The Blog

Thank you for the update on the 35th. I'm not so sure that the election will be as close as you make it out to be. As much outside $ that Vilma is getting from Mell's Machine, you forget how polarized the community is from Vilma's previous disaster as alderman when she frequently neglected the public, sold out to big interests, was the model of incompetency, and perhaps most importantly: was outright rude...a rudeness that is beyond what you would imagine from even the most disgruntled grump sitting behind a desk for 30 years. She certainly has her supporters, and she claims to be running as a new & improved shiny, happy, friendly Vilma version. Yet the truth is that her campaign has proven to be highly unprofessional and given a very direct insight into her scheming personality but slinging mud and avoiding any subject of substance. She continues to turn people off from the whole political process and as a product of that Machine is partially responsible for such anemic turnout at the polls. Her erratic emotions are not something the community is able to digest. I'm afraid her day as Queen B___ch of the 35th is long gone...she can expect a nice cush continued existence on the payrolls of Cook County though.

This one's a no-brainer. No matter how little regard one has for Vilma, the fact that Rey's willing to FORCE the owner of PRIVATE PROPERTY, which is FULLY COMPLIANT with the city's rigorous building code, to sell to the city, is enough for me to say it's time for Mr. Colon TO GO.

Rey Colon is a tool of developers. Rey Colon is the biggest opponent of affordable housing. Rey Colon is racist against Mexicans and has the words and actions to prove it. Rey Colon backstabbed his original supporters. But I don't know if I still vote for Vilma Colom. Vilma is an idiot controlled by Dick Mell. The only reason she may be better is she is humbled and wants to win so bad she may actually try to help the community. Rey Colon is a hypocritical, liar, sell out.

It appears that the residents of this ward are faced with the proverbial 'between a rock and a hard place' conundrum. Do they retain a man who feels that government has the right to force a property owner to sell his property to the government, at what is most likely to be a significant loss, or do they return a woman to office that they once 'fired'? What to do, what to do, what to do......... For all those owning their own homes, it's pretty clear. For those who rent, not so much. This one may be too close to call.

The Bruces didn't get what they wanted after the last election -- behind-the-scenes control of aldermanic decision-making. Savvy Chicago reporters shouldn't take everything they hear from the Bruces at face value.

Rey Colon lies and does not keep his commitments. Rey Colon is not good for the current residents. Rey Colon is great to developers.

Vilma has fangs. Big ones.

That may not be a bad thing, fangs, depending on who she chooses to sink those 'fangs' into.

Aldercrook Rey Colon isclose to Senator Iris Martinez (formerly of the now indicted IGA in the city) She is HDO HDO is behind Colon--drug dealers and gang bangers.

Ditto what the other BO said. Ben: I realize you are one of the few reporters who actually give a fuck about city elections and grassroots activism, but this piece is drivel. Since when is getting 20% of the vote respectable and sitting on the sidelines deserving of applause? And you complain that we have few independent aldermen willing to stand up and challenge Daley. Bruce Anderson is a pig who squandered his chance to roll up his sleeves and engage in real 'participatry democracy' on zoning issues when he resigned as chair of Colon's zoning committee (a role worthy of inclusion in this fluffy article?). Rey's zoning committee has put a considerable check on the rabid developers and is a model process that should be used throughout the city (not to mention in all those precious TIF districts). Try going to one of their meetings and writing an article about that. Not very sexy, but when the backroom deal is the gold standard for zoning decisions, I'll take it. Viva El Rey!

re: BO and his cousin. That's swell. I guess you guys are 100% behind the seizure of property, under pretext of 'imminent domain', and at the bargain rates set by the 'independent' court system. So, which one of, or your buddies, is gonna hit the jackpot on the Milwaukee Avenue highjacking?

Sounds like the most savvy of all is Colon for alienating himself from those two sMell wanna bees - the Bruces. Ben, I actually respected you as a writer, but this article is so incorrect. You use to do your homework. What happened ! ! ! Did the dog eat it? It is unacceptable that you write these one sided story without doing your homework. You should walk and meet the residents of the 35th Ward and hear their story. There are no secrets in this world, and especially in the 35th Ward. The "Bruces have been participating in sMell's (33rd) precinct meetings and helping Vilma since July. Sotomayor and Burgoa were both spoilers put in by sMell in hope of increasing the opportunity for Vilma to win. "It's all about the numbers, to get a win." sMell threw some doggie bones $$$ to both Sotomayor and Burgoa for campaign expenses to make it look like they were running a campaign. The Bruces wanted to be a sMell with Rey Colon, and control every move Rey Colon made. The Bruces are pissed off because they realized their ideas were the minority in the democratic process that Rey Colon created and were not getting their way with him behind closed doors. You are giving the Bruces too much credit for Rey Colon's success. Rey Colon has a great history with significant contribution in the 35th Ward long before he was Alderman. And regarding allowing condominium development in the area - you don't need a zoning change to convert an apartment into a condo. Do you know it's not in Bruce Anderson's best interest, for condos to exist. You obviously don't know how many properties with apartment rentals he has and charges over $1,500 a month. I would rather pay $1,500 on a condo earning me some equity, then giving the equity to Bruce Anderson. 20 percent of the vote, is not a decent result. A decent result is getting a 46% with 3 people in the race being supported by sMell and his croonies. After the election the Bruces have continued to participate in sMell's precinct operation meetings. So whom are the Bruces supporting? Those hypocrites traitors are supporting Vilma and have been supporting Vilma. They have no integrity to the community. Why doesn't Embrey, get involved with his Alderman in the 26th Ward? He doesn't live in the 35th Ward. Bruce Embrey is a pathetic liar ! ! ! He is helping sMell support Vilma. "I've gotten calls from both camps," he says. Liar, Liar, Rey Colon would never call that pathetic liar and traitor. But I've been working against the machine for 25 years and I'm not about to change. Liar, Liar ! ! ! He is very much involved in Vilma's/sMell's campaign. Anderson, who lives in the ward, says he's not working for either candidate, and he won't say who he's voting for. Another pathetic liar ! ! ! He goes to the sMell meetings with Bruce Embrey. Remember he circulated petitions for Vilma before he flipped to work for Sotomayor, because it was to hard to collect signatures for Vilma. According to recent polls the race is too close to call. What polls are you reading?! ! ! Ben, I use to think you were savvy and thorough. I am very disappointed in your lack of research. Maybe, you need to spend some time away from your screen and keyboard and talk to other people besides the Bruces. I did not read any reference from other people in your article.

Vilma's whole platform seems to be "Vote for me, cause I'm different this time!" Meanwhile, all the Rey Colon signs on my block were destroyed one night about a week ago - slashed through the part where his name is, though the rest of the sign was left hanging on the fences. A real mess. The two giant Vilma signs on the house next to mine were left untouched. Hmmmmmm.

This just means that Vilma can handle a knife real good.

Mell Observer: Ben has such a hard on for the TIFs that it is taking away from his abilities on other stories.

Orion said, "Ben has such a hard on for the TIFs that it is taking away from his abilities on other stories." No, Ben has a hard-on for anyone who calls himself an "activist." In today's culture an "activist" is automatically given the benefit of the doubt, is understood to be on the side of "the good."

Same stuff in 35th? http://youtube.com/watch?v=g3AiOxmYrD0

The manner in which TIF monies are distributed is what Ben is critical of. TIF is a program so dishonestly manipulated that it can be considered as one of the most brilliant and successful schemes in this city's long history of brilliant and successful schemes. It effectively creates a 'slush fund' for politicos to use to reward those who are part of the machine, in plain sight, LEGALLY and with no effective oversight or control by the taxpayers. It steals from those valid services' budgets the citizens depend upon and allows the usually behind-closed-doors deals to be carried out in plain sight. Ben is right on in focusing on TIF's, the abuses of them, and the identities of those who participate in those abuses. 'Follow the money'.

Yes, Simply Theft, Ben does good, important work in covering TIFs. But why is what the Bruces claim as their motive being taken at face value? Ben's dropped the ball on that.

No, he has effectively stimulated discussion and thinking, as evidenced by the wealth of comments his articles inspire. You don't expect Ben to do ALL your thinking for you, and neither do I. His writing stimulates thought and questioning of the mass of bullshit our politicos shovel daily. (or should I say 'Daley'?) And criticism of Ben is also thinking and questioning. A win-win, if ever there was one.

No he didn't: Your reasoning is off a bit. Yes, _of course_ it's wonderful that Ben's articles stimulate commentary that furthers the conversation. Etc. Etc. But it's not a matter of him "doing ALL [my] thinking". Wherever did you get that idea? Overall, I admire his work a great deal. All I (and others) ask is that he look at the Bruces more closely and do some real investigating and not just repeat their claims. And that he address it in his column. Do you really think this blog gets the readership that his column does? Or that the comments here have the credibility of his column? Who knows if he even reads this thing? Ben, are you out there? Ben? What do you think?

