People Before Politics Party

06/30/2022

The North Riverside Police Department would like to thank the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety for providing us with a grant to purchase a new portable radar trailer. The trailer is a portable, self-contained speed display unit that is towed to sites experiencing speed-related problems. A specially designed radar is mounted inside the locked trailer, clocking speeds. This allows motorists to see their speed displayed on a highly visible LED display. The trailer will also record the total number of vehicles and their average speeds during the times it is monitoring traffic. This new equipment will also be used to disseminate public information.

The North Riverside Police Department will be placing the speed radar trailer in various locations throughout the Village, depending on variables such as previous history of motor vehicle accidents and frequent speeding citations.

As speed awareness increases, motorists will slow down, even after the unit is moved to a different location. With fewer speed-related accidents, our officers time is freed up and they can concentrate their efforts in other areas. Additionally, residents feel safer, which is one of the goals in providing this educational tool.

Again, the addition of this educational tool would not be possible without the AAA grant.

04/06/2021

We hope to see everyone out at the polls today. Vote People Before Politics Party!

04/04/2021

04/03/2021

04/02/2021

The Village gave them 50% off sales tax revenues for the next 20 years.

The parent company of a local car dealership paid more than $85,000 in back wages it owed to its sales staff at 10 of its 30 locations, including Zeigler Ford at 2100 Harlem Ave. in North Riverside, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. On March 31, after an investigation by it...

04/01/2021

Marybelle Mandel for Village President
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Trustee Mandel is the former Chairwoman of the Water, Sewer, Drainage & Zoning Committee
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Current Member of the Development, Public Improvements & Infrastructure, Economic Development, Planning & Zoning Public Services Committee
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Current Member of the Public Safety, Emergency Services, Parks & Recreation, Refuse and Recycling Committee
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People Before Politics has been the goal of Marybelle since her first run for public office in 2013. She is proud to head the ticket for this new Team, which is committed to keeping North Riverside a strong and proud community.

Ever the “watchdog” for the residents and the taxpayer’s dollars, Marybelle has worked tirelessly since her election as Village Trustee in 2019. Proud of her home here with her husband and her two grown children; there is rarely a day when she is not out working to assist residents with their Village services, concerns or issues.

Marybelle has also been involved with her local church, and is a community activist; working for traffic safety, senior citizen support and domestic violence victim assistance.

Her long-standing career in property management, suits Marybelle well for the Village President's job. Problem solving and working with people have trained her well for North Riverside’s challenges ahead.

SOLUTIONS

We must take every single one of our Vendors and put them to the test!
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Any and all Companies that provide a Service and/or Product to the Village "must" be renegotiated to benefit the Village and our tax dollars.
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It is imperative the Village begin to lay the foundation for fiscal & financial measures to alleviate out $117 million debt!
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As Mayor I will do what the prior administrations have refused to do. Listen to the people; get input from the residents; bring in professionals with new and creative approaches to business development and Village management; and seek consensus for short-term and long-term planning.
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Public safety must always be a coordinated approach between the public and private sector. Our police department does great work, but we cannot overtax that resource. Accordingly, dialogue is crucial between the Village and the business community. An Emergency Management Team (with an incident command center) must be established, including protocols, contingency plans, a chain of command, and an action plan. Large commercial sites like the Mall must play an integral part on that team and in that planning. All businesses must know what part they play and must commit resources to the effort. Cooperation and communication are the keys to success in this area.
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My first step is to end the VIP/United Party approach and STOP LYING TO RESIDENTS. I know from my meetings with residents that our neighbors can handle the truth. There is no debate concerning the looming debt disaster: VIP/United Party financial mismanagement has put the Village in a deep hole; to the tune of over $117 million in long term debt. IT’S A FACT. To late to go back, we can only move forward. In a transparent manner People Before Politics will open the process and open the books. We will start with a “Zero Based Budgeting” process, where every program and expense will be scrutinized; and all programs and services will be prioritized. Instead of just rambling on year after year just watching the debt grow as they keep on spending; we will find ways to tighten our belts, economize, and put more resources/revenues toward retiring the debt of prior administrations. No more exorbitant salaries and retirement goodies to the friends of the VIP / United Party.

