Free Parking

Parking on the Square is often hard to find. You know, a lot of people come to the Square to dine, go to the movie theater, the Opera House, grab a coffee at Starbuck's, pick up a book at Read Between the Lynes, enjoy the concert on Wednesday evening in the Square.

But why is there free parking on the Square in handicap parking spots? The sign clearly reads "Reserved Parking (for handicapped persons) $250 Fine."

A legislator (not from our districts) told me a while back that police officers don't like to write violations like this because they cost a lot of money.

Well, that's just the point! As a matter of fact, if you do this in the Village of Algonquin, it'll cost you $500, not $250.

Police should be vigilant for these violations and immediately ticket the vehicle - the first time they spot it. No such thing as "drive around the block and hope it's gone when you come back." Tag it the first time, and don't stop writing if the driver hurries up and claims that he was "just there for a minute." Make it a Very Expensive Minute.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

The Square Is Not Your Bedroom

Wednesday night on the Square. Great crowd. Great music. Lots of people of all age groups. No dogs. No bikes in the Square itself.

But how casual is too casual? Where are the parents? I don't consider myself a prude, but there is such a thing as Public Display of Affection, and this type of behavior is not appropriate. OK, so it's just my opinion.

Maybe someone knows these kids and would like to pass this along to their parents. But even as I write this, I wonder ... will the parents even care?

I say, if YOU care, then confront this type of behavior. Do not allow it. Why did all the folks sitting around them accept it?

How long did it go on before the Woodstock police officer approached these kids?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

A Worse America . . .

“The day the O.J. Simpson verdict was announced, I said to my then-teenage son, ‘David, please forgive me. I am handing over to you a worse America than my father handed over to me.’”

This is the beginning of Dennis Prager's excellent column, which can be read at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26927

It’s worth reading. Take a couple of minutes and read it. Just click on the link.

The Square - How Safe?

Tonight I overheard this - "Some folks from Chicago were in town and went to the Square on Saturday evening. They didn't stay long - they didn't feel safe."

Wow! Right here in little ol' Woodstock.

Well, folks; here's what I say: "The Square is our Square. You should be able to go there at any time of day or night and feel safe. Safe from the punks and the gangs. Safe from skateboarders and loiterers. Safe from unruly people and foul language. Safe from people relieving themselves in the Square itself."

Let's "Take Back the Square." If you are a target or are harassed or in any way made to feel uncomfortable, they'd I'd say that you have reason to feel "alarmed or disturbed" and that your peace has been breached.

Get on your cell phone and call the Woodstock Police Department. Tell the telecommunicator what is going on and request a police officer to meet you there. Point out the people who are bothering you and tell the cop that you want them arrested. Be willing to go to court and testify as to what happened that alarmed or disturbed you and breached your peace.

Start going to the Square regularly and sitting on a bench to enjoy it. And take this number with you: 815-338-2131. Program it into your cell phone right now!

"Woodstock City Code Section 4.6.1: DISORDERLY CONDUCT:
"No person shall commit disorderly conduct. As stated in 720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/26-1, a person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly:
A. Does any act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace."

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

BOFPC Minutes - Finally

A Special Meeting of the Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (BOFPC) was held today at 5:00PM at the Woodstock Police Department. The purpose was to review and approve the Minutes of nine (9) Special Meetings of the BOFPC which were held from August to February to hear and consider the request of Police Chief Robert Lowen to fire Sgt. Steve Gorski.

Minutes of these NINE Special Meetings were never posted on the City's website.

The Agendas of seven (7) of these Special Meetings were never posted on the City's website.

On June 17 I protested this serious error before the City Council. I informed the City Council that Minutes of Special Meetings are essential to documenting that something official took place and that decisions were made. These meetings represent thousands of dollars of expenses to the City of Woodstock for employee time, executive time, legal services, court reporters and now court costs.

The nine Special Meetings were held:
August 29, 2007
September 17, 2007
October 1, 2007
October 10, 2007
October 11, 2007
November 5, 2007 (According to Minutes, Chief Lowen did not attend this meeting and its closed session from 6:17PM until 8:55PM.)
November 28, 2007
December 5, 2007
February 4, 2007

Initially, the BOFPC approved an unpaid suspension. Three weeks later it changed its order to a paid leave. Two months later (November 28), back to unpaid suspension but WITH medical benefits. Two months and a week later, the Board ruled 3-0 in favor of Sgt. Gorski.

On February 14, the BOFPC issued its Findings and Decision that the charges against Sgt. Gorski were not sustained, and it ordered that Sgt. Gorski be reimbursed for any wages not paid to him (since August 29). "The Chief of the Police Department and other appropriate corporate authorities are directed to implement this order forthwith."

The Board, in its Findings and Decision of February 14, agreed that an unpaid suspension was too severe for what it considered a "minor infraction" of Departmental rules.

