Our interns intercepted an alleged message between State Sen. Linda Holmes to her good buddy, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, saying something like this:
"Hi Tom, just wanted to let you know I saw on OpenlineBlog.com you are going to borrow millions for that park for your cronies, all to be paid back by casino funds. But, just so you know, I got elected because Emil Jones bought my seat for me and I have to support his gambling expansion idea, which means 3 more casinos in the Chicago area, including a land-based casino in Chicago, which means Aurora's Hollywood Casino will suffer.
In other words, it's a dumb idea to borrow funds on a revenue source that may shrink and I know it's against the interest of Aurora. But, that's just between us. We will do whatever is in our best interest and not share this with the public. By the way, is it true Alayne Weingartz might be forced to resign because of the Planned Parenthood situation? Just wondering...call me! Linda!"
Parks are great things and we are glad to see Tom Weisner magically realize after working two decades with the City of Aurora that the Fox River has some significance, but the River Edge Park's first phase on the east side of the downtown Aurora and the cronies that coincidentally are associated with it are going to cost $4.3 million.
The city will borrow money (debt) and pay for it from casino gambling funds. But those funds get spent elsewhere and are likely to shrink in the future if more casinos are added and Aurora's Hollywood Casino loses market share.
Of $12.5 million in casino funds this past year, it is expected only $3.5 million will be left at the end of the year. The Weisner administration is gambling away $6.6 million on the Shodeen project with big problems, no plan and a shaky future.
The problem isn't the park, but more about how to pay for it. Casino funds have been wasted or shifted around so often in recent years, by the time the City of Aurora finally figures out how to manage it correctly, they might be gone. Then what? Under a Weisner administration, you can always raise taxes to pay for his plans to enrich cronies.
Alderman Rick Lawrence and Alderman Stephanie Kifowit both spoke out against the financial tactics being used and risks to taxpayers of going into debt. Alderman Richard Irvin also voted against the method.
It's really this simple. If you were going to do a landscaping project around your home or business, would you take out a loan and pay for it from projected gambling money you win at the casino? If so, you may need more than luck.
If Tom Weisner continues to be mayor for much longer, we at least know what his legacy will be for the people and future generations of Aurora.
DEBT.
"Hi Tom, just wanted to let you know I saw on OpenlineBlog.com you are going to borrow millions for that park for your cronies, all to be paid back by casino funds. But, just so you know, I got elected because Emil Jones bought my seat for me and I have to support his gambling expansion idea, which means 3 more casinos in the Chicago area, including a land-based casino in Chicago, which means Aurora's Hollywood Casino will suffer.
In other words, it's a dumb idea to borrow funds on a revenue source that may shrink and I know it's against the interest of Aurora. But, that's just between us. We will do whatever is in our best interest and not share this with the public. By the way, is it true Alayne Weingartz might be forced to resign because of the Planned Parenthood situation? Just wondering...call me! Linda!"
Parks are great things and we are glad to see Tom Weisner magically realize after working two decades with the City of Aurora that the Fox River has some significance, but the River Edge Park's first phase on the east side of the downtown Aurora and the cronies that coincidentally are associated with it are going to cost $4.3 million.
The city will borrow money (debt) and pay for it from casino gambling funds. But those funds get spent elsewhere and are likely to shrink in the future if more casinos are added and Aurora's Hollywood Casino loses market share.
Of $12.5 million in casino funds this past year, it is expected only $3.5 million will be left at the end of the year. The Weisner administration is gambling away $6.6 million on the Shodeen project with big problems, no plan and a shaky future.
The problem isn't the park, but more about how to pay for it. Casino funds have been wasted or shifted around so often in recent years, by the time the City of Aurora finally figures out how to manage it correctly, they might be gone. Then what? Under a Weisner administration, you can always raise taxes to pay for his plans to enrich cronies.
Alderman Rick Lawrence and Alderman Stephanie Kifowit both spoke out against the financial tactics being used and risks to taxpayers of going into debt. Alderman Richard Irvin also voted against the method.
It's really this simple. If you were going to do a landscaping project around your home or business, would you take out a loan and pay for it from projected gambling money you win at the casino? If so, you may need more than luck.
If Tom Weisner continues to be mayor for much longer, we at least know what his legacy will be for the people and future generations of Aurora.
DEBT.
29 comments:
Seriously, this city is going to be bankrupt if Weisner continues as mayor.
