The Case for Berny Stone
More than once in the last week, I've heard my friends and neighbors say, "I can't wait until after Tuesday." The perception is that this has been the nastiest campaign ever. While I don't think that's true, I thought we'd end here on a positive note.
The case for Ald. Stone is straight-forward. He's got 34 years of experience as our alderman. He's devoted his later years in life to managing the business of the ward. No one should question that he has a passion for that. The 50th Ward remains a kaleidoscope of culture, something that I think most people here love. West Ridge/Rogers Park makes Chicago feel like an international city. If the alderman is not responsible for that, he has at least maintained the appropriate environment for it to shine.
Unlike some alderman, Stone has open office hours at night, when most people are not working. He accepts every invitation I know of to speak before a local group. He has been accommodating to requests for zoning exemptions for larger families which has been important to major parts of the community. The media loves Stone because he's always good for a quote. Half the ward has been kept exceptionally clean, and Stone is remarkably responsive to requests from his base. There are many people here who are not ready for Stone to retire, especially a forced one. I don't know if I'd say that Stone is much beloved, but he certainly has a strong following in my neighborhood.
Consider this an open thread about why you support Ald. Stone for re-election. Try to keep it positive.
Labels: 50th Ward, Alderman, Bernard Stone, Election
posted by Jay @ 7:30 AM
49 comments
49 Comments:
No, I don't think we'll be ending on a positive note. Stone is a terrible alderman and an embarassment to the ward and the city. All of the supposedly positive attributes you cite can be easily restated as favoritism and abuse of power. He is lazy, out of touch, disrespectful, divisive, manipulative, mean-spirited and vindictive. He is also corrupt--maybe not as corrupt as some, but corrupt all the same. I'll admit he is entertaining and always quotable, but that doesn't outweigh the rest.
Don't interpret that sentence as meaning this is the last post.
Keep berny so at least your area, which you say is half the ward better? I'd rather have someone that will serve the whole ward. I am tired of the haves keeping the services while holding down the have-nots. By your own admission berny does not deliver for the whole community, this has divided the ward more than you can imagine.
I dont believe we have to make a case for Stone. His record speaks for itself. He has so much planned for the ward which people dont understand unless they would know how the wards get their money. I believe Naisy has to build her case. She was a NO SHOW. She has let the people The VOTERS of the 50th down by not showing last night. Not a good call by her campaign manager.She lost the confidence of many people by not coming last night.Stone did not Mock her as she did when he did not show up at the Boone debate which was a dolar setup.As for pt baer he needs to get a life. He makes comments he cannot back up. Stone opens City Hall every day 5 days a week, then has office hours 2 nights a week, Stone send nobody home. He will stay in the office until the last person is seen. That sounds lazy?? 15 hours + days sometimes. From what I see we have a Alderman who cares about the people and is here to help the people.
I agree that Stone is terrible, but don't forget it's his daughter being installed that will have a pernicious effect on the 50th. I don't believe Stone can serve even three more years, and I don't relish being told to "get the f*** off my block". The fact of the matter is that it's time for a fresh voice in our ward. Naisy seems to be up to that job imo. After reading some of the links found here it has become obvious to anyone searching for truth that Stone is corrupt, although some people would prefer to turn a blind eye to that. I can't find anything positive to say about him other than I see why some find him amusing. With his meagerie and foul language in public, and his "poor little Berny" look, he's a real throwback.
At this point, nobody can actually vote for Berny Stone. The man is terribly old, and is about to retire. If he wins, he'll take office briefly, and then pass the office to his daughter. Now, she doesn't have all those attributes you were talking about. The question is not why vote for Berny, it's why vote for Ilana? The only thing I know about her is that video where she's screeching at someone else's campaign workers, "Get the fuck off my block!" That's not a job qualification, as I see it.
