Blane Roberts visits local businesses

Blane Roberts tonight at Quest Network Services

Blane Roberts visited local businesses today to discuss the issues on the day before the election.

He would like to remind 49th Ward voters that he is running as a write-in candidate for 49th Ward Alderman.

Here is some information from Blane Roberts for 49th Ward Alderman:

RIF Study and Ward-Wide Ballot Referendum

49th Ward- Write-In Candidate, Blane Roberts Supports RIF Study and Pushes for Ward-Wide Ballot Referendum

I am supportive of many options to sustain affordable housing in the 49th Ward. However, absent a comprehensive study on the feasibility of the Rental Improvement Fund-TIF proposal it would not be in the best interest of our community. If elected, I would support and fund the RIF study to determine its feasibility then place such a proposal to the voters of our community as a ballot referendum. Affordable housing is critical for our community and we must get it right!!

Given the lack of leadership by the current State majority party and the incumbent Alderman, we have poisoned the environment by increased taxes. We must review the RIF and other alternatives to sustain affordable housing and not rely on one proposal.

Blane Roberts
Write-In Candiate
49th Ward

Candidate Blane Roberts of the 49th Ward announces Write-In Campaign

As a result, in part, of the city of Chicago’s byzantine election laws we were unsuccessful in remaining on the ballot but we will remain in the RACE! I decided to continue our campaign on your behalf. This campaign is about serving all the people all the time.


JUST WRITE ME IN –BLANE ROBERTS!


Our elected officials have used such election laws to disenfranchise the citizenry by “gotcha” and “Machine-Style” politics that only benefits the incumbents and their quest to remain in power at our expense.


It also benefits the lawyers and in the end we all suffer by allowing the same ineffective leaders to remain in office. Our elected officials have not requested a review and reform of such laws or their application. This is a classic example of politicians using our tax dollars to keep them in office instead of facing the voters with other challengers.


They call themselves “progressive” as only a marketing tool to get votes. You may call it politics as usual but it is also called denial of ballot access and it is WRONG! How progressive can this be? Our Alderman in the 49th Ward has used such laws to benefit him by using surrogates such as Jason T. Olsen, backed by LaSalle Street law firms, in a cowardly move to reduce competition and choice. You have to ask yourself, what are they afraid of? Well, they are afraid of you, the average VOTER! This is why I have called for term limits and political reform.


Demand of our elected officials to review and change such election laws and their application in the spirit of true democracy! Let’s expose this abuse of power! Look what it has given us thus far.

- Blane Roberts

Read more at: Roberts Removed from 49th Ward Alderman's Ballot

Candidate Blane Roberts (49th) Blasts Alderman Joe Moore Machine-Style tactics

I denounce the machine-style tactics by the current alderman. We must speak out against strong arm tactics designed to disenfranchise the residents of the 49th Ward by attempting to eliminate debate and discussion.

The Alderman claims he is for diversity of ideas, debate and participation! Apparently he is for these principles only if it serves him. That has been his 20 year record and it is time to vote for some one who can serve all the people all the time, even when it may be inconvenient. It is called democracy!

I call on community leaders, activist, residents, the press and all fair minded people to demand this alderman cease and desist!!

- Blane Roberts

Candidate Blane Roberts responds to the increased violence in Rogers Park

I was sadly reminded of the continued violence that is griping our community and impacting our quality of life. It happened in police beat 2431, Morse and Farwell area, this morning. I am outraged that we have not shown effective leadership in this area.

The gun violence in our community appears to getting worse and still we have no comprehensive plan. I call on all community leaders not to be reactionary but engage the youth of our community on a level beyond the police department. We must not allow this to continue to spiral out of control!

There will be no quick fix to this violence but surely we must have long term strategies that are effective. Our community needs strong leadership and we need it now. Some suggest that Rogers Park does not have a crime or gang problem. I am here to tell you, sadly, the elephant has been in the room for as long as I can remember. Why haven’t we done better? Everyone can and must do better! Regardless of what happens in the campaign everybody owes it to our community to be a part of the solution.

- Blane Roberts

Dear 49th Ward Candidates for Alderman

Dear Bill

Here's my question for Joe Moore's challengers, and who I vote for will depend on their answer to this. Feel free to publish, with my name attached, if you like.

- Bill




Dear 49th Ward Candidates for Alderman:

For residents of the southeast corner of Rogers Park, where a once-thriving shopping street has mostly been reduced to vacant lots, there is one big question that will determine how we vote against Joe Moore:

As Alderman of the 49th Ward, how will you deal with Loyola University?

Joe Moore has long given Loyola whatever it asks for, including more than $30 million in TIF funds to fix up a campus building. While no one would say that Loyola isn't important--it's an economic engine for the area--Loyola is also a force for blight.

Look at the west side of the 6500 block of North Sheridan Road. Heading north from the El Station, we have McDonalds and a branch bank (building owned by Loyola), vacant lot (owned by Loyola), an empty storefront (leased for 99 years by Loyola, driving the street's only cafe, Beck's Bookstore, out), vacant lot (owned by Loyola) Bruno's (only lot not owned or leased by Loyola), Carmen's (building owned by Loyola), two vacant lots (owned by Loyola).

