John Prigge’s remarks at NENA forum
Jefferson Smith, the protagonist in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Photo by Frank Capra).
John Prigge’s concluding remarks at the recent Elgin City Council candidates forum hosted by the Northeast Neighborhood Association was posted recently on the AFLA blog. Candidate speeches are rarely eloquent, but I thought this one was very good, so I’m reposting it here. I don’t think Mr. Prigge or AFLA would mind.
I’m John Prigge. I was born upstairs [the meeting was held at Sherman Hospital]. Fifty years ago.
I’ve been in customer service jobs since I was 14, from making the world’s worst ice cream cones at Mr. Burger on Dundee Avenue, to working with the phone company, and then for the last 19 years I’ve been self-employed as an auctioneer, running my own business. It’s just me.
Graduate of Elgin High. Bob Gilliam was my dean. And I say that because I am very proud to have had Bob as my dean.
What I’m talking about with my perspective of what the question was, “What are the first things you want to do?”, how can we NOT go after what I believe the number one problem is here in Elgin? How can that NOT be the first thing?
The first thing is that we have a bad reputation in this city. It’s not the worst. It’s savable. We’re off the road. We’re not in the ditch, but we’re off the road.
We have to deal with illegal aliens. We have to deal with overcrowded housing. We have to deal with the reality, and what’s worse, the PERCEPTION of our reputation.
And to get real specific, right here, four blocks away, on Halloween night there were two shootings. One kid lost his life at the corner of Douglas and Plum. Outside. It wasn’t a fight that was in a basement and it wasn’t a lovers’ quarrel that went horrible. It was a gang-related shooting on that night. That kid died on the corner–outside—by a gun.
Somebody went outside and shot and killed that kid and shot another person who walked to this hospital, or came to this hospital and got treatment.
We’ve had five murders in 20 months in this city. Four of them are gang related. This happened in our vaunted historic district. In NENA. This happened here.
I travel about 25,000 miles a year, and people always ask me about Elgin. I say, “Oh! We have beautiful homes.” I tell them about Chris Dansey’s house. I tell them about all the great houses.
My doctor used to live on the 900 block on Douglas, and everything else.
We have to change that. We have to change that. We have to go after that. That is going to open up so many opportunities. So many good feelings. Guess what? I firmly believe it’s going to raise the value and the quality of our lives. It’s going to raise the value of our homes. It’s going to take burdens off of other things that we’re paying the price for right now.
So, johnprigge.com, April 7th, four year. My family’s been in Elgin for about 80 years, up on the north end on Stewart Avenue. We need your votes. This is a great opportunity. We have four seats out of seven available. That’s massive. We can change the direction of this city with one day. Four votes of the seven positions open. Thank you.
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You go John, that was very well put, You and Robins have my vote and many I have spoke to lately. We need a new team on the council. Robins is gaining support from many of our seniors and city employees. Keep it going!
I posted this on another page, but I thought I would paste it here also!
I am a Christian that has raised my daughters with Christian values. My concerns are; I am against gang activities, but when my oldest daughter use to meet on a corner before school with her Christian friends for fellowship, because of the separation of church and state, would that become illegal with what Prigge wants to pass? She also, while in high school use to car pool with 2 or 3 other friends to save money on gas and again have fellowship with her friends while on their way to a movie or other events, will that also be considered illegal with what Prigge wants to pass? Will a group of teenagers gathering at a house for Bible studies be considered illegal? When passing a law, there are Pros and Cons! A major problem with laws is; when you make 1 law, someone finds a loop-hole which makes another law needing to be passed! This then causes an opening for another loop-hole which forcing another law to be passed! Do you see the domino effect? The constitution gives all citizens personal rights! Weeding illegal aliens out of the community can take rights away from legal citizens! A few words to an issue can’t devise a good plan!
To deport a couple that are illegal even though they have had children born here in the States that have legal citizenship, is cruel to the welfare of the children who had no choice in the matter! Wasn’t there something in this countries past about bring tired, weary and poor here? Other than Native Indians, didn’t everyone else have ancestors come here from another country? The things that upset me the most are;
First some of us have ancestors that took this land from the Native Indians; they were either killed or placed on reservations to be controlled.
