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Amid all of the xenophobia and nativism surrounding the immigration debate, there is a real security concern. In the language of the bureaucracy, the problem is referred to as the ”O.T.M.’s,” or Other Than Mexicans.
Found this piece from former National Security Advisor, Richard Clarke, “A Back Door for Terrorists”. I think that it makes a great case for why we need to put pressure on our federal officials to secure our borders, and why attempts at piece-meal enforcement around the country is
- insufficient;
- may put us at greater risk because the federal government is allowing it and may be less inclined to stop it; and,
- leaves loopholes that cannot be closed by local enforcement;
especially when the focus is on Hispanics. Taking a uniform approach has a better opportunity to ensure that rights of legal citizens, residents and visitors are respected.
Since 9/11, it has been far more difficult to get a visa to enter the United States if you are a citizen of a country considered a terrorism concern. But it is not difficult for a Pakistani, for example, to enter Mexico or another Central American country from which he can get to our border relatively easily, cross it and blend in.
Be sure to read it in it’s entirety.
Blogger.com has one of the better definitions I’ve seen about what a blog is:
A personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.
At times, Carpentersville Action Network will be one or more of these. Most often, it will be “a daily pulpit” or “political soapbox” or “memos to the world”. But, most of you already know that of this site. Still, I thought it needed to be said for clarification.
For the most part, Carpentersville Action Network will be editorial in nature. It has been, and will be, my view of the world — particularly on politics and government of Carpentersville, and at times the surrounding area.
Yet, because a blog most often represents more informal, off-the-cuff remarks as opposed to an extensive treatise or dissertation on the subject, readers are encouraged to provide information in the comments (or comboxes) that may not have been considered in the original posting. It’s that to which I refer in yesterday’s “Back to Reality” posting.
Since starting this blog, I have tried to make it a point to provide facts, links or other information to back up the opinions and statements that I make. I feel it is important to do so to provide readers the reasons why I hold the opinion or position I do about an issue, the position another person has taken on an issue, or someone’s actions or statements.
Some have taken issue with the fact that I have provided information labeled “negative” and felt that I was “bashing” some trustees. Those folks are certainly entitled to their opinion. I do feel, though, that the information and facts contained in those entries are important for people to know, so occasionally posts of a similar nature will be presented; I’m confident that those postings speak for themselves against the charges.
So, that’s a bit more insight into the philosophy and direction of this blog.
Thought I’d share some stats with you as well. This is the end of the second full month of being at WordPress.com. Traffic increased about 75% over last month, with nearly 7,000 views. Many more people have found this blog since the lawsuit was filed, with daily traffic going from about 200-250 views per day up to around 500 views a day (which has remained consistent). In fact, one week’s worth of traffic two weeks ago was around 1,000; traffic this week was more than 3,000. Since starting the blog, there have been a bit more than 500 total comments posted by about two dozen or so different people, on nearly 125 post. So, many more people are reading than are writing.
I’d also encourage those of you who have longer postings, particularly on relevant topics that are unrelated to current posts, to email them to me for inclusion in as a main posting as a guest blogger.
A lot of opinions have been shared here over the past few weeks, and I’m appreciative of even those from outside the Village of Carpentersville who have contributed. But, one of the things that I wanted to have this blog be from the outset was an exchange of facts and information.
I, myself, have gotten caught up in just the regular back and forth banter that sharing opinions can invite.
I think we can do better, however.
I’d really like to see this be a vehicle of information that Village staff, residents and Board can use to help them make better decisions — to break the cycle that has been too long a staple of Carpentersville politics and government.
This blog has taken the time to show that those on the Board who are often making the loudest calls for “civility” or “respect” and whatnot, are actually some of the worst offenders. I think we’re all on a level playing field now. Hopefully everyone will step off their pedestals (except me, of course! 
) and come back down to listen to the fact and information that citizens can provide.
So, can we stop the chit-chat and work together to help our Village government with a plan that can be workable for the entire community?
Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs who just clinched the NL Central Division to go to the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
How far will they get?