And all I ask is that everyone exercise their own mental muscles, and not depend upon the Ben's of our world to do so for us. "Who knows if he" (Ben) "even reads this thing? If he doesn't, maybe more activity here would inspire him to do so. While the format used here does permit quite a lot of nonsense to be posted, (in the guise of seriously thoughtful commentary), it's open nature is ideal for those who wish to express relatively thoughtful comments, to Ben and to each other. I'm put off by the many blogs that require registration, so this venue is most welcome, even with the less than coherent postings, (said incoherent posts being occasionally amusing). The anonymous nature of this venue is ideal for the expression of ideas. Like the Sherlock Holmes character of A. Conan Doyle, we all need to develop our deductive skills. Whether Ben's articles answer all the questions they raise is of less importance to me than that they stimulate our interest in wondering what the answers are to the 'Who', 'What', Where', 'When', 'Why' and 'How' questions raised by the subject(s) at hand. For as long as the Chicago Reader provides this open arena of commentary, we should avail ourselves of the opportunities it presents to us, that opportunity being to share our ideas and opinions, both on the specific subjects of the articles and on the related subjects implied or connected to same. The question of whether "the comments here have the credibility of his column" can only be answered by the readers of both his articles and the comments inspired by same. And that, my fellow commentator, requires us to think. I think that's a good thing.

Rey will kick Vilma's ass on April 17.

Didn't you mean to type "Rey will kiss Vilma's ass on April 17."?

"Didn't you mean to type 'Rey will kiss Vilma's ass on April 17.'?" Hold on, there! We'll have none of that kind of talk! Vilma's already kissing my ass. And if Rey kisses hers, that means, in a way, he and I would be -- hey! Rey's a good-looking guy and all, but I don't go in for that!

Is this a not-so-subtle swipe at our 'gay' fellow citizens?

Let's take a peek into the Political Hack's Playbook. "1) If telling the truth HELPS you, tell the truth. (however rarely this is true for an incumbent) 2) If telling the truth HURTS you, tell a lie, particularly a lie that is impossible to prove is a lie. 3) When lying, coat your lies with as much truth as possible, so the lie APPEARS to be true. 4) When confronted with your lies, vigorously assert that you're NOT lying and accuse those who say you are, of LYING. 5) avoid lying about things that can be PROVEN to be lies, tho, you can ALWAYS challenge the honesty of those who present the proof of your lies. 6) Do your very best to keep some sort of track of your lies, so you don't waste energy lying when you are confronted with conflicting lies. 7) Whenever possible, always have OTHERS lie for you, so you can denounce them, if and when they are caught lying. 8) When caught in a lie, change the subject and focus on telling those lies that have, so far, not been proven to be lies. 9) Tell the truth sparingly, as, if the truth were helpful to you, you wouldn't have to tell so many lies in the first place." There's a lot more stuff in the Political Hack's Playbook, but I think this is enough for now, don't you?

The playbook is a good book, must read for political operatives hack or non hack. Could you pick two worse candidates to be alderman?

As sad as it is to say, no, you probably couldn't. On the bright side, if a movement to deny incumbents more than a single term in office were to develop, then only those who have proven to be true servants of the public would ever have a chance of staying in office. Any thoughts on the following? "First off, tho it runs counter to popular opinion, there actually ARE many city, county and state workers who do their jobs and do them well. Not only THEIR jobs, but the jobs of those 'clouted' pseudo-workers, who, when they show up at all, are so incompetent that it's, better to cover for them, then to let them screw up all day long. It's called 'baby-sitting'. Every hard-working, honest city, county or state employee has had, at one time or another, to 'cover' for these leeches, but one learns to look at this as the price that must be paid, if you're gonna stay employed. While it appears that these recent developments MAY do some good, the more effective solution to the corruption will always be to rid ourselves of the sources of these 'clout monkeys', namely, elect honest people to public office. Okay, you can stop laughing! IT AIN'T FUNNY! IT'S EXPENSIVE! IT MORE THAN DOUBLES YOUR FRIGGIN' TAX BILL! And paying much more in taxes is just the tip of the iceberg of harmful effects inherent in continuing to retain the hacks who pass for our representatives. So, while it's a good thing, this recent court decision ain't nearly enough to solve the problem. The weasels have many tricks in their weasel playbook, some obvious and some quite subtle. Until such time as the non-participants unite, with the effective power of the votes they do not, at present, see fit to cast, the same old faces will continue to rule. REGISTER TO VOTE. VOTE ON ELECTION DAYS. VOTE OUT THE INCUMBENTS. START FRESH WITH A CLEAN BOWL. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT." or this one: "Here's the formula for stimulating political change: * 1) Determine which candidates are the INCUMBENTS and DO NOT vote for ANY of them. * 2) If there are only two candidates running for any given office, all that the voter MUST know is which one is the INCUMBENT, then vote for the CHALLENGER. * 3) If there are MORE than two candidates vying for a given office, determine if the incumbent is listed FIRST, and IF THIS IS SO, then vote for the challenger candidate who is listed LAST. * 4) If the incumbent is NOT listed FIRST, then vote for the challenger candidate who IS listed FIRST. * 5) If no incumbent is running for office, always vote for the LAST candidate listed. Remember to COMPLETELY DISREGARD all impulses to concern yourself with the specific persons who you are voting for and/or the specific persons you are not voting for and/or the specific incumbents who will, should enough voters in any given election participate in this experiment, be losing their jobs. Remember,also,that the issues don't matter, policies don't matter, individual candidates' personal charm/attractiveness does not matter ....... nothing matters other than adhering to the 5 rules stated above. If enough voters in any given election participate in this experiment, the result should be that a whole lot of incumbents will be voted out of office. Make whatever specific exceptions to the above rules you choose to, but, remember that this formula is designed for the purpose of countering the very effective practice of 'splitting the vote' of those wanting to fire the incumbent. This is precisely what enabled Harold Washington to become our first 'black' mayor, and precisely how Richard the 2nd just got re-elected. If you, the voter, are NOT satisfied with your representative(s), the only opportunity you EVER have to change things is on ELECTION DAY. And ONLY if you've REGISTERED TO VOTE and show up and CAST YOUR VOTE(S). One of the most lame reasons for retaining an incumbent is 'better the devil we know, than the one we don't.' If the voters elect someone new this time around, they can, if not satisfied with his/her service, apply the same formula in the next election, continuing the practice until all candidates for political office get the message. That message being: YOU SERVE US, WE DON'T SERVE YOU. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!"

What if the challenger is a former incumbent herself and is a far worse option? Her incompetency rivals that of Dubya.

Considering who we have representing us in the 35th ward, namely Toni B, Iris M. and either Rey or Vilma, we should frame the debate differently. Is the 35th ward capable of self governance?>

I think Iris Martinez(D-Emil Jones) role in this is something that should not be overlooked. I'm sure she's preening herself after be appointed head of the Illinos General Assembly Latino Caucus, and that the rest of the members must be so proud of her and what she's been able to accomplish with so litte given to her. All she ever had was an army of HDO workers. Now this woman, who's brought so much to her district has decided to help her pal Rey, and we're all the better for it. I can't thank Bruce Embrey enough for bringing these two together.

The two Bruces have ruined it for everyone.

The two Bruces are as rude as wet farts.

Gee, D., how would you know about the nature of the Bruces' "wet farts"?

Fourth Bruce: Goodday, Bruce, hello Bruce, how are you, Bruce? Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce a chap from pommie land ... who'll be joining us this year here in the Philosophy Department of the University of Woolamaloo. All: Goodday. Fourth Bruce: Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce. Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce. Michael Baldwin - this is Bruce. First Bruce: Is your name not Bruce, then? Michael: No, it's Michael. Second Bruce: That's going to cause a little confusion.

Toni Berrios is a Rhoades scholar. Iris Martinez is a Harvard grad. Seriously, Iris Martinez is putting back women's rights and Hispanic empowerment at least 2 decades. Rey Colon is a crook. Vilma Colom is a nut. Maybe Sotomayor should of won.

Maybe we'd all be better served for the next four years by having no alderman! or alderwoman! I'm sure the garbage would still get picked up, cops and firemen would still respond, the streets would still be repaired as needed, life would go on and we'd all be better off.

Lies, lies and more lies. Its only nepotism when they're married. Martha and Rey aren't. Its not really patronage either when its your brother.

I'm sure there is some public figure out there that could parlay their popularity into a political career in the 35th. The Gipper, Sonny Bono, and Jesse the Body have already paved the path. I once saw Michael Gross, of Family Ties fame on the Boulevard, and Dennis McKinnon of the '85 Bears on Fullerton...so they are out there somewhere. So unmask yourselves, Logan Square celebrities!

Great idea. Who'd give a fat rat's ass about zoning issues when you can have, say, Paris Hilton's autograph. In case we can't find one, or that they prove too shy, think we could draft one? Have anyone in mind? Alot of 'em are looking to jump-start sagging careers so it should't be too hard.

