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The
Glenview Watch April 1, 2001 |
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For those who have read Glenview Watch over the past few months, our endorsement of the entire G3 ticket will come as no surprise. We have called for many of the things that Donna Pappo, Gail Anderson, Tom Cernek and Grant Ireland support.
We believe, for example, that local government has done a poor job of informing the public about decisions that will effect their lives.
During a recent debate on the mixed use retail center at The Glen, G3's Donna Pappo expressed dismay over the failure to inform and consult residents. She proposed delaying a board vote until details could be shared with Glenview residents. Unite Glenview's Larry Carlson felt the decision should be made immediately with public information provided after the trustees took a vote.
Carlson has frequently touted his experience as a businessman during this campaign, and that may explain his views and conduct. After all, companies do not normally consult their customers about business decisions. Instead, they do what they feel will be profitable. United Airlines doesn't ask passengers if they would mind paying more for a flight to Florida, and Carlson Heating and Cooling doesn't ask before charging a premium for service on the weekends.
The problem, of course, is that government is not a business. It shares some of the same concerns the need to take in adequate revenue and control spending but government's primary mission is not to make profits. That is why our big experiment serving as developer of The Glen is so dangerous. Village Hall is supposed to protect the public from the profit-driven tactics of developers, but when our public officials are developers, they can't always do that job.
Philosophical issues aside, we think the Glenview Good Government team is better qualified. We don't need business expertise on the board, but we do need people who understand finance and management. Gail Anderson, who has managed the library's finances for six years and oversees an $80 million budget at one of Chicago's largest law firms, fills that bill.
Grant Ireland is a professional management consultant. We hope he will serve as an effective monitor of our own village manager, providing alternative viewpoints on how best to cut costs and serve residents.
We like Tom Cernek's experience as a professional mediator and his reputation for integrity in the legal community. We think he will provide an important perspective, a degree of wisdom and a voice of calm that is much needed at Village Hall.
All three candidates have proven their courage and independence. Ireland was a leader in the fight for reasonable restraints on new homes that replace teardowns and reasonable protection for mature trees. Developers can still cut them down, but they must plant replacements elsewhere on the property.
Gail Anderson is also a maverick in her own quiet way. She was the only trustee to resist the tax increment financing plan pushed on our school, park and library boards by the village.
Tom Cernek first challenged the political establishment in1981, running for village president. During the campaign, two of his cars bearing large "Cernek" signs were destroyed with sledge hammers while parked by the train station, and after the election (which he lost by a narrow margin) his offers to serve the village were rebuffed.
We hope that era of closed government by a small, elite circle will now come to an end. Glenview needs new ideas and new energy on all of its commissions and boards.
As for Donna Pappo, we recognize her limits. She is not as forceful as we would like and has backed away from some battles we hoped she would fight, but she has also spoken the truth on many key issues and accomplished some significant things in her first two years on the board.
The initial MURC deal, for example, called for Glenview to build a 12-screen movie theater and receive a share of the profits. Behind the scenes, Pappo said she would not support that proposal, prompting officials to negotiate a new, more general plan for public investment.
It was Pappo who pushed for higher impact fees charges developers pay to our village, parks and schools and who discovered an error in the formula that compensates schools for students from The Glen. Correction of that mistake will mean thousands of additional dollars for Districts 34 and 225.
Donna also brings an important understanding of downtown and the balance needed there. She has consistently opposed high-density development, recognizing that more apartments, condos and town homes will only make traffic and parking problems worse. She has argued that a ban on first floor offices should be lifted and an economic development director hired to boost business there.
Carlson and his crew have lately been saying some of the same things, but they are recent converts, having started the campaign as advocates of high-density residential development downtown.
Pappo backed Trustee Rachel Cook's drive to preserve 10 additional acres along the Chicago River. She backed Trustee John Crawford's effort to reform the ethics ordinance, and with a new team in place on the board, we believe she could provide excellent leadership and vision for a community in urgent need of both.
We are deeply disturbed by some of the claims made in UG literature. The party says, for example, that it is for open space, yet Larry Carlson was the only trustee to vote against acquisition of the 10-acre riverside parcel now owned and protected by the village.
UG blames G3 for the demise of downtown when Carlson and his allies held a majority on the Village Board and Plan Commission for the 15 years he's been in local government. To hold a minority party responsible for the result of policies perpetrated by the majority is absurd, and we hope voters recognize that.
