RogersParkVoter

We Are On Facebook!!

2009-09-18T21:14:00.000-05:00

Rogers Park Voter can now be found on Facebook. Stay tuned as we start preparing for the next round of elections. Join us at Facebook with your comments and questions.

Ethics Town Hall

2009-04-14T14:17:00.003-05:00

From the office of State Senator Heather Steans, this is an opportunity for you, the citizen, to participate in ethics reform.

Ethics Town Hall Meeting

It's a Golden Opportunity... For Reform

Host: State Senator Heather Steans, State Representative Harry Osterman, and Loyola University

Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Location: Mundelein Center at Loyola University
1020 W. Sheridan Road

Featured Speakers
* Scott Turow, Best-selling author, current member and first chair
of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission
* Cindi Canary, Executive Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform

Join State Representative Harry Osterman and Senator Heather Steans
for a discussion on ethics reform in Illinois and learn what you can
do to get involved in passing ethics reform legislation in Illinois.

Co-sponsoring organizations include: Northside Democracy for America, Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization, League of Women Voters Chicago, Citizen Action/Illinois, Loyola University, Emanuel Congregation, Rogers Park Community Council, Edgewater Community Council, Loyola Inside Government, Loyola College Democrats, AARP, Alderman Joseph Moore, Jane Adams Senior Caucus, New Trier Democrats, Citizens for Fair Assessment and Taxes, Niles Township Progressive Dems, and more.

Governor Blagojevich

2008-12-09T18:06:00.003-06:00

Today our Governor was arrested in conjunction with a criminal complaint alleging several acts of corrupt behavior including the

efforts to obtain personal gain, including financial gain, for the benefit of ROD BLAGOJEVICH and his family through the corrupt use of ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s authority as Governor of the State of Illinois to fill the vacant United States Senate Seat previously held by the President-elect.

The complaint goes on for nearly 20 pages detailing the basis for the allegations about President-elect Obama's now vacant Senate seat. This includes direct quotes from telephone intercepts ascribed to the Governor.

While the Governor has yet to be tried, and is entitled to a vigorous defense against charges that have yet to be proven in a court of law, it is clear his credibility and authority as Governor have been severely undermined. There is no reason, given the severity of the charges and the release of the detailed complaint, to believe he can govern effectively.

The Better Government Association has called on the Governor to resign as has Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and President-elect Obama. Rogers Park Voter agrees that the resignation of Governor Blagojevich is in the best interest of the state and the Governor should resign immediately.

Time to VOTE!

2008-11-03T20:53:00.002-06:00

You have The Power! USE IT!

Tomorrow we get to participate in what is, in our lifetime, likely the most historically significant election we will ever witness. No matter who you favor, get out and VOTE!

Having problems VOTING? The Illinois Ballot-Integrity Project offers these opportunities to report problems and irregularities -

On Election Day if you encounter any problems at the polls, please, please, please, report them to all 4 of the following places;

1) Illinois Ballot Integrity Project at http://www.ballot-integrity.org/blog.
We have affidavits and reporting forms on our website to download but if you do not have forms, get names, addresses and contact information from the voters, have them right down what happened to them at the polls, have them sign it and date it and then you can blog us or fax us with the information at 773-275-7946 or even send the report in by snail mail to IBIP, 5858 N. Talman, Chicago, IL 60659

2) 1-866-OUR VOTE, especially if you need a lawyer to help you right then at the polls or you need to find your polling place and can't get it from your Election Division hotline!

3) The media;
-Bob Koehler of the Tribune has agreed to take reports at BKoehler@tribune.com and you can send them to all of your media links as well.
-Call it into your local TV or radio news desk if you want to try to get some media right then and there at your polling place-take the numbers of the local media with you to the polls!

4) The Chicago Bar Association is asking voters to fill-out the attached one-page affidavit if they did not receive the 1 page corrective flier that was supposed to be given out to every voter about the Constitutional Convention ballot issue and return it to the Chicago Bar Association at pollwatcher@chicagobar.org or fax to 312-554-2054.