Rolando Acosta is running Rey Colon's campaign, donating money and PLANS ON CASHING OUT ON 35 WARD PROPERTY

Vilma runs a shady, illegal, misleading campaign? I'm so surprised!!! Check out the allegations here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/files/Hearing%20Examiner%27s%20Report%\ 2C%20Colon%20vs%20Colom.pdf

The above file is a trick by Rey Colon to drag Vilma into court over "Campaign Finance." It has nothing to do with the issues. Rey Colon will win on April 17th only because he is more liked then Vilma.PERIOD. The Truth: 1. Rey Colon has made sneaky development deals. 2. He has denied his criminal and civil record which is true. 3. He hired his live in girlfriend to be his Cheif Of Staff. That is not abnormal as it is a typical Chicago way. However, when elected he said he would not do things the typical Chicago way. 4.He blames issues of zoning and development on his ZAC. The problem is some ZAC members have revealed he sort of pushes them a certain way. 5. He supports Eminent Domain of property to be turned over to property developers. The main thing is he has lied. He lied that he does not have a criminal or civil record. It is proven true. I don't care what a person has done in the past. Just do not lie about it. Even somne of his 2003 inside circle knew about the stuff and kept it quiet. They today are the same people calling Vilma negative, yet they know the truth. I can not vote for Rey Colon simply because he lied. If he lied about something so easily proven, what has he lied about that we do not know ? And, his taking Vilma to court about Finances is a joke. It is a game of smoke and mirrors that I see through. Unfortuantly, so many people HATE Vilma they will vote to Re-Elect Rey regardless of his lies. Shame on you that do.

"Ma, Ma, Where's My Pa ? He Is In City Hall. Ha, Ha, Ha !!!"

A good # of people are voting for Rey NOT because he is a pleasant and friendly person, but because he is NOT Vilma. You can see this in the 20% that Miguel garnered in the election. I guarantee those people are more turned off by Vilma than they are by Rey. While Rey does have both his good points and bad...I will happily vote for him because I refuse to support Vilma's rusted and broken approach.

Steve, maybe you should read the complaint (which was found justified) if you are really so concerned about lying- Vilma and her campaign said they had nothing to do with the negative mailings, and guess what? THEY LIED!

Maybe Rey Colon should start paying his child support. Maybe too much money smoking Mary Jane and paying lawyers and court fees for DUIs. Remember that some people know about the past of Rey Colon, his brother and gangs. Be careful what you wish for.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz stick with the issues, the tar-and-feathering is old news.

The orginal negative mailing in February did not come from Vilma. Never admitted to it. And, Rey Colon taking the Sachs (payless) building and giving it on a silver platter to be used as a SRO/ Homeless Transitional Housing place is a disgrace. And, I believe people are voting for Rey because tyhey do not like Vilma. Thats ok. Miguel in 2011 !!! Unforuanetly, Rey in a second term will view it as a open mandate from the people to do what HE thinks is best. Sorry, Alderman Colon. You are a liar. I am voting for Vilma.

Are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom? She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

Rey Colon's criminal record is disturbing, not because he's done all this stuff, but because he got caught doing all this stuff. We all know that city hall is packed full of criminals, just not many who've gotten caught. Rey's lack of practical skills at avoiding being busted make him an incompetent criminal. His willingness to invoke 'eminent domain' forced sales of real property is even more disturbing. It's a well known fact that when you're forced to sell your home by this legal extortion, you never get true fair market value, not even if you take it all the way to court. And how is it the American Way for the government to 'force' you to sell your home, anyway? Rey Colon is bad news for us all. Even if you don't like Vilma, even if you think she's a bitch, she's less likely to let some clout developer get the city to force you to sell your home cheap to him, illegally and unfairly using the 'eminent domain' laws to make it happen. Rey's all for government pushing people around in this way and it's puzzling why he acts like this, after all the times government has pushed him around. You'd think, with his experiences, that he'd feel the opposite. Maybe he's just switched sides, after feeling the thrill of having legal power over other people for the first time in his life.

"And, Rey Colon taking the Sachs (payless) building and giving it on a silver platter to be used as a SRO/ Homeless Transitional Housing place is a disgrace." Lies, lies, lies - Rey held an OPEN meeting, and asked for proposals, we have no idea what is going there (did Vilma care all but the ground floor was abandoned during her 8 years?) "His willingness to invoke 'eminent domain' forced sales of real property is even more disturbing. " The Mega Mall's 110 safety and building code violations are what I find disturbing - that's why the eminent domain process was started, until Rey asked the City to look into that the Mega Mall's owner had given a giant middle finger to the Hispanic merchants who work there and everyone who shops there. do you think Hispanic merchants should have to work in an unsafe environment? Why? Don't they deserve to be treated with respect by their landlord?

Obviously, to you Rey Colon can do NO wrong. As most voters feel. So, Rey wins on a platform of deception.

Don't put words in my mouth, there will never be an alderman that anyone or everyone agrees with 100% of the time. I am simply adding clarification the misleading comments above.

You're saying that Rey started the eminent domain process to force the building owner to become code compliant? The city has a new weapon at its disposal in building code enforcement thanks to Rey.

No, I'm saying that after the Mega Mall owner repeatedly, over several years, refused to address the safety concerns, Rey asked the City to look into what could be done, and that led to the eminent domain decision, which Rey supported. once it was clear the City was moving to acquire the property, the Mega mall owner suddenly & magically decided to actually fix the problems - but by then the process had already started, and anyone who knows the City bureaucracy knows that things do not start and stop on a dime. I actually agree that with the building up to code that the eminent domain issue should be dropped, but as it's been explained, at this point it is in the City's hands, not the alderman's. I think this is a non-issue, as with the building up to code the owner will be able to show he's in compliance and all is well. but at the end of the day, the Mega Mall owner has only his own selfish disregard for his tenants & customers to thank for this mess. it shouldn't take this kind of legal action to force someone to keep property open to the public safe. What if there had been a colossal disaster, a fire where people died, etc.? Then everyone would be screaming about how the alderman didn't do anything when he had the chance.

Nowhere in the Chicago Building Code Vol. 1 (where enforcement provisons are found) 2007 version (earlier versions are similar) do I see the words "eminent domain". The city has plenty of near draconian measures to force a building owners hand. Eminent domain is not one of them.

I suggest the mister 'clarification' take a trip to building and demolition court, and see exactly how many hammers the city has when it comes to bullying property owners into 'fully complying' with the city's building codes. NO PROPERTY in this city is EVER 'fully compliant'. EVERY property can be found to be 'not-in-compliance' in some way, no matter how minor. EXCEPT, of course, those properties whose owners have either 'clout' or invisible 'cash-in-hand'. That's how it is, in the 'city that works'.

then perhaps you all might enlighten as to why those building inspector hammers were strangely silent even though were over a hundred of these violations. I'm not a fan of eminent domain for these kinds of purposes either, but at least tell the story right, without letting your motives to smear Rey guide your words. this is an one (1) example of eminent domain in the neighborhood, it's not like this is an epidemic. better yet, why not go and ask the Mega Mall owner for his side of the story - he's been strangely silent for someone suffering from so much so-called oppression. perhaps he knows that the more people learn about his negligence towards his tenants and customers the less likely they'd be to sympathize with him. This guy isn't some poor beleaguered homeowner, he's loaded- I'm no construction expert, but $2,000,000 in repairs suggests these weren't trifling problems.

So what is everyone's predictions on who will win? My guess - Vilma wins by 350 votes.

What do the phrases 'precedent setting' & 'slippery slope' mean? To support an alderman's misuse of eminent domain even ONCE is to invite more of the same. To minimize the potential abuse of eminent domain is to deny the real possibility of it's use throughout the entire city. Is that what you are in favor of?

As Mr. Indeed could probably tell you the people in the Building Department and DCAP jump when an alderman tells them to. Any alderman, from Munoz, the early Helen Schiller to any machine creature. I'm in the construction business (I'm not Embrey), and I can give you a dozen stories. If Rey's concern was truly code compliance, it would have been awfully simple for him to prod the department and their inspectors without calling for eminent domain.

Amen to that.

Let's just assume that Miguel's votes will migrate to Rey/Vilma at the same ratio that the other non-Miguel votes do...then Rey wins in a cakewalk. The main variable being Vilma's recent actions: a lot of foot traffic going door-to-door, and more of the same hackneyed negative mailers. I think the mailers will be a wash: half the people further disgusted by her antics, half fooled/educated into supporting her. So the big "if" is how much can Vilma/Mell troops mobilize the vote? I don't think it'll happen...she was voted out already, in 2007v1 she did not get any number of votes to lead you to think that people are ready to bring her back. Who knows though...the powers that be know how to "work" an election.

When Vilma loses, what will her excuse be? Last time it was the weather and "name confusion". Maybe this time she'll just own up and admit to being a grouch? I think in 2011 she should opt for the Jesse "the Body" Granato technique and move to a different ward...perhaps Mell will usher her into the 33rd?

Now that would be a battle royale!!! Just imagine all those flying barbs and accusations! So much dirt to uncover. So much machine-history at stake. I would move into that ward just to be on the receiving end of all those shady mailers. A super special bonus would be a couple guest appearances from Esteban Burgoa just to make sure the mud flies fast and furiously.

At least Jesse Granato pays for his kids. He may have got rough with his wife but he takes care of his kids.

I am not a commie pinko but I really don't like people who sell out the folks who got them elected, so while Vilma is a rag, Rey is a sell out, if I lived in the 35th Ward I guess I would vote for the lesser of two evils which is Vilma. Also Rey should shave off that thing under his lower lip

Rey Colon was real/cozy with Iris Martinez and HDO. Iris was married to a mob related strip club owner and was in the IGA during the time of the current indictment--is she a rat? Some people in the 35th ward know about Rey Colon's gang past.

