Peoria Pundit

From a press release:

LOCAL RADIO STATION TO BE FIRST IN NATION TO TEST NEW TECHNOLOGY!

CANTON, IL – Beginning April 1st at 7am, The Voice of Fulton County, AM 1560, WBYS has been selected to be the first radio station in the United States to offer AromaRadioTM, a new technology that will actually allow a radio signal to send out a computer-generated “aroma” to match a particular program or commercial that is being aired.

“We think this could be the next big thing in radio advertising,” said WBYS General Manager B.J. Stone, “and once our customers see the benefit of adding the ‘sense of smell’ to their radio commercials, our industry will benefit as well, through the additional revenue stream that will be created. TV added pictures to the words, we’re adding the sense of smell, and you know how your brain reacts when you smell something…be it pleasant or not so pleasant.”

The system has been created by RAM Laboratories, based in Rochester, Minnesota, and consists of a software program that can be added to a radio station’s programming computer, which when combined with a special electrical diode that is attached to a radio station’s outgoing antenna at the tower location, sends out a precoded “smell” that matches the current commercial or program. The system was created based on the theory that the sense of smell could be digitized, just like sound or pictures.

WHY WBYS AND WHO CAN SMELL IT?

Dr. Sven Thompsson of RAM Labs chose WBYS as his first test site for the new technology based simply upon the fact that the tower, located in Canton, is the newest in the United States, having just been erected in January after the previous tower collapsed in a tornado in July, 2008, and is also relatively close to his Minnesota-based facility. Thompsson said, “this breakthrough was 8 years in the making. I began working on it after a conversation with (then FCC Chairman) Michael Powell, who suggested that radio needed something revolutionary to keep it viable amongst all the new technologies of the new century. We’re confident that AromaRadio will indeed work, as although this is our first commercial test, we’ve had great success with in-house testing for the past 20 months.”

Thompsson says that the technology uses a channel inside the recently developed RDS system, another new technology that allows radio stations to attach digital signatures to call letters and song titles. Many late model cars have RDS capability. Dr. Thompsson said only the second generation RDS radios, those manufactured after 2006, will work with AromaRadio. Thompsson and other RAM engineers have been in Canton for a little over a week installing the technology, and will be moving in and around Canton Wednesday, measuring results and the quality of the digitized odors.

Contact information:

BJ Stone, WBYS General Manager: 309-647-1560

Dr. Sven Thompsson, RAM Labs can be reached at his hotel through Friday: 309-645-3605

So I’m getting ready to leave for Blogger Bash and I check my email just one last time, and I discover a Facebook message from the “Build the Block: account. It reads:

Subject: Big Yellow and The Block

Caterpillar builds the world around us…let’s help them build up our little corner of it and grow their roots a little deeper here in Peoria! They’ve committed $55 million to The Block. Let’s make sure it’s not lost forever.

Why in the world would that phrase ever be used in a statement in support of the museum referendum? If the “roots” are not already deep enough, what could they be implying will happen, except that Caterpillar is going to take its ball and go home.  And that phrase keeps popping up. I hear pro-politicians use it all the time. It’s on the Build the Block talking points memo or something.

It’s a scare tactic, people. It’s designed to make voters afraid to vote against this sales tax increase.

And it is dishonest. Caterpillar has stated, quite specifically, that it will not pull up stakes and move if this doesn’t pass. The idea that this company is going to move its world headquarters because a sales tax referendum doesn’t pass is ludicrous.

And that’s not me saying it, it’s the guy who’s running this thing for Caterpillar, Mark Johnson:

Ok, Mr. Dennis, I’ll say it “authoritatively”, Caterpillar Inc. is not spreading the story, rumor, information, whatever you want to call it that the company would move it’s headquarters out of Peoria if the sales tax referendum is defeated. It’s actually another example of how ridiculous this discussion has become, to even suppose that the company would incur the expense of relocating just because the citizens of Peoria County have turned down an offer from the company of over $55 million to improve the community. End of discussion.

One bone to pick with Mr. Johnson: Voters aren’t going to vote on whether to turn anything down. The question is whether their taxes are going up. I’m sure there might be a few voters who would say “no” to a multi-million gift from Caterpillar that didn’t come with any strings attached. But certainly not a majority.

I wish that someone from Catepillar would speak to the Build a Block group and tell them, in no certain words, to STOP spreading this bizaare story. Cat denies it. Common sense says it isn’t going to happen. End of discussion.

UPDATE: Add Phil Luciano to the list of people pushing the idea that CAT  might leave if voters don’t raise their own taxes. Maybe Phil were to read local blogs instead of RetroCrush, he might know that Big Yellow has emphatically ruled that out.

