As members of the 2012 Caucus Council, we are writing to express our support for Chris Rintz for Village President.  *Chris' decades of experience with community revitalization, finance, funding, government regulations, environmental issues, and engineering provide him with an outstanding skill set for managing crucial Village issues such as storm water management.  *Chris is dedicated to supporting our property values by updating Winnetka's commercial areas; providing a safer, more modern power distribution system; and encouraging well-designed, quality new homes that are in keeping with the…

To the Editor:  We’d like to clarify a few very important outcomes of the Dec. 6 Council meeting that have been misconstrued in most press reports.  The two issues that dominated were: 1) passage of the "Kates Resolution," which would have permanently shelved discussion of an affordable housing plan; and 2) passage of a Property Maintenance Code (PMC).  RELATED: Tempers Flare as Winnetka Halts Affordable Housing Debate  Regarding issue #1: It’s critical to understand that the trustees amended the Kates Resolution before passing it. The amended resolution temporarily, rather than permanently, …

The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization I formed, called the Institute for Truth in Accounting, has been diligently working for a year to calculate a “Financial State of the State” for each state.  We identified Illinois as one of our “Sinkhole” states, because as of June 30, 2009 its financial condition was third worst with a taxpayers’ burden of $110.6 billion --- $26,800 per taxpayer.  Read last week's Letter to the Editor: Village Council Should Pass Property Maintenance Code This burden represents the amount of bills past elected officials have incurred, but not paid, so future taxpayers…

It is imperative that Winnetka pass a Property Maintenance Code (PMC) as recommended by the Village’s own Plan Commission and Staff.  The PMC is designed to protect tenants in multifamily buildings so that they live in safe and healthy environments. Without government oversight, tenants are at a major disadvantage in pushing for maintenance improvements that affect their daily living. I have visited properties at the request of concerned tenants and have seen some egregious conditions – which, under a PMC would be “deemed” violations - from collapsing ceilings to damaged, dangerous staircases…

Letter submitted by Jen McQuet. Dear Editor: I'm a Winnetka parent, on-call teacher, h.s. coach, active volunteer.  My family supports the Village's modest "affordable housing" proposal.  What did I do to come to this conclusion?  I read it.  I talked to several people on the planning commission.  I talked to other voters/residents.  I walked down to the Interfaith office and found out what they do.  First a few people said, "Wow, you're gutsy/crazy to take on the conservative Winnetka old-guard.  They have more money, more time and more venom than you do."  Then hundreds said, "Way to go!  …

Letter submitted by Patrick Livney. Dear Editor, I am a proud resident of Winnetka since 1998. My wife and I moved here fromdowntown Chicago to start and raise a family. I am a first generation Americanborn from parents of Hungarian and Belgian descent. They are brave immigrantswho, with just the shirts on their backs, made it to the United States, chasing adream to raise a family in the greatest country on earth, a society of freedom. Theytaught me the importance of education and the responsibility to fight for what isright.With that as a background, I would like to thank and acknowledge …

Dear Editor: At North Shore Senior Center, we have observed the debate over affordable housing in Winnetka with great interest. It is clear that housing has become increasingly less affordable for the average American in the past decade.  The situation is even more daunting for older adults who are living on fixed retirement incomes and for those who are approaching their retirement years. This is the year that the first wave of the Baby Boomers, those born in 1946, will turn 65 – at the rate of 7,000 per day. Some of these individuals have adequate financial resources. Many do not. For those…

Dear Winnetka Residents:As religious leaders in various Winnetka congregations, we stand up to support the proposed affordable housing plan in Winnetka, and encourage respectful debate of this important issue in our community.First, we urge the Winnetka Village Council to approve the plan for affordable housing, entitled "Reinvigorating a Tradition of Varied, Moderately Priced and Affordable Housing." This plan is an opportunity for the upstandingvalues of this community – diversity, excellence, and care for neighbors – to be preserved and carried on into the future. The plan represents a …

Dear Editor, There is one truth on which we can all agree: the days when a middle-income family can hope to own, or even rent, a home of their own in Winnetka is past. Moreover, older Americans and families experiencing a disability, job or spouse loss are having difficulty maintaining their homes. Indeed, nearly one in four Winnetka homeowners and renters cannot afford where they live. Only 6% of Winnetka’s workforce lives in the Village and without the adoption of the proposed affordable housing plan, these problems will only accelerate.The Village Council of Winnetka has spent many years …

