In a statement about a whistleblower at the office of the Cook County Medical Examiner, where bodies were stacked in body bags one on top of another, Cook County Board President Preckwinkle said, "I can't understand why a staff member who had a concern about operations would go to the media rather than try to deal with it internally."
Now, there's a typical Cook County response. Blame the whistleblower and sic the Cook County Inspector General on that person.
Surely, Preckwinkle can't be that stupid. Can she? Employees had to be complaining, and they saw that nothing was being done! So, finally one brave employee took pictures and gave them to ABC-TV in Chicago.
Three cheers for that employee!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Remember Groundhog Day 2011?
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| 2/2/2011 |
Last year may have been the only year when Groundhog Days festivities were canceled on the Woodstock Square.
Be sure to drop by the Woodstock Public Library and see the new Groundhog Days display there.
Plan Commission denies 120-apt. project
The Woodstock Plan Commission decided 5-2 to give a thumbs-down to the 120-apartment project proposed on the former Woodstock Station grounds, which was previously the Die-Cast property. The Commission considered a proposal on January 26 for two six-story buildings, and that riled up the natives who live nearby.
Now, figure this out. The attorney for the Woodstock Land Development Company (WLDC) apparently thinks a 120-apartment development is the same as a 70-unit condominium project. I think not! The City of Woodstock would have hoped for 70 owner-occupied units, which would have been a pipe-dream, but 120 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments is a far cry from that.
Commissioner Bill Clow thought parking would be a problem. Of course, it will be a problem. A huge one.
If WLDC really rented to 55-and-old active adults, every one of them will have a car; so that's 120 vehicles right there. Some apartments might have couples living in them; thus, two cars. How would 76 parking spaces ever accommodate residents and guests, plus employees of the project.? They wouldn't.
I didn't understand Commission Steve Gavers' comment, reported in the Northwest Herald, that the site is a "sacred site." What in the world is sacred about empty ground next to the railroad tracks and near a city public works building? Perhaps he'll add a comment here and enlighten us.
More disturbing is the developer's rush to the City Council for a reversal. Our City Council doesn't have the greatest track record in supporting its Boards and Commissions. What are the developer's odds for success, in spite of a turn-down by the Plan Commission? Guesses, anyone?
Now, figure this out. The attorney for the Woodstock Land Development Company (WLDC) apparently thinks a 120-apartment development is the same as a 70-unit condominium project. I think not! The City of Woodstock would have hoped for 70 owner-occupied units, which would have been a pipe-dream, but 120 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments is a far cry from that.
Commissioner Bill Clow thought parking would be a problem. Of course, it will be a problem. A huge one.
If WLDC really rented to 55-and-old active adults, every one of them will have a car; so that's 120 vehicles right there. Some apartments might have couples living in them; thus, two cars. How would 76 parking spaces ever accommodate residents and guests, plus employees of the project.? They wouldn't.
I didn't understand Commission Steve Gavers' comment, reported in the Northwest Herald, that the site is a "sacred site." What in the world is sacred about empty ground next to the railroad tracks and near a city public works building? Perhaps he'll add a comment here and enlighten us.
More disturbing is the developer's rush to the City Council for a reversal. Our City Council doesn't have the greatest track record in supporting its Boards and Commissions. What are the developer's odds for success, in spite of a turn-down by the Plan Commission? Guesses, anyone?
Finally, a smart car ...
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| MIT CitiCar |
Looks like a smart idea to me.
Would you drive one of these? Feel safe? Imagine what driving alongside a semi would feel like. Or just stopping alongside a Hummer.
Where do you put the groceries?
European shopping bags - I want one!
Last time I saw the email containing the pictures of the shopping bags in Europe, I tried to find a seller.
Think I could carry my notebook into the courthouse in one of those?
Our County dollars at work ...
Oh, I just feel all warm and fuzzy - all over. I feel so special. What happened today?
I got a message from NIXLE, wishing me a happy and healthy new year and thanking me "for helping make Nixle such a success."
I thank the McHenry County Sheriff's Department for spending money with Eric Liu and NIXLE, so we can all feel safer.
Yeah, sure I do...
I got a message from NIXLE, wishing me a happy and healthy new year and thanking me "for helping make Nixle such a success."
I thank the McHenry County Sheriff's Department for spending money with Eric Liu and NIXLE, so we can all feel safer.
Yeah, sure I do...
