Skip navigation

Monthly Archives: February 2011

There Is Only One truth


On and on goes the political wrangling. The Scamocrats blame the Dupublicans, they both blame the independents and all at some point blame the President. The purpose of government is to follow the constitution as it applies to modern times and alter when possible or when necessary. We have 500 plus representatives who are not brave enough to tell their constituents the truth. The truth is: what each demand from them (The voters) will cost if instituted. We the people have been more responsible for the fiscal problems than we realize or care to know but our representatives know and continue to play on these demands to stay in office. The elected officials who under represent us have no interest in our understanding of what is involved in fiscal matters and how items are funded for this will cause a closer look at their pay, health care and retirement. These so called men and women of integrity bring shame on the word and need to be held accountable. The voters need to be told exactly where this money goes and what programs cost, instead they bring up race, religion and other distractions during elections to stay in office. If you as a person were the Government and buying a car, you ask the price, how much it will cost all in and how much financing will cost, once this information is known you decide the next step. Shouldn’t we as voters have the same information? Remember this should not be a popularity contest because your best friend can be a fool!

Another Idea


Recently I wrote a small blurb about the Illinois Governors Mansion and it lack of use by several of the last and current governors. This little article was sent to the local newspaper and printed , from that point it was picked up by a local radio station personality. I was contacted and went on the air to talk about my thoughts on this while in the process I mentioned that the mansion could used as a place for seances since the mansion has a history of ghostly activities. The initial story had more to do with the Governors spending more time in Chicago and very little time in the residence (actual living 7 room quarters located behind the formal Mansion) provided by the state. The “formal” residence has several non public areas that are used for state functions, these areas are offices and a few bedrooms used by state visitors. It has been reported by the year round maintenance staff and possibly some tour staffers that there are spectral occurrences in several areas. With this new information, it may be feasible to use the banquet size dining room as a seance area and the unused rooms in the residence and Mansion for a bed and breakfast ghost tour. This may not cure the fiscal ills of the state but it could generate some revenue and perhaps enough interest in the mansion to enable the levying of a fee to tour the mansion

Does governor spend any time in capital?


As I listen to the political news, I have noticed that the governor does quite a bit of document signing in Chicago. Do we have another absentee governor? When is the governor in Springfield? Does he ever reside in the mansion? Are the ties to Chicago as strong as the former governor’s? Since the mansion remains largely unoccupied, could we convert part of it to a bed-and-breakfast to generate revenue? What is wrong with this residence that someone would not want to live there? This inquiring mind wants to know!

Dark times at Springfield Urban League


Apparently someone is listening. Recent airing of the mold problems in Head Start locations have surfaced. One local station asked some questions and got the usual half truths from the C.O.O. of the Springfield Urban League. These half truths and a lot of outright lies are being used to stop , curtail and derail the Unionizing efforts of the workers. This is a small part of the overall picture unknown to the general public and hidden from the parents of their clients. There is a former teacher who was ill for months with an undiagnosed illness and began to improve after not being in the So. 12th street location. There has been a mold problem at the Cook street site for as long as 3 years and it took a full year to get something done as management sat on the proposals to seal the windows where the moisture was entering between the walls. These problems are ongoing because management turns a blind eye to doing what is required to make a safe place for their clients and workers. The money for these repairs is available but not for these projects. The Springfield Urban league is spending thousands of dollars to fight the Unionization effort but very little to safeguard the health of future generations of children and their teachers. I would ask the question, what is being done with the Head Start operating funds and where is the money for the legal fees coming from? This situation requires a closer examination as there is a pattern of behavior that affects all of the clients (children) in Head Start. It seems that this all about $ and how not to spend it as mandated by the regulations of Head Start. There is a flurry of activity to correct a problem but none to prevent it.

Impossible to Understand (under normal circumstances)


Why is the SUL allowing the constant harassment of employees who unionized at the Springfield Urban League? The SUL has systematically hounded employees who are pro union while under the legal sanction of the National Labor Relations Board. This is a United States Government agency which sanctioned and approved the election. The upper (mis) management of SUL has determined that they are above the law and continually prey on the Head Start workers to cause fear in the ranks and stall on creating a contract for the workers as mandated by the Labor Board. This entire show is orchestrated by the upper management and carried out by underlings who maintain favor on the backs of their fellow workers. This entire charade is designed to continue business as usual while denigrating the Head Start program and it’s clients. Apparently this behavior is condoned by the Regional and State Head Start and Urban Leagues as they do not seem to be concerned enough to take even a cursory glance at the situation. The only positive outcome of this will be the completion of a contract and the cessation of the systematic harassment of the workers. The purpose of Head Start is as the name implies, a Head Start for the preschool children along with at least 2 decent meals and a nurturing learning environment. The program has become a personal ATM for the management of Head Start and the SUL administrators whose job is to safeguard and properly spend the funds allocated for the community. The buildings housing Head Start have been closed for mold, lead and lack of heat at various times but apparently the major concern is to keep the attendance rolls up to whatever is required to keep the funds flowing regardless of the effect on the teachers and their charges.

Destruction of an Icon


For many decades the Springfield Urban League has been a bulwark in the Eastside area of Springfield, Il. Recent events culminating in the termination of 30 plus employees in an attempt to break the back of a legally elected Union. The Union would not have been necessary had the Urban League in the administration of it’s Head Start Programs followed its mission statement! This is a pattern of behavior that has plagued the SUL for the past 20 years at one level or another. The current manifestation has nepotism as a secondary (or primary) cause along with the overall causes of greed and egotism. Upper management has taken the position of “How dare you Unionize” without our permission? This has caused management to seek out out and try to eliminate the strongest elements of the Unionized workers, who incidentally are among the best (long time) workers. The tactic appears to be a delay of
the collective bargaining while diluting the active Union members and causing fear among the not so active members. I have come to believe that the local papers do not think so much of these events as they are not covering it. These actions by SUL (Springfield Urban League) affect all of the Head Start parents and their children (in many cases their Grandparents). The National arms of the Urban League and the Head Start associations do not appear to be concerned about these developments but possibly because they are not aware of them. There was a time years ago when people aspired to work for the Springfield Urban League and it’s Head Start program but now those names have a decidedly bad connotation in this town.

The Guild, et al.


An article in Saturday’s edition points out the better side of the Springfield Urban League and the Guild. There is another side to the Springfield Urban League that has been
kept under wraps. The Springfield Urban league administers the Head Start program and for the past 6 months has spent countless hours and money to stall the collective bargaining since the workers voted to be unionized. The League has randomly harassed, fired and suspended employees to the detriment of the Head Start program. Currently there are two locations that have extensive mold problems, some of which has caused illness last year to some workers and perhaps some of their clients (the children). Upper Management has allowed the downward spiral of teaching, health and building maintenance levels to continue unabated without the knowledge of the Guild, Board and parent/ staff council (Policy Council). This belies the ideals and mission statement of the Springfield Urban League and it’s upper management. There has been no media coverage on this since the League is avoiding any adverse publicity that may be associated with the disclosure of this information. The League has allowed competent employees to be dismissed for the sole purpose of weakening the Union effort to the detriment of its clients (children and their parents). This all began with announcement last year of 200 employess being terminated and the subsequent weak explanation that this was an annual event.