Rey's precinct operation has holes that martha's @ss couln't fill. I call Vilma 3000 to Rey 2800.

Am i making this up or do I recall Vilma claiming to recommend the eminent domain card on the Olympic Carpet site on Diversey during the debate at the Auditorium? Looking for other input from others on this one... If I recall it correctly, then it puts the whole private property vs eminent domain issue to sleep. Because Vilma is prone to do the same. If I'm wrong, then my bad.

I'm pretty sure Vilma is cozy w/Iris as well...another non-issue. "Don't just stand there looking cute," she yelled cheerily out the window to a group of young workers milling outside a polling place at Hamlin and Schubert. "Go get some votes." On the cell phone, she moaned while listening to a report of some confusion at another. "Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no. Oh, it's too damn early for this." "She's great, isn't she?" says Iris Martinez, who made Colom's palm card as a state Senate candidate. Without Colom's kind of help, Martinez said, her campaign "would have been 10 times harder." 'Have to have loyal friends' Some call this kind of organization "clout." Though Colom shies from the word, she will allow that "you have to have loyal friends if you want to do something for your community."

Again, not a fan of eminent domain for these purposes either. Doesn't change the fact that the owner was criminally negligent - criminally! I can just imagine the about-face you'd be doing had there been an E2 disaster, which was proof that simply enforcing building codes doesn't stop a business from finding a way to stay open. And yes, Colom clearly stated at a debate that she supported eminent domain for the Olympic site. So what's the owner's story? A guy who can throw down $2million for repairs without blinking doesn't have anything he's said on the record?

What do you propose to do? Force every one who isn't code compliant to go to jail? As Mr. Indeed pointed out above that would be most of the city. 2 million for repairs ain't that impressive these days on commercial or institutional projects. Frankly it seems rather small.

"2 million for repairs ain't that impressive these days on commercial or institutional projects. Frankly it seems rather small. " then perhaps you should focus your attention on the Mega Mall owner, and why he didn't simply spend the money to make his establishment safe. "Force every one who isn't code compliant to go to jail?" Are you on drugs? Show me one thing I wrote that in any way implies that. Your arguments are completely ridiculous. First the City is needlessly oppressing a poor business owner who (we are left to speculate) can't afford to make his property safe - unless you are saying he doesn't care about the safety of his primarily Hispanic customers and vendors. Then you go on to say that repairs needed to bring the building up to code are a trifling 2 million bucks. So, what is it? If eminent domain wasn't necessary to push this landlord into taking responsibility, why did it take that process for it to happen? And why didn't Colom do anything about it? and if the repairs were trifling, why didn't the guy just have the repairs done? like I've clarified for the 4th time, he brought the building up to code, so I agree the process can be dropped - but that's the Building department you need to take that up with, not the alderman.

jeesh, the more Colom talks, the worse she sounds. why isn't Mell keeping her indoors where she can't shoot herself in the foot?

so who got the mailing? it says assaults under Vilma Colom were 400% higher than they are under Rey - this really true? this seems to conflict with the Vilma mailings?

You stated "...the owner was criminally negligent. ... simply enforcing building codes does not stop a business from finding a way to stay open" certainly gives the impression you want stronger enforcement available than what's in existence. Yeah repairs are costly, and the main reason most buildings aren't code compliant, probably the reason this guy didn't do anything. My point is that Rey had alternatives to eminent domain to push this guy to code compliance. You seem to think otherwise. Believe it or not most buildings are made code compliant without it. Even those with alot of violations (Apologies if that sounds too patronizing.) Rey got a building commissioner to to attend and help him with Kimball/Dawson. You pointed out earlier that the inspectors weren't coming out. Why not? Rey that impotent or incompetent that he couldn't get 'em out? He got a building commissioner to help him out before. He could even ask the guy who sits next to him in city council - Banks. ("My man" Rey said to me once.) Eminent domain has got alot of people concerned with Rey's motives here. I happen to be one of them. I'm afraid this is not one of Rey's shining moments. If you're truly interested you can probably ask Vilma why she didn't bother with the issue. I'm not interested, she tends to give people the answer she thinks they want to hear.

The inspectors are the ones who hit the Mega Mall with the 100+ violations in the first place, so obviously they were not doing their job if it was allowed to stay open in the first place. In fact, I am not particularly interested, I don't think this particular slumlord should have any bearing on the elections, which is my main point- I don't think Colom would have handled the situation any better. More likely she would have done nothing, and should there have been an accident she'd play the old "what was I supposed to do?" card. it's a non-issue, basically. if there was a larger pattern, yeah, definitely a problem. but one example of Rey instigating eminent domain in response to many public complaints? big deal. there are much bigger issues in the ward.

Okaaaaaay. Three are three traitors Bruce Embrey, Bruce Anderson and Kevin Lamm. They go around saying they are activist. In 2003 they hated Vilma. Now in 2006 they hate Rey. They betrayed their own ideals and went with Mell to support Sotomayor who ran as a spoiler to hurt Rey Colon. And now, they are supporting Vilma. They are not activist they are hypocrites in search of power. If they want power they should run for office. These guys have no integrity or loyalty. It also seems like they don't have much clout. Even when combined with Mell, otherwise Sotomayor would have done alot better then a miserable 19%. That is an embarrassing result. Who are these idiots? They didn't do Sotomayor any good. Therefore, Rey Colon winning in 2003 had nothing to do with these three stooges. Sounds more like a strategy of voting against the person in office. To change leadership in every election would only slow down any progress. Successful long-term planning takes more than four years to accomplish. Chicago would be in a time warp. It would look like 1965. These lazy hippies need to stop smoking the dope their smoking and get a life. They also need a class on integrity. What kind of an activist would be working with Mell and supporting HDO - Vilma? The Bruces' and Kevin Lamm what traitors you are, you are evil, cynical and miserable people with no pride. You should hide your face when you leave your house. You are an embarrasment to the community.

why are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom. She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

Vilma,s not the one calling the shots, Rey is. Vilma is a Mell puppet. Rey with the eminent domain stuff and his donors doing their RFPs comes off either inept or corrupt. I can vote for inept, corrupt means Mell's little lap dog gets my vote. I don't mean to stick you in a trick bag, Rey's Campaign should make the thing clear. They haven't.

Eminent Domain forced sales are a big deal. Setting a precedent for city government forcing the sale of private property would enable a strategy of 'eminent domaining' selective properties, AFTER first arranging full market value, or better, sales, from 'connected' property owners. Unlikely, you say? Hardly. Think about it.

Zina Murray, who has worked for Alderman Colon and > who submitted a > development proposal to the City for the MegaMall > has challenged the > nominating petitions of Esteban Burgoa and James > Villalpando. > > > > Campaigns and free speech are a fundamental of our > democracy, why is > Alderman Colon afraid of letting these 2 citizens > campaign? In the ETHICS section is the question: Who are your top 5 contributors and how much has each contributed to your campaign? Rey Colon's answer: 1. Armitage Produce $2,500 2. Zina Murray $2,500 3. Debit Connections $2,500 4. Balcor $2,500 5. Star Auto Group $2,500 Well Rey, that's a flat out lie. Developer Mark Fishman and his directly controlled property LLC's are Rey Colon's biggest recent contributions. On Nov 4, 2006, Colon received almost $7,000 in that single day from Mr. Fishman and his LLC's. Indisputable fact on IL Board of Election website D-2's. Mark Fishman and Fishman LLC contributions in 2006 1530 Kedzie LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 1832 N. Humboldt L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2114 Spaulding LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2118 N. Whipple L.L.C. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2134 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2142 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2319 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2330 N. Spaulding Ltd. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2418 N. Sawyer L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2515 Milwaukee LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2516 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2700 N. Spaulding 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3000 N. Whipple LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3240 W. Fullerton Condo Association 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 3500 Green Bay LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 4715 N. Sheridan Rd 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 7500 SSD LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 E K W LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 ----- Stoofy's Doo LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 Westgate Acquisitions LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 ----- M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 7/27/2006 Rey, care to amend your IVI-IPO filing, or do you stick to this significant misrepresentation to public? Next- Rey's campaign manager is officially listed as Martha Ramos, his fiance since before the last election. Ms. Ramos is also the 35th Ward Chief of Staff, a full time City of Chicago position. Ms. Ramos is also realtor and President of Realty World Teemar, Inc in LSq on W. Fullerton. A person can indeed wear several hats at once. However, the potential for at least appearance of possible conflicts is obvious. Last- the flyer of allegations mailed regarding Alderman Colon's past was first attributed to challenger Vilma Colom and then to Mr. Burgoa. Since it exists, and so many have vented about accountability and candor recently and in the past, including inference of the crime of corruption against one of the current candidates expressed in 2005 by the current nonpartisan director of IVI-IPO