At this point the City of Woodstock should have cut a check to Sgt. Gorski for all pay withheld. Did it?

No, it did not.

On March 7, 2008, Police Chief Lowen filed a Complaint in Circuit Court against the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, the three men on the Board individually and Sgt. Gorski, alleging that the Board made a procedural error in granting a Directed Verdict and that it was erroneous in its decision.

In the meantime, the City of Woodstock is in contempt of the direction of the BOFPC to pay Sgt. Gorski for all missed pay.

How much is all this costing the taxpayers of Woodstock???

Pretty disgusting, isn't it?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

ICE Agent Acquitted in Denver

A while back I wrote about Cory Voorhis, an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Denver who found himself up to his ears in hot water. He had uncovered apparent wrongdoing by former Denver District Attorney and current Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter. Voorhis was being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office. This is definitely something a person would lose sleep over; right?

I think I had received an email from a Minuteman group with a link in it, and I found a website that explained what was going on. Because the whole deal smelled fishy to me, I even made a modest contribution to the Voorhis legal defense fund.

From time to time I'd check what was going on, and today I did again. Imagine my surprise to learn that he was acquitted in Federal Court in April. You can read about it at
http://www.corylegaldefense.com/articles/art2008may16.html Read what the article has to say about former Denver District Attorney and now Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.

The power of the Government to prosecute an individual is immense. Everything seems to be on its side: time, connections, influence, endless resources, a seemingly bottomless pit of money.

Many defendants give up; some "have to" give up - they just run out of money and can no longer afford a high caliber attorney to handle their defense. Does the government ever run out of money?

By being vigilant - monitoring what is going on - in Federal, State, County and local community government, we can play an important role in making sure that we have the government we expect and one that we want - a government of the people, for the people, by the people. We, the People, must be sure that our government represents us and that it never forgets that it works for us - and not the other way around!

There are plenty of "governments" to go around, and more residents are needed to attend government meetings on a regular basis. This includes the McHenry County Board, Village Boards and City Councils, School Board, and all taxing entities - Woodstock Fire & Rescue District, Library Board, McHenry County Conservation District, etc. If you pay taxes to it, then find out what they are doing with your money.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

WANTED: One Rocket Scientist

WANTED: One rocket scientist. Must have common sense and ability to understand right from wrong. Must be willing to stand up to those in positions of authority. Must have integrity and be honest. If you have a Ph.D. or M.A., please do not apply.

On Friday an interesting court case gets started in McHenry County. It should be called Woodstock v. Woodstock, but the name on the court papers reads somewhat differently.

Following the February decision of the 3-man Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (previously and erroneously identified in City records for years as the Board of Fire and Police Commission, until I wrote to the City and suggested that this latter name made no sense, as there was no Board of the Commission) to direct the police chief to reinstate Sgt. Gorski with full back pay, the chief (meaning the City) filed for an administrative law hearing in McHenry County Circuit Court. This hearing will be this Friday, July 18, 2007.

So what we have here is a case in which the City is in court against the City, because the 3-man Board, comprised of three Woodstock residents (one of whom happens to be police chief of Lakewood) is named as defendants! Double whammy, right? Legal fees on both ends. The Lawyers' Relief and Retirement Plan.

What's the best that can happen? Judge McIntyre rules that the Board's decision was fair and proper and tells the chief to do what the Board told him to do in February. Reinstate Sgt. Gorski and get his money to him within seven days.

What's the worst that can happen? Judge McIntyre rules that the chief is right and sends the matter back to the Board.

And what happens then? The Board convenes a Special Meeting. Watch the City's website for a 48-hour announcement of that meeting. Go to www.woodstockil.gov and then click on Boards and Commissions, then on Agendas, then on Board of Fire and Police Commission (the old, incorrect name that has been used for years).

And what will the Board do at its Special Meeting?

The Board will reconvene where it left off. The City has already spoken and presented its case. No need to hear that again. So the Board will call Sgt. Gorski.

"State your name, rank and employer, Sgt. Gorski," the Chairman will say.

"Steven Gorski, Sergeant, Woodstock Police Department," Sgt. Gorski will reply.

"Do you have anything else to say?" the Chairman will ask.

"No, sir," Sgt. Gorski will say.

The Board will huddle and then announce its decision. "Chief Lowen, our decision is that you are to reinstate Sgt. Gorski immediately and with full back pay, and you are to see that he receives a check for full back pay and interest within seven days. There being no further action before this Board, is there a Motion to Adjourn?"

Now, aside from five more months of interest on its debt to Sgt. Gorski and five more months of pay without his having had to work for it, how much will all this legal wrangling cost the taxpayers of Woodstock?

Why do we even have a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, if its decisions are not respected and followed by the City department for which it is established?

Oh, you ask about the rocket scientist? The City of Woodstock should create a position of Ombudsman and hire the "rocket scientist" to fill it.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT