Sometime ago, I posted photos of a nasty structure in our neighbors rental unit that was illegally in place and poorly constructed with metal pieces unattached for a make shift roof back in October of 2014/. All commenters evidently thought this was funny and I should shut up and put up with it.
I had notified the proper authorities in the city by email 6 months ago to which they responded that they would check it out and they checked it out and end of story. I asked for help from my alderwoman representative and she said sure she would, end of story never heard back from her either.
So I knew that because i was not the go along get along type of person and the city had no one who had any backbone to ask that this illegal unpermitted structure be taken down I began to visualize the photo taken by someone from the city was sitting on the mayors desk and he enjoyed looking at it, knowing we were annoyed
So Mother Nature intervened and along with the helpful Peru Police Department it was taken care of according to the law which the people in charge should have taken care of and did not and you all can fill in the blanks here. The wind took it off and partially ended up on our property and just thankful it was not a window or a/c or even someone who was in our yard at the time being injured.
Many thanks to those that helped and we know that even though we have payed taxes for many years in this city, we are not entitled to have wrongs righted by the people who are supposed to be doing the zoning and permitting process, Mr King in Peru. So it is really the "go along to get along city". I also know that we are not alone and others have felt the sting of our elected officials who run this city.
45 comments:
Peru is definitely a retaliation town. If you speak up, expect to get no help when needed. Not only will you get no help when you need it, but they will target you to make sure you do everything correctly. If not, look out, they will be all over you. This is why the blog is so valuable. A person can remain anon while letting the bloggers know about what's going on at city hall without fear of retaliation. I know this for a fact because I've seen it happen to somebody and experienced it myself.
not following Lois. You say city did nothing but then refer to the helpful police? Who didn't do there job?
2:52 pm
My initial information was sent to Mr King, bldg inspector with no results and then I asked my alderwoman and never heard back from her and finally when the pieces of roof began flying off, I filed a report with the PPD and they took care of it by calling the landlord and at that point the tenant came out and picked up the pieces and removed the balance of them.
Just curious but did you ever ask them to take it down or if that failed, contact the landlord? 9 out of 10 problems between neighbors solved if someone talks it out politely.
I wish i had a dollar for each time I have heard the statement that Lois just made. "I called my alderman and they never called me back". While i don't believe it is common for every alderman to be so callous and disrespectful, I do believe it happens regularly with some of them.
It should never happen, never!
I am going to give you a rather generic answer to your question because Peru is a changing city. Growing up in Peru, rentals were few and far between and I lived in the First Ward and knew all my neighbors because they had all lived there as long as we did or most likely longer.
Now this aging city and older parts of this city are experiencing an outgrowth of rental properties and the neighborhood I live in is no different. Increasing rentals in all directions and some landlords are great people and some you find out really don't care to whom they rent to. We have learned to know who to talk to in reference to the renters and the landlords when problems happen..
With some it is best to involve the city departments and officials if dealing with ordinance violations because you will get no where if you don't. I just had to work a little harder because of politics.
Anon 9:57PM & 7:07AM
9:57PM If you have experienced 9 out of 10 problems between neighbors solved if someone talks it out politely three things I must tell you-never move, write a book and you haven't lived in Peru very long.
Anon 7:07AM you are correct in that a alderman should always call you back, he should always inquire of reports made by a citizen and should inform proper correctional institutions if needed with a personal follow up and response to the informing citizen.
The citizen should make sure the situation is worthy of a call to his alderman not simply a request or plea for attention.
Lois, don't you really mean I had to work because of politics.
That politics being owner of a political informative blog, comments announced and published by way of Miller Media when contacted by a reporter, often attending city council meetings and participating in public comments in which you have expressed your truthful feelings. Yes you have done a lot more than call your alderman or other city officials, requested FOIA's, or filed reports with the PPD, questioned the number of closed sessions in Peru government. Simply put you have done a lot of which others should have done also.
After many years of living in Peru, I have found it is best to lay low and not rock the boat. Before you complain about anything, it is best to know who is involved. Generally speaking, if you know the last name of the people involved you can figure out how "connected" they are to the local aristocracy. The "connected" people don't like it when you complain about something they do.
Finding them can be accomplished in a number of ways. One of the easiest is to search on the last name on the NT web page. You will find the names mentioned in fluff articles about local businesses and charity events. Never in the police blotter - if they are picked up on something, it never makes the editorial cut. The newspaper only goes back about five years though. Another way is to search by last name on the property tax search on the county web page. This will let you know how many of "them" there are. The more of "them" and the number of properties indicates how connected "they" are. Finally, look through old high school year books going back to the late 60's and early 70's. I think the library has these. You can make a judgment by the activities "they" where involved in.
Bottom line - there are a number of "families" that tend to get what they want because of their long established roots.
