That was then, this is not now, but it's still then.

With the Des Plaines mayoral election coming up, it is great time to resurrect our No Flood Zone blog. Perhaps we can get the candidates to comment here to insure that the necessary storm sewer work will be accomplished in a timely manner.  There is "talk" of much needed storm work in the 8th Ward as published in the January 30, 2013 Journal.  But let's turn back the clock a bit... 23 years ... to Jan. 1990. 

Mr. Stanton has been has been working closely with 8th Ward Alderman Mr. Charewicz on a solution for the ward's flooding problems. Mr. Stanton, as he was apparently auditioning for an episode on Hoarders,  found a Jan. 1990 Journal article entitled  "Long Wait For Flood Solution" . This reads much like it was written in a current issue of the Journal. Even Mr. Oakley is quoted here with very similar rhetoric. But, please do not fault Mr. Oakley. He does not steer council matters. This is the job of the Mayor.

Last year was a drought year, so the memories of July, 2011 along with flood waters, have receded. Mr. Stanton has expressed his concern in an Email that actions taken to date are "a very positive impact for the people that live in our area [8th Ward]. But it is only one component. ...after reading the results of the flow and infiltration monitoring report last year, I know we are still a long way from having a complete solution. It is important to keep this issue in the forefront to get results... it’s only a matter of time before we flood again."

The mayoral candidates' positions are unclear regarding increased spending on the City's infrastructure. We are soliciting comments from mayoral candidates  Matt Bogusz, Anthony Arredia, and Mark Walsten. to give the 8th Ward residents a "warm and fuzzy feeling" about solving flooding issues in the 8th Ward -- so when Mr. Stanton digs out an old copy of the Journal 23 years from now, he can read about how the mayor elected in 2013 used revenues from our River's Casino wisely to implement much needed infrastructure improvements to solve flooding problems for residents once and for all.