I've never been a big fan of Stone but there was a period of time a few years ago when I had to attend zoning committee meetings all over the city when they rewrote the zoning code. Often they were at night. I also started just stopping by committee meetings and I was in city hall a lot. I saw him all the time. So, I don't think it's fair for people to say he doesn't work.
Jay,
I hope you will consider leaving this blog up after the election. I know it must be hard to read all the comments, but you have provided a fair public forum.
The Rogers Park yahoo group is pretty much a joke and very disorganized. It appears that it is now closed for public viewing even though--when I discovered it a few days ago by following the Dolar link to it--I saw that they were having a big fight about it and most of the people thought their comments were so important that the entire world should see them. Interesting how quickly people can change their tune when their own words are held up to scrutiny and they realize they don't actually sound that smart.
At any rate, that is not a useful site to discuss community issues and I hope you will keep this site open.
Thanks!
Willow is flat out wrong when she says that Ilana "will be installed." The law is clear that if Stone retires with more than 28 months left on his term, there will be a special election and we get to go through all of this again. If he retires with less that 28 months to go, the mayor will appoint an interim alderman until the next general election. I don't think Daley is going to appoint Ilana--especially after the Valentine's Day video.
Naisy's campaign made the right call not to attend last night's "debate." The debate was planned by the alderman's campaign and not a neutral party. There was no open format and no publicity. Also, one of the organization's sponsoring the "debate" is a contributor to Stone's campaign. Unlike the WRPCO, which hasn't given any money to either candidate, was open about the format, had a neutral moderator and used well-established principals for its format, last night's "debate" was a political stunt. I think most of us in the 50th know a stunt when we see one. It was a trap and a stupid one at that.
Naisy's campaign saw is for what it was.
willow9 said...
The fact of the matter is that it's time for a fresh voice in our ward. Naisy seems to be up to that job.
Where was Naisy last night???
Naisy was not up to the Job!!!
Let down the Public!!
Did Not answer my Questions!!
Naisy is a push over..
How many years is she here??
Did not even ayyend High school here. She is how old?? Lives here how many years. Lies Lies
Thats corrupt in itself.
I just went to the dolar website to see if she had anything on there about the nondebate and saw the sentence directing to the nonlink: "Stone’s campaign made the announcement on the WRPCO Yahoo group site after the WRPCO invited both candidates to attend the forum." Is that yahoogroup the WRPCO group that sponsored the Boone non-debate????????? If so, I can CERTAINLY understand why Stone refused to participate!
Anonymous said...
Daisy’s campaign made the right call not to attend last night's "debate."
So if by a long shot dolar wins seems to me she can’t make a decision on her own?? She will need her campaign managers to make them for her. Just the type of alderman we need. LOL
Can’t make her own decisions!!!
you are confusing the WRPCO with the yahoo group wrogersprk
How many of stone's supporters were at the rally on Thursday night?
Is that WRPCO yahoo group the same one that Hugh asked about below? I'm now locked out of that groupm but am cutting and pasting it from yesterday's comment section when the group was open:
Got a chuckle on Hugh's commentary on WRPCO. Here's what he had to say a while back: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wrogerspk/message/843
Questions for West Rogers Park Community Organization
Hello,
I am a neighbor and I am considering joining the West Rogers Park
Community Organization. I have some questions. Guidestar and other
organizations recommend we ask these simple questions before giving,
and further recommend that if we CANNOT get answers to these simple
questions, that we NOT GIVE.
I'm sorry if you think asking simple questions is bullying, but maybe
if you do, I have my answer.
Here are my questions, interspersed with the some of the questions
from Guidestar.org. I would appreciate a response from anyone who
knows anything. Thanks!
3. Search the GuideStar database to find charities that meet your
criteria.
WRPCO not listed with Guidestar.
4. Focus on the mission.
WRPCO: no mission statement.
6. Verify a charity's legitimacy.
WRPCO not listed with IRS.
IRS confirms WRPCO is not a regsitered charity.
* If the charity is not on GuideStar, ask to see its letter
of determination.
