“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

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Not Only Peru, It Is A Statewide Problem with People Leaving and Taking Their Money With Them

http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/editorial/statewise-it-s-illinois-birthday-hey-wait-come-back/article_50e6903a-18ca-5038-b662-ff87b96a5127.html#tncms-source=block-behavioral

Unless something dynamic happens to improve the status of the state of Illinois, the stats are not going to change.  All towns will be affected and more than likely small towns in particular. The young and educated are looking for more than we offer to them and their young families. My point is that cities need to look for ways to make their cities inviting to those very same people. After awhile this sounds like a broken record and that is because nothing is changing.

I expect other cities to release their expenditures on the recent trip to China and will they have had good economic sense in not abusing the expenditures of taxpayer money?




23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love the way you mix an interesting and very true concern with a personal gripe at Peru and the overseas trip. One of the reasons for the trip was exactly for what your are looking for. Ways to entice the youth to return to the area (they really need to explore the world and then return to make a difference) after college or other worldly experiences. Also, ways to attract financial interest in the area since our own State seems to have an issue with it's own bank account. We need investment to help attract good jobs and area businesses to grow. The are some very good people already reaching out to young people and in reality, people of all ages, and helping them start a business or improve one right here in the area.They have had very good success already and more to come. One thing your readers need to understand is this so-called exodus did not start last weekend. It's been a trend for many years and we will turn it around but it will take a long time. I love what you are trying to do here by get people discussing the issues, I just don't always agree with how you do it. We need good jobs, good things to do after work and a bright future.

Anonymous said...

Heard Echo Bluff is open for ice skating and that Oglesby will be opening theirs soon. Any word on Peru's yet?

Anonymous said...

To 7:56 PM - Your comment is well stated and you are partially correct in some of what you say. However, you seem to assume the administrator of this blog is not extremely familiar with the political practices of Peru's governing elite. You see, I am also a dedicated observer of the Peru way of doing business. Those of us who know how they operate understand why they do what they do. An unnecessary (and quite expensive) trip to China by two of Peru's most phony elitists to you appears to be an effort to promote business. However, to those of us who know better, we see an irresponsible waste of tax dollars for the sole purpose of promoting the personal ambitions of the two individuals making the trip. We know this because we know the lack of moral and ethical character of these two jet-setting phonies. We've been watching them promote themselves for years. Maybe your new in town or possibly just a bit misguided and misinformed if you rely on the newspaper reporting coming out of Peru's city council. In Peru politics, follow the money. Who gets it? Why they get it? Who makes it possible for them to get it? But most important is.....what exactly do those who decide who gets the money get in return for giving the money?

Anonymous said...

It does not require a trip to China to attain whatever goals needed for a better Peru. The first and most important direction would be a communication between the city administrators and the citizens of Peru. Presently communications are by far the worst they have been in for more than half a century. Harl was elected as the person who would be a Mayor providing the entire citizenship transparency and communication. Sadly neither has been provided and as a result those chosen by him appear as snakes in the grass whom are in the mental state of achieving their own personal goals and care less about Peru.

Anonymous said...

Your comment on personal goals of Peru's elected is amusing and totally out of touch.

What position would Harl run for? That ship has crossed and by the looks of the current local candidates, he would be a shoo-in. Time frame is now looks like he has no interest.

Vickery is in his mid 70,s, don't you remember the last few campaigns?
Hundreds of thousands of dollars without success. And he wasn't running against JFK!

Your points of view on this are nothing more than lack of information. Looking at Peru Elected, its looks like a few would be very good in other offices, but may have many other obligations.

Anonymous said...

11:47- You've asked the questions. Now answer them. What do those elected receive? From what I can tell, all they get is phony accusations from phony people like you. Please give us one example of a Peru elected official getting rich off of a deal they voted for. You can't do it. If you could, you would've done it by now.

Anonymous said...

3:11 PM
I understand the first attempt was an attempt to get Frank Mautino's seat where Skoog was the winner.

Anonymous said...

3:11 PM & 7:47 PM
Your comments are so naïve that they are not worthy of an answer.

Anonymous said...