Dear Editor:This letter supports the re-election of Jennifer Spinney, the re-election of Linda Pedian, and the election of Arthur Braun to the Winnetka Village Council.  I also support Jessica Tucker for the position of Village President.I have served with Jeni for a little less than two years and have found her to be well prepared to discuss the issues we are dealing with and thoughtful about them.  She is also frugal and realizes that during current economic circumstances, as well as in more robust times, Village expenses must be kept under control.  She believes the Council must …

Letter submitted by Scott Spinney. Winnetka deserves a Trustee who is both experienced and motivated. After 30+ years of significant Civic/NonProfit involvement, my mom is both. I’ve been able to witness first-hand the time and effort she dedicates to volunteer work.  I have never seen her as motivated as she has been in these past few months. It's clear that she has seen this campaign through in the right way. With your vote, she will win this election and serve her second-term honorably putting Winnetka residents' interests first.

I support Linda Pedian for Village Trustee.  Linda has proven herself to be an excellent trustee over the past two years.  As someone who attends and/or watches Council meetings and study sessions, I know that Linda cares passionately about our Village and the work of the Council.  She is always prepared, works hard and is professional.  Importantly, she listens to everybody and to all sides.  She keeps an open mind. Appropriately for a Village Trustee and contrary to allegations, Linda has not taken a position on the upcoming Village Council issue of Affordable Housing.  The claim that there…

Dear Editor;We are pleased to know that the residents of Winnetka have a choice of four candidates to choose from as they vote to fill the three open trustee positions in the upcoming election on Tuesday, April 5. We are not pleased with the course of events that got us to where we are now.Richard Kates’ one man legal campaign to challenge Jennifer Spinney’s inclusion on the ballot was ill-conceived, self-serving and above all, undemocratic. After losing his challenges with the local election board he appealed to the Cook County Election Board and lost. He went to the Illinois Circuit Court …

Letter submitted by James Burke. Winnetka will have a choice to make in the election for Village Trustee on Tuesday April 5th; for the first time in quite a while, 4 names are on the ballot for 3 positions. Jeni Spinney deserves our vote.  She has earned it through years of service to our community which has been documented earlier. Jeni has shown great common sense. She has no hidden agenda. She is not looking to legislate in order to get her name on a bronze plaque. Rather, she has proven to be a dutiful, dedicated and diligent trustee for the past 2 years. This campaign has shown her to be…

Letter submitted by Chuck Hirsch. Dear Editor, Many of the issues being raised leading up to the April 5 New Trier School Board election essentially are focused on one central theme: What are the highest priorities of our school district? Are high achieving academic outcomes of utmost importance? Is broad student participation in co-curricular programs a worthy measure of success? Are a wide range of athletics being offered to all interested students of different ability levels? Does the District's recent expenditure of more than $100 million to improve facilities and technology reinforce its…

Letter submitted by Bruce Lyon and Beth Blom. Dear Editor,If you have lived in New Trier Township for any significant amount of time or hadchildren attend the high school, you may know about the New Trier School BoardCaucus. This body has been in existence for almost 60 years. It convenes everyother year for the exclusive purpose of identifying, vetting and endorsing the mostqualified candidates for the New Trier School Board. It is a long-standing tradition in our community and represents one key reason for the success and recognition that our school has received for decades.The caucus …

Dear Editor, As I’ve sat through past IDOT meetings about the future of Willow Road, I couldn’t stop thinking ... are four-lane roads some sort of rare, pioneering concept? No, of course not, but our Northfield neighbors are making them sound about as futuristic as high-speed rail. IDOT isn’t talking about blazing any new trails by widening Willow Road from a two-lane traffic trap to a safer, more efficient four-lane road through Northfield. Four lanes are routine and everywhere you look in Illinois, including local roads here in the North Shore area like Dundee Road in Northbrook, Lake …

Letter submitted by Pete McNerny. Dear Editor, I am writing to encourage Winnetka voters to support Jennifer Spinney in the upcoming election for Village Council.  A long time village resident, she has been active in numerous community organizations and for the past two years she has served well on the Village Council.  She has gained valuable experience in all village departments as well as experience in Springfield representing the interests of our village.  I am confident that if reelected she will continue to be a productive and effective member of the Council. I have lived in this …