This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
Someone sent in this link as a comment which I have posted but for morre visibility, I thought in the matter of public safety, I would make in a posting by the blog.
42 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Lois, you dont understand. These are magic charity concerts where no one does drugs, no one overdoses, and only kind decent visitors come to spend money in our community.
Interesting part of this article states "Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, a federal law that can hold accountable any company, manager or individual who knowingly allows drug use on their premises".
You would think the City of Peru would want to use drug sniffing dogs and other measures to ensure the City of Peru does not get sued by some family who has a family member overdoses and die at a concert at the airport.
If there is blatant pot smoking at these concerts and the police are looking the other way, as another blogger posted, there is trouble ahead for the City of Peru.
As often stated "How can the government knowingly break the laws it creates which results in it being the most imperfect example? The government and its agencies should take it upon itself to be the role model of society. If someone uses illegal drugs and law enforcement does not confront the situation how many individuals have broke the law and who is the worst? Illegal public drug usage is just one law of many which a blind eye is utilized when practiced in certain environment. Good government is proactive not reactive waiting until a complaint is registered.
I think it says volumes that the promoter clearly posts everywhere and enforces no outside food, no sitting on chairs, no partying in the lot, and absolutely no video.
The strikedown of the Illinois laws on video really has made it interesting now. Drug use and open toleration of it could probably be taped and posted now without fear it would be tossed in criminal or civil court. I would love to have a few attorneys weigh in on this. There could be no expected privacy n such a venue, and other than the performance itself, what would be protected?
Anon 7:04 Good questions and since the elected officials of Peru government have become involved in a big way questions which they should acknowledge, research and publicly answer. Are there professionals to address drug and alcohol problems and if so what are the numbers they attend to per concert? What are the laws pertaining to public safety when 5,000 people are in attendance?
Everyone should read the derailed safety plan developed by the chiefs right hand man. Mr Perez thought it was excellent. It certainly took a great deal of time to put together, when by ordinance it was the promoters responsibility.
It is quite expensive to pay for such plans in the private sector. Most insurance companies like to review them to determine premiums for riders. I wonder how many FOIA requests have been made to see it.
Fantastic, there is a plan. now the question is will the plan be administrated politically or is it going to be enforced? Up to now everything has been extremely wishy washy. By plan ,once again, how many medical professionals will have to be at the concert for medical, drug and alcohal problems? What % of concert profit is paid to the promoter and what % is paid to the venue promoter Mary? What does the city collect in taxes?
Who is the Chief's right hand man? If by ordinance the promoter has this responsibility did she pay the man hours it took or is this another "in kind" private privilage granted?
7:28 Yes major concert venues always tell OSHA they dont need evacuation plans or safety plans. Stadiums dont spend thousands on drills and chain of command during events. No first aid has to be planned, no evacuation routes. Nobody ever gets sued afterward when injuries occur at large events.
Because everybody just uses common sense and people dont hurt other people. Do you sell tickets to your little fairytale land?
@11:36PM Sure I can live by it, until the day I or someone else substains a life long injury in the concert parking lot which is under the supervision of city officials. Possibly I or someone else can no longer work to support my wife and three children. John Law steps into the equation and teaches you just how stupid your rule is in the last and present centuries. Worse yet John Law asks to see the training program that the city officials have when he proves that their decisions have a direct affect upon the injury or death. Also since it has happened on city property which is completely unprepared and previously a farmers field. Of course all pray that this or any other similar situation never occurs but their is no assurance it won't.
More of the same rumors. There has always been a safety plan for the concerts and police presence at every major event. And police enforce laws that are broken. I would imagine that at every event with 5,000 people you will have some that will over-indulge, that is fact. If problems arise, as in any event, they will be taken care of. Its not Woodstock!
If there were a serious accident or injury at the Concerts for a Profit I would be very surprised if it were ever allowed to be made public by the current city officials. As we all know, Peru "appears" to be "impervious" to bad press and unfavorable public relations stories in the local Fish-Wrapper. A legitimate newspaper, The Chicago Tribune reported in yesterday's Sunday Edition on an investigation being conducted by the FBI in three suburban cities. The report gave details on who was being investigated and other details. Why is it that an FBI investigation into "questionable" payroll improprieties by Peru elected officials and employees is not worthy of a story in the the local newspaper?