Second, yes we won that war and started establishing a “melting pot” of other nations on this land, and they created a union that worked and grew to be the world’s #1 nation. As we grew because of immigrants, our government decided we need to account for each person in our nation’s population. This helped support our country as a whole! To do this, our country had to unofficially established English as the main language. To become a citizen of the United States then, (not an American, which includes Mexico, Canada, and Central and South America) people had to take classes to learn English and the United States history!
Why are we spending money on bilingual signs? (This doesn’t include other languages but English and Spanish) Why do we have schools and classes for Spanish speaking kids? Why do we GIVE benefits to Spanish kids and their families (even though the parents make money) and have our citizens fall through the cracks for any benefits unless you sit on the couch and not work at all?
The third complaint should be thrown on us, the citizens of the United States, that won’t work for less money, and the major problem is the companies that move out of this country to get cheaper labor! If we worked for less money and increased the import tariff so we bought our own products to stimulate our economy, would generate more jobs and allow more legally becoming immigrants to have employment along side of the already U.S. citizens. Buy allowing bilingual literature and Mexican benefits, promotes a diversity of our country! Don’t deport them, conform them to this countries guidelines!
The forth thing that irritates me is that I am proud of this country and what it stands for! I honor my country and if I didn’t I would leave it and honor the country I moved to for what it would give me! I wouldn’t leave this country and move to Germany, Ireland, England or any other country and raise a United States flag from which a country I left! I left it for a reason and moved to a country for a reason! I wouldn’t forget my heritage, my culture, my recent ancestors which influenced my outlook to make me what I am today, but if I had left this country it would be because I despise it’s government, not it’s people, how could I raise a flag of a country that I would despise?
This replies to taking issues on a case by case decision! You can’t arrest every teenager that gathers in 1 spot, the same as you can’t agree on a “Green” initiative without looking at it piece by piece for financial discrepancies! That is 1 of our country’s biggest problem! To pass a bill in congress, they have to weigh the Pros and Cons of other bills that are embedded within the bill! Why can’t each issue be separately voted on? Ouch!! That’s called politics! You scratch my back and I’ll slip this in to scratch yours! (gasoline, insurance, pharmaceutical, corporations, etc…)
I pray that John reads this, and as others say, waffles his decision to rethink his enforcement against gangs and illegal aliens! There is a way to take care of this problem! Some of you might not be Christians, but if he lets God guide him, he will have the right answers! Regardless of these things I don’t agree with him on, I still think he needs to take 1 of those seats for the good of our community because of, as a whole, his other issues that concern our city!
Keep driving on John!
Is this the same forum where Prigge said that spending city money on the Veterans Memorial was a waste?
I don’t know about anyone else, but that disgusts me. The City of Elgin may make mistakes with where it spends money, but to say that it shouldn’t spend money on veterans is awful. There is no group that is more deserving than veterans. I will support whole heartedly any attempt by the council and City to honor our service men and women. I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way.
I have never heard him nor anyone else say that. Where was it said? That cannot be true.
I did not hear him say that either, if so, please post when, or what forum.
I scoured Prigge’s website again. Read this and tell me if he could have said that:
“I firmly believe Elgin is in need of some positive branding. Nothing is more positive than our American flag. I would be in favor making it mandatory that every new and existing city park have at least one appropriately-sized, illuminated (where feasible) American flag flying or showing in a visible location, preferably at entrances and exits. In larger parks, one flag per a certain amount of acreage would be acceptable. Wing and Lords parks may have many flags flying throughout the park. This would also include all city-owned baseball, soccer and softball fields. Funding could be part of the package from builders on new homes. Donors and sponsors could be sought for other locations, all to be combined as a partnership with city funds.”
Again, it’s possible but doubtful he would say that about the Veterans Memorial.
I didnt know this was an AFLA blog. same stuff on that blog just cut and pasted on here…same people. I didnt know all ILLEGALS were gang bangers in ELGIN. FYI ELGINITES the last 4 murders in Elgin were committed by Citizens of the United States!! Now where does Prigges stance ensure that these people dont hurt us?? How bout bringing in programs like dare and more ROPE officers?? No, Prigge believes deporting Illegals will solve this when they arent the ones committing these murders..
http://elginlegalamericans.blogspot.com/ …Elginite= extension of AFLA
Gee:
How do you know those murders were committed by citizens? One of those four is still on the run! Have you called the police to give them your knowledge or are you assuming?
I’d like proof that citizens committed those murders.