Can I please get a copy of WRPCO's letter of determination from the IRS?
Does WRPCO have a taxpayer ID?
Is WRPCO a not-for-profit?
How much are dues?
Are my dues tax deductible?
7. Get the cold, hard facts. A reputable organization will:
* Define its mission and programs clearly.
WRPCO: no mission statement.
9. Avoid charities that won't share information or pressure you.
Reputable nonprofits:
* Will discuss their programs and finances.
* Are willing to send you literature about their work or
direct you to a Web site.
WRPCO: no web site.
WRPCO: unwilling to discuss finances
How many members do you have?
Does WRPCO have a board of directors?
How are the dues spent?
What organizations has WRPCO distributed funds to and how much?
If you still have doubts about a charity, don't contribute to it.
Thanks again!
"you are confusing the WRPCO with the yahoo group wrogersprk"
It's a direct quote from the Dolar website. Look for yourself while it's still there. Maybe they are confused?
YIKES . . . So many mistakes to fix and not even alderman yet.
Anonymous said...
How many of stone's supporters were at the rally on Thursday night?
I dont think he had many of his people there. I saw people just walking in off the street. I did see about 6-8 people wearing stone buttons. Dolar had a table of supporters there. The crowd was mixed. I think naisy should have made her own decision and come to the debate. I believe it could have helped her.
So how many total people were there last night?
The event last night was pathetic – very low turnout; A gentleman, I believe Alan Crown, made an ass out of himself by constantly badgering the Dolar supporters who attended and were well-behaved; kudos to Ald. Stone for sticking up for Naisy on the mosque question; and why-oh-why did we have to have the “goon squad” show up to, I’m assuming, intimidate anyone not remotely in line with the Stone campaign – what was Michael Moses afraid of?
With regard to your post to end on a positive note would be to elect Ms. Dolar and here’s why:
Ald. Stone has been in office for 34 years and has not used the clout that he has for the improvement of the overall ward. If our ward represents clout in action, the wards with lower-ranking aldermen running them must truly be dreadful places to live. While the title Vice Mayor is only ceremonial - he would not succeed Daley, if God forbid, something happened to him – Ald. Stone does have influence and knows how to get things done but has done so only for some and not all the residents of this ward – and not just Jews.
“He's devoted his later years in life to managing the business of the ward.” So what was he doing in the earlier part of his tenure? And does devotion include intimidation and abuse of city departments to those owners who would have a different of opinion or disagree with him? Ask the owners of Jacky’s Ice Cream about that. Additionally, the “culture” of this ward rests only on the ethnic and religious make-up of its residents, there is nothing that brings them together or highlights/showcases the different groups’ music/art/citizens’ talents. There is nothing community-driven in this ward outside of CAPS and the newly founded WRPCO – voted into existence by referendum last November by residents fed up with being consistently ignored and/or insulted by Stone. The talent that is in our ward has never been inventoried nor harnessed to work towards a better community. We are all separate groups of people who neither talk nor work with each other and Ald. Stone likes it that way. He makes no attempt to use technology to communicate with or inform the residents of this ward, we don’t even have a web page worth accessing!
Your last paragraph holds no reasons to warrant a re-election of Stone or indirectly his foul-mouthed, moody daughter (whose daughters last night showed they had not fallen far from the famy tree uttering at one point “Do you know she is? That’s my f***ing mother!”)
These are things an alderman should be doing, not a kindness or great effort on his part for which we should be so grateful for as to re-elect him. With regard to the “major parts of the community” the Jewish community is approximately half of this ward and within its ranks holds Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews who agree – very quietly for some and with Stone signs on their front lawn - that it’s time for a change of leadership. There are other ways of expressing one’s gratitude, Jew or not, besides voting for Ald. Stone in recognition for his past accomplishments and we can work on ways of doing that after Ms. Dolar is, God willing, elected on Tuesday, April 17.