Here are some important numbers for Election Day;

1-866-OUR VOTE

In Chicago:
- Chicago Board of Elections Main Line 312-269-7900
-Election Central for legal, investigative and language assistance, 5am to 10pm, Election day only 312-269-7870
-To verify registration and for proper Precinct Polling Place 312-269-1604
- League of Women Voter's Hotline 312-939-5935 ext 28

In Suburban Cook County:

-General Info 312-603-0906

-Voter Verification and Polling Place info 312-603-0239

-Legal Help 312-603-0236

-Help or questions from the disabled 312-603-0944

Statewide

State's Attorney Election Day Hotline 312-603-7960
US Attorney Election Day Hotline 312-469-6157
US Attorney's Election Day Civil Rights Hotline 800-253-3931

*****If you have a camera and catch some footage outside the polls of long voter lines or any irregularities then go to www.videothevote.org with the footage, it can also be sent to your local media but don't forget to call 1-866 OUR VOTE to tell them about it too, then drop us a note at www.ballot-integrity.org/blog-thanks!!!

BE A PART OF HISTORY! USE YOUR POWER! VOTE!!!!!!!!

Rogers Park Poll Watchers Help Ensure Our Votes Count

2008-09-30T21:41:00.003-05:00

Sure, you’ll vote in our historic presidential election, but what else can you do to make a difference? On Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Rogers Park Branch Library, 6907 N. Clark St., the non-partisan Rogers Park VOTER organization will offer poll watcher training. Meet neighbors, enjoy refreshments, and learn everything you always wanted to know about poll watching but were afraid to ask!

We'll train any Illinois registered voter and certify you to monitor a 49th Ward polling place on Election Day. You can volunteer for a few hours or all day. Then we'll meet to share experiences and watch the election results together.

Rogers Park VOTER works to foster an environment that results in the fair and honest election of public officials who are accountable to the constituents they serve and who demonstrate a commitment to transparent and open government. Get involved and RSVP for the training via email at info@rogersparkvoter.org.

An open letter to Alderman Joe Moore

2008-07-31T01:55:00.000-05:00

An open letter to Alderman Joe Moore
Saturday July 26th, 2008
RE: YOUR PLAN TO TRANSFER CONTROL OF GALE COMMUNITY CENTER TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS

Alderman Moore,
In your effort to secure a Boys and Girls Club for the Rogers Park Community, you have proposed to the Chicago Park District that they allow the Boys and Girls Club to occupy, operate and manage the yet unopened Gale Community Center at 1610 W. Howard. Many residents of this community and your constituents in the 49th Ward, whom we have polled, find this use of a public park facility unacceptable at the very least and illegal at worst. We strongly urge you to stop this process immediately, withdraw your requests to use the Gale Community Center for such activities and allow the Center to open without delay under its original intent as a public Park District facility for the neighborhood.

Additionally, we strongly urge you to pursue the opportunity to bring a Boys and Girls Club into the Rogers Park community at the free-standing Gale School Annex. Principal Richard Glass has gone on record welcoming the Boys’ and Girls Clubs to utilize the school and Arnie Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, fully supports and encourages the Boys and Girls Clubs continued use of CPS facilities. Currently the Boys and Girls Clubs are located in 24 CPS schools in Chicago and over 600 nation-wide. It has been and continues to be a very successful partnership. We highly advise you to focus your time and energy in securing such a facility for the Rogers Park community.

We also insist that you create a community panel, representative of all the stakeholders in this process, to work with you in securing such a facility for the Boys and Girls Clubs in the Gale School. Together, in an open and transparent process, we can have both our new public park field house and a Boys and Girls Club in Rogers Park.

Sincerely,
Committee To Save Our Community Center

S.O.C.C. Steering Committee
Mike Luckenbach
Maryon Banks
Toni Duncan
Sister Cecilia Fandel
Don Gordon
Eva McCann
Carla Tomino

cc: Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Mr. Tim Mitchell, Superintendent Chicago Park District
Mr. Arnie Duncan, CEO Chicago Public Schools
Mr.Gery Chico, President Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners
Mr. Richard Glass, Principal Gale School
Ms. Erma Tranter, President Friends of the Parks

Gale Park Community Center Rally

2008-07-25T14:17:00.003-05:00

Dear Neighbor,

Will you join with other Rogers Park voters to support our community? The action starts tomorrow at a Gale Park Community Center Rally outlined below.

