Early voting begins Jan 11 in Orland Park

CORRECTION TO THE RELEASE BELOW:

State law has actually changed for absentee voting. People no longer need a reason or excuse to qualify for an absentee ballot. Clerk Orr has long been a proponent of so-called "no-excuse" or "no-fault" absentee voting because it opens up another convenient avenue for people to cast their ballot.
-- RAY HANANIA

Early Voting Comes to Orland Park January 11

Voter Registration for February 2 Primary Ends January 5

      ORLAND PARK, IL – The Orland Park Village Clerk’s Office is gearing up for its Early Voting Program for the February 2 Gubernatorial Election. Early voting will be available January 11 to January 28 at Orland Park’s Frederick T. Owens Village Hall.

“We’re getting the information out now so that everyone who wants to vote in the Gubernatorial Primary Election is aware of the important dates coming up,” said Orland Park Village Clerk David Maher.

      Voter registration for the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election closes on January 5 at 5:00 p.m. Those registering must be United States citizens and at least eighteen years old on or before February 2, 2010.

      “Young adults who will turn eighteen between January 5 and February 2 may register to vote now because they will be eligible to vote by Election Day,” Maher explained.

      Voter registration is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

      Orland Park has again been named an early voting site for the February 2 Gubernatorial Primary Election. Early voting at Orland Park’s Frederick T. Owens Village Hall will be offered for all registered Cook County voters January 11 through January 28, 2010.

      “We’ve had a great response each time we’ve hosted early voting,” said Orland Park Deputy Village Clerk Joe LaMargo. “Having more than one day to cast their ballots makes it more convenient for all voters,” he added, noting that Orland Park has been one of the top Cook County early voting sites since the Cook County Clerk’s Office began the program.

      Early voting in Orland Park will be available January 11 through January 28, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Early voting will also be available on Saturday, January 16 and 23 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

     “We were very pleased with our numbers from past Early Voting Programs and we’re happy to again offer this service for all suburban Cook County residents,” Maher said. “You don’t have to live in Orland Park to vote early here. You simply must be a registered suburban Cook County voter,” he added.

      Offices being considered in 2010 include U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Comptroller, State Treasurer, some State Senators, State Representatives, Cook County Board President, Cook County Commissioners, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Treasurer, Cook County Sheriff, Appellate and Circuit Court Judges, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners, Regional Superintendent of Schools and Democratic, Republican and Green Party Township Committeemen.

     “An excuse is not required to vote early,” Maher said. “This is a convenient service for the voters of suburban Cook County,” the clerk said.

      To vote early, individuals must be registered to vote and have a government issued identification card, i.e., a valid driver’s license or state identification card.

      In-person absentee voting is no longer available in the Orland Park Village Clerk’s Office; however, applications to receive absentee ballots by mail are available or can be downloaded from the Clerk’s Office area on the village’s website at www.orland-park.il.us.

      “Absentee voting is not available at the Clerk’s Office. This is why we’re encouraging suburban Cook County voters to take advantage of the Early Voting Program,” Maher said.

      A legitimate excuse is required to vote absentee by mail. “Parents whose kids are away at college can ask that an absentee ballot be mailed to them,” LaMargo said. Absentee voting is also convenient for homebound voters. 

      Orland Park’s Village Clerk’s Office is located off the main lobby of the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue.  Along with voter registration and being the official record keeper for the village, the Clerk’s Office includes the village’s Office of Special Services.

       “People can apply for and have their pictures taken for passports, seek veterans’ assistance and register to vote all in one place,” LaMargo said.

      Further information or to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to a Cook County voter, either homebound or out of town is available by calling the Orland Park Village Clerk’s Office at 708/403-6150.

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PHOTO CAPTION

Early voting for the February 2 Gubernatorial Primary Election will be available for all registered suburban Cook County voters January 11 to 28, 2010 at Orland Park’s Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue. Further information is available by calling the Village Clerk’s Office at 708/403-6150.

Patrick Maher claims endorsement of Tinley park Village Board -- oops!

They're calling it "another Maher." Why not, there are so many "Maher's" in the election and Patrick Maher, the son of Cook County employee and Orland Park Village Clerk David Maher has challenged one of them -- the one running against him. But he didn't challenge the one running against incumbent Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman, and that is Gerald Maher. Maher dropped out of the county board race to help Pat Maher and instead is focusing his campaign on challenging Gorman for Orland Township Republican Committeeman. As much as I like Gerald Maher, he is a terrible candidate and did so poorly in the last election, I was embarrassed for him.

