One of the Village of Oak Park’s more obnoxious entities, the Oak Park Board of Health will hold a a forum on Jan. 24th from 6 to 9 pm, to gather input from residents on guns.  But there’s been only one mention of it buried in the Wednesday Journal: “Oak Park Plans Gun Forum At Village Hall”

Oak Park’s decades-old unconstitutional handgun ban was ended by the US Supreme Court in 2010.  District Of Columbia et al. v. Heller and Chicago v. McDonald are now the law of the land.  But that hasn’t stopped either Chicago or her little sister the Village of Oak Park from consipring to limit the civil rights of their residents.

Our fear is that the Oak Park Board of Health will create and get passed laws that will be litigated in court – at great expense to Oak Park Taxpayers, for no result other than massive legal bills – does anybody really care that Oak Park taxpayers shelled out more than $650,000 for legal fees over the DTOP TIFF?

UPDATE:

From the Village of Oak Park…

Firearm regulation forum set

A community forum to gather public input for consideration in regulating the sale and possession of firearms is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Jan. 24, at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Hosted by the Board of Health as a public safety issue, the forum is part of a process that ultimately will lead to recommendations to the Village Board for possible action. Prohibiting businesses from selling firearms is considered unlikely, officials say, given recent U.S. Supreme and Appellate Court rulings. However, laws that regulate where, how and to whom firearms are sold and kept are among those considered legally defensible. For more information on the meeting, e-mail health@oak-park.us.

UPDATE 01/26/2012:

There appears to be a bit of difference in the coverage of the Forum.  From the Oak Leaves:

Headline: Gun owners rip Oak Park regulation plans

” The largely civil 90-minute event, technically a meeting of the Oak Park Health Board, saw handgun proponents outnumber pro-regulation speakers 15-7. ”

“David Schweig… challenged Barwin to openly discuss what he said was a $1.6 million legal bill the City of Chicago and Oak Park still owed to the NRA lawyers who argued the case before the Supreme Court.”

From the Wednesday Journal:

Headline: Big crowd for Oak Park gun forum

“”It’s quite clear that firearm violence, accidents and crimes are very costly to our society in myriad ways,” Barwin said. “Medical responses, rehabilitation from debilitating injury, loss of life, police and court costs, incarceration all add up to monumental costs. From the board’s perspective, firearm safety is clearly an important public health issue.”"

“Reshma Desai thinks Oak Park should require owners to store guns separately from ammunition and to keep them locked up. Local police could do “spot checks” at homes and issue fines to make sure people are complying, she said…”

There are two sides to every story…

As the year 2011 is coming to a close, we just wanted to wish all our viewers and readers a Happy, Healthy, Rewarding, Fulfilling and Prosperous New Year!

Here’s Hoping for a better 2012!

It has been almost a year since there’s been a comment about the Village Of Oak Park’s ever increasing cost to park here in the People’s Republic.  No fair making comments about “No park – Oak Park!”.

The cost to park at the Avenue Parking Garage has gone from $174.00/quarter to $195.00/quarter as of January 1, 2012.

It might be nice if the VOP could make sure that the lights are not always burnt out in the garage, that the elevators are kept in good working condition (hint: why does the elevator on the east have a carpet covering damaged tiles?)  and that the handicapped doors all work (hint: take a look at the pedestrian door at the south-westerner most corner, just off the alley and North Blvd).

Overheard from an Oak Park Resident who parked in the garage recently…

Ten dollars to park here!  Who do they (the Village) think they are, Downtown Chicago?

It is our Village after all!

The Village of Oak Park is giving serious consideration to tearing-up Oak Park Avenue between Ontario and Pleasant to create a Streetscape similar to those of Marion Street.

An artist rendering of South Oak Park Avenue if streetscape improvements are approved by the village. (Graphic submitted by the Village of Oak Park)

Many Oak Park residents, retail merchants, restaurants and service business owners are not so sure that this is a good idea.  To keep up on the debate and to get more information about the proposed costs & benefits, visit www.opans.org.

We wish all our readers, friends, neighbors and fans a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Eat too much, Laugh too much, Play touch football (two-handed!)  and Spend quality time with friends & loved ones.

Take care and celebrate the bounties or earth and sea!