March 27, 2013
"FOOD FIGHT" ERUPTS IN HARWOOD HEIGHTS
A political "food fight" is raging in northwest suburban Harwood Heights. Mariano's or no Mariano's, that is the question. To entice the developer to spend $25 million to buy the land and build the Mariano's store, which has a 20-year lease, Mayor Arlene Jezierny crafted a "shared revenue" agreement, ceding the developer half of their 1% sales tax take. Based on $40-60 million in expected yearly sales, the village will still reap $200,000-300,000. Jezierny's April 9 opponent, Trustee Jimmy Mougolias, thinks it's a bum deal, and is blasting Jezierny as "incompetent." The food is flying furiously, but Jezierny is favored.Full Article...
March 20, 2013
IN DES PLAINES' MAYOR'S RACE, A STAR IS BORN
Now playing in northwest suburban Des Plaines: "A Star Is Born" and "The Way We Were" -- but Barbra Streisand is nowhere to be found. 75-year old ex-mayor Tony Arredia is attempting a comeback, and is being badly out-campaigned by 26-year old Ald. Matt Bogusz, the Wunderkind of 2013. Vote your age, exhorts Arredia, hoping oldsters will opt for a fellow oldster over a callow youngster. Arredia hypes himself as the architect of the Rivers Casino, which will generate $13.6 million in city tax revenue in 2013. Bogusz, chairman of the finance committee, hypes himself as the master of efficiency, who -- along with departed mayor Marty Moylan, now a state representative (D) -- "cleaned up" Arredia's fiscal "mess." Bogusz will win big.Full Article...
March 13, 2013
STYMIED, "EVIL" GUN RANGE RUNS POLITICS AMOK IN LINCOLNWOOD
A proposed gun range has Lincolnwood politicians running for cover, gun control advocates running off at the mouth, gun enthusiasts running a temperature, and the quiet north suburban village of 12,590 generally running amok. The 2nd Amendment is jeopardizing incumbent president Jerry Turry's third term bid.. The "guns are evil" mantra is boosting foes Georgia Talaganis and Peter Moy. Whether it's guns or people who kill people, the sale of guns does generate tax revenue. Bullets are dollars. Or is it bullets or dollars? In Lincolnwood, "no bullets" is winning.Full Article...
March 6, 2013
THE OLD IS NEW, AND NEW IS OLD, IN NILES' MAYOR'S RACE
In north suburban Niles, the self-proclaimed "All-American City," the new is the old and the old is the new, and disgraced Nick Blasé is the ex-mayor that everybody forgets they knew. Sounds like Dr. Seuss. Blasé got pen time for taking bribes and kickbacks. Andy Przybylo, a 24-year trustee and Blasé ally is running for mayor as the "new'" and Chris Hanusiak, elected as an anti-Blasé trustee in 2011 is saddled by being on the ticket with old Blasé machine minions. The Przybylo name associated with a Milwaukee Avenue banquet hall is iconic in Niles, which has a heavy Polish-American population. Przybylo will win.Full Article...
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