The Black Hood of Rogers Park

Yesterday while reading through the neighborhood's assortment of entertaining, informative and ridiculous blogs, I responded to Grammar Gals' request at Rogers Park in 1,000 Words for opinions on whether the current 49th Ward Alderman Joe Moore is as bad as she thinks. Despite having read her contributions before, I had assumed that while she and Bill Morton love to attack the Alderman that she was seriously asking for other people's opinions and her rage was reserved for Joe Moore.

I was mistaken. Her wrath and lack of logic became apparent quickly as I was labeled a dope and accused of being Joe Moore, Committeemen David Fagus, or Chief of Staff Wayne Frazier (and accusing Wayne of being a druglord). I am surely none of these three men and while I am not the smartest man on Earth I do not think I am a dope. Grammar Gal asserted that an elected official needs to be proactive. Any elected official who presumes to know what constituents will want is standing on a slippery slope sliding away from democracy and toward tyrrany. Grammar Gal also said that I should not support the Alderman as he is being investigated. While she did not site any specific investigation, I hope that our country continues to abide by the presumption of innoncence until guilt is proven. I hope Joe and each member of the City Council gets inspected, by an indepedent Inspector General.

This morning Grammar Gal posted a report by ABC 7 on heat-related deaths in the area since Joe Moore would never publicize such an item. This was only after denouncing the installation of bird spikes at the Metra viaducts in the ward. While I commend Grammar Gal for posting such news, I hardly believe it is the responsibility of elected officials to report all the happenings in Chicagoland weather and public health. I challenged the blogger to outline the responsibilities she would like to see the Alderman take on in order to be an effective representative...just so I can understand where her rage comes from. I certainly see room for improvement in every elected official and the Alderman of the 49th Ward is no different. Grammar Gal deleted my post asking her to state the guidelines around which the Alderman should be judged.

Perhaps Grammar Gal should look up with the city what actions should be expected of an Alderman. All this rage could be a result of expectations by the individual that don't align with expectations of the position. Go after Joe for substantive things. He and all our electeds need to be held accountable. Expressing disgust in such a way is like getting mad at the guy in the toll booth for not being able to serve you a side of fries. I challenge Grammar Gal and everyone else who blogs about our neighborhood to step up your game and go after the actual meat of issues and not just grind your axes and assassinate personalities.