We also hear reports that the Unite Glenview candidates are telling false tales in their travels around Glenview asserting that Pappo opposes the District 34 referendum and supports building restrictions that would keep people from enlarging their homes or taking down trees. Neither claim is true.
Finally, a letter to senior citizens suggesting Donna opposed senior housing by voting against the Belmont Village Assisted Living facility is also misleading. Pappo did vote against the Texas-based company's plan, noting that the high-density nature of the project was not in keeping with Glenview's Comprehensive Plan for the area around Shermer and Golf. Like the neighbors, she feared Belmont would mean more traffic and flooding for an already congested part of Glenview.
We also cast our votes for G3 because of the company that party keeps. Its biggest contributors are the candidates themselves and their political allies on the board. Pappo, Anderson, Cernek and Ireland have put a total of $3,255 into this race. Trustee John Crawford has given nearly $2200. Trustee Rachel Cook contributed $1060 and Mary Sacoff gave $1000. Smaller donations from dozens of citizens account for the balance of the $10,368 raised so far by G3.
The big money at Unite Glenview comes from Kenzie Financial Management $5,000. Zoning Board Chairman Ty Laurie has lent the campaign $3,000, and former Plan Commission Chairman Tim Doron made a $2,000 loan. Former Village President and shopping center manager Jim Smirles gave $2000 as did Larry Carlson. By mid-March, UG had raised more than $24,000.
After the election, campaign records will show donations from other sources. We can't wait to see how and when those loans from Laurie and Doron are repaid. In any event, when the dust settles we believe UG will have outspent G3 two to one. We hope that the outcome of our election on April 3 shows that votes in Glenview are not for sale.
LIBRARY BOARD ENDORSEMENTS
While all of the library board members are qualified, we think new blood can be a very good thing for any organization, and we're intrigued by challenger Jerome McQuie's hi-tech background. We also like Karen Teitelbaum who was selected from a field of ten for appointment to the board in August. She is thoughtful, energetic and her background in community relations is a plus. You can vote for a total of four candidates in that race. To read more about the other candidates, we refer you to our March 4 edition, available on the web at www.glenviewwatch.com.
NORTHFIELD TOWNSHIP BOARD
Because the Republican party has controlled the Northfield Township Board for so long, we think the arrival of some Democrats might be good an opportunity to review how things are being done and to make changes that might improve service and decrease costs. That's one reason we're endorsing Cathy Baker, Patricia Bidwill, Matt DeLeon and Karen Nystrom for Township Board. Once again, readers may want to consult a back issue March 18 for Watch profiles of the candidates.
THE DISTRICT 34 REFERENDUM
Glenview Watch has only two reporters, and our focus is limited. While we would like to cover our schools in greater depth, we don't have the time or resources. What's more, we live in District 30 and have no first-hand knowledge of the schools in 34. We have, therefore, chosen not to take a position on the school referendum. We do hope voters decide this issue on its merits rather than use the referendum to express frustrations over The Glen or TIF. Tax increment financing was probably not needed to achieve redevelopment of the base. District 34's school board should have screamed bloody murder and refused to okay the deal. Every board member who voted for the TIF should be replaced, but that is an issue separate from whether taxes should be increased to support public education in District 34.
UG LITERATURE RAISES DOUBTS
Hired crews were seen on the streets of Glenview Saturday, dropping literature, door-to-door, for the Unite Glenview party. UG's latest four-page color mailing casts a measure of doubt on its central claim that UG is a new group with no ties to the organization that gave us Village Presidents Tom Smith, Paul Thomas, Jim Smirles and Nancy Firfer. The brochure features a prominent endorsement from Firfer.
Inside, the campaign's consultants have concocted feel-good quotes for each of the candidates that raise additional doubts and questions.
Carlson's quote, for example, cites his experience on the Plan Commission and pledges to "breathe new life into our downtown." It does not say that the Plan Commission has been trying to do that for more than a decade with no real success, and that Carlson has provided no special vision or leadership in this area.
Mary Beth Denefe endorses the current law limiting the size of replacement homes. "It takes real leadership to seek out community input [and] to define reasonable limits on development," she says. Dozens of citizens took part in months of debate over how to regulate new houses in existing neighborhoods. Denefe was not one of them, nor has she been part of any community group concerned about the impact of development on Glenview.