11:31 There is no story. What Peru officials are you talking about? The newspaper covered it completely by stating in several articles that there was one questionable incident by one city official with one employee. City officials have no ability to cover-up any serious accident or injury, its called freedom of the press.
Friday night on 20/20 was very interesting. There was a story regarding resumes of people. Basically it said that employers don't investigate people's resumes. Most resumes are falsified or pumped up to make the applicant seem qualified for a job in which they apply for. Fake degrees, etc.. are on resumes. What's is our city's policy regarding to applicants/resumes for jobs? 20/20 was very enlightening regarding this. Don't trust people who lie is my opinion or are dishonest in their resume or interviewing process. Download the 20/20 episode.
It would be comical if there were drug sniffing dogs at the entrance to the parking area for these concerts, imagine how many concert goers would keep on driving by and throw their stash out the window and return a couple minutes later and enter the parking lot. Estimate? 100 vehicles? Or more?
I am very confident there was no formal written safety plan by the city of Peru for the concerts prior to Kid Rock. That was prepared for that concert by the chiefs assistant, according to Alderman Perez in a statement on this blog. I am certain the promoter had no written safety plan and no minutes from safety meetings. These are the documents requested when preparing lawsuits if accidents happen. They cost a lot in time and money to prepare and implement. Recording the minutes from meetings before and reviews after to improve the plan are pretty standard. But if its not documented it didnr happen, at least before a judge and jury. It womt be blog posts that stop these concetts. It will sadly be one accident and one decent lawyer.
Overpaid teachers? If the job is such an easy one for the great money 5:33 then why dont you sign up and go back to school and get an easy teaching job?
No 2:02 pm, It's called unprofessionalism and journalistic apathy. As well as a complete lack of integrity on the part of the editorial board of the "Daily Disappointment". Shame on them for not reporting on the investigation. And also 2:02 pm, don't even try to tell me that they reported the story accurately and in depth. A couple of sentences with Harl telling the reporter that he didn't know anythiong about FBI agents in the clerks office collecting and removing records. Do you think a couple of direct questions to the Mayor by the reporter might have been considered standard procedure when the FBI comes to your city hall? Get real. You get more facts on this blog then you do in that rag of a newspaper.
I don't understand how the paper can report on a FBI investigation. The FBI surely would not be informing the paper about the investigation. I would suspect that we would not be informed of any findings until the investigation is completed and charges are made if they find reason to make and process charges.
The answer usually is that there is a problem with the video and Connecting Point is working to fix it. I expect you would get the same answer again, if you asked. Very few people could remain on the job when they have so many problems doing it right. I don't understand the city putting up with in competence again and again. After all they are spending your money and not their own, maybe that is the difference.
To 9:31 pm, You are correct. Of course the FBI will make no comment about an ongoing investigation. My point is that a credible newspaper does not wait for the story to come to them, they go to the story. The Chicago Tribune article I mentioned about a similar investigation near Chicago is an "investigative" report that involves the reporters doing their own investigation and examination of the records. That's what real reporters do. That's what real journalistic ethics demands of an editorial board of a real newspaper as far as I am concerned. There should be no reason for a local newspaper or radio station to not be doing independent investigations in cases like this. I'm not talking about writing a few sentences from a report from a retired judge or a five word "canned" quote from the State's Attorney's office. I'm talking about in-depth reporting and tough questions asked of the individuals involved as well as tough questions for aldermen and others. I want to know how they see this situation impacting the city of Peru. I want to know what they have to say about the suggestion by some that the Balestri Report was a farce and a sham investigation designed to make the whole mess just go away so that Peru nwould not be exposed for corruption. I want these questions asked and reported on in detail. I want quotes from the City Clerk. I want quotes from the City Treasurer. I want quotes from the senior alderman. I want a whole series of stories looking back on the Baker administration and its use of city labor at the privately owned Westclox as well as the current Harl payroll scandal. No, I'm not going to ask any of these questions to any of these people on my own because that will produce nothing but lip service. There is no investigative reporter in my house. Sadly, there doesn't appear to be any at the News Tribune either.
