To the editor:

Sorry, Mike, but you’ve jumped the shark.

By taking a swipe at former aldermen whom you chose not to name and, in your opinion, didn’t have the “intestinal fortitude” to seek re-election, you take a swipe at all of us who left at least one term on the table. My reasons for not seeking a third term are my own, yet you call into question my character and integrity with your irresponsible generalization.

Once again, your broad-brush style of journalism not only impedes effective and meaningful dialogue in Crestwood, it continues to feed the dysfunction and mismanagement that have taken a firm hold on Crestwood in the last year or so.

I haven’t been to all meetings since leaving the board, but I’ve been to many and I have not addressed the board on the issue of redevelopment — yet.

Not once do I recall former board members asking the board to “willy nilly” approve Centrum’s request for $34 million in economic assistance. What I have heard very clearly is a plea for our elected officials to move the redevelopment process forward. That is to say, approve the planner, approve bond counsel and insist that the mayor establish the Tax-Increment Financing Commission he was instructed to appoint.

All of these are simply steps in the overall redevelopment process and none impose financial obligations on the city. At any point along the way, Crestwood and/or Centrum can walk away if there is any uncertainty. Conversely, though, nothing more can happen until the process is allowed to begin.

Unless, of course, city leaders have other plans with other developers but, as one alderman pointed out, elected officials ought not to be having individual conversations. That, of course, is a fallacy, provided such conversations are simply information-gathering and promises/remunerations are not exchanged, but this is indicative of the misinformation that now freely flows out of City Hall.

So, we’re at a standstill and the city continues to suffer. Staff is whacked, services are reduced, streets continue to deteriorate, park amenities suffer and property values decline. Based on the increasing number of calls and comments I receive as a former alderman from residents who simply cannot understand the stagnation, I truly believe the community at large is disgusted with city leadership and wants desperately for progress to take place now because there may be no later.

Apparently, those who choose no action over action have your ear. Unfortunately, as you’ve demonstrated in the past, you continue to commit the cardinal sin of journalism by becoming part of the story rather than just reporting it. And Crestwood is left to deal with the aftermath of actions of a willy nilly “journalist” who doesn’t even attend city meetings.