How blatant can you get? This time Alderman Moore has sent out yet another mailer (six and counting) touting his nonexistent down-zoning development record.
Here Alderman Moore parades out Michi Schulenburg in his latest political mailer to explain how she got her block down-zoned so, as she put it, 'we stopped that development, and now we don't have to worry about overdevelopment in our area in the future."
Well, that's all fine and dandy for Michi. But what about everyone else?
See, Michi works for Alderman Moore's re-election campaign. For that help, Alderman Moore did Michi a favor for her service to the community. Other's who don't help Alderman Moore, with either money or time, aren't so fortunate.
One way or another, it's 'Pay to Play' with Alderman Moore. This time for a so-called neighbors endorsement and a picture in his fancy mailer.
Our neighbor Michi is full of crap. Much like the leader she follows. Folks, don't believe this mailer.
13 comments:
Craig,
This is completely unfair and untrue. First I am a volunteer, not a paid worker for Joe. Two, the downzoning process was started by a group of neighbors, some of whom are not supporters of Joe and have worked for other candidates. We followed the example of a group further down the street who had downzoned before us.
Furthermore, Joe's staff and his zoning committee was very adamant we as neighbors understood that downzoning potentially put us at a financial disadvantage. It's a compact among the neighors to limit our ability to develop our properties. It is called common good. One of our neighbors would have been severely disadvantaged because his house sat between two buildings. Joe's office worked out a compromise, drawing that lot out of the downzoning.
I support Joe for the totality of what he and his staff does. He is not perfect, his staff isn't, Rogers Park isn't, I'm not, and neither are you or anyone reading this blog. The Trib today endorsed a challenger citing the foie gras ordinance. What a crying shame. Is it Joe's fault the Trib thinks that foie gras is more important than the war in Iraq, a living wage, a sensible curb-side recycling program, community policing, community meetings for new real estate/business developments, candidate forums, balanced consideration of all constituencies.
One of our former neighbors who recently moved to North Carolina and not a Joe fan, wrote back saying that he loved Rogers Park and gave us back-handed praise by saying "it takes balls" to live here. That comment didn't sit right with me, but I didn't know exactly why. Days later, as I was walking around the neighborhood, I realized the proper counterpoint, "No, Brooke, it takes heart."
Michi
I challenge Joe Moore to publish his record of zoning changes. ALL of them. Then let's classify them, upzonings for developers versus downzonings for homeowners. Let's put the two lists next to each other and look at them.
Moore can make any claims he wants about his record on zoning because he knows it is difficult to analyze. Well, so can I.
I've been tracking zoning in Rogers Park for many ears now, and i am under the impression that for every downzoning Moore has done for homeowners there are 10 zoning changes for developers. Moore main contribution to the economy of Rogers Park for the last 16 years has been to run a zoning-for-sale, legislative services for sale storefront business for real estate developers, zoning changed while you wait. Only in the last of those 16 years, in preparation for an election has there even been a token nod to preserving our housing stock.
As election prep Moore dwonzoned a few isolated areas. But Moore left most of Rogers Park dangersously overzoned. Most ot Rogers Park is zoned RT4. Single family homes and two-flats in these areas are sitting ducks. Moore keeps them on the map to feed his cash-for-upzoning and cash-for-demo permits business, that keeps him in office, thriving.
RT4 in Rogers Park: Slated for In-fill Development
Moore Supports Tear-Downs
Forum49 has been tracking tear-downs, demo permits, and zoning changes for developers in Rogers Park for the last several years.
EVERY tear-down, demo permit, and zoning change for developers in Rogers Park in recent history is pay-to-play. EVERY one has a campaign contribution associated with it. Not some. Not most ALL.
Moore is dirty. He is not our alderman.
Rogers Park Tear-Down Gallery
Castlebar Tear-Down Gallery
Castle Realty & Property Management Tear-Down Gallery
"I changed the zoning in 30 different residential sections of our ward to prevent over-development and discourage single family home teardowns."
- Moore's announcement speech
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Moore's campaign manager Alex Armor was asked for the list of "30 different residential sections" on Friday, December 22, 2006.
Simple request, right? Back up a claim by your guy in a rally speech?
No reply yet.
I worked with Joe's office to downzone my side of Lakewood and Farwell east of Lakewood. A group of neighbors were concerned after the 1225 issue.
I don't agree entirely that downzoning harms your property value. Preserving the overall character of a neighborhood can actually positively affect property values in the long term. It is the developer mentality that thinks downzoning will make you lose value on yor property. Of course, there are exceptions, but I believe that preserving QUALITY housing stock will increase the overall value of properties in RP.
My problem with Joe Moore is not that he will not respond to resident's requests for zoning changes. He will do that and I'm glad of that. My problem is that he does not have an overall plan or vision beyond the generic for our Ward. I feel he is a hands off manager when we need a micro-manager right now.
He is not the worst Alderman we could have, but I believe we can do better. I also believe Don Gordon is the best man for the job.
It's funny that Michi mentions "heart" on the Broken Heart. Michi- I totally agree and that is what I really like about our community. We have heart. We even have our very own Broken Heart!
Which block is this that is featured in this mailer?
A note about the mailer. The blond brick house has two Gordon for alderman signs in the picture window. Just another example of Joe's attention to detail.
Good job juneway. I just figured out the block. It is 1300ish W. Chase. I own a small property on that block.
michi may be forgiven for liking and supporting an alderman who responded to her and her neighbors in a positive fashion.
However, she may be naive and uninformed of Joe's history, which more than offsets any occasional action on behalf of an individual constituant.
She needs to know that Joe continues to take contributions from major slumlords and convicted arsonists. As blogger Hugh helpfully pointed out on my blog, Moore has taken many large donations from convicted arsonist Ivan Buljubasic in the four years since the last election, which total at least $8500. Buljubasic made two contributions of $1000 each very recently, one in January 2007. To me, this means that this vile criminal expects to derive major business benefits from his association with Moore.
Post a Comment