On the bright side, things are starting to change a little. The latest generation is not as smart as their parents and grand parents. The ones that did end up with the good genes departed the area. Those that remained will eventually squander whatever advantage their names have given them. We just have to lay low until that happens. Until then - it is "us" against "them."
10:37
I guess it is better to have those connected without police records and they actually own property. Would the "us" be those with police records and don't own property? Please don't tell me we need city councilmen that represent those with police records and don't own property. There is a place that has everything you want. Everybody in this place has police records and won't own any property it is located on a ISLAND and called Alcatraz. Sorry to add, the good genes eventually depart this place just like the other. Lay low until the "us" takes over!
Blaming a newspaper? Come on!
Might you support the social media or some local one man internet radio for truthful fact finding? The general public views those attempts by a blog, twitter, facebook or garage radio as nothing more than entertainment. If you believe those than we have some great candidates for the next election.
10:37 yes, search those property tax bills. Those who own property should be singled out and the property divided among "us".
Karl Marx.
10:37 your reading the wrong manuscript for freedom.
11:39, please read the post. The "connected" people don't get their name in the paper when they get pulled over - mostly for DUI but other things also. I even remember a judge that was able to get out of a DUI because certain things where overlooked, although the newspaper could not avoid reporting it - there was no outrage and it was buried in the Saturday edition. I was also pointing out that you can search the tax records and see how many parcels are owned by the same "connected" families. The post overall was a little sarcastic, but the point is, there are certain families that have influenced policies in this area for many, many, years. These families invested in the town and did well. However, the idiot children of the children are now in charge and they are using their clout to prevent others from making their mark on the community. Time will tell and hopefully nature will take its course and they will become irrelevant.
If you are a member of one of these "connected" families, you should be aware that there are many people that know. Some of them avoid your business because they know the history of what you have done.
"Things" happen all the time and never reported.
Many of the articles in the paper are just advertisements for local businesses. Like today. An in depth review of local eateries. That is not news, that is PR. One thing they missed about some of these 100 year old establishments was how much of the business is transacted in cash and what these businesses did from 1920 until 1933.... hmmmmmmm....
You know what I think is interesting is the recent coverage that the Ottawa times is giving to the LaSalle Peru area. Yesterday, I found an free Ottawa Times newspaper on my front porch along with a flyer saying they will now have daily home delivery! The price sounded lower to, but I haven't researched that aspect.
I think I'll send them an email stating that if they cover the Peru council meetings and committee meetings, I will give them a chance with a subscription.
1:32 No, they accepted cash and were profitable. It's still legal to accept cash and make a living. Soon with the help of many like you, we will be able to take away those who make money and give it to those who sit on their porch and resent anybody busting their back for a living. 1920's are over. Please stay in this decade.
2:53, I was simply stating that they prefer cash, for obvious reasons. The reference to 1920 to 1933 also had a specific meaning. If you don't understand it maybe you should read a little history.
The article was an advertisement disguised as "news". Another NT Special filled with fluff. Meanwhile, hard news gets very little column space - often glanced over with only side of the story and never a follow up.
I read the Ottawa Times and it has obits, local sports and great news like today the story about the new donkey in LaSalle. And it has legal reports on who got put in the slammer. I also read the Newstrib and they have the same obits, local sports and great news about area restaurants. They have police reports. Not much difference unless you like Ottawa sports and the nightly article about some jack--- in a barn.
I am sure that the Times wants to come to Peru to listen to 3 hours of reports, street repairs and the occasional crazy that jumps out of the crowd to object to paying the water bill.
Unless they actually start reporting news, both publications are a total waste of time. What I desire from a local paper is hard reporting on local government. I want them to actively look for the corruption that we all know exists. The goal of a local paper should be to get at least one local government official (either a hired one or an elected one)fired or prosecuted every year. I think it would be a relatively easy thing to do in the 25 mile radius around 4th Street and Fulton Street in Peru.
In other words - if you want to find the dirt, you got to dig. There are plenty of pickings if someone actually looks. That is what a newspaper needs to do.
I read both newspaper articles in regards to the Dalzell man who is suing for false arrest, and thought the Ottawa Times did a better job of reporting the story. Clearer and more concise. Just my opinion though.
2:53pm the obvious point being made was accepting cash but not paying taxes on that income. As far as those sitting on the porch and getting free money I agree with you. It's wrong. But hey let's talk about the reference to the 20's and 30's......I'm guessingg that the reference was in regards to certain families making large amounts of money on illegal booze and gambling. But I digress......this decade... Let's see.....I can name four locations in Peru that had and still have illegal gambling. No tax on that pure profit.....and if you think the mayor, council and police chief don't know.....bawhahahaha. And if you don't know stay quiet because your clueless. This area is and will always be corrupt. The only thing that changes is how it benefits certain people. Your turn...........give me some more laughs......
two things. The NT web page still has an add being paid for by the City of Peru for free colanders. Hello - it is the middle of April, anyone that wants a calendar already has one.
