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