Taxing isn’t the key in Riverside
It is time to move beyond hollow statements of support for Riverside, which are rooted in long-standing friendships with the status quo.

If we want to preserve our village for ourselves and our children, it is time to demand fiscal responsibility from our village government. As a 30-year resident, I believe it is important to vote “no” on the Nov. 4 tax increase referendum.

It is time for Riverside to stop the spending and operate within a budget crafted for the 21st century.

I would not support a course of action that would jeopardize our police and fire protection, our children or our Olmstead legacy. But let’s stop hiding begind blind loyalty to the past. The answer to Riverside’s future is not higher property taxes. The answer is to control spending and operate within a realistic budget, just like we all have to do at home. Riverside’s audited financial reports do not require, nor support, the need for this tax increase.

This is a vote to stop the spending. It is not a vote on personalities. Please join me in voting “no” for the Nov. 4 tax increase referendum. Please vote.

Mike Gorman, Riverside

Sale of Gordon Park would benefit La Grange
It is unfortunate the most recent press regarding the Gordon Park referendum has focused on the fact Atlantic Realty donated to the campaign supporting the referendum.

It just doesn’t matter where the funding for yard signs and other campaign materials came from. The fact the funds came from the developer lessened the burden on our campaign to solicit donations and freed us to focus on personal contact with our friends and neighbors to encourage them to vote “yes.”
Despite its generous donation (any unspent balance of which will be returned to the developer), the developer has never been involved in the strategy or tactics of the campaign. The grassroots proponents of the referendum would be working tirelessly with or without the developer’s funds because we believe so strongly in the opportunity to redevelop Gordon Park and gain so many other benefits for the village of La Grange, all at no cost to taxpayers.

The bottom line is this.

The Park District needs voter authority to sell 2.82 acres of Gordon Park, much of which is underutilized, paved, sloped or improved with derelict sheds.

If we do not authorize it to sell this parcel, the property will remain undeveloped indefinitely, and no future developer will be as generous to the Park District as this one. And, no public authority has any financial surplus to help the Park District improve Gordon Park as currently planned.

If we authorize the sale, the Park District will earn more than $6 million in cash and other consideration that will be rolled back into Gordon Park, creating a showcase full of fabulous modern amenities, from splash park to basketball court, playground to sledding hill, ballfields to amphitheater.

Don’t let this opportunity slip through our fingers. Vote yes for a great Gordon Park and a great La Grange.

James Workman, La Grange

More information needed on park ballot question
Whenever something seems too good to be true, it usually is. No tax increase? A renovated Gordon Park?  Sounds great for the residents of La Grange. But what is the big picture?

According to The Business Ledger, which has an article about the proposed development on the Citizens for Gordon Park Web site, the developer is going to build “a combination of retail space, townhouses and rental apartments” with the possibility of the rental units becoming condominiums. Possibility? I would want guarantees.

When the YMCA was still a part of LaGrange, the weekly police blotter was filled disturbances and issues pertaining to that site. So what kind of “rentals” are these apartments going to be? Low income? governmental subsidies? Or are we going to see luxury apartments, which would draw young middle class families or singles into our community? The apartments need to be easily converted to condos for sale and a time frame needs to be discussed as to when conversions will begin.

Now I am all for this developer making a buck, and in the short term the only way for them to profit is to rent out these spaces. But what is the underlying cost to us long term? We all know that a condo development in this economy would be a hard sell, but what we all really need to ask is how are these rentals going to effect our community.

Now I am not necessarily against this referendum, but I think we do need more information.

Chris Bourjaily, La Grange

La Grange voters should approve the park land sale
I join area citizens in supporting the referendum in supporting the sale of 2.82 acres of Gordon Park. The proposed LaGrange Place development will be a win-win for the entire community and benefit us all.

The end result will be a superior Gordon Park with state of the art amenities for all to enjoy. Vote “yes” on Nov. 4.

Chris Schramko, Countryside