Pyle corrects Bail Bond violation
It was SRO in Judge Condon's courtroom, 302, this morning at 9:00AM. Because of a trial in Judge Prather's courtroom (304), her cases were moved to Judge Condon's desk. Because he was to hear cases on two calls, he asked attorneys to inform him for which call they would approach him.
A few attorneys approached him and gave him the information in the most logical order - that by which he could quickly find the case. Example: "On the call for 304, page 1, line 7 .." and then announce their client's name in a voice loud enough to bring their client to the bench. Others didn't, such as "Line 7, page 1, on the 304 call..." Maybe they were just trying to make it interesting for the judge...
The judge heard matters rapidly, and the courtroom began to clear out. Finally, Greg Pyle's case (12CF000020) was called. His two attorneys and he gathered in front of Judge Condon, along with the Assistant State's Attorney who was filling in for the attorney handling the State's case, who was up the hall in Judge Prather's courtroom.
Today's appearance was quickly disposed of, with a continuance to a February date I couldn't hear.
I expected the State to make an issue of Pyle's Bail Bond violation, but I learned after court that his correct address had been filed with the Court this morning.
There is apparently no requirement that a Defendant to be released on a bond (Pyle's bond is $200,000) provide his true or correct address. A Defendant does not attest or swear that the information on the Bail Bond form is correct. However, there is a condition on the Bail Bond form that the Defendant must inform the Circuit Court of a change of address within 24 hours.
So, suppose you put down the Magic Kingdom for your address or maybe you put down a non-existent address in Woodstock. If you don't (or can't) live there (how can you live at a non-existent address?), are you in violation not to report the correct address? You haven't "moved"; right? Complicated, eh?
Had the State Police wished to file additional charges of any type and had they gone to the non-existent address, might the Police have then gone to the nearest house and scared the daylights out of the residents there, attempting to re-arrest Pyle?
Because of Judge Condon's soft voice this morning, I could not hear the date of Pyle's next court date, but it will be in February. No doubt it will be beyond the February 8th date of the next Sheriff's Department Merit Commission meeting.
Will Sheriff Nygren address the problem with Pyle on February 8th, or will he cancel that meeting? How long will Nygren continue to pay Pyle before putting him on unpaid administrative leave?
And if the sheriff cuts off Pyle's pay, could that loosen Pyle's lips on any issues of interest to others in the County?
A few attorneys approached him and gave him the information in the most logical order - that by which he could quickly find the case. Example: "On the call for 304, page 1, line 7 .." and then announce their client's name in a voice loud enough to bring their client to the bench. Others didn't, such as "Line 7, page 1, on the 304 call..." Maybe they were just trying to make it interesting for the judge...
The judge heard matters rapidly, and the courtroom began to clear out. Finally, Greg Pyle's case (12CF000020) was called. His two attorneys and he gathered in front of Judge Condon, along with the Assistant State's Attorney who was filling in for the attorney handling the State's case, who was up the hall in Judge Prather's courtroom.
Today's appearance was quickly disposed of, with a continuance to a February date I couldn't hear.
I expected the State to make an issue of Pyle's Bail Bond violation, but I learned after court that his correct address had been filed with the Court this morning.
There is apparently no requirement that a Defendant to be released on a bond (Pyle's bond is $200,000) provide his true or correct address. A Defendant does not attest or swear that the information on the Bail Bond form is correct. However, there is a condition on the Bail Bond form that the Defendant must inform the Circuit Court of a change of address within 24 hours.
So, suppose you put down the Magic Kingdom for your address or maybe you put down a non-existent address in Woodstock. If you don't (or can't) live there (how can you live at a non-existent address?), are you in violation not to report the correct address? You haven't "moved"; right? Complicated, eh?
Had the State Police wished to file additional charges of any type and had they gone to the non-existent address, might the Police have then gone to the nearest house and scared the daylights out of the residents there, attempting to re-arrest Pyle?
Because of Judge Condon's soft voice this morning, I could not hear the date of Pyle's next court date, but it will be in February. No doubt it will be beyond the February 8th date of the next Sheriff's Department Merit Commission meeting.
Will Sheriff Nygren address the problem with Pyle on February 8th, or will he cancel that meeting? How long will Nygren continue to pay Pyle before putting him on unpaid administrative leave?
And if the sheriff cuts off Pyle's pay, could that loosen Pyle's lips on any issues of interest to others in the County?
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