Palatine hopefuls split on red-light cameras
Of the dozen topics debated at Wednesday night's forum at the Palatine Public Library, none invoked as much reaction from audience members as red-light cameras.
The forum, put on by the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce, was the last for the four mayoral candidates.
Challenger Jim Schwantz and incumbent Rita Mullins are proponents of the cameras, which recently made their way into village limits. But Warren Kostka and Vito Manola said they want them removed, prompting loud applause and hoots from many of the 150 people or so in attendance.
"The police (shouldn't be) getting shopping lists to bring in revenue during their shift to help the budget," Kostka said.
Manola said the cameras lack discretionary power and that he'd prefer more visible signage and better paint jobs.
Meanwhile, Mullins said installing red-light cameras at Rand and Dundee roads has helped reduce crashes at the intersection, named one of the most dangerous in the state just a few years ago.
Schwantz acknowledged the cameras can be frustrating, but said they're here to stay and favors them for public safety reasons.
Being a chamber event, a few questions asked by moderator Larry Schmitt were dedicated to the business community.
When asked what the village can do to promote and retain businesses in light of the economy and Cook County's recent sales tax hike, Manola said he wants to create a marketing team to sell Palatine as a business-friendly community. To weather the economic downturn, Manola said empty residences need to be filled and a moratorium put on new development. He also wants a downtown anchor such as a three-screen movie theater and would consider asking business owners to reduce prices by 3 percent.
"If I can get a bunch of our small businesses on board with that, we could become a little more competitive with Lake County," Manola said.
Schwantz' focus is on filling empty office space. He said that if Palatine wants to increase its sales tax revenue to account for 40 percent of the budget - as the village manager expressed - it's going to need more than just loyal shoppers.
"We need new money to come to Palatine," Schwantz said. "That's the untapped key and I'd be active in pursuing those businesses."
Kostka said that as a councilman from 1997-2005, he voted for nearly every business proposal.
He called a moratorium on construction unconstitutional and said the best philosophy is to nurture small business and rewrite the code of ordinances so "they're never used as a weapon against residents or businesses."
Mullins said Palatine is already business-friendly. She's cited the new Toyota dealership, three TIF districts and beautification initiatives as things that will attract new shoppers and companies.