"In Crook County, as in every other county throughout this entire country, the APPEARANCE of 'conflict-of-interest' IS sufficient proof of same. Criminal, beyond-a-reasonable-doubt proof? Perhaps not. But, a-preponderance-of-the-evidence proof? Oh yeah. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, IT'S A DUCK. But, then, EVERY SINGLE ELECTED PUBLIC SERVANT is 'conflicted'. ALWAYS. This is the way the established political power-holders WANT IT TO BE. This is the result of the system of PAY-TO-PLAY practiced by EVERY POLITICIAN. PERIOD. Until such time as the 'public' DEMANDS a change in the way their 'public servants' are allowed to campaign for office, NOTHING WILL ALTER THIS PREFERRED SYSTEM. The purest way to change the system of campaigning has been lamely proposed many times, namely eliminating ALL private financing of political candidates. A minimal public financing is not only possible, it's LESS EXPENSIVE. There are 3 types of 'mass media' available to a political candidate. 1) PRINT MEDIA 2) AUDIO MEDIA 3) AUDIO/VIDEO MEDIA PRINT MEDIA consists of: ===Newspapers ===Mailings ===Handouts ===Internet Web Page Text Content ===Text Messaging AUDIO MEDIA consists of: ===Radio ===Phone Calls ===Internet Web Page Audio Content ===Voice Messaging ===Citizen Conversations AUDIO/VIDEO MEDIA consists of: ===Television (Broadcast/Cable) ===Internet Web Page Content All of the above avenues available to political candidates cost money, some more expensive than others, some perceived to be more effective than others. Restricting ALL candidates for public office to specific, EQUAL amounts of access to all of the above, by limiting each candidate to the EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF ACCESS will eliminate the 'conflicts-of-interests' problem, whether real or implied. It will also 'level' the 'playing field', something the incumbents, Dumbocrats and Retardicans, do not want to happen. Thus, we, the citizens, will remain the effective 'servants' OF our so-called 'public servants', until such time as we force change. The following voting strategy can be an effective means to force such change. WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT Use the following formula to maximize the effectiveness of your vote: 1) The voter MUST know who the INCUMBENTS are. 2) NEVER VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENT. 3) If there is only ONE CHALLENGER, vote for that candidate. 4) If there are two or more challengers, then: a) If the incumbent is listed FIRST, then vote for the candidate who is listed LAST. b) If the incumbent is not listed first, then vote for the candidate who IS LISTED FIRST. Should you sincerely like an incumbent candidate, by all means vote for him / her. Remember, however, that those who have been in power for decades have been able to do so by being unified in their support of the party chosen. To counter this unity-of-purpose, the common citizen must have the same strength of unity, albeit, one focused on ousting the incumbents. The above is a strategy that will be the most effective at achieving this goal. Changes in the ways in which we, the voters, are routinely manipulated will never come from those who manipulate us. The next time you choose to feel discouraged about the 40%-45% of your hard earned gross dollars being taken from you and wasted, stolen, misused, et.al., by those who successfully manipulate you, consider trying this strategy at election time. If enough of your fellow citizens do so, the results will be enlightening."

Zina Murray, who has worked for Alderman Colon and > who submitted a > development proposal to the City for the MegaMall > has challenged the > nominating petitions of Esteban Burgoa and James > Villalpando. > > > > Campaigns and free speech are a fundamental of our > democracy, why is > Alderman Colon afraid of letting these 2 citizens > campaign? In the ETHICS section is the question: Who are your top 5 contributors and how much has each contributed to your campaign? Rey Colon's answer: 1. Armitage Produce $2,500 2. Zina Murray $2,500 3. Debit Connections $2,500 4. Balcor $2,500 5. Star Auto Group $2,500 Well Rey, that's a flat out lie. Developer Mark Fishman and his directly controlled property LLC's are Rey Colon's biggest recent contributions. On Nov 4, 2006, Colon received almost $7,000 in that single day from Mr. Fishman and his LLC's. Indisputable fact on IL Board of Election website D-2's. Mark Fishman and Fishman LLC contributions in 2006 1530 Kedzie LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 1832 N. Humboldt L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2114 Spaulding LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2118 N. Whipple L.L.C. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2134 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2142 Concord LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2319 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2330 N. Spaulding Ltd. 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2418 N. Sawyer L.L.C. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2515 Milwaukee LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 2516 N. Kedzie L.P. 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 2700 N. Spaulding 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3000 N. Whipple LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 3240 W. Fullerton Condo Association 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 3500 Green Bay LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 4715 N. Sheridan Rd 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 7500 SSD LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 E K W LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 ----- Stoofy's Doo LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $220.00 11/4/2006 Westgate Acquisitions LLC 3240 W Fullerton Ave Chicago, IL 60647 $225.00 11/4/2006 ----- M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 11/4/2006 M. Fishman & Co 3240 West Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 $1,500.00 7/27/2006 Rey, care to amend your IVI-IPO filing, or do you stick to this significant misrepresentation to public? Next- Rey's campaign manager is officially listed as Martha Ramos, his fiance since before the last election. Ms. Ramos is also the 35th Ward Chief of Staff, a full time City of Chicago position. Ms. Ramos is also realtor and President of Realty World Teemar, Inc in LSq on W. Fullerton. A person can indeed wear several hats at once. However, the potential for at least appearance of possible conflicts is obvious. Last- the flyer of allegations mailed regarding Alderman Colon's past was first attributed to challenger Vilma Colom and then to Mr. Burgoa. Since it exists, and so many have vented about accountability and candor recently and in the past, including inference of the crime of corruption against one of the current candidates expressed in 2005 by the current nonpartisan director of IVI-IPO

"Vilma,s not the one calling the shots, Rey is. Vilma is a Mell puppet. Rey with the eminent domain stuff and his donors doing their RFPs comes off either inept or corrupt. I can vote for inept, corrupt means Mell's little lap dog gets my vote. I don't mean to stick you in a trick bag, Rey's Campaign should make the thing clear. They haven't." agreed, but I suspect they never thought the owner would shell out the dough to fix up the place, that appears to be the wild card nobody expected. really, nobody comes out looking good here, and the ultimate losers are the taxpayers, who shouldn't be stuck paying the bills for all this crap.

Amen

Show Us the Money TIF districts are siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars away from schools and other city services, and nobody even has to tell us why. By Ben Joravsky February 4, 2005 The Fullerton/Milwaukee Tax Increment Financing district is raking in so much in property taxes that city officials have managed to spend only half the money. Yet they now want to expand the district and rake in even more. "How can they take more money if they haven't spent the money they have?" asks Carter O'Brien, who lives in Logan Square just outside the district. Good question. O'Brien's also wondering where the new money would be spent. As he and other city residents are learning, TIFs have generated huge sums, yet it's difficult to find out how much money's in a given TIF fund, much less how it's being spent. Jason Hardy, a researcher for the Center for Economic Policy Analysis, has spent years studying TIFs and probably knows as much about them as anyone. He doesn't like them. "They're very difficult to regulate," he says. TIFs were designed to fund development within their boundaries. The Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district runs roughly from Belmont to Armitage along Milwaukee, darting several blocks west along Fullerton and Armitage. The TIF was set up by the City Council to start on February 16, 2000, and won't end until 2023. For 23 years the amount of property taxes the city gets from the area for schools, parks, police, and other services is frozen at the amount it was getting on February 15, 2000. Any increase in property taxes from then until 2023 (the "increment") goes to the TIF. Of course since taxes will rise if the value of property in the area rises, property owners will see their taxes go up just as they would have without the TIF. According to the county clerk's office, which keeps track of these things, the area that's covered by the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district generated about $4.1 million in property taxes in 2000. It generated $6.7 million in 2003, so $4.1 million went to schools, etc, and the extra $2.6 million went into the TIF fund. Over the past four years a total of about $6 million has gone into the TIF--money that would otherwise have gone to fund schools, etc. What did the planning department, the main body deciding what TIF funds get spent on, do with the $6 million? According to city documents analyzed by the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a not-for-profit watchdog, the department set aside about $700,000 for grants to unnamed merchants who wanted to fix up their properties, and it earmarked another $2.45 million for the construction of a shopping strip at California and Armitage (there's no indication whether that was in loans or grants). It's not clear what, if anything, has happened to the remaining $3 million. In fact, it's not clear what happens to a lot of TIF money. There are now 131 TIF districts in Chicago, encompassing roughly 30 percent of the city's geographical area. According to the clerk's office, they siphoned off about $287 million in property taxes in 2003. To find out what I did about TIF spending I had to go to four different public agencies (the county treasurer, the county assessor, the county clerk, and the planning department) and two private ones (the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group and the Center for Economic Policy Analysis), then piece together the information. There's no overall TIF budget that has to be approved by the City Council, though the aldermen have to sign off on the regular city budget every year. There's no annual public hearing at which planning commissioner Denise Casalino lays out how her department intends to spend TIF money, though every year the department lays out for the public how it intends to spend its other funds. City, county, CTA, Park District, and Board of Education annual budgets are all openly scrutinized at public hearings, but not the TIF budgets. What's more, itemized tax bills sent to property owners in TIF districts state that the TIF receives none of their tax dollars (as I explained in my December 10 column). That's simply not true--if you own property in a TIF district, the TIF is getting some, or all, of your tax dollars, no matter what your bill says. If you want to know how much goes to the TIF, you have to do some complicated math using information collected by an obscure section of the county clerk's office--information that as far as I can see isn't available in any printed document or on the county's Web site. City and county officials say they don't have the computer technology to break out TIF expenditures on tax bills, but you have to wonder whether someone simply doesn't want taxpayers to know that TIFs are getting so much money at a time when schools are laying off teachers, the CTA's cutting service, and potholes aren't getting filled. Now, I don't want to suggest there's no oversight. The City Council, the Community Development Commission, the Chicago Plan Commission, and the Joint Review Board all have to approve the creation of a TIF district. But no proposed TIF has ever been scotched. All of the people sitting on the two commissions and the board are mayoral appointees or appointed by mayoral appointees, and they generally give the planning department whatever it asks for. When it comes to spending TIF funds, the board and the commissions pretty much drop out of the picture. The Plan Commission has to approve major projects but not their funding. The aldermen do have some say in how TIF funds are spent in their wards, but according to the ones I talked to, they often don't know what money's available or what it's being spent on. And when TIF districts cross ward boundaries they probably know even less. In short, the planning department seems to be handing a lot of taxpayer money to developers, architects, planners, consultants, and lawyers with very little oversight. Many activists think TIFs generate nothing more than a giant slush fund. When the state created the TIF program back in the 80s it enacted very specific guidelines. TIFs were intended only for "poor and blighted" communities that weren't going to get much private investment without one. Municipalities that set them up had to be very specific about what the money they took in was funding, and the state had to approve the projects. But state legislators and administrators long ago diluted those rules. A TIF district no longer needs to be poor and blighted--there are now TIFs in some of the city's wealthiest areas, including Lincoln Park and the Loop. There's no longer any requirement that the city reveal exactly how it plans to spend TIF money or that the state approve a project. When the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF was created it was championed by the planning department and Alderman Vilma Colom, whose 35th Ward contained most of the district. The stated purpose of the TIF was to spruce up the community. It never got any more specific than that. At a public hearing in 2000 the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, a prominent community group, gave the TIF its qualified support. Speaking for the association, Kathy Tholin asked the city to create a citizens' advisory committee to oversee the TIF and make sure funds weren't used to "create upscale housing," arguing that money that went to housing should be for affordable housing only. She also urged that TIF money be used to support three local public schools and "to expand job opportunities for local residents." In the five years since the TIF was created Colom has been voted out of office. No citizens' advisory board has been created, and it would be hard to create one because the TIF district now runs through five different wards, thanks to the 2001 redistricting. According to planning department documents, none of the money that's poured into the TIF has gone to local schools and none has been used for affordable housing. Yet Milwaukee Avenue looks much as it did five years ago. Planning department officials say they have no specific projects in mind in the area covered by the proposed TIF expansion, which would be primarily west along Belmont to Tripp and filling in along Milwaukee. But few of the activists believe them. "The city won't say what they're doing," says one, "so everyone's wondering what's really going on." He notes that the expanded TIF district will include the Mega Mall, a big, bargain-priced shopping center at 2500 N. Milwaukee that was left out of the original TIF district. He and other residents suspect the city wants to use TIF funds to replace the mall with a high-end retailer. They also worry that TIF funds could be used to finance upscale condos near Belmont and Pulaski. "There's a lot of speculation," says the activist. As with most TIF-related matters, the city only fuels such speculation by shrouding its plans in secrecy. Pete Scales, the planning department's press spokesman, didn't return calls for comment. On January 3 the department held a public meeting on the expansion. About 50 people showed up and barraged officials with questions. "They kept telling us that this was really a matter of just correcting the TIF, just putting in properties that should have been included in the first place--as if that was going to reassure us," says O'Brien. "From their perspective, the whole city should have been included in that first TIF. I kept asking, 'Why are you expanding the TIF if you don't know what you're doing with the old one?'" He was told the department was still looking at ideas.

