Peoria Pundit

Rich Miller of The Capitol Fax Blog doesn’t think highly of of the political and government acumen of whoever it is who wrote this editorial in the Peoria Journal Star:

* The Peoria Journal-Star editorializes about the need for constitutional amendments on property taxes, the number of local governments, TIF districts, ethics reforms, the unfunded pension liability, etc., etc., etc. and then has this to say…

We fully expect good government groups to lead the charge in drafting and generating support for these amendments, to prove as some promised just how easy it is to amend Illinois’ Constitution without having to resort to something so radical as another Con-Con.

While they’re busy writing up amendments and getting the signatures necessary to put such citizen initiatives on the ballot – please, let’s not rely on the Legislature to do that for us – here’s one issue they should put at the top of their list.

Um, PJ Star? Those dreamy amendments of yours cannot make it onto the ballot without first clearing the General Assembly. Here’s a handy link for future reference.

The same paper recently endorsed Sen. James Clayborne for Senate President apparently without realizing that Clayborne was privately backed by Gov Blagojevich. Oops.

The Journal Star used to have reporters in Springfield. Not so much anymore, thanks to GateHouse Media mandated staff reductions and buyouts. Not that actually having a reporter or two covering Springfield full time would have made much of a difference. I have found that the JSEB is often perfectly willing ignore the reporting that appears in news articles, as long as it promotes the agenda of whoever is writing the editorial that day.

He’s the new deputy opinion page editor at the Peoria Journal Star.

The name “Chris Kaergard” isn’t familiar to me, which means he hasn’t done much writing for the Journal Star since I started this blog in 2002. He’s been at the Journal Star since 2005 and I gather all he’s done there is copy desk work. He has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield. He also graduated from Bradley University.

He was born in St. Charles, Ill., a Chicago suburb.

And he’s one of the people who will speak for the entire institution of the Peoria Journal Star when the newspaper’s award-winning (snicker) editorial page tells people how they should think and feel about the issues of the day.

I have socks that have been to more city council meeting than this kid, and he’s one of the people whose going to pass judgment on guys like Jim Ardis and Gary Sandberg?

Please.

I’m sure he’s a nice guy. I’m sure he’s smart as a whip. But seriously … they couldn’t get someone who made his or her bones as a reporter? Or even someone who’s a native of the city or some neighboring community?

UPDATE: As a commenter noted, I should know who this guy is, since he interviewed me two years ago.

A source says that Christine Smith, member of the Journal Star Editorial Board, is leaving the paper to take a public relations type job with the American Red Cross. Her departure leaves Mike Bailey as the only PJS employee assigned full-time to editorial writing.

Unless noted, all links are via the Journal Star:

• The 18-year-old who was found murdered behind Sterling School apparently had an “unconventional relationship” with the man prosecutors say killed her. No kidding. There was an eyewitness to the murder, they say. And she snitched. Apparently she never got the memo saying that Peorians never talk to police.
• Some details on the new school calender. Why in the Hell did Peorians have to go through all this for? It was a stupid idea to begin with, and D-150 compounded the problem by getting its back up over criticism. Well, at least the district is in the black.
• Oh, good heavens. A tourist attraction is gonna close two days a week. Will the bloodletting never end?
• A New York Times reporter is going to visit Peoria to tell us details of the Rwandan recovery effort and that we screwed up in Iran.
• Here is nice long article about how the City of Peoria is getting input from the public about the city’s budget. Not much in the story about what that input has been, though. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they folks want more essential services and lower taxes.
• The Peoria Journal Star’s award-winning editorial page today opines on the practice of not paying attention while walking around. They are opposed.
• HOINews: Free public WiFi comes to Normal. I’m guessing, though, that within 10 years or so, new technology and competition will make municipal wi-fi unnecessary.
• WEEK: My condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Rockford native Private First Class David John Badie, who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

In its April 9 editorial, the Peoria Journal Star had this to say about a study conducted on the feasibility of turning over the long-empty Sears block in downtown Peoria for use as a museum of Peoria history. Mayor Dave Ransburg questioned the study’s conclusions and wants a new one (which is exactly what happened later).

“Funny thing about consultants and their studies. No matter how solid they may be, no matter how good the math, if they don’t reach the desired conclusion, they’re not worth much to the movers and shakers.”

It’s also a “funny thing” how editorial writers and some city council members are willing to look the other way about a flawed study because it supports, rather than refutes, their desire to turn over a prime piece of real estate to a non-profit entity, forever removing it from the tax rolls.

The official opinion of Peoria’s newspaper of record is that despite obvious problems with the study, it serves the useful purpose of recommending a museum at the Sears site. What a coincidence, that’s what the Journal Star recommends, too. So, the Journal Star concludes, there is no need for a second story. It’s an intellectual dishonest position.
According to its own editorial, problems with the original study include:
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The Journal Star editorial also scoffs at those who doubt the museum would generate new business: “This museum’s proximity to the Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield is also a plus. Just last week it was reported that the Starbucks coffee chain will put its first downstate store in downtown Springfield, in part because of the additional 300,000 visitors the museum is expected to bring annually. It’s a small thing, but telling.”

Wow. That’s a great reason to turn over a piece of prime retail land over to an untaxed, non-profit agency: The chance to lure in a Starbucks. Thinking like that is why Peoria is in such great financial shape.

The editorial board at the JS is like the city council – willing to spend taxpayer money to support certain developers and certain businesses over their competitors, which keeps property and sales taxes high. Later, they both will wonder why there’s not enough money coming in to pay for enough police officers and firefighters.

Why is the Journal Star and other movers and shakers so hot for a museum? Maybe because Managing Editor Jack Brimeyer fancies himself a local history buff. But, more than likely it’s simply a case of liberalism. They enjoy having taxpayers pay the bill for recreation and cultural activities that are enjoyed by movers and shakers (funny how the PJS describes others that way, but not itself).

The complete editorial is not available on the Journal Star Website without paying a fee, so I posted the entire thing here. Let ‘em sue me.

NOTE: Original links expired.

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