The Cubs won their game today and awaited the outcome of the Padres-Brewers game, which just completed minutes ago. The Brewers lost 6 to 3.
The Boys & Girls Club of Carpentersville was before the Audit & Finance Commission Thursday night to petition for Village support in the amount of $75,000.
The local Boys & Girls Club is facing a $250,000, or 70 percent, cut in federal grant money. Club board member and former Carpentersville Trustee Russ Morehead told commissioners that unless it received $75,000 from Carpentersville and the Dundee Township Park District, the club faces cutting programs and perhaps closing the doors to some of its three sites here. The club offers tutoring, vocational training and recreational programs to 1,200 student members, mainly from Carpentersville.
Residents of Carpentersville have worried regularly about gang activity in their town and the Boys & Girls Club provides support and options for those who otherwise might fall in with gangs.
[Club Executive Director Mike Berger] said by keeping students off the street, the club actually provided a benefit to the village’s police budget. He pointed to the gang-related shootings that have plagued the village this summer.
“We see gangs, we see them in the community,” he told the commissioners. “Kids join gangs because they want to belong and want someone to care for them. The gangs will be there for them in the short run, but not down the road. The Boys & Girls Club is always there for them.”
Club representatives also explained to the Board that they were unaware of the availability of grant money from the Grand Victoria Casino.
“If we had known there was $100,000 there, we wouldn’t have turned our back on it,” Berger said. “We’ll make sure we do it next year.”
Unfortunately, funds are not in this year’s budget, and there does not appear to be much wiggle room for finding it. However, the Commission did say that it would do what it could to look at the budget again to look for any available funds.
My view on this is that it is a worthy cause in the Village that directly impacts all of the residents and addresses locally their concerns. As such, it would be good for members of the community to do what they can to reach out, dig in and look for any available funds in their own budgets to keep the Club programs from being cut or scaled back. If you want something good out, you have to put something in.
[Read the full article in the Courier-News]
Cal Skinner at McHenry County Blog reports that D300’s Lakewood School is getting a new track … courtesy of Otto Engineering’s Tom Roeser, and others.
Dedication ceremony will be 10am Saturday, followed by a work day to plant landscaping to beautify the area around the track.
Also, being reported: the Minutemen will bring Sheriff Dan Beck back on Friday, October 26th, from 6pm – 10pm, at McHenry County College.
Tickets for the Oct 26Th 2007 6:30-10pm event will go on sale Oct 1st 2007
Tickets are 10 dollars for members of the Illinois Minuteman Project, and Members of FAIR and Members of Numbers USA. (MEMBERSHIP HAS IT’S REWARDS!)
Tickets for all others are 50 dollars apiece. No tickets will be sold at the door.
All attendees will be asked to sign in the day of the event with a picture ID.
Court date set for Village Trustee
A December 2007 trial date was set Wednesday in the criminal case against [Trustee Paul] Humpfer, 43, of the 6100 block of Coventry Court, Carpentersville. On Aug. 3, Humpfer was charged with four counts of misdemeanor domestic battery based on a complaint made by his wife. Humpfer opted not to waive his right to a jury trial, which could slow the court proceedings somewhat.
In December 2005, Humpfer was also accused by his wife of domestic battery, but she later dropped the charges. One count, which alleges that the Trustee hit his wife in the legs with a baseball bat, is punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
A conviction on these counts would likely put Humpfer’s trustee seat in jeopardy.
Pre-trial motions begin December 13, with trial set to begin on December 17th.
[Read the Courier-News article]
Residents in 6 counties will get federal disaster aid
The federal government will provide assistance for people and businesses in Kane, DeKalb, Grundy, LaSalle, Lake and Will counties who were affected by severe storms and flooding in late August.
This means that residents affected by storms and flooding may apply for funds to reimburse their losses.
FEMA, which administers the federal assistance program, planned to open the toll-free (800) 621-FEMA (3362) — or (800) 462-7585 for hearing- and speech-impaired people — this week for people to apply for assistance. Registration may be completed online at www.fema.gov.
