Comments on: The end of the Bandits http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/ Fri, 18 May 2012 12:35:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Common Sense Clarence Hayward http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48865 Common Sense Clarence Hayward Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:53:03 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48865 Please see why Republican David Akemann is the most qualified choice for Kane County Judge in November at: www.akemannforjudge.com Common Sense Clarence Hayward Please see why Republican David Akemann is the most qualified choice for Kane County Judge in November at:

http://www.akemannforjudge.com

Common Sense Clarence Hayward

]]> By: rm http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48862 rm Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:31:11 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48862 We all know that the Bandits deal in Elgin was fishy from the get-go. We'll never know just how fishy because the local powers-that-be and their media flunkies really weren't very interested in having us know. And while Our Masters were all over at Mike Powers' visitation at Wait Ross, they probably went to confirm that the one guy who could really spill the beans on this matter was truly beyond mortal testimony. Well, now it looks like the Bandits traveling ripoff show is off to find new suckers. Is this news bringing tears to the household of Laurel Bault, the Democratic activist, Dalton-endorser, Noland-contributor and all-around promoter of the Welfare for All agenda in Elgin and beyond? After all, husband Kyle has been the Director of Community Relations for the Bandits and their color analyst. Daughter Erin was the Director of Merchandising. So there you have it... Dalton/Noland-endorser Ed Schock votes a city subsidy for the Bandits who employ the Bault family which contributes to Mike Noland. I knew a sharp guy like Ed could find a way to put my tax money in Mike Noland's pocket. And it's heart-warming little stories like this that help put to rest the idea that the Bandits didn't benefit Elginites or that Elgin isn't a family-oriented community. Almost helps you ignore the dead kids, dead schools and dead neighborhoods Dalton, Noland and Schock have left us. We all know that the Bandits deal in Elgin was fishy from the get-go. We’ll never know just how fishy because the local powers-that-be and their media flunkies really weren’t very interested in having us know. And while Our Masters were all over at Mike Powers’ visitation at Wait Ross, they probably went to confirm that the one guy who could really spill the beans on this matter was truly beyond mortal testimony.

Well, now it looks like the Bandits traveling ripoff show is off to find new suckers. Is this news bringing tears to the household of Laurel Bault, the Democratic activist, Dalton-endorser, Noland-contributor and all-around promoter of the Welfare for All agenda in Elgin and beyond? After all, husband Kyle has been the Director of Community Relations for the Bandits and their color analyst. Daughter Erin was the Director of Merchandising. So there you have it… Dalton/Noland-endorser Ed Schock votes a city subsidy for the Bandits who employ the Bault family which contributes to Mike Noland. I knew a sharp guy like Ed could find a way to put my tax money in Mike Noland’s pocket. And it’s heart-warming little stories like this that help put to rest the idea that the Bandits didn’t benefit Elginites or that Elgin isn’t a family-oriented community. Almost helps you ignore the dead kids, dead schools and dead neighborhoods Dalton, Noland and Schock have left us.