We know that "good government" - in Washington, D. C. or in Chicago - doesn't happen by accident. We only get it when we speak out and take action! We encourage you to participate in the community dialogue in the comment section here and attend the rally to help us win good government practices in our own Rogers Park neighborhood.

Rogers Park Residents say No to the Privatization
of the new Chicago Park District Community Center
at 1610 W. Howard Street!

A public protest rally is scheduled for Saturday, July 26th at 2 P.M. starting at Gale Park, 1600 W. Howard Street (Marshfield & Howard).

The rally will feature speakers from S.O.C.C., (Save Our Community Center), Save Our Parks, SEIU Local 73, Gale Park Advisory Council as well as Rogers Park residents representing seniors and other community organizations.

The rally will conclude with a four-block march to 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore's Ward office at 7356 N. Greenview, where protesters will demand the Alderman cease and desist in his plan to privatize the Gale Park Community Center by sponsoring a 'turn over' of the new, unopened building to the Chicago Boys and Girls Clubs, which would limit, if not completely prohibit community access and use of this new, public taxpayer funded, Chicago Park District Community Center.

At several recent community meetings, including this past Tuesday's Chicago Park District's North Region Budget Hearing, individuals and organizations, including SEIU Local 73, the Gale Park Advisory Council, S.O.C.C. and Friends Of The Parks, have spoken out strongly against this privatization of Chicago Park District property. Please join us for this important event to "Save Our Community Center".

For additional information contact: S.O.C.C. at 773-465-2433
Steering Committee Members
Maryon Banks, Toni Duncan, Sister Cecilia Fandel, Don Gordon, Michael Luckenbach, Eva McCann, Carla Tomino

The Gale Park Community Center

2008-07-22T20:53:00.004-05:00

Rogers Park Voter supports the Gale Park Advisory Council in their challenge to the proposed lease of the new community center to the Daniel A. Cotter Boys and Girls Club, currently located at Lathrop Homes. This is not a decision that has been made lightly. Part of our mission includes holding accountable our elected officials so as to ensure transparent and open government. In our view the actions leading to the proposal to lease the center are neither transparent nor open, and Alderman Moore must bear the lion's share of the responsibility for the current controversy.

Our reasons:

1 - The new Community Center is a publicly funded development that should be operated by the owner, the Chicago Park District (CPD). The CPD does not appear to have a business objective to outsource community center or fieldhouse management. Such an objective would presume a documented business need that the public is best served via outsourcing. During the budget meeting at the Loyola Park Fieldhouse, attended by Brian Loll and Matt Marino of the CPD, we received confirmation from Matt that a superintendent and staff had been hired. It is clear that the CPD initially intended to manage the community center and direct the programming.

2 - Absent a policy decision to outsource community center management and programming, one would assume that the CPD's Department of Purchasing would have jurisdiction in setting the boundaries for any solicitation of goods or services. The CPD's site states this:

Contracting With The Chicago Park District (Over $10k)
Bids and proposals are solicited by Advanced Buyers and/or Project Managers, who are responsible for procuring various goods (commodities) and services, including construction, engineering, professional, and design services. Bids and proposals are publicly advertised.

We believe it is fair to assume that the proposed lease/contract with the BGCC would be in excess of $10K. A search of outstanding solicitations does not reveal any pending solicitation for management of the center or provisioning of programs. Even if a policy decision to outsource exists, it is not unreasonable to assume that an open competition would have been held prior to any announcement that a leasing arrangement with BGCC was being entertained. The process that brought BGCC into the picture does not appear to be well thought out and may expose the CPD to legal liability if it is violating its own rules and regulations governing contract solicitations.

