Letter to the Editor, October 30, 2000

Mayor Ron Ghilardi of Lisle just doesn’t get it.  In response to the announcement of Trustee Joe Broda that he intends to run for Mayor of Lisle in the upcoming April election, he takes issue with Mr. Broda’s call for greater community input into development process by suggesting that if change was necessary, why hasn’t  Trustee Broda proposed changes in the development procedures in Lisle?  He just doesn’t get it.  The problem isn’t with the process.

The procedures for development in Lisle do provide for community input.  It’s not  those procedures which need change.  It’s the abuse of those procedures to push through development which benefits the Mayor’s business friends and favored special interests at the expense of the residents which needs to go.  It’s the intentional effort to divide the Village so that businesses that are unwanted can be jammed down the throats of those residents which needs to go.   It’s the constant effort to muzzle the voices of the residents of this community which must end.

Any number of groups have fallen victim to the Mayor’s heavy-handed efforts to squelch opposition or criticism of his chosen favorite projects: Residents who don’t believe that Lockformer will adequately clean up the mess they’ve made.  Arbor Ridge residents who opposed a 40-foot sign overlooking their development added to the proposed project at the last minute.  The thousands of people who opposed and continue to oppose the massive retail development proposed by Meijer.  Take your pick.  In each instance, the Mayor stands on the side of business refusing to even consider the concerns of the people who elected him some four years ago.

In the end, the choice is simple:  Do we want a leader who represents the interests of the community by listening to his constituents or do we want a Mayor who believes that he alone knows what’s best for Lisle so that he doesn’t have to consider the concerns of residents?  For my money, I would prefer a Mayor who understands that he is elected by the residents not one who believes that he is anointed.

Scott M. Hardek