Reaction to Tribune article

http://tinyurl.com/m5kyn4

Above is a link to the article in the Tribune by Elizabeth Schiele. My wife and I had the following impressions:

1. The article accurately captured what we said and nicely portrayed our vulnerability as homeowners.

2. We thought the comment from the State Farm PR person in regard to our rider cancellation was interesting. She said, "It became apparent that what was causing each of these claims was not being remedied." This is an accurate statement. The City knows the remedy, and we are asking that they take the necessary action.

3. We liked Monica's quote. It emphasizes that residents really want to work collaboratively with the City, and we need our public officials to reciprocate.

4. The article just touches the tip of the iceberg. Marshall Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue are known problems. We don't want to forget the rest of our neighbors in the 8th Ward, and the rest of the City

5. We did not understand Tim Oakley's comment that the cost of the project would double if the work were accelerated. The scope of the project isn't changing. Clarification from Mr. Oakley would be appreciated.

6. We were surprised that federal funding is being sought by the City. I guess we could call it the Des Plaines Bailout Program. Instead of Cash for Clunkers, we can have a Cash for Flooders program. Turn in our old flooded houses for new water-protected homes.

7. We liked the title and the somber note the article ended with.

8. The cover photo was a bit daunting. The reason my wife and I came forward was not to elicit sympathy. Rather, it was to wake up our public officials and encourage others to tell their own story. I think a lot of people have just given up, but we are not. We love our neighbors and our neighborhood, and are seeking a solution to the problem which can be fixed with a focused commitment on the City's part.

Regards,

Jim and Julie Vinci

Example of flood problems June 19, 2009

Below is a photo of what Marshall Drive actually looked like on June 19th after the water started receding. Notice the truck driver stuck in the water! I told him to turn around, but he would not listen!!

Beautification vs. Infrastructure

Regarding the Journal Online story about the Riverwalk: http://www.journal-topics.com/dp/09/dp090826.1.html -- Tim Oakley, the City's director of engineering and public works, welcomed feedback from residents on the Riverwalk project. The NoFloodZone group was quick to respond to Mr. Oakley:

• It would be very nice to have additional recreation areas for our residents. However, before the City's public officials commit further money to such projects, they should concentrate on more critical issues, such as flood and sewer problems in the 8th Ward. Since the Federal Government is willing to grant the City of Des Plaines funds to be used for recreational purposes, why not ask for funds that could help solve our FLOODING PROBLEM? As a resident of Devonshire Subdivision and a victim of frequent floods in the area, I am requesting that the City reprioritize its projects and start helping people. What's more important: a nice Riverwalk or protecting residents from flooding? (Halina D. Kraszewski)
• City officials need to hold off on these types of beautification projects and take better care of the City's infrastructure (i.e. accelerate the Storm Water Master Plan multi-year CIP). When the Casino money starts rolling in, then beautification projects like the Riverwalk can be pursued. (Bob Furst)
• We don't need more new construction in Des Plaines, or there will be no more place for water to go but inside our homes. The streets and sewers are the responsibility of the City, not the residents. 50+ year old sewers cannot accommodate all of the building that has taken place. If you don't start updating the City's antiquated infrastructure, then I would recommend changing the Des Plaines logo from "City of Destiny" to "City of the Destitute." (Jim Vinci)
  

Our first meeting

Residents Present at 8/19 Meeting

Adam Oleander

Ann Brown

Bob Furst

Carol White

Halina Gumulka

Halina Kraszewski

Joanna Sakowicz

Jim Vinci

Issues Discussed:

