Archive for May, 2009
May 27th, 2009
We’re looking for new members of our Community Viewpoints Board, which advises the Register Star’s Editorial Board. It’s fun, and it’s a good place to do the opinionizing you’re scared to do at cocktail parties. Instead, you can share your views with tens of thousands of our online and print readers. Interested?
Here’s more from last Sunday’s paper:
“For the last three years, the Community Viewpoints Board has provided valuable feedback on our editorial agenda.
The board began in 1994 to reflect diversity of opinion and to advise the Editorial Board.
We are now selecting new members for the CVB. Requirements for membership are keeping up-to-date on news, especially local and regional; a passion about issues critical to the community; attending occasional meetings at the News Tower; and writing at least four letters a year and one guest column. Daily use of e-mail is strongly encouraged.
Mary Kaull, assistant editorial page editor, is liaison to the CVB.
If you are interested in membership, please send an e-mail to opinions@rrstar.com. Include your full name, occupation and place of residence and why you think you are well-suited for the Community Viewpoints Board.”
Or, comment to this blog. We’ll be in touch, and thanks for your interest.
May 22nd, 2009
This morning we published an editorial supporting Lisa Madigan’s rewrite of the Freedom of Information Act and we dissed the draft written by “legislative staff.”
Other newspapers have weighed in. See the Tribune’s edit HERE. The Sun Times version HERE. The Daily Herald HERE.
Those edits mention other “reforms” as well.
The State Journal-Register focused on FOIA HERE.
May 20th, 2009
Here’s a LINK to a news story about the original FOIA bill. Our editorial is HERE. Springfield just posted this STORY.
IPA just sent this:
This morning we informed IPA members of the highlights contained in the most recent FOIA draft put together with the input of the Attorney’s Generals Office, the Illinois Press Association and other proponents of FOIA reform.
However, the IPA has received a new draft of the FOIA reform bill and it now appears that many of the changes that we told you about this morning have been left out. In fact, the bill has changed radically from what we thought would be the final, or at least close to, final version. The IPA does not know the reason for these changes, nor have we endorsed any of them.
Both the IPA Board of Directors and Government Relations Committee will be meeting tomorrow to discuss this most recent draft and will issue a statement shortly thereafter.
May 20th, 2009
Literally at the midnight hour, the Freedom of Information Act changes that Attorney General Lisa Madigan advocated and we as an Editorial Board supported, were drastically changed.
The bill, which has not been submitted yet, would make Illinois’ FOIA laws, considered the worst in the country, even worse.
Don Craven, general counsel for the Illinois Press Association, said during a conference call today that “only in Illinois would this bill be described as reform and transparency.”
Craven said he’d rather have the current law than the proposed one. Beth Bennett, IPA director of government relations, agreed. She said at least with the current law the IPA would have court precedent as a guide.
Cara Smith, Lisa Madigan’s deputy chief of staff, told me that the AG’s office would continue to fight for provisions in the original bill. The IPA, Madigan’s office and other advocacy groups have been working on the bill for months.
There’s a meeting later tonight with the IPA, AG’s office, General Assembly leadership and others. IPA folks are not encouraged. “There’s nothing to negotiate in this bill.”
No one seems to know who’s responsible for the changes. IPA folks said the changes came from “leadership” in the General Assembly, but couldn’t blame anyone specifically.
I suggested that since Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, Lisa’s father, controls what gets voted on and what doesn’t that perhaps we had a family feud on our hands. Craven said he honestly didn’t know.
The IPA will release a statement tomorrow. Stay tuned.
May 19th, 2009
I’m not a fan of this LIGHT, but I think there are worse. The light on Perryville and Crimson Ridge comes to mind.
I have no problem with it when Grunos and Crimson Ridge are open, but I tend to travel past there at odd hours like 5 a.m. or 11 p.m. when the stores are closed. I almost always get stuck at the light and it’s a LONG light. I’ll have to ask the powers-that-be why it can’t be timed or be a flashing yellow during off hours.
What lights drive you crazy?
May 14th, 2009
I’d like to see governments in the Rock River Valley follow the example of the Sangamon County Board folks.
Read it HERE.
May 7th, 2009
I think we should take the rest of the day off and celebrate.
From The Associated Press:
Math buffs awed by Odd Day
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Prepare to be awed by Odd Day.
For the mathematically challenged, Thursday’s date, 5/7/09, is one of only six this century that will feature three consecutive odd numbers.
Numbers lovers say the rare occurrence is an excuse to celebrate.
“The previous stretch of six dates like this started with 1/3/1905 — 13 months after the Wright Brothers’ flight,” said Ron Gordon, the Redwood City teacher who enthusiastically promotes these numerical holidays, like Square Root Day on 3/3/09.
Gordon is offering a prize of $579 to those who celebrate the date with the most zeal or who get the most people involved in an Odd Celebration.
May 5th, 2009
Dean Schott and Ed Barsotti of the League of Illinois Bicyclists wrote the article below in response to my question about the state of bicycling in this state.
Illinois has been experiencing a real two-wheeled revolution.
In little ways in little places to big ways in big places, bicycling has rolled into the 21st century with a vitality that gives us huge hope for the future.
In a survey released last fall by the League of American Bicyclists, Illinois ranked a respectable 8th in the nation as bike friendly and 3rd in the Midwest behind Wisconsin and Minnesota.
It’s not just one designation, but a series of developments across this state that have made the revolution a reality.
The League of Illinois Bicyclists just concluded its most ambitious effort ever to train adults to teach children about bike safety. Nearly 400 adults will now teach thousands of young people and their parents on the joys of safe bicycling.
The classes are a part of a statewide effort to promote the national Safe Routes to Schools initiative to get children out of their parents’ cars to bicycle and walk to school. Thousands of local officials, educators and volunteers have been working together for months in cities and towns to implement and promote the program.
Later this month, 20,000 bicyclists will renew Chicago’s Bike the Drive, the annual ride along scenic Lake Shore Drive without cars – just bicycles. It’s one of the largest, most successful rides in the nation.
Another indication of bicycling’s popularity is that the league’s week-long Grand Illinois Trails and Parks Ride in June reached its full enrollment exceptionally fast this year.
In Rockford, progress is being marked by the expansion of nearly10 miles of bike routes and lanes this year to go with two miles added last year along stretches of Morsay, Huffman and Rockton.
There’s no one person leading the revolution, but literally thousands from bicycle enthusiasts and advocates, to bike shop owners and bike club officers to bicycling supporters at all levels of government.
Illinois now has three new leaders in significant places who can help roll the revolution forward: President Barack Obama, Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, all bicycling advocates.
LaHood of Peoria recently wrote: “When I told the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit that ‘Cyclists are important users of America’s transportation systems,’ I meant it. And, when I wrote that, ‘With DOT, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward livable communities,’ I meant that as well.”
New laws have buttressed bicycling in Illinois. It took the General Assembly’s override of a governor’s veto in 2007, but state law now requires the Department of Transportation to improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists in all new urban construction projects. A 2008 law requires motorists to afford at least three feet of space when passing bicyclists.
Consider this state will receive $28 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for expanding bicycling opportunities, and one conclusion is inescapable: Illinois bicycling has realized unprecedented momentum.
May 1st, 2009
May is National Bike Month, Bike to Work Week is May 11-15 and Bike to Work Day is May 15.
In honor of Bike Month, I thought I’d do a State of Bicycling column. We have State of the City, State of the County, State of the Union, etc., so why not a State of Biking?
I’ve sent e-mails to folks in the biking community for their observations. Let me know your thoughts.
