Reviving the Beautification Committee?

Last week the Daily Herald reported that the Beautification and Improvement Committee of Carpentersville, which first started meeting in 2003, had been disbanded.

The Beautification and Improvement Committee of Carpentersville called it quits late last year after organization president Nancy Moore learned she was expecting a fourth child.

No news has been posted to the group’s web site since November 10, 2006, and no new meeting agendas have been posted since July 2007.

“Since I cannot continue as president, we decided to put it aside,” said Moore, a former village trustee. “If someone wants to resurrect it, then they could take it up or we can start it up in several years.”

It seems that there is now renewed interest in resurrecting it. A copy of an invitation to the next meeting of the “BICC” — this Wednesday, January 9th, 7pm — was forwarded to Carpentersville Action Network.

Village President Bill Sarto sent the original invitation which read, in part:

As a member of this valuable committee and the Village President, I would like to extend to all of you an invitation to attend this meeting to select a new President and to continue the good work that the committee has begun. Thank you for your past support and I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening.

On the committee’s web site, it is described (in part):

BICC is a community based grass roots organization founded primarily to further the common good and general welfare of the people of Carpentersville. BICC is a non-profit, incorporated, charitable entity that relies on its organization of volunteers and fundraising activities to effect civic improvements for the city of Carpentersville.

BICC mentions two things that may be encouraging to residents:

1. It is “independent of municipal government”. Translated, it is not an official committee of the Village of Carpentersville, but rather a “community-based” organization.

2. “BICC is involved solely with promoting public welfare and is not involved either directly or indirectly with participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.“

Refreshing.

Last fall, the group of volunteers landscaped the retaining wall at the southeast corner of Route 31 and Main Street, known as the Ivy Wall Project.

Checking in

I know that things have been somewhat quiet on the blog for a few days … but, its a good quiet … I promise.

I thought I’d give just a little update to let folks know that I’m still here and still working toward some information that will be posted in the near future.

One bit of blog news is that sometime in the early hours of Sunday morning, the blog surpassed 30,000 views. “Let’s talk blogging” was clicked into over 200 times in the 4 1/2 days since it was posted. In the 10 days since it was posted “Confirmed: Trustees held meetings improperly” has been clicked into 300 times, holding the top spot of posts for the past 30 days.

I want to thank everyone for their support in this endeavor. I means a lot to know that you are out there reading and helping make an impact in the community.

Some are working overtime to discredit me and the people participating on the blog. (Yes, there are more than just two or three people making the comments.) We read in the paper that at least two trustees have held meetings twice a month (in addition to the regular meetings of Fox Valley Citizens for Legal Immigration) since January 2007 to prepare and plan for each regular Village Board meeting.  Regular readers of Carpentersville Action Network have also witnessed a seemingly concerted effort to silence this blog.

The question remains … why? What is it that they are trying to protect?

I’ve been asked that very question about my anonymity. I think the answer to that should be fairly obvious from the efforts that are being put in against this site, not to mention the threats, even beyond the meritless ones made to sue for defamation. My anonymity began with the motive of keeping opinions on this blog from being visited on my daily life. Now added to that is some concern for my safety and that of those around me.

As I am looking back over the meetings, statements made and actions taken in the last 3 years … particularly with regard to President Sarto and Trustee Ramirez-Sliwinski (especially now that we know some more about some of the actions other trustees were taking behind the scenes) … I am seeing a trend emerge that seems wary of those two being in office.

I’ll have more to say on that in the future, as I said. But I want to leave you with this question to seriously contemplate …

Why has there been all the posturing and maneuvering going on, starting from the pre- and post-election shenanigans that went on shortly after the election in 2005?