quote:

Originally posted by Amy:

I'd join the bunch - as long as we can have drinks afterwards!

A GEBB - CBD - PUB Crawl?

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Herbold:
In the spirit of Fan's post re: icy sidewalks and the lack of the attitude to fix a simple problem, I propose a GEBB CBD clean up day.

I will supply all the garbage bags, brooms and other needs if we can supply the manpower for 3-4 hours one Saurday or Sunday. This might increase the awareness of the rest of the community to some of the interesting and insightful comments and solutions proposed here and change some people's opinion that we are just grumpy naysayers.

How about it? What day works for everyone? April 5-6th, April 12-13th.

May not solve the problem at large, but it will make a statement and show that we care beyond words.

I'm in...so long as Starbucks furnishes free beverages and Shannon's provides lunch. **** the Prairie Path clean up....we need to override our own village and clean up our own town.

We should get the press involved. Get the word out. Maybe speak at the next Glen Ellyn board meeting.

I'm in too.

We may not need alcohol. Clamato, Ruydah, is that 40oz still there?

We have actually been experimenting with prison hooch. Ruydah has an unused toilet in his basement that we have been utilizing.

Our recipe....prison pruno. Really good.

quote:

Originally posted by CovetedLakeEllyn:
Hi,

I think this needs to be addressed by the new consulting team that will be ultimately telling us how to improve our downtown in general.

Hey - maybe a combo knitting club/homeless shelter!

Rob,

Count me (even though I pay a $hit load of taxes and shouldn't have to)in as long as this event is advertised in a manner that lets the public know that there is a serious problem here and thus the reason for our activity. We need to let everyone know the reason we decided to clean up otherwise it will be non productive. Maybe a big banner and some press. It would be a great lesson for our kids too.

quote:

Originally posted by bitterboy:
Rob,

Count me (even though I pay a $hit load of taxes and shouldn't have to)in as long as this event is advertised in a manner that lets the public know that there is a serious problem here and thus the reason for our activity. We need to let everyone know the reason we decided to clean up otherwise it will be non productive. Maybe a big banner and some press. It would be a great lesson for our kids too.

I'm hep to that. I can make the banner and signs and touch base with candidate about the exposure and a possible mention at the village meeting. Stay tuned.

"First Annual Rob Herbold Doing What Vicky Hase and/or Curt Barrett Should Be Spearheading Clean Up"

I like the sound of that.

If you need some coin for something like that let me know. Candidate, Clam and a few others know how to get hold of me. I consider it a small price to pay when compared to my taxes and mortgage.

There is a thought. Private funds being used to clean public streets. Maybe we could just pay our kids to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:
Is it that no one cares (was going to type "gives a ****" but obviously someone does, and did) about these issues or that they are simply not addressed in the proper forum? Wouldn't a public meeting to gather input from residents, Public Works, the GEPD, the churches, the Chamber, etc. get enough information on the table so that the village board (or the Enviromental Commission) could then outline a solution in about an hour? An optimistic view leads one to believe that people do care, they just don't know what steps to take because the issue has not been discussed openly in a forum that could lead to change. Why not?

Why more forums? Why more discussions? Why more things for the residents to have to do?

Why can't those whose jobs it is to take of these things, take care of these things?

Why every time someone points out an obvious shortcoming of our town do we have to have meetings, hire consultants, form advocacy groups, etc.? Why can't these things just be taken care of before all of this public input is required?

We need proactive people and proactive employees in the Village.....the reactive crap is so very very old. And quite frankly, not too successful.

It's like opening a restaurant with the goal of it being successful. Either you take care of all the details before the first reviewer comes in, or your goal of success is gone forever.

We'll certainly help with the clean up, Rob H.!

Have any forums or discussions been held? Perhaps...just don't/didn't know about them...

I recall being present at one village board workshop where the subject of garbage on the CBD Starbucks block came up for about 15 minutes or so. One trustee felt that the answer, like implied in the post above, was rather easy to implement...more cans, more frequent garbage pickup, ticketing those residents who dumped their household trash there, etc. But, just like this on this bulletin board, the conversation continued about government vs. personal responsibilty and no true conclusion resulted.

I am afraid the reviews on this subject are already in and the they are mixed at best. Its too late to be proactive.

So why a forum? To get all (or most) of the views heard. (For example, animal refuse was not discussed, nor vagrancy, nor business accountability, at the forementioned workshop...) It seems in today's times all points of view must be considered, then the topic closed and a plan developed and implemented. The sad part, imho, is that even with these steps, its all relatively easy to fix. As my had-to-join-the-military-so-earned-a-G.E.D Dad used to say "Doesn't take a Masters to figure that one out, son..."