I don’t agree carte-blanche with everything that comes out of the Realtor Association, but here is an advisory statement  made by them in which we strongly agree.  Before us is an opportunity to add a significant amenity to our town with minimal  taxation that does not hurt the homeowner – a rarity these days. In addition, it would serve to solidify relationships with our premier employer in very troubling times.  The following statement was released to the Realtor general membership by the Peoria Association of Realtors Board of Directors. Remember, what is good for Peoria is good for housing. What is good for housing is good for homeowners!

From an e-mail to the Association of Realtors membership (printed here with permission):

The Peoria Area Association of Realtors support “Build the Block”, and strongly encourages all REALTORS living in Peoria County to vote on April 7.  You can take advantage of early voting between March 16 and April 2. 

Why? It’s a small price to pay to create a better quality of life for Peoria – and for future generations. It’s a small price to pay for the ongoing development of downtown Peoria. It’s a small price to pay for attractions that will bring thousands of people to Peoria for the day or even a weekend. It’s a small price to pay to have a state-of-the-art 3-D IMAX at every one’s fingertips. It’s a small price to pay to have a NASA-funded PowerDome Planetarium that explores the cosmos. It’s a small price to pay to showcase the athletic, artistic and scholastic achievements of students from all 750 Illinois high schools. And, that’s not all. Include national traveling art exhibits from the Smithsonian Institute, an African-American Wall of Fame celebrating local civil rights leaders, and an interactive Illinois River Encounter that explains the ecology and history of our greatest natural resource. Any one of these experiences could make Peoria a destination for your family, friends, and clients. And with your help, it could also put Peoria on this region’s tourism map. For the average Peoria County resident, it’s a commitment of only $17. per year on retail and restaurant purchases. That’s one bottled water or a cup of coffee per month. It’s truly a small price to pay as you tell potential home buyers about the Peoria area and what it has to offer. Not to mention that this can be Peoria’s stimulus package – we can put a lot of people to work over the next two years with this project. We encourage you to vote YES on April 7 to build the block.  

BALLOT INFORMATION

• The Peoria County sales tax question will be the only referendum question on the April 7, 2009, Peoria County ballot. The language of the referendum, included in full below, will not mention the Peoria Riverfront Museum , but rather “public facility purposes”:

VOTE YES:  To pay for public facility purposes, shall Peoria County be authorized to impose an increase on its share of local sales taxes by one quarter of one percent (1/4%) for a period not to exceed twenty (20) years? This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional twenty-five cents (25¢) in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail. If imposed, the additional tax would cease being collected at the end of twenty (20) years, if not terminated earlier by a vote of the county board.

• The language of the referendum is dictated by State law and does not allow for further clarification, such as inclusion of the words museum, block or listing of purchases not included in the tax.

• Vote YES to help ensure the Peoria Riverfront Museum and The Block become a reality.

First, I want to thank Caterpillar CEO Jim Owens and his family for their many contributions of time and money to this community. Second, I want to state that Mr. Owens has every right to support the museum with his own money, and he has every right to exercise his freedom of speech to encourage employees of Caterpillar to vote in favor of the museum tax referendum on April 7. His letter to employees — which many received today — is reprinted below.

But before any Caterpillar employee decides to follow Mr. Owen’s advice, I’d like to exercise my free speech rights and encourage them to visit this site and read the many, many arguments against this tax.

I am not arguing against Caterpillar’s involvement in this community. I have seen how Caterpillar can step in and provide expertise and funding when it feels it is necessary (their help is keeping downtown free of snow is a marvel to see). And I am told that Cat does far more of this sort of thing than other major employers in other nearby communities, and for that I am grateful.

But I would hope that anyone on the fence regarding this tax referendum should note that the generosity of Caterpillar as a corporation and of its personnel does not obligate us as voters to vote the way Mr. Owens suggests, not that he is saying it should.

And I now note than C.J. has posted his comments on the letter.

Mr. Owen’s letter:

Dear Team Caterpillar:

In 2002 my predecessor, Chairman Glen Barton, committed Caterpillar’s support to a new regional museum. Since then the company has supported this project to revitalize the downtown Peoria community. Our involvement has grown from a relatively simple presence in the new museum to the current concept — a separate facility housing a corporate visitor center, called the Caterpillar Experience.

This new riverfront development along with the proposed renovation of the Hotel Pere Marquette and the recent expansion of the Civic Center, should transform the landscape of downtown Peoria. The Museum project specifically will offer tremendous educational and entertainment opportunities to residents throughout Central Illinois.