Loyola has taken a thriving commercial strip and blighted it. When they tore down the beautiful buildings at the SW corner of Albion and Sheridan, the student paper reported that they had to be demolished because it would cost too much to bring the buildings up to code. Well, who the hell owned them and neglected them till they were below building code standards? Loyola. This is their bait-and-switch: they let things get run down, then cry "Blight!" Loyola is essentially a slumlord.

The Granada Center and the ludicrously-named "Morgan at Loyola Station" are both Loyola properties (the latter on a 99 year lease to the developer). They're full of empty storefronts and national chain stores instead of local businesses (the relocated cafe-less Beck's being the only exception). Study after study shows that local businesses leave much more money in the local economy than national chains do--but only national chains can afford the high rents charged for new construction. (You have read Jane Jacobs The Death and Life of Great American Cities, haven't you?) It's simply astounding that Loyola students, staff and faculty (and neighbors) have to go down to Granville (Metropolis) to find a decent cup of coffee. The 6500 block of North Sheridan should be a bustling student-shopping strip, with quirky restaurants, bookstores, cafes, boutiques, as it once was--until Loyola bought up buildings and refused to give commercial tenants long-term leases. It's no secret that if they ever managed to buy (or TIF) Bruno's, they'd demolish the whole block and build another concrete monstrosity.

So, how will you handle Loyola? Will you bend over backwards for them as Joe Moore has, or will you stand up to them?

Yours truly,

Bill Savage, lifetime resident of the 49th Ward, Loyola Alum (College of Arts and Sciences '86, Summa Cum Laude), and voter who has never missed an election.

A message from Blane Roberts

I have received a message from Blane Roberts:


Bill, The website has been launched. View it at www.49thforRoberts.com.
- Blane



If anyone else would like to send a message, please either leave a comment or write me here.

Thank you,

- Bill Morton

For 49th Ward Alderman

I sent members of the Rogers Park in 1,000 Words mailing list this survey:


I would like to know what you feel about the current candidates for 49th Ward Alderman. Thank you, - Bill Morton



Here are the responses:

Good Morning Bill, Hope you had a good Thanksgiving and that you've been well. As for the candidates, I know Blane and Brian personally and know nothing about Ben. Both Blane and Brian are passionate about improving the community, understand the issues and could provide much better leadership than Joe. That said, I committed to supporting Brian many months ago when he first considered running. I also believe Brian has a good base of support that can give Joe a run for his money.

I don't know the candidates at all. I used to be against him, but I really like the participatory budgeting. So not sure what input to give, but tell me more?

Hey Bill, I believe Blane Roberts and Brian White, both of whom are good friends of mine, would both provide a welcome blast of fresh air in local political leadership. Neither is perfect, but considering the status quo, it’s a no brainer.

Moore will win handily in 2011; no run-off this time.

Bill, I haven't given them much attention so far. Who all is running? I know of Roberts, Meyers and White but they're not getting big press. One I can speak of is Brian White. Active and outspoken, he's someone you'll run into in the neighborhood. He targets Joe Moore and I've seen them at a meeting, bickering. Hah. Let's hope the other candidates similar mix it up...

I'm afraid I don't actually know who the candidates are.

I'd rather not comment on the crop running.

Bill, Other than despising Joe Moore, I have no opinion. Haven't seen enough coverage. Isn't at least one a stalking horse for Joe?

Hi Bill. Still learning about them. I have trouble believing that any of these guys can beat Joe Moore. I should know quite a bit more in the next week or two.

Haven't had time lately to follow races I can't vote in. Tell me about them.

Hi Bill: I think brian white is best. brianwhite2011.org.


There is your unedited word on the street.

- Unbiased reporting by Bill Morton

Meet Blane Roberts at Quest Network Services

This will be our second Meet and Greet event with Blane Roberts in The Parlor of Quest Network Services. Anyone who would like to meet Blane Roberts for a conversation is invited to attend. - Bill Morton

Meet

BLANE ROBERTS
For 49th Ward ALDERMAN

Friday, October 29th 2010 at 7:30pm

at Quest Network Services 7301 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL. 60626

UPDATE:

A Thank You for attending - http://twitter.com/#!/RogersPark1000/statuses/29146230977

Meet Blane Roberts

It is my pleasure to invite Blane Roberts to The Parlor of Quest Network Services for a meet & greet event. - Bill Morton

Meet

BLANE ROBERTS
For 49th Ward ALDERMAN

Friday, October 29th 2010 at 7:30pm

at Quest Network Services 7301 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL. 60626

Blane Roberts

Meet

BLANE ROBERTS
For 49th Ward ALDERMAN

Friday, October 22nd 2010 at 7pm

at Quest Network Services 7301 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL. 60626

Blane Roberts

BLANE ROBERTS
For 49th Ward ALDERMAN