Mike Guinane boasts that he has a "proven track record of effectively representing the interests of the homeowners" in Glen Oak Acres. In fact, residents of the Acres say Mike has done little to improve relations with Village Hall and dropped the ball on an important opportunity. Two years ago, the village offered thousands of dollars for a demonstration project to find out what methods of stormwater control would work best for that area. Critics say Guinane took more than two months to send a letter about this to Glen Oak residents, and by the time he got back to Village Hall, the money had been allocated to something else. They also note that membership in the homeowners' association has dropped during Guinane's four years at the helm.
Photos of Guinane and Wagner Farm appear side by side on the cover a layout that upset some folks who worked to save the farm. They say Guinane exaggerates his role in that effort, claiming the title of "co-chair" for the referendum when he was not. He now sits on the steering committee of Wagner Farm, but minutes indicate he has attended barely half of the meetings and delegated his responsibilities to others.
Jeff Lerner touts his time on the District 225 board and stresses the importance of cooperation between the village and other units of government. While his colleagues, Neal Schact and Art Wulf, frequently appeared before the village board to assure fair compensation for our high school from the village and developers, Lerner did not.
Lerner, by the way, continues to claim he did not abstain from a vote by the District 225 Board involving tax breaks for developers. We have listened to the tape of that meeting on January 10, 2000, and Lerner clearly abstains. Unfortunately, there is no discussion to indicate why Lerner a lawyer who sometimes represents developers would not vote, and the candidate has been mum, insisting the minutes of that meeting were mistaken.
POT SHOTS AT PAPPO
In an 11th hour story brought to the Glenview Announcements by the Unite Glenview party, reporter Mike Ulreich shares the shocking truth. In 1996, before she became a trustee, presidential candidate Donna Pappo failed to get the proper village permit for a new bathroom in her home.
Pappo assumed the paperwork was done by her contractor, and on learning of the problem last week, her husband Joe went to Village Hall and got the permit. Staffers in the building department assured him that the violation was no big deal, but the Announcements apparently felt otherwise. They included Pappo-bashing quotes from Unite Glenview's Nancy Firfer, Larry Carlson, Mary Novotny and Mary Beth Denefe.
"I would hope that anyone who runs for public office would not be above the law," said Firfer. "She wants to be president of the village," said Novotny, "and some of the things she's done have shown poor judgment."
The Watch has heard from three people who were so outraged by the coverage that they have cancelled their subscription to the Announcements.
Editor's note: Let's keep score. If you decided to dump Glenview's only newspaper in protest over biased coverage, let us know, and if you're a fan of good spelling and accuracy, tell us about the blatant mistakes you see like the misspelling of candidate Tom Cernek's name and the headline about the MERC. (Confidential to the Announcements: The mixed use retail center at The Glen is consistently referred to in government documents as the MURC. The "Merc" is a term routinely used to refer to Chicago's Mercantile Exchange.)
POLITICAL LAWN SIGNS VANISH
The theft of lawn signs mostly belonging to the G3 party continues. Individuals from all over town report waking up to find their front yards bereft of political statements. Candidate Gail Anderson was especially upset when she found her signs in the back yard covered with tire tracks. What's worse, Anderson discovered deep ruts in the yard and phoned police. She was relieved to learn that the damage had nothing to do with politics. Officers checked their records and reported that a young man from Northbrook had gotten lost on Anderson's winding street in Glen Oak Acres, drove into her back yard by mistake and got stuck in the mud. A tow truck was summoned at 3 a.m. after the boy apparently used the G3 lawn signs in an attempt to improve traction. Anderson called the offender's father who apologized profusely and sent a landscaper to repair the damage.
REAL
CRIME STORIES
Glenview police apparently got their woman Wednesday and created some real
excitement in the Valley Lo subdivision. That's where they
apprehended 22-year-old Amber Brubaker of Gurnee.
Her blonde hair in a pony tail, wearing a dark jump suit and camouflage
face paint, Brubaker allegedly entered the Northern Trust Bank near Willow
and Waukegan at 2:47 p.m. and handed a note to the teller indicating she
had a bomb. She collected about $13,000 and attempted to escape, driving
south on Waukegan Road.
A man in a black SUV apparently spotted the suspect and gave chase.
He may have used his cell phone to call Glenview police who caught up with
the woman after she turned onto Wildberry Road.
Within minutes, there were nearly a dozen squad cars and five
unmarked detective vehicles on the scene. Police drew their weapons,
hauled the suspect out of the car and put her on the ground. As neighbors
noticed the light show and ventured outside to see what was going on,
traffic became a nightmare in both directions.