3 - The status of CPD employees, represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in the event that an entity other than CPD will run the center is unclear. We were told that no one would lose their jobs, but the relationship of the bargaining unit employees to the center management team must be clarified. These individuals have a negotiated agreement, and we would be willing to assume it has an "impact and implementation" clause governing any changes in the work environment. A change in management would appear to qualify. Who will perform the day to day operational support for the center if not the SEIU members?

4 - The Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago site clearly defines its focus and mission in terms of service to community youth. They would be a welcome addition to the community as a partner in provisioning programming. However, no where is it obvious that they have experience running a multi-generational facility. One could assume that if such experience existed it would have been revealed so as to calm community concerns about the center's future operations.

5 - Alderman Moore's comments in the Chicago Journal article of 7/16/08 suggests that the deal is not yet done:

"Even if there is an agreement, it will be brought before the community for their input and recommendations," Moore said.

However he also insists that the community was previously consulted. He is directly contradicted by a contributor to the new center, Boyd McDowell of the Seabury Foundation:

"I think actually most of my reaction was positive," McDowell said. "I'm still unhappy that the folks from the park advisory council were not included from the start. I think that was unfortunate....."

It is the Gale Park Advisory Council that he refers to.

Although the Alderman speaks as though this is not a done deal, we also learned tonight, from Matt, that the BGCC has toured the new center. The Advisory Council has requested a tour (per conversation with Eva McCann) but has yet to be granted one. It seems unusual that a proposed service provider is being granted privilege that is denied to the very community group that has supported the construction of the new center through thick and thin.

In summation; the Gale Community Center is a publicly funded center, which should be operated by the Chicago Park District and its staff. Any decision to lease management and programming to an outside entity should be based on a solid business case or a public policy decision, and should be executed via a fair and open competition, as enumerated by the CPD Department of Purchasing. Inclusion of the BGCC in providing youth programming at the new center can be accomplished via a partnership agreement that does not include managing the center.

In addition, if Alderman Moore and other supporters of the BGCC have access to a business case or public policy decision that supports outsourcing the center's management and programming, as well as information documenting BGCC's fitness as a center manager/operator, they should make this information publicly accessible.

What we propose is simple, doable, and supports transparent and open government. The opposition to the lease proposal is understandable given the failure of the Alderman to take these simple steps. As a 16+ year veteran of city politics, we expect better of him than the missteps of a political neophyte.

Christine Wellman
President

Those Infernal Computers

2008-04-30T20:47:00.004-05:00

Government Computer News offers up this article about Direct-Recording Election (DRE) machines. These creatures do not produce a paper trail, which is becoming a large concern for voters who want to know that their vote was counted correctly. This graphic (PDF) provides a quick tabulation of the pros and cons of various voting systems, all of which proves nothing is foolproof.

One of the best known DRE manufacturers is Diebold, which lost a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement after emails detailing problems with their equipment were posted on the web. On top of that, a temp employee violated attorney-client privilege by printing over 100 documents and emails that detailed Diebold's efforts to avoid prosecution for misrepresenting what they were doing with the software on the machines during the last election. Those documents that didn't make it into the Oakland Tribune were returned to Jones-Day, Diebold's law firm. But what was published remains out in the open and it is not pretty. This was not so long ago, and the article in GCN suggests the issue has yet to go away.

Watching the movie Uncounted yesterday, I became aware of the Diebold debacle, and the irony that an ATM manufacturer is unable, or perhaps just unwilling, to create a DRE that prints receipts as easily as one of their ATMs. There's no excuse for such laziness, and we should not tolerate it. It's up to us to demand that the Board of Elections have a paper audit trail. Surely our votes are as important as the status of our bank accounts.

Voter ID

2008-04-30T20:12:00.004-05:00

On April 28 The Supreme Court upheld Indiana's Voter ID law by a vote of 6-3 in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. It has generated ruminations here and here. The BradBlog weighs in, and there is also a post commenting on "ID creep".

If you're up to reading the opinion itself, it's here. (PDF warning). Go to Page 31 to see the start of the dissenting opinions.

