[BCNnet] FYI: from todays suntimes - editorial and article

Mon, 4 Oct 2004 08:58:32 -0600

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FYI - Randi Doeker, Chicago

Editorial:  Forest Preserve bond issue all about 'bear' essentials? 
October 4, 2004 

The good news is that a $100 million bond issue for improvements in the
Forest Preserve District, the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Botanic
Garden is up for a vote in the district's board this week. The bad news,
and a major concern to those who have winced at the district's injurious
mismanagement and misspending, is the lack of specifics in how that
money is to be spent and the bonds paid for. 
In the words of Charles Schwartz, past chairman of the board of Friends
of the Parks, "The proposed use of funds from the forthcoming bond issue
is so general that it resembles a bear reaching into the honey pot." Or,
perhaps, a grizzly with an insatiable taste for pork. Having seen the
Forest Preserve waste gobs of money on perks and patronage while the
lands and its facilities have fallen into shocking disrepair, are we to
accept vague entries such as "up to 50 washrooms may be rebuilt" and
"new boathouse at Busse Woods" at face value? 
If lack of detail is a problem, the question of how the bonds will be
paid for is equally vexing. Last week, Cook County Board President John
Stroger did not have concrete answers for these questions. He said it's
possible the budget could be reduced enough so that the bonds can be
funded without an increase in property taxes. But as our STEVE PATTERSON
reported, taxpayers should brace for an increase in taxes. Still, that
budget deserves a close look before taxes are hiked. 
Another concern involves the issue of land acquisition. The county and
especially the city are in dramatic need of open space -- for
recreation, for flood protection by absorbing rainfall, for the
preservation of thousands of species. In its 2000 land acquisition plan,
favoring the expansion of open space (and recognizing that land was
being acquired at a slower rate than during the Depression and world
wars), the Forest Preserve identified more than 40,000 acres as
potentially suitable. Now, while various individuals and groups have
been allowed to encroach on lands that were supposed to be protected
from such incursions -- a trend that led to recently adopted amendments
to the Land Policy -- it envisions no acquisitions. 
What makes this especially painful is that the district raided its land
acquisitions fund to the tune of $19 million to make up for budget
shortfalls. That money should be returned to its original purpose.
District regulars, referring to attorneys, say the language of the
statute enabling the bond issue doesn't allow use of the money for land
acquisitions. Commissioners Mike Quigley (who is pushing for the
district to expand from its current 68,000 acres to 75,000) and Larry
Suffredin are among those who strongly disagree. That things have come
to this apparent impasse is a sad commentary on the priorities of this
board. Whatever it takes to do so, it must ensure future generations of
people and other living things the open spaces they need to thrive and
develop. Squandering our natural resources is a terrible crime.

Forest Preserve adds patronage hires 
October 4, 2004 
BY STEVE PATTERSON Staff Reporter 
Over the last 22 months, hundreds of workers who cleaned Cook County
forest preserves were laid off because of budget cuts and management
restructuring. 
So when the Cook County Forest Preserve District eliminated its
multimillion-dollar debt last month and announced it would begin filling
vacant positions, some expected the priority would be on maintenance --
especially given the shabby appearance of some groves and woods. 
Instead, the agency has been quick to make political patronage hires in
higher-paying management positions, records show. There have been no
recent hires in the maintenance arena, the records indicate. 
Sam Simone, who runs the Palos Township Regular Democratic Organization,
started last week as a $68,820-a-year assistant to district Supt. Steve
Bylina. He'll work with 38th Ward Democratic Committeeman P.J.
Cullerton, a $90,000-a-year assistant to Bylina. 
Two weeks ago, Jimmie Barreto was promoted to assistant division
superintendent, making $40,297 a year. A 17-year district employee, he's
also a 26th Ward Democratic precinct captain, loyal to county
Commissioner Roberto Maldonado. 
Politically driven hiring 
It's that politically driven hiring process that has led the district
into financial turmoil, critics say, taking aim at Cook County Board
President John Stroger, who has the most power over district decisions. 
"This administration will go to any lengths to protect and expand their
political class at the Forest Preserve District," said county
Commissioner Forrest Claypool. "They will cut maintenance workers who
clean and protect the preserves and raise property taxes to protect
their bloated bureaucracy." 
But district officials say they have cut the fat out of their budget.
"We had one of our best operational years with our current staffing
levels," Forest Preserve spokesman Steve Mayberry said. "It's a real
testament to what we've done." 
Teamsters Local 726, which represents maintenance workers, sees things
differently, saying more focus should be on laborers, a shrinking group
that has been without a contract since December 2002. 
"We're extremely concerned about the size of the work force because we
don't really know how the work can possibly get done," said Local 726
attorney Jim Green. 
Records show the district spent $25.6 million on recreation and general
maintenance in 2001. Last year, it spent $13.3 million. 
While the district eliminated laborers from its budget, some mid-level
managers now being hired will do more field work, Mayberry said.