[Read the Courier-News article]
County must provide bi-lingual voter support
Kane County must adhere to the stipulations until Dec. 31, 2010.
They include providing Hispanic voters with Spanish translations of all election-related information and providing a number of trained bilingual election judges proportionate to precinct populations. The county also must provide trained bilingual interpreters at polling places, invite eligible bilingual voters to become election judges and educate and train them.
A civil suit had been filed by the U.S. Department of Justice when they noted failure to comply with requirements of the Voting Rights Acts in Carpentersville in November 2006. See the announcement from the US Department of Justice.
In the November election, the number of Hispanic voters was the lowest ever, said Hollie Kissane, a County Board member who represents Carpentersville.
“We’ve been very disappointed in the turnout,” Kissane said. “We thought that for sure, with what’s going on in Carpentersville with the illegal-immigration act that they’re trying to pass, we thought [Hispanic residents] would really get out and vote, and they didn’t.”
She conceded, though, that some residents were probably frustrated with the process, not because of the lack of bilingual information but because of delays in opening polling places.
“Three of our precincts did not open until almost 10 o’clock,” she said. “So a lot of people came to vote but couldn’t.”
CTA-Roads deal could create fast-track to gridlock
While State Rep Mike Tryon works for McHenry County, the issues he’s speaking of affect the Northern end of Kane County … specifically the Longmeadow/Bolz Rd bridge and the Western Bypass in Algonquin.
The only specific road improvement mentioned is the Western Bypass (to ease the traffic flow at Routes 62 and 31 in Algonquin). There is no mention of the Bolz Road bridge, in southern Algonquin and Carpentersville, without which the Western Bypass will not work. Local municipal and county officials seem intent on making people pay a toll to use the Bolz Road bridge … which means, of course, that those who don’t want to pay a toll will continue to cross the Fox River at Route 62.
Yep!
I received the following tonite from Silvia Realzola of Carpentersville Community Alliance. You can read about the events surrounding this agreement and what lead to it in a story published in the Daily Herald.
- This is a result of the hard work of many people and organizations. Thank you to everyone! This battle was started several years ago and the outcome is GREAT! This demonstrates that following the process and working together for an end purpose will get POSITIVE results – it may take some time, but in the end working together for positive change can happen. Once again thank you to all those poll watchers, election judges, volunteers that put in endless hours for the benefit of our community.We must continue to work together – positive change can happen!
Silvia Realzola, President
Carpentersville Community Alliance
From: USDOJ-Office of Public Affairs
To: USDOJ-Office of Public Affairs
Sent: Wed Sep 26 18:59:58 2007
Subject: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF HISPANIC AND SPANISH-SPEAKING VOTERS IN KANE COUNTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT PROTECTING
THE RIGHTS OF HISPANIC AND SPANISH-SPEAKING VOTERS IN KANE COUNTY
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against Kane County, Ill., alleging violations of the rights of Spanish-speaking voters under the Voting Rights Act. The settlement agreement with Kane County requires the county to provide all voting materials and assistance in Spanish as well as in English and ensures that limited English-proficient voters can receive assistance from the persons of their choice. It also permits the Justice Department to monitor future elections.
“Every citizen has a right to vote, regardless of what language they speak,” said Rena J. Comisac, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “Today’s agreement removes a procedural impediment to voting which hindered significant numbers of language minority citizens from exercising that right. The county should be congratulated for resolving the issue quickly and constructively.”
“The right to vote is a fundamental guarantee for all American citizens,” said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “Without the assistance necessary to ensure equal access to the polls, Spanish speakers cannot exercise that right effectively. We are pleased that the county has agreed to resolve this complaint.”
The complaint charged that the county failed to provide Spanish-language assistance at the polls to the majority of its Spanish-speaking voters in recent elections and that the county prevented Spanish-speaking voters from receiving assistance from the persons of their choice, even in cases where bilingual assistance was otherwise unavailable. The settlement agreement resolves all of the charges in the complaint and was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois contemporaneously with the complaint and an accompanying order allowing federal observers to monitor Election Day activities in its polling places. The order still must be approved by a panel of three judges.