I realized how strong Gorman was before the last election when Gorman had the courage to attend a tax forum my radio show "Radio Chicagoland" sponsored at the Orland Civic Center. There, Liz Gorman detailed all that she is doing to fight rising taxes and she impressed me and everyone else. Even Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin attended the forum and spoke and shook every hand while Maher sat in the audience.

So Maher has now paired up with some no-name Republican from the north suburbs, who the Gorman's say is tied to County Commissioner Tony Peraica, to challenge Gorman in the Feb. 2 primary.

Why? Because Gorman has fought harder than any other elected official or elective office wannabe to fight rising taxes. I don't need to tell you the role that Gorman played in refusing to give up on rolling back Todd Stroger's 1 percent sales tax/ Her persistence is exactly what taxpayers in Cook County needs and have been lacking in others.

Meanwhile, amazingly, Patrick Maher is making fighting taxes his campaign foundation. So that's why he is running to unseat the one champion against rising unfair taxes in Cook County who has refused to give up. Pat Maher is a nice guy, probably being led around by a bunch of political opportunists who have done nothing for taxpayers except to help themselves. Had Maher been on the county board, how do you think he would have voted on the sales tax repeal with his father earning some $80,000 working for the Stroger's county government?

And they're not just opportunists. They are incompetent opportunists. Who was it that put in the Maher newsletter that Maher had the endorsement of the "Village Board of Trustees -- Tinley Park?" Ooops! It's "another Maher."

No, a disturbed Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki told me. The Tinley Park Board did NOT endorse Maher at all. Maybe Maher got the expected nod from the affable Gregory Hannon -- but who cares whether Hannon did or did not endorse anyone?

They should put on their endorsement list that Maher has the endorsement of Gerald Maher. Now that would be a story, and bring the truth out from under the fog of politics, too. Or maybe Maher has the endorsement of Tony Peraica? Or maybe Maher has the endorsement of Todd Stroger? (Notice in his literature Maher is careful to attack Gorman on false charges that she is not fighting for taxpayer rights, and that he's opposing a bunch of other obscure and generic issues taken right out of the headlines that Gorman has been fighting against, too.)

Like I said, Pat Maher is a decent person. But would he be the best person to stand up to Stroger's excessive taxes? I don't think so. In fact, I bet Stroger would be happy to have him on the board. They'd probably have to lower the veto override again, though.

Instead of running for the Cook County Board, Pat Maher should show some real leadership and cut down the outrageous $26 million budget of the Orland Fire Protection District that he heads. The OFPD collects the largest chunk of taxes in Orland Township, outside of the schools, and although there was a tax reduction several years ago, the reduction was compensated for in an increase later. It is a cute trick that some politicians use so they can argue that they are cutting taxes for citizens. Except the key flaw is that the OFPD is one of the most expensive district's in Northern Illinois.

I've suggested that voters instead send Maher a clear message in Feb. 2 and support the elimination of the OFPD, merging fire protection services into Orland Park and cutting the budget to something more reasonable like $12 million. That's one tax cut I can support but we know its president won't.

Of course, there is also the lingering and unanswered issue of the OFPD allowing its battalion chiefs to drive their gas-guzzling SUV's all over the suburbs, even for personal use and outside of the district. That's a waste of taxpayer money, in my opinion.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Desperate times in Southwest Suburbs for some

I'm used to driving through Chicago and passing intersections like Pulaski Road and turning on to the Stevenson and being approached by several homeless people desperately seeking some money and donations. It's easy there because they can walk along the driver's sides of the cars without getting hit by cars ... some intersections are crowded with people each fighting for lanes to beg for help ... I carry these rolls of dollar coins that I get from Harris Bank (which needs to get its act together, by the way, with their outrageous fees and tight-wad practices -- I need ledger pads and they only will give you one. Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!) ...

Anyway, back to the concerns of the poor and those in need. There are so many people this winter who need help. It is so sad and difficult to deal with.

I was struck by the tragedy of the times when I was turning off of I-80 this afternoon returning from a trip to Dearborn, Michigan where I did a comedy show, and I saw a woman with a very desperate look on her face, holding up a cardboard sign that looked like it was made from the ripped side of a corrugated packing box. She had wrote with black marker "Desperate Mother needs help to feed her family and children."

The spot where she stood though, on the ramp facing west and turning right was tough because she was on the opposite of the cars and not on the driver's side so I couldn't get her any money. But there was no place for her to stand on the driver's side with all the heavy traffic. It was dangerous.

I help a person who is in desperate need for money and cash each month to try and make that person's life a little easier. And it is never enough to cover their needs. But anything can help make a little bit of a difference. I know how this person I know feels to relieved when I can send a check for $75 to help them just find a little place in their lives to relax and sigh with some relief.

