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Berwyn, IL —
2011 was a busy year for Berwyn, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down in 2012. The Berwyn Life recently asked five residents and officials what goals they’d like to see accomplished in 2012. Here are their responses
Robert Lovero, Berwyn mayor
THE GOAL
Moving Berwyn forward, as per one of the city’s mottos
THE PROBLEM
Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero said he’s “not a big resolutions guy,” and prefers to take things day by day. For 2012, he’s taking a holistic approach to managing the city to increase the quality of life for Berwyn’s residents.
HOW TO FIX IT
“That means keeping up our progressive law enforcement and improving the services to our community,” Lovero said. The mayor also noted his hopes to increase fund balances to maintain financial stability. The city’s bond rating has been increased the last two years in a row, and Lovero hopes to continue that trend. “A lot of it is a continuation and doing more in these hard economic times to continue moving Berwyn forward,” Lovero said. That includes bringing more shops and restaurants into town.
Anthony Griffin of the Berwyn Development Corporation added that the new Meijer store, slated to open in the third quarter of 2012, is expected to be the city’s biggest sales tax contributor, which will help keep the city’s finances in the black.
Marge Paul, Third Ward alderman
THE GOAL
Increasing a sense of community and feeding the hungry
THE PROBLEM
Third Ward Alderman Marge Paul hopes to make Berwyn friendlier and in 2012, she wants to get neighbors working together to better the community around them. Feeding the hungry can not only help decrease crime, it also brings people together and keeps them in touch with their neighbors.
“If you have any time available, call, volunteer and offer your time so that we can all get through these tough financial times that we are all feeling,” Paul said.
HOW TO FIX IT
“We can do this by extending ourselves to others to knowing that in this tough economic time, the community is there for each other,” Paul said.
She also plans to go door to door in her ward asking people to help stock food pantries at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and St. Leonard’s Church, especially after the holiday season.
“After the holidays, I've made it a personal goal to ask neighbors to help contribute a can of soup or whatever they can to feed people not just during the Christmas holiday, but beyond,” Paul said.
2011 was a busy year for Berwyn, and it's not showing any signs of slowing down in 2012. The Berwyn Life recently asked five residents and officials what goals they’d like to see accomplished in 2012. Here are their responses
Robert Lovero, Berwyn mayor
THE GOAL
Moving Berwyn forward, as per one of the city’s mottos
THE PROBLEM
Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero said he’s “not a big resolutions guy,” and prefers to take things day by day. For 2012, he’s taking a holistic approach to managing the city to increase the quality of life for Berwyn’s residents.
HOW TO FIX IT
“That means keeping up our progressive law enforcement and improving the services to our community,” Lovero said. The mayor also noted his hopes to increase fund balances to maintain financial stability. The city’s bond rating has been increased the last two years in a row, and Lovero hopes to continue that trend. “A lot of it is a continuation and doing more in these hard economic times to continue moving Berwyn forward,” Lovero said. That includes bringing more shops and restaurants into town.
Anthony Griffin of the Berwyn Development Corporation added that the new Meijer store, slated to open in the third quarter of 2012, is expected to be the city’s biggest sales tax contributor, which will help keep the city’s finances in the black.
Marge Paul, Third Ward alderman
THE GOAL
Increasing a sense of community and feeding the hungry
THE PROBLEM
Third Ward Alderman Marge Paul hopes to make Berwyn friendlier and in 2012, she wants to get neighbors working together to better the community around them. Feeding the hungry can not only help decrease crime, it also brings people together and keeps them in touch with their neighbors.
“If you have any time available, call, volunteer and offer your time so that we can all get through these tough financial times that we are all feeling,” Paul said.
HOW TO FIX IT
“We can do this by extending ourselves to others to knowing that in this tough economic time, the community is there for each other,” Paul said.
She also plans to go door to door in her ward asking people to help stock food pantries at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and St. Leonard’s Church, especially after the holiday season.
“After the holidays, I've made it a personal goal to ask neighbors to help contribute a can of soup or whatever they can to feed people not just during the Christmas holiday, but beyond,” Paul said.
Stan Fields, superintendent of South Berwyn School District 100
THE GOAL
Preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds in Berwyn
THE PROBLEM
Although a plan to issue $14 million in bonds this year from District 100 to create a universal preschool program for 3- and 4-year olds in Berwyn failed, district Superintendent Stan Fields said he still thinks it can be a “game changer” for the city. Most of the district's students are low-income, minorities, or both, Fields said, and preschool can help bridge the gap between those students and their more affluent peers.
HOW TO FIX IT
The district already has applied to the state for a $5 million construction grant and hopes to expand its existing preschool program to 250 more students. Still, more funding is needed, Fields said.
“There's a perception that the value of preschool education may be overrated or not necessary, and that in the city of Berwyn, we have more than enough providers to meet the need,” Fields said. “The research, however, doesn't support that. We need to continue to do a better job of educating the public and providing information.”
Anthony Griffin, executive director of the Berwyn Development Corporation
THE GOAL
Maintain service levels despite budget cuts
THE PROBLEM
Although the Berwyn Development Corporation has had a successful track record of luring businesses into the city, its job will become more challenging in 2012. With the expiration of the Cermak TIF district, the BDC has lost 20 percent of its budget and has been forced to lay off two of its employees.
BDC Executive Director Anthony Griffin said that also represents 20 percent of its workforce.
HOW TO FIX IT
Rather than cutting from programming or increasing membership fees, the group made what Griffin called a tough decision to cut its workforce. “We’re all just assuming more duties and responsibilities,” Griffin said. “It’s doing more with less.” The BDC also will be looking toward social media and technology to improve business retention in town. The group is already exploring the possibility of making an app for smartphone users.
Mayor Robert Lovero, who also plays a pivotal role in bringing businesses into town, added he hopes to bring the success the Berwyn Development Corporation had on Cermak and Roosevelt roads to Ogden Avenue and the Depot District.
Ed Karasek, long-time Berwyn resident
THE GOAL
Improving housing stock
THE PROBLEM
The foreclosure crisis has hit Berwyn especially hard and left many homes vacant and in disrepair. New housing stock could also help bring more young professionals and high-tech businesses into Berwyn and the immediate area, Karasek said.
“To attract young people into Berwyn, there has to be an affordable, good housing stock,” he added.
HOW TO FIX IT
Karasek hopes to see the city encourage new home building in Berwyn. “The foreclosed homes, which are many, should be evaluated to see whether they can be rejuvenated or need to be demolished. The city should encourage developers to build new homes in their place,” said Karasek. Although the city isn’t tearing down homes, Berwyn’s Community Development Department already has a program that renovates single-family homes and condominiums and sells them to low-income residents.
Jim Healy, an attorney in that department, said that other towns choose to use similar grants for rental units. “We looked at this and said, ‘what a great opportunity to give them a chance at home ownership,’” Healy said in July. That program will continue in 2012.