The Voting Rights Act requires that certain jurisdictions with a substantial minority-language voter population, which includes Kane County, provide all voting materials and assistance in the minority language as well as in English. The Act also assures voters who need assistance in voting, such as those unable to see or read the ballot, the right to receive that assistance from a person of their choice, other than the voter’s employer or union representative.
Since 2002, the Division has brought more than twice the number of lawsuits to enforce the minority language provisions of the Act than it brought in the preceding 26 years combined; all but one of the lawsuits were to enforce the assistance provision of the Act. During this time period, the Division has filed successful Voting Rights Act lawsuits across the country, with cases in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and has filed the first cases in its history on behalf of Filipino, Korean, Haitian, and Vietnamese American voters.
To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice Web site at www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm.
###
07-770
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.
Yep … they’re still at it folks.
In light of the lawsuit, President Sarto directed staff to postpone work on a draft of a controversial ordinance viewed by many across the US as targeting immigrants. And, Sarto also said he would hold off on appointments to the “Improvement Committee”, which has also been seen in the community as focusing on one segment of the population.
Trustee’s Paul Humpfer and Judy Sigwalt didn’t like the action.
He is a village president, not a king. said Humpfer.
However, Sarto is the Chief Executive Officer of the Village. Per the Carpentersville Municipal Code:
The president shall be and shall have the powers and perform the duties of chief executive officer of the village, shall preside at all meetings of the board, and shall devote to the responsibilities of his or her office such time and endeavor as the faithful discharge thereof may require.
As such, he is not simply another member of the Board, or having merely the powers of Trustees.
That said, I believe it is a good idea to postpone the work and enactment of the ordinance and committee, particularly in light of the lawsuit that has been filed. While it would have been better for Sarto to bring this first to the Board if he did not mention to them that they remove it from the agenda, I believe it is the right and prudent to take this action.
However, even in absence of this being brought to the whole Board first, the Board should not vote to proceed with these things as a matter of political spite. No matter what we eventually learn of the facts of the lawsuit, the present situation in Carpentersville is demonstrative of bigotry and bias.
Leaders in this community are those that recognize that fact and stand up to to speak out and do something about it.
But, there are others simply come up with slogans and rhetoric to tell the people that they shouldn’t feel what they are feeling. Those are not leaders.
What have these trustees done to bridge the divide that exists in Carpentersville? People in the community feel targeted. What have they done to reach out to those people and put them at ease?
In September/October 2006, they came up with an ordinance that worried a lot of people.
What did they do to reassure those people? Said, “It’s not about race. It’s about what’s legal”. (Making attempts to change the law.) And, the told them they needed to learn English; which worried them — even those that spoke English — more.
And, what did they do to reassure them, then? Told them they were going to come gunning for “code violators”. Which made them and others — even those who kept their property looking pretty good — feel more worried.
And, what did they do to reassure them, then? They said “watch out! We’re going to modify the laws to come for your vehicles!”
They haven’t done one thing to try to ease people’s minds about what they are doing. Telling someone “It’s not about race” when there are impressions (real or not) of a pattern that it is about race, hasn’t done anything to put the community at ease.
Now, with a lawsuit pending that is zeroing in on that pattern, the Board shouldn’t forge ahead like cowboys trying to tame the wild west. They need to step back, save the town from bankruptcy and heal the wounds that people have in the community.
Normally, a story like this one wouldn’t be one that I’d think about posting on this blog, because it wouldn’t have any relevance to Carpentersville. However, the pending lawsuit against the Village may give it some relevance.
A jury awarded a 13-year-old Chicago boy $19 million on Monday for severe brain injuries he suffered when a television fell on his head during class at his Catholic school.
While the circumstances surrounding what happened are admittedly different, the case may be indicative of the case of Osbiel Lopez.
