The presidential elections this year gave me some insight about voters. I learned that anger is a powerful stimulant and secrecy is, ultimately, a bullet. Trump got the stimulant by talking to the voters and paying attention to their reactions. Clinton got the secrecy bullet by ignoring those who disagreed with her.
The Trump/Clinton outcome made me wonder if the same results would happen with the Oak Park village board. I wonder if the president, board and staff are so interested in their own thoughts, secrets, and opinions that they overlook the needles in the audience’s haystacks? I wonder if knowledge and experience are second to personal friendship? I wonder if questions from the podium are answered? I wonder why 95 percent of board votes are unanimous? I wonder why there are so many consent agendas?
I wonder why interested residents get so little time to read public information before the board meets? I wonder if anger is a factor in how people vote (or don’t vote)? I wonder if more transparency by the board would result in a more productive government?
Bottom line, I think our village is way behind contemporary communications!
John Murtagh
Oak Park