I know what it is like to be worried about paying my bills and providing for my family. The truth is none of your friends want to be your friend when you are in trouble. They only want to be your friend when you are doing well and the calls are coming in like crazy now that things are going very well for me. But I remember wondering if I could pay the mortgage a few times, and calling to see if I could make arrangements to make a payment late.

People don't like to talk about this stuff publicly and thing it is shameful when you can't cover the basic necessities of your family like the mortgage, utilities and food. And then there is insurance costs for the car, home and that rip-off Humana Insurance that squeezes the blood out of the public so that their skunk CEO Mike McCallister can enjoy his excessive profits -- McCallister  made about $10 million in 2007 and -- poor guy -- only made $5 million in 2008. He is expected to make $10 million in 2009 and even more in 2010. Humana has no compassion for the public; the insurance industry employs people whose main job is to deny legitimate health claims in order to force the barely-able-to-survive-public to fight for the coverage they pay for each month in premiums, sold a worthless bill of goods in their Humana-bill of crap! (Click here to read a story from May about McCallister's pathetic fortunes and our misfortunes.)

McCallister doesn't have to worry about buying his food or providing for his family and I bet Humana never turned him down for coverage the way Humana turns down so many other of their insured.

I would love to see McCallister on the street one-day hat-in-hand begging for money just so he can know what it is like to be poor and without but I don't think that will ever happen until we gut the insurance industry of it's skunks and ban their lobbyists from buying off our spineless elected leaders in Congress, and that includes all the Republicans who are fighting to undermine healthcare for the poor and needy because their goal is to embarrass President Barack Obama.

And then as I was driving home, I saw one of those ugly hate-filled bumper stickers that said You should "keep working" because your money is going to cover more of "Obama's welfare" recipients. If you have a bumper sticker on your car that is so ignorant that you could care less about the poor, you don't deserve any breaks in life yourself. Apparently the only way to really understand the needs of the poor is to be in their shoes and I can tell you it is not easy.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Smith Crossing residents face choice, same fire service or more taxation

The PR Machine from the tax-heavy Orland Park Fire Protection District has misled many Smith Crossing residents into to thinking that service will be better if they vote to merge with Orland rather than support an expansion of Mokena fire services their way.

Mokena wants to build a fire station to serve the residents of the unincorporated, but the tax-hungry Orland Fire Protection District – which has one of the largest budgets of any Fire Protection District in the region – wants to add the homes to their tax base.

Officials of the OFPD argue that Orland already has a fire station “less than a mile” from Smith Crossing and they’d be better off joining Orland. So a judge wisely decided to avoid the issue of who has more political clout, the hapless Mokena residents or the 19^th Ward controlled Orland activists, and he ordered that the Smith Crossing residents vote on the matter in the Feb. 2 election.

That’s wise, but Smith Crossing residents better bone up on facts and stop being lured by the promises made by the OFPD which has serious tax issues and outrageous policies that are costly.

The issue is about money, not safety. There is absolutely no real difference when it comes to safety between the quality of the response that Smith Crossing residents will get from the Mokena Fire Department and what they will get from the Orland Fire Protection District. No difference except costs.

Orland offered to give the Smith Crossing residents “free” ambulance services, which Mokena was charging $1,200. It is a gimmick offer. When a resident in Orland is taken to the hospital in an Orland Fire Protection District ambulance, they are required to fill out the insurance forms so the district can charge their health insurance – which in most cases means that the insured also pay their share for the services (either through huge deductibles or through huge pre-payment costs).

Believe me when I tell you that the insurance company doesn’t pay for anything that they can’t pass on to the insured.

Still, it’s inviting, although Mokena changed its ways and now provides the same service.

But when anyone served by the Orland Fire Protection District takes a moment to look at their tax bills, they see right away that the OFPD takes the biggest chunk of their taxes next to the district’s schools; more than 12.51 percent of the your property taxes go to the OFPD. They have a $26 million annual budget, which is huge by any comparable standard.

No wonder they keep boasting (misleadingly) that they have "rebated" taxes. They collect so much they are the Orland equivalent of Todd Stroger’s tax wasteful Cook County administration. Stroger raised taxes so high so he could have an influx of cash and declare that he was the only government that could balance its budget. Balanced with out trimming fat and waste, of course.

The OFPD is doing the same thing. They dropped spending several years ago, and then increased it the amount they dropped just to make it easier for OFPD district elected officials run for political office. And there are enough of them there beginning with the OFPD President Patrick Maher who is running to become the commissioner from the 17^th District. His father, David Maher, is the village clerk in Orland Park and a highly paid employee at Cook County, too.

