Letter to the editor: Vote for experience, integrity, honesty
I moved to Northbrook from the city in 2001, shortly before 9/11, without kids and naive to the way things worked in local government. I applied to serve on the architectural control commission and was not selected. At 31, fresh from completing an MBA and with a depth of knowledge in planning and design, I already wanted to give back to this community.
I had many ideas about how I thought the downtown could be improved. Over the next decade, I watched, as many as you have, frustrated that things were not changing in our downtown at a quicker pace while other regional towns seemed to be able to make it work.
Fast forward to 2013 and I am now a small-business owner and an integral functioning part of that downtown area. With this added perspective, I have much more to add and can provide even more insight into how to make this community better. In 2018, I am asked to serve on the planning commission and I am happy to serve.
I learned a lot in my two years on the planning commission, but most importantly as it pertains to our upcoming local election, I learned the following:
1. We can all be frustrated with the downtown development, but the trustees and the planning commission at the Village of Northbrook can do very little to bring about substantial changes to the current downtown properties. The property owners have ultimate control and clearly don't see enough return on their investment to make the kind of significant modifications in their properties we would all love to see them make. We should all stop armchair quarterbacking this. I did and I was wrong.
2. The financial data does not support investment in our downtown area ... Guess what, everyone? You don't use or shop the downtown area enough to make it worthwhile or enticing for new establishments or developers to come here. I saw this first hand in my own small business and from others around me that tried and failed or tried and are still struggling. And then in the data from the consultants hired by the Village. Please continue to shop small.
3. Things move slowly in local government because you are "ruling by committee" - allowing time for comment and input from the community at every step of the way. Time limitations are imposed so that everyone can be heard. While there are some candidates in this election claiming that our community members have not had this opportunity from many of the current trustees - I call foul. I sat many nights listening to comments, but also sadly many nights not. There are so many issues where no one comes and you think doesn't anyone care about this. If you're not happy about the way things are in the community, please come to a meeting. There are so many ways to have your voice heard in Northbrook.
4. These are volunteer positions and there is a learning curve. Experience is important. We need to be more thankful for many hours that are put in to these "extra" jobs. After having served on the commission, I would not want to elect a new trustee that had never served on a public board in a prior capacity. It took me some time to understand the proper procedures and protocols and I have been the president of a volunteer board in the past. Right now our Village needs that experience more than anything.
5. Affordable Housing means housing that people can afford. Nothing more. It's simply then how you define affordable. This is one of the key pieces of policy that I was able to be a part of in the two years I was on the commission and I am proud of the extensive amount of work, time and education the board and the planning commission put into the policy. I hope that we will achieve some greater diversity in our town and I hope that so many men and women whose families divorce or lose a job can afford to stay in Northbrook, because right now there are very few options if you meet financial hardship. It is unfortunate to learn that the candidates in United 4 Northbrook platform have taken a considerable number of donations from realtors and developers who are against this policy. Is it too much to ask for a mom like me to be able to stay in this community after a divorce? The options for housing are severely limited at this point - we can't keep just building McMansions.
Our local election is April 6. Please vote. And please vote for the experience, honesty and integrity of Kathryn Ciesla, Muriel Collison, Dan Pepoon, and Joy Ebhomielen for Northbrook.
Jennifer Lawrence
Northbrook