Don’t Care. Build the park. Raise taxes and drive the losers out.
I'm with you.
I also think the 'intro' message from Senator Holmes is below the even marginal standards of this blog. Keep it real and relevant and the number of hits this blog gets may actually rise.
Last night I attended the Quarterly Recognition Ceremony for APD which included 1 promotion and 8 new officers and 2 civilians.Let me set the stage. Seated on the stage were your 5 Commanders then enters the grand poohba himself, yes Chief Powell then the norm posting of colors and so on. Then Powell begins his speech,he decided to talk about "his mission statement for APD" yes we all heard the story about how the previous statement contained to many words and nobody could remember it so like POWELL himself he and his commanders came up with a much more simple to the point mission statement.So he shows and explain's a coin that has the mission statement printed on the back of and he calls it a challenge coin that he and his command staff carry with them at all times and he tells how he expect's his command staff to know the mission statement when asked and if not to explain why,so then this dumb ass starts to recite the mission statement and he didnt know it and he had to look at the coin and then kinda laugh's and says "sometimes i have to look at the coin myself.It took everyting I had to keep from lauging out loud. When Powell was introducing the new officers he was reading their profile and a few of the new offi cers have a military background and while attempting to read awards and other accomplishments that these officers had received while in the service he had problems pronouncing the names of the awards.POWELL was a total embarrassment to himself and the entire Aurora Police Department! He should have sat there kept his mouth shut and let GT do it all.So next up is Hoffman he did ok but he should brush up on his speaking skills. Then up next is Groom to do commendations and the winner is Mike Nilles who Groom said is a pro at these because whenever we have these commendation ceremonys Mike is always a recipient. Then next up is Langston to do service anniversaries and out of the 12 names read the only person present was civilian Bob Jeffers.Next up was GT to do retirements GT did a good job and the only one present was Gilloffo. Oh ya Dobran just sat there with his mouth shut looking around kinda like he has done his whole carrer at APD ther only difference here was he wasnt able to go tell a sergeant afterwards that so and so was not taking notes and so and so needs a haircut or shoes shined ya know like he does when he stands at in service so he kinda looked real bummed.At the end of the ceremony yes Dobran was the first to leave. And I forgot to mention that the Mayor of the second largest City in the State did not attend nor was his absence ever mentioned. Once again Weisner showed his support of APD.
I attended this ceremony to support a family member that was hired as an officer otherwise I would not have been there but after attending Iam glad I was there to witness it firsthand otherwise I might not have believed it hearing it from others.
Stay strong APPO.
September 28, 2007 7:07:00 AM PDT
Why did Holmes vote for the gambling expansion legislation when it is AGAINST the interests of Aurora?
Will one of the Holmes-Weisner cronies explain?
I don't think Linda Chapa-LaVia is going to make that mistake.
I thought the intro message was funny. Some of you old-guard cronies really need to get a sense of humor.
alert alert
Kifowitt and Lawrence have cronies.
Can you believe it?
11:35 Perhaps funny, but it is getting old and tired
Try the Indian Prairie school blunder for a real story Openline.
Oh wait... must not be a tie in with out Mayor that you can find yet. We trust you will make one up.
Oh yea, the lame ass "crony of the decent aldermen" Give it up. Unless you can name them or show where they are hiding; you are pathetic.
The only Crony I know of is Lawrence and his buddy-buddy relationship with Vantrese.
Lawrence doesn't even think we need revenues from the one casino we have. Openline, why aren't you painting him with the same sarcastic brush you're using for Tom and Linda H?
That's not accurate. Lawrence doesn't think we should DEPEND on revenues from the casino and I completely agree. We have "squaundered" most of the funds over the years and if those three casinos are added, you better believe Aurora's casino money will shrink significantly. Then what?
Why aren't Tom and his cronies upset at Linda Holmes voting for that gambling expansion for Chicago?
I called Linda Holmes office and got no response.
What you should be complaining about is how this city has used the casino money since day one.
The legislation was specific about it being used to jump start the old river towns. We have misused it for over twelve years. It was not for streets and curbs in older neighborhoods. The city stopped budgeting for roads and used the money elsewhere.
Elgin built two new parking garages with CASH and they are free to users. We have partys.
The riverboat funds should be used for the park. Thats why we have gambling.
