Health & Fitness
A Voter's Perspective
This is a response to an article published in the Skokie Review under Letter to the Editor entitled "Only the Skokie Caucus Party has an effective program to further reduce crime".
A VOTER'S PERSPECTIVE It is clearly election season and clearly it's time for a change after reading Randy Roberts’ article "Only the Skokie Caucus Party has an effective program to further reduce crime”. It seems that the Skokie Caucus Party members need to get on the same page. Trustee Roberts says that his party has plans to further reduce crime while Trustee Bromberg says crime hasn't changed in 10 years assuming she means there is nothing to fix. What is the Skokie Caucus plan? Mr. Roberts says that all suburbs are experiencing “sensational crime”, like Skokie, and that we shouldn't be worried about just a "handful" of these sensational crimes. All one needs to do is read the Skokie Police blotter to know the truth. Additionally, it is irresponsible for Mr. Roberts to try to use the diversity/divisive card to get his group elected. It is not divisive to speak the truth, especially when crime affects every group in Skokie. The serious crime in Skokie is not a transient problem. It just keeps growing. Roberts writes that 90 percent of village residents think that Skokie is a great place to live. On the same survey, 35 percent reported they did not feel safe in their neighborhoods, which is an increase from the previous survey two years ago. I am one of the co-founders and past board member and current member of Skokie Voice, a grassroots residents group that organized to try to improve the communications between the Village Officials and residents. Many of the accomplishments Mr. Roberts cites as initiatives of the Skokie Caucus Party are a direct result of Skokie Voice’s push. The Caucus lauds itself for attending community forums, but doesn’t mention that it was Skokie Voice (after Village resistance) that organized the first ever Skokie Town Hall meeting held in June, 2010. That Town Hall meeting was attended by over 500 residents. The residents' major issue was crime not property taxes. It would have never taken place had it not been for Skokie Voice. Other forums attended by Village officials were also organized by Skokie Voice. Current Village Officials were the supporters of extending the CTA line to the Niles North High School parking lot; until it was stopped by opposing residents at a public meeting in 2010. They also wanted to change Oakton Street to two lanes. Residents stopped this as well. I believe that the independent candidates in the upcoming election do have new ideas and are very knowledgeable. Why should the same “team” of people (Skokie Caucus Party) continue to monopolize the system and decide what’s best for Skokie and our tax dollars? It just makes sense to have independents outside of the current Skokie Caucus Party. I'm voting for all independent candidates. I encourage others to do the same. Susan Hall-Perdomo, 17 year resident