If I had the choice that faces Smith Crossing voters, I’d cut a deal with Mokena to get the same service for far less. And, for those residents stuck in the OFPD who think that their very expensive fire service is a good deal, they should consider eliminating the Fire Protection District all together and merging it with the village of Orland Park. That's the referendum we need.

Many communities manage to provide the highest quality fire services with far less money, budgets of $6 to $8 million in Tinley Park where a volunteer force does the same quality work for far less.

It is about safety, of course, and the Orland Fire Protection District firefighters ARE among the best. But the district can still offer the same great service without costing us an arm and a leg in taxes. Just because I challenge their board doesn't mean I don't respect the challenges of firefighters, many of whom tell me they are fed up with the political games there.

That’s the issue that needs to considered carefully before digesting the baloney the ambitious elected officials in the OFPD are feeding to the public.

Symbolic of the wasted money in the OFPD is the ability of Battalion Chiefs to drive their gas-guzzling SUV’s anywhere they want on and off-duty for personal and business reasons. What a perq for being a highly paid fireman?

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE SAFE RIDE HOME PROGRAM offers free rides

NEW YEAR’S EVE SAFE RIDE HOME PROGRAM

Free Service Provides Partygoers a Safe Ride Home

ORLAND PARK, IL – For the past sixteen years, the Village of Orland Park has offered the “Safe Ride Home Program” to drive partygoers safely home on New Year’s Eve. FREE rides home will be available from 11 pm on Thursday, December 31 to 4 am on Friday, January 1, 2009.

Joining Orland Park in the Safe Ride Home Program on New Year’s Eve are the communities of Mokena, Orland Hills, Palos Heights and New Lenox.

The Safe Ride Home Program cost is approximately $4,436.00. The Michael P. Gordon Memorial Foundation has generously donated $1,500.00 to help subsidize the Safe Ride Home Program. Thanks to the generosity of the Gordon Foundation, each participating community’s share of the cost will be approximately $587.00. The Michael P. Gordon Memorial Foundation was established to carry on the memory of Chicago Police Officer Mike Gordon and continue his service by improving public safety and providing financial assistance to deserving individuals and charitable organizations.

Carey Chicago of Elk Grove Village will provide six vehicles to give residents of the participating towns a ride home. The driver will take riders to their homes, not to another party or public establishment. There is no charge for this service and no names will be taken. Last year, 203 passengers took advantage of the free safe ride home.

The service is provided to help make New Year’s Eve safe for everyone on the road. Residents of any of the participating towns may call Carey Chicago at 1-800-752-5400 to arrange for a free ride home on New Year’s Eve. The Village of Orland Park and all of the participating communities encourage everyone to have a happy and safe New Year’s.

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 PHOTO CAPTION

Promoting the 2009/10 Safe Ride Home Program from left to right are: Roland Joita and Brandi Warren, My Chauffeur; Deputy Chief David Delaney, City of Palos Heights; Chief Bob Sterba, Village of New Lenox; Village of Orland Park Trustee and Chairman of Public Safety Brad O’Halloran, Chief Timothy McCarthy, Village of Orland Park; Deputy Chief Mike Blaha, Village of Orland Hills; and Community Relations School Resource Officer Dennis Boardman, Village of Mokena.

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State Rep. Renee Kosel outed in scholarship-politics controversy

State Rep. Renee Kosel is one of five legislators who requires applicants for state scholarships to register to vote first, something that some people believe may end up being pressured by virtue of the circumstances to vote for the legislator.

Click here to read the story?

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

New Orland Park budget includes Dial-a-Ride service during weekdays in 2010

Village of Orland Park Dial-A-Ride Service Included in 2010 Budget

Service to Include Two Week Day Buses

    ORLAND PARK, IL – The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees has authorized Village Manager Paul Grimes to include funding in the village’s FY2010 Budget for the community’s PACE Dial-A-Ride Bus Program. Two buses will operate on week days beginning with the New Year, with the one way fare being $5.00 per rider.

      “I’m glad that we were able to find a way to maintain our restructured Dial-A-Ride Service for the village,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.  

“The public provided helpful insight into how important the village’s bus service is to them and the new fare and service structure is a result of the community’s input,” McLaughlin added. 

“The board and I were especially concerned with the number of individuals with disabilities and seniors who rely on the village’s buses

and have no other means of transportation,” McLaughlin said, adding, “That’s why we started the service in the first place. “For door-to-door transportation, $5.00 each way is a very reasonable fare,” the mayor said.

