News! News! News!
February 26, 2019 As retail slumps, North Riverside hires planning expert <-------- (click on the link) Mayor forms advisory group on economic development
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We ran on this in 2014! Economic indicators displayed that retailers were going through financial difficulty. Stores that have closed due to their entire corporation not doing well, does not reflect upon their performance in North Riverside. Carson's has closed because of Corporate. That store led the entire company in sales and was the #1 store (in sales) throughout the country in 2014-2015. Little North Riverside had the best Carson's store in it's entire corporate structure.
Regardless, many retailers are going bankrupt and closing. Carson's, Toys R' Us, 2 Payless Shoe Sources, Things Remembered, Fallaz have closed or about to close. Now, on the chopping block are: Charlotte Rouse, Claire's, Sears is on its last leg and Tony's is gone.
It's a good step to hire an expert to propose an economic & marketing analysis while creating a Citizens Economic Group.....but it's a little too late. In 2015, if the Village listened to us and been "proactive" we could have been in a better position to help sustain loses. This is not a very "proactive" stance. It's perceived as a "reactive" stance. A stance that the Village is used to. It's what is know as the "status quo".
February 18, 2019 North Riverside family displaced by house fire <-------- (click on the link) Blaze ignited in basement; cause under investigation
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Thankful that everything turned out well and there was no one hurt. Great job by our North Riverside Firefighters (who are understaffed, overworked & underappreciated by this Administration) for knocking this out with the greatest of ease! Good job 2714!
February 12, 2019 Candidate events brewing ahead of April election <-------- (click on the link) Meet and greets, forums on deck for school board, village trustee races
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We'd like to thank the Indivisible West Suburban Action League (IWSAL) for hosting this event and providing a platform for Candidates to willfully answer any questions that Residents would ask. The only Candidates that attended this "meet and greet" were the Independent Candidates for Trustee in North Riverside. Myself, Luigi "Gino" Labellarte and Marybelle Mandel were honored and humbled to answer any questions and concerns the Residents posed.
If you follow the link above and read the "Comments" section, it will explain a lot about how this community organization has been treated for showing an interest in local politics. Thanks IWSAL for everything!
February 5, 2019 31 flights for father, family, friends <-------- (click on the link) North Riverside firefighter Richard Gray has raised about $35,000 for the American Lung Association
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Fantastic job Richie! We love and honor your hard work for a great cause. Keep up the good work! We support you 100% Go 2714 !!!
December 20, 2018 Challengers file to contend for trustee in North Riverside <-------- (click on the link) Demopoulos, Mandel, Labellarte all file as independents
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In this election there is only one way to vote. A straight Independent ticket by voting for:
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Trustee H. Bob Demopoulos (Punch #4)
Luigi "Gino" Labaellarte (Punch #5)
Marybelle Mandel (Punch #6)
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With ever growing debt, financial irresponsibility, awarding no-bid contracts and wasteful legal expenses you must Vote Independent!
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December 4, 2018 North Riverside seeks 1-percent tax levy increase <-------- (click on the link) Impact to homeowners, for village's portion of tax bill, less than $1
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It matters not how much you tax or how much revenue you generate....it matters how you spend it! With unfunded pensions, frivolous lawsuits that unsuccessfully contest Illinois Labor Law, wasteful spending and no-bid contracts awarded....it is astounding to see the amount of debt we've accumulated ($58.9 Million). It boggles my mind when I hear certain individuals say that the financial state of the Village is strong. I for one like to think with a rare measure called "common sense". Wake up People!
November 21, 2018 Tony's opening Berwyn store Nov. 28 <-------- (click on the link)
North Riverside location shuts for good the night before
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No Business/Economic Development Group or Chamber of Commerce in effect to combat stores closing or leaving. Tonys was a major player and in the "Top10" of sales tax revenue generators. This is where we need educated, well-connected and savvy business people to bring forth not only connections, knowledge and assertiveness but also to vehemently pursue new avenues & potential prospects to invest in North Riverside. I ask you "What do we have in place now to perform these duties?"
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With bankruptcy closings like Carsons, Fallaz, Sears, Toys R' Us and imminently all of Sears, Claire's, Charlette Rouse, Things Remembered, Payless Shoe Source (and many others to come) we remain docile. That is not being "pro-active"!
October 9, 2018 Proviso Township agency to help fund North Riverside special rec <-------- (click on the link) Mental health commission to earmark $15,000 for 2019
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Well well well ?!?! Since first campaigning for Special Needs Programs in 2008-2009 (and continues to) the Administration cowers to the demand of families in North Riverside with Special needs adults, young adults, teenagers and preteens. I and many other Candidates running for office throughout the years have kept the pressure on the Village to adopt programs like these. From SSRA to SEASPAR, there were a whole host of programs available through grants and yet only now they have succumbed to the pressure of special needs families. Another page taken off the oppositions playbook.