]]> By: rm http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48369 rm Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:19:39 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-48369 A good Elgin writer, Dave Gathman, has some good commentary on the passing of Mike Powers in today's Courier. We can see now that Mike was something of a Peter Pan, trapped in the endless adolescence of so many Boomers, worshipping the jock efforts of his older brothers, The Elgin That Was, and some aging or expired rock 'n roll figures. And while he celebrated the lost Elgin of safe streets, great schools, functioning families, a lively downtown and community spirit, he wanted desperately to succeed in the New Elgin and play in the local business development racket with Elgin's big boys. Of course, "economic development" in Elgin means passing out scarce city money as "incentives" to favored business entities and protecting Elgin's role as a residential sanctuary for regional illegal alien labor. Mike was better at Elgin's nostalgia than at Elgin's development rackets, and the Bandits fiasco made him too heavy for the big boys and got him tossed overboard. Say what you will about Mike, he never was a predator. Bumbling as he was, he really felt he was working for the improvement of Elgin's life. He lacked the tougher, hard-eyed rapacity of our local masters who practice "The Chicago Way" and see their political and business agendas advancing in environments of crime, racial division, poverty and dependency. In that way, Mike had the quaint middle-class spirit and decency that he remembered and celebrated from Elgin's better days. Qualities that in modern Elgin leave a 52 year old Northwestern graduate wearing an Elgin High letter jacket, sitting in church pews, and sobbing to himself. So much promise, so much privilege, such a sad end. That was Mike's story, that is Elgin's story. The requiem for Mike was really the requiem for Elgin. A good Elgin writer, Dave Gathman, has some good commentary on the passing of Mike Powers in today’s Courier. We can see now that Mike was something of a Peter Pan, trapped in the endless adolescence of so many Boomers, worshipping the jock efforts of his older brothers, The Elgin That Was, and some aging or expired rock ‘n roll figures. And while he celebrated the lost Elgin of safe streets, great schools, functioning families, a lively downtown and community spirit, he wanted desperately to succeed in the New Elgin and play in the local business development racket with Elgin’s big boys. Of course, “economic development” in Elgin means passing out scarce city money as “incentives” to favored business entities and protecting Elgin’s role as a residential sanctuary for regional illegal alien labor. Mike was better at Elgin’s nostalgia than at Elgin’s development rackets, and the Bandits fiasco made him too heavy for the big boys and got him tossed overboard.

Say what you will about Mike, he never was a predator. Bumbling as he was, he really felt he was working for the improvement of Elgin’s life. He lacked the tougher, hard-eyed rapacity of our local masters who practice “The Chicago Way” and see their political and business agendas advancing in environments of crime, racial division, poverty and dependency. In that way, Mike had the quaint middle-class spirit and decency that he remembered and celebrated from Elgin’s better days. Qualities that in modern Elgin leave a 52 year old Northwestern graduate wearing an Elgin High letter jacket, sitting in church pews, and sobbing to himself. So much promise, so much privilege, such a sad end. That was Mike’s story, that is Elgin’s story. The requiem for Mike was really the requiem for Elgin.

]]> By: John http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45113 John Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:18:16 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45113 I wish people would leave the Bandits alone. It was terrific entertainment this summer. I've seldom witnessed such enthusiasm on the part of players on a professional sports team. The crux of the problem, in my opinion, isn't Mike Powers. I truly believed in his sincerity in holding office and advancing Elgin. However, since he was elected, I ultimately doubted his ability to hold office. He just seemed generally more like an innocent kid in a candy store than a serious city official. He did the right and mature thing, however, and apologized and stepped down. Any looking for a sinister plot should look elsewhere. I have an idea where to start. The real black eye to Elgin starts with Sean Stegall. I am beginning to believe that he seems he wanted Mike Powers out, had a "talk" with him, and got him to resign. It was probably so Mr. Powers wouldn't sour the Bandits setup, one of a long line of Stegall-orchestrated deals that have come through city council in the last several years. This person is a menace to the city. He has too much power over the city's budget and operations. (Note his latest power grab last week in regard to development and project reviews, to quote directly from the Courier: "assigning the assistant city manager with full oversight of a project's review." - full oversight - Why?) If you want to start sniffing out corruption in the Elgin City Hall, start there. Don't think that when Mr. Folarin retires that not many other serious candidates for his job will be considered. At that point, heaven help not only the city and its citizens, but unsuspecting council members and department heads as well. It could be that Mr. Sokolis didn't realize that actions on his part could become circumspect, but maybe he thought it would be okay if that is how he was permitted to deal with the city from the start. Where did that start? But - don't blame the team. They should stay. They are an asset. I wish people would leave the Bandits alone. It was terrific entertainment this summer. I’ve seldom witnessed such enthusiasm on the part of players on a professional sports team.

The crux of the problem, in my opinion, isn’t Mike Powers. I truly believed in his sincerity in holding office and advancing Elgin. However, since he was elected, I ultimately doubted his ability to hold office. He just seemed generally more like an innocent kid in a candy store than a serious city official. He did the right and mature thing, however, and apologized and stepped down. Any looking for a sinister plot should look elsewhere.

