Myopic 'vision' by Mundelein officials

Mayor Ken Kessler told the Tribune that the OTB parlor off Route 176 will "serve as an impetus to stimulate redevelopment."

That is nothing short of ridiculous. No OTB has brought economic development. What it brings is a bunch of gamblers who come in, drop their money on the ponies, and go home. They don't bring their wives and kids and do some shopping and take in dinner and a movie!

The mayor and the village board just want to get their hands on every tax dollar they can to spend as much as they can. Their vision reaches as far as the annual village budget. They bring in strip malls and big box stores, and anything else that will give them some more money to play with. What's next in their 40-year-old "vision" of Mundelein -- strip clubs and massage parlors?

In addition to supporting undesirable businesses such as OTB, Mayor Kessler and the trustees appear to be on a mission to chew up every piece of undeveloped open space in Mundelein before the next election, and leave nothing for the future. Why?

How this "vision" will make our community look in 10 years isn't their problem; they will be long gone. That will be our problem.

Dave Rieger

Mundelein