My alma mater is a lot like Oak Park, IL

I have mentioned before that I have attended Roosevelt University before. I would post this elsewhere but what the hell?? Why not. One issue I have with Roosevelt University is the fact they send out to alumni letters asking for money about a particular student. I get a few of these a year, I am not sure because I live in Oak Park, IL the school figures I have money to give to peeps I don’t know but I get these little letters once in a while.

I get quite perturbed because the university uses this dated method to reach out and raise funds for the particular student of the University’s choice. And I say the University’s choice because I never had anyone reach out to me regarding my financial difficulties going to the institution. Nor did I have anyone want nor express desire to raise me some much-needed dollars to offset the need for me to apply for student loans. Living in Oak Park, IL with rent, parking costs, etc., and going to Roosevelt University was a choice I made. I did not ask anyone for help, so surprisingly much like Oak Park, IL Roosevelt University thinks that a letter with some weak sob story will make me dish out money in earnest.

When Oak Park, IL faced difficulty in getting people to pay for outstanding tickets during their recent amnesty program the idea to expunge those tickets still on the books. That idea is still in limbo, and there is most likely no way that the village will get its money. In comparison, Roosevelt University has identified an issue, a student who has dire need attending the school so instead of doing away with their tuition. The institution would rather make them a poster child for need, income equality, high tuition rates at universities. The list could go on and on.

The point is, that institutions like Oak Park, IL and Roosevelt University want to “look” like they are trying to tackle social issues and try to portray themselves like the “good guy” When in reality all the really want to do is get paid so that they can waste that money on something frivolous. When in reality Oak Park, IL could lessen its stranglehold on its various parking restrictions in the village and possibly forgive those old ass tickets. Meanwhile, Roosevelt University could reduce its tuition by half for students in need and thereby in turn, save money not needing to send those letters out. But that would be too much like right.

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Oak Park IL is rolling out a website for its Lake Street construction project

The Village is pushing out a website, yeah, to showcase what they will be doing to improve Lake Street in Oak Park, IL. It has fancy project details what will be done on the street while construction is happening and hopefully what improvements that will be made. There are various improvements including and I quote: “replacing and restoring water and sewer mains” which is always great, I mean who wants to drink water from old lead pipes right?

But the main improvements are of course those that are mandated by most local governments concerning access for those with disabilities. Meaning:  street crossings that people in wheelchairs can use and they will no longer be subjugated to riding in the streets, furthering the spotlight upon them.

Now without even dumpster diving into the website I noticed a huge issue that is not being addressed: parking. There is a link to maps for parking while the construction project is underway but nothing, I can see about adding additional parking to assist businesses their customers or even people with disabilities who need additional access or accommodation for parking. Therefore, this project I just a means for Oak Park, Il to finally update some shit like the water piping, street resurfacing while also following the common-sense laws we have in place everywhere else like giving access to the disabled. I rather say physically challenged but the website stated disabilities a few times, so I am trying to roll with that.

The plan has been in motion for awhile and it is interesting to see what residents think and how the village will effective roll it out per their own deadlines in completing it. With every project there are outliers and “bumps” in the road that will knock a project off course and in Oak Park, Il the pure fallacy that the village can pull something like this off without a hitch would be monumental. In other words, I would not allow the idiots in charge to watch a dead canary (no offense to the animal lovers!), because they would not be able to carry on the next step without some major fuck up.

With that said I am all for this project (surprise bitches!) and I am all about updating infrastructure and accommodating people so that we all have equal access and sanitation for all to enjoy. And yes, updated clean, working sanitation is a luxury. I am hoping that the village can complete this project by 2020 as they stated without the usual fuck ups involved so that they do not put out residents, businesses and those who now have hope to accessing some of the luxuries that the rest of us (without disabilities) take for granted.

Here is their basic website that they rolled out for the Lake street project:

BetterLakeStreet.com

Preckwinkle our beloved Cook County president on Crime

OMG! Preckwinkle talking about the crime in Chicago is redundant especially considering that she is the Cook County president and what has she done to assist in bringing down crime? A Soda tax? Just fucking annoying to hear that she is now discussing this issue when the person who whooped her ass for the office of the Mayor of Chicago. Now to complain about the Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson after how long? Did she ever complain to Rahm Emanuel about the crime rates or the Superintendent? No.

