Lynn Brown, aka Poison Pen, has truly taken on the Peoples Party mantra, which is, "Forget the Facts, Full Speed Ahead!"
She has accused me of posting under odd names, either on her blog site, or on the PJStar site. She quoted the following on her blog:
"Most people don’t realize that the PCs we have in our homes (or offices) have their own ‘addresses’; making the computer they are using traceable. When they sign on using their ‘moniker’, even if they use someone else’s account, the computer they are using is designated as the point of origin for the ‘submission’, effectively ‘red-flagging’ their computer as ‘responsible’ for that submission."
Now, Lynn, when you post something like that, people who read your blog will think that you have some actual facts, using your "computer sniffing out skills," and now have me in the skillet. But, you don't, do you? You know why? Because I am not John Doe; I'm not Trunk Monkey, and I'm not Heights Tower. If you actually put your computer sniffing skills to work, you would find that those IP addresses of the posting parties won't match mine. Why? Because I did not post as them. But, why should that stop you from launching into accusations, right? Like I said, you are the Peoples Party Bag Lady, no matter how much you want to run from it. If I want to post something, I will post as myself.
I know the real life identities of a couple of those posting parties, but I'm not going to dignify your accusations with any "exposure" of the same. Frankly, Lynn, I'm disappointed in you. But, just like the Peoples Party hierarchy, you try to catch me in a lie, and you end up catching yourself in the same. I know it's hard for you to fathom, but there are folks out there who back me, and find you less than appealing. And, sometimes, they post on blogs.
What little credibility your blog had, Lynn, is gone, poooooof. You didn't do any computer sleuthing, did you? You didn't track down the IP addresses for those posting parties, did you? John Doe has posted on your very own blog, and you STILL did not take the time to track down the IP address and compare it to mine, did you? But, did that stop you from throwing out the accusations? Of course not. You know why? Because you're Peoples Party yellow, through and through. That's right...
"Forget the Facts! Full Speed Ahead!"
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Poison Pen At It Again
Lynn Brown, aka Poison Pen, has jumped into the fray, once again, on the Peoria Journal Star website. Her insightful comments, speaking on behalf of her Uncle Earl, always are well-thought out and considered, of course. I'll touch base on a couple of them, just because it's Thanksgiving, and I have some free time right now.
She goes into a tirade about my not knowing about Peoria Heights history, and being pouty and angry over the Board going with the presentation from Jim Barnett, concerning the possible history area at the former Al Fresco Park site.
For more information regarding Galena Road and its issues in Peoria Heights, along with a short background on Al Fresco Park, please copy and paste the following:
http://villageofpeoriaheights.org/new/images/stories/Galena_Road_Packet.pdf
I still don't believe that creating a history park at the Al Fresco Park site, AT THIS TIME, is the right thing to do. If it even causes one person to get injured (and it almost certainly will), due to the craziness of the traffic along Galena Road at certain times of the day, then I feel we'll have some culpability about that accident. And, I don't mean that we're going to get sued by the injured party (but don't ever rule anything out when it comes to this stuff), I just mean that in that harsh reality, I feel we will be at fault for allowing this development to take place. When one person gets injured going into this park, or coming out of it, then that is one person that did not have to be injured. It's all well and good to say, "Well, heck, look at all of the other driveways, and entrances, and exits, and all and all, coming off of Galena Road already and..."
Yep, that's true. And look at the accidents that occur because of them. But, the Village does not have any direct attachment to the CREATION of ANY of them since this Galena Road has become a thoroughfare. I live on Terrace View Lane. Right off of Galena Road. It's been here since God knows when, back when Galena Road was a sleepy, two lane country trek. You'll find most, if not all, of the driveways, roads, etc. off of Galena Road, have been in existence from likely before the mid-50s. Most even earlier than that. IDOT has not allowed any NEW cut-ins along Galena Road probably for decades upon decades. We are aware of the problems involved with Galena Road as it is TODAY; and yet we're going to give the thumbs up to the creation of a park that's going to cause more turn-ins and more coming outs, into THIS traffic? I'm at a loss to understand why.