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:navy'>FYI =
&#8211;
Randi Doeker, Chicago<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Trebuchet =
MS"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet =
MS";color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<tt>Editorial:&nbsp; =
</tt><st1:place><tt>Forest</tt></st1:plac=
e><tt>
Preserve bond issue all about 'bear' =
essentials? </tt> 
<st1:date Month=3D"10" Day=3D"4" Year=3D"2004"><tt>October
 4, 2004</tt></st1:date><tt> =
</tt> 
 
<tt>The</tt><tt> good news is that a $100 million bond issue for
improvements in the Forest Preserve District, the Brookfield Zoo and the =
</tt><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><tt>Chicago</tt></st1:PlaceName><tt> =
</tt><st1:PlaceType><tt>Botanic =
Garden</tt></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><tt>
is up for a vote in the district's board this week. The bad news, and a =
major
concern to those who have winced at the district's injurious =
mismanagement and
misspending, is the lack of specifics in how that money is to be spent =
and the
bonds paid for. </tt> 
<tt>In the words of Charles Schwartz, past =
chairman of
the board of Friends of the Parks, &quot;The proposed use of funds from =
the
forthcoming bond issue is so general that it resembles a bear reaching =
into the
honey pot.&quot; Or, perhaps, a grizzly with an =
insatiable
taste for pork. Having seen the Forest Preserve waste gobs of =
money on
perks and patronage while the lands and its facilities have fallen into
shocking disrepair, are we to accept vague entries such as &quot;up to =
50
washrooms may be rebuilt&quot; and &quot;new boathouse at Busse =
Woods&quot; at
face value? </tt> 
<tt>If lack of detail is a problem, the =
question of
how the bonds will be paid for is equally vexing. Last week, Cook County =
Board
President John Stroger did not have concrete answers for these =
questions. He
said it's possible the budget could be reduced enough so that the bonds =
can be
funded without an increase in property taxes. But as our STEVE PATTERSON
reported, taxpayers should brace for an increase in taxes. Still, that =
budget
deserves a close look before taxes are hiked. </tt> 
<tt>Another concern involves the issue of =
land
acquisition. The county and especially the city are in dramatic need of =
open
space -- for recreation, for flood protection by absorbing rainfall, for =
the
preservation of thousands of species. In its 2000 land acquisition plan,
favoring the expansion of open space (and recognizing that land was =
being
acquired at a slower rate than during the Depression and world wars), =
the
Forest Preserve identified more than 40,000 acres as potentially =
suitable. Now,
while various individuals and groups have been allowed to encroach on =
lands
that were supposed to be protected from such incursions -- a trend that =
led to
recently adopted amendments to the Land Policy -- it envisions no =
acquisitions.
</tt> 
<tt>What makes this especially painful is =
that the
district raided its land acquisitions fund to the tune of $19 million to =
make
up for budget shortfalls. That money should be returned to its original
purpose. District regulars, referring to attorneys, say the language of =
the
statute enabling the bond issue doesn't allow use of the money for land
acquisitions. Commissioners Mike Quigley (who is pushing for the =
district to
expand from its current 68,000 acres to 75,000) and Larry Suffredin are =
among
those who strongly disagree. That things have come to this apparent =
impasse is
a sad commentary on the priorities of this board. Whatever it takes to =
do so,
it must ensure future generations of people and other living things the =
open
spaces they need to thrive and develop. Squandering our natural =
resources is a
terrible crime.</tt> 
 
<tt>Forest Preserve adds patronage hires =
</tt> 
<tt>October 4, 2004 </tt> 
<tt>BY STEVE PATTERSON Staff Reporter =
</tt> 
<tt>Over the last 22 months, hundreds of =
workers who
cleaned Cook County forest preserves were laid off because of budget =
cuts and
management restructuring. </tt> 
<tt>So when the Cook County Forest Preserve =
District
eliminated its multimillion-dollar debt last month and announced it =
would begin
filling vacant positions, some expected the priority would be on =
maintenance --
especially given the shabby appearance of some groves and woods. =
</tt> 
<tt>Instead, the agency has been quick to =
make
political patronage hires in higher-paying management positions, records =
show.
There have been no recent hires in the maintenance arena, the records =
indicate.
</tt> 
<tt>Sam Simone, who runs the Palos Township =
Regular
Democratic Organization, started last week as a $68,820-a-year assistant =
to
district Supt. Steve Bylina. He'll work with 38th Ward Democratic =
Committeeman
P.J. Cullerton, a $90,000-a-year assistant to Bylina. </tt> 
<tt>Two weeks ago, Jimmie Barreto was =
promoted to
assistant division superintendent, making $40,297 a year. A 17-year =
district
employee, he's also a 26th Ward Democratic precinct captain, loyal to =
county
Commissioner Roberto Maldonado. </tt> 
<tt>Politically driven hiring 
It's that politically driven hiring process that has led the =
district
into financial turmoil, critics say, taking aim at Cook County Board =
President
John Stroger, who has the most power over district decisions. =
</tt> 
<tt>&quot;This administration will go to any =
lengths
to protect and expand their political class at the Forest Preserve
District,&quot; said =
</tt><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><tt>county</tt></st1:PlaceType><tt> =
</tt><st1:PlaceName><tt>Commissioner</tt></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><t=
t>
Forrest Claypool. &quot;They will cut maintenance workers who clean and =
protect
the preserves and raise property taxes to protect their bloated
bureaucracy.&quot; </tt> 
<tt>But district officials say they have cut =
the fat
out of their budget. &quot;We had one of our best operational years with =
our
current staffing levels,&quot; Forest Preserve spokesman Steve Mayberry =
said.
&quot;It's a real testament to what we've done.&quot; </tt> 
<tt>Teamsters Local 726, which represents =
maintenance
workers, sees things differently, saying more focus should be on =
laborers, a
shrinking group that has been without a contract since December 2002. =
</tt> 
<tt>&quot;We're extremely concerned about the =
size of
the work force because we don't really know how the work can possibly =
get
done,&quot; said Local 726 attorney Jim Green. </tt> 
<tt>Records show the district spent $25.6 =
million on
recreation and general maintenance in 2001. Last year, it spent $13.3 =
million. </tt> 
<tt>While the district eliminated laborers =
from its
budget, some mid-level managers now being hired will do more field work,
Mayberry said.</tt> 
 
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

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