If Holywood Casino closes it would fit well into Weisners grand plan of making Aurora a third world city. Besides the "ground zero" look of the downtown and the hideous looking gateways into the city. The empty river boats could serve a new purpose. In Hawaii, they have converted a former naval vessel into a floating homeless shelter.
Weisners new city slogan: Aurora City of social indigents.
How rude people are. just because Lake Street and East New York Street look like totally Ghetto, that doesnn't mean you can't go to Orchard Road and come down West Galena to get to the Casino.
Route 25, well you sure can tell you have gotten to Aurora on it!!!
I'd much rather go to aChicago Casino- Hokkywood is the pits.
VERY low end.
If the Casino goes broke: (and I am not including the millions to that bogus deal Shodeen)
$4.8 million every year for neighborhood street repair is gone (where is the City going to find the money for that)?
$15 million in loans for the new park; where are the loan payments going to come from?
$7.6 million in a fiber optic loan; where are these loan payments going to come from?
The Paramount expansion is drawing $500,000 from the Riverboat for it's $5 million loan; what is going to pay for that?
The City is making itself dependant on the Riverboat for normal operating proceedures. Guess what, these things need to be paid and the City will be forced to raise taxes. Can everyone say George Ryan and scandal all over again in Aurora?
When the Riverboats came to town there was a 5 year ordinance that the aldermen did not renew; and now we have wasteful spending and everyone is wondering why? Because we don't vote in good people; and yet expect them to do honorable and honest things. Weisner is just the topping on the cake. He's the worst one of the bunch.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. The people of Aurora have to start voting in change and do something different.
The riverboat funds should be used for the park. Thats why we have gambling.
Yes-- I agree; the funds should be used for a boat. Not used to pay off a 20 year loan for the park. If the Mayor wanted the park, then he should have paid for it in full or not at all.
So lets see, who sits on the Finance Committee????? Who could it be, hmmm, could it be SCHULER, KEITH and O'CONNER? Is it any wonder this would be supported. Come on now folks.
All sarcism aside, I really do not think the intelligence exists between the three of them and to rely on one bright person like the Finance guy is pretty damn risky and just stupid.
I think its time that the public is informed about Mike Saville.
Using extra money generated from casino funds to pay for a park is one thing, but this isn't about that.
this is about BORROWING money and HOPE to pay it back with casino funds that may or may not be there instead of relying on GENERAL funds.
If this was simply taking ACTUAL casino funds and building the park, that's a different issue. That's not what this idiotic administration is doing.
They are adding debt and banking on FUTURE casino funds. It's risky when you consider the City of Aurora's overall debt is already sky-high. SOMEONE has to pay for all that.
Maybe if wouldn't have such a problem if we weren't allowing Weisner to throw $40 million down the drain for Shodeen or $80 million for his cronies to profit at the police station. Or even those upgrades for Weisner's office. Every penny counts.
All those mistakes of Weisner add up.
Mayor Vaughan's temporary employee deal that gave $15,000 to Hipp to write a check once a month?
If Weisner was wearing a ski mask with a gun and stole from your pocket, would you THEN be alarmed?
Linda Holmes voted for it topay back Jones for his finacial backing when she ran for office.
So now the out of town low bid builder of the Police Station is a crony? C'mon 7:45 (Openline) give it a rest. How much do you want the needed building to cost? It is basically market price.
All of the above posts are exactly why I moved far far away from this pit of corruption.
The Police Station will come in at around $100 million. This was directly from a High Exec. with Leopardo as of Friday. Believe me or not (just save this post so I can tell you I told you so)
The Mayor and City Council should be hung out to dry on this one.
thanks rick
I do not see a problem with 100 mil. Just so it is done right.
Hey, it just our tax dollars, right?
Weisner will move to Florida and we will all pay for it.
Of course we will pay for it. Who do you want to pay for it?
The Elgin casino floated a bond issue to pay for the construction of a new police station. Located in Downtown Elgin. Aurora taxpayers will have to fork over $72M for ours. So it can be built on the edge of town.
Raze McCarty Park, and the entire block to the west of it, and build a new police station there. In Downtown Aurora. Where it belongs.
The police station should have been built on the dump that Shodeen has. It would have been downtown and great. Instead Weisner wanted to Screw District 131 out of property taxes from a Walmart, in addition to having Wegman get millions for building a storage building and parking lot; meanwhile pouring millions down the "river" on Shodeen.
Weisner has been horrible for Aurora and I really don't think Aurora can rebound from this.
Weisner is a drunk and a loser.
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