6:34 I have to agree with you there. But the city's heavy involvement in what would be much more a private venture anywhere else leaves a much stronger paper trail, or lack thereof. If you request documents and public safety meeting minutes and get none, having them magically appear later casts extreme doubt. Also, you have to get everybody telling the same lie. If nothing else, the FBI investigation has shown how hard that is to do.
Lois, in a age of the only limitation on technical execellence is the amount you want to spend I believe the problem is political rather than incompetence. My reason being that non controversal meetings the equipment never fails but once a meeting becomes controversal and confrontation is evident the video equipment takes a "poop", stinks up the place and goes the way of the Black Hole and Closed Sessions. This situation is more of a we'll inform the people of what we want and not inform the people of what we don't want.
@7:19 AM from 9:31 PM, Thank you for your very well thought out and sensible explanation. I take your answer as truthful fact and would only reopen question if newspaper would answer your explanation with a feature article in the News Tribune. Being a resident of LaSalle Peru area I am much more interested in what the FBI is doing in the Illinois Valley than I am in customary articles such as what the price of lard is in Alaska or the pollen count in New Mexico.
The problem with an investigation from a newspaper is nobody has to answer their questions, whereas the FBI would be a different matter. I can tell that if the FBI comes back with nothing on their report to say there was no wrong doing going on, your going to say they were bought off. So is Mr. Perez going to turn it over to the NSA, or CIA? Wait for the report, then give your opinions!
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY? Did Harl appoint whoever it is? Would this answer any questions? Don't we have a safety officer? Who is it? I thought I read something at some point.
To 6:32 pm, A "smidgen"? Really? I must disagree with your description pertaining to the level of impropriety in Peru. I believe the level of impropriety in Peru to be "substantial". Now, impropriety does not necessarily equal illegality. There-in lies the real debate. Just because some elected officials overstep their authority and are in effect incompetent and ineffective leaders, that does not always translate into federal indictments. In the case of Peru's payroll scandal I can only say I am very anxious to see how it all plays out. VERY anxious indeed! How about you 6:32 pm, are you anxious? I bet you are.
8:55 Your tone changes each and every time. First you were calling out for Federal indictments, then your stripes changed to illegal activities, then they changed to ethic breaches, now its just a overstep of the responsibilities! Is it quite possible that that same paranoia personality disorder is getting the best of you? Did you remember that payroll scandal that was reported on by the newspaper? It didin't say anything about Peru leaders, it only suggested that the Mayor may have misjudged his responsibilities. Nothing was noted about any other city official including the clerk, treasurer or alderman. If there is a FBI investigation, it may be the longest investigation since the dissappearence of Jimmy Hoffa. Or its quite possible that they were sent on a fiction filled account of your imagination. At this point it looks like throwing sh-- at a fan isn't working.
3 dead in a rap concert shooting outdoors. There have been lots of initiatives to have a set of safety rules enforced for large outdoor concerts. The indoor venues hate the fact outdoor ones can be put on and skirt so many things the real venues have to do. There was a study done a while back that compared deaths and severe injuries at outdoor concerts per 8 hour shift like they do when they check out industries for OSHA. Guess where they ranked lol? Yes, you got it right. We have all been to them. Tons of fun, no doubt, but generally run by unqualified people.
42 comments:
Lois, you dont understand. These are magic charity concerts where no one does drugs, no one overdoses, and only kind decent visitors come to spend money in our community.
Those kind of things only happen in the big city.
Interesting part of this article states "Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003, a federal law that can hold accountable any company, manager or individual who knowingly allows drug use on their premises".
You would think the City of Peru would want to use drug sniffing dogs and other measures to ensure the City of Peru does not get sued by some family who has a family member overdoses and die at a concert at the airport.
If there is blatant pot smoking at these concerts and the police are looking the other way, as another blogger posted, there is trouble ahead for the City of Peru.
As often stated "How can the government knowingly break the laws it creates which results in it being the most imperfect example?