The bottom line is that this may not be over. Absentee ballots were not addressed, and a footnote in the dissenting opinion indicates that those are indeed problematic. It seems unlikely that a case will surface that provides the level of evidence the Supremes are looking for before they'll consider overturning a state's law. Voter ID at the polling place will remain within the purview of the state legislatures for the forseeable future, and thus on our radar as voters. We can't afford to ignore it.

UnCounted

2008-04-20T20:40:00.002-05:00

The Illinois Ballot-Integrity Project is hosting a viewing of the documentary The Uncounted.

April 29, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Landmark Century Centre Cinema
2828 N. Clark

This is considered a controversial film about election fraud, specifically:

This controversial feature length film by Emmy award-winning director David Earnhardt examines in factual, logical, and yet startling terms how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity across the U.S. Noted computer programmers, statisticians, journalists, and experienced election officials provide the irrefutable proof.

There will be a Question and Answer session with David Earnhardt after the showing.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the problems with maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.

The Alderman's Response to My Query

2008-04-02T21:54:00.002-05:00

Alderman Moore responded to my email inquiry about the Western Ave. rezoning. First of all, I appreciate the Alderman taking the time to respond personally. Apparently his website is out of date. I understand that delays in updating websites do occur. I have a personal website that I have neglected for years. However, I am not an office holder with responsibilities to the community that elected me. As I responded to Alderman Moore, "the devil is in the details" and this was an avoidable problem. Hopefully we will soon see an updated page with missing minutes from the zoning committee meetings.

What follows is his response to my email:

Dear Christine,

Thank you for your e-mail to my office in which you expressed concern about whether I circumvented my self-imposed process for making zoning decisions with respect to the proposed zoning change on Western Avenue. First, let me thank you for asking my office and me for clarification of this issue rather than simply accepting what was posted on the blogs at face value.

The proposed zoning change at 7429-35 N. Western Avenue was submitted by a businesswoman who has designed and manufactured clothing at the site for the last eight years, since her graduation from the School of the Art Institute. The business is small (12 employees) and inconspicuous, and has generated no complaints or concerns from the surrounding community in the years it has operated. Last year during a routine inspection, she was cited for operating without a business license. When she applied for her license, she discovered that the current zoning did not allow her to manufacture the clothing on site, and that she needed a zoning change.

As I do with every zoning and land use issue that comes before me, I referred her zoning change application to the 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee. She appeared before the Committee last November to plead her case, and the Committee voted unanimously to recommend that I support her application. The Committee believed her failure to secure a license was an honest mistake and they noted she operated a good business at that address for the last eight years with no complaints from the neighbors. Since no change of use at the site was contemplated, the Committee felt a community meeting was not warranted. I concurred with the recommendation

As Anne Sullivan in my office noted, we have fallen a little behind in posting the minutes of the Committee on our website (the Committee didn't meet in January and Februay). I should note, however, that I'm one of the few aldermen in the city that relies on the advice of a citizen committee when making zoning decisions, and I'm one of only three aldermen (the others are 48th Ward Alderman Mary Ann Smith and 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney) who endeavors to post minutes of the committee meetings on the web. Alderman Tunney is also is a little behind in posting the minutes of his meetings, and Alderman Smith has not posted minutes of her committee since October 2005. With limited staff resources and pressing demands on our office, it's not always easy for even the most well-intentioned aldermen to keep everything up to date on their website. We certainly will endeavor to bring the minutes up to date as soon as possible, however.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Joe Moore

He immediately followed up with a correction to one statement:

Christine,

I have a small correction to my previous e-mail. The Western Avenue Zoning change was considered by the Zoning Advisory Committee in December last year, not November.

Joe Moore

Proposed Zoning Change

2008-04-01T20:08:00.002-05:00

Part of the mission of Rogers Park Voter is to foster the election of public officials who are accountable to the constituents they serve and who demonstrate a commitment to transparent and open government.

Today, while scrolling through the blogs I came across this at The Broken Heart. I did some research and confirmed what Hugh posted and reviewed the Alderman's own web page to see if there was any public notice. There isn't. His February City Council report, which is when the proposed zoning change was introduced, is equally silent.

