Elgin mayor touts city's financial shape in speech

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock said Wednesday night crime is down, downtown revitalization is moving forward, the city is working to train tomorrow's work force, and the city is in good financial shape.

"I think it's safe to say that Elgin has survived these challenges well, that we continue to make progress on almost every front," the mayor said in his 50-minute state-of-the-city address. "I don't think Elgin's future is good. I think that Elgin's future is great. A lot of it has to do with the involvement and participation of its citizens."

Schock said the city's unemployment rate is around 15 percent, which is above the state and national average.

But most Elginites work in other communities, meaning other suburban towns are losing jobs while several of the city's manufacturing sectors are expanding, Schock said.

He also pointed to how the city is working with the Chamber of Commerce to train workers who aren't necessarily going to a four-year college and how the community signed off on a tax increase last year so Elgin Community College could begin a $178 million expansion.

Schock said the city experienced about 60 serious gang crimes last year, a huge drop from the 180 logged in 1999. He pointed to the police department and city investing resources not only in crime suppression but also prevention and community policing.

"If we can turn kids around today, they're not going to be gang members tomorrow," he said.

The mayor said that after this summer, the city will be substantially done with a multiyear project to rebuild the downtown infrastructure and streetscape.

He also said he was hopeful a $14 million reconstruction on a 1,500-foot stretch of Riverside Drive between Chicago and Prairie streets could begin this year, thanks to efforts by State Rep. Keith Farnham and State Sen. Michael Noland, both Elgin Democrats, to get in on the Gov. Pat Quinn's capital plan.

Schock also stressed that the city cut expenses and employees instead of raising the tax rate, starting new taxes or eating away at its reserve funds.