Last night, tipped off by Cal Skinner’s post, I went to cover a protest staged by the Coalition to Save International Plaza outside an Arlington Heights village board meeting at the Senior Center at 1801 W. Central Road.
 |
| Larger ImageProtesting Eminent Domain |
 |
| Larger ImageAddressing the Village Board |
I was surprised how many people showed up, many of them protesting on the abstract issue of eminent domain abuse, and not just because they owned a threatened business. There’s something reassuring about so many people who weren’t just in it for themselves. (Not that being in it for yourself is necessarily a bad thing.)
 |
| Larger ImageVigil for International Plaza |
 |
| Larger ImageProtester |
 |
| Larger ImageVigil |
I was also surprised by the level of organization, including a sign-in sheet for protesters and the inevitable giant puppets (well, actually a fan-inflated balloon). The folks who stage things like the anti-globalization protests have got nothing to worry about, but this was a remarkable effort for some people trying to save something as mundane as shopping mall.
 |
| Larger ImageSigning In |
 |
| Larger ImageThe Inevitable Giant Puppet |
Also present was Su-Chuan Hsu, who owns International Plaza.
 |
| Larger ImageSu-Chuan Hsu (in green), Owner of International Plaza |
The protest started around 6:30 pm, and the village board met at 8 pm (preceded by a closed committee-of-the-whole meeting).
I’m a cynic when it comes to government, but when the board meeting opened with a Pledge of Allegiance led by a scout troop, I was a little impressed. Here we all were, involving the next generation in our democracy, warts and all. I think it also served as a reminder of the need to be civil.
 |
| Larger ImageOpened With the Pledge |
One of the first items on the agenda was a chance for Arlington Heights residents to speak to the board. This is what brought everyone here. The first few speakers addressed issues unrelated to International Plaza. Each speaker had 3 minutes to say their piece. Amusingly, those who ran over were put on notice when the clerk held up a Stop sign.
 |
| Larger ImageTime Has Run Out |
Then it was time for three people to speak to the board about the TIF, eminent domain, and International Plaza. I don’t have notes on what they said, but I got a few pictures. Phil Walters spoke on behalf of mall owner Su-Chuan Hsu (which makes me suspect she is not a resident). Walters is also running for the board in the spring election, with property rights as one of his main issues.
 |
| Larger ImagePhil Walters |
Next up was Stephen Bachtell, the manager of Studio Salons, which had spent a lot of money remodeling their location and a lot of time finding customers.
 |
| Larger ImageStephen Bachtell, Manager of Studio Salons |
Last up was Leo Plotkin, owner of Unigma Camera, who spoke about all the hard work involved in setting up his camera store.
 |
| Larger ImageLeo Plotkin, Owner of Unigma Camera |
I doubt that the board was much swayed by this opposition—if they could be swayed that easily, the TIF never would have gotten this far—but I imagine that every little bit helps. Change a few minds in the audience, make a few board members worry about their electability, and pretty soon the pressure to do the right thing starts to add up.
Resources:
[Update: I am sadly lacking in the journalist’s skill for remembering and recording names, so I had incorrectly identified Phil Walters as John Philbin. This post has been corrected.]
Hi Mike, Jake Witmer here. I met you a few years ago at UIC, when I was helping to put Skinner on the ballot. …We talked about how you liked “We the Living” more than “Atlas Shrugged”, and are the descendant of east-european refugees from communism, like me. (We’ll have to fight the same battle our grandparents fought!)
I’m back in IL, but likely out of IL politics from now on. I view IL as a good example of socialism becoming communism, for the rest of the USA, and the “leadership” of the CLP / ILP is unwilling to listen to any intelligent ideas on how to make us politically effective (strategy, game plan, etc…), so, screw ’em. ..And therefore, heartland and NTUI will be the only pro-freedom games in town, and neither of them have the teeth of electoral politics done right. (They’re both great, but just not political parties.)
I’m sorry I missed the vigil in AH. I like everything Bludorn has done, since he effectively plays politics. By the time I got there, 8:30, everyone was gone. I guess protests here don’t last as long as they do in Anchorage. I’ve been associated with http://www.stomptheban.com there for the last few months…
Before the protest I was on Eric Dondero’s new internet readio show.
I can’t be everywhere at once, man!
Keep up the great site, look forward to seeing you again. I don’t go to the CLP meetings, but I will sometime, if you will. I don’t get along too well with VV though, so if you go, you might get to see some frowny-faces and cold stares.
Anyway, rock on Mike!
-Jake
Jake, you have me confused with someone else. I’m Mark, not Mike, I don’t read Ayn Rand, and my eastern-european ancestors came here well before the communists became a problem. Also, by 8:30 the village board meeting was in session and we were all inside to support our side.
You may rest assured, however, that I will Rock On.
Thanks for your coverage of this event! It’s great to see what’s possible in terms of organizing.