As Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner's task force on ward remaps considers spreading the size of west side wards to overlap into the east side for population growth and to create Hispanic wards where they already exist, one city council member is making a proposal that would boldly change the city's alignment and effectiveness for wards.
4th Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence, in an email response to several questions on the ward remap, told OpenlineBlog the current discussion to dilute west side wards and expand their size to overlap on the east side threatens the best interests of taxpayers, businesses and schools on the west side, making it more difficult for west side aldermen to cover larger areas with unrelated issues effectively.
Lawrence instead proposes a much bolder solution that would solve problems on the east side, west side and the currently neglected downtown, including shifting the 4th Ward out of the west side neighborhoods into the central core of the city along both sides of the river, leaving two wards fully dedicated to the west side and allowing the existing seven east side wards to each shrink in size to address bigger populations.
WEST AURORA
Lawrence says the issues in west side neighborhoods and working with schools is a different set of challenges than near downtown or the east side. He says it's important any west side alderman be able to focus and be responsive to those issues, so rather than spreading the wards over to the east side, by creating a central core ward, the two remaining west side wards can focus on neighborhoods and economic development on the far west side.
But, doesn't this mean Lawrence could be proposing a solution that may eliminate his own position since he would not live in the "new" 4th Ward?
"Yes, but this isn't about me. We need effective wards and effective aldermen to deal with them. I want to make sure the neighborhoods, schools and businesses on the west side are protected and have focus, so if that means I'm eventually not in the new 4th Ward where a new central core ward can be created, that's a sacrifice we need to make."
"We need to attract people of middle and upper income from outside the city to locate on the west side along with economic development. This requires the full attention of whomever the west side aldermen are today or would be in the future. We have worked hard to deal with issues on the west side and there's more work to do."
THE NEW CENTRAL WARD
Lawrence points out there are FIVE wards that currently overlap portions of downtown and the central core of the city along the Fox River. Those are Wards 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, who also have to deal with east or west side neighborhoods.
"Instead of five separate people overseeing a slice, we could create one ward along the central core from the tollway to the north down to Montgomery on the south. It's an area that is mostly downtown, businesses, industrial, retail and some residential, but one person would be responsible for the vision and plans being integrated to turn the central core from its current underperforming status to progress and generating economic development and tax revenue that will benefit the entire the city.
"On the west side, this will free the two remaining wards to focus on larger west side issues."
EAST SIDE GROWTH / SHRINKAGE
Lawrence says that by creating a central core ward this means that ALL seven east wards could either shrink in land area or be realigned to deal with population increases, making the wards more efficient and effective. It would still have wards with Hispanic majority populations regardless of the boundaries, but the focus should be on creating effective wards over demographics.
He also notes the near east side and the far east side have different challenges and different school districts, so in reality, there's four wards dealing with the near east side (2, 3 and 7) while three wards deal with the far east side (8, 9, 10). Ward 1 is primarily on the northeast side, but could realigned more with the near or far east side.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Lawrence says he's been honored to serve the 4th Ward residents, who are engaged in the issues that affect taxpayers, so he believes his constituents are best served by their alderman focusing on their issues.
"People in the 4th Ward want response, results and expect issues to be dealt with responsibly, but the rest of the city should demand the same from their alderman. We want each alderman to focus on making sure his or her ward gets the focus and attention taxpayers deserve."
"We should redraw the maps in a way that will make sure we have effective ward representation so that each alderman can be a strong advocate for their area and be accountable."
REALIGNMENT POTENTIAL
Under the proposal, the following could result:
West side - two wards (new ward 5 and new ward 6)
Central core - one ward stretching from north to south (new ward 4)
Near east side - four wards (new wards 1, 2, 3 and 7, which already include two Hispanic super majority wards)
Far east side - three wards (new wards 8, 9 and 10)
17 comments:
This is a smart solution but instead of shifting the 4th Ward, why don't we move the 6th Ward out? I live in the 4th Ward and would rather not see us lose Ald Lawrence unless he can become the alderman of the new ward I'm in (or mayor!).
and why isn't the task force focusing on creating effective wards and something like a central core instead of wasting time on creating Hispanic wards when they already exist???
The question I have is what the population in that core area would be, since it'll be so industrial. Remember, the whole reason for the remap is to have 10 wards with approximately the same population in each. If that works out, this does make sense. And 2:03, read the writing on the wall. Lawrence suggested this because he's planning on running for mayor next time, not alderman.
I love this idea only if we somehow get to keep Lawrence as alderman of the new 5th Ward or as mayor, but to the comment above, it sounds as if the new central ward may have enough population if it's going all the way from the tollway in the north to Montgomery to the south. Maybe it would be on the low end of the population but enough to create a ward.
I think it's a fantastic idea to have one ward focusing on the central core. And, if economic development and a vision is really put together for downtown, then maybe there will be a large population that lives downtown over time.
Those folks who live in the 4th Ward aren't going to be happy with anyone other than Rick being their alderman unless he's mayor. There's no way Whitey Peters can handle the 4th Ward. He can't even handle the 5th Ward (I live in Ward 5).
Great idea. This new ward could help change many problems in the city. However, if Rick Lawrence becomes mayor then his plan would only work if the new alderman, for the new ward, was as competent as Lawrence was for his ward. That individual would be hard to find.
Great idea. This new ward could help change many problems in the city. However, if Rick Lawrence becomes mayor then his plan would only work if the new alderman, for the new ward, was as competent as Lawrence was for his ward. That individual would be hard to find.
old second reports loss of $3 million in 4th quarter 2011
$6.5 million for the year 2011.
Could be worse, loss of $108 million 2010.
with $73 million of taxpayer TARP.
it is a zombie bank, night of the living dead.
Feel free to call in to the LIVE earnings call on Thursday 1/26/12 at 10 am central 1-877-407-8035. call in 10 minutes early and make some popcorn.
there will be a replay until 2/9/12
check out the Edgar Sec website use the ticker OSBC
I was going to say it would be great to see just one ward for the west side if Rick Lawrence was the alderman, but instead, I'd much rather see him as mayor to finally fix this mess.
Will lawrence run?
Rick chickened out the last time. I was ready to vote for him but he pulled the rug out from under us. Don't know whether he is really serious and ready to take on the responsibility. Somebody please take on Weisner and his cronys. I do have to give Weisner credit for taking a stand on tearing down and not rebuilding Jericho Circle and looking at scattered affordable housing throughout the city so people are not warehoused in a dump.
I like to fap to Rick.
When Old Second has $74 million of Stockholder Equity of which $73 million is Tarp, Old Second is an Obama owned Bank, just like Gov. Motors.
Will be at work at 10 am, but will listen tonight before the GOP debate.
Pres. Newt would demand Tarp be repaid and close the Zombie Banks;
let free enterprise reign
It would be better for Old Second to be shut down and sold off to a strong bank. That way the taxpayer would not be the loser.
The common shareholder knew the risk they were taking. The taxpayer didn't have that choice.
go Newt,
I think we should all hope Rick runs, and pray. Do you really want Chapa La Via who a few years ago proclaimed she no longer needs the Gringo's vote to be Mayor in a town with 4 Hispanic wards and two super majorities in those wards?
IF he has the guts to run, and IF he has the guts to actually stay in the race this time, and IF he manages to win -- THAT will be the time to start praying.
Post a Comment