Meigs Curse: Year #1.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Tpakb.806050$YN5.806702@sccrnsc01...
Look, here's the bottom line: In ANY other city, in ANY other state, a
guy
who sent bulldozers to rip up public property -- in the MIDDLE OF THE
NIGHT -- would have been arrested.

If that were true, then most public renovation projects would result in the
arrest of the presiding public officials (and of the bulldozer operators
themselves--if they were not acting on someone's lawful authority, then they
too were committing a crime). You usually have to bulldoze what's there in
order to build something else. Often there are people who preferred to keep
what was already there.

Daley decided to renovate a piece of public land whose usage was under his
administrative authority as an elected public official. There are sound
objections to the decision and to his implementation, but the idea that he
committed a crime (such as vandalism) is sheer fantasy.

--Gary

He would then have been put under medical observation, to ascertain his
sanity.

Why is it just "business as usual" in Chicago?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Daley decided to renovate a piece of public land whose usage was under his
administrative authority as an elected public official. There are sound
objections to the decision and to his implementation, but the idea that he
committed a crime (such as vandalism) is sheer fantasy.

Well, Gary, we've got a similar situation brewing in Coralville (sister city
to Iowa City).

The Mayor (and his cronies) have their hearts set on building a $60 million
dollar convention center, complete with a giant hotel, etc. The citizens of
Coralville are objecting to this, on the grounds that (a) it costs WAY too
much, (b) if there was a call for it, the Marriott's of the world would be
begging to build it with they own money, and (c) the Gubmint shouldn't be
competing with private business.

In fact, there is now a group of four people running for office (one
mayoral, three city council candidates) solely on the platform of "Stop the
Convention Center". Further, petitions have been submitted to the Mayor,
asking that the issue be put on the ballot as a referendum. (Sadly, I live
in Iowa City, and thus can't vote -- I'm sure you know where I stand on the
issue!)

Thus far, the Mayor has summarily dismissed these concerns, and the
petitions, and is going ahead with land fill, etc. (Is this starting to
sound familiar?)

If the Mayor of Coralville were to now take it upon himself to proceed with
demolition (there are publicly owned buildings on the site) -- especially if
he sent a wrecking company out in the middle of a Sunday night -- I do
believe he would be detained and observed.

But maybe that's just an Iowa thing -- we expect rational behavior from our
elected officials.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Qhbkb.169335$%h1.161414@sccrnsc02...
If the Mayor of Coralville were to now take it upon himself to proceed
with
demolition (there are publicly owned buildings on the site) -- especially
if
he sent a wrecking company out in the middle of a Sunday night -- I do
believe he would be detained and observed.

So you believe we live in a country where (except in Chicago) a public
official who initiates a renovation project is thereby subject to arrest and
involuntary hospitalization, unless the police think the project was
sufficiently popular?

--Gary

But maybe that's just an Iowa thing -- we expect rational behavior from
our
elected officials.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

So you believe we live in a country where (except in Chicago) a public
official who initiates a renovation project is thereby subject to arrest
and
involuntary hospitalization, unless the police think the project was
sufficiently popular?

Bulldozing an airport runway, at 3 AM on a Sunday morning, is a "renovation
project"?

Methinks you be as nuts as Daley.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Well, I don't know about in the US, but in the UK it wouldn't
be up to one individual, the council would have to decide and
get at least some public opinion to help them decide. Planning
permission for the change of use would have to be sought.

I would guess it's the same there...but that's not what the
mayor did...he used the excuse of a terrorism threat or whatever
to destroy the airport without as far as I know, getting planning
permission.

Paul

"Gary L. Drescher" wrote in message
news:ctdkb.586170$cF.255083@rwcrnsc53...
So you believe we live in a country where (except in Chicago) a public
official who initiates a renovation project is thereby subject to arrest
and
involuntary hospitalization, unless the police think the project was
sufficiently popular?

In most places in the US the same would be true.

"Paul Sengupta" wrote in message
...
Well, I don't know about in the US, but in the UK it wouldn't
be up to one individual, the council would have to decide and
get at least some public opinion to help them decide. Planning
permission for the change of use would have to be sought.

I would guess it's the same there...but that's not what the
mayor did...he used the excuse of a terrorism threat or whatever
to destroy the airport without as far as I know, getting planning
permission.

Paul

"Gary L. Drescher" wrote in message
news:ctdkb.586170$cF.255083@rwcrnsc53...
So you believe we live in a country where (except in Chicago) a public
official who initiates a renovation project is thereby subject to arrest
and
involuntary hospitalization, unless the police think the project was
sufficiently popular?