..and who set up the TIF again without having any plan as to how the funds would be spent? oh, right - Vilma Colom.

HOMEOWNERS LOOK OUT! ZENA MURRAY WANTS TIF MONEY FOR THE MEGA MALL GUESS WHO WILL PAY THE BILL. YOU THE TAXPAYER. There was speculation a professional phone survey of Ward 35 voters was linked to Vilma Colom or Alderman Dick Mell, and big labor. Only last part appears correct, despite well informed assumptions including logansquare yahoo listserv Moderator. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/12835 The plot thickens >>>Moderator's comment: I got the same call this evening. Given the surveyor's difficulty with pronouncing "Colom," I believe this genuinely was a hired survey research firm. The question at the end summarizing the candidates' positions and background seemed somewhat biased in favor of Vilma, so i suspect thats who's paying big bucks for this.<<< From IL Board of elections filing, this was paid for by SEIU on behalf of Rey Colon campaign. SEIU Illinois Council PAC 111 E Wacker Dr Suite 2500 Chicago, IL 60601-4200 $ 8,400.00 3/27/2007 In-Kind Contribution Neighbors for Rey Colon polling: Bennett Petts & Normington 1010 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite 208 Washington, DC 20007 35th Ward election seems less about issues and instead rhetoric and misinformation from supporters of both candidates. A prime example is the City MegaMall TIF Redevelopment RFP. Rey Colon suppressed the Park Center plan supported by diverse coalition of community groups including voted support by business chambers of commerce, and The Center for Neighhborhood Technology, Friends of the Parks, State Rep. Toni Berrios..., plus thousands of LSq residents who voted overwhelming 75% support FOR a park opportunity. Rey Colon arrogantly ignored all that. Won't even hold a public meeting to get ideas and input. Instead, Colon is on record in full support of the City's continuing TIF mandate to seize the reopened MegaMall using eminent domain on behalf of private developer(s) who contributed $$$$ to him. Nov. 23, 2006 Tribune article on MegaMall http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11333 Follow the money: 35th Ward election http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/12141 Nov 2006 "public meeting" about City TIF enabled redevelopment of the Morris B Sachs (Payless Shoes) Building at Milwaukee / Diversey / Kimball was forced on Colon by public outcry against his and City's "done deal" plan for very expensive taxpayer funded retrofit as affordable housing / homeless SRO. City supportive housing SRO plan and Colon's Letter of Support is public record in Minutes of 9/26/2006 TIF Community Development Commission Meeting which approved City TIF purchase. Rey Colon stated to LSq community at his October "State of the Ward" address he decided to do this and "did not need a community meeting for all his decisions." Outcry and intense protest quickly changed Rey's public position. I do commend the Alderman for responding to the outcry and for seeing TIF as a tool to facilitate something with the long vacant Sachs Building. The SRO plan finally had public discussion and he sought other ideas for the Sachs Building. A few of us have urged Rey to include derelict Kimball/Dawson site into the TIF and the Sachs Building opportunity. Letter published in Chicago Journal about Sachs Building and 11/2006 public meeting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11512 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoganSquare/message/11514 Chicago Journal's coverage on Sachs Building / TIF redevelopment How about candidates' debate / discussion of ISSUES?! A City Council Alderman is not only local coordinator and "Godfather" for City services / zoning / development; but also is supposed to provde legislative oversight of Mayor and City Budget, out of control TIFs, CTA problems, spiraling real estate tax assessments (just wait til late summer 2nd half Cook County Property Tax Bills when ALL of the recent assessment increase hits property owners).....

