Site news: It’s time to move on
“Build the Block” beat “Block the Block.” I’m sad, but not surprised. I take pleasure in the fact that we put up a good fight.
I was rooting for Beth Akeson in the 3rd District. When the votes were counted, she was down by 16 votes. If there’s not a recount, she’s insane. That’s about a half-vote per precinct. I didn’t want Tim Riggenbach to win because of his enthusiastic support for the tax increase referendum was all I needed to know about his support for essential services first.
I continued to support Barbara Van Auken, not because I agreed with all her votes, because I didn’t and she knows which votes I’m talking about. But she is a friend, she’s supported me when others did not. And I think those who backed Curphy Smith because Van Auken didn’t give them the 9-1 vote the wanted (as opposed to the 10-1 we sometimes get) were fooling themselves. In the end, her large margin of victory is a sign that her constituents agreed with me and weren’t distracted by side issues.
I didn’t have a favorite in the race for city treasurer. Half of one is the same as a half dozen of the other.
It’s for the best that Jim Ardis won as mayor. I’ve been POd a bit at some of his votes. But on ballance, he’s the best mayor we’ve had since I first attended a council meeting back in 1980.
And as for the fifth district race … I really don’t give a rat’s ass. Almost none of the people who live up there give a rat’s ass about people who live south of War Memorial Drive, and I’m just returing the favor.
It’s done. Done. Over. We have to move on and rebuild our relationships with each other. This election has turned friends into enemies. It is important that we ALL grow the Hell up a bit and realize that politics is not anything worth losing friendships over.
And now some site news: I’m moving on. Well, actually, I’m moving back. I started blogging exclusively on The Blog Peoria Project because I wanted to resurrect the site using the original domain name, which I had ignored for several years, except to keep it running. But I keep running into site issues. Peoria Pundit gets more than 1000 unique visitorts a day and even more hits and page views. It’s too much for the structure of the site, especially with the host I’m using.
So I’m going to blog at the old site from now on, which should reduce loads on Blog Peoria.
More news will follow.
UPDATE: You 5th District people have no sense of humor. And for that, I am sorry. Anyway, I’m closing comments on this site, as I am now blogging here again.
April 7th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I hope you bring this template with you.
Great post btw!
April 8th, 2009 at 2:41 am
WAY TO GO MAYOR ARDIS, 4 MORE GREAT YEARS OF LEADERSHIP….WOOOO,HOOOO…
April 8th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
I kid, I kid. Yep, let’s move on to the next thing to argue about. Remember, we still have Obama and all the different ways he’s ruined the country! In a mere 2 1/2 months!
April 8th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I’m trying to reconcile your expressed desire for healing and rebuilding friendships with your comment about citizens who reside in the 5th district. What kind of healing is that? My family & I are not worth a “rat’s ass” when it comes to issues of the day? Billy, I would suggest an apology is in order here…
April 8th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Steve – good catch!
April 8th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Bill,
I too would suggest that many of us living in the 5th District do indeed care about the whole of Peoria – every single District and neighborhood in it. Please confirm that you were just making “sweeping statements.”
April 8th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Not taking a position for or against the Block, but just saying: Why is it when referenda for tax increases fail by such a short margin the issue almost always presented again in the next election, but this never happens when the tax passes? Well, we all know why, really.
April 8th, 2009 at 9:12 am
Sorry, forgot to post the latest example: http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2009/04/08/countywide_school_sales_tax_increase_earns_approval
April 8th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Billy,
I tried the link to your new/old site at work but it was blocked due to a categorization of lingerie/bikini.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
As a resident of the 2nd District, even I’m offended by Bill’s comment. I have no doubt that Bill doesn’t give a rat’s ass about a place he doesn’t live. But I can think of plenty of people who live in the 5th District — or even in Morton — who care deeply about all parts of the City. We all live where we choose, and will obviously care more about our neighborhood than someone else’s. But you are just being a prick.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
West Duffer – why hide your feelings?
April 8th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I thought Billy’s “rat’s ass” comment was meant to be funny.
It made me laugh – course I live down here in the heart of our great city.
April 8th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I thought about hiding my feelings, but then decided what the hell. You live in the 5th, don’t you, Diane? Do you care about the rest of us?
April 8th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I live in Tazewell. You guys can get swallowed by an earthquake for all I care. Jeez, who even goes to Peoria? ¬_¬
April 9th, 2009 at 6:31 am
This is embarrassing – but I’m not sure where I live. I think Nichting represented us, and now Irving???? And YES, I love ALL of yins.
April 9th, 2009 at 8:50 am
If you voted for Irving, you live in the 5th.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Diane doesn’t care what city council district she lives in as long as she can still vote for Aaron Schock because he’s dreamy
April 9th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I think Diane cares about all districts.. I really enjoy her post, she has a good head on her shoulders. You rock Diane .
April 9th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
awwww, thanks Mamma. We are two peas in a pod.
April 9th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Some pols need to go to jail.
April 9th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
This moving thing is getting old..seems like ever 6 months I need to update the link to the rss feed…please stop this time and stay put…just a suggestion from an annoyed fan.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I’m glad the “build the block” passed. When all is said and done we will have something nice to look at and visit down town. Like the civic center, there will be a few perpetually angry people who will never set foot there. In a town this size, we should have a civic center and a museum/imax/ visitor’s center for the area’s largest employer will fit in quite nicely. I hope the hotel expansion/skywalk proceeds and does well. The skyline of Peoria will change yet again and probably for the better. Change is never easy and it is upsetting to some. It’s time to move forward and hope for the best in our community.
April 10th, 2009 at 3:48 am
When all is said and done, people will continue to cover the losses, as they do with everything else in Workers’ Paradise. It’s time to move forward, but watch out for the potholes…