Local: Thanks for the cash, but no promises
I just got back from the press conference at Peoria City Hall, in which three major Peoria institutions were thanked for their big contributions to Peoria Promise.
Now, I am a HUGE fan of Peoria Promise, which is a charity that is trying to pay for the college education of everyone who graduates from a public high school in the city of Peoria. Did you know that if every single husehold in Peoria donated just $25, Peoria Promise would meet it’s fundraising goal of $1 million dollars? There’s a link at the bottom of this page to make a donation.
But I have to note that these three institution — Illinois American Water Company, Waste Management and Methodist Medical Center — might, just might, not be motiviated entirely by altruism.
All are often standing before the Peoria City Council asking for decisions to be made in their favor.
IAWC manages the city’s water works and every ten five years the city has the option to buy it back, something IAWC doesn’t want to happen. Waste Management has the franchise to pick up the city’s trash, an arrangement that comes up for renewal every once in a while. And Methodist Medical Center, like Peoria’s other hospitals, often needs the city’s approval to expand their facilities.
Call me a cynic, but I don’t think I am out of line when I suggest that perhaps one of the reasons these organizations made these contributions is that they want the donations be in the back of people’s minds when there’s a decision to be made.
It’s also a possibility that these donations were motivated entirely by a desire to help improve the educational opportunities for Peoria’s young people. I could also win the lottery, and hand Peoria Promise a million dollars myself. It could happen.
Most people are not fools. This includes the 11 people who service on the Peoria City Council. And I hope that the 11 people who service on the council can thank these folks for their many gifts to the community, then put their feelings of gratitude away and decisions base entirely on what is fair for the residents of the city of Peoria.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
IAWC comes up for buy-back every five years. The council just voted a month or two ago not to pursue it this time.
Waste Management’s contract is up this year. And there’s some dissatisfaction with them in the city.
January 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
What corporation doesn’t have a charitable arm in some way to accomplish good PR. And what Peoria corporation doesn’t have some potential to have business before council? Man bites dog, Billy. You would think that IAWC would have made their donation last year when it might have had an impact. I doubt anyone remembers their generosity 5 years hence.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Peoria Heights has a contract with a different waste management company. They had a booth set up at a Music fest at Tower Park last Fall. I remember talking to them, and they had some awesome services to offer. Can’t remember who they were, but I remember wishing they were our waste mgmt. company.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
“All are often standing before the Peoria City Council asking for decisions to be made in their favor.”
Would you expect them to ask the council to vote against their favor.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
P.C.: No, of course not. But I want those 11 members of the Peoria City Council to base their votes on what is best for the public, not on whether these huge, wealthy organizations/businesses toss some money toward a worthy cause. The amounts donated are a pittance compared to the money they make as a result of favorable decisions from the Gang of 11.