Although the enemies are different today, we must ever remain vigilant for there are many in this world who seek to destroy the United States.
75 Years Ago On December 7 The Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor
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Author Archives: Good Day Illinois
Airlines Will Soon Introduce “Pay as you Weigh” Airfares!
Some say U.S. based carriers will never charge passengers based on their body weight plus their luggage. Don’t bet on it. The airlines already charge for checked luggage, and if your luggage is over a certain amount such as 50 pounds, you are charged even more. It is even rumored that in the future travel agents will get bonuses if they sell tickets to overweight individuals. Imagine booking flights for “Weight Watchers.” Carriers such as Allegiant charge for everything now from water to early boarding. It won’t take much to the reach the next step – weight based fares! Southwest Airlines advertises that it likes luggage which flies free. I suppose Southwest Airlines will say in the future that it likes fat people who pay the same as everyone else. My kind of airline!
Happy Thanksgiving!
A day to be thankful for all of our blessings.
Veterans Day November 11, 2016 – Honoring All Who Served in Times of War – In Times of Peace
Originally, Veterans Day was called Armistice Day to honor veterans of World War I. In 1938 the name was officially changed to Veterans Day. By law Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11.
IS VOTE YES FOR FREEPORT BOUGHT AND SOLD BY OUTSIDE LOBBYING GROUP?
In the Quarterly Report filed with the State Board of Elections by the “Vote Yes for Freeport” group one of the contributions to this group stands out. A Washington, DC lobbying group, International City/County Management Association contributed $7,500 to the “Vote Yes” group. It’s hard to believe this Association cares about what is best for Freeport. A better name for this Association would be “Association for Full Employment of City Managers.” The “Vote Yes” group should disclose the fact that almost half of its funding is from an outside lobbying group. As I have stated before, maybe the time has come for a city manager in Freeport, but I don’t like being told by a Washington, DC lobbying group that I should vote “Yes.”
Where Have the Vote “Yes” People Been the Last 20 Years?
What I do not understand is where the members of the “Vote YES for Freeport Committee” have been for the last 20 years. I guess everything was great in Freeport until the last year. The streets were perfect, the deer only took over the City in the last year, the quality of the housing stock was great, crime was not a problem, and our homes and businesses were not over assessed. No problems until the last year or two. At least no problems this group was able to see. Now they propose that Freeport adopt a managerial form of municipal government which I assume they think will be the savior of Freeport. What a simplistic approach! Freeport needs new sources of revenue. Money will help solve Freeport’s problems. A city manager with no money to address the issues will be no better than a mayor with no money. Anyone looks good when you have plenty of money to do whatever is necessary. Maybe the time has come for Freeport to have a city manager, but don’t expect it to solve the problems this City is facing. Just another bureaucrat to pay, and pay, and pay.
One Book One Freeport – A Great Program Deserves Your Support
The Freeport Public Library conducts a “community read” program during January and February of “odd” years. The program started in 2011, and 2017 will be the fourth time for the program. The mission of this program is to encourage a shared-reading experience, foster a sense of community, and promote literacy to people of all ethnic backgrounds, economic levels, and ages. Based on similar programs in communities across the country, One Book, One Freeport provides free copies of a selected book and coordinates educational programs and events to explore topics related to the book. Plans are to tie the book in with the current 100-year anniversary of the National Parks.
The book title will be announced in early January of 2017. Books will be distributed in February with programs scheduled in March and April. Donations for the program can be sent to One Book, One Freeport Committee, Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport, IL 61032.
Freeport Residents Should Look at the Total Compensation of City Employees – Not Just Base Salaries! The Question is, Where Will the Money Come from in the Future?
Every resident of the City of Freeport, Illinois should take a look at the “2015-2016 Total Compensation Report for City Employees over $75,000.” If you read this report, it will give you an idea of the cost each additional employee hired by the City. Of course, it does not factor in the future pension costs that will be incurred by the City to support many of these employees such as those of the police department who retire after 20 years and move to Florida. How many officers in the police department make over $125,000 – count them? Almost half the officers on the Freeport police department make over $125,000. If you think the Mayor is the highest paid official, you are wrong. The police chief is the highest paid at almost $167,000, and he does not even live in Freeport. Of course, this is true of many other highly compensated employees of the City who do not live in Freeport. When you do not live here, or plan on leaving after 20 years, you have no stake in the future of the community.
Read the full report at http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/departments/FY2016%20compensation%20report-FINAL.pdf
If you want to hear more about City employee compensation, go to the Freeport City Council meeting on Monday October 3 at 6:00 pm at the temporary City Hall at 524 W. Stephenson Street, 3rd Floor, or watch it live on Comcast Channel 17. The complete meeting agenda is available at http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/citygovernment/Agendas/A20161003.pdf
Freeport Chamber Says Vote Yes for Freeport – Well, Not Really, Only Sometimes!
In the Freeport Journal Standard on August 25, 2016 there was the August edition of the Freeport Area Chamber Communicator. On page 3 there was an article entitled “Vote YES for Freeport to Adopt the Managerial Form of Municipal Government.” The article stated that the committee promoting the change to a managerial form of city government had retained legal counsel from a Rockford law firm, and the writer of the article even added how impressed the committee was with this attorney, and that the committee was in good hands. To those attorneys who are members of the Freeport Chamber, it appears that none of you have the necessary skills to represent this elite body. And to the taxpayers of Freeport, ask yourself if this law firm pays real estate taxes in Freeport, and ask yourself if the members of this firm live in Freeport. No wonder this attorney from Rockford is promoting the change since she will not be paying for it.
NOTE: Our firm does not do municipal work. We handle estate planning, estate and trust administration and litigation, elder law, and agricultural real estate. However, there are outstanding attorneys in Freeport who could handle this issue, and who are probably members of the Chamber! I guess they mean Freeport first, only sometimes!
Does It Really Pay to Have Friends?
Imagine my surprise when I received an email from Frontier Communications entitled “It Pays to Have Friends.” Let me tell you the facts. A few years ago Verizon sold most of their phone lines and internet services outside the Chicago area to Frontier Communications. In April of 2016, Verizon sold their cable, phone, and internet operations in Florida to Frontier. In both states you thought you had Verizon, but then ended up with the third world service of Frontier. If you want to keep your Friends, don’t let them sign up with Frontier. Frontier is absolutely one of the worst companies I have ever dealt with. If you have Frontier, my advice is to get rid of them as soon as possible since you will continue to have nothing but problems. And if you are fortunate enough not to have them, don’t fall for any of their offers!
Good Day Illinois - Happenings in Northwest Illinois 