The case for Stone needs to be closed.
Dolar is that only option.
Stone has surely NOT visited 75% of his ward in a decade. Much, much more can be done to maintain & expand the livability of this ward.
We need more energy & new ideas to keep up with the rest of the revitalization going on around us.
I am generally surprised how many people feel this way on my street & in my area.
there are issues that need more attention:
1. the closed Dominick's
2. emerson park
3. keeping development growing BUT within the neighborhoods character
4. expanding our school support
5. Servicing the Entire ward—not just pockets (e.i., Lincoln Village)
If Naisy spends 1/3 the amount of energy in office as she has in this election, she still would be light years ahead of the attention our ward is given now.
Don't be mislead by this "debate"—it obscures the real issues in this election.
The WRPCO has a website. Do you know how to use the internet? It's not a charity. You are about as informed about the facts as is the current alderman. Not very.
Naisy=no show
Why were Naisy's requests for a fair and balanced debate ignored by Mike Moses, repeatedly? So Stone would have an out. Stone is scared to debate Dolar. Does anybody believe that if the "79 years young" Stone were to be re-elected, he would change from his routine? Why would he? It appears that everything has been going along like clockwork except for the "little pisher" that won't go away.
The WROGERSPK group is closed to non-members due to abuse by a non-member who trampled the civil discussions that the group had.
Guidestar is for charities and nonprofit organizations,WRPCO does not have to register as such.
Hey West Rogers Park resident
I heard Ilana and her daughters were cussing out Dolar supporters and it got so heated the police showed up. My neighbor who was an older woman passing out fliers was called a "street walker" by the Stone supporters. Sickening
As for Crown, if what you say is true that is a shame because the man is on the city payroll, but he comes as nothing more than a common street thug.
If this is true about Ilana and her daughters, it is serious. But I'd like more credible reporting and corroboration and details.
Malik said...
Hey West Rogers Park resident
I heard Ilana and her daughters were cussing out Dolar supporters and it got so heated the police showed up
Well I guess you heard wrong!! Someone crazy lady from dolars campaign got out of control and almost struck the aldermans daughter when one of her daughter stepped between the two and the other flaggeg down a police car driving by on Devon. The police didnt know what was even going on there. Ilana refused to file charges against the women.
willow9 said...
Naisy=no show
Your rite
Stone showed
Naisy is scared to debate Stone.
Its all over now!!
If dolar cant have pre written questions then she cant have a debate.
Willow9 if you wanted more, you should have been there!!
Just like Naisy
This just went up on the Dolar website:
"Currently there is no advocate for our schools in City Hall, Naisy, as a mom and member of the Decatur Classical School’s LSC would fight for our kids’ future."
What does this mean? There is NO ONE in city hall who cares about schools????? Is Naisy going to retain her seat on the Decatur LSC if she becomes alderman? Isn't that a conflict of interest? Further, Decatur certainly does not represent 99.9 % of CPS children--in the 50th ward or elsewhere. It's a highly exclusive school where children are tested before they can enter in kindergarten. It is also not a neighborhood school. I'm certainly not anti-Decatur but just wonder why Naisy keeps touting it.
I find it extremely arrogant to suggest that she would be the only advocate for education in City Hall. What exactly does she plan to do?
Here's another distortion from her website. "On top of that, he led the fight to give himself an $82,000 pay raise saying that he was, “worth the money.”
This makes it seem as if he gave himself an $82,000 pay raise in a short period of time. I divided 82,000 by 34 and got 2,411. That's better than I've gotten in the past few years but it's still not consistent with the assertion.
When Stone proposed the latest increase I was furious and vowed he would never have my vote. I will note, however, that the other alderman took the raise too. It was very unfortunate because other city workers were forced to take days off without pay and the alderman should have bitten the bullet too. I'm still mad about the pay raise, but the lack of any clear plan from Dolar and some of tactics and distortions left me no choice.