In this case, the then-9-year-old boy, tugged on a television bolted to a stand which then toppled down and struck him on the head, causing permanent brain injury.
The archdiocese sought settlement in the case.
“It was an accident, so we did admit the liability,” said Susan Burritt. “Basically, the Archdiocese has been primarily concerned for the future of the young person involved.”
Kane County Board Chairwoman Karen McConnaughay has drafted county board members and village leaders from four northern Fox Valley communities to join a task force studying whether the county should create a toll authority — and if so, how to create it — in order to pay for a proposed bridge spanning the Fox River between Carpentersville and Algonquin.
County board member Jan Carlson, R-Elburn, will chair the committee. It also will include county board members John Fahy, R-West Dundee, and John Noverini and Hollie Kissane, both Carpentersville Democrats; and village presidents John Schmitt of Algonquin, Bill Sarto of Carpentersville, Dan O’Leary of East Dundee and Larry Keller of West Dundee. One McHenry County Board member also will participate.
I haven’t been a fan of the fact that this will be a toll bridge, but trying to get around the area has made me reconsider the need for another bridge crossing. It would be nice, though, if the task force would also consider putting more pressure on the state to contribute a significant amount of funds for the bridge — like they do for bridges downstate.
As are other area mayors, President Bill Sarto is also part of the task force.
Sarto said he thinks the committee will take the lofty bridge idea and start addressing the nuts-and-bolt issues.
“We’re trying to put together some ideas of how we’re actually going to work out all the details of this bridge,” Sarto said. “Where the toll booths would be placed, how much would we charge for cars going across, those kinds of things.”
[Read the entire Courier-News article]
OK, we get it: Carpentersville’s trustees and village president do not get along. But, please. Can’t you all leave the sandbox, shovels and rattles at home? We’re all sick and tired of the petty bickering, the constant upheaval and the downright nasty behavior. When you show up at a board meeting, you’re there to do the work of the people, not to rant about one another. One frustrated observer likened the latest theatrics to a group therapy session. Therapy, actually, would be good. Just don’t do it on the taxpayer’s dime.
Good idea — and we are sick of the “petty bickering”. It is interesting to note, though, that when the Village President does something, they are certain to mention his name. But, when Trustee Sigwalt does it … well, that’s a different story, isn’t it?
Next, there were a number of people who were critical of a letter written by the Village President which mentioned potentially giving licenses (or driving certificates) to those in our country illegally. Finally, a letter that makes more sense than any of those:
Letters were published this week about Bill Sarto’s response to Chris Bailey’s column on unlicensed/uninsured drivers. Those letters offer examples of problems, but the writers failed to consider several factors.
These drivers are already on the road in spite of current laws punishing those without a license or insurance. Drivers without insurance are fined $1,000 and given a minimum three-month license suspension. While intended as a deterrent, it does not address the expense of accidents caused by these drivers.
Is towing additional vehicles an adequate solution? It should be obvious. If the cost to retrieve the vehicle is greater than its value, it will not be claimed. In all likelihood, the offender will be out on the road with another vehicle within hours. Though part of current law, threats fail to deter such drivers.
How shall our roads be made safer? The federal government is letting people into this country through “leaky borders” to provide businesses with cheap labor. Because they need to get to those jobs, allowing these drivers to obtain licenses and insurance could lessen both the problem of untrained drivers and of licensed and insured drivers having to foot the bill in accidents with them. This seems the purpose for Illinois considering such a measure. By considering the root of the problem, it intends to solve much more than does simply the threat of a fine and loss of one’s vehicle.
Some people have asked … “why didn’t the caregiver simply take the child to the hospital?”
In my view, this is beside the point. She called 9-1-1 for help. Perhaps she didn’t have a car. Or maybe she didn’t have a license or insurance.
Others have said the mother was at fault for leaving the child with someone who did not speak English. But, what if you had “that nice Polish lady” cleaning your house, who couldn’t speak English and an attic fire was detected while she was cleaning and she called 9-1-1, but couldn’t communicate with the operator? Would you be to blame for having hired someone to clean your home who couldn’t speak English?
