The west side of Aurora has been the home of a vacant decaying property, formerly occupied by Cub Foods, for over six years now.
More recently, Aurora could add the Lowe's property on Orchard Road to its growing collection of vacant commercial buildings.
This is unacceptable and there should be some accountability.
Now, we cannot blame Mayor Tom Weisner for the nation's economic hard times.
However, he alone is completely responsible for the image and economic development for the City of Aurora.
Why has Aurora come up short?
These large empty buildings have resulted in a loss of tax revenue, higher unemployment and more crime in our city.
The mayor's main objective should be Aurora business and not state business.
Mayor Weisner was appointed by Governor Quinn to a paid position on the Illinois Tollway Authority (a group that imposed an 87 percent increase in the tolls we pay daily).
How does this help the citizens of Aurora?
Mayor Weisner's focus should be solely on improving the infrastructure of Aurora. He was elected twice to improve the City of Aurora.
As an Aurora taxpayer, it is a complete embarrassment not being able to compete with Montgomery, Oswego, Yorkville and North Aurora. All have made some significant commercial and residential improvements in the last six years.
Aurora has proven to be penny-wise but dollar-foolish when it comes to basic economic development strategies.
Failed policies are being recycled by the people in charge, hoping to get different results.
Their stewardship of Aurora can be called disappointing at best, and that's a shame because our hometown has so much potential.
John M. Aguilar
Aurora Taxpayer
Note: This opinion also appeared in the Daily Herald. If you wish to submit your view on this or any other issue for broadcast consideration, contact us at openlineblog@gmail.com.
11 comments:
kinda parallels what obonzo is doing to the rest of the country!
excellent and hits the nail on the head!
Who's Aguilar kidding? Blame Weisner because a national corporation decides to locate kiddy corner from it's greatest competition? With the downturn in the economy we are lucky Orchard Road is as full as it is.
The Cub Food building is in Whiteys ward. Whats wrong with him? Does he ever do anything?
That building would make a great dinner-movie theater. Lot's of parking and a good location.
By the way, when has Sherman done anything about bringing in investers that follow through?
12:34 that's the standard pattern now. I don't understand it either, but similar types of businesses seem to cluster. Look at all the intersections w/ a Walgreen's on one corner, a CVS on another, an Osco on another, etc. Or a different fast food place on each corner. I've seen a lot of places with Lowe's and Home Depots very close together.
John, you mention Oswego in your article, guess what? Lowes closed in Oswego at the same time the Aurora store closed. Cub Foods also closed in Naperville, guess what? that building is vacant.
Cub foods and lowes are just symbols. The reality is there has been reverse economic development and almost everything has either been a waste or backfired.
Get government completely out of the picture and watch what happens.
The other Cubs Food store in Downers Grove reopened as Ultra Foods and is constantly busy. Other towns, including Joliet continue to build and attract new businesses. I agree 7:03 - get government out of the way and lets see what happens.
Keep electing dumb people and you can expect dumb results.
Aguilar is a crony of Campos and has benefited from her mismanagement of township. He has no credibility.
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