10:08
Tell me why that question is naïve?
If you are sure that an elected official has benefited financially then give us the how, when and where... I know you won't your just a phony who likes to complain.

Anonymous said...

10:20AM
You are not progressing Peru with your childish insults. A return visit to your shrink and a increase in mental medications would most likely balance out a little of your vast hallucinations. It is evident that you are carrying way too much weight on your shoulders in trying to carry the elected officials of Peru.

Anonymous said...

Still waiting for an example of a Peru elected official getting rich off of a deal they voted for.

Anonymous said...

3:09 PM

I don't think any of us know the finances of any of the Peru aldermen. A few live very well, even own an airplance and others have families in college or younger kids, those don't have. The money is usually at the top of the food chain and those who get well funded from doing jobs that are sometimes gifts. But as usual look high up and not ground level.

Anonymous said...

3:09

as we close 2017, maybe a New Years resolution will be fact-checking. I know for a "fact", that no one on the council owns an airplane. One member either has or had a PPL. Let's all promise to report what we know, not what think, in 2018. Happy New Year everyone.

Anonymous said...

If we want jobs, Illinois must go Right to Work. All of the states that have gone that way are booming. Don't believe the union propaganda on television advertisements etc. After this happens, business is no longer held back and having to face all the problems of dealing with only unions. The end result is that Everyone works and the unions also do as good as ever.

Anonymous said...

concerning the airport does anyone know how much we actually pay with our state dollars and local dollars to support this great deal for chuck studer?

Anonymous said...

3:09
You must be a Neanderthal! The knowledge of certain city officials which they have advance notification and they invest has outstanding rewards. Do you believe that known sites of illegal gambling are carried on for 65 years + without a political payoff?

Anonymous said...

9:26- Thank you for admitting that you don't know the finances of the aldermen. I guess that also means you have no proof of them receiving any benefits for the policies they vote for.

Anonymous said...

Maybe a attorney with multi years of local political experience would be receptive to admitting to how simple it is to acquire future knowledge of how present plots of worthless locations will become nothing short of pots of gold. As a example of reactive politics how is it that each time the responsible party appears to coming of the light of truth a new way out is uncovered such as super majority.

Anonymous said...

8:05

Please expand your thoughts on how local officials benefit from their office. You look to have some creative ideas on what happens to these multi-millionaires that hold local office. We have been waiting for actual facts for a very long time, nothing has come except imagination.

Peru Town Forum said...

The Peru aldermen are responsible for approving the China trip for Harl and Vickery and responsible for not checking into flights and pricing and then require they (Harl and Vickery) both fly coach unless they were willing to cover the extra expense of First Class for themselves. Extras should not be on the backs of Peru residents.

The city has has a long run of chain businesses locating here and the city benefited from the sales tax. Chains are mostly closing low performing stores all over the country and opening new ones in areas of large population. It is time for the City to look at the changes and realize they can no longer be dependent upon large corporations to stay here where they will continue to lose money because our current population does not have huge salaries to support them.

Anonymous said...

3:15 PM
would you consider the recent "busman's holiday" trip to China how local officials benefit from their office. Would you consider the IML annual convention a benefit which all of Peru's "inner circle" officials attend every year a benefit from their office? Amazing that the last three Mayors before Harl all became very wealthy men.

Anonymous said...

Is it legal for Peru's aldermen to vote to send a unelected person on a city expense paid trip. If it is what is the supporting ordinance?

Peru Town Forum said...

I was told by someone who attended the council mtg of 10/30/17 that Ald. Potthoff gave a long discourse on why this trip was being paid for by the city. So I went to watch the video and I can only assume that while the Alderman was off mic and appeared to be talking extensively he was talking about the China trip. Now either the mic was purposely not turned on or it was negligence in not making sure. In fact I have come to the conclusion that the Aldermen's mics are off at all times unless they plan on speaking and want everyone including those watching later to hear their comments. I would also like to add that the other employees seated at tables cannot be heard either so guys either you system is broke, not maintained or you don't want anyone outside the council chambers to hear you. At the present time it is a waste of our time to try and listen as I see his lips moving but no sound is heard.