Thursday, June 26, 2008

* Joe Moore Hijacks Gale Park Advisory Council


"Pay to Play" and a "Hint of Possible Influence" in one story.
No wonder "Out of District" Senator Steans Supports the Plan.
Only "Progressive Democrats" could pull this stunt off.
Eva McCann, president of the Gale Park Advisory Council, said she was disappointed that the North of Howard community was not allowed to give input into whether it wanted a Boys and Girls Club in the new community center.

"I'm pretty pissed off actually," said McCann, who with other park advisory council members, is scheduled to meet sometime this week with Moore and Tim Mitchell, park district CEO, to discuss bringing the Boys and Girls Club to the new community center.

"All this stuff went on behind our backs. It's robbed the voice of community members," said McCann.
It's just not Eva McCann.
Sr. Cecilia Fandel, who sits on the Gale Park Advisory Council, said that news of a Boys and Girls Club possibly opening in the new community center caught members by surprise. Source.
So, here's what happened. Like Mayor Daley's Children's Museum push in Grant Park, Joe Moore used his "white entitlement club" to ramrod his political appointees to run the show North of Howard.

Forget the fact McCann donates her time year round to the CAPS program North of Howard. Forget the fact McCann is the President of the Gale Park Advisory Council.

The problem with Eva McCann is; She doesn't go out every four years and race-bait the public on behalf of Joe Moore's re-election campaigns.

Eva McCann spends her volunteer time helping out on REAL neighborhood issues that effect ALL of the community. So does Sister Cecilia. That doesn't cut it with Joe Moore. His policy is; help those chosen few that help him get elected. Screw the rest. Don't believe me? Keep reading.
Joe Moore said negotiations with the Chicago Boys and Girls Club began last April, when Rogers Park resident Dick Gregory, a board member for the Cotter Boys and Girls Club in the Chicago Housing Authority's Lathrop Homes, told Moore that Lathrop may be losing its club in the next few years and was looking for a new location.

"Jim Ginderske was one of the first people that I called," Moore said. "I knew this was something that he and his organization (Neighbors for a Healthy Rogers Park) were committed to doing."
Ah, there we go. Now we're getting to the gist of things. Politics. Joe's political "Golden boy", Jimmy G., is now Joe's closest political advisor on all issues great and small. Don't believe me? Keep reading.

* Health care? Joe says let's ask Doctor Jim. He's the 49th ward resident physician.

* Zoning? Plumber Jim's the building expert now. Joe says let's put him on the ZULAC board.

* Arts? Jim knows art better than anyone. Joe says let's get him on the Glenwood Art Fair board.

Don't believe me? Keep reading.
The Bench, however, hears from several sources that the main reason for the RPGG exclusion is the influence of Jim Ginderske, former aldermanic candidate. (Ginderske is currently being groomed as Joe Moore's successor in the event of an Obama victory in November.) Ginderske, I am told, is the de facto GAAF gruppenfuehrer this year. Source.
That's right. Jim doesn't want the Rogers Park Garden Group to be at his Glenwood Art Fair. Why? Like Joe, Jimmy G. uses spite as a method of doing ward business. Because art critic Jim believes they don't support his political mentor, Joe Moore, he doesn't want the RPGG in his Art Fair. Just like the Gale Park Advisory Council.

With Joe, it's not about the communities best interest. It's about protecting those political donors best interests. Nothing more. Nothing less. Pony up, or you don't ride on the pony. This is Joe Moore's sad legacy.
Operation Board Games

Like Rezko, Levin and the Governor's illegal and corrupt Board Games, Joe Moore plays it the same way in the 49th ward. Here, a long time campaign contributor wants to bring his soon-to-be closed Boy's and Girl's Club to Rogers Park. Mr. Gregory won't be denied. Why? Keep reading.
Gregory, Richard (Dick) & Dorothy
1040 W. Albion Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
$200.00
7/29/2004
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore

Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
3/10/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
12/7/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
12/7/2006
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
 
Gregory, Dorothy
1040 W. Albion
Chicago, IL 60626
$250.00
4/6/2007
Individual Contribution
Citizens for Joe Moore
Campaign cash and campaign workers are the fuel that keeps Joe Moore in power. How, you ask?

* It takes Joe Moore nearly a million dollars to secure a mere 4000 votes in a neighborhood that represents 55,000 residents. (What's that? About $250 A VOTE.)

* When it takes Joe Moore nearly a million dollars to beat a virtual unknown by a scant 250 votes.

* When it takes Joe Moore having lunatic surrogates running around the neighborhood screaming racism about your opponents.


That's how Joe Moore holds onto his seat in office. Without that, Joe Moore would be a ambulance chasing nobody. Just like Jimmy G. was before The "Broken Heart" of Rogers Park introduced him to the residents of the neighborhood. Good gawd, I created a two-headed monster.

