Peoria Pundit

I have something I need to reveal, but the fewer people who know it, the better. So I thought I would place a visually appealing image in this post in the hopes of distracting readers.

Perhaps people will think I’m starting up with the eye candy thing again and that all the words were some nonsense about Scarlett and her husband, that loser who was on the show about the pizza parlor with the actress from “Monk.”

So, if don’t really need to know what embarrassing thing happened to me today, then gaze upon Scarlett, sigh, and move on to the next post. ‘Kay?

Scarlett Johansson

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From Citizens for Responsible Spending:

Greetings to all!

Peoria County voters today is your day to vote! Your vote counts. Each and every vote counts. This rare occasion to cast your vote in a binding referendum to raise or not to raise your taxes.

We encourage you to contact all your family and friends in Peoria County and then have them contact their family and friends in Peoria County and so on and so on to get out the vote today.

Citizens for Responsible Spending (CFRS) advocates for your NO vote.

Wrong plan. Wrong funding mechanism. Wrong time.

A better block can be built.

Additional information, telling ‘the rest of the story” is available at our website — www.nomuseumtax..org. By clicking the media link, there are recent press releases available for viewing and printing as well as a printable flyer.

It is your community, your voice, your money and your decision..

Happy voting!

Cordially,

Karrie E. Alms
Chairman, CFRS

Scott Janz says the Museum Tax vote is like reliving the past.

I have often implied that the existence of the Peoria Civic Center is a fraud perpetrated against the taxpayers. After all, it cannot operate for a single day without the promised-to-be-temporary Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement Tax.

But this isn’t a post about that boondoggle. This is a post about a different boondoggle.

According to the Peoria Journal Star, Lisa Williams, who pretends to have the real-life power to communicate with the dead on Lifetime television’s “Life Among the Dead,” is bringing her magic act to Peoria Civic Center at June 7. Gullible dummies will be paying $45 to $65 to this con artist.

For those who are wondering why I am calling her a con artist, here is an explanation: There is no such thing as psychic powers. No one really talks to the dead. No one. There are no doubt grieving people who have convinced themselves that have. But people like Lisa Williams are frauds. All of them. Period. End of discussion.

It is a sad state of affairs, but even in the 21srt century, there are still people who believe this unscientific drivel. But then, some people still cling to the equally irrational belief that vaccines cause autism.

I blame the media, which thinks the standards of objectivity requires them to treat this nonsense with respect. Folks, we all have the equal right to have an opinion, but not all opinions are equal. The end result of “equal time for frauds and morons” creates the impression this B.S. is OK. Feh.

Now, I like television shows like “Medium” and Ghost Whisperer” like any American. But they are fiction. I liked Star Trek, but I know William Shatner is just an actor. And if anyone tried to sell me a boarding pass the USS Enterprise, I’m going to take a pass.

Lisa Williams is fundamentally no different than grifters who run scams on grieving widows. At least when she limited her act to television, she got money from advertising. Harmless fun, right?

Wrong. Now this active, practicing fraud is in town to take directly money out of grieving people’s pockets. These victims will be your friends, co-workers and relatives. It is disgusting. Why not just sell licenses to three card monte games, right next to the downtown pushcarts. Along as the Peoria Civic Center Authority gets a cut, right? I mean, we have to pay for those expensive new offices somehow, cause legitimate events aren’t coming here.

But, hey, I cannot image life in Peoria without the Peoria Civic Center.

An email just hit my inbox with a letter from Arbor District residents ragging on 2nd District Candidate Curphy Smith.

Here it is:

April 6, 2009

Neighbor-to-Neighbor

Election for City Council 2nd District is tomorrow. As 10-year residents of the Arbor District, located within the 2nd District, we feel the need to respond to Curphy Smith’s recent campaign literature. We have a long relationship with both Barbara Van Auken and Curphy Smith, and until now, we’ve remained rather quiet about this campaign. Information has been distributed from Curphy’s campaign camp that is over the top and unwarranted.

As many of you know, we have worked closely with Barbara on several issues concerning all of our neighborhoods. She has always been honest and forthcoming with information, which we respect. She’s dedicated to all the issues in the District, working tirelessly on them. Barbara’s promises to us have never been broken (we personally know Curphy Smith has broken vows and promises he’s made), and she has always worked hard for the 2nd District. Barbara respects Bradley University and its mission to provide a safe educational environment for their students and neighbors. Simply stated, Barbara understands the dedication and time commitment of being a council member, and is still passionate about being our representative. She desires the job…not just the title.

Her diligence to facilitate the rebuilding of the arbors in the Arbor District was supported not only by the neighbors, but the City Council. The City Council voted UNANIMOUSLY on April 10, 2007 to approve additional funding for the arbors, however most of the funds were allocated in the Capital Fund Budget before Barbara’s first term. The previous arbor was held together with metal bands, and a danger to public safety. The “extravagant monument, “ as referred to by Curphy’s campaign, is almost identical to the original, and was rebuilt per the request of the neighbors, to preserve a historical landmark for which the neighborhood is named; they weren’t rebuilt for Barbara’s benefit.

Barbara Van Auken has accomplished many great things and will do more for our District and our city. She has experience, fortitude, and she has our vote. Re-elect Barbara on Tuesday, April 7.

Respectfully,

Nathan and Michelle Wagner

Nothing at all shocking about this morning’s editorial, which was glowing in support for the museum tax. The Journal Star editorial cast it as a long struggle to bring culture and education to ungrateful citizens who nitpick too much. Fine. Whatever. The article sorta addressed the complaints, except it didn’t.

