Village Board not doing things the right way
There’s something notable about the tone the Riverside Village Board is using in trying to sell their property tax increase to residents. Their arguments for the increase are based almost entirely on fear.

We’ve been threatened with the elimination of the Recreation Department. We’re having threats of cuts to our public safety staffing held over our heads. We've been told to pass the tax increase or our green space won’t get the care it needs.

We've seen the Village Board create an artificial budget crisis by transferring $1 million out of the general fund, without any discussion of what it might be used for and without, to this date, doing anything with that money.

Why is the board trying to scare residents into raising Riverside's property taxes? Because the board knows that when you look at the facts, it doesn't add up.

The Village Board’s own 2008 budget projects a $3.57 million general fund surplus for fiscal year 2008. Even with putting aside 25 percent of the total budget as the village’s cashflow reserve – or “safety net” – there is $1.4 million in surplus money available, with surpluses projected for several more years.

And now, despite the announcement from the Village Board this summer that the village was at a financial crossroads and that resident dialogue is needed, residents are not even allowed to speak at the special meeting of the Long-Term Finance Committee.

Don’t fall for the scare tactics. Look at the budget numbers and surplus projections. Cutting services is a political choice the Village Board has chosen to make, not a fiscal necessity. You can find out more at RiversideTax.blogspot.com.

Mark Shevitz, Riverside

Ogden Avenue TIF will create tax problems
TIF’s segregate tax collections from an area to provide funds for the improvement of the TIF area, which would include everyone within a two-block radius of Ogden Avenue. That reduces the general fund, which provides for municipal funds for the entire community. Thus, non-TIF area residents have to pay more to maintain existing village services which usually requires a tax increase.

What’s even worse is that now that the TIF has been created, the Village Board can spend the segregated TIF funds on things other than the ones proposed by the village board when they adopted the TIF. This is why the PEP Party can’t continue to hold domination over the Village Board for another four years. People need to realize what is happening in our village and get out and vote in April 2009. We need a two-party system again to put in place a system of checks and balances on our village government.

Just read the local newspapers and see how they are wasting our tax money on big paychecks for all their friends in the village manager’s office. Haven’t we all had enough of this yet?

The best (worst) example is Chicago downtown, which got a TIF for the supposed purpose of tearing down the EL tracks on Wabash Avenue. The reality is that will never happen.

Even if the current board told us all that they have the best and most honest intentions, PEP can turn the TIF funds into their own slush fund. Is this the PEP Party long term plan? In the meantime, the residents of the village have to pay higher taxes to maintain current village services.

Bill Russ, Brookfield

Joe Biden not the right fit for vice president’s office
When a candidate like Joe Biden stated publicly on TV, to Katie Couric, that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was President (he was not the President) as Black Friday occurred in 1929, and that Roosevelt spoke to the American people on TV (which did not exist at that time) ... how does this qualify him for national office?

Personally, I do not need a vice president who cannot keep his presidents and electronics straight, and I especially do not want a president, no matter how well-intentioned, who is being sponsored by more of the “same old, same old” politics that wants more and more government control over people’s lives.

Barbara Lucchese, Westchester

New fire station sign viewed as unnecessary
The Pleasantview Fire Station at Plainfield and Wolf roads is an outstanding facility. Many community departments benefit from the training facilities that are located there.

My question why was a new electronic message board installed to replace the manual one that resides in front of the building? Do the flashing messages do anything to reduce the carbon footprint of the facility? Does the community have that much money that we no longer need fire or safety equipment and are now spending tax dollars on signs to tell us the time and temperature?

o we really need a flashing sign of lights to tell us anything at all? Was this at the top of the departments wish list? What was below it?

Thomas Taylor, La Grange Highlands

Bill Clinton helped cause economic problems
In response to Charita Goshay's “Cufflink Welfare” article, I say you are correct, it is welfare.

However, do your homework. We are in this mess because Bill Clinton, with the fair housing act, forced lenders to make loans available to markets in areas of the country that he, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (among others) felt were under-served. They encouraged lending in these areas by threat of penalties to the lenders that wouldn't go along with their plan.

With the need to infuse capital into these markets, Fannie and Freddie grew to huge proportions and took on debt that would likely never be repaid. No job, no equity, no cash, no assets equals poor loan risk for banks and mortgage lenders. That's why they were under-served. If the government would have left the markets alone, we wouldn't be in this problem. In their quest to have everyone own a house they couldn’t afford (welfare), they caused the current housing market crash. Guess where the CEO’s are working now? They are the economic advisors to the Obama campaign. Did I mention that Obama has received plenty of campaign money from Freddie and Fannie? How is that change?

Dan Pavlakovic, Riverside

La Grange voters needed to save Gorden Park space
It is up to the voters now to stop the sale of the green park area in Gordon Park near La Grange Road and Ogden Avenue by voting no on the Nov. 4 referendum ballot.

An out-of-state realty company has submitted a plan to build 26 row houses on the green park area, 283 high rise condos and 33,000 square feet of businesses on the adjacent YMCA lot. This massive construction plan would put an enormous strain on the already heavy traffic jams on that corner of town. Townspeople young and old, walking through that intersection at peak times, would be at risk as well as drivers.

This park has been used for children’s soccer games, baseball, tennis, a playground for tots and family picnics for years. Why would town officials resort to selling off precious park land? Other villages are buying — not selling — land for more parks. Why should any part of our park land be sold when La Grange has less recreational parks than other neighboring communities?

During the past year, citizen protests to save the park have fallen on deaf ears, as it seems there is more interest acquiring revenue than in considering the wishes of the townspeople on this issue.

Again, please consider a no vote on Nov. 4 to save a beautiful green park.

Arlene Davey, La Grange