LaSalle Insider

Typically at this time of year we all look back on what transpired in the last twelve months.  We try to remember the high points of our year as well as those of the world in general. It usually is a time of reflection and recollection.  I choose not to do that….let’s look ahead!  After all there were enough disappointing moments in 2011 to last a life time.  The economy is still in the toilet and locally it seems we are moving backwards not forwards.  Let us try to raise our sights for 2012 and push to make this coming year the best one in a long time.  There will be opportunities for all of us to revel in 2012….

For long suffering Cub fans you have the hope of “Thesus” or as he is known to the rest of us…Theo.  He is going to change a dormant franchise into one as exciting as any that ever existed!  He will break the curse and bring a world championship to the North side Faithful……in a few years

Bear fans look forward to a healthy Jay Cutler and maybe a receiver or two who have hands that function as they should  for football..bye bye Roy and Martz too.

Robin will bring a fresh perspective to the South side and let’s face it-we will be able to understand what he says when he speaks…with Ozzie it was always a challenge.

The Bulls will be exciting us all the way up to and including the playoffs with D. Rose and company and don’t be surprised if we see them in the championship round.

I’m not a fan of hockey but even I know the Blackhawks should contend for the Lord Stanley’s Cup again in 2012 and maybe??????

Locally it looks good for LP’s new basketball coach and we just might be seeing the start of a great program taking shape…let’s hope so.

The biggest change will come in November when we finally show Mr Obama the door.  Thanks for your service but you have been replaced!  This is the biggest challenge we face in 2012. If we are ever hoping to return to some kind of economic stability this man and his group of socialist leaning dunces must be replaced. And let’s not stop there, we have another group in the State level that need to find work elsewhere as well.  Get active and lets vote  in 2012 and not let a handful of special interest groups determine our future.  Its in our hands….vote…vote…vote!!

On a local level I would like to see my city fathers focus on something other than another neighborhood celebration or parade.  We don’t need another committee to look long term at where the City should be in 10 or 20 years…we have a limited amount of revenues that are decreasing monthly.  Spend wisely…forget about newspaper ads that do nothing to advance our City’s status as a place to bring your new business. Let’s finally concentrate on the biggest problem we face as a small town….. illegal drugs

That’s right drugs…the use and sale of which have hampered our area for the last 30 years.  I applaud our police force and the efforts being made by them to do as much as they can but the problem continues to grow.  We are undermanned in this battle and we are losing the fight.  We must publicly  begin a campaign that says we are not going to tolerate the sale and use of illegal drugs within our City.  Post the names of anyone who has been arrested and convicted of drug related charges. Begin a sweep from one end of town to the other and question anyone with any connection to these illegal actions.  make it clear that we will not allow this activity in our town.  I want our officers focused 24-7 on this problem and not concern themselves with seat belt violations or illegally parked cars.  Their time is limited and we need to get the most bang for our buck.  We need to follow up on all leads from neighbors who see this illegal activity on a daily basis.  I assure you that until we rid our area of these unwanted scum we will never see  growth in our area.  It must and has to be the number one priority for us going forward…..

Stay safe and have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

As many of you already know, LaSalle is looking to raise your sewer rates yet again.  What you may not know is we have President Obama and his stimulus plans of 2009 to thank for this….let me explain.

Shortly after Mayor Grove took office, our wonderful President decided to resurrect  the economy with his stimulus plans. He was looking for “shovel ready” plans to fund with our tax dollars.  The reality was he was looking to keep public sector jobs safe in return for their continued donations to his campaign.  This would be done by way of the Unions kicking back a portion of those funds to Obama’s building war chest.  Its a great way to redirect tax dollars back to yourself while looking like you care about the working man!

When the terms were released to qualify for the money , the city realized we had engineering plans already in place for the new sewage treatment plant.  This would qualify the job as being “shovel ready”.  We initially looked at building a second waste treatment facility on the east end when it looked like the water park and other industrial users were planning on building on that end of town.  In order to allow such expansion , the EPA said we needed the capacity to handle the increased waste water that would be created by these businesses once they were up and running.  Shortly after we began the process it became clear that the economy was headed south and these new enterprises became a pipe dream.

We shelved the idea of building the new plant because it wasn’t necessary given the current plant could handle our current needs.

Then came “Santa Obama” and he said you can have your new plant and we will forgive 25% of the amount you borrow and give you 20 years to pay back the balance at 0%!  Who would turn down that deal??   I have to admit I went along with the deal as an alderman at the time.  After all we would never get that kind of financing in the future and how long could this bad economy last?  Surely new construction and new users were right around the corner to fund the increased operating costs……..NOT!

So here we are in 2011 almost 2012 and as we all know now the economy still sputters along at best.  In the mean time we have a shiny new plant that costs money to run and staff.  We don’t need it at this time but its built and everyday we have expenses to pay.

If the stimulus plan did not exist this plant would not have been built at this time.  There would not be the added costs that the City has to fund and there would NOT be any increase in your sewer rates for you to pay.  Oh and don’t forget somebody has to pay the 25% that was given to the City for free as well as the interest on this money that would have been paid for 20 years if the Federal government had charged the going rate for those loans.

That money is coming out of we (the taxpayers) pockets as well!  But don’t forget we now have a second waste treatment plant ready for action.  If only we had a President who knew how to grow the economy instead of how to waste our tax dollars…..

