• Contact QNO

• Weather

  Overcast

  Quincy, IL 80°

• Births and Deaths
• Classifieds
• Jobs & Economy

JRG Blog

This comment sums up most of the sentiment I've heard regarding the proposed new AMTRAK/bus/taxi/space shuttle/casino/airport building (you know, I'm exaggerating. We blew our shot at the casino under the previous regime. The city of LaGrange says thanks...again:

What are we doing accepting $6 million from the State of Illinois when the State is not paying Quanada, Blessing Hospital, Walter Hammond Day Care, Cheerful Home etc, etc, etc?  It looks like the Democrats only SAY they care about the people...when what they really care about is physical projects that promote the city.  To heck with the human services. A study that costs $30,000.  By the way, how much did the city have to pay for the Obama visit?  I suppose the new terminal money is coming from China by way of Durbin by way of Quinn. Durbin's been in so long he is now King...we can't turn him down.  Human services first please!!!!!

The only people I've heard support this are either in City Hall or are getting a check from City Hall.

When Alderman Tony Sassen (R-4th Ward) suggested he wanted to study the issue before being Mayor John Spring's rubberstamp on the $6 million manna from Springfield, Spring asked rather petulantly "Are you saying we should give the money back?" Director of Administrative Services Gary Sparks followed by every politicians answer to taking pork by the fork "If we don't take it, somebody else will."

Hence lies the problem.

I know the Quincy/Springfield/Chicago Axis likes to act like they are riding to the taxpayers rescue with projects such as this. But there is an issue here:

We don't need it.

Just because Springfield borrowed more money it doesn't have for capital projects that aren't needed doesn't mean you have to accept it. You're telling me this city doesn't have $6 million in needed street repairs?

Remember the stimulus wish list sent to Washington back in November of 2008? This thing wasn't even on that. I don't think many of these other projects have been funded. Some of the parking lots are being done via the TIF expansion.

This was labelled as a "long-term project" by city officials in February. Five months later, we're told the check is in the mail? Really? That election in November surely doesn't have anything to do with this, does it?

Spring throws a fundraiser for Quinn and a fundraiser for Sullivan and, PRESTO!, $6 million for a new bus and choo choo barn. If it's that easy, Mr. Mayor, get the down payment on your hydro project. We were supposed to have an equity partner in place by late June, early July at the latest. Guess what? July ends Saturday.

If getting that $6 million was that easy, quit spending $120,000 on a lobbyist who just happens to work with the former mayor who was so prominent in your campaign commercials, the ones that claimed the low unemployment rates, remember? How's that working out? Don't worry. Menard's and Qdoba to the rescue.

(Wait a minute, let me interject: "Adams County had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state." That's comforting to the folks who had one of the 3,000 jobs that have fled this county over the last five years.)

The state bonded for the $500 million capital handout. Bonded money eventually has to be paid back. That payback is what takes money away from schools, medicaid and human services...and pensions. Lord, don't get me started on pensions.

But, hey, everybody else is getting a new train station. We should have one too. Really?

If this new train/cab/mall/food court is going to make the riverfront blossom, great. It will make a nice addition next to the condos behind Kutter's.

Maybe Courtesy Rides can use it too.

Mhoram
Posts: 1

Re:
Reply #14 on : Mon August 02, 2010, 12:19:45

---

It's uncanny how many news articles these days make me think of the San Sebastian Line of Taggart Transcontinental.

UrKidsWillPay
Posts: 1

Funny you should mention Jeff Scotts service, Bob
Reply #13 on : Mon August 02, 2010, 09:19:37

---

given he would be busted within 48 hours of you mentioning Courtesy Rides.

JDH
Posts: 1

Right ,WarCry
Reply #12 on : Sun August 01, 2010, 21:11:33

---

There is a valid,legal reason. A reason the state can change at will,like the Common School fund being raided,or the pension funds,or whatever fund has a perceived over-abundance of real cash.None of the funds are SUPPOSED to be used for other state projects,but they are.How can it be legal?Easy,the state employs the judges,so they rule that it is O.K. Completely legal. And they ARE pissing in our cornflakes,and a judge has ruled it is a valid and legal response to our complaints.

WarCry
Posts: 2

Re:
Reply #11 on : Thu July 29, 2010, 17:18:17

---

Let me follow up with a question....


Has anyone ASKED why the state can allot this money for these projects, and not of other needs?

I bet there is a valid, LEGAL (even if you don't think it's 'good') reason for it.




I supposed it just easier to say they pissed in your cornflakes, though....

WarCry
Posts: 2

Re:
Reply #10 on : Thu July 29, 2010, 17:16:02

---

But what happens when money IS spent on schools and such?

QHS is looking at updating their A/C systems. And what do people say?

"Why waste the money! The school district is being frivolous!!"



There will always be government spending. It will NEVER be for something that YOU want, and if it is, it's taking away from a project that someone ELSE finds important.


Here's a radical idea: if you don't like the choices the leaders are making, pick different leaders. I keep hearing that as a rallying cry every few years, but it is with NO doubt that the current administrations - City, State, and Federal - we ELECTED, they were put in the positions their in by the people who live there.

If your guy doesn't win, then I guess he didn't convince enough people he was a better choice.

Regardless of the outcome of elections, governments will continue to spend money, and I'm 100% certain they will spend money on things SOME people don't like. Suck it up, that' what's called "life".

achanso
Posts: 1

The time for common sense has come
Reply #9 on : Wed July 28, 2010, 23:52:20

---

I understand the concept that money for different state departments, etc. has to come from different funds and that money for one department "can't" (sarcasm) be used for another project.
That said,
I find it atrocious that we are spending so much money on arguably, at least, unnecessary road projects and railroad hubs when there are so many schools that have billboards that say "THE STATE OWES US ___!"
And it's not just schools. So many state agencies are having to make cuts.
Stop spending until people get paid. Does this seem like rocket science>?

samiam
Posts: 2

Harrison Paving
Reply #8 on : Wed July 28, 2010, 13:57:35

---

The pavement was still good enough that you were able to manage 35-40 mph without physical damage to your car.

We have to take the necessary posture to save a dollar before we can save ten, one hundred thousand before we can save a million, etc. We have to start somewhere and the only place we have jurisdiction or influence is at home.

I give to you that we could have continued to drive on Harrison, Broadway, Highway 104 and I-172/336 for another year. Look how many millions of dollars of expenditures (contrived or otherwise) could have been deferred for a year or possibly more if similar expenditures all over the state were deferred.

Does anyone remember the condition or even the width of Highway 24 in the 1960's & '70's? Hell, we survived and that was the main road in and out of Quincy.

samiam
Posts: 2

Intermodal Station
Reply #7 on : Wed July 28, 2010, 13:47:37

---

The classic Democratic response is: "If you build it, they will come".

cuervo
Posts: 1

Re:
Reply #6 on : Wed July 28, 2010, 13:10:07

---

Take Columbus Road out by St. Dominic school sometime. You'd swear people were drunk if you saw the weaving and didn't know how many bumps and potholes there are in that road.

That road, I'd guess, receives similar traffic to Harrison and is far, far worse off. I don't believe for a second that they are just using traffic counts to determine projects.

bgough
Posts: 2

Re:
Reply #5 on : Wed July 28, 2010, 09:25:08

---

Using that stretch of Harrison daily, the upgrade is nice! :)

That being said, there are many streets in Quincy that are far worse off.

• Home
• Top Stories
• Business News
• Regional News
• Vox Populi
• Sports
• Community Calendar
• JRG Blog / Blogs