This was the most glaring whopper:

“Caterpillar has never threatened to leave Peoria if the referendum fails. Those are all non-issues drummed up by the opposition.”

Bullshit. The lie that Caterpillar would leave was drummed up by the proponents.  Think for a second, people. Why would opponents to the tax tell people that Caterpillar would leave if it doesn’t pass. That Cat would leave is an argument in favor of the tax. Many of the people spreading this lie sit on the City Council, told in terms of the need to help Cat “grow roots” in the community.

It was the opposition — myself included — that finally, FINALLY got someone from Caterpillar to admit, on the record, that of course Caterpillar is not going to move its world headquarters somewhere else if this referendum fails. But even after this admission was made, the Journal Star’s own columnist spread the same lies. But then I am not surprised the anonymous gnomes on the Journal Star editorial board don’t bother reading their paper’’s own front page. Too depressing, I suppose.

This editorial, unsigned, is allegedly the position of the institution of the Peoria Journal Star. I would wager money that if one were to take a pole of the employees — those who still work there, anyway — one would find a lack of support. You see, real journalists have finely tuned bullshit detectors. Not so true, apparently, of anonymous gnomes cherry pick facts to suit their agendas.

Carp, crap, crap.

The last thing I wanted to see happen, did happen. The faceless gnomes who write the Peoria Journal Star’s anonymous editorials have weighed in and decided that Laura Petelle should be elected to the Peoria School Distict 150 Board of Education.

This is the worst thing that could happen. You see, I know Laura. I like Laura. I am impressed with her vast body of knowledge and I am impressed with her smarts. She on the right side on every issue regarding the school board. If the district IS going to close a high school, she wants the process to be thoughtful and deliberate, not a panicked response to the bad economy.  She wants value for the district’s dollars, and notes that there is no evidence that the over-expensive Edison program works, in that test scores are the same for district schools with the same demographics.

And here is the kicker for me: She ain’t nobody’s pushover. If she is elected, you will see Laura Petelle make district staff explain spending decisions, and explain why spending decisions are made without school board authority. You will see her demand that the staff treat the public with respect in regards to Freedom of Information requests.

So why am I upset that the nameless gnomes of the unsigned PJS editorial decided to endorse her? Because the PJS editorial board is a joke. No one respects their edit page. Their endorsement is a dubious honor at best, and at worst, a kiss of death.

So, if you have suffered brain damage at some time in your life, or if you did heavy drugs back in the 60s,  and you think the PJS edit page is a font of wisdom, go ahead and vote for Petelle.

But if you are like the rest of us and snicker at the idea that these clowns win awards for their writing, please ignore the fact that they endorsed Laura Petelle and vote for her anyway.

The following message was printed on a single frame of microfilm, stored inside a hollow coin and left on the counter by a “patron” at Whitey’s Tip Top Tavern. I palmed it, and left another coin in its place, lest the bartender get suspicious. Its contents:

Ah, yes. Blog Peoria Project member East Bluff Barbie doesn’t post as often as I would like, but when she does, it is a doozie:

I live in the East Bluff which is also part of the hot and heavy third district city council race. Tim Riggenbach has also showered me with flyers. One of my favorites said the Tim knows neighborhoods, he lives in one. Well, holy shit! I must be an auto mechanic because I own a car. I also must be an exotic dancer because I have a g-string. Don’t insult my intelligence. Just because I’m in the lowly part of the third district, south of War Memorial, doesn’t mean that I don’t have a brain in my head. I haven’t exactly seen him in my neck of the woods campaigning and his latest literature has quotes for friends and neighbors, the majority of which are North of War Memorial. I’m glad he expects the North half of the district to carry him but when the lowly peons in the Southern half need his help and we will, I expect him to treat us just as he would treat them.

Now I seen on the Peoria Chronicle that Build the Block and Tim Riggenbach both got there campaign mailers produced and sent from out of state. To be fair you have to include Patrick Nichting in that same bunch. His flyers were produced by Victory also. I’m all for calling bullshit but call bullshit on everyone not just a select few.

Heh.

From Peoria City Hall:

Regarding the continuing repair of sewers, below is a listing of sites that a contractor anticipates accessing starting next week for the purpose of performing the listed repairs.  As we spoke of in the past, assume that all work performed on residential roadways will involve road closures.  The descriptions are provided below:

Next week, an excavation-crew will begin or continue repairs at the sites listed below:

Repair 1866 – alley north of E. Forrest Hill Ave., b/ N. California Ave. and N. New York Ave.;

Repair 1837 – @ intersection of Randolph Ave. and Hamilton Blvd.;

Repair 1637 – @ intersection of Crescent Ave. and Hamilton Blvd.;

Repairs 1150, 1149 and 1148 – N. Bigelow St., b/ W. Nebraska Ave. and W. Republic Ave.;

Repair 1147 – N. Bigelow St., b/ W. Nebraska Ave. and W. McClure Ave.

Additionally, another crew will begin or continue repairs at the sites listed below:

Repair 1889 – alley off of Van Buren St., northwest of N. E. Jefferson Ave.;

Repair 1907 – alley b/ N.E. Jefferson Ave. and N.E. Madison Ave., southwest of Camblin Ave.;

Repair 1861 – Walnut St., b/ S.W. Washington St. and Water St.;

Repair 1862 – alley b/ S.W. Washington St. and Water St. and b/ Walnut St. and Bob Michel Bridge;

Repair 1343 – Sanger St., northwest of S.W. Washington St.;

Repair 1354 – Endres Ave., north of Edgebrook Dr.