We are quickly approaching the end of another year and its time to look back and see what we have accomplished.  On a national level we have continued to spend money and get nothing in return….unless you are one of Obama’s chosen ones.  That would be any union who’s dues go to the Democratic party in part to continue their ability to try to sell us on Obama as a good President.  That’s not working  based on his poll numbers!  Those in public sector jobs have seen their jobs saved by one  of the stimulus packages which went back to State and local governments to avoid layoffs.  The sad truth was those jobs were paid for by tax dollars taken from unemployed people in the private sector!

The State was no better in that we have a deficit and a debt which is getting bigger by the day.  Those in power don’t have any answers and continue to support those who support them.  Meanwhile we all suffer as we watch the decline of businesses in Illinois.  The picture isn’t pretty but their is some good news…..People are paying attention!   That’s right, finally the voting public are turning away from their reality TV shows and Hollywood magazines and realizing that they have a say in what happens.  The tea party groups are active and informed and even the occupiers are forcing  many to look at whats happening and making  the majority of us to think about our Country’s future.

I truly believe that the upcoming elections are going to shock many by the percentage of turnout.  The primaries as well will create a firestorm of activity.

THIS IS GOOD!!!!   Its about time we wake up and take control of our government and not let them control us….from what we eat, where we can send our children to school, what we drive, what kind and how much energy we use….enough already.  That’s our decision!

We are at a point in history where we can settle for what they tell us (elected officials) or we can dictate to them what is acceptable!   It’s time for term limits for all levels of government.  It’s time for less governmental interference so that this economy can once again lead the world.  We are becoming a second class Country and its due to the incompetence of the so called leaders in place today.

Keep the conversation going and talk with your neighbors and friends.  Let them know that you intend to vote for change and ask them to do their part as well.  We can turn this slide around but it will come from the bottom up, not the top down!

Enjoy your Holidays and keep the thought that every day that passes brings us closer to the change which will happen in November 2012.

Merry Christmas!!

I have a question for our “concerned” Alderman Bacidore  regarding buildings that are in rundown shape.  Is he concerned with all of the eyesores  in town?  Even if that property is owned by the City and he can vote to take action to correct?  I don’t think so….if he was he would be demanding that something be done with the Matthiessen  School building owned by the City.  After all he sits on the public grounds and Real Estate committee.  Unlike the Hotel this building is an eyesore which stands out in a residential neighborhood.  It houses rats and the occasional human overnight guest.  I know because I have seen the campfire remains in some of the rooms in the building.  Kingfish said he was going to ask about the Hotel at every meeting until he “got some answers”!  I think its time for the landowners around the old school building to come to every council meeting and demand answers from the City as to what they plan to do with this eyesore and when they plan to do  it!  After all if the City can own eyesores and do nothing with them why can’t the Public?  What’s the old adage…”People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones?”

I know the answer from the City will be that we don’t have the money to do anything  right now. Why are we to  accept that answer when  “Kingfish”  won’t from Mr Carus with  regards to the Hotel….?

When the eloquent speaker from the First Ward mentioned his walk down a certain boulevard he did not state where that street ended but I can assure you it begins in front of Alderman Bacidore’s  chair in the City Council!

The more quotes I read about Alderman “Kingfish” Bacidore  the more I realize how sad things are going in my City.  His recent quote about taking a walk down bullshit boulevard just points out what an eloquent  speaker he is.  Someone referred to kingfish as “Jo-Jo with a car” but I think that’s disrespectful to the late Alderman Cawley.  At least Alderman Cawley was trying to help in his own way.

Mr Bacidore suffers from the “smartest man in the room syndrome”.  That is he thinks he always is.  That’s only true if he is sitting alone…..

The fact that Mr. Carus gave him 45 minutes of his time shocks me….the only way I would do that would be if Jim was still bartending and was supplying free drinks!

But let’s get to the point here…Jim needs to learn that if you are going to bring up a “problem” at least have a viable solution.  He has none.  He wants to point to the Hotel as an eyesore as if that’s the only one downtown.  We have many. He looks to Mr Carus as the cause but he conveniently forgets that Mr Carus  actually bought the building as an eyesore….he did not create it.  He is trying to take a problem building and make it into something worthwhile.  And for his attempts to do something good  is being lambasted by the city officials!

The Dew Drop Inn will never be a must see stop on the list of beautiful buildings in LaSalle yet Mr Bacidore sees fit to tell Mr Carus how to spend his money.  Wonder what his attitude would be if we demanded changes to the appearance of his building??

Kingfish also feels that Mr Carus is “getting away with something” by not rebuilding the Hotel at this time in this economy.  Does he not understand the costs that are ongoing to Mr Carus  for this building.  There are property taxes, heating,and maintenance costs just to keep it as is.  Does anyone with a brain really believe that Mr Carus bought this building with the intent of leaving it as is and then pay these costs just so he could aggravate the citizens of LaSalle?

If I were him I would be tempted to tell Mr. Bacidore the property is yours….you pay the ongoing expenses with no income from it or pay to demolish the  building.  I think Mr Bacidore would say no thanks.

If the city had a clue they would try to work with Mr Carus not against him. I  certainly would  not verbally abuse someone who at his age doesn’t need to be doing this with his money but I believe is trying to make a difference.