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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Following up
Chris’ posting: Today the Cook Co. Commissioners transferred
$13,291,066.00 from the Forest Preserve to the County. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>This will be
covered in the papers and on TV. Much will be made of this being a loan
repayment for money that the County gave the FP five years ago. Hopefully the
press will also explain that the Commissioners who went back to the official
records (John Daley, for one) pointed out that the money in question was a
grant from the County to the FP. It was definitely <u>not</u> a loan that
had to be repaid.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>What was not discussed
is that this happened in the first place because the financial records at the FP
and County were a mess and it appeared that the County took FP tax revenues to
pay some <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Stroger</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> bills. [The facts on these
actions never come out because it would embarrass someone…..who is likely
related to an elected official. ]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face="Comic Sans MS"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Confused reporters may even believe the
statements that this $13million is surplus funds that the Forest Preserve doesn’t
need. And they may believe that the FP will get land from the County as
an exchange.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>There’s a lot more to these
stories. If you want to help, please join Friends of the Forest Preserves:
<a href="http://www.fotfp.org/">http://www.fotfp.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Randi Doeker<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Chicago</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> bcnnet-bounces@ece.iit.edu
[mailto:bcnnet-bounces@ece.iit.edu] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf
Of </span></b>Birdchris@aol.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, February 05, 2007
11:00 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">bcnnet@ece.iit.edu</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [BCNnet] BCNnet: Action
Alert: Urge Cook County not to raid ForestPreserve District </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>ACTION ALERT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Take action to protect Cook County Forest
Preserves! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Action: Contact your Cook County
Commissioner on Feb. 6 and tell him or her to vote NO on Feb. 7 to taking $11 million
from the budget of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to the
county’s budget shortfall.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Please call, fax or email your Cook
County Commissioner on Tues., Feb. 6 and ask for a NO vote. You can find out
who your commissioner is and how to contact his or her office at
http://www.fotfp.org/pdf-files/commissioners.pdf<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>You may also speak during the public
comment period at the regularly scheduled Cook County Board meeting on Weds.,
Feb. 7 at 10:00 a.m. at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Building</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">118 N Clark St</st1:address></st1:Street>, 5th
floor. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Background:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>On Jan. 11, the Cook County Board of
Commissioners announced its plan to take $11 million from the budget of the
Forest Preserve District of Cook County to help balance the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Cook</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
budget shortfall. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Commissioners will vote on this proposal
at the regular meeting on Feb. 7.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>While other county departments are being
asked to reduce their budgets by 17%, the Forest Preserve District is being
asked to cut its budget by 25%. This sort of budget maneuvering is especially
egregious, given that the Forest Preserve District of Cook County is a separate
governmental agency established by state statute: It is not a department of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cook</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>The proposal to take $11 million from the
Forest Preserve District would not go far toward solving the county’s
$500 million budget shortfall, but would greatly restrict the Forest Preserve
District’s ability to properly manage the 68,000 acres of public lands
within its care for wildlife and human use. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Cook County Commissioners have other
means at their disposal to reduce the budget deficit and should not raid the
budget that enables the county to preserve, protect and manage precious natural
areas.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Please take five minutes and phone, email
or fax your Cook County Commissioner or come to the Feb. 7 meeting and let
Commissioners express your opposition to this $11 million raid on Forest
Preserve District budget.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Questions? Please contact COS
Conservation Chair, Christine Williamson, at birdchris@aol.com or 773.935-8439.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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