* Gale Community Center Delayed. Again

Joe Moore Email Blast:

The Gale Community Center which was to be opened by July 1st, has been delayed. Once again. Park District Superintendent Tim Mitchell said, "the gymnasium floor is buckling in several places and will need to be repaired by the contractor before the Park District will accept delivery of the building."

The problem will delay the building opening for several weeks.

Place your bets. How many weeks is "several weeks?"

* 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."