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Post by greekgod on Sept 2, 2013 17:36:51 GMT -6
In the 2010 census, Streator lost 3.4% population while LaSalle County overall gained 2.2%. When I look at real estate brochures for the area, Streator is the only community that I see with property values about half that of the other comparable properties. If you are saying that it is Streator's economy that is a problem, I agree, but I hold our leadership accountable for that as well. Just for sh!ts and giggles, lets say the city removed all zoning and sign ordinances and they assigned cops to every bar to eliminate fights. What else can the city do or provide that could actually create jobs? dog, humm, As I recall there was a "business" on N. Bloomington St. called, I think it was "Grandma's", that employeed more people than does "Flips". I could be wrong though. g |
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 17:57:54 GMT -6
Just for sh!ts and giggles, lets say the city removed all zoning and sign ordinances and they assigned cops to every bar to eliminate fights. What else can the city do or provide that could actually create jobs? dog, humm, As I recall there was a "business" on N. Bloomington St. called, I think it was "Grandma's", that employeed more people than does "Flips". I could be wrong though. g I know a guy who used to be a bouncer there when he was 14. Not sure how that relates to my post about what city leadership can do to create jobs. |
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Post by greekgod on Sept 2, 2013 18:40:44 GMT -6
dog, humm, As I recall there was a "business" on N. Bloomington St. called, I think it was "Grandma's", that employeed more people than does "Flips". I could be wrong though. g I know a guy who used to be a bouncer there when he was 14. Not sure how that relates to my post about what city leadership can do to create jobs. dog, Here you go then. The City Leadership can only work within the limitations the VOTERS place upon them in creating an environment that would welcome new employment opportunities. If a Corporation wants to relocate to our community, perhaps they value Education, and look at the Graduation rate of our High School, where their manager's would want to send thier children. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the zoning laws, where the community appears neat an clean, and looks as if the Residents care about their community. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the transporation routes they need to transport their raw material in and the finished product out. Perhaps it's not rail. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at our Water Treatment System and our Sewer System to makne certain it is adequate to handle their needs. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they can incorporate a local Community College to partner with them in providing the skills neccessary to supply the "workforce" they need. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they long it would take to have their "executives" in and out of the LOCAL facility. Perhaps, the Corportations would look at how far it would for their local managers to puchase the ethnic food they enjoy y |
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Post by greekgod on Sept 2, 2013 19:07:49 GMT -6
dog, humm, As I recall there was a "business" on N. Bloomington St. called, I think it was "Grandma's", that employeed more people than does "Flips". I could be wrong though. g I know a guy who used to be a bouncer there when he was 14. Not sure how that relates to my post about what city leadership can do to create jobs. dog, Here you go then. The City Leadership can only work within the limitations the VOTERS place upon them in creating an environment that would welcome new employment opportunities. If a Corporation wants to relocate to our community, perhaps they value Education, and look at the Graduation rate of our High School, where their manager's would want to send thier children. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the zoning laws, where the community appears neat an clean, and looks as if the Residents care about their community. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the transporation routes they need to transport their raw material in and the finished product out. Perhaps it's not rail. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at our Water Treatment System and our Sewer System to makne certain it is adequate to handle their needs. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they can incorporate a local Community College to partner with them in providing the skills neccessary to supply the "workforce" they need. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they long it would take to have their "executives" in and out of the LOCAL facility. Perhaps, the Corportations would look at how far it would for their local managers to puchase the ethnic food they enjoy. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how far their local managers would have to travel to attend a religious service to which they believe. Perhaps, all future employers would be more impressed if they did not have to boarded up homes and building. Perhaps the future employers would like to see what does our community have to offer to our youth, perhaps a water park, or an ice skaing facility. I'm not certain if our "Crime Rate" is that much higher than any other community of it's size in Illinois, but that is also up to what the "CITIZENS OF STREATOR" will tolerate. I 'm all into "Neighborhood Watch". I dont't have to confront the "perp", I can call 911 quickly. But, hey dog, that might require raising the Taxes to Schools. Oh, perhaps voting for "Home Rule". Come on "dog" you know full well, as a self-employed businessman, you have to "invest" in your business, not only to stay in business BUT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS. My philosophy has always been, as a business, "if you're not growing, you're dying". Personally, I think that applies to our City of Streator as well. g |
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 19:45:40 GMT -6
I know a guy who used to be a bouncer there when he was 14. Not sure how that relates to my post about what city leadership can do to create jobs. dog, Here you go then. The City Leadership can only work within the limitations the VOTERS place upon them in creating an environment that would welcome new employment opportunities. Yes, I agree.If a Corporation wants to relocate to our community, perhaps they value Education, and look at the Graduation rate of our High School, where their manager's would want to send thier children. That would fall under the control of the school board not the city council,right?Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the zoning laws, where the community appears neat an clean, and looks as if the Residents care about their community. This falls under the control of the city council. They could relax the zoning laws and it MAY bring in more business. I am of the opinion that our zoning laws are in line with other communites and dont need to be changed.Perhaps, the Corporations would look at the transporation routes they need to transport their raw material in and the finished product out. Perhaps it's not rail. The transportation routes in and out of our community have nothing to do with our local government. They are controlled by the county,state, and federal level. Perhaps, the Corporations would look at our Water Treatment System and our Sewer System to makne certain it is adequate to handle their needs. Adequate water supply would fall onto the water company, where the sewer system falls under the control of the local government. Upgrades have been made in that area.Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they can incorporate a local Community College to partner with them in providing the skills neccessary to supply the "workforce" they need. That would fall under the Community College board to work out the needed curriculum for the prospective employer. The city wouldnt have any control over that.Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how they long it would take to have their "executives" in and out of the LOCAL facility. Once again, that would fall under the control of other government agencies, unless the city wants to acquire some land to build an airport to accommodate them. /font]
Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how far it would for their local managers to purchase the ethnic food they enjoy.