Second... the NT "report" on the burglary case in Granville simply reported that the suspect was acquitted because the case was flawed. Hello NT. Please answer the five whys - starting with why was the case flawed???????
the burglary I was talking about was actually in Cedar Point.
I would like the paper, any paper, to do an indepth story of why the Ladd 'dump' is being removed now. I'm sure there is a story about a millionaire land owner getting the taxpayer to remove the slag so he can make plans. The paper ran a couple of weak stories but didn't ask questions of the land owner. Why is this dump the one being removed when there are plenty of others around the area? We need information on who got this project moving and why the dump is unsafe now. If the shaft needed repairs, the land owner should be the one to make them. Our state and nation are 'broke' and we still find money for favoritism projects. We need to get the facts out.
12:42, these mine dumps do need to go away. I think the cost is being covered by the industry through some form of special taxation. Until the material is removed, the land is useless - unless you are in to motocross or like sulfates.
You know what is rally funny. You could take a an entire kindergarten class to any of our local restaurants and it would not have any effect on the average age in the room.
I do not understand your comment about a millionaire land owner. Does this landowner own the dump that the slag is to be removed with taxpayer money?
12:42 AM you are so correct favoritism projects must be ended and so called entrepreneurs and big businesses should have to invest their own money rather than ours. After all they receive the profits.
Currently a hot item is the friendly work places to employees and their donations to a community. Would employees of such work places in our area recognize their employer for such efforts on the blog. Thank you
12:42 Your not yet on the editorial staff at the Trib. That's why the story is a non story. Ladd dump is being removed because it is a dump. Should those that inherit problem areas like coal mines be the ones that remove them? Did the land owner cause the problem? No. Give them credit for taking up the responsibility of getting this done. Ladd will be better off without the site.
I guess we give out food stamps, Medicaid, medicare and call it social responsibility. Why not clean up a dump site?
Okay, if the dump is useless, why did the owner buy it? Did he or she have a plan knowing the taxpayers would pay for it? It would be nice to know who and how they got the ball rolling.
Some people have a vision to make a dump a gold mine. They probably had a plan and that's understandable. Why would you buy anything without a plan? There are funds and why not utilize the available funding? Sour grapes.
I'm pretty sure the land is owned by the State of Illinois.
this should clear things up.
"[The] Federal funding is provided by a per-ton fee collected from U.S. coal mining companies and distributed to states to clean up abandoned mines, according to the DNR."
"The site is owned by Ladd Construction..."
I'm willing to bet that the property was purchased for next to nothing.
Funny thing is. Once the slag pile is gone and the shafts are sealed up again, the property might be assessed at a higher value.
I heard the pizza lady is buying the land for a concert venue.
What has this got to do with the City of Peru!!!
8:24, big machines "operated" by "engineers" whose union local from Chicago; "150"; that actually controls the government of Peru.
No 12:27, it doesn't. But just keep yapping about your conspiracy theories. People like you ruined the blog a long long time ago.
12:27, where do you come up with these type of comments such as 150 controls the city. The majority of the council aren't union people and they make the decisions. Comments like yours are made without facts just to show your ignorance. Again so a union contractor will be getting rid of the slag pile, what has that got to do with Peru?
The unions do control Peru. They have since 2009.
Logically why would any local union want to control Peru? Sadly it has become a community of retirees who hate progress, growth and spending money. The town would rather demolish and than build before it would modernize i.e. roads and a swimming pool.
I can think of so many other better targets such as Plano, Sandwich, Sycamore, Oswego, Yorkville than Peru. Anywhere that Chicago has rolled out to has developed many times more than Peru.
11:11 AM Yes, even if the people of Peru get nothing back in return for the existing taxes they pay they are happy. As long as the property taxes are not raised and everything just gets older and out of date Peru is the place to live.
now you are understanding. Peruvians also jump over a dollar to pick up a penny. The politicians have them so buffaloed on the "low property taxes" that they don't see how much extra they are paying on day to day items.
By the way - property taxes are not low when you put all the other useless taxing bodies in the mix - you know, like the 7.5 mile road district and the township that does nothing.
Anon 3:30 PM Property taxes and low electrical rates have been pounded into the heads of Peruvians for so long that they believe it. Unitite took its high electrical usage to LaSalle for what reason?
for transformers that work.
Does anyone know why our "Peru Comhmand Vehicle" was headed east on interstate 80 on 4-28-15 between 6:00/6:30 pm.
Was he going to a fire call?, with no lights doing the speed limit?
was he going for training? Where?
Was it a city sponsered trip or a personal trip in OUR vehicle?
These guys (peru officials) do what ever they want without reprocutions!
Just food for thought!
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