[Dewey-Darrow] NIF Meeting Additional Info

[Broncobob]

Dear area-neighbors;
 
There is a very important vote that is going on right now here in our neighborhoods concerning the currently-accrued “Evanston Plaza Mitigation Fund” monies, now being called the “Neighborhood Improvement Fund”.  No matter what they call it, those monies are intended to benefit ALL of the residents residing in the Dewey-Darrow, Dewey-Darrow-Greenwood, Crown-, and West-Crown-Park neighborhoods (if not further) collectively!
 
Certain individuals will be extolling the virtues and benefits of each proposal before they actually want you to vote on them; and, I'm positive that there will be rebuttal and discussion times as well.  You are being asked to vote either yes or no on the 3 different “proposals” - with each adult member of your household entitled to their own 3 votes.  That does not mean that you must actually "vote" when/if you attend.
 
You may cast your votes in person at the meeting, or by contacting either Dickelle Fonda by phone (847-491-9748) or her email SugrCreek at aol.com OR Julie Westbrook, 847-869-9136, juliemarkw at earthlink.net.  It has even come to my attention that there are ballots being collected by walkers that come right to your door! (If this would be your preference, then email me back ASAP for an appointment to do so.)  However you decide to do it, PLEASE vote by Tuesday, April 21, 2009.
 
Here are 2 important things to bear in mind BEFORE making your decisions:



Contrary to what leaders of these groups would lead you to believe, nothing in the Plaza Mitigation Fund/NIF agreement says that the funds MUST be “used up” as they are accrued. The manner in which the original agreement was drawn up (as a “pollution-abatement and infrastructure-repairs” fund) was not as it is currently being administered. The City itself was the original beneficiary of these monies which have been converted into our “Mitigation Fund”. However, the logic these leaders provide to coerce you into immediate action is, “Why should the City get to keep the interest money that would accrue?” (Hhmmm, another tax increase to offset “the deficit” or let them keep the interest? Doh! It's such a hard decision!) 

What this vote is really about is an attempt to tie-up and/or earmark the current funds for the new “pet” projects (such as the cul-de-sac proposal) of those that attend the bi-monthly meetings on a regular basis. The fact that along with each new batch fund allocations comes a whole new set of proposals indicates a total lack of logical thinking. “S.O.S.-D.D.”. Since one of the proposals last time was the installation and 2 years maintenance contract of the highly commended “intersection plantings” (which does expire this year); why wasn't there a proposal for additional ones to be created or for an EXTENDED maintenance contract for the existing ones  instead?  That would prevent them from deteriorating into the same condition as the “private beneficiaries” eyesores have. Maybe order more “grocery-totes” or “bike-safety kits” too.
 
Your failure to vote “NO” on any/all of these will most assuredly result in them being passed by those “regular meeting attendees” (and their allies), as they seldom override any of their leaders suggestions. Only by exerting the effort to make YOUR voice heard can these items be defeated.
 
I realize that this is EXTREMELY short notice for you, but I REALLY need your help “in getting the word out” to as many of the residents as possible. If your neighbors don't have a computer – kindly inform them of ALL of this, or better yet, print it out for them!  It is a proven fact that Democracy works best when it involves the greatest numbers.
 
I thank you for taking time out from your schedule to read this, and TO VOTE too!
 
Bob Nierodzik
broncobob54 at yahoo.com
 


      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.pickacup.com/pipermail/dewey-darrow/attachments/20090418/07cadb8a/attachment.htm>