Local: 10 council members vote to screw over the South Side
The Peoria City Council voted 10-1 — with Sandberg voting “no” — to take stimulus money that the city told the feds would be used for sidewalk repair and instead use it to make some repairs to some firehouses and to pay for roof repairs for the Center for Prevention of Abuse.
An area of the city most in need of the sidewalk and accompanying drainage work will have to wait until some more stimulus money comes in. Clyde Gulley, whose 1st District includes the South Side, is among the 10 who voted without discussion to approve the diversion of stimulus funds.
Methinks there was a deal.
The Journal Star article indicated that city staff plans to have have designs in place to do the work ready by next once. Lack of designs to make the necessary repaits was cited earlier this week for the inability to spend the money in the South Side.
Kudos to the city staff and the council for finally noticing. Once these designs are done and shoved into whatever black hole they usually shove any initiative to help South Side residents, they can get back to the business of doing whatever North Peoria developers tell them to do.
Tags: Center for Prevention of Abuse, essential services, flooding, Peoria City Council, Sotu Side
I was driving by the Northmoor Firehouse today and was wondering why there was a bunch of people walking around the building.
From what I understood, the Obama administration intends to watch over the use of the stimulus money to make sure that it’s being used as promised. What happens if Peoria gets caught mis-using it?
Billy,
the firemen have pumped a signficant amount of cash into some incumbants’ races, are delivering flyers for said incumbant, and go to forums for supporting the incumbant. Unfortunately people on the south end don’t vote. They are the ones who need the services most. Mobilizing people in less affluent areas would greatly effect basic service delivery.
pdw is correct….my review of the campaign disclosure report shows that the Peoria Firefighter PAC has contributed $2,000 to her campaign during the last quarter or 20% of the $10,000 raised.
Yes, if the NAACP and other black leaders were to mobilize people on the South Side to get out and vote, it would make a difference. A Councilman has the luxury of voting for something like this when they run unopposed.
It is a shame that the annual galas, fundraisers and donations thrown at/for The Center for Prevention of Abuse by the well to do wives of the City’s movers and shakers can’t even put a roof on the building. Makes you want to take a closer look at how the Center actually spends their money.
Emerge Peoria:: On Counselors and administrators!
Do u have a problem with well to do wives emergepeoria? If there work is going to be looked at with contempt by people like you, then what if they stop doing it. Will you step in and help then? What have you done to help the center, other than throw sticks and stones at those that are trying to help out.
I too am a Center Supporter, but I do not believe that people who do “good” to get recognition are really the backbone of support for such organizations. Yes, they could step aside (”stop doing it”) and give people who support the cause for the cause’s sake that space. This second group of people don’t need recognition, don’t need “luncheons” and don’t need “awards.” They don’t need to buy ducks to offer support. They just need a reason to give and a simple thanks when they do.