Related - August 24, 2007: Attempted Hijacking.
Michael Luckenbach said...."As I understand it, the Chicago Park District establishes the 'organizational structure and membership requirements' for ALL Parks Advisory Councils throughout the city. End of Story!

WHAT A STUNT, JOE! In my opinion, the voters of the 49th Ward should mount a recall effort, and remove this really sorry excuse of an Alderman from office."
Chicago Journal Editorial - June 25, 2008: Gale Community Center should be for all North of Howard residents!
Park advisory council members who kept the community center from languishing on the back burner made sure that the Gale Community Center remained the center of focus after 12 years of construction problems, zoning oversights and budgetary shortfalls. When necessary, the park advisory council moved the community center to the front of the stove, and turned up the heat under the pot until it was boiling over.
And a "pearl of wisdom" from Pearl. Pearl said... "My read on Toni's complaints was that the Gale Advisory Council folks weren't invited to discussions, e.g., there seemed to be a lack of transparency and citizen inclusiveness. Whether one likes or enjoys working with said citizens is besides the point. In my JOB, I have to deal with people I consider jerks all the time. Too bad. That's part of life and work. I don't get to pick and choose partners, vendors, colleagues, bosses, and customers based on whether I consider them nice to work with.

Politicos and civil servants also don't get to choose. When they do choose to ignore folks because they don't like dealing with them or find them difficult or whatever, then they open the door to attack and to fostering anti-government sentiment. The reality is that the citizens are the bosses. People scream at the GOP White House for its lack of transparency -- and deservedly so -- but when fingers are pointed at a local level at Dems (we like) then it's viciousness and spite. If we seek open government then we hold ALL to the same standard whether they mean well or not; whether we like them or not; whether we like the critics or not."

17 comments:

Unknown said...

This is classic Joe. I remember when a group worked endlessly to develop plans and recommendations for the Morse Ave. streetscape project.

After all of their work, Joe thanked them for their efforts and declared that his office of incompetents would take over from there.

And we all know how well the Morse Ave. streetscape project has gone since those many years ago.

This guy couldn't build a sand castle at the beach.

How do you demand an alderman's resignation?

Fargo Woman said...

I don't care what Obama says, politics in Chicago is NOT democracy, it is not something to be emulated, it is not what he needs to take to Washington and hearing him say so on the news last night sent chills down my spine. Did anybody else catch that on Chanel 7 last night? He held a press conference at the Westin Hotel yesterday. He distanced himself from the political machine, saying he was an independent democrat in Springfield and yet he had many friends and a few mentors who were from the "Old Chicago Political Style." At one point, he actually said he thinks the way politics are run in Chicago (the reporter said it was in reference to Mayor Daley from an earlier question) is good because "it gets things done" and he intends to take that "same way of doing things" to Washington. Eeeew!

I tried to find a video of the news report on Chanel 7's website but its been replaced with a later version of the press coference news coverage and the part that so concerns me was edited out. Sorry.

- PEACE -

- PEACE -

been there said...

fwiw, it was my understanding that the gale park advisory committee failed to follow cpd rules for an official advisory committee. like number of people involved, number of meetings, proper elections, adherence to illinois open meetings act, and other organizational rules. that is why they are not an official advisory committee. which would make eva not the president of the gale park advisory council.
it may seem petty. but if this is the voice of the community, i think they have blown it. that is the way it is. you have to follow roberts rules and do the other things that officials have to do in order to have official input.

been there said...

one more small comment- elections have consequences. if your side loses, and you continue to hate on them, undermine the winner, and fight the same battle, you are not going to be a part of the new administration. you have to be able to let go after the votes are counted, or be treated like a loser. it is a hard thing to do. but no one, elected official or not, has to cooperate with blind hate.

Hugh said...

This ranks with the biggest lies of Moore's career: that a Chicago Park District Field house is coming to North of Howard. How many campaign cycles did he use this in? 4? 5?

Jocelyn said...

It doesn't just seem petty been there. IT IS PETTY!! And it's UNACCEPTABLE.

Jocelyn said...

SOMEONE has to rise above. Why not our elected official?? They are supposed to LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

Enough already! I am so sick of people blaming the community for the Alderman's office bad behavior. GROW UP!!

Hugh said...

" ... you continue to hate on them, undermine the winner ... "

what do you mean?

who are you talking about? be specific

who is undermining the winner?

"to the winner go the spoils" that's your position?

Unknown said...

Dear been there. You just wrote, "it was my understanding that the gale park advisory committee failed to follow cpd rules for an official advisory committee."

OK, I take your word for it - that's what you understand. However, I wonder how you came to understand the status of the advisory council, or its history and track record? Can you tell us which individual or group of people led you to believe that these wondrous lies about the council were actually true?