If Stone has questions he can't debate. Naisy had plenty of questions that she hadn't been informed of in advance at both forums on February 7 and March 21, which Stone didn't attend. If you had been there you would know. But you weren't and choose to continue make up your facts as you go along. Typical Stone supporter. Just like the Alderman.
I think everyone should give the Dolar campaign a break. She is NOT the current alderman and should not, at least for now, be held to as high standards as Stone. Think about it, her team is made up of volunteers. Yes, they should represent her to the fullest but we are forgetting the fact that Stone has been in office for more than 30 years and should be accountable for MUCH more.
The questions should be:
what has Stone done in RECENT years?
What is his vision for the next four years?
And when will Ilana end up being the next alderman if Stone wins on Tuesday?
Instead of asking what Dolar, candidate for alderman, will do exactly? Why not ask what Stone will improve? Schools are overcrowded and undersupported in the 50th ward.
"She is NOT the current alderman and should not, at least for now, be held to as high standards as Stone."
Huh? She's asking for a job and this is the only indication of how well she would do and what kind of team she would have. And what standards are you talking about?
I propose that all of Berny Stone's progeny attend Hebrew school or at least spend some time on a kibbutz and pick up some Yiddish (not sure if they teach that in Hebrew school). I love some of the Yiddish words I've learned during this campaign and wish someone would call me a "phisher."
These words are so much more effective that the f--word.
Anonymous said... AKA willow9
The questions should be:
what has Stone done in RECENT years?
What is his vision for the next four years?
If you would have been at the debate you would know his plans for the next 4, and im sure you got all his mailings which state what he has done. If you wernt in a box you could see the improvments in the ward thousands in sewer, lighting, water. etc.
"Instead of asking what Dolar, candidate for alderman, will do exactly? Why not ask what Stone will improve? Schools are overcrowded and undersupported in the 50th ward."
Schools are having a hard time every where in the city--except maybe Decatur and other very selective enrollment schools. Even the Sauganush kids are in trailers. We know what we get with Stone--but Dolar needs to explain what exactly she's going to do--and what an alderman's job is with respect to public education since she's represented that she is going to be the only education advocate in city hall. The city council does not control CPS's budget and the board of education is a separate legal entity and taxing body.
"The WRPCO has a website. Do you know how to use the internet? It's not a charity. You are about as informed about the facts as is the current alderman. Not very."
You must be talking to Hugh because those were his comments.
Those are the facts whether you like it or not.
I've never met Hugh, talked to Hugh and don't know what he looks like.
"Those are the facts whether you like it or not.I've never met Hugh, talked to Hugh and don't know what he looks like."
I suggest before you jump into the lion's den you prepare and read things thoroughly before you start arguing. Read again--it's very clear that HUGH who is very active on this list asked those questions about WRPOC--not me.
> We know what we get with Stone-
I believe you meant "We know what we don't get with Stone-
>"What is his vision for the next four years?
I would never write this. Who cares what his vision is? As far as I'm concerned he blew it over the last eight plus years. He hasn't had a vision since the money started pouring in from all the developers and that sham of a "Vice Mayor" job. Job? A job requires work. This guys asleep at the wheel!
I suggest before you jump into the lion's den you prepare and read things thoroughly before you start arguing. Read again--it's very clear that HUGH who is very active on this list asked those questions about WRPOC--not me
Yet, you repeat them as though they are fact. I suggest you learn how to read.
You didn't dispute the facts that I presented about WRPCO. Because, put simply, they are facts.
As I said, I don't know Hugh. I don't know where he gets his information. Yet you seem to think you know all about it. And it appears you know very little of what you say and repeat. How about an original idea that doesn't come from the mouth of Stone or Hugh? Ever have that experience? You probably believe that Stone didn't vote for his own pay raises while voting against a living wage for others. He did. It's a fact. How about it? Read a little yourself - something not attached to Stone and you might learn something.