                  The projected subsidy for the modified level of service is projected to cost approximately $80,000 for the fiscal year. The village will pay for this service by making offsetting cost reductions in other areas of the operating budget.

                  The Orland Park Board of Trustees is expected to adopt the FY2010 budget at its meeting on December 7, 2009. Changes to the bus service and fares will begin January 1, 2010.

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Gorman praises board action to override Stroger veto of sales tax rollback

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT:  Peg Walsh:  773-704-4655                  

           

Commissioner Gorman and County Board Override Stroger’s Veto of Sales Tax Repeal

December 1, 2009 – Today marked a major victory for Cook County taxpayers and businesses as Commissioner Liz Gorman joined with eleven other county board members in voting (12 to 5) to override President Todd Stroger’s veto of the 0.5% Sales Tax Repeal.  The 0.5% Sales Tax Repeal was passed by the county board by a 12 to 5 margin on November 17, 2009 after two previous repeal votes were vetoed by Stroger.  Within days of this most recent Sales Tax Repeal vote the board president, for a third time, vetoed this tax-cutting measure.

During today’s debate from the floor of the county board, Commissioner Gorman, in her remarks stated, “A new chapter in Cook County Government is being written today!  What governmental bodies are you aware of that have successfully repealed a tax?  In this economy, governments are making hard cuts and looking to increase tax and fee revenues wherever possible.

With this repeal, we are being proactive by leveling the playing field for our businesses so that they can grow, compete and create jobs.  This sales tax repeal will return consumer confidence back in Cook County. In turn, this will provide opportunity for municipalities to increase their local tax receipts by rolling back a portion now. 

This vote should be used as a litmus test for voters to hold elected officials accountable.  Not only does this repeal represent a sales tax cut, but it makes a bold statement -- that this body recognizes that taxpayers are not satisfied with the tax and spend policies that have dominated county government for decades and that this county board is serious about fiscal responsibility.  I hope this is the first step in many that will lead to more constructive reform initiatives and tax policies for county government.”

Today’s successful override vote was made possible by new legislation passed by the state legislature and signed by the governor (October 2009) that reduced the veto override threshold from 4/5 to 3/5.  Commissioner Gorman sponsored the county board resolution that urged the state legislature and governor to pass and sign this legislation.  

The 0.5% Sales Tax Repeal will reduce the Cook County Sales Tax from 1.75% down to 1.25%. The Sales Tax Repeal will be effective on July 1, 2010.

Cook County Board votes to defend taxpayers and push Stroger towards the exit

The Cook County Board has voted to override President Todd Stroger's veto of the motion introduced last week by Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman and an array of progressive commissioners to roll back the 1 percent sales tax by half.

It's a huge victory for the taxpayers and the beginning of the end for Stroger who has turned Cook County into a personal patronage haven for his cronies. Instead of leading by example, Stroger chose to lead by shortcuts, addressing budget shortfalls not with cutbacks in his administration or forcing the county's eight executive office holders to cut back their budgets, but rather by placing the burden of his failed leadership on the backs of the taxpayers of Cook County.

Several commissioners deserve recognition for standing up to the Stroger tax tyranny including Gorman, John Daley, Peter Sylvestri, Gregg Goslin and Timothy Schneider. All of the 12 commissioners who voted to override Stroger's veto of the half percent sales tax rollback deserve praise and they are listed below.

Among those who must be remembered at election time, though, include Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy, a friend of Stroger's legal eagle Burton S. Odelson, and Commissioner Deborah "Flip Flop" Simms. Murphy is being challenged by Nick Valadez who has vowed to represent the best interests of the taxpayers while Simms is being challenged by Sheila Chalmer Currin. (Click here to listen to the podcast of Valadez and Currin discussing their candidacies.)

VOTE TO CUT SALES TAX: 

Elizabeth Gorman, R-Orland Park

Peter Silvestri, R-Elmwood Park

Gregg Goslin, R-Glenview

John Daley, D-Chicago

Timothy Schneider, R-Streamwood

Earlean Collins, D-Chicago

Forrest Claypool, D-Chicago

Bridget Gainer, D-Chicago

Tony Peraica, R-Riverside

Edwin Reyes, D-Chicago

Robert Steele, D-Chicago

Larry Suffredin, D-Evanston

VOTE TO PRESERVE SALES TAX: 

Joan Murphy, D-Crestwood

Deborah Sims, D-Chicago

William Beavers, D-Chicago

Jerry Butler, D-Chicago

Joseph Mario Moreno, D-Chicago