We already have letters from F/S and Casey's, both saying that the reason(s) they won't look at Galena Road for development is due to the SPEED of the vehicles, and the LACK of traffic lights; they both say that we have MORE than enough traffic along Galena Road already. This park will do nothing to spur on the lowering of the speed or having traffic lights put up. One posting party put on the PJStar website that the more congestion we create, the more likely we are to slow traffic down. Wha-? Things are congested plenty along Galena Road between 6-9 am, and 3-6 pm. It doesn't slow the speeders down AT ALL... you'd best just be ready to move out of the way if you're not going 55 MPH or higher.
I'm apparently alone in my assessment. To some, that makes me anti-development. Hardly. We've been pushing to have development like CRAZY, particularly through these troubling economic times. Creating the TIF at the Cohen's property; coming up with ways for the properties along War Memorial to be built up; we're doing all that we can right now, and I believe that we will see the fruits of those labors in relatively short order. I've pushed like a mad man (just ask Poison Pen) to have changes made along Galena Road by IDOT that will BRING really good commercial development to Galena Road. People can roll their eyes all they want to about that; just check out the letters from F/S and Casey's, and see for yourselves. But, a park directly off of Galena Road? With the way that Galena Road is now, I just don't think that's good development. Slow the traffic down to a 35 MPH speed limit; install two to three traffic signal lights along the road, and then I believe the Al Fresco site will be RIPE for our development, and can be made into a grand, and much SAFER, thing.
That's my opinion, and I certainly have a right to it; just as the Trustees have a right to theirs. The difference here is that the Trustees vote on every issue, and I only vote to break a tie. So my opinion is just that - my opinion. I'm not mad, I'm not pouty, I'm not even going to try and change any of the Trustees' minds about the potential development. We move on.
By the way, I included a page about recognizing the historical impact of Al Fresco Park, and also the Ronald Reagan Trail, at the land in question, in the "booklet" I put together about the problems along Galena Road. I'm well aware of many facets of the history of Peoria Heights, and how it's been ignored through the years. That still doesn't make the concept any safer.
Lynn then goes on to rip into the Ambulance Service again, quoting the figures about the costs of paying the paramedics, etc. As usual, she neglects to mention the revenues brought in by the Ambulance Service - which are substantial. It's the same old, same old. Ripping into the purchase of a new ambulance, even though it has just 60,000 miles on it. Those are hard miles, mind you. On top of that, the ambulance is a 1993 model. Time causes issues to mechanical things, just through weather and simple age. And, we're not talking about a truck that delivers gravel. We're talking about an AMBULANCE. The purchase of the ambulance was approved by the Board of Trustees 6-0... where does that leave Lynn?
She then goes on to tear into our decisions to have curbs and sidewalks installed without asking for contributions from the homeowners affected. My response would be - why should we? Just because that's the way it was done before? The property taxes of those who live on streets without curbs and storm sewers are not lower because they live on a street without curbs. They pay the same sales tax when they shop in the Village as those who already have curbs on their streets. In those areas where we have installed curbs... that is what should be the NORM in the Village. Taxpayers should not be penalized by the Village because they live on a street where storm sewers and curbs aren't in place. If we keep working at having storm sewers and curbs installed, at some point, ALL of the Village will have them. It is backwards and just WRONG to ask taxpayers to pay additional TAX money to have curbs installed on their streets when their neighbors a few blocks over might have had curbs for the past 50 years, and yet BOTH have been paying the SAME tax rate to the Village over the years. Explain to me, Lynn, how it is fair to DOUBLE tax those residents - just so your Uncle Earl could have more money available for Streetscape?
What I will give Lynn credit for is that she is consistent in her hatred for virtually everything that has happened over the past 5 and a half years; and she is consistent in her love and admiration for everything her Uncle Earl did during his 8 years in office. It will be interesting to see if the three Peoples Party trustee candidates will actually step up and say how much they agree with her. In case you haven't heard, the three Peoples Party trustee candidates are Charlie Gauf; Bryan Lammers; and Dave Parkinson. I have no idea who Lammers is, or what he stands for.
