Snakes in the Tall Grass
Friday, April 11th, 2008Well the d204 saga continues.
Some of the most spoiled of our community stomped, cried, and called for an adult in state government to do their bidding, and finally got their way with District 204 School Board, albeit through the back door, as the Midwest Generation Company today succumbed to the pressure-cooker that is school district 204 politics, declaring they wont sell their land to D204,
http://blogs.suburbanchicagonews.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/2306
http://www.ipsd.org/Uploads/news_18300_1.pdf
Interesting isn’t it?
Makes one wonder why a once willing seller, all of a sudden decided to pull a sure-fire sale,( especially in the current real estate market). Evidently the business owners made a grand social commentary, instead of a business decision and rejected the offer.
Or maybe it could have been some heavy weight state governmental-type pressure tactic, in the corner of the few Tall Grass residents who started the lawsuit, under the guise of a propped up tax exempt they run called the NSFOC, (better known around town as the “NO SCHOOL FOR OUR CHILDREN group) to stop the deal in its tracks.
No School For Our Children-NSFOC
These are a minority of 200 or so, but very vocal group who, it seems, desperately want to be school board members, with decision rights and power, but evidently dont have the time or inclination of actually running for the position.
The group hired lawyers and decided to throw everything (but the proverbial sink) truth, lies, and lawsuits, at the parties involved, hoping to steer the board BACK to their beloved, (and closer,newer, & more status driven) Brach-Brodie site.
Senator Holmes
Perhaps the biggest and heaviest item thrown by the TG/NSFOC folks, was the leverage of State Senator Linda Holmes-(D 42). Who, it has been suggested, was called in for her environmental clout at the state level.
Now I am sure Senator Holmes has plenty to do, but a local land/ School Board issue? What gives? Is this property even in her district?
Well, word is making the rounds that a major contributor to the finances of State Senator Holmes campaign is said to have been Macom Properties, who has been trying to sell property to IPSD for awhile.
Coincidence ?
Who knows if this is politics as usual, but the cynic sees a strange turn of events.
- School District decision made
- Landowners interested in selling land for new school
- Small minority of constituents become upset
- Tax-exempt started by minority group
- Group sues School Board
- State Senator with developer ties gets involved with the disgruntled minority
- Landowner has sudden change of heart
Socially conscience business owners, unite!
Word has it that some pressure might have came down on the sellers from above. Could this be?
If so, shouldn’t everyone know exactly what was said, and by whom, to make a formerly interested seller in a rational business decision, all of a sudden, become so beholden to “community sentiment” and foresake a business decision.
Maybe the good senator could make a statement as to the extent of her involvement-if any.
Lord knows the government could use the tax receipts from a sale, any sale!
Best guess is that the seller just did not want need the pressure, as well as the general vitriol coming at them from the NSFOC folks. Who can blame them.
But the real problem here, beyond lack of transparency, is the insidious potential of a (minority) special interest group, leveraging state level political clout, to usurp a locally elected school board in a local power grab.
Everyone involved in this overthrow of a School Board’s decision should be ashamed.