Finally, what other things have they told you about our community?

been there said...

michael, i think i have posted this elsewhere, but i will say it again. i have been in many leadership positions. i understand too well the way that entrenched differences can chafe and grate. that is what i see in the postings on more than a couple rogers park blogs. it can be a hopeless situation. i wish i knew how to unravel such things, because i would.
most of what i know about several people is what i get from the blogs, but do not take that to mean that i believe one persons' charges or anothers'. i see them through the lens of someone who has tried to make change in many situations, but has too often been stymied by resentments and grudges. i accept the honesty of people's intentions, and even the long, hard work that has been done. but i also see the roadblocks. entrenched stuff. piled up everywhere, until you cannot turn around. people just at loggerheads. people so judgmental that they can barely share the same space.
i try hard to keep an open mind about people. but sometimes my experience makes it hard. some people just cannot do it. i do keep trying, tho.
and i will thank you sir to not rhetorically remove me from my community. it is mine, too. it is our community, not yours.

and jocelyn, it is not petty. it is the way government works, and is as much a safeguard to you as it is a weapon to others. there is a process clearly laid out. if it is not followed, it is not valid. it is the difference between government and anarchy. there are groups of people in every neighborhood that would like to take control of their parks, i imagine. there is a process laid out for input into that. it is only fair that that process be followed. cpd, in the end, is responsible. they should not be handing control of such things to just anyone. they should not be handing control over in a haphazard fashion. they have laid out a process. it should be followed.

been there said...

and hugh. not to the victor go the spoils. when the votes are counted, the contest is over. better luck next time.
when people meet in the spirit of clean contest, fight the good fight, then shake hands, people can heal. when people do not stop fighting when the bell rings, wounds fester.
things can grind to a halt. this is a bad thing. and a sad thing. for everyone.

Toni said...

Not a legal council eh? Did that come from Tom Westgard who was there at the election in November 07? Roberts Rules eh?

Does that mean an alderman can walk in with a park employee after changing the format and content of the agenda on the council poster? The agenda was to meet for ABC and it got twisted into XYZ by non-council members.

And there were the rabble rousers with roles to play screaming they were refused admittance! People were told there was a miscommunication and the meeting was for ABC not XYZ but they were still welcome to attend. Had the agenda been promoted correctly without interference that August meeting wouldn’t have been heated. I was there and so were others. I too sit in on meetings to hash out issues and find common ground. But if the boss were to walk in shaking his/her finger calling us a 'club' the point/purpose of the meeting would be a political embarrassment - on the boss.

And then, one must assume that city employees are within their right to be insulting in a public meeting? Joe wasn't in attendance when a park employee started a slight rant in front of two business people who had come to possibly 'adopt a park'. Said person took 'charge' of the meeting, pretty much ran the show and yes, 'Out of order' should have been called.

The park district has rules on employee behavior too. They are to attend and respond not ‘vent’ their frustrations and take over the meeting. But Tom et al missed that drama.

There are grudges coming from the political wing – it doesn’t matter who voted for or against Joe – a planned meeting with a set agenda should be followed. We had no problems when we met with Joe weeks ago to discuss our feelings about criminal background checks and fingerprints. We had no problems when we met to discuss the re-naming process. When Joe wants to work with people – he does. When Joe doesn’t want to work with people, he can make it very difficult sometimes.

To apparently and purposefully disrupt an agenda is not politically polite but is a political distraction to prove a point.

Craig Gernhardt said...

Polls show a 22 to 1 ruling in having an open, public NoH community meeting?

Jocelyn said...

I defer to your expertise on government bureaucracy Been There, but as a community member, this is very disheartening.

Hugh said...

" ... if your side loses, and you continue to hate on them, undermine the winner, and fight the same battle, you are not going to be a part of the new administration."

wow

don't expect adequate City services if your politics are not properly aligned?

that is WAY Old School

Obama was in town recently, and he went to great lengths with reporters to try and distinguish himself from the "traditional" Chicago Way of politics

I guess with this post Moore & his apologists are coming out as part of that Chicago tradition Obama denies having anything to do with

I guess it's brave for a Moore apologist to come right out and post, "YES! it IS retribution!"

thanks for the post

Hugh said...

"I didn't go around wielding a bunch of clout. ... There is no doubt I had friends and continue to have friends who come out of the more traditional school of Chicago politics but that's not what launched my political career and that's not what I've ever depended on in order to get elected ... "

Barack Obama
Chicago
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

been there said...

hugh, that is neither what i said, nor what i meant. what i meant was that there is a certain level of civility that is required to have a seat at the table. referring to people as creatures, felons, pantsload, etc, is not it.
and since everyone here seems to speak for barack obama, i think i can assure you that he would agree that we all must disagree without being disagreeable. otherwise, it just doesn't work.

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