Eventually, Brubaker and her car were taken away and the neighbors went
back to their relatively quiet lives. Brubaker is now in the
Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago awaiting trial on bank robbery
charges. She goes to court on April 5.
CITIZENS RESCUE GLENVIEW ICON FROM THE CLUTCHES OF BEAR-NAPPERS
Glenview resident Biff Thiele, who witnessed the arrest in Valley Lo, had
his own brush with crime on Friday. He and
wife Kathleen were driving down Glenview Road when they saw two young men
steal the large stuffed bear from in front of the Cat's Meow gift shop.
The men tossed the bear into a car and sped into the OLPH neighborhood
with Thiele in hot pursuit. When the culprits
turned down a cul de sac, Biff blocked their exit. One
of them got out, told Thiele that the bear-napping was just a joke and
asked if he should return the bear.
Thiele said no he would do that and insisted the men turn over their
hostage. He and Kathleen then returned the
bear, receiving a round of applause from shoppers and neighboring
merchants.
READERS WRITE:
SG writes: "Appreciated the background info on the candidates,
especially in the secondary races. Unfortunately, the deadline for
absentee ballot submission has passed."
The Watch replies: You can still vote absentee on Sunday from 9:00
to 1:00 in the Cook County Clerk's office in Chicago at 69 W. Washington,
5th floor or on Monday at that same location. You can also go to
Glenview Village Hall on Monday to vote absentee.
F. Pinsler urges a vote against arrogance:
"Having been told, We are going to destroy G3,' by a lawyer
whose income is dependent on Unite Glenview winning, I was astonished by
the anger and personal vendetta attached to this election. The
snobbery and disdain exhibited by the current officials is beyond my
capabilities of understanding. They just don't get it.
This is
about a change that is needed. Enough is
enough. G3 might not be better, but someone
new deserves a chance. This is not a war. This is an election. I hope we
all do our civic duty and vote."
Tom James seconds that emotion: "What I
see happening is this cadre of egos trying to raise Glenview through sheer
developmental might to become a player on the North Shore to achieve
the elusive status of what a Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe represent.
In other words to get respect ala Donald Trump.
It's disturbing to witness and reminds me of Shane or
Bonanza the wealthy cattle owners calling the shots.
"That deal the Village Board made without communicating with the
village residents smacks of elitism. I'm
afraid this election could be a harbinger of the malling of Glenview.
Government is supposed to be for and about the people.
Developers who don't address quality of life issues such as
traffic can be viewed as parasitic tourists.
"Our culture is like this huge balloon that some people feel should
be blown up bigger and bigger because more is always better. If
only trees could vote and money could not."
And MMC takes issue with our endorsements:
"I agree with your endorsement of G3 but believe you dodged the
District 34 referendum issue, and perhaps you intended to be ambiguous on
Pappo's position on this issue. (Does she or doesn't she?) Your statement
that We don't need business expertise on the board,' concerns me. The
village residents shareholders -- are deserving of openness, integrity
and representative business skills in the Board's many negotiations."
The Watch replies: Business people are not the only ones who
know how to negotiate, and they're not the only people who know how to
manage money. What we hoped to convey is that a successful businessman,
like Larry Carlson, is not necessarily a good public official. He
has demonstrated the ability to make profits, but we don't believe he has
the vision or leadership skills needed to be an effective village
president. As for Pappo's position on the District 34 referendum,
she supports it and has said so publicly.
PLR writes about developer Dean Oliver and the mixed use retail center
(MURC) at The Glen: "I think it's amazing that this poor
man has such a limited vocabulary! He said he was so excited
that his hands were perspiring. I too got some sweats from the proposal,
being a taxpayer who has to share in footing the ridiculous bill!
"Thank you for reporting how our village trustees and president, in
their usual rude and uncaring manner, dismissed public involvement,
coerced one of their own to vote in their favor (Mr. Crawford), and do
this right in front of us! What a shameful bunch!
"Boy, am I looking forward to voting on April 3! I'm going to
RUN, not walk, to the polling place!"
Kathy Schulte takes a different view of the MURC: "Over a year
ago, I went over to Village Hall to hear and see a presentation on The
Glen, including the MURC. The drawings and pictures included this
central shopping, entertainment and gathering area. The public was
invited. There were professional planners, village staff and village
trustees on hand to answer questions and hear suggestions. There was
nothing secret or devious about it.