We will find solutions together!

03/29/2021

Carmen M. Circelli for Village Clerk
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https://www.rblandmark.com/carmen-circelli/

Carmen and her Husband have been residents of North Riverside for 13 years. Carmen is currently an accountant for Accountant Computer Network Inc.

Previously she had spent many years with Illinois Dental Service gaining valuable experience in assisting people unions and businesses alike.

A community minded neighbor, Carmen has been a block captain in North Riverside for many years. She hopes to bring her community spirit and employment skills to the task of Village Clerk.

Her experience in accounting will be helpful. Her skills will be utilized to help get this unprecedented debt under control.

SOLUTIONS

I really would like to push the effort to register to vote. We cannot have one single resident who is eligible to vote, not be registered. We have also seen high voter turnouts in Presidential Elections. My goal is to get that same turnout for every single election.
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The Village recently (after more than a decade) has decided to make a Village Government page. I would like to expend on that social media avenue and build on it. To be more transparent with those involved. Those who are not using social media can simply come to the Village or call to receive any information they desire.
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My ultimate goal is to get as many eligible Residents to register to vote.
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I would like to see high voter turnouts in “all” Elections. I would like the Village to heavily promote both these voting streams. Primary Elections and all Election for Federal, State, County and Local elections must meet the same voter turnout as Presidential Elections, because they’re just as important!

03/28/2021

Kevin W. Melvin for Village Trustee
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https://www.rblandmark.com/kevin-melvin/

Kevin is a teacher at J. Sterling Morton High School. With a bachelor’s degree in Education from Eastern Illinois, and a masters in Education Administration from Governor’s State.

Kevin has made a life-long commitment to children. The Melvins have two beautiful children; and they are committed to making North Riverside a family friendly Village that will be around for many generations to come.
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Kevin is also very active in North Riverside recreation by coaching Basketball and Little League baseball.

His love of the Village has made him decide to run as trustee to get the Village on track and balance the budget that is a very troublesome by simply combining some positions and reigning in some unnecessary expenses.

SOLUTIONS

We need to STOP whatever the VIP/UNITED PARTY has been doing with deficit spending and debt growth. Also, the VIP/United Party has done nothing to increase our commercial and retail tax base. For decades they relied only on the Mall; and that’s what got us into trouble. A more comprehensive and professional approach is required. I also think one of the most important steps to take is obviously to bid out contracts. We need to economize and ensure competitive bids help to ensure we give taxpayers the best buy for their dollar. Also, in the future I think all employee contracts need to go on a year to year to basis until we see how the economy reacts to the pandemic.
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North Riverside needs an active and involved chamber of commerce to work with the Village. I am open to all and any ideas that will help the village to diversify the tax base and the commercial landscape. The village can work in cooperation with each property owner for redevelopment. Although I am in favor of providing incentives to businesses we must not get carried away and give outrageous incentives like 50% of sales tax the next 20 years. Harlem and Cermak is one of the busiest intersections in the state and most businesses would have no problem thriving there. So I am against the deal the VIP/United Party put together for Zieglar Ford.
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Property taxes will stay low due to the fact that we are a non-home rule village (limiting tax increases). Residents should not have to pay more to fund pensions. The mismanagement of money by the VIP/ United Party has put us in this situation. We will have to economize and find ways to tackle the debt. We will not deficit spend like the VIP. One thing is for sure, People Before Politics will not hide from the VIP disaster. Once they are gone, we will work toward long range solutions with professional financial management.
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I see the debt as the most important issue North Riverside faces. The debt can be addressed by bidding out contracts and looking closely at every expense the village has which includes all paid employees. I know that is what people don’t want to hear but the village hired multiple people to work during this pandemic. So, while businesses around town were shut down and the village was losing income from it, the VIP/United Party administration went ahead and hired employees instead of waiting. Another issue people don’t want to hear about, as I mentioned, is all employee contracts this year need to be on one-year deals until we see how the economy is doing.