Then she brings up the lack of employment in the city, like this just happened as the Lightfoot took office. While on the other hand, blaming other states for lax gun laws for the influx of illegal guns on the streets. This is one politician who just delights in blaming others for the problems in her own backyard. And the great thing is that she is running for reelection! With her utter failure to win the majority or any wards in Chicago, hopefully the neighboring suburbs in the Cook County area will not put their support behind Preckwinkle in this reelection bid and let her go the way of the dinosaurs. Which she is one of them.

Periwinkle thinks that this political feud with the new mayor is going to gain her some votes, Rahm is out, Lightfoot is still riding an air of goodwill and hope with the citizens of Chicago. Especially as Chicago’s first openly gay mayor, by challenging Lightfoot, Preckwinkle is treading on thin ice. People are just tired of the same old politics as usual in the city and the surrounding areas also citizens want some accountability and again, Preckwinkle is not even close to that area or expertise. Hopefully, this will be the last time we see of her. Jesus.

Here is the article talking about that idiot:

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/7/18/20699495/crime-chicago-lightfoot-preckwinkle-mayor-gun-violence-county-bail

Recreational Marijuana sold in Oak Park, IL -Yes!

I heard there will recreational marijuana sold in Oak Park, IL finally! There is some good news about Oak Park, IL I cannot wait to get some and lite that shit up in the hallways here. The lack of crystal-clear entertainment in the village at least with all the new taxes we are getting as a result of a new state administration we will get something that can calm us all down. With the lack of bars or adult entertainment, I mean the real shit not this “Johnny come lately” and/or “entertainment lite” crap. The lack of growth of an actual outlet for adults, creates a huge market for cannabis, even the most stuck up person, in my experience will be able to relax or better entertain guests.

The vanilla that is Oak Park, IL will get a huge upgrade in the right direction and hopefully the purchases made at the recreational dispensaries will lead to an increase in revenue for local restaurants. So, for example, Seven Point Medical Cannabis Dispensary in downtown Oak Park will bring a ton of extra traffic, physical and economic, that the downtown has not seen in a long time.  I am not sure the village will be able to figure out the parking issues that coming with this gold mine of fun. But then again, the dumbasses that run the village should have planned out the downtown area better to open day incur the growth that is coming and will come in the future.

Of course, the village will be taxing cannabis sales at 3% so the village will be getting something out of the deal, I hope that the local restaurants will be getting some of the excess business due to the munchies the Cannabis customers will have. I know I have tons of friends that will be frequenting the area, the cannabis store, and a lot of the restaurants in the area. Finally, there is a win-win situation in Oak Park, IL

Frank Lloyd Wright house expansion

Well, well, well, so I read in a couple different sources that the extension to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s houses, visitor center and all is being scrutinized by the community. Lol yup change is hard. But seriously the community at large needs to rip off the band aid and get with the times. The house itself is a tourist attraction that brings in architecture aficionados, these are people that are usually willing to spend a little money in this shit burb. So, the last thing the community at large should do is bitch about the village finding a way to make extra money that does not involve extra taxes.

The community should realize the people they elected are following the money, not the wholesome bullshit trail. The wholesale of Oak Park, il is happening on a major scale, so all these people can bitch and moan, but if they keep voting for the same people pushing this status quo. Frank Lloyd Wright is going to be pimped out for the masses baby, there will probably be a new age souvenir shop too. Change, major change is what you are going to get. So, change and a visitor’s center be ready to welcome them both, and if you don’t like that, suck it.

Preckwinkle bye girl!

Son of a bitch! Here I thought after being trounced by Lightfoot that stiff ass periwinkle was finally gone. Like she would have gotten the message like Rahm Emanuel did and she would just go away but noooooooo. Preckwinkle “decided” to run for a fourth term as cook county commissioner like herpe sore that appears when you least want (for those of you who have herps!) Periwinkle just pops out ruining the good times being had.

Ugh this just sucks, because with all the new taxes that the state government is rolling out, you can bet this stiff will add onto any existing taxes to fund whatever stupidity she has in mind. If I sound bitter it’s because I still remember the whole soda tax thing, adding to all the various taxes that she introduced as a “health saving measure” or some shit.

Acting still like a principal who wants to tell everyone what to do, instead of an elective official that listens to the voices of the voters. I am not looking forward to four more years of such stupidity and obvious tone deaf politicking hopefully Preckwinkle will get another worthy opponent to trounce the living shit out of her in the upcoming election and she can finally go away.

