected to the Peoria political "dynasties" and therefore don't have the ties needed to raise support and funds.15. They are too busy packing boxes and looking for houses in the suburbs.16. They have  committed themselves to other public service endeavors.

]]> By: C. J. Summers http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89527 C. J. Summers Sat, 30 Jun 2007 04:57:24 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89527 "I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things?"<br /><br />Here are a few reasons I came up with, JW:<br /><br />1. They don't live in District 150 anymore.<br />2. They don't live in a district for which a board member's seat was up for reelection recently.<br />3. They did run, but lost.<br />4. They are unelectable because they send their kid(s) to private school.<br />5. They did run, and won, but one person does not a majority vote make.<br />6. They are prohibited from running by law because they already hold an elected position on another public body.<br />7. They don't have enough money to run for school board.<br />8. They recently moved to Peoria from out of town and are not familiar enough with our system yet.<br />9. They supported a candidate who lost.<br /><br />There are probably more. "I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things?"

Here are a few reasons I came up with, JW:

1. They don't live in District 150 anymore.
2. They don't live in a district for which a board member's seat was up for reelection recently.
3. They did run, but lost.
4. They are unelectable because they send their kid(s) to private school.
5. They did run, and won, but one person does not a majority vote make.
6. They are prohibited from running by law because they already hold an elected position on another public body.
7. They don't have enough money to run for school board.
8. They recently moved to Peoria from out of town and are not familiar enough with our system yet.
9. They supported a candidate who lost.

There are probably more.

]]> By: tj http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89525 tj Sat, 30 Jun 2007 02:18:39 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89525 I agree with PP and EM. Local elections are ugly and some activit ies border on criminality. I agree with PP and EM. Local elections are ugly and some activit ies border on criminality.

]]> By: Eyebrows McGee http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89522 Eyebrows McGee Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:14:31 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89522 "I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things?"                   I haven't been here long enough to say for sure, but elections here are WEIRD. It seems like only a certain subset of people is truly "eligible" for election to local bodies, and local elections here are NASTY. I've lived in other cities the size of Peoria, including one that featured school board meeting fist-fights (Best. Public Access. Ever.), but I've never seen small city elections that were so UGLY as they seem to get here. But maybe that's because I've only been here for a couple of very contentious (national) election cycles and that does tend to bleed into local politics.                I'm also not sure how much the school board can do without adequate administrators in place who have the power to actually make changes at 150 and the gumption and cojones to do so. There are a zillion things that need to be done at 150, but what seems to HAPPEN is that the district makes a half-hearted attempt at 12 of them at once, none of them succeed, and then they hire some more administrators or pay for some more studies to tell us which other two dozen things we should be attempting. Can we not get an administrator who doesn't need to pay other people to tell him how to do his job and who can pick two or three major issues and focus in like a laser beam? "I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things?"                   I haven't been here long enough to say for sure, but elections here are WEIRD. It seems like only a certain subset of people is truly "eligible" for election to local bodies, and local elections here are NASTY. I've lived in other cities the size of Peoria, including one that featured school board meeting fist-fights (Best. Public Access. Ever.), but I've never seen small city elections that were so UGLY as they seem to get here. But maybe that's because I've only been here for a couple of very contentious (national) election cycles and that does tend to bleed into local politics.                I'm also not sure how much the school board can do without adequate administrators in place who have the power to actually make changes at 150 and the gumption and cojones to do so. There are a zillion things that need to be done at 150, but what seems to HAPPEN is that the district makes a half-hearted attempt at 12 of them at once, none of them succeed, and then they hire some more administrators or pay for some more studies to tell us which other two dozen things we should be attempting. Can we not get an administrator who doesn't need to pay other people to tell him how to do his job and who can pick two or three major issues and focus in like a laser beam?

]]> By: The Peoria Chronicle » Blog Archive » Peoria city ranking down, MSA ranking same http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89516 The Peoria Chronicle » Blog Archive » Peoria city ranking down, MSA ranking same Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:03:33 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89516 [...] attracting many people to live in the city of Peoria when they move into the area. There’s some discussion going on over at Billy’s place on the reasons for that. In my opinion, the top two reasons are [...] [...] attracting many people to live in the city of Peoria when they move into the area. There’s some discussion going on over at Billy’s place on the reasons for that. In my opinion, the top two reasons are [...]

]]> By: JW http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89514 JW Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:03:37 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89514 I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things? Easier to complain than act? The same hoard of morons keep getting elected over and over....by those complaining.Until 1970, Peoria was the 2nd largest city in the state, when Rockford took over.To me, Aurora, Naperville and Joliet are not "real" cities. They are the suburbs to which Chicago is loosing population. They are nothing more than endless miles of look-alike subdivisions. None of these cities have suburbs of their own to which disgruntled citizens can flee. Aurora and Naperville city limits extend into other counties.Rockford is pretty much the same, a "way out there" suburb, with few suburbs of its own.Springfield only exists because of state government. It has a handful of tiny suburbs.Peoria, on the other hand, is the oldest settlement in the state. It has a dozen suburbs with over 5,000 population, to which complainers move. If even half of them stayed put, Peoria would still rank #2. I've always been puzzled as to why none of the people complaining about 150 ever ran for the school board and changed things? Easier to complain than act? The same hoard of morons keep getting elected over and over….by those complaining.Until 1970, Peoria was the 2nd largest city in the state, when Rockford took over.To me, Aurora, Naperville and Joliet are not "real" cities. They are the suburbs to which Chicago is loosing population. They are nothing more than endless miles of look-alike subdivisions. None of these cities have suburbs of their own to which disgruntled citizens can flee. Aurora and Naperville city limits extend into other counties.Rockford is pretty much the same, a "way out there" suburb, with few suburbs of its own.Springfield only exists because of state government. It has a handful of tiny suburbs.Peoria, on the other hand, is the oldest settlement in the state. It has a dozen suburbs with over 5,000 population, to which complainers move. If even half of them stayed put, Peoria would still rank #2.

]]> By: Billy Dennis http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/comment-page-1/#comment-89513 Billy Dennis Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:22:49 +0000 http://peoriapundit.com/blogpeoria/2007/06/28/number-7-and-proud/#comment-89513 YOU crack ME up. Chuck Greyeb's concern with essential services began and ended with his desitre to make the city government as big as possible. He was NOT an opponent of the boondoggles. He believed in handing city staff a blank check, but was unwilling to suggest new ideas or vote for valid ways of raising revenue. He was quick to get on his soapbox and pontificate in high dudgeon about the failings of the council and the city. He was very brave about expressing opinions likley to get himself re-elected. But his record for working hard on the details when the cameras were off is spotty at best. YOU crack ME up. Chuck Greyeb's concern with essential services began and ended with his desitre to make the city government as big as possible. He was NOT an opponent of the boondoggles. He believed in handing city staff a blank check, but was unwilling to suggest new ideas or vote for valid ways of raising revenue. He was quick to get on his soapbox and pontificate in high dudgeon about the failings of the council and the city. He was very brave about expressing opinions likley to get himself re-elected. But his record for working hard on the details when the cameras were off is spotty at best.

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