For Orland Park residents who delivered public comments at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, to see trustees vote in support of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war felt healing and as if they were finally being heard.
“Under the previous administration, our voices were dismissed, but we organized, we stood together and in record numbers, we turned out to vote,” said Yousef Zegar, a lifelong resident of Orland Park. “We welcome this administration’s willingness to act.”
Zegar presented a petition with 800 signatures more than a year ago to the board led by former Mayor Keith Pekau, calling for a ceasefire resolution.
As audience members stood, clapped and chanted their support, Pekau banged a gavel to regain order and eventually asked the police chief to clear the room before stating he refused to get involved in United States foreign policy.
Mayor Jim Dodge said Tuesday that for him, the ceasefire resolution that passed 5-1 was a way to support the community that includes one of the largest Palestinian and Arab-American populations in Cook County.
“You can see the grief, you can feel the pain, you hear the stories, and it opens you up to different perspectives,” Dodge said. “So that’s what this is, primarily.”
Trustees Michael Milani and William Healy both questioned the need for a ceasefire resolution in Orland Park, with Healy ultimately voting “no” on the legislation. Milani ultimately joined Dodge, Dina Lawrence, Joanna Leafblad and John Lawler in voting in favor.
Milani and Healy previously ran on Pekau’s slate of candidates, along with Trustee Cynthia Nelson Katsenes, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
“When we were elected, this thing about making decisions about national topics, it was not on the job description,” Healy said. “I’m not prepared. I’m not a good person on these international things — I don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Healy said he sympathizes with those harmed on both sides of the war, and while he decided to vote against the resolution pledged to donate equal amounts to Israeli and Palestinian support organizations.
Milani similarly expressed compassion for lives lost while stating that the Village Board should focus on local issues.
“I think it’s time for us to promote peace and understanding here in our community, where we can truly make a difference,” Milani said. “Let’s foster a culture of unity among our residents here in Orland Park rather than pursuing this resolution, where in my opinion we will not be able to have any impact or control on the state or federal level.”
Pekau did not respond to requests to comment on the resolution.
The resolution urges the U.S. government and international authorities to “support a just and lasting peace that ensures safety, freedom and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis,” including an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the region.
The board also called for the release of all hostages and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to “all affected civilians in Gaza.”
Copies of the resolution were directed to be sent to President Donald Trump as well as Illinois’ two U.S. senators and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, who represents Orland Park.
Grocery tax
The board also voted to join neighboring suburbs in creating a 1% municipal grocery tax to begin when a statewide tax expires on Jan. 1. Similar action was taken by neighboring communities including Tinley Park, Homewood and Homer Glen.
Milani and Healy voted against the measure while Dodge, Lawrence, Lawler and Leafblad voted in favor.
Orland Park Finance Director Chris Frankenfield said the village’s options were to continue the tax, cut expenses or find efficiencies, “which we’re already always doing.”
Orland Park generates up to $4.5 million annually from the grocery tax, which is important given its efforts to maintain essential services, meet growing infrastructure and operational costs, pay off debt and plan for long-term fiscal sustainability, village documents show.
Healy asked about cuts the village could make to avoid continuing the tax and Milani brought up recent expenses approved by the board that could be cut to make up for lost funding from the grocery tax repeal.
“So let’s ask ourselves, is this really necessary?” Milani posed. “Is this fair to the taxpayers to implement just because you’ve decided to go on a spending spree since May?”
Healy said he had not seen the whole picture in a budget showing how this all fits together.
“So until I’m convinced that we have spending under control, and that we’re good stewards, that this new administration is good stewards of the money, I’m waiting for that to show through,” he said.
Leafblad and Lawrence said depending on future budgets, the village could decide to lower or eliminate the tax.
“We don’t have to depend on the state,” Leafblad said.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