""Show Us the Money TIF districts are siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars away from schools and other city services, and nobody even has to tell us why. By Ben Joravsky February 4, 2005 The Fullerton/Milwaukee Tax Increment Financing district is raking in so much in property taxes that city officials have managed to spend only half the money. Yet they now want to expand the district and rake in even more. "How can they take more money if they haven't spent the money they have?" asks Carter O'Brien, who lives in Logan Square just outside the district. Good question. O'Brien's also wondering where the new money would be spent. As he and other city residents are learning, TIFs have generated huge sums, yet it's difficult to find out how much money's in a given TIF fund, much less how it's being spent. Jason Hardy, a researcher for the Center for Economic Policy Analysis, has spent years studying TIFs and probably knows as much about them as anyone. He doesn't like them. "They're very difficult to regulate," he says. TIFs were designed to fund development within their boundaries. The Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district runs roughly from Belmont to Armitage along Milwaukee, darting several blocks west along Fullerton and Armitage. The TIF was set up by the City Council to start on February 16, 2000, and won't end until 2023. For 23 years the amount of property taxes the city gets from the area for schools, parks, police, and other services is frozen at the amount it was getting on February 15, 2000. Any increase in property taxes from then until 2023 (the "increment") goes to the TIF. Of course since taxes will rise if the value of property in the area rises, property owners will see their taxes go up just as they would have without the TIF. According to the county clerk's office, which keeps track of these things, the area that's covered by the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF district generated about $4.1 million in property taxes in 2000. It generated $6.7 million in 2003, so $4.1 million went to schools, etc, and the extra $2.6 million went into the TIF fund. Over the past four years a total of about $6 million has gone into the TIF--money that would otherwise have gone to fund schools, etc. What did the planning department, the main body deciding what TIF funds get spent on, do with the $6 million? According to city documents analyzed by the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group, a not-for-profit watchdog, the department set aside about $700,000 for grants to unnamed merchants who wanted to fix up their properties, and it earmarked another $2.45 million for the construction of a shopping strip at California and Armitage (there's no indication whether that was in loans or grants). It's not clear what, if anything, has happened to the remaining $3 million. In fact, it's not clear what happens to a lot of TIF money. There are now 131 TIF districts in Chicago, encompassing roughly 30 percent of the city's geographical area. According to the clerk's office, they siphoned off about $287 million in property taxes in 2003. To find out what I did about TIF spending I had to go to four different public agencies (the county treasurer, the county assessor, the county clerk, and the planning department) and two private ones (the Neighborhood Capital Budget Group and the Center for Economic Policy Analysis), then piece together the information. There's no overall TIF budget that has to be approved by the City Council, though the aldermen have to sign off on the regular city budget every year. There's no annual public hearing at which planning commissioner Denise Casalino lays out how her department intends to spend TIF money, though every year the department lays out for the public how it intends to spend its other funds. City, county, CTA, Park District, and Board of Education annual budgets are all openly scrutinized at public hearings, but not the TIF budgets. What's more, itemized tax bills sent to property owners in TIF districts state that the TIF receives none of their tax dollars (as I explained in my December 10 column). That's simply not true--if you own property in a TIF district, the TIF is getting some, or all, of your tax dollars, no matter what your bill says. If you want to know how much goes to the TIF, you have to do some complicated math using information collected by an obscure section of the county clerk's office, information that as far as I can see isn't available in any printed document or on the county's Web site. City and county officials say they don't have the computer technology to break out TIF expenditures on tax bills, but you have to wonder whether someone simply doesn't want taxpayers to know that TIFs are getting so much money at a time when schools are laying off teachers, the CTA's cutting service, and potholes aren't getting filled. Now, I don't want to suggest there's no oversight. The City Council, the Community Development Commission, the Chicago Plan Commission, and the Joint Review Board all have to approve the creation of a TIF district. But no proposed TIF has ever been scotched. All of the people sitting on the two commissions and the board are mayoral appointees or appointed by mayoral appointees, and they generally give the planning department whatever it asks for. When it comes to spending TIF funds, the board and the commissions pretty much drop out of the picture. The Plan Commission has to approve major projects but not their funding. The aldermen do have some say in how TIF funds are spent in their wards, but according to the ones I talked to, they often don't know what money's available or what it's being spent on. And when TIF districts cross ward boundaries they probably know even less. In short, the planning department seems to be handing a lot of taxpayer money to developers, architects, planners, consultants, and lawyers with very little oversight. Many activists think TIFs generate nothing more than a giant slush fund. When the state created the TIF program back in the 80s it enacted very specific guidelines. TIFs were intended only for "poor and blighted" communities that weren't going to get much private investment without one. Municipalities that set them up had to be very specific about what the money they took in was funding, and the state had to approve the projects. But state legislators and administrators long ago diluted those rules. A TIF district no longer needs to be poor and blighted--there are now TIFs in some of the city's wealthiest areas, including Lincoln Park and the Loop. There's no longer any requirement that the city reveal exactly how it plans to spend TIF money or that the state approve a project. When the Fullerton/Milwaukee TIF was created it was championed by the planning department and Alderman Vilma Colom, whose 35th Ward contained most of the district. The stated purpose of the TIF was to spruce up the community. It never got any more specific than that. At a public hearing in 2000, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, a prominent community group, gave the TIF its qualified support. Speaking for the association, Kathy Tholin asked the city to create a citizens' advisory committee to oversee the TIF and make sure funds weren't used to "create upscale housing," arguing that money that went to housing should be for affordable housing only. She also urged that TIF money be used to support three local public schools and "to expand job opportunities for local residents." In the five years since the TIF was created Colom has been voted out of office. No citizens' advisory board has been created, and it would be hard to create one because the TIF district now runs through five different wards, thanks to the 2001 redistricting. According to planning department documents, none of the money that's poured into the TIF has gone to local schools and none has been used for affordable housing. Yet Milwaukee Avenue looks much as it did five years ago. Planning department officials say they have no specific projects in mind in the area covered by the proposed TIF expansion, which would be primarily west along Belmont to Tripp and filling in along Milwaukee. But few of the activists believe them. "The city won't say what they're doing," says one, "so everyone's wondering what's really going on." He notes that the expanded TIF district will include the Mega Mall, a big, bargain-priced shopping center at 2500 N. Milwaukee that was left out of the original TIF district. He and other residents suspect the city wants to use TIF funds to replace the mall with a high-end retailer. They also worry that TIF funds could be used to finance upscale condos near Belmont and Pulaski. "There's a lot of speculation," says the activist. As with most TIF-related matters, the city only fuels such speculation by shrouding its plans in secrecy. Pete Scales, the planning department's press spokesman, didn't return calls for comment. On January 3 the department held a public meeting on the expansion. About 50 people showed up and barraged officials with questions. "They kept telling us that this was really a matter of just correcting the TIF, just putting in properties that should have been included in the first place--as if that was going to reassure us," says O'Brien. "From their perspective, the whole city should have been included in that first TIF. I kept asking, 'Why are you expanding the TIF if you don't know what you're doing with the old one?'" He was told the department was still looking at ideas."" Does anyone, with a brain that works, think that TIFs are anything other than a SLUSH FUND for political favors? Does anyone, with a brain that works, fail to understand that this is what we get when we continually allow the incumbents to engage in their 'long-term-planning'? Does anyone, with a brain that works, truly believe that our 'public servants' are acting in OUR 'best interests'? EVER? "WHEN IN DOUBT, VOTE THEM OUT Use the following formula to maximize the effectiveness of your vote: 1) The voter MUST know who the INCUMBENTS are. 2) NEVER VOTE FOR THE INCUMBENT. 3) If there is only ONE CHALLENGER, vote for that candidate. 4) If there are two or more challengers, then: a) If the incumbent is listed FIRST, then vote for the candidate who is listed LAST. b) If the incumbent is not listed first, then vote for the candidate who IS LISTED FIRST. Should you sincerely like an incumbent candidate, by all means vote for him / her. Remember, however, that those who have been in power for decades have been able to do so by being unified in their support of the party chosen. To counter this unity-of-purpose, the common citizen must have the same strength of unity, albeit, one focused on ousting the incumbents. The above is a strategy that will be the most effective at achieving this goal."

why are you instigating so much hatred in our community against Vilma Colom? She just wants to look after our best well being. She is inclusive, not exclusive. Vilma will work hard for all of us! Vilma is a teacher an edutator while Rey Colon..Criminal Record speaks loud and clear.. THIS IS THE RECORD REY COLON STANDS ON: November 18, 1984-charged with Possession of controlled Substance case# 84-1-1704092,IR#725000 TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

No, Vilma stated herself that she looked into it, and that those aren't all true. Sounds like it's time for an apology, Mr. Burgoa. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/lake/chi-0704100667apr11,1,7641121.sto\ ry "Colom has denied any role in the distribution of the materials, but since has conducted her own search of public records, she said. The search found no drugs or violence, but her campaign materials raise questions about Colon's driving record and past support of his two children." Like I give a flying f*** about his driving record or personal life. I see exactly ONE liar here - albeit posting under 20 names.

The man lie to the community. Now respect our point. the man said that is not me, now he says it is me. flip-flap. Remember that letter that he send out to the community that it was all lies fabricated against him back in february, well now the man says it is all true. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&...... Rey how about you stop crying like a little baby to the media that you are taking Vilma to court and tell the true to the voters of the 35Th Ward. You are not taking Vilma to court her case was dismissed. So why don't you are honest to our community? and take the challenge test with Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban and Villapando. lets walk to the Daley Plaza, pull your records and compare your social security to the archives and signatures as well Lets pull a FBI background under your name Reynaldo Rey Colon and a lie detector to find out if you are being honest or lying to the community. So stop talking and lying like a little kid to the community. The problem here is your behavior of not accepting the facts and lying to the community. How about the corruption taking money from the business community I am sure the FBI would love to talk to you regarding this matter Rey Colon. Stop trying to hide your criminal record under Vilma Colom and come out to the challenge. Does Rey Colon has the guts to take an FBI background check with a lie detector in front of Vilma, Sotomayor, Esteban Villapando with the media standing by!

...reveal how desperate she is. She really must be missing that $98K salary and pension plan. I wonder why she dislikes her current job of helping out disadvantaged youth & women offenders??? It seems like she could have much more of an impact in that position. Or is she really working??? I think she is just sitting on a couch, eating ice cream, and scheming on how to sling mud at anyone & everyone that is against her.

What part of this is unclear? "Colom has denied any role in the distribution of the materials, but since has conducted her own search of public records, she said. The search found NO DRUGS OR VIOLENCE, but her campaign materials raise questions about Colon's driving record and past support of his two children."

All those charges were a bunch of lies against myself by my opponents. Remember the letter he send out? Now the man says it is true. Who lie to the community? Rey Colon Who got caught doing the lie to the community Rey Colon. Now Rey Colon is trying to blame Vilma for uncovering his lies. Rey colon you did it to yourself!

"I wonder why she dislikes her current job of helping out disadvantaged youth & women offenders??? It seems like she could have much more of an impact in that position." So, the aldermen/women, city council, mayor's office, et.al., have LESS of an impact on "helping out disadvantaged youth & women offenders"?

you would have to be deaf, dumb, & blind to think that an alderman can have more of an impact on the disadvantaged youth than a DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES. The alderman position is busy coordinating alley cleanings and rubbing shoulders with developers and city despots.

