Look around, see need for change

Over the holidays my family visited a cathedral to view a crèche fashioned in 1892 which had recently been refurbished to its original grandeur. Planning and the commitment necessary to create this masterpiece and its enduring legacy were evident in every aspect of craftsmen's meticulous attention to design and detail. Stepping away from the transept to view the remainder of the cathedral, it was apparent the interior had endured many period design and decorative changes no longer consistent with the original architecture and design. So stark was the dissonance between what was left of the old versus it's current featureless appearance that someone commented, "This is a place that's lost it's identity."

This statement sadly continues to define Mundelein as we look forward to 2009 and the upcoming local elections. As we look back at 2008, how did our Village government contribute to our legacy? What is our identity? There's the success of Grand Dominion while an overabundance of other projects sit idol or have been abandoned. Stagnant retail projects sit while other property ventures have been scrapped. "For Sale" signs are their replacements. Property taxes continue to increase. Overdevelopment of strips malls continue as the mainstay for sales tax revenue. Poor or inexperienced planning continues to encourage the kinds of businesses that come and go with the changing seasons or that we already have too many of. Costly rebate incentives paid to developers continue to rob our schools of crucial funding and our children of competitive educations and opportunity.

Roads and infrastructure continue to deteriorate. Inferior engineering produces more problems. These are roads we'll be parked on while increased train traffic carrying commerce to other destinations, not Mundelein, clog our paths with few negotiated remedies in sight. Our downtown is lifeless, the TIF district unable to support anything, while our government continues to court quick fixes, incur costly litigation and chase illusive facades and exploited ventures as empty answers. Mundelein has money and revenue that simply are not being spent on our needs.

Under the stewardship of our mayor, trustees, planners, commissions and administrators another year has passed and Mundelein continues to languish. Our future is still without clear definition after years of planning and our tax dollars wasted.

Politician and administrative rhetoric continue to pursue an empty facade of planning, action and fiscal irresponsibility. Public involvement includes only those hand-picked to support empty agendas. Our leaders who are incapable or unwilling to address important issues are swift to degrade those that voice concerns or seek answers. Detailed information is controlled and poorly presented publicly. Commission meeting schedules are erratic, often canceled - evidence that our government doesn't produce enough business or action to discuss weeks and months at a time.

These are benchmarks of an ineffective village government unable to lead, develop our identity and maintain our legacy.

Mundelein needs new ideas, new faces, solid planning, fiscal responsibility and honest commitment from its government. Vote for change in April. Our future depends on it.

Sarah Powers

Mundelein