Still others have said that this occurred before the illegal immigration ordinance was introduced. While true, the contention is that the ordinance was already being talked about and introduced only about a week after this incident. For the ordinance to be introduced, would have required things being in motion before that. It is those things that I believe the Plaintiffs will contend contributed to the negligence, because they may have been directed to limit those situations where Hispanics, or even just those who’s residency status could not be established, were transported.
By the way … if there are any derogatory comments posted containing things like “anchor baby”, etc … I’m going to delete them completely without hesitation. Such language is indicative of the kind of atmosphere/environment which this lawsuit contends exists in Carpentersville. I won’t tolerate it.
Commentary on:
- the complaint against the Village of Carpentersville
- a Letter to the Editor appearing in the Daily Herald, responding to letters written in reference to one submitted by Village President Sarto
And, I’m looking for a “What’s your view?” topic. If anyone has any thoughts, please feel free to email me.
Stay tuned to Carpentersville Action Network for news, information and commentary on happenings in the Village of Carpentersville.
Have you noticed that every time Trustee Judy Sigwalt disagrees with what President Bill Sarto is doing only to find that he’s really done nothing wrong, she wants to change the rules?
Earlier this year, because she didn’t like the way he was handling appointments to commissions and committees, she wanted the rules changed to take away some of the power of the office of Village President to make appointments.
This week, its about amending the codes in attempts to restrict the First Amendment rights of the President and Trustees. Of course, none of this should come as any surprise, as that has been the story of Sigwalt’s tenure on the Board. She’s made it a staple of her office to create new laws to punish those she doesn’t like.
For the third time in a year, Trustee Judy Sigwalt has talked about removing President Bill Sarto from office. She will even suggest changing the rules and laws in order to do so.
Previously upset by Sarto’s decisions regarding appointments to the Audit and Finance Commission, Sigwalt and Trustee Paul Humpfer looked to amend the Village code to create a recall ordinance.
They also talked about this when Sarto looked into removing them from the Audit and Finance Commission for pushing forward with the Illegal Immigration ordinance that could have had a significant effect on Village finances if these trustees had not come to their senses.
This time, she seeks to expand the rules for censure of an official because she did not like a private email between him and another resident that made its way into her hands.
If trustees feel that they were disparaged in public, they have one person to thank for that … Trustee Sigwalt. When Sigwalt chose to read aloud, in open meeting, a private email exchange between Sarto and the head of the Silverstone Lakes town homes association, she chose to throw the Village’s dirty laundry all over the lawn of Village Hall.
She apparently thought that her little stunt was going to paint Sarto in a poor light, so that she could cover herself. If anyone was playing “political football” as Trustee Ed Ritter put it, Sigwalt was grabbing for it with hopes of running for the goal line. (In fairness, Ritter was working the Lion’s Club booth at the fest, so his not being in the parade is certainly understandable.)
The truth of the matter is that Sarto shelled out as much as a few thousand dollars of his own money to see to it that a proper festival was put on for the enjoyment of the residents and community of Carpentersville. Sigwalt, on the other hand, wouldn’t even part with the $10 parade entrance fee that other entrants paid, including Sarto.
Back in 2000, with financial woes plaguing the Village, she expected the taxpayers to foot a $55,000 bill to put a fest on by taking that money out of the budget. Because the Board would not support that without the people behind it, the issue was put on the ballot for an advisory vote. It lost … 70% of the people voted against it.
So, it was sour grapes when Trustee Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski, as head of the Parks Commission (with the help of the entire Commission), and President Sarto were able to put on two festivals this year.
Sigwalt has taken every opportunity to publicly speak negatively of any of Sarto’s efforts. Folks may recall the shallow comment that came from Sigwalt after the State of the Village Address. Hers was the lone negative comment reported immediately after the Address. Instead of acknowledging all that was done for residents over the past two years, all Sigwalt had to say was “he should have thanked the trustees”. A shining example of looking for herself in the speech, rather than acknowledging the work that is happening for the residents in Carpentersville.
