District 150 Follies

We were dismayed and somewhat amused by District 150 and the Peoria Park District "announcing" their (done) deal for the new school adjoining Glen Oak Park, with a nod to "new urbanism". Needless to say, the homeowners and businesses which would need to sell their property to enable completion of this "vision" were a little surprised.

Whatever happened to the "Open Meetings Act"? If they're hanging their hat on the clause which allows closed meetings when discussing selling prices, one must ask WHAT prices. If there were prices to discuss, it would imply that a decision had already been made in a CLOSED meeting! If there were no prices to discuss, it would imply the decision was being made in a CLOSED meeting!

Now, "co-incidentally", we see State Senator Shadid's idea for school construction funding taking the form of a bill introduced by a CHICAGO legislator - a Democrat - which would give the Public Building Commission of Peoria the authority to issue bonds. No messy voter referenda required. We're no longer amused.

There isn't a shred of transparency in sight here, folks. It's a voter end-run, pure and simple; and it's not right. Perhaps the need is there and the plan is right. Fine - make the case and ask the voters for their money. That's the way it works.