Regarding the petition to save the Marion Street mall, Wednesday Journal asks [Inside Report, Feb. 28], “Where was the outrage in recent years when the village board was deciding this?”
I’d answer that people know a done deal when they see it coming, so few bothered. But this petition (to see it, Google “Save the Marion Street Mall”) gives people a chance to voice their frustrations–read the many thoughtful comments by over 700 signers now.
In addition, the Journal editorial (Feb. 28) criticizes Trustee Robert Milstein (a Vision Community Action Party candidate on the April 17 ballot) who has changed from restreeting the Marion Street mall to saving the mall. The Journal says he “… plays for votes from yet another disaffected special interest.” How disingenuous–the 700 citizens who support keeping the mall are a “special interest,” but the owners of DTOP buildings are not a special interest?
These sound like the words of a press that supports the “powers that be”–DTOP property owners, developers, plus some bankers and Realtors–not shoppers, renters and homeowners. Throughout our history, citizens have taken to the streets to protest unresponsive government and arrogant leadership–eg. the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War protests, and overturning Congress over the Iraq War. What WJ labels “sniveling, vote-pandering decision to flip flop,” many others consider a courageous change to be applauded, which was taken in face of obvious criticism.
Finally, I’m sickened by the vitriol that is often voiced by WJ–“sniveling,” “pandering,” “disintegration,” and “abdication” this time. You should be ashamed to think these things, let alone print them.
Tom Ard
Oak Park