"This central magnet area at the Glen requires a huge investment.
Did we think this would be free? Get real. It would have been
best to have the whole zillion acres remain open space, but that was never
going to happen in the real world. The overall direction of the Glen
was set into motion years ago. That is reality. In light of recent
movie theater failures and mega retail developments in neighboring
suburbs, we're probably lucky to get quality developers willing to come
here and build. Is there a viable alternative? Not at this
point in time. The buyer's remorse will pass and we'll be happy with
the final product. Have faith! The sky is not falling."
The Watch replies: We also attended that weekend
presentation at Village Hall last spring, but we don't recall any
discussion of how much public investment might be involved. We
assumed the financing would come from the private sector and feel that a
$70 million investment of public dollars deserves some public discussion.
We think there is a viable alternative. If the
private sector is reluctant to build a large mall and cinema at The Glen,
perhaps we should back away from such an ambitious retail project and
approve a much smaller development one which would not bring half a
million people into Glenview each year. The
MURC, as planned, will rob neighboring communities of business and
decrease the chance of reviving our own downtown. Are
these worthy goals for public investment?
KB says The Watch makes her sick: "I
used to get a kick out of reading the Watch. Now
every time I read it I become ill. I just can't believe the baloney that
goes on between the village and developers. A
movie theater? More shopping? We
all know that everyone shops at Old Orchard. That's half the reason no one
shops in the current downtown.
"I'm sure the trustees worked hard on the deal, and I'm sure there
are valid and sound aspects to it. I'm sure
they are intelligent business people, and we can't second guess every
single decision they make, but when I keep reading about all the chaos and
confusion the seemingly unending bickering amongst the board members,
I just start to wonder if some of the trustees are acting in the best
interests of Glenview. How can everyone have such completely differing
views of how The Glen should be developed?
"Isn't common sense the baseline? Movie
theaters are dead. There are too many. People rent videos. New technology
is introducing new TV technology where you schedule your own programming.
There are movie theaters in Northbrook, Niles, Skokie, Wilmette and
Evanston. Movies are too expensive these days $9 a pop. Cable TV plays
new movies within six months now.
"Maybe everyone should just take a breather and chill until after the
election. Then maybe the board can take an objective look at plans for The
Glen."
And Rick Nasello says it's time to survey the public: "If
the village has nothing better to do with $70 million and thinks a new
cinema is justified, I think they should ask every single resident of this
village if they think it is a good idea. I'll
bet there are plenty of people who would agree with me when I say
Enough of trying to showcase the Glen like it is the crown jewel of
Glenview!' Why not ask the residents of the
village what they think $70 million dollars should be used for. They are
the crown jewels of this community.
"Prices for movies are going up. A family of four will pay almost $36
to get into the show, and that's before they get burglarized at the candy
counter. Theaters have a budget they must meet so that they can show
first-run movies. If the admission prices get too high, the paying
customer goes elsewhere, and pretty soon the theaters go under. You better
be able to pack them in to pay for an $11 million dollar cinema.
"On April 3rd I will cast my vote for those who have a more realistic
view of what is good for Glenview. I don't think the current
administration knows how to look through the eyes of
taxpaying citizens."
WN does not blame Pappo, Crawford and Cook for the Murky Matter:
"On the evening of March 20, three trustees tried to get a resolution
passed that would allow the public to get a better view of the big picture
before the trustees voted on the big issue, but the majority refused to
delay, and the $70 million investment of public dollars went through.
"Who defeated this resolution? It was not Donna Pappo, John Crawford
and Rachel Cook. The old guard and the appointed one sank your chance to
see the cost!"
DJ has crafted his own announcement about the murky MURC:
"FREE: Village Trustees approve $70 million expenditure for The Glen.
Officials claim this development will bring in more tax revenues for the
schools. What it really means is lower taxes for new business, no impact
fees for the townhouses and apartments in this area and higher taxes for
all the other businesses and residents in Glenview.
"No need to have open meetings to discuss this with the residents.
One village trustee doesn't think the public could understand the
financial details anyway. Maybe he was afraid we would."
"Residents of Glen Oak Acres don't get any free roads or sewers.
I guess we don't bring in any tax monies. We were told if we wanted to
have our roads repaved, we would have to pay approximately 75 percent of
the cost. If the Unite Glenview Party wins, blame the
uninformed."