If you have questions about WRPCO, why don't you check out their website? Why don't you call them instead of depending on Hugh? There's a telephone number to call. Why don't you just do that? Or check public records. Do a little legwork. They haven't given to Naisy's campaign if that's what you're thinking. Buy check it out. They know that they will need to work with whomever may win. However, at least one of the organizations sponsoring last night's "debate" has given money to Stone. That's also another fact.
p.t.baer's comment 1 is the perfect example of Dolar Supporter COGNITIVE DISSONANCE.p.t.actually comes out and says that STONE has done good and is a good man,but that p.t. prefers to RESTATE these things as BEING OPPOSITE to the TRUTH.P.t.Baer is a very skilled SPIN ARTIST,and is also a LIAR.
Dear Anonymous at 10:34, er, I mean, "Deb." You're probably the only one who followed the link. No use fibbing about the fact that you just "discovered" it. If you don't like the Yahoo group, stop posting to it like you're God's gift to the group.
Let's let the Man Stone speak for himself.
Stone to Push-Cart Vendors: GET THE HELL OUT!
Bernard L. Stone, 79-year-old candidate for alderman from the 50th ward of Chicago, shares his views on America, our ethnic melting pot, land of equal opportunity for all.
Yet for some in the 50th ward, not so much.
Transcript
Stone: On Democracy
Bernard L. Stone, 79-year-old candidate for alderman from the 50th ward of Chicago, shares his views on ballot initiatives, participatory democracy, and community process.
Transcript
Stone: On Development: NO NEED for Community Zoning Board
Bernard L. Stone, 79-year-old candidate for alderman from the 50th ward of Chicago, shares his views on the relationship between campaign financing and development policy, on affordable housing, and on community involvement.
Stone: Soft on Corruption
Through his willful negligence of his oversight duties, Bernard L. Stone, 79-year old candidate for alderman of the 50th ward of Chicago, is an un-indicted co-conspirator in each and every City Hall scandal.
Transcript
Tax Increment Financing Explained
Bernard L. Stone explains Tax Increment Financing. This interview is very significant because it is a unique example of an informed interviewer attempting to extract an honest explanation of TIF from a local elected official.
Transcript
We know what we get with Naisy. Pay back favors to the SEIU.
Raise taxes. no 7% cap because the SEIU is against the cap. You dont think they give dolar 100,000
with nothing in return do you??
Hugh
This is old shit !!! Just like you.
If you could post something new worth something.. How about pictures of your house?? Your neighbors are not happy with you. Is this why you are unhappy with Stone??
The insults of the Dolaristas to individuals close to Stone are outrageous.If the Dolaristas want to get personal they should look at WHO they,themselves are,and what they do. For example,one Judith Cody, who is old enough to know better,is at every confrontation that Dolar chooses to provoke,still the same Radical she always was.Mrs. Cody is an ANGRY woman who has been known to pick up the phone and call Stone's people to berate them about whatever her angry brain is dwelling on at the moment. 50th ward voters can readily see that PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY DISRUPTERS are running the Dolar campaign FROM THE :THE ICIRR,SEIU,DFA TEAM WHACKO,AND PHONY NGO'S LIKE THE FAKE GROUP LISTED AS A DOLAR CAMPAIGN AUXILLERY;THIS ITSELF SHOWS THE DECEIT OF DOLAR FOR IT SURELY MEANS SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL SHELL GAME AND "CREATIVE ACCOUNTING"
LETS LET HUGH SPEAK FOR HIMSELF--HUGH,WHY ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH STONE TO THE DEGREE THAT IT IS A CENTRAL FOCUS IN YOUR LIFE?EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW. WHY TO THIS EXTENT: WHERE YOU LIE ,DISTORT,IMAGINE,HALLUCINATE,ETC;AND A TRUTHFUL ANSWER ,PLEASE,NOT MORE LIES ,INNUENDOS,AND DISINFORMATION , HOW ABOUT IT HUGH ?
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