A Peoria County grand jury Tuesday afternoon returned a seven-count indictment against two Peoria police officers accused of beating a Peoria man last May.
Andrew Smith, 29, and Gerald Suelter, 39, both face four counts of official misconduct, aggravated battery, battery and mob action. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison on each of the official misconduct and aggravated battery charges.
The charges stem from the May 3 pursuit and arrest of Bryce R. Scott, 34 near Abington Street and Perry Avenue. Scott led police on a chase that lasted several blocks before pulling over to apparently surrender.
Police got him out of his car, and Scott claims he complied with the officers. A squad car camera recorded what happened next. It appears Scott was taken to the ground within seconds, where he was completely out of view. Then officers are seen stomping and tasing him. Suelter is accused of repeatedly Tasing Scott while Smith is accused of kicking and stomping on Scott.
At Large Councilmen, Eric Turner and Jim Montelongo are once again hoping to parlay public fears into a parental responsibility ordinance. The recent ongoing crime wave is being used as impetuous to hurry through a ordinance that will hold parents accountable for the crimes their children commit. Just last week, the practice was deemed unconstitutional in Davenport, Iowa. However, Councilmen Turner and Montelongo are mindful, yet hopeful that their ordinance will make it here in Peoria. You know, Peoria is unique.
There are so many questions:
Will this ordinance tie into the District 150 truancy program? Will this ordinance also go after parents of children who are ticketed for underage drinking? Will this ordinance go after parents who children receive traffic tickets? Will this ordinance go after parents who children have illegal drugs at school? If the parents fail to comply in whatever way, what will be the final consequence? If fines are imposed, do we really think parents would be capable of paying hefty fines in this economy? Will the parent be required to serve community service? If so, what of the parent’s other children who may still be in the household?
What services will be available for a parent who can't control their child? If the parent is away from home paying for the problem child’s crimes, what of the problem child then? Will they become a ward of the State–an orphan, or they will be tried as adults because their parents couldn't control them.
Is the April 6th Forum just so people can come and complain, or will the Councilmen have some answers to the tough questions that surround an ordinance like this?
I am all for parents being held accountable, however, I am not so quick to believe that this is the answer. This parental responsibility ordinance is a slippery slope, that will cost the City money to enforce. Will the numbers for the cost of enforcing this ordinance be available at the Forum on April 6th.
Before Councilman Turner and Montelongo proceed down this route, they should try talking with the Police Chief, isn’t there something he could do to be more effective? How about that Race Relations Commission, couldn't they offer a suggestion on something by now?
As far as Peoria’s image that Councilman Turner is so concerned about—that image is a result of the decisions and/or indecisions of the Mayor and City Council. And while we are trying clever ways to stop the young troublemakers, let’s not forget about all of the adults who are committing crimes. Who will City Council hold accountable for that?
In a recent TimesObserverarticle Mr. Cahill stated "the district has no choice but to make cuts if it hopes to maintain the A+ bond rating it now has from Standard & Poor’s." _____________________
The District knew that they could loose their A+ rating if they didn't close schools. If they had made the tough decision to close schools the first time, we wouldn't be in this predicament now.
The Journal Star is reporting that on April 6, Hinton will recommend closing two primary schools. Only two—will that be enough? What about the high school situation?
What two schools do you think the District will be closing? Why the two with the least amount of resistance (i.e., south of War Memorial), of course. As a result the children in the black community, those who are the most vulnerable, will bear the brunt of the burden to cut costs.
"But there is a caveat", the Journal Star has done a little in depth reporting and are actually giving those that may oppose a heads up on what it would take to defeat the District’s attempt to seek bonds to cover the deficit:
This is just me speculating, but as long as the District stays South of War Memorial and only close primary schools—I don’t think they will meet any opposition.
I have more time to receive a pardon from Gov. Quinn. I won't be sworn in until May 5.
I have been known in the past to be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat and this will be another one of those times.
Quinn is not my only option and that law just may not be all that it is cracked up to be. The states attorney should know this and the news media here in Peoria are too lazy or inept to do their due diligence. I look forward to their attempts to challenge me once I'm elected and I will proudly serve as Mayor of Peoria.
I want to thank you for your endorsement and understand that this campaign is not about me at all. You and others who vote for me as mayor, are saying to the status quo, NO MORE!
We will no longer be unrepresented or unheard. Our concerns will no longer go unanswered. We will hold our government officials responsible from now on.
Can you beleive that they are actually considering taxing us again to not only build a privately owned hotel but also a privately owned museum, when we have had deteriorating roads, bridges, sidewalks and a sewer system for years. They are also thinking of adding more taxpayer dollars from the stimulus bill to cover the gap that private funding may be lacking.
This should anger every taxpayer in this area. They won't seek stimulus money to pay for an antiquated sewer system that we're are mandated to fix but they will fight tooth and nail to fund their friends project.
A vote for Ardis will mean a vote to pay higher taxes for: 1. Museum 2. Hotel 3. Mid-Town 4. Combined Sewer Overflow System 5. Budget Deficit
Four out those five on the list are direct results of council's decisions. The mayor can claim experience all he wants but if your experience has been making either bad or the wrong decisions for the citizens, then it's time to chose someone with good judgement and concern for the people, all the people.
Don't forget that District 150 has raised it's tax levy on the people and Gov. Quinn will raise the state income tax by 50%.