Remember 4 years ago when she closed the alderman office entirely for weeks on end right after she lost the election in a disgraceful manner? What was she thinking??? I don't think she does think...I think she is a robot without any human emotion, programmed by Mell & the Machine. Remember how she treated the community when they asked Vilma not to accept slimy Mell's deal to bring a gargantuan Home Depot to their backyard? SHE TOLD THEM TO F___ OFF! This is a rude lady that is making monumental decisions that adversely impact people's homes...I wonder what she would have done if her home was across the street. Vilma will fight for white-collar, corporate millionaires, and lifetime shady politicians. SHE WILL NOT FIGHT FOR YOU & ME, THE HUMBLE WORKERS OF THIS WARD.

What 'humble' workers are you referring to? Rey's city payroll lackeys?

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5193768

The Pump Room The reason the store has a For Rent sign is that we are looking to sublease the space. We can barely make the rent! The store next door is leaving and the one next to that plans to leave too. Scare-Y for the strip. We were doing really good right after our move but the economy seemed to just tank in the middle of 2006 and it has been disastrous. We do NOT want to close, just move to a cheaper place. This may mean leaving the neighborhood, but I cannot afford to keep "bleeding" like this. I want to say Thanks to everyone who came by and patronized/patronizes or business. We appreciate your support. We have been featured in: Metromix Sun Times Drop Zone Chicago Tribune Red Eye npr, 91.5 FM, wbez Maybe it was the stripper pole? Maybe Mirca's dance on the pole? But...popularity has never been a problem for us....just the bills! People love the store but that just does not pay the bills.....y'know what I mean????? This is the saddest part of all of this. So many people want these new businesses to come to the strip, but, in my experience, the most vocal people do not even use the strip! ????????? Something BIG and different needs to happen there. Whatever happened to the Trader Joe's possibilities???? I was hoping to get my $2Buck Chuck Wine(Charles Shaw)and my Organic Vodka Sauce closer to home! :( Can't say we didn't try. If anyone knows someone looking for a storefront, 2630 N Milwaukee Avenue is 1,200 s.f., plus basement (another 1,200 s.f.) for $3,500/month. Please have them call me for a potential sublease. Any help with this will be greatly appreciated. Dulce Ramos licensed real estate broker owner of The PUMP Room Boutique 773-719-7100 --- In LoganSquare@yahoogroups.com, "KATHERINE ANDERSON" wrote: > > speaking of, i noticed a for rent sign in the pump room window recently. > what's going on?...

... that we haven't heard Vilma bragging about all of her accomplishments as "a DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES"

I have to say that I'm outright stunned to hear that Rey Colon has come forward to ACKNOWLEDGE that the anonymous mailing regarding his allegations are in deed factual. I have a three letter word for that and it's W-O-W. I cannot comprehend why he lied to the constituents of the 35th ward. A honorable person would admit to the wrong doings. However, he continually went on record to say the allegations were not true. In my eyes, Rey Colon is a FAKE! He will never get my vote and I encourage others to also not give him your vote. As citizens its our responsibility to vote on April 17th, therefore, get out there and vote. To see the video or read the article, please visit http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&... Renee Arundale

Democracy works when people care for their country and not their pockets.I will not support a liar who lie to your face not once but twice. I will not support a candidate that bribes the business community, it is anti-democratic to put money in my friends pockets and not for the benefit of the community. I will not support a dea-beat-dad who did not pay child support to his own flesh and denied having the child. I will not support a Drunk who got caught and was given a DUI. I will not support a person who continue to drive without a license 9 times. I will not support an Alderman who lies that crime is down when in reality is up. More than 15,000.00 incidents and counting in four year I will not support a person who supports crime. If you want this to continue in our community I urge you to vote for REY COLON. But my vote will go for a decent person and not a criminal!

Vilma really is clueless, only she could lie straight-faced saying that crime down...when data (scientifically collected truth) says the opposite. I bet she believes the Earth was created in 6 days also. Support Vilma and you support stupidity and idiots looking for patronage handouts...not to mention that weirdo Esteban Burgoa. SCARY!

2912 N. Sacramento In the battle of the Senior Citizen vs. Suburban Developer, I’ve been told that the Suburban Developer has won, and that the zoning change has gone through city council. A suburban developer, Corneliu Moldoveanu, applied for zoning change to build a 6 unit condominium at 2912 N. Sacramento. The community representatives on the zoning committee (ZAC) opposed the change because there was no reason for it. The building to be demolished is a nice 2 flat brick building. It is one of a pair of buildings set back in the lot, and together, they are attractive buildings, similar to most of the 2 flats in Logan Square. At the Alderman’s community meeting there was unanimous agreement that the change should not be granted. The developer then came back with a revised plan for a 4 flat. Rather presenting it to his zoning committee (ZAC) for consideration, the Alderman posted notices of a second community meeting to discuss the new proposal. At this second public meeting, approximately 15 neighbors, including the owner of the building next door, Walter Sopala., opposed the change. There were 4 people in favor. All were from the condominium down the block. 2 were moving to San Diego and selling their unit. 1 was an investor renting units in the condo building. Despite the community’s objections, and without discussion with the ZAC, the Alderman agreed to the zoning change. When Mr. Sopala asked the Alderman why he granted the change, he said, “The ZAC chairman recommended it.” Mr. Sopala’s family has lived in their home since 1949. He is 78 years old. Colon’s actions have ruined his life. Walter’s set-back house with its great green front yard will now be looking out at asphalt parking lots. The historic character of the block will be ruined. A brick 2 flat with an affordable rental unit is being torn down to benefit a suburban developer and add to the over supply of condominiums in a deteriorating real estate market. Why is this Alderman supporting mindless real estate development over his own constituents? Who does he represent? Does he plan to tear down all the older brick two flats in Logan Square?

Dear Dead Beat . . . You need to check your sources and learn how to read. I read the bull-shit lies Vilma printed. Those documents are the same I filed to assure child support payments when I got a divorce. Those documents only prove that Rey Colon paid child support. Crime is down. I wish crime could some how - disappear. But, what do you think are the chances of crime disappearing. A suspended license do not make anyone a criminal. The worst it gives you is a bad driving record. If you would read and inform yourself properly you will learn that anyone can get arrested on a DUI and have only drank one glass of wine. I do not support ignorance, and ghetto politicians, that only attract ghetto supporters that participate in low class campaigns. I will vote for the most dignified candidate, that I know will not embarrass the community I live in. My vote will go to Rey Colon.

Democracy works when people care for their country and not their pockets.I will not support a liar who lie to your face not once but twice. I will not support a candidate that bribes the business community, it is anti-democratic to put money in my friends pockets and not for the benefit of the community. I will not support a dea-beat-dad who did not pay child support to his own flesh and denied having the child. I will not support a Drunk who got caught and was given a DUI. I will not support a person who continue to drive without a license 9 times. I will not support an Alderman who lies that crime is down when in reality is up. More than 15,000.00 incidents and counting in four year I will not support a person who supports crime. If you want this to continue in our community I urge you to vote for REY COLON. But my vote will go for a decent person and not a criminal!

TWO REASONS NOT TO VOTE FOR REY COLON: DOES NOT PAY BILLS UNTIL JUDGEMENT IS PUT ON HIS HOUSE Case#89-M-176755/Dental Bills Case#-MI-100725/Hospital Bills Case#95-MI109976/Gas Bill Case#90-MI-168014/Rent January 18, 1985-Charged with thef case#85-111-130001 January 2,1987-Charged with DUI/Alcohol ticket#5320914 June 13,1990 charge with Mob Action Case #90-131-0773 June 2 1992 Charge with Possesion of Cannabis-6/29/92 Bond Forfeiture, defendant rearrested 8/4/93, 9/15/93 Bond Forfeiture defebdant rearrested 1998 December 1995- Charged with Statury Summary Suspension a.k.a An administrative procedure after a driver arrested for DUI who fails testing or who refuses to submit to fails to complete testing-Ticket#121792 September 28,1996-His license was revoked until July 9,1997 rey was arrested eight times driving on a suspended license and has numerous sppeding tickets on his driving record. HE DIDN'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT UNTIL HIS WAGES WERE GARNISHED. HIS WIFE WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND HE WAS SUBJECT TO REASONABLE VISITATION CASE#93-D-4219 THIS IS REY'S TRUE RECORD!DO YOU WANT AN ALDERMAN WITH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND? REY DOESN'T OBEY THE LAW...SO HOW CAN HE REPRESENT THE LAW

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=politics&id=5193768

So, let's all write in GOD and see if He'll show up when He's elected.

Its good to see Rey and his supporters are giving him credit for the drop in crime. I guess it doesn't have much to do with gentrification.

THE POICE IS LOOKING FOR CARTER. HE WORKS FOR REY COLON.

Well, we'll all know, 24 hours from now, who'll be kissing Daley's ass for the next 4 years, with or without much resistance. Annnnnnnnd....... THERE OFF!!!

I want the teacher for alderman, Vilma is more honest to the community. Rey colon is going to jail for corruption. I hear the FBI is after him. It is just matter of time.

"......is going to jail for corruption. I hear the FBI is after him. It is just matter of time." Don't you mean YOU WILL?

You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

What an idiot...I wonder when her connections to Esteban will surface? http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/415690,CST-NWS-bomb06.article