This is my first time looking at this blog..and it will be my last. I am white and lived in Elgin’s East Side all my life and married a Hispanic women who’s parents came here illegaly(They are now legal). They are the hardest working,most honorable, and giving people I know. I love Elgin and want the best for it, but I truly believe that these people are here to make good with their lives. Illegals are not criminals and to say that murders happen in Elgin because of them is absurd to the fullest!This is a very ignorant comment made by someone that you want running our city council? Yes,Lets get at the ALL gang members, but lets be honest with ourselves and see that Illegals are not the only gangmembers (only a fraction)! BOXCAR: I read the papers and the last murder on the east side was committed by a white male-I have also read all your other comments posted by you and sickened.
“Illegals are not criminals”
Wrong. They are. They broke into our country. Their reason for doing so is immaterial. Henceforth the word “illegal” is used. Many of them continue their crime spree by using stolen Soc. Security numbers, driving without a license and insurance, etc. Illegal fits perfectly.
“these people are here to make good with their lives.”
Me, too! But when I have to pay for illegals draining the U.S. system, my life isn’t so “good” anymore. Every burglar wants to “make good with their lives” by selling the items they steal from me so they can have their idea of a good life. Also, none of the illegals are on the run from their country at all, right? Sorry, I’m not buying it and I’m tired of paying for it in my increased hospital bills, taxes, poor school scores (U-46) and crime statistics.
“to say that murders happen in Elgin because of them is absurd to the fullest!”
I agree. Prigge didn’t say that, though. He was talking about 4 out of 5 murders were gang-related. You didn’t read his closing remarks. Try it. It’s at the top of this page.
“the east side (murder) was committed by a white male”
White males can’t be gang members?
Now, who is pre-judging?
The way I see it is that Prigge, Dunne and Robins want illegals out of Elgin to let some other town drag their feet and let their reputation be dragged down. Excuse me, but shouldn’t all real Americans want illegal “anything” our of their town?
This might interest you, from Congressman Mark Krik:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/il10_kirk/Deport_illegal_alien_gang_members.html
Isn’t Kirk GOP? Like Schock? Like Emi Morales?
I can understand Pat Perez skipping an event like that, being a Democrat and all.
But where were our elected Elgin leaders? You’d think they’d want to get behind anything anti-gang.
Not a peep.
Hint: You can’t fix a problem if you continue to ignore it! That funny noise your car makes doesn’t go away by itself.
I will agree with gausthaus, this is my first and last. someone sent me the link to ck out. I lived in Westminster Ca. which is also known as Little Saigaon. It has the largest Vietnamese population. Entering the community is a large Gate that welcomes all guest written in Vietamenes. Everywhere you look you will see the signs, newspapers, government & civic info in Vietnamese/English not spanish. ( google it) I only lived a few minutes from Santa Ana. Old Santa Ana feels like your in Old Mexico. they kept that way for histroical purpose. We move to Elgin 8 years ago and love it. I think the only people that give it a bad rap are the people that trash it. Another thing, my brother was a English lit. teacher in South America back in the eighties. His students were mostly US citizens or British. Jobs(high paying) brought the parents there. All class were taught in english. He notice that most student did venture out into the community,they kept to themselves in their own little english speaking world. Some kids didn’t care to learn spanish because they knew they would be back to the US soon. he said they would have 4th of July picnic on the school grounds with hot dogs and apple pie. Everyone dressed in red white and blue even the brits. He said it was one of the most patriotic experience. I think when you leave the comfort of your homeland you long for anything that feel familiar. just ask our kids in Iraq.
Chao
“I think the only people that give it a bad rap are the people that trash it.”
Nope. It’s the people who live it, breathe it, see it, PAY for it, smell it and read about it.
It’s everywhere. The talking about it happens AFTER it occurs.
RS has opened the blog up to other bloggers…instead of vowing to never return, how about ask if you can post? I, for one, would love to see a diversity of opinions here. That is what would make it a true community forum.
One viewpoint (that is the minority in Elgin, I’d say) regularly dominates the comments. Having multiple viewpoints presented would be rather nice, and perhaps keep many readers from being completely turned off from the blog. (I know others in “real life” who also see Elginite as an AFLA equivalent or mouthpiece and because of that do not read it regularly.)
Alright! This is it!
I am sick and tired of the lashing!!