This is par for the course for Sigwalt. Take a look back to the first year of President Sarto’s tenure on Board. While there were some bumps in the road, the Village was emerging from years in a funk. The Daily Herald was giving some adulation to Sarto for his ability to bring the oft-contentious Board together and get the Village moving again. Sigwalt was falling into the shadows, as was the fiasco surrounding Trustee Humpfer’s last minute re-appointment to the Board by outgoing President Mark Boettger.
Enter the Illegal Immigration Ordinance. Being pushed by Sigwalt and Humpfer, they immediately got the press they were so eager for. And, they distracted Sarto and the Board from being able to put full focus on the top three things residents expressed they wanted the Village to work on (pg 25): 1) infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, etc); 2) image; and 3) finances/economic growth.
For all the wrangling that has gone on in the last year, Sigwalt and the rest of the Trustees are of the same basic belief as Sarto said from the beginning … wait for Hazleton’s verdict and don’t discuss it until then. But, if they said that from the beginning, they would have had nothing to run on … so they had to keep the issue alive … even if it meant lying to do so.
In an October 13, 2006 Daily Herald article,
Sigwalt rattled off a plethora of reasons for her support of the Illegal Alien Relief Act ordinance: an increase in the costs of public services; a spike in crime and gang-related activity; loss of jobs; and identity theft.
But, she produced no evidence for any of that; no facts to back up her case. In fact, in comments before the Village Board on August 7th, former resident Grant Crowell said he made a FOIA request for the information that Sigwalt claimed to have. According to Crowell, there was no evidence available. Despite Sigwalt claiming to have mountains of evidence, Crowell stated that he was referred to Community Director Cindy McCammack. Crowell questioned why, if Sigwalt had the evidence, was he shuffled off to Ms. McCammack?
Also in October 2006, Trustee Sigwalt made the claim — which aired on local newscasts and appeared in local papers — that officials in Lisle and West Chicago had called her to voice their support for the ordinance. But, the Daily Herald reported that officials in those towns were shocked at the statement because none had made any such calls of support. In light of that, Sigwalt backpedaled, saying that the calls came from residents, although she “couldn’t pinpoint how many West Chicago and Lisle residents had called or e-mailed her.“
All this really impugns Sigwalt’s motives for making public a private email exchange; an expression of First Amendment rights. Did Sigwalt really attempt to speak to Sarto in private about this matter, as she claimed in open meeting? That should be easy enough to validate. Further, why didn’t she take it to the whole Board during Executive Session, which was specifically created for such disciplinary actions and discussion?
The Board should move to quell Sigwalt’s tyranny and it will likely result in a much more cohesive Board that will be focused on getting done what needs to be done.
This post will be updated as new news reports come out in the next 24 – 48 hours, covering the lawsuit filed today against the Village of Carpentersville by Gloria Lopez, who’s infant son Osbiel Lopez suffered brain damage after paramedics allegedly did not transport him to the hospital.
[Note: There are many news agencies who have merely grabbed the Associated Press report, therefore I will try to include only stories that are unique or add additional information to the story]
- NBC 5 Chicago – Woman Sues, Says Anti-Immigrant Bias Hurt Son
- WBBM780 — Mom: Paramedics Denied My Baby Medical Care
- Courier-News — Suit: Bias led to neglect
- ABC 7 Chicago – Woman sues village claiming anti-immigrant sentiment hurt son
- Carpentersville Action Network — Village of Carpentersville being sued
- Chicago Public Radio — Mom: Paramedics Left Baby Because He’s Hispanic (text and/or audio report available)
- Courier-News — Mother asking for $30M in C’ville suit
- Daily Herald — Mother sues, claiming village bias left her baby brain-damaged
- Chicago Tribune — Suit alleges immigrant bias led paramedics to deny care for baby
- ABC 7 Chicago — Suit alleges baby untreated due to possible illegal immigrant status (including video report)
- CBS 2 Chicago — Paramedics Accused Of Refusing To Help Sick Baby
From the blogosphere:
- Minor Topics — Mother claims paramedics racist
- Immigration News Daily – Lawsuit: Village anti-immigrant bias hurt son
A few reports are beginning to trickle in about last night’s Village Board meeting. Apparently there were some more fireworks. But, you all have come to expect that, right? Of course you have, and that’s a reason why many of you or your neighbors have your homes on the market.