• Pursuit of litigation against the City of Des Plaines. It was unanimously agreed to pursue a Class Action Lawsuit against the City of Des Plaines. Jim Vinci presented evidence of his attendance at several City Council Meetings, at which he pleaded with the City Council to address our problems. Jim has substantial documentation and an actual video tape of a Council meeting from 2001. The Council members are taking no action. The lawsuit is a step toward holding our public officials accountable for their lack of action. Their decisions are affecting our personal property, our personal lives, and our personal health. Joanna Schwartz has been in contact with an attorney who has asked for further information before he will represent us. Jim Vinci will meet with the attorney at the appropriate time to provide the necessary background material.
• Complete and submit the Freedom of Information Act to the City of Des Plaines. Joanna has made edits based on the group's input and will submit this form to the City.
• Contact Tim Oakley to address specific residential concerns. It was suggested that residents call Tim Oakley, the City's Chief Engineer, and have someone from his department come out and listen to specific concerns. Jim Vinci already did that back in 2001, and that is why Marshall Drive and Pennsylvania are included as Problem Area #12 in the City's Stormwater Master Plan. It became apparent during last night's meeting that the work slated for Marshall and Pennsylvania may not help all of us, so it is important to bring our individual issues to the City.
• Use of Social Media. Bob Furst made the excellent point that we have to use technology to our advantage. Setting up a blogging service to post documents and messages that could ultimately be accessible to other residents in our ward. Bob also suggested use of the Chicago Tribune local website to post ongoing flooding concerns to an even broader audience.
• Status of Flood Survey Information. The flood surveys filled out by residents were secured by Rosemary Argus, but someone needs to process and summarize them. We need a count of flooding problems by type of problem as well as a count of flooding problems by street. Specific survey comments, made by residents, should really be addressed by Rosemary to Mayor Moylan and the City Council.
• Attendance at City Council Budget Meetings. The main budget meeting we are interested in is the one where the City Council discusses the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan). Bob Furst pointed out that we may have to attend several budget meetings in order to insure that we don't miss it. Last year, Rosemary told Jim Vinci when the CIP was going to be discussed, and he attended only that meeting, which was on October 16th. Jim requested that the City Council accelerate the 8th Ward work, but they declined.
• Status of Chicago Tribune Article. The article is now going through editing and should be available soon.
• Problem Area #12 Project. It was unanimously agreed that the Problem Area #12 project, to address Marshall Drive and Pennsylvania Avenue flooding problems, begin now, rather than 2011.
• Letter to Peter Roskam. Jim Vinci is working on a letter to Congressman Peter Roskam and will submit a draft to the group for review. It might make sense to first show the letter to our attorney so that it sends the right message. It is intended that the Des Plaines Mayor, City Council, City Engineer, City Attorney, and Chicago Tribune reporter, be copied on the letter.
• Spokesman Assignment. It was agreed that Jim Vinci be the spokesman for our group because of his initial correspondene with the Tribune reporter, Elizabeth Schiele.
• Contact with Rosemary. Other than what was mentioned above, we agreed that our contact with Rosemary should be very limited right now because, although she has expressed support, she is a representative of the City.
• Ward Representation by Other Ethnic Groups. We agreed that it would be a good idea if people of other ethnic groups joined our group. This would facilitate communication with individuals who really need help, but are unable to understand what is happening or being done to address flooding.
  

Let's get organized

Because of an expressed interest on flooding issues in our 8th Ward, we are having an initial meeting on Aug 19. Halina (nice lady that she is) has volunteered to host the meeting at her house, located on Devonshire. Our initial agenda includes

• The option of a Class Action Lawsuit against the City of Des Plaines,
• Contact with Elizabeth Schiele of the Tribune news staff. She has been conducting interviews to construct an article about our flooding problems.
• Develop a general strategy to remedy this long-standing problem.

Just the beginning

It has become clear that the flooding problem in the 8th ward is much more extensive than I ever imagined. We went door to door on Marshall Drive and handed out the meeting flyer which led to at least 200 people coming to the Friendship Park Conservatory on July 28, 2009. We need everyone that showed up at that meeting to storm City Hall when the City Council has its budget meeting to discuss the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan). This will likely happen in mid-October. However, I will be taking several actions prior to that. A Chicago Tribune article is step one of my strategy. Every time there is threatening weather, it serves as another reminder of the City's unpreparedness to deal with the flooding problem.

I am pursuing contact with Lisa Madigan's office and have already contacted Peter Roskam's office. I did not actually speak to Congressman Roskman, but I understand that he does meet with constituents. I can try to set up a meeting with him if the residents would find this beneficial. I spoke to Kitty Weiner, the District Representative. She actually called the City of Des Plaines and spoke with Mayor Moylan. He told her that the City was doing the best they can and working on one project every year, as the budget permits. My rebuttal to him is that my family has waited 23 years for the City to find a solution. At the October 16, 2008 meeting on the CIP, I specifically asked for an interim plan, while we await construction. As usual, I got no response from former Mayor Arredia and his City Council. Mayor Moylan also thought that State Farm should not have been able to cancel our coverage. This is just another indication of the City's lack of understanding of the nature of insurance as well as the seriousness of the flooding problem in Des Plaines.

Despite the response that Kitty got, I think it is still worthwhile to call her. The more complaints she receives, the more attention this is going to get. It's easy to get discouraged, but please do not.

Here's some key phone numbers to have handy:

• Kitty Weiner - District Representative for Peter Roskam 630-893-9670 x12
• Lisa Madigan's office - 312-814-3000 (note that Ms. Madigan deals primarily with consumer fraud and not legal desputes between residents and their public officials)
  
• Elizabeth Schiele -Chicago Tribune Reporter(NW Division) - 312-208-6011 elizabethschiele@sbcglobal.net. Feel free to voice your concerns to her.
• Des Plaines Emergency Numbers (You can call these numbers to report flooding problems and ask for sand bags). 847-391-5394, 847-391-5395, 847-391-5396