The government and its agencies should take it upon itself to be the role model of society. If someone uses illegal drugs and law enforcement does not confront the situation how many individuals have broke the law and who is the worst? Illegal public drug usage is just one law of many which a blind eye is utilized when practiced in certain environment. Good government is proactive not reactive waiting until a complaint is registered.
I think it says volumes that the promoter clearly posts everywhere and enforces no outside food, no sitting on chairs, no partying in the lot, and absolutely no video.
The strikedown of the Illinois laws on video really has made it interesting now. Drug use and open toleration of it could probably be taped and posted now without fear it would be tossed in criminal or civil court. I would love to have a few attorneys weigh in on this. There could be no expected privacy n such a venue, and other than the performance itself, what would be protected?
Anon 7:04 Good questions and since the elected officials of Peru government have become involved in a big way questions which they should acknowledge, research and publicly answer.
Are there professionals to address drug and alcohol problems and if so what are the numbers they attend to per concert? What are the laws pertaining to public safety when 5,000 people are in attendance?
Everyone should read the derailed safety plan developed by the chiefs right hand man. Mr Perez thought it was excellent. It certainly took a great deal of time to put together, when by ordinance it was the promoters responsibility.
It is quite expensive to pay for such plans in the private sector. Most insurance companies like to review them to determine premiums for riders. I wonder how many FOIA requests have been made to see it.
Fantastic, there is a plan. now the question is will the plan be administrated politically or is it going to be enforced?
Up to now everything has been extremely wishy washy.
By plan ,once again, how many medical professionals will have to be at the concert for medical, drug and alcohal problems?
What % of concert profit is paid to the promoter and what % is paid to the venue promoter Mary? What does the city collect in taxes?
Who is the Chief's right hand man? If by ordinance the promoter has this responsibility did she pay the man hours it took or is this another "in kind" private privilage granted?
7:28. Laws pertaining public safety? You must be joking. It's called don't hurt other people. Is that a rule you can live by?
7:28 Yes major concert venues always tell OSHA they dont need evacuation plans or safety plans. Stadiums dont spend thousands on drills and chain of command during events. No first aid has to be planned, no evacuation routes. Nobody ever gets sued afterward when injuries occur at large events.
Because everybody just uses common sense and people dont hurt other people. Do you sell tickets to your little fairytale land?
@11:36PM Sure I can live by it, until the day I or someone else substains a life long injury in the concert parking lot which is under the supervision of city officials. Possibly I or someone else can no longer work to support my wife and three children. John Law steps into the equation and teaches you just how stupid your rule is in the last and present centuries. Worse yet John Law asks to see the training program that the city officials have when he proves that their decisions have a direct affect upon the injury or death. Also since it has happened on city property which is completely unprepared and previously a farmers field. Of course all pray that this or any other similar situation never occurs but their is no assurance it won't.
More of the same rumors. There has always been a safety plan for the concerts and police presence at every major event. And police enforce laws that are broken.
I would imagine that at every event with 5,000 people you will have some that will over-indulge, that is fact. If problems arise, as in any event, they will be taken care of. Its not Woodstock!
If there were a serious accident or injury at the Concerts for a Profit I would be very surprised if it were ever allowed to be made public by the current city officials. As we all know, Peru "appears" to be "impervious" to bad press and unfavorable public relations stories in the local Fish-Wrapper. A legitimate newspaper, The Chicago Tribune reported in yesterday's Sunday Edition on an investigation being conducted by the FBI in three suburban cities. The report gave details on who was being investigated and other details.
Why is it that an FBI investigation into "questionable" payroll improprieties by Peru elected officials and employees is not worthy of a story in the the local newspaper?
11:31 There is no story. What Peru officials are you talking about? The newspaper covered it completely by stating in several articles that there was one questionable incident by one city official with one employee. City officials have no ability to cover-up any serious accident or injury, its called freedom of the press.
