Holzhauer wrong to be posting during meeting
I am writing to express my concerns as to certain social media activity undertaken by Naperville City Councilman Ian Holzhauer with respect to the SECA grant money for Naper Pride, which was discussed and voted on during the Feb. 1 council meeting.
I believe his actions raised serious questions that council needs to address.
1. It appears Holzhauer was posting on Facebook and Twitter about a city agenda item during the meeting at the same time the issue was being heard. These posts led to engagements, opinions and feedback from the public. Presumably no one else on the dais knew these posts or comments were occurring.
Is it proper for a councilman to hold court online on an agenda item at the same item it is being debated on the dais? What a circus it would be if all on the dais did this?
The city attorney should explore whether these posts violated open meetings act provisions. If they are legal, I suggest the city adopt rules that would prohibit such conduct in the future.
2. Maybe more problematic, this same councilman, through these posts, was clearly insinuating that colleagues who were questioning the Naper Pride donation were doing so out of hate. He ignored the possibility that some council members may have been questioning it for other reasons. He made a wholly offensive leap and not-so-subtle insinuation that hate and bigotry drove their questions.
The city attorney should explore whether these messages and conduct violated any rules regulating council decorum (especially if they were publicly conveyed online during the meeting) and whether said posts merit censure.
Councilman Holzhauer, please do better and try treating your colleagues, especially those who have ably served the city for a great many years, with respect.
Kurt Dorr, Naperville
College signs as part of prom photos ‘insensitive’
As prom season approaches, I wanted to raise awareness of something that does not sit right with me.
Over the last six years, two of my three daughters have gone to prom. It seems the tradition is for a group of couples to gather at a central place to have “prom pictures” taken. It has become common during these photo sessions for the kids to hold up signs saying which colleges they’ll be going to.
Each time I have witnessed that, I shake my head and think, “Gee, I wonder how that makes the kid who is undecided about college feel? Or the kid who didn’t have the grades to go to college feel? Or the kid whose family can’t afford college feel? Or the kid who is going into the trades feel? Or the kid who simply needs to take a gap year feel?”
Naperville is a great town. I have lived here my whole life, born and raised. But there is this “Naperville bubble” that exists and I feel some kids and parents are not thinking beyond their own interests and are not being sensitive to others around them. Rather, they want to show the world their success or that of their kid.
I get this is a proud moment. I get that for some, the kid or family has overcome great challenges or perhaps this is first generation college student.
But I would remind people to be sensitive to those less fortunate. Our society continues to do a better job addressing depression, teen suicide, bullying, social rights, etc. I’d encourage our community to be mindful and more sensitive to those who may not have the same opportunity.
I’d like to challenge us all to give this some thought. Perhaps we can put away the signs at prom time. Or better yet, perhaps we can encourage the kids to hold up signs for what they are grateful for. A good majority of kids in Naperville have so much to be grateful for. Maybe we encourage them to show that off?
John Stuart, Naperville
Affordable housing meeting confusing, disorganized
On March 7, I tuned into Channel 99 to listen to proposals from Gorman & Co. and Mercy Housing Lakefront on their initial concepts for an affordable housing facility for seniors and those with developmental disabilities near the intersection of 103rd Street and Route 59.
As a former commissioner for the Advisory Commission on Disabilities and the Accessible Community Task Force, I was quite frankly appalled at the lack of organization in the meeting. When speakers from the audience came forward to ask questions, answers were often given without the microphones turned on!
There seemed to be some confusion and lack of continuity and cohesion from Mercy Housing Lakefront in their presentation. I sincerely hope the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission looks at these presentations with a keen eye, for they should have some serious concerns about the capability of either firm, especially Mercy Housing Lakefront, to handle this job with expert consideration.
This is a much-needed project and deserves the best qualifications required.
Barbara Stark, Naperville
Naperville must end its coal-generated electricity use
We’ve lived in Naperville since 1983, and I’m proud to live in a city that is often cited as a civic leader. But while we’re a leader in many areas, we’ve fallen way behind in using clean energy.
It’s important to realize we don’t get our electricity from ComEd. Naperville operates its own electric utility and our electricity comes from the 7th worst coal-fired electrical plant in the entire U.S. We are co-owners of a plant and coal mine that is one of the top 10 polluters in the country. Worse yet, we get nearly 50% of our electricity from this source.
Last fall, the state of Illinois passed a clean energy bill that mandates the elimination of emissions from most coal-fired plants by 2035. But because we are part of a municipal utility, we’re allowed to wait until 2045. That’s 23 years from now.
Why should we wait until 2045 to meet that state mandate? Why do we even need those extra 10 years to do what’s mandated for the rest of the state? Naperville has always demonstrated we are creative and smart enough to solve problems. I think we have the expertise and talent to speed up the transition to clean energy.
I urge the City Council and the leadership of the Naperville electric utility to become leaders in using clean energy.
Susan Greenwood, Naperville
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