Gregory Jacobs: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: MundeleinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Mundelein Village Board (4-year Terms)Age: 61Family: Married, one sonOccupation: Retired Law Enforcement, Published U.S. History Writer and Lecturer, Vietnam VeteranEducation: Chicago City Colleges University of Illinois/Chicago Loyola University Chicago Police AcademyCivic involvement: American Legion Veterans of Foreign WarsElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 Fiscal ResponsibilityKey Issue 2 Making Mundelein a business friendly community, ie. bringing businesses into our village and keeping the businesses that are already here.Key Issue 3 Repair of all the streets in the villageQuestions Answers The village is moving ahead with plans for a municipal hub near the train station that would include a village hall, retail space and office space. What is your vision for that area and how would you fund the project?I don't think that we need a new village hall, but since it is a "done deal", the village trustees should concentrate on filling the empty commercial properties before anything new, because any business owner who drives down Hawley Street would see all the empty properties and think that Mundelein is not the place to have a business and that would cost the village the tax revenue from those businesses. One business that could move into the new area is a coffee shop, to be located as close to the train station as possible. This would benefit commuters and business owners/shoppers in the new area asa well as provide tax revenue.Talking with your friends and neighbors, what seems to be their biggest public safety concern? Explain the concern as you see it, an discuss how you think it should be addressed?In my mind there are two public safety concerns that should be addressed. The first is reeducating drivers in Mundelein as to what the red and white octagonal sign is for, ie. coming to a full and complete stop, and banning the use of all hand held communication devices, cell phones, while operating a motor vehicle. Lastly, strict obedience to posted speed limits in the village.In these tight economic times, municipal budgets have to be prioritized. Where, if anywhere, could the current budget be trimmed? Conversely, is there something that should be reinstated or have resources directed toward?Stop all the wasteful spending on "pet projects", we don't need to spend tax money for "flower pots" on the street corners. Since the village trustees are not licensed realtors, our tax money should not be used to purchase tracts of land that have been vacant for a number of years.What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?Within the context of this answer, when I say "foreign entity" it means a commercial property owner who does not live within the corporate limits of Mundelein and nothing else. Several commercial properties in Mundelein have been vacant for over a decade. The empty store fronts on Hawley are a prime example! The former Post Office building across the street from the bowling alley and the old National Foods/Walgreens at he intersection of Hawley and Rt. 45 are owned by foreign entities who are using those commercial properties as a tax write off. The village of Mundelein should not be used as someone's tax write off! The village trustees should concentrate on getting businesses to move into all the empty properties before any new construction. Another project for the trustees to consider is extending the sidewalk on the west side of the train tracks from the train station to Cortland St., along with stairs at that location so that resident commuters can walk from that area to the train station safely. A sidewalk from Hawley to Cortland on the east side of the train tracks should be considered for the same purpose.Given the delicate balance between the need for revenue and over-taxing local businesses, what is your opinion of your community's present level of local sales taxes? Is the tax just right, too low or too high? Explain.The current 1% sales tax is fine. If the village trustees who are anti business would see the light and do their jobs correctly, new businesses would come to Mundelein, old businesses would stay in Mundelein and the village would gain a greater share of that 1% and they would not have to depend on the percentage of the over high property taxes that the resident property owners currently pay.