I know that Parkinson has expressed his disdain for everything that has happened over the past 5 and half years, and has taken time to write letters to the Journal Star, expressing those opinions. Parkinson has been adamant about having Streetscape on Prospect done; but has tempered that lately with wanting diagonal parking on his side of the street (Slim Clippins). Of course, diagonal parking along Prospect would be extremely dangerous, with the number of vehicles passing by every day. For those who don't believe me, go to the downtown Peoria post office during the noon hour of most days, park in a diagonal spot in the parking lot, and then try backing out. Put a mini van on one side of your vehicle, and a Ford F-350 on the other. Then, multiply the vehicles passing behind you by 10. You'll get a feel for the problems that would be caused. But, of course, Dave certainly knows better than Ray Picl Sr., Earl Carter, and me, and all of the people who have served on the Board of Trustees since diagonal parking was done away with on Prospect. Not even Streetscape had diagonal parking involved. We'd have to add about 3 more police officers to the employment roll, just to handle the additional accidents caused by that move.
Charlie Gauf has mentioned to me on a number of occasions about his problems with the WEEK-TV webcam installed on the Observation Tower. What he doesn't seem to grasp is that we're not paying $1,500.00 a month for the privelege of being able to see Prospect Road on WEEK's website - we're paying that amount for the ADVERTISING it brings. There are thousands of hits each day on the WEEK website, and we are given two advertising spaces on the website, for that cost per month. We also are given preferential treatment when it comes to reporting things going on in the Village, as well as receiving a number of mentions about the Heights and what's going on, by the on-air personalities. Why do advertising, at all? Because it WORKS. The first year that we gave money to the Chamber of Commerce to advertise the Village, our sales tax revenues rose by OVER 10%! In these uncertain economic times, it is imperative that we maintain our presence for shopping and going out to eat for today's customers.
She goes into a tirade about my not knowing about Peoria Heights history, and being pouty and angry over the Board going with the presentation from Jim Barnett, concerning the possible history area at the former Al Fresco Park site.
For more information regarding Galena Road and its issues in Peoria Heights, along with a short background on Al Fresco Park, please copy and paste the following:
http://villageofpeoriaheights.org/new/images/stories/Galena_Road_Packet.pdf
I still don't believe that creating a history park at the Al Fresco Park site, AT THIS TIME, is the right thing to do. If it even causes one person to get injured (and it almost certainly will), due to the craziness of the traffic along Galena Road at certain times of the day, then I feel we'll have some culpability about that accident. And, I don't mean that we're going to get sued by the injured party (but don't ever rule anything out when it comes to this stuff), I just mean that in that harsh reality, I feel we will be at fault for allowing this development to take place. When one person gets injured going into this park, or coming out of it, then that is one person that did not have to be injured. It's all well and good to say, "Well, heck, look at all of the other driveways, and entrances, and exits, and all and all, coming off of Galena Road already and..."
Yep, that's true. And look at the accidents that occur because of them. But, the Village does not have any direct attachment to the CREATION of ANY of them since this Galena Road has become a thoroughfare. I live on Terrace View Lane. Right off of Galena Road. It's been here since God knows when, back when Galena Road was a sleepy, two lane country trek. You'll find most, if not all, of the driveways, roads, etc. off of Galena Road, have been in existence from likely before the mid-50s. Most even earlier than that. IDOT has not allowed any NEW cut-ins along Galena Road probably for decades upon decades. We are aware of the problems involved with Galena Road as it is TODAY; and yet we're going to give the thumbs up to the creation of a park that's going to cause more turn-ins and more coming outs, into THIS traffic? I'm at a loss to understand why.
We already have letters from F/S and Casey's, both saying that the reason(s) they won't look at Galena Road for development is due to the SPEED of the vehicles, and the LACK of traffic lights; they both say that we have MORE than enough traffic along Galena Road already. This park will do nothing to spur on the lowering of the speed or having traffic lights put up. One posting party put on the PJStar website that the more congestion we create, the more likely we are to slow traffic down. Wha-? Things are congested plenty along Galena Road between 6-9 am, and 3-6 pm. It doesn't slow the speeders down AT ALL... you'd best just be ready to move out of the way if you're not going 55 MPH or higher.
