As Aurora continues to see more reverse economic development than actual economic development, the city's economic development director, Sherman Jenkins, has announced he will "retire" on December 31st.
Progress has been limited mostly to deals involving taxpayer-funded projects that "coincidentally" reward the mayor's cronies and buddies. Vacancies have surged in retail, office and industrial under the leadership of Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner.
In Jenkins defense, one source said "it's not entirely Sherman's fault. Everyone knows in this city that any major project can't be done unless the mayor and his crooked cronies get their dirty hands all over it."
"Combined with pressures from union thugs like Mark Guethle or Chuck Anderson (aka "Shorty"), an anti-business climate, no serious plans and focus by the old guard on keeping the status-quo, there's not exactly a lot you can really do except try give away incentives (taxdollars) to come here...and, even that doesn't work because of the cost of doing business here has skyrocketed with taxes, fees and labor costs."
Weisner campaign fundraiser Terry Bohr is Chairman of the Aurora Economic Development Commission, appointed by Weisner,. He "coincidentally" is head of Wegman Construction, which "coincidentally" gets most taxpayer-funded contracts and he "coincidentally" stuffs campaign cash into the mayor's pockets.
Of course, that's all just a coincidence in a city where corruption is second to none.
"I feel sorry for anyone who takes this job to replace Sherman unless you get rid of the thugs and corrupt friends of the mayor...like Terry Bohr." said the source.
Weisner praised Jenkins, saying he helped land the Chicago Premium Outlets mall that opened in 2004...a project that started before Weisner became mayor.
22 comments:
Sherman has a lot to be proud of: Aurora is now second to none in the growth rate of tatoo parlors under Weisner and Jenkins. Thank goodness.
And it will soon be second to none for the largest pay hike in Mayoral salary.
Tom's 118K I car + lifetime healthcare + a generous pension and the 50K from the IL Toll Authority where he voted to raise tolls I guess to ensure his pension is covered is not enough, so he needs 152 + the 50 from the toll commission. A nice pension sweetener we will paying for.
And just WHO is it who wants to give the mayor such a nice raise? None other than RICK LAWRENCE!
It is time for the taxpayers of aurora to demand a change to a city manager form of government. Fiscal decisions need to be made only after a careful analysis of cost/ benefit ratio, not for political expediency, or purpose of solidifying a base for re election.
Raise the mayor's pay???? A person's rate of pay should be, and rightfully so, based on performance. The bearded leader and minions of his cabal particularly those bearing title of chief something or other officer are making a hell of a lot more than they are worth, and a hell of a lot more they could ever hope to make if they had a real job.
Look for more retirements to follow Jenkins. People hanging on at city hall were hoping for new leadership with a new mayor next year. They see the writing on the wall and expert Weisner to be reelected. Rather than suffering through another four years they are heading to the nearest exit.
Watch for more to follow.
No kidding. Could you imagine anyone in their right mind paying Deleon over a hundred grand a year.
Get rid of the township "government" and the city would have more money.
Aurora does not need more money, it needs fiscal stewardship, it needs to stop giving raises to employees that are not accompanied by an increase in productivity, it needs to stop spending 12K of Stedman Grahm and gospel singers etc.
You can add to the list of growing tax paying business accomplishments:
Cash for gold stores
Pawn Shops
Dollar Generals
Chicken butcher shops,
And Title for loan operations, not to mention all the fine establishments to purchase a good taco.
Speaking of Fine establishment to get a taco, you all need to try the taco trailer under a tent on Hill Ave across from the Honda Shop. On the Historic Aurora Gateway the Lincoln Highway, Or the one on Liberty near crane, or the one that operates on Farnsworth and 5th ave. Naperville would have moved them out before they could get the trailer unhitched if they showed up there. Lots of fine jewelry stores and laundry mats to choose from that if you can believe anything you read may launder more than dirty clothes.
For the 11:30 am comment taken from Better Government Association site:
Deleon Rosario Chief Operations Officer Operations $145,683.20
plus a few other perks like getting a free pass for Conduct unbecoming of a Chief operations officer with a young woman that works for him, conduct that would violate the city's zero tolerance policy for harassment, anybody else would be long gone.
Mr, Deleon heads he department respnsible for property standards and qulaity of life, . (his staff do the check for code violatios etc). Any way the same Mr. Deleon owns multiple properties in the city. No boday really knows where he lives. if you search county records, he has different addrsses for ownership records and possibly claiming homestead exemption from multiple properties.
Those taco stands are in township
There is one on IL avenue just west of Lake street. There is one on Fifth just east of East high.
There are several others on the east side in the city.
Jenkins is a perfect example of how most public employees do NOTHING for 30 years and then collect a pension for another 30 years....taxpayers are suckers and public employees should all be fired the day before their pensions vest.
So does he hire young women so they will be more "open" to his advances, or does he fall in love when he realises they are just as incompetent as he is?
Tax payers of Aurora screwed again. Now we get to foot the bill for a raise the bearded leader don't deserve just so he can appoint scumbags to positions of responsibility.
But does he work and earn his keep. Know what he
Is doing?
Deleon?
The taxpayers of aurora are screwed because of their own complacency. They are content with the status quo. They remain uninformed and ignorant.
One year ago we had an election that had the potential to get rid of Kifowit, Peters, Saville. Irvin, Mervine, and Schuler – not one of those seats turned over. How many people who are whining now worked for any candidate who was not the status quo?
In particular Myles and Matthews worked their asses off and both were head and shoulders above their incumbent counterparts. I know both of these men, Myles is sincere, charitable, bright and a hard worker. Matthews is sincere, principled, charitable, and one of the smartest men I have ever met.
And CounteDeMoney verses Saville? Are you kidding me? Saville is the biggest douche who ever held public office. His lips are permanently anchored to the ass of whomever is mayor. What has this worthless piece of shit ever done in his life?
So now people complain about the bearded leader. Well how many of you picked up the phone and asked someone to run against him, volunteered your time and services to make a change? How many offered up a few dollars?
Aurora is second to all for a reason, its citizens are disengaged buffoons who make a mockery of the idea of self governance with the choices they make.
Look at the city council, Whitey Peters, Richard Irvin, Juany Garza, Hart-Burns, Stephanie Kifowit – really, are you kidding me? Every one of them is an embarrassment. And every one of those pieces of shit were reelected. We have the Government we deserve.
Look at the paper today, Bill Donnell is running – why? Is he going to be in competition with Saville for Weinser’s chief ball licker? How many sources of pension income does he need. Let’s see, the park district is one, his years at the city overlap so he doubles up there, and now as an alderman his years at the park district automatically count. He is simply fattening up his pension that already comes automatic 3% BUMPS EACH YEAR. Are you people just stupid?
And Mavis BATes. She has bats in her belfry. And the two Leonardi’s. The one hangs out at the mall hoping someone will recognize him as a two bit actor and ask for his autograph. Chuck Norris, let’s se Federal pension, municipal one as an police officer and now trying to add in a municipal one, well at least he is not an idiot, but we are if we fall for this.
Judd Lofchie – really? He and the younger Leonardi have the same platform – give businesses more money as incentives because you just cannot give away enough of the taxpayers money to attract minimum wage businesses to Aurora.
Oh and Matt Harrington is running again – remember that creep? Remember those charming voice mails he left? Creepy, creepy and creepier.
Anyone running against Juany? This town is so screwed
So transparent Openline. Lashing out about the raises for the Mayor et al., and the only member of the council that doesn't get mentioned is Rick Lawrence. I believe he was actually on the committee that recommended the raises, wasn't he?
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