I have an idea where to start. The real black eye to Elgin starts with Sean Stegall. I am beginning to believe that he seems he wanted Mike Powers out, had a “talk” with him, and got him to resign. It was probably so Mr. Powers wouldn’t sour the Bandits setup, one of a long line of Stegall-orchestrated deals that have come through city council in the last several years.

This person is a menace to the city. He has too much power over the city’s budget and operations. (Note his latest power grab last week in regard to development and project reviews, to quote directly from the Courier: “assigning the assistant city manager with full oversight of a project’s review.” - full oversight - Why?)

If you want to start sniffing out corruption in the Elgin City Hall, start there.

Don’t think that when Mr. Folarin retires that not many other serious candidates for his job will be considered. At that point, heaven help not only the city and its citizens, but unsuspecting council members and department heads as well.

It could be that Mr. Sokolis didn’t realize that actions on his part could become circumspect, but maybe he thought it would be okay if that is how he was permitted to deal with the city from the start. Where did that start?

But - don’t blame the team. They should stay. They are an asset.

]]> By: rm http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45112 rm Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:23:24 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45112 Excellent post. Glad you're "back," followed up, and took your stand - and your medicine - with class. You - not Mike Powers - deserved the benefit of the doubt because your body of work on this blog has shown that your head and heart are generally in the right place when you have the facts. And having the facts is a challenge for all of us in Elgin. Just one last quibble with your August 27 post. You said the Powers resignation was the big news in Elgin for August. Maybe. It certainly hints that something's rotten in our local government, and that's darned important. But don't overlook the Futterman lawsuit against U-46 and the impact of the class action ruling on another of our vital community institutions, our public schools. When the court certified the Futterman suit as a class action, the clanking sound you heard was another 20% falling off the value of our already depreciated homes and the ripping sound was the shredding of our community fabric by greed and ethnic division. If you don't think the long term implications of that development are pretty dreadful, remember that Rockford and its schools have never recovered from their Futterman experience. The Powers resignation and the class action certification, coming almost on top of each other, were real blows to the heart of this city and its aspirations to return to being a progressive, sustainable community. PS Nice to see that one of the Bandits honchos has moved on. The rest of them should take the hint, but at least it's a start. Excellent post. Glad you’re “back,” followed up, and took your stand - and your medicine - with class. You - not Mike Powers - deserved the benefit of the doubt because your body of work on this blog has shown that your head and heart are generally in the right place when you have the facts. And having the facts is a challenge for all of us in Elgin.

Just one last quibble with your August 27 post. You said the Powers resignation was the big news in Elgin for August. Maybe. It certainly hints that something’s rotten in our local government, and that’s darned important. But don’t overlook the Futterman lawsuit against U-46 and the impact of the class action ruling on another of our vital community institutions, our public schools. When the court certified the Futterman suit as a class action, the clanking sound you heard was another 20% falling off the value of our already depreciated homes and the ripping sound was the shredding of our community fabric by greed and ethnic division. If you don’t think the long term implications of that development are pretty dreadful, remember that Rockford and its schools have never recovered from their Futterman experience. The Powers resignation and the class action certification, coming almost on top of each other, were real blows to the heart of this city and its aspirations to return to being a progressive, sustainable community.

PS Nice to see that one of the Bandits honchos has moved on. The rest of them should take the hint, but at least it’s a start.

]]> By: RS http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45111 RS Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:59:07 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45111 Thanks for the link, Jessica. Resignations are often a prelude to indictments. We'll see... Thanks for the link, Jessica. Resignations are often a prelude to indictments. We’ll see…

]]> By: Jessica http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45107 Jessica Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:02:57 +0000 http://elginite.org/blog/2008/08/28/the-end-of-the-bandits/#comment-45107 Did you see that the Bandits' owner quit? http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1131838,3_1_EL28_A1BANDITS_S1.article Did you see that the Bandits’ owner quit?

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1131838,3_1_EL28_A1BANDITS_S1.article

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