We previously alerted the community to an extreme waste of taxpayer funds for Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner's "upgrades" for his office, including changing his desk furniture ($14,000) and high priority items like faux painting.
The $127,000 expense for the mayor's office has been again tucked into today's Finance Committee Agenda (Item #5), even higher than the $107,000 proposed last time when it was part of the package including the council chambers.
>See our previous discussion for more on the expenses involved.
With falling housing prices, perhaps if we must spend that type of money for the mayor, we should just buy him a house in Bigelow's Hometown since prices are plummeting there with an oversupply of high-density housing (good luck Tom trying to find parking or storage) and let him be mayor of Hometown instead. Or we could move him to the vacant old Copley Hospital since nothing is happening there.
We urge city council members to REJECT this inappropriate expense and remind Mr. Weisner that hiring one of his buddies to oversee carpet replacement and other simple things might be deemed "an appearance of a conflict of interest."
Other sample fun things on the agenda include a $10,480 copy machine; $264,000 for Weisner crony, Duechler; $23K to move three utility poles at the new police palace...
***UPDATE AFTER MEETING - The mayor's buddies at Masters Business Interiors have been kicked out of managing the project to upgrade the Weisner's luxury office and city employees will do the work for city property (interesting concept), BUT the finance committee wants to proceed with the $127,000 waste of taxpayer funds. It will be discussed by the Committee of the Whole next Tuesday.
>Aurora Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 26th at 4:30pm
Alderman's Office, 60 E. Downer Place
Map | Agenda (pdf)
The $127,000 expense for the mayor's office has been again tucked into today's Finance Committee Agenda (Item #5), even higher than the $107,000 proposed last time when it was part of the package including the council chambers.
>See our previous discussion for more on the expenses involved.
With falling housing prices, perhaps if we must spend that type of money for the mayor, we should just buy him a house in Bigelow's Hometown since prices are plummeting there with an oversupply of high-density housing (good luck Tom trying to find parking or storage) and let him be mayor of Hometown instead. Or we could move him to the vacant old Copley Hospital since nothing is happening there.
We urge city council members to REJECT this inappropriate expense and remind Mr. Weisner that hiring one of his buddies to oversee carpet replacement and other simple things might be deemed "an appearance of a conflict of interest."
Other sample fun things on the agenda include a $10,480 copy machine; $264,000 for Weisner crony, Duechler; $23K to move three utility poles at the new police palace...
***UPDATE AFTER MEETING - The mayor's buddies at Masters Business Interiors have been kicked out of managing the project to upgrade the Weisner's luxury office and city employees will do the work for city property (interesting concept), BUT the finance committee wants to proceed with the $127,000 waste of taxpayer funds. It will be discussed by the Committee of the Whole next Tuesday.
>Aurora Finance Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 26th at 4:30pm
Alderman's Office, 60 E. Downer Place
Map | Agenda (pdf)
16 comments:
It's not like the Alderman can say no- take a good look at their office budget. Oink. Oink.
Oh yeah then the half million each to buy votes.
funny how the mayor was put in place by Speaker Madigan (king of pork) and most of his cronies on the council are republicans.
Oh, and his new house boy, Richard Irvin, is no stranger to hand outs either after receiving a huge cash influx from House Republican Leader Tom Cross.
I blame partisan politics, and stupid Aurorans who fell for his campaign promises.
It would be nice to have a mayoral candidate who is not backed by a party in an non-partisan election.
How many more years of Weisner?
Right, 12:22 have you ever attended a ward committee meeting? That half a million goes all to streets; not to buying "votes" like you so foolishly stated.
This is just the thing Ald. Lawrence said last night; this money is coming out of our Riverboat money, and not the general fund. If that riverboat goes away; we can kiss the street repairs away for good cuz we have no other money to pave them.
Get with the program, instead of just speading lies. Lawrence and Kifowit were the only two impressive aldermen last night.
Weisner should retire in the spring of 2009. He has done enough damage.
8:14 P.M. That money does not all go to streets- it goes for 400 people to attend a Hispanic breakfast, $17,000 for a Black gospel Fest and on and on. Get your head out of the sand.
weisner term ends in 2009. Two more years of this less than desirable mayor.
I just hope Aurora doesn't go bankrupt before 2009.
Aside from my home, I own three other properties in Aurora. I am willing to stay here slightly longer in the hope Weisner leaves or is ousted. If he is re-elected, that's it. We already raised taxes, spending and cronyism and it's all going to implode on this city unless it ceases immediately.
His office remodel cost more than my house!
Many houses in the city have a value of less than his remodel, So why don't we just buy him one of those and let him 'work' there. LOL
Since he spends so much time in Florida at his main home why should we spend anything to remodel his office.
This guys is a bum!
If changes aren't made soon, I am outa here too. I have been in Aurora since 1943 and would like to stay here but I don't think I will be able to afford it much longer. I have a modest home but it has a large unfinished basement making it ideal for cubicles. It should sell quickly.
I'm on the west side. We didn't have money for Gospel Hour; we only spend our money on streets.
TO: 9/26/07 9:22 PM
you forgot the soccer trophies for weisner friends/supporters frank navarro and fernando chapa
over $5,000!
Repaved alleys an asset
Thank you, Alderman Stephanie Kifowit, for our brand-new alleys in the Bardwell area. Third Ward funds are paying for our old alleyways to be torn out and new pavement to be put in. They are an asset to our neighborhood.
Teresa Chione, Aurora
You might inquire about Weisners home address. It is actually outside of the Aurora City limits, which is a violation of Aurora's own residenct law for the position of Mayor.
Doesn't weisner live across from the Country Club and is not that in the City?
he lives within the city, that has been check
that's a shame...
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