Peoria County voters now have an opportunity to support the Museum project through a countywide referendum on April 7. The proposed 0.25 percent county sales tax increase will provide critical public funding for the new Museum. As federal and state funding sources have disappeared, this local funding initiative has become the last opportunity for moving this project forward.

If you live in Peoria County and can vote on this referendum, I encourage your support. Without a doubt, this project will make Peoria a better place to live, will make downtown Peoria a better place to work and will help us attract the best and brightest employees for the future.

Please remember to vote on April 7. You’ll find the issue as the last item on the ballot which references “public facilities sales tax.” If you’re going to be out of town on election day, you can take advantage of early voting between March 16 and April 2.

Thank you for your support. This is an important opportunity for the members of Team Caterpillar to make a difference in Peoria.

Sincerely,

James W. Owens

Blogger Bash will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at TnT’s in Peoria Heights. Located at 4319 N. Prospect Rd., it’s at the former Penguin Tap.

EVERYONE is invited, I don’t care where you blog, if you just Tweet or Facebook.

UPDATE: I’ve posted about this on Facebook and Twitter. I expact lots of pople to be there, be on their (reasonably) best behavior and ready to have fun. I’ll bring name tages and a Sharpie.

From Crain’s Chicago Business:

The Sun-Times Media Group, owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and dozens of suburban newspapers, says it has filed for bankruptcy, making it the fifth newspaper publisher in recent months to seek protection from creditors.

The company said it filed for Chapter 11 protection in a Delaware court Tuesday. It will continue to operate its newspapers and online properties.

Feh. I used to like the paper. But I couldn’t stomach reading the thing after Conrad Black infected it with his grimy touch. I hope Lord Black is enjoying life in prison.

From a source:

“Today, Suresource Inc’s Peoria call center shuts down. As of 4pm, I and my fellow employees are unemployed.”

Here’s the scoop on Suresource, by way of their LinkedIn profile:

SureSource, LLC provides direct-to-consumer ecommerce solutions for brands. It offers direct channel planning, multi-channel commerce, merchandising, marketing programs, and supporting services. The company also operates and manages storefronts for consumer brands and licensed properties. In addition, it provides distribution, customer, merchant, search engine optimization, promotions, consumer surveys, and product registration services, as well as service plans. SureSource, LLC was founded in 1989 and is based in Shelton, Connecticut.

They have offices in the New York area and in Peoria.

And they have a spiffy Website.

My sympathies to the soon-to-be-unemployed.

UPDATE: This is not MY employer. My job is secure, the last I heard anyway. Three people have expressed sympathy to me today over having lost my job and they cited this post.

Even if they manage to convince gullible Peoria County voters to pass a referendum doubling the county’s sales tax rate, they will still be short the money they need to begin construction of the museum on the former Sears block. So where or where will they get the money?

From the taxpayers, of course:

There might yet be additional state and federal money available for the $136 million Build the Block project, maybe enough to close the funding gap that would still exist even if voters approve the sales tax increase next week.

At least that’s the hope of state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria. He said Monday he would try to help procure $4 million of federal economic stimulus money for an underground parking garage and an additional $10 million from a state capital bill to close the funding gap.

When the politicians and the media say “additional state and federal money” what the really mean is taxpayer money. These politicians know this is taxpayer money, no different than the sales taxes that single working moms and little old ladies struggling to get buy on fixed incomes pay when they buy off the dollar menu at McDonalds. What they are hoping for is to trick you into thinking this is found money. It is not. It is YOUR money, taken out o your pocket by the federal government, supposedly for the purpose of fixing the roads and bridges that are falling down.

Feh. When Barack Obama was talking about putting people to work, I didn’t know he was talking about letting crumbling bridges and pothole filled streets wait while we build IMAX theaters and underground parking decks right in the middle of the flood plain.

People, we are not being governed by idiots. But we are being governed by people who pander to people they HOPE are idiots.

Meanwhile, C.J. Summers visited a similar boondoggle.

It’s still March and the April issue of the Community Word has been put on the Web and is ready for your online reading pleasure. We wanted to make a special effort to get the paper on the SWeb as early as possible because of the elections.

Roger Monroe reports that radio partner Royce Elliott was hospitalized. Roger also has his election predictions. Meanwhile Sara Browning has a wrap-up of who is on ballot. Bill Knight reports on new pollution reporing requirements, while Dale Goodner has a pro-environment message that is thousands of years old. Also, I manage to spew forth some comments about how even accused police officers have rights.

There are letters to the editor and all the regular columnists too. And check out Happenings and Briefly too. And publisher Debbie Adlof operates CW Notes? Check it out.

I found this at Pammy’s site.

Yeah, it’s a silly YouTube animation, but it gets an important point across.