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

You just HAD to look, didn’t you?

Anyway, I didn’t vote today.Not going to, either.

When I tried, I was told my voter registration was inactive. My identification showed an address different from the records. Which makes perfect sense, because I kept putting off notifying them I had moved until it was too late.

It’s all 100 percent my own damn fault and everyone was perfectly professional and friendly.

And who was the election judge? Karrie Alms. She was nice enough to introduce me as the guy who does “Peoria Pundit” and “BlogPeoria,” so that my embarrassment would be complete.

And before anyone else can dig up the post, I will concede that I have in many times in the past heaped scorn on voter registration efforts because anyone who lacks the brainpower or initiative to go downtown and register on his or her own probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote in in the first place.

Well, I didn’t, and I wasn’t.

And if this museum tax passes by one vote, I think I will move to Canada.

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

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.

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.

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

Press release:

Hannig, Koehler support The Block as recipient of federal or state funds if referendum passes

Peoria—Illinois Secretary of Transportation Gary Hannig and 46th District State Senator David Koehler agree The Block project—comprised of the Peoria Riverfront Museum and the Caterpillar Experience—is an ideal project to receive federal or state funds from a capital bill.

The two expressed their support at a 9 a.m. press conference today at the Peoria Labor Temple. The location emphasized the importance of The Block project in bringing much-needed building trades jobs to the area. Estimates indicate that The Block would create up to 300 local construction jobs and $45 million in labor payroll over 25 months.

“It’s important to provide economic stimulus at the local level,” said Koehler. “We need jobs in Peoria. We need jobs now. This museum project will put local people to work.”

Hannig is working with legislators like Koehler to create state-local partnerships where economic stimulus funds can create jobs quickly. Projects that are already planned and “shovel-ready,” like the underground parking structure of The Block, are given high priority. The parking structure would qualify as a transportation enhancement project.

“Transportation is the foundation for economic development and job creation in Illinois,” Secretary Hannig said. “Whether the funds come from the federal package or a statewide capital program, our first priority at the Illinois Department of Transportation is to support communities like Peoria in rebuilding crucial transportation infrastructure and creating a sound environment for job creation to take place for years to come.”

Hannig and Koehler join many others in supporting this project, which will generate jobs, and long-term economic and educational opportunities. More than $91 million has been committed to the project, and an April 7 “public facility” sales tax referendum will determine if an additional $40 million in public funds will become available.

Many potential donors have said that, if the referendum passes, more private funds will be forthcoming to provide the additional $10 million needed to complete the project. Federal or state stimulus dollars would help close that gap.

If the referendum fails, the federal stimulus money, as well as the $91 million already committed—including $55 million pledged by Caterpillar—may be lost to the community.

Four more “Vote No” signs were vandalized and 2 were stolen … No other signs have I seen vandalized. We ordered a lot of signs and events like these revive my energy.

Merle thinks these are kids. Kids aren’t that organized. Trust me, I’ve seen this before. These are adults and they are organized.

Well, not so much as it turns out:

Citizens for Responsible Spending says the Bradley University professors wildly overstated the number of jobs the museum project is expected to create.

“On Dr. Carlson and Dr. Betts’ report, it said, “continued spending will not create additional new jobs each year as the author suggests. Using the author’s estimate, the continued annual spending would create a total of only 80 jobs over the 18–year period,” said Karrie Alms with Citizens for Responsible Spending.

Full disclosure: I am a member of  Citizens for Responsible Spending.

And please note that CFRS did what ANY member of the news media COULD have done, but did not: Have the bought-and-paid-for study reviewed by independent professionals.

Why didn’t they? Well, constant budget cuts could be one answer. It’s hard to find time for enterprise reporting when you’re doing the work of three reporters. And even if that were the case, it’s a lot easier to do reporting that isn’t going to piss off virtually every elected and appointed politician you must work with in order to generate the copy you need to keep your job.

Overworked and frightened reporters tend to regurgitate a lot.

The other day, Mark L. Johnson, Project Manager for Caterpillar, are exchanging comments in a post over at Peoria Illinoisan.

I’m tryinvg to get him to say — one way or another — whether or not there are any plans or discussion at Caterpillar about moving the4 company’s world headquarters if this referendum fails.

I think it’s all B.S. though. Caterpillar is NOT going to go to the expense of moving the entire company elsewhere because they could force taxpayers to cough up a few million during a recession.

But Johnson wouldn’t admit to anything.

I think Caterpillar wants the Peoria area to be scared to death Caterpillar will move.