I don't believe that it is asking too much to want your village to act upon an ongoing problem. Regardless of who is causing the problem, it is the village's responsibility to rectify it.

Also, blaming Starbucks...as was done in the past...is a joke. The only thing Starbucks did to humiliate our village was to place hot pink plastic planters in front of their store and then let the contents die and rot. But they were shamed into removing them. If I were the manager of SBUX I'd either be out there tidying things up myself...or forcing on of my partners to do so.

We could all wear shirts too. Michael's sells plain T-shirts for about 2-3 bucks each and I can do fabric paint words - something stylish, short, and catchy. (A little shorter than Clam's suggestion.)

Hmmmm....
Glen
Ellyn
N
eeds
Real
Intensive
Cleaning

Now! (To prevent becoming "just another town!")



Come on, this is a creative bunch - I'm sure a few of you have ideas!

Glen
Ellyn
Requires
Immediate
Action
To
Reacquire
Its
Cleanliness

Those that seem to hold all of the power in the village should understand this one.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Clamato,

quote:

Originally posted by CovetedLakeEllyn:
Hi,

I think this needs to be addressed by the new consulting team that will be ultimately telling us how to improve our downtown in general. I will be the first to admit that I am now at the point where I AVOID downtown GE. Yes, of course I want to support the retailers. But somebody please tell me why I should walk into Einsteins to get a bagel when there is a homeless person sleeping at the first table? Not just sleeping, but smelling really bad, drooling on the table, and practically blocking the doorway with his belongings. Come to think of it, it makes a great diet plan as the last time it happened I simply lost my apetite.

You're right - I had this same experience last week. I hadn't been in Einstein in ages, couldn't remember why that was, decided to stop in for a bagel for lunch and - bingo. The scenario you just mentioned.

Then I remembered why I hadn't been in Einstein in ages.

And now that the new Starbucks is on Roosevelt, I don't go in the one on Crescent, either - yes, the new one is closer and it's a drive thru, but even when I am in the CBD, if I need a latte, I'll drive all the way up to Roosevelt. It's cleaner, nicer, and there aren't smelly people drooling on the tables.

I don't think most of us - at least, I don't think I do - consciously say to ourselves, "I'm not going to go to the CBD because of all the scary people there." But I do think that it just creeps in, coloring our experiences there over and over to the point where we find ourselves avoiding it, or at least certain places, without really knowing why. We just find it more pleasant to go elsewhere - and so we get in the habit of doing just that.

And the CBD, meanwhile, continues to die.

I wonder if Jim Louthen knows about this. He will in a moment.

I'll bet he can help.

quote:

Originally posted by Dinsdale:

quote:

Originally posted by gotrocks:
According to you a business doesn’t have to remove objectionable things from in front of its’ store because it doesn’t own the sidewalk but a private citizen has to remove objectionable things from in front of their house even though they don’t own the sidewalk. You speak with forked tongue kimosabe.

Hey gotrocksinyourhead - how many little winking emoticons do you need?

Whadda maroon!

See, one dinner with Dr. Dinsdale and I knew his sense of sarcasm.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:

So why a forum? To get all (or most) of the views heard. (For example, animal refuse was not discussed, nor vagrancy, nor business accountability, at the forementioned workshop...) It seems in today's times all points of view must be considered, then the topic closed and a plan developed and implemented. The sad part, imho, is that even with these steps, its all relatively easy to fix. As my had-to-join-the-military-so-earned-a-G.E.D Dad used to say "Doesn't take a Masters to figure that one out, son..."

But a forum to learn what? That the downtown is a piece of ****? That it is maintained like crap? That we have vagrants all over the place? That we don't have any stores?

Why a forum to point out the obvious and easily observed issues?

I've said on numerous occasions to all those who listen, we may not need a parking garage because of the parking, we may need one to show that the Village is willing to INVEST in the CBD...and that would go a long way. Now, maybe my expectations were a little grandiose. Let's just have the Village start with INVESTING in the CBD by cleaning it and ridding it of those who sleep there (and pass out there) in violation of our Village code.

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

Why a forum to point out the obvious and easily observed issues?

Because it may be the only constructive and face-saving way to discuss the problem and develop a solution that is supported by a majority of key players. Not discussing the obvious hasn't lead to any change... (although the t-shirt slogans and the consultant posts are REALLY funny! )

quote:

Originally posted by 4MP:

quote:

Originally posted by GE Fan:

Why a forum to point out the obvious and easily observed issues?

Because it may be the only constructive and face-saving way to discuss the problem and develop a solution that is supported by a majority of key players. Not discussing the obvious hasn't lead to any change... (although the t-shirt slogans and the consultant posts are REALLY funny! )

Key players? Like the revolutionaries who are on the long range planning committee?