July 24, 2018 Time's up for Carson's at North Riverside Mall <-------- (click on the link)
Original anchor retailer's run ends after more than 40 years
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In 2015 myself, Marybelle Mandell and Luigi "Gino" Laballarte (although he was not on the ticket he supported our efforts 100%) campaigned on creating a Chamber of Commerce or some sort of Business Development group to combat the ever growing amount of retailers declaring bankruptcy. Imagine that the Village has established measures of these sorts and how we could've managed these ordeals in a better fashion. This Administration has been reactive for years. This philosophy must cease. We need to be proactive and essentially understand the true meaning of it.
August 21, 2018 Cermak Road water main project resumes in September <-------- (click on the link)
Phase two will replace pipe from 5th to 9th avenues
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Ladies and Gentlemen please remember that these issues of water, sewer and street infrastructure were a problem for decades. In 2011, you the people voted for two Independent Trustees (myself being one of them) to shake up the Administration. For years streets and sewer projects were neglected. We had dilapidated streets and sewers that needed extreme care. Two Independent Trustees heard your voices and fought for these measures. In 2015, one of the closest elections in decades, Independent thinkers formed a party and campaigned to champion these efforts. With your votes and support in 2019, we can continue to pressure the Administration to aggressively pursue measures of repairing streets, sewers, main and any other infrastructure that needs tending to.
August 14, 2018 The out of towners <-------- (click on the link)
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This editorial hits the nail on the head. Great insight and great evaluation. We live in a free society that awards us with freedoms and liberties. We possess the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly to gather and discuss issues. Those same freedoms and liberties awards everyone else to tell people from out of town to go....
August 14, 2018 North Riverside fire chief hire draws protest <-------- (click on the link) Mayor says search for permanent department head is ongoing
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I am completely and utterly at a loss on why this man was chosen. I question the thought process of this hiring...
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1) Why him?
2) Was there any background checks?
3) If you did a background check and knew what his past entailed....why continue?
4) After an astounding showing of strong Women voicing their opinions...why did the Village back-peddle and look elsewhere?
5) What else is being hidden from the Residents?
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I still can't make sense of all this...
July 24, 2018 No way to run a department <-------- (click on the link)
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Thanks RB Landmark, but it falls on deaf ears! We have one of the best and most dedicated Firefighters in the State of Illinois. They have been underappreciated, overly-worked, disrespected and bullied. But, the underdogs have risen and defeated any and all legal challenges bought forth (with our tax dollars) on the feeble attempt to privatize the Fire Department. I keep asking the question "How much did all legal measures to privatize the Fire Department cost?" I never got an answer or number...
July 13, 2018 North Riverside mayor parts ways with fire chief, deputy <-------- (click on the link)
Secret search to replace command staff under way for a month
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Demopoulos said he thought Gaertner and Schey "have done a tremendous job. This is a big loss."
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Indeed it was! Chief Gaertner and Deputy Chief Schey were moving the Department forward, working well with our Firefighters and determined to continue a pursuit of high level fire protection services. This may have not fit in with the Administration's plan for the Fire Department so the next potential Fire Chief is....I digress!
July 10, 2018 North Riverside projects $300,000-plus budget deficit <-------- (click on the link)
Officials plan to use operating reserves to fill gap
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Try and guess who was the only member on the Village Board to vote "NO" (or "NAY") on this budget? If you guessed Trustee H. Bob Demopoulos, you were right! This is why we need more "independent thinkers" on the Village Board! Dipping into our reserves once again due to fiscal irresponsibility. This is a serious pattern once again!
July 10, 2018 "K-9 coming in" <-------- (click on the link)
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Ladies and Gentlemen, once again the RB Landmark never ceases to amaze me with their simplistic thinking. If I may speak plainly, the Police Department has and always will generate revenue. It's first and foremost job is to protect & serve and by those very means they inadvertently generate revenue. When you have a very active Police Department that is pursuant to following the law by writing tickets (be it traffic, local ordinance or otherwise) they relieve the strain from the Village's General Fund. For instance, our Police Officers performed stringent efforts to enforce the laws with respect to "Administrative Tows", this been so successful that it allowed the Village to implement our "Squad Renewal Program". We got all brand new outfitted squad cars because our Officers are rockin' it out there on the streets. Not one red cent of your tax dollars were spent on this cause our Officers did a tremendous job. First priority is safety and security and then comes an inadvertent monetary benefit. How shameful it is to alleviate budget woes from the Villages General Fund in this manner. I was scolded by the RB Landmark during an election interview in 2017 for wanting a "Traffic Enforcement Unit Program" with the intention of providing more safety for our fellow commuters (on major traffic arteries like 22nd St./Cermak Rd., 1st Ave., Harlem Ave., 26th St.) and the possibility of adding another source of revenue. Being a non-home rule town with limitations to generating revenues, we must contrive of various ways to make money in order to alleviate our large debts. I believe and agreed steadfastly with the K-9 unit for our Village on account of three major aspects:
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1) An added tool to deter crime.
2) A community aspect that no other Village in the WC3 (West Central Communications Center) will possess.
3) Under vehicle seizures or suspected drug possessions, the K-9 is invaluable to get drugs and drug money off the streets.
4) Writing tickets, bonding out offenders, administrative tows, drug busts and K-9 protection that will direct the purpose of serving and protecting the community.
They also make us money? Heaven forbid! Good Job NRPD!
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