I have been reading many of these different topics throughout the forums and I keep hearing complaints from every angle (myself included). These forums are not going to solve the problems, but YOU, and I mean ALL OF YOU need to get out there and run for Trustee, village president, school board, Zoning, Betterment Committee, etc, or try to start a new group to improve the village of Glen Ellyn.
You can rant and rave all you want, but until you actually get out there and try to get into office and make a change, then nothing will happen. And if you don't make it the first time, try again or try another group. I am hoping some of you have held these positions, I am very glad you did, now get friends/family to do the same or run for something else. I am 33 and I actually began the process of running for Trustee this past year and there were about 8 total candidates who applied. I know I have heard more than 8 people voice some type of opinion on how Glen Ellyn needs to improve, but why weren't they out running? We also need to push more diversity among our boards. Had it not been for a family issue, and had I won, I was told I would have been the youngest trustee ever. That shows we need young, middle aged and older residents of Glen Ellyn getting involved. I know everyone has other priorities, but your family and your house should be considered high priorities and if nothing gets done then you can't blame the store owners, or the shoppers, or the village, or the insurance companies, or the schools, or property owners, but you need to take some of the blame for yourself for not getting active in the community as a leader. I was born and raised in this town and in the 33 years this town has definitely made some changes, some good some bad, some that benefits one group of people but annoys another. I think many of your debates make strong points for or against certain topics, but don't let your thoughts just sit in cyberspace, get out there and make this town what you want it to be. Let's not look back and make the shoulda, woulda, coulda comments. Good luck and I hope to see many or all of you running for something soon.

I agree with most of your thoughts, young man/woman. But I completely disagree with the concept of the masses running for office. Glen Ellyn is obviously a town filled with people that have the civic and business know-how to make this town what it was in the past...even the recent past. The problem has become that too many of the inexperienced or less-than-knowledgeable or well-meaning or social-climbing residents want to be involved. For the most part that is admirable. Realistically...I think the wrong people can have disasterous results. I think we are in the middle of that right now. I am not necessarily speaking of most of the trustees. Although I am still baffled by the recusal of the trustee from water tower-land. Either you speak up and tell your neighbors why you think they are wrong, or you speak up and tell your fellow board members why they are wrong. Simple as that. Their is no room for recusal in a legislative body such as ours...unless it directly affects you in a financial or ethical way.

So, yes, fellow Glen Ellynites...run, run, run. But before you do, look in the mirror and ask yourselves if you really can make a difference. If you really have the civic or business or legal acumen to do what is necessary to improve rather than harm the community. If your answer is "I don't know" or "No"...then stay home and tap on the keyboard with the rest of us and complain till the cows come home. The town will thank you for it.

Couldn't agree more Clam...This also sounds like some familiar rhetoric from the side of the people that we complain about. Instead of looking at some of these criticisms constructively, they attack the source as cranky anonymous posters.

Cwilli58, give you the benefit of the doubt with your admirable motives this time.