I'm apparently alone in my assessment. To some, that makes me anti-development. Hardly. We've been pushing to have development like CRAZY, particularly through these troubling economic times. Creating the TIF at the Cohen's property; coming up with ways for the properties along War Memorial to be built up; we're doing all that we can right now, and I believe that we will see the fruits of those labors in relatively short order. I've pushed like a mad man (just ask Poison Pen) to have changes made along Galena Road by IDOT that will BRING really good commercial development to Galena Road. People can roll their eyes all they want to about that; just check out the letters from F/S and Casey's, and see for yourselves. But, a park directly off of Galena Road? With the way that Galena Road is now, I just don't think that's good development. Slow the traffic down to a 35 MPH speed limit; install two to three traffic signal lights along the road, and then I believe the Al Fresco site will be RIPE for our development, and can be made into a grand, and much SAFER, thing.
That's my opinion, and I certainly have a right to it; just as the Trustees have a right to theirs. The difference here is that the Trustees vote on every issue, and I only vote to break a tie. So my opinion is just that - my opinion. I'm not mad, I'm not pouty, I'm not even going to try and change any of the Trustees' minds about the potential development. We move on.
By the way, I included a page about recognizing the historical impact of Al Fresco Park, and also the Ronald Reagan Trail, at the land in question, in the "booklet" I put together about the problems along Galena Road. I'm well aware of many facets of the history of Peoria Heights, and how it's been ignored through the years. That still doesn't make the concept any safer.
Lynn then goes on to rip into the Ambulance Service again, quoting the figures about the costs of paying the paramedics, etc. As usual, she neglects to mention the revenues brought in by the Ambulance Service - which are substantial. It's the same old, same old. Ripping into the purchase of a new ambulance, even though it has just 60,000 miles on it. Those are hard miles, mind you. On top of that, the ambulance is a 1993 model. Time causes issues to mechanical things, just through weather and simple age. And, we're not talking about a truck that delivers gravel. We're talking about an AMBULANCE. The purchase of the ambulance was approved by the Board of Trustees 6-0... where does that leave Lynn?
She then goes on to tear into our decisions to have curbs and sidewalks installed without asking for contributions from the homeowners affected. My response would be - why should we? Just because that's the way it was done before? The property taxes of those who live on streets without curbs and storm sewers are not lower because they live on a street without curbs. They pay the same sales tax when they shop in the Village as those who already have curbs on their streets. In those areas where we have installed curbs... that is what should be the NORM in the Village. Taxpayers should not be penalized by the Village because they live on a street where storm sewers and curbs aren't in place. If we keep working at having storm sewers and curbs installed, at some point, ALL of the Village will have them. It is backwards and just WRONG to ask taxpayers to pay additional TAX money to have curbs installed on their streets when their neighbors a few blocks over might have had curbs for the past 50 years, and yet BOTH have been paying the SAME tax rate to the Village over the years. Explain to me, Lynn, how it is fair to DOUBLE tax those residents - just so your Uncle Earl could have more money available for Streetscape?
What I will give Lynn credit for is that she is consistent in her hatred for virtually everything that has happened over the past 5 and a half years; and she is consistent in her love and admiration for everything her Uncle Earl did during his 8 years in office. It will be interesting to see if the three Peoples Party trustee candidates will actually step up and say how much they agree with her. In case you haven't heard, the three Peoples Party trustee candidates are Charlie Gauf; Bryan Lammers; and Dave Parkinson. I have no idea who Lammers is, or what he stands for.
I know that Parkinson has expressed his disdain for everything that has happened over the past 5 and half years, and has taken time to write letters to the Journal Star, expressing those opinions. Parkinson has been adamant about having Streetscape on Prospect done; but has tempered that lately with wanting diagonal parking on his side of the street (Slim Clippins). Of course, diagonal parking along Prospect would be extremely dangerous, with the number of vehicles passing by every day. For those who don't believe me, go to the downtown Peoria post office during the noon hour of most days, park in a diagonal spot in the parking lot, and then try backing out. Put a mini van on one side of your vehicle, and a Ford F-350 on the other. Then, multiply the vehicles passing behind you by 10. You'll get a feel for the problems that would be caused. But, of course, Dave certainly knows better than Ray Picl Sr., Earl Carter, and me, and all of the people who have served on the Board of Trustees since diagonal parking was done away with on Prospect. Not even Streetscape had diagonal parking involved. We'd have to add about 3 more police officers to the employment roll, just to handle the additional accidents caused by that move.
Charlie Gauf has mentioned to me on a number of occasions about his problems with the WEEK-TV webcam installed on the Observation Tower. What he doesn't seem to grasp is that we're not paying $1,500.00 a month for the privelege of being able to see Prospect Road on WEEK's website - we're paying that amount for the ADVERTISING it brings. There are thousands of hits each day on the WEEK website, and we are given two advertising spaces on the website, for that cost per month. We also are given preferential treatment when it comes to reporting things going on in the Village, as well as receiving a number of mentions about the Heights and what's going on, by the on-air personalities. Why do advertising, at all? Because it WORKS. The first year that we gave money to the Chamber of Commerce to advertise the Village, our sales tax revenues rose by OVER 10%! In these uncertain economic times, it is imperative that we maintain our presence for shopping and going out to eat for today's customers.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Inagural Walk on the Kellar Branch Trail
Date: Sunday, November 21
Time: 2:00 pm
We will meet at the corner(s) of Columbus and Marietta/Moneta, at the sight of where our trailhead building will be located; then proceed onto the trail, going north, to Junction City, and back again. We will then go on to TNTs in the Heights for a nice ending to what appears will be a decent day, weather-wise.
Although the trail south of Glen Avenue is not paved yet, it is entirely passable on the gravel, etc. left behind by the removal of the rails and ties. Over time, the trail should truly be a boon for the Village. Obviously, it will be a work-in-progress for many months to come, but it will be exciting to see the transformation from the start.
Time: 2:00 pm
We will meet at the corner(s) of Columbus and Marietta/Moneta, at the sight of where our trailhead building will be located; then proceed onto the trail, going north, to Junction City, and back again. We will then go on to TNTs in the Heights for a nice ending to what appears will be a decent day, weather-wise.
Although the trail south of Glen Avenue is not paved yet, it is entirely passable on the gravel, etc. left behind by the removal of the rails and ties. Over time, the trail should truly be a boon for the Village. Obviously, it will be a work-in-progress for many months to come, but it will be exciting to see the transformation from the start.
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Rails Are No More
Definite progress is obviously being made on the conversion of the Kellar Branch Rail Line to the hiking/biking trail to come. The area of the trail, going north from Glen Avenue, is due to be "laid" in the next few weeks. At least, that's my understanding. The remainder of the trail going through the Heights will not be completed for another year, possibly two, due to lack of Park District funds. Grants have been applied for, and with a little luck, the trail will be laid down next spring or summer. Regardless, it certainly IS going to happen.
When completed, the trail will be an obvious boon to the quality of life in the Village. It also will have a certain impact on our financial viability. Hikers, bikers, runners, everyone who uses the trail will be within a rock's throw of our central business district. The spillover from that is a given. How much impact will it have? Very hard to tell; but, I believe that a conservative guess would be up to a 10% sales increase for a numbers of the businesses in the Heights, during the summer months particularly.
Every positive step that we're able to take, and the Kellar Branch Trail is virtually a leap, all by itself, gets us closer to the community we want to have. Vibrant, safe, affordable, and progressive.
When completed, the trail will be an obvious boon to the quality of life in the Village. It also will have a certain impact on our financial viability. Hikers, bikers, runners, everyone who uses the trail will be within a rock's throw of our central business district. The spillover from that is a given. How much impact will it have? Very hard to tell; but, I believe that a conservative guess would be up to a 10% sales increase for a numbers of the businesses in the Heights, during the summer months particularly.
Every positive step that we're able to take, and the Kellar Branch Trail is virtually a leap, all by itself, gets us closer to the community we want to have. Vibrant, safe, affordable, and progressive.
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