Friday night on 20/20 was very interesting. There was a story regarding resumes of people. Basically it said that employers don't investigate people's resumes. Most resumes are falsified or pumped up to make the applicant seem qualified for a job in which they apply for. Fake degrees, etc.. are on resumes. What's is our city's policy regarding to applicants/resumes for jobs? 20/20 was very enlightening regarding this. Don't trust people who lie is my opinion or are dishonest in their resume or interviewing process. Download the 20/20 episode.
It would be comical if there were drug sniffing dogs at the entrance to the parking area for these concerts, imagine how many concert goers would keep on driving by and throw their stash out the window and return a couple minutes later and enter the parking lot. Estimate? 100 vehicles? Or more?
I am very confident there was no formal written safety plan by the city of Peru for the concerts prior to Kid Rock.
That was prepared for that concert by the chiefs assistant, according to Alderman Perez in a statement on this blog.
I am certain the promoter had no written safety plan and no minutes from safety meetings. These are the documents requested when preparing lawsuits if accidents happen.
They cost a lot in time and money to prepare and implement. Recording the minutes from meetings before and reviews after to improve the plan are pretty standard. But if its not documented it didnr happen, at least before a judge and jury.
It womt be blog posts that stop these concetts. It will sadly be one accident and one decent lawyer.
In the news -- LP organ is very rare! PUT IT ON E-BAY AND PAY SOME BILLS AND SALARIES ON OVERPAID TEACHERS!!!
Paper documentation is a defense attorneys dream. However, that can be altered. Just say'in.
Overpaid teachers? If the job is such an easy one for the great money 5:33 then why dont you sign up and go back to school and get an easy teaching job?
No 2:02 pm, It's called unprofessionalism and journalistic apathy. As well as a complete lack of integrity on the part of the editorial board of the "Daily Disappointment".
Shame on them for not reporting on the investigation.
And also 2:02 pm, don't even try to tell me that they reported the story accurately and in depth. A couple of sentences with Harl telling the reporter that he didn't know anythiong about FBI agents in the clerks office collecting and removing records. Do you think a couple of direct questions to the Mayor by the reporter might have been considered standard procedure when the FBI comes to your city hall? Get real. You get more facts on this blog then you do in that rag of a newspaper.
I don't understand how the paper can report on a FBI investigation. The FBI surely would not be informing the paper about the investigation. I would suspect that we would not be informed of any findings until the investigation is completed and charges are made if they find reason to make and process charges.
The most recent city council meeting on video is from 5-19-14. there was a meeting on 6-2-14 but it has not been posted as yet? Why?
9:45 PM
The answer usually is that there is a problem with the video and Connecting Point is working to fix it. I expect you would get the same answer again, if you asked.
Very few people could remain on the job when they have so many problems doing it right.
I don't understand the city putting up with in competence again and again. After all they are spending your money and not their own, maybe that is the difference.
Get comcast the can upload in minutes...saw comcast guy comig out of city hall today...maybe connecting point is headed to final resting place
To 9:31 pm, You are correct. Of course the FBI will make no comment about an ongoing investigation. My point is that a credible newspaper does not wait for the story to come to them, they go to the story. The Chicago Tribune article I mentioned about a similar investigation near Chicago is an "investigative" report that involves the reporters doing their own investigation and examination of the records. That's what real reporters do. That's what real journalistic ethics demands of an editorial board of a real newspaper as far as I am concerned. There should be no reason for a local newspaper or radio station to not be doing independent investigations in cases like this. I'm not talking about writing a few sentences from a report from a retired judge or a five word "canned" quote from the State's Attorney's office. I'm talking about in-depth reporting and tough questions asked of the individuals involved as well as tough questions for aldermen and others. I want to know how they see this situation impacting the city of Peru. I want to know what they have to say about the suggestion by some that the Balestri Report was a farce and a sham investigation designed to make the whole mess just go away so that Peru nwould not be exposed for corruption. I want these questions asked and reported on in detail. I want quotes from the City Clerk. I want quotes from the City Treasurer. I want quotes from the senior alderman. I want a whole series of stories looking back on the Baker administration and its use of city labor at the privately owned Westclox as well as the current Harl payroll scandal. No, I'm not going to ask any of these questions to any of these people on my own because that will produce nothing but lip service. There is no investigative reporter in my house. Sadly, there doesn't appear to be any at the News Tribune either.