One of the things that was mentioned in an email to me was Trustee Humpfer’s objection to a ceremonial proclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month. Now, the Village makes many ceremonial proclamations and recognitions throughout the year, so it is strange that he would question this particular proclamation, especially when he serves a community with a large Hispanic population.
Apparently, there was a move to censure (basically, a legislative slap on the wrist) President Sarto for an email exchange he had with a Village resident. However, Village code does not support censure in the case of private statements. I’m seeking more information on this and will have more to say at a later time.
And, there was some good news/bad news for residents. Although previously considering a 9% increase to water and sewer rates, on recommendation from the Audit & Finance Commission, the Board voted for a lesser increase of 7%. The increase would mean about $2.50 – $3.60 per month added to the bills of the average resident (7,000 – 10,000 gallons per month).
Yesterday, I mentioned that members of the Board should be watching the trends in the housing market and looking at whether the community may be susceptible to a higher than average number of foreclosures. With the town already reeling from the debate on illegal immigration and related ordinances, recent emergence from financial woes, and a crumbling infrastructure that only recently has begun to be rebuilt, to go with a down housing market, the predatory lending schemes and lack of understanding of mortgage products being signed for could create further problems in the Village.
Home values have, generally, dropped in the past year or two. Home sales have slowed, resulting in a larger inventory of homes on the market for longer period, forcing the prices of those homes to be dropped even further. Reports are that, overall, foreclosures are up 115% over last year, and only slightly lower in Illinois because of already high numbers of foreclosures in 2006. Compound that with an image problem in the Village and home prices shrink further. In turn, homes may be purchased by those who are unable or unwilling to maintain them, which exacerbates the problems in the Village.
Throw foreclosures into the mix and it could become a downright nightmare scenario.
Lower prices and a lower number of occupied homes would mean lower assessments which mean lower tax revenues which means less money for Village budgets.
Instead of making up things like people being turned away from a bakery as reasons for people leaving town, time would be better spent on assessing these kinds of real issues.
The Chicago Tribune reported that today, Carpentersville resident and former candidate for Village Trustee, Frank Stoneham, was found guilty today of disorderly conduct and assault.
[Judge Susan Clancy] Boles said the evidence showed that Stoneham created a disturbance at the meeting when he made a derogatory remark to Sarto. She also said she believed testimony that Stoneham had threatened another member of the audience at the March meeting.
Sarto had ejected Stoneham from an earlier electoral board meeting when he used profanity and shouted about the objections to his nominating petitions for trustee.
He is barred from speaking at Village Board meetings for one year, was ordered to sit by himself when he attends meetings, and also to undergo anger management counseling.
Also contained in the article was the following:
Stoneham has supported measures advocated by a majority of Village Board members that would crack down on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.
Actually, the Board has not even discussed the matter, and thus it is not clear whether “the majority of Village Board members” support it. All that has happened in the past is that the Board has allowed the public come forward to speak their mind on illegal immigration. At times, the Board has voted to let people speak — something which they should not have done, in my opinion. After all, discussion of the issue was tabled (and improperly at that). The ordinance was never presented — so it cannot properly be tabled.
Here is Grant’s “farewell” to the Village Board, which is near and dear to my heart for at least three reasons …
1) He mentions this blog — “blogs written by anonymous people”.
2) He mentions the border patrol ad issue that was first raised on this blog (and followed shortly thereafter by a newspaper article).
3) He makes some very good points, especially about the need for facts.
I’d really like to make this site fulfill some of the void that Carpentersville’s Village website has left … and, with a whole lot more personality, of course.
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