The Alderman's failure to notify the community is inconsistent with what he has to say about the purpose of the local zoning committe he created (emphasis mine):

Alderman Moore is committed to involving the public in every decision that requires any type of special City approval. When he first was elected Alderman, Moore established the 49th Ward Zoning and Land Use Advisory Committee consisting of representatives of the major community organizations, business owners, and ordinary neighborhood residents who advise the Alderman on all zoning and land use issues in the 49th Ward.

In this instance Alderman Moore has failed the test of accountability and transparency. I don't know why he did not notify the community in advance. Perhaps he thought it trivial and unimportant, but it is a zoning and land use issue and the community deserves better than to learn about it via the blogosphere.

I have sent an email inquiry to the Alderman's office about the matter. I'll let you know what I find out.

New Watchdog

2008-03-24T18:42:00.003-05:00

From Government Computer News an article about a new watchdog site called Change Congress. This is a very new group and the website is evidence of that. Read this for more info.

Problems With Electronic Voting

2008-02-27T19:40:00.003-06:00

From Government Computer News comes this assessment of electronic voting and what really bothers voters about it. Surprising!

Media Coverage of Candidate Forum

2008-01-28T19:17:00.000-06:00

January 19th was a blisteringly cold day. Nevertheless, the candidates and 45 voters attended the 7th District State Senate Candidates Forum hosted by Rogers Park VOTER at United Church of Rogers Park. Three articles on the event that were published by print news media are linked below.

Candidates Suzanne Elder and Heather Steans are on the Democratic Party ballot in the Tuesday, Feb. 5 Primary Election. No candidates for this post are running on the Green Party or Republican Party ballots. Rogers Park VOTER, as a nonpartisan organization, does not make endorsements . . . however, we do encourage you to vote!

For info on Rogers Park VOTER check our web site at Rogers Park Voter

Pioneer Local/Chicago News Star

Loyola Phoenix

Chicago Free Press

Thank You Rogers Park Voters!

2008-01-19T20:13:00.000-06:00

A big Thank You to the Rogers Park voters who turned out for the Candidate Forum at the United Church of Rogers Park. 45 of you attended and made this a very worthwhile opportunity to hear directly from Suzanne Elder and Heather Steans on the issues.

Thank You and we hope to see you at the next forum later this year!

The Weather Outside May be Frightful...

2008-01-18T16:31:00.000-06:00

But inside the United Church of Rogers Park it will be delightful. One Last Reminder that tomorrow, January 19, is the date for the Candidate Forum sponsored by Rogers Park Voter.

See you there!

Reminder - Candidate Forum

2008-01-06T15:32:00.000-06:00

Back in December I posted about the upcoming Candidate Forum for the District 7 State Senate position. The forum is still on for January 19th at 1 PM at the United Church of Rogers Park on Morse and Ashland. We hope to see you there!

Can't attend but have a question you would like an answer to? Send it to info@rogersparkvoter.org. We'll be happy to ask it for you!

Are You Registered To Vote?

2008-01-06T15:17:00.000-06:00

Are you registered to vote? NO!!! Well then, time is of the essence and you have multiple options available.

Options to register to vote include:
• Downloading a voter registration application from the Board of Elections. This form must be received by Jan. 8!
• Registering at any Illinois Secretary of State driver’s license facility.
• Registering in-person at the Chicago Election Board offices, 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 600, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• By obtaining the mail-in form at any Chicago Public Library - Rogers Park Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6907 N. Clark St. 60626.
• On Tuesday, January 8, go to Chicago City Hall or the Chicago Board of Elections office at 69 W. Washington St., Suite 600, where the Election Board will offer voter registration up to the midnight deadline.

To register to vote, persons must be citizens of the United States and be at least 18 years of age by the Feb. 5 primary.

When registering through a deputy registrar or at the Board of Election office, a person needs to show two (2) valid pieces of identification, one with a residence address.

You've got The Power! Use It! VOTE!

January Candidate Forum

2007-12-01T21:36:00.000-06:00

Come join us in January for a public candidate forum!