That would be up to the private entity to decide to build a business here, not the city government.
Perhaps, the Corporations would look at how far their local managers would have to travel to attend a religious service to which they believe.
That would be up to the church. The city government doesnt control religion.
Perhaps, all future employers would be more impressed if they did not have to boarded up homes and building.
Perhaps the future employers would like to see what does our community have to offer to our youth, perhaps a water park, or an ice skaing facility.
The city could build facilities like that,but I am not sure the majority of the taxpayers would go for that. For that kind of investment, I would rather see a private entity build those things.
I'm not certain if our "Crime Rate" is that much higher than any other community of it's size in Illinois, but that is also up to what the "CITIZENS OF STREATOR" will tolerate.
I 'm all into "Neighborhood Watch". I dont't have to confront the "perp", I can call 911 quickly.
But, hey dog, that might require raising the Taxes to Schools.
Agreed, it would also probably call for other forms of tax increases. Increases that the citizens arent in favor of./font]
Oh, perhaps voting for "Home Rule".
Home Rule is a possibility, but that isnt up to the city officials to change. That has to come from the citizens.
Come on "dog" you know full well, as a self-employed businessman, you have to "invest" in your business, not only to stay in business BUT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.
Yes, I do, but you have to be wise about it.
My philosophy has always been, as a business, "if you're not growing, you're dying".
Personally, I think that applies to our City of Streator as well.
So is the direction the current city council is taking us, a growing path, or dying path>
g
Hope you can follow that, I screwed up the colors somehow. |
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Post by greekgod on Sept 2, 2013 19:47:39 GMT -6
Well folks, 500 empty residences means ever dropping values. It's supply and demand. We have a huge supply and folks are not swarming to pick up the bargains. Why do you suppose that is? Poor schools? Fighting in the streets? Lack of jobs? bigdipper, I peresented my thoughts Would you be so bold? I really, really doubt that you will. Easy to be the contrarian, isn't it? g |
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 19:48:28 GMT -6
Well folks, 500 empty residences means ever dropping values. It's supply and demand. We have a huge supply and folks are not swarming to pick up the bargains. Why do you suppose that is? Poor schools? Fighting in the streets? Lack of jobs? The vast majority is lack of jobs. |
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Post by greekgod on Sept 2, 2013 20:07:14 GMT -6
Well folks, 500 empty residences means ever dropping values. It's supply and demand. We have a huge supply and folks are not swarming to pick up the bargains. Why do you suppose that is? Poor schools? Fighting in the streets? Lack of jobs? The vast majority is lack of jobs. Dog, What can the "City Council" do about the the blight of vacant buildings? The "City Council" can do nothing about improving Streator Schools can they? The "City Council" can only do what the Citizens of Streator PERMITS them to do, correct? g |
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 20:09:47 GMT -6
The vast majority is lack of jobs. Dog, The "City Council" is limited to do anything about the blight of vacant buildings aren't they? The "City Council" can do nothing about improving Streator Schools can they? The "City Council" can only do what the Citizens of Streator PERMITS them to do, correct? g Yep, you are correct. |
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Post by dragonfly on Sept 2, 2013 20:17:25 GMT -6
It's just sad that this town has became what it is now. I know every town isn't what it was 50 years ago, but this town was amazing back in the day, and there is nothing left to remind us of it. The city can't even do something simple like fix the fountain at the park. All the little things that could be done but aren't, just reminds us that this town has given up. There are people on here that do care about this town, but we get told that the economy is the reason for the decline of this town. Basically saying give up on trying to make this town better and respectable. It's not the economy, it's this town. Go to Ottawa, and look what they have to offer. It's night and day. Is the economy not bad 15 miles away? Just take a drive around Streator and imagine you've never been here before. What would your impression of this town be? People that come in from the north probably think the Pines motel is a landmark......how embarrassing.
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 20:22:58 GMT -6
Go to Ottawa, and look what they have to offer. It's night and day. Is the economy not bad 15 miles away? Yes, the economy is not as bad in Ottawa. They have the interstate to help them, we dont. Even in Ottawa, the economy was bad enough that Menards decided not to build there after they bought the land. |
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 2, 2013 20:39:51 GMT -6
I think our City could be doing a lot more to foster the creation of jobs here.
We could be identifying industries that would be a good fit for our community and infrastructure improvements that would further support them.
We could employ an Economic Development Director, to provide proper information and market our community to perspective businesses.
We could just be putting much more resources behind economic development and develop a much more business friendly attitude over all.
I have attended many council meetings and have spoke several times about investing more into our future and making a commitment to bringing livable wage jobs here.
I am just convinced that our current leadership has priorities that are higher than bringing jobs. I am hoping that a lot of others recognize this as well, so that they register and vote for the change that we really need here.
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 20:45:56 GMT -6
I think our City could be doing a lot more to foster the creation of jobs here. We could be identifying industries that would be a good fit for our community and infrastructure improvements that would further support them. What infrastructure improvements do you suggest? |
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Post by dog on Sept 2, 2013 20:49:16 GMT -6
We could just be putting much more resources behind economic development and develop a much more business friendly attitude over all. What resources did you have in mind? |
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Sept 2, 2013 21:04:30 GMT -6
Infrastructure improvements would be determined by identifying industries and what is needed.
Of course money(like was spent on a band shell) is the main resource needed.
Some roads and utilities ready for use in an industrial park could be a big plus.
Having I-fiber installed and ready for use ahead of other communities in the area could give us an edge for getting some industries.
We could talk about all kinds of possibilities, but if our leadership isn't committed to bring jobs here, we will keep heading in the same direction.
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