You can’t believe what you read or hear, because of Reagan. Nothing that is written in newspapers, the internet, or presented on TV or radio has to be backed with proof anymore! You have to have a person visual view or personal audio hearing to believe what is true!
This I know to be true from personal viewing; Gangs are formed from all groups! Murder is caused by all groups! Blight is caused by all groups! Theft is caused by all groups! (I’m white and most bank robberies are caused by whites, and what about corporate bonuses lately ~car industry~ and ~AIG~ for starters) That hurt us more than anything!! No, I am not for illegal aliens! No, I am not for welfare! No, I am not for free medical! No, I am not for free schooling without putting back what was given!
I am a third generation self-employed person of this community. I don’t make much money! I don’t sponge off of the community when I am going through bad times! When my wife was hospitalized for almost 6 months out of the year back in 2005, I didn’t make the community support me! I struggled and almost lost our home! I ended up humbling my self and took support that was thrust upon me from my church! I didn’t beg for it! I didn’t demand that it was owed to me! I wasn’t going to even accept it from my own church because of pride, until it was explained to me that I have given so much to the church both financially and physically that I am to be taken care of by the church as I have taken care of my church! It still comes down to the thought process!
The biggest battle of these forums, are about illegal aliens! The problem is that people are tying illegal aliens with, what seems to be, all gang crimes and other personal crimes! We could get rid of all the illegal aliens and still have these crimes, whether gang related or not! Yes, illegal aliens are committing crimes! They are just not crimes that all of you are bashing each other about! Boxcar did bring up some of the more important crimes when he mention stolen ID’s, no DL’s and no insurances, which increase the average persons premiums to compensate for uninsured drivers, but even though they contribute to our sales tax both municipal and state, what about federal IRS tax to help support this country and grants that go back to municipals for the benefits that cater to the illegal aliens more than the citizens that fall through the cracks? Such as birthing of illegal alien’s children that at that moment become legal with illegal parents! This doesn’t even touch on the increase to the average consumer who has to pay more money on a product or even schooling to have everything written in both English and Spanish. If you look at it in a green view – how many trees are killed and extra ink that we use to have things printed twice? All the other immigrants that come to this country learn English, why are we catering to the Spanish? The Tower of Babel doesn’t apply in this situation! That was a city that felt they were so superior they could build a tower to the heavens and didn’t need any outsiders to be part of their community. That’s why God split them and gave them multiple languages! This seams to be backwards to that! The infrastructure is going down and multiple languages are being enforced! You can now call it what you want!!
My main issue is safety! I have houses in my neighborhood that have illegal aliens hiding in the basements, and have been known to have over crowding of family members to where they are using hot plates in the bedrooms to cook their meals of which is very unsafe.
Our city’s council has been so busy with beautification of our town that they have had to cut cost on our police and fire dept. Do you know that our council would prefer to pay our firemen over time and have them work beyond their physical capability to cover the hours needed, then hire a few more firemen to insure our firemen are at full strength to endure their full duty time? Also, you might not think so, our city has allowed the growth of our city to increase so much, but they won’t increase our law enforcement to cover the increase of territory. FYI The village of Gilberts, who wanted to remain small, had to build homes fast to increase their population to keep from being taken over by either Hampshire or Elgin! That to me is sad!! To me, that is city councils, both Hampshire and Elgin, that are greedy, ruthless and money hungry people! They don’t care about people and their rights! They just want property and the rights so they can be in partnership with developers to waste our money like they have done with the downtown properties! When you think about it, even before the economy problem, those condos downtown were never filled! Look at Kimball street condos after over a decade! Duh!
Illegal aliens are a problem, but with that aside, there are other reasons we need a totally new council!
People! Get with the real issue of this speech- and that is Elgin’s image. It is not good- get out of this town sometime and find out most neighboring communities are afraid of our “bad neighborhoods”. I feel John Prigge is a candidate that “gets it”. He doesn’t bury his head in the sand about Elgin’s image, and how that affects our property values, quality of life, etc. This “reality check” is sorely lacking on the city council right now.
Kathy M, We need to vote Robins in with Prigge, he was fantastic at the Thursday night forum with his ability to capture the group. His past experience with beauracracy and how he can bring it to the council will benefit us. I also learned from him that he owned his own limos during college and worked in sales for the same company forming new accounts. Mr. Prigge has also endorsed him on his website recently. Warren is already on the mayors coattails which we don’t need more of.