Connie Avildsen says the company trying to build affordable senior
housing at The Glen is facing over regulation: "Did
anyone catch the Planning Commission meeting last week at which they were
examining the plans for Chestnut Square? Having
okayed lot-line to lot-line building all over town, having put up a
building at the Southeast corner of Glenview Rd. and Waukegan, which
scarcely allows room to walk behind it, the commission spent the evening
castigating Chestnut Square's appalling' density, and clearly
inadequate parking.
"When informed by the developer that they were trying to find a way
to buy some additional land for parking in order to provide the low-cost
housing for the elderly, which the village had
asked for, the commission tried to set an indefinite future date for the
next hearing. When informed by an unidentified
voice that the law requires announcement of a public hearing and for that,
we must have a date, they set it for April 18. Who
would like to take bets that if Unite Glenview wins the election, they
will announce that Bethany Methodist has withdrawn because they can't meet
the commission's objections or that living there will now cost as much as
at Hyatt?"
Bill C. is alarmed by plans to leave the regional emergency
dispatch center (RED) that serves many neighboring communities and is now
moving to Northbrook. Glenview plans to build its own facility: "It
was always the intent of the village manager and the fire chief to build a
dispatch center and a new fire station at The Glen. But if it was the
headquarters of RED Center, Mr. McCarthy might not be able to control it
and his fire chief. Glenview is leaving RED Center to satisfy the
egos of those two men.
"Our new dispatch center will operate from an already overcrowded
Station 6 until the new station at The Glen is built. It's a hardship on
the men who work at Station 6, but their needs have never been important
to the chief. He cut the size of the bunkroom so he and his deputy chief
could have elaborate offices and the three people in the Fire Prevention
Bureau would have an office large enough for ten.
"RED Center is the model emergency dispatch service in the state, and
Glenview will spend millions to build something that will never be as
good. It's not just the building, it's the people that make a
service great, and RED Center has some of the finest in the
business."
JAS writes about RED: "Other towns are champing
at the bit to join RED Center and we are leaving. I feel our fire chief
wants total control and does not like sharing in decisions. What happened
to the adage two heads are better than one?'"
And about the District 34 referendum:
"Concerned citizens have to ask why District 34 needs a tax
increase and why they need to run a very expensive political-style
campaign. The district has had since November to present real numbers and
facts in support of their referendum. Instead,
they have resorted to premature and empty threats of program cuts and weak
spin."
"The District says they need more money because of growth.
The TIF will pay $8,237 for each new student from The Glen
where most of this growth will come. At 25 students per class, that's
$205,925. How much more can they really need?"
"The District has also shown no consideration of retired people, and
others that must live on a fixed income. They don't get benefit increases
in excess of the tax cap. Why should the schools? How many people will be
forced to move out of town because they have been taxed out of town?"
"I believe that a no' vote on the referendum will force District
34 to manage our money more responsibly."
S Johnson is confused by claims from CARE the
group opposing District 34's referendum: "CARE
sent me an e-mail asking for a contribution of $50, $100, $149, $200 or
$500,' and stating, We are required to itemize and report individual
contributions of $150 or more. We receive many
checks of slightly less than $150; a husband and wife can each
contribute individually.'
"In the Announcements this week, it says that CARE has only raised a
few hundred dollars. So which is it? Many
checks of around $150 or just a few hundred in total? I
feel like they have tried to fool us by claiming that they have lots of
contributors and therefore lots of supporters. Where
else have they been stretching the truth?"
CARE's John Ranz replies: "We just
barely came up with the money to do our mailing, and we are not in the
business of stretching the truth. We are in
the business of exposing those who do. Our
math has been verified by the state. That should be proof enough for
anybody. Also, we
finally got the Glenview Announcements to look at this subject, and they
endorsed our position.
"Understanding the details of school finance is not an easy matter.
CARE members worked hard to determine that the district was not correct in
their understanding of the referendum. It is clear the people around town
that support the district have not done any homework but are responding to
the simplistic appeal from the district that it's for the kids' or
to support the value of our homes.' If only
it were that easy."
A FINAL WORD FROM THE WATCH: We hope all of you who
have read and written over the months will take the opportunity, on
Tuesday, to cast a ballot. If you don't know where to vote,
give us a call at 291-7434. We also encourage you to make your views count
by calling friends and family members who may not be as interested or
well-informed about public affairs. Like pebbles tossed into water,
you can have a rippling effect on this election and make a real difference
for the future of Glenview.