6:34 I have to agree with you there. But the city's heavy involvement in what would be much more a private venture anywhere else leaves a much stronger paper trail, or lack thereof.
If you request documents and public safety meeting minutes and get none, having them magically appear later casts extreme doubt. Also, you have to get everybody telling the same lie. If nothing else, the FBI investigation has shown how hard that is to do.
Lois, in a age of the only limitation on technical execellence is the amount you want to spend I believe the problem is political rather than incompetence. My reason being that non controversal meetings the equipment never fails but once a meeting becomes controversal and confrontation is evident the video equipment takes a "poop", stinks up the place and goes the way of the Black Hole and Closed Sessions. This situation is more of a we'll inform the people of what we want and not inform the people of what we don't want.
About an hour ago the tennis court was officially reopened at 28th street park and already it is being enjoyed by tennis players.
@7:19 AM from 9:31 PM, Thank you for your very well thought out and sensible explanation. I take your answer as truthful fact and would only reopen question if newspaper would answer your explanation with a feature article in the News Tribune.
Being a resident of LaSalle Peru area I am much more interested in what the FBI is doing in the Illinois Valley than I am in customary articles such as what the price of lard is in Alaska or the pollen count in New Mexico.
The problem with an investigation from a newspaper is nobody has to answer their questions, whereas the FBI would be a different matter. I can tell that if the FBI comes back with nothing on their report to say there was no wrong doing going on, your going to say they were bought off. So is Mr. Perez going to turn it over to the NSA, or CIA? Wait for the report, then give your opinions!
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY? Did Harl appoint whoever it is? Would this answer any questions? Don't we have a safety officer? Who is it? I thought I read something at some point.
Funny how the government always looses things that embarrass or implicates them.... sort of like the "lost" IRS emails.
There is not a smidgen of impropriety going on here!
To 6:32 pm, A "smidgen"? Really? I must disagree with your description pertaining to the level of impropriety in Peru. I believe the level of impropriety in Peru to be "substantial".
Now, impropriety does not necessarily equal illegality. There-in lies the real debate. Just because some elected officials overstep their authority and are in effect incompetent and ineffective leaders, that does not always translate into federal indictments. In the case of Peru's payroll scandal I can only say I am very anxious to see how it all plays out. VERY anxious indeed!
How about you 6:32 pm, are you anxious? I bet you are.
8:55 Your tone changes each and every time. First you were calling out for Federal indictments, then your stripes changed to illegal activities, then they changed to ethic breaches, now its just a overstep of the responsibilities! Is it quite possible that that same paranoia personality disorder is getting the best of you? Did you remember that payroll scandal that was reported on by the newspaper? It didin't say anything about Peru leaders, it only suggested that the Mayor may have misjudged his responsibilities. Nothing was noted about any other city official including the clerk, treasurer or alderman. If there is a FBI investigation, it may be the longest investigation since the dissappearence of Jimmy Hoffa. Or its quite possible that they were sent on a fiction filled account of your imagination. At this point it looks like throwing sh-- at a fan isn't working.
8:55 - the 6:32 comment is a sarcastic quote. President Obama used those words when questioned about the IRS scandal.
To 4:10 pm, Are you anxious? Becuase you sound very Anxious.
I can honestly say that I am anxious. Are you in fact.....................anxious?
Thank you 8:47pm. My bad on missing the sarcasm. Int hat case, nevermind!
Wasn't Kristy going to start a blog showing just how badly the airport has been used by Peru? I would love to read that when its up.
Rumor is she is working on it.
3 dead in a rap concert shooting outdoors. There have been lots of initiatives to have a set of safety rules enforced for large outdoor concerts. The indoor venues hate the fact outdoor ones can be put on and skirt so many things the real venues have to do.
There was a study done a while back that compared deaths and severe injuries at outdoor concerts per 8 hour shift like they do when they check out industries for OSHA.
Guess where they ranked lol?
Yes, you got it right.
We have all been to them. Tons of fun, no doubt, but generally run by unqualified people.
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