River Forest is bringing in the Rambos.. to kill deer

River Forest is gonna kill bambi and its mother in the latest public relations snafu for the village’s partner in crime. Instead of capturing the deer and possibly releasing them elsewhere we will have a bunch of Rambos shooting them to death. Of course, there are no normal predators to eliminate the excess deer but there is no need to kill them, right? Capture and release sounds like a bleeding-heart alternative but think of it as making sure that a population does not become stagnant due to knee jerk relations of short-sighted administrations.

Funny how the decision goes straight to killing when property values are at stake, which in the end is the moral fortitude of these two villages connected together, just plain pitiful. Money as become the motivator behind every decision that the administrations of these two villages make. All the while operating under guise of some beaming light on the hill, above all reproach, with some type of superhero moral center that cannot be compromised. But when property is damaged then these villages go on the warpath ready to eliminate anyone or anything that stands in the way of making a buck or increase property values.

Now, that is not to say that getting rich, nor increase or maintaining property values is a bad thing. At this point it seems like it is now the only thing that matters. Regression of moral standards making the villages just other bunch of organizations moneygrubbing for more cash to grab up, willing to do the extreme if its cost effective and morally bankrupt. River Forest and Oak Park go hand in hand with their ability to look the other way, making both less than what they are. Now, being just “another community” with this issue and instead of maintaining the moral high ground it likes to espouse these Bonnie and Clyde villages will wallow in the muck while saving a buck.

 

https://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/7-16-2019/River-Forest-pursues-deer-sharpshooter-program-/

Oak Park IL update-broke down

You would think that a broken foot would not impede ones writing or typing ability. Bullshit. I can hobble around and shit. But my ability to stay sitting still has been compromised by the plastic boot on my broken left foot. I was getting some exercise by walking around my apartment and the oven alarm didn’t go off or was not set or something. I smelt something burning and started running towards the kitchen. I hit a corner to close and kicked my left foot in a door frame. Bamm.

Now I cannot not even sit down, walk around, stay still enough, to do anything. Once you lose the ability to do something like walk regularly, you become so obsessed to get it back or at least try too. Now writing is a chore for this wordy whore.  I am actually laid out on my bed typing this on my phone in an email to post online later. Freaking pain in the ass. But as an update now you know. Posts to come soon.

“family friendly” Oak Park

There was nothing in the pipeline for a couple of days all of the sudden everyone wants to now be in my face and hangout. Total yuck. I was looking forward to being alone. The surprise of the week or flavor of the month either way I guess I am going to have people over or have people visiting. Trying to find entertainment or a way to entertain people in always hard. Searching for something to do in Oak Park, IL is almost like doing research for a major research paper.

Sounds redundant but however most of the people who come through usually do not want to deal with young kids or go somewhere that closes as early as 9 pm. Both caveats are very hard to come by in this area. Oak Park, IL plays the “family friendly” card way too well, while letting the outer suburbs have the scummy adult theatres and bars to take care of the rest of us. Yeah, I said it. Oak Park, IL is more of a waystation, a place that you leave from than go to, when you want to do some living. The village is almost like that place you throw away those kind-of-extreme fun things to do and just settle down and die.

I do not think I could hit sixty and feel like I can be okay with such a scene. The overwhelming sense of boredom is probably why Hemingway left and so many other famous individuals who became successful and never came back. There is just a lot of blah here and no substance.

Happy Fourth of July!

Try to stay cool and dry, traffic is already hitting its stride and becoming congested. I loathe this type of traffic because it makes getting through the village of Oak Park, Il even worse. But the good smells of Barbeque and freedom should hopefully lessen the blow of the yucky ass traffic of Oak Park, Il. I will try to go to my happy place (not a bar) in my mind and think of the great things I have to be thankful for.

If I find myself having the urge to bitch or shout at a slow ass driver, I will do so with a smile today and maybe add in a “Happy 4th!” at the end. No matter how the day turns out I will make sure that I will get some barbeque in my system even if I have to burn every hotdog in a ten mile radius. Oh I will also but out of the village too, so the day will be a win-win. I have the day off, Friday too (four day weekend), then free food at the family barbeque and time away from one of the jerkiest suburbs in the Chicagoland area!

Win-win. Happy Fourth of July!