How much longer will we accept being taxed unnecessarily?
... and it isn’t just because he happens to be African-American.
Even though I realize that chances are slim to none that General “John” Parker will be pardoned by Governor Quinn before Election Day, April 7, 2009; and even though I realize that given the racial climate in Peoria, Illinois today, even Barack Obama couldn’t be the Mayor of Peoria, EmergePeoria wholeheartedly endorses General “John” Parker for Mayor of Peoria.
On top of dealing with a failing school system, crime is rampant in Peoria and more specifically in Peoria's black community. The infrastructure of the inner city is crumbling; our children are filled with hopelessness, as evidenced by drop out rate and the crime rate.
I could not vote at all in this cycle, like many will do. But that’s not me, I vote in every election and this one will be no different. (Yes - the invisible black woman, with buying power, which no politician bothers to panders to, votes in every election.) I voted for Jim Ardis in the last election, however, in this election, I cannot in good conscience vote for Mayor Jim Ardis.
The Mayor hasn’t made any promises to the black community. Why should he, if we don’t take this opportunity to take him to task? The Parker for Peoria group had a get out the vote effort planned for St. Patrick’s Day. Although I have not heard, I hope that they will continue their efforts up until Election Day. It would be ideal if the NAACP could kick a get out the vote drive into gear. It could make a difference for not just the black community, but for the City of Peoria as a whole.
Send a message to the Mayor that the decaying, crime ridden city that we see before us today is not acceptable for raising our children and running our businesses. Vote for General John Parker.
Monday, March 23, four arrested in connection with string of armed robberies.
Tuesday, March 24at a news conference Doug Burgess, public information officer for the Peoria Police Department said “I think this community and other communities in the area are a safer place because of that [arrests] today.
Since PPD made the proclamation “we are safer”:
Woman's purse stolen in drive-through lane Journal Star—Posted March 24, 2009 @ 09:41 PM A Peoria woman's purse was snatched early Tuesday morning while she waited in a Dunkin' Donuts drive-through.
Car wash robbed, employee beaten Journal Star—Posted March 25, 2009 @ 08:07 PM A car wash was robbed Tuesday by a gunman who beat an employee and locked him in an office.
*Citizen testimony from inside Wal-Mart during search for robber EmergePeoria - Posted, March 28, 2009 Jenny said... Hi Emerge,Tonight from 9-10 pm I was at the Walmart on University and a group of about 7 PPD came in all at once and split off throughout the store. I didn't ask them who they were looking for but it was clear that they had someone in mind. When I went to the register to check out, I asked the cashier what that was all about and he said that Payless Shoe Store in that same shopping plaza/lot was just robbed tonight. Nice huh? I hope they catch all these predators soon. All I could think was about how the shoe salesman/woman must have been terrified. How scary? I don't have any confirmed info other that what the cashier told me. Jenny
Shots fired at Peoria apartment complex Journal Star —Posted Mar 28, 2009 @ 10:18 PM Several shots were fired Friday at a Central Peoria apartment complex. Witnesses at Lexington Hills Apartments, 3440 W. Oakcrest Drive, told police a group of about five men were standing outside one of the apartment buildings about 2:40 p.m. and appeared to be having an argument. One of the men entered an apartment and came out firing at another man. The gunman fired about five or six shots, according to police.
Store robbed for fourth time in three months Journal Star—Posted Mar 28, 2009 @ 10:19 PM A South Peoria business was robbed for the fourth time in three months Saturday. Two men, one armed with a handgun, robbed the Butternut Bread Thrift Store, 605 S. Shelley St., shortly after 4 p.m., then fled westbound on foot with less than $50 in cash, police said.
Arson suspected in Peoria house fire Journal Star—Posted Mar 30, 2009 @ 07:02 AM Arson is the suspected cause of a Saturday fire at a vacant East Bluff house. A neighbor called 911 just before 6 p.m. after she saw smoke coming from 1633 N. Indiana Ave. She told police she saw several teens running in the alley near the home about the same time, but wasn't sure if they had anything to do with the fire. This is the fifth time the house has caught fire, according to police reports.
Peoria shoe store robbed; suspect flees on foot Journal Star—Posted Mar 30, 2009 @ 07:04 AM The Payless Shoe Source store on University Street was robbed Saturday night. About 9 p.m., a man walked into the store and wandered through the aisles as if he was shopping, according to police reports. A store employee had just rung up a sale when the man walked up to the counter and told her to put her hands up and give him the money.
She opened the register and gave him an unknown amount of cash. He took the small bills and put them in his pocket and put the large ones into three separate bags. He then ran north on University. The suspect never showed a weapon, but one was implied, police reports said.
Man robbed of wallet after visiting gas station Journal Star—Posted Mar 30, 2009 @ 07:05 AM Peoria man was beaten and robbed of his wallet early Saturday. The victim told police he went into the Circle K store on Knoxville Avenue about 3 a.m. to buy a pack of cigarettes. He was turned away because the store couldn't make change for his $50 bill.
As he walked out of the store, a man approached him and offered to give change for the bill, but he refused and began walking east on Archer Avenue, according to police reports. When he reached the 200 block of Archer, a blue van drove up. The man from the parking lot and another man got out and began punching him. They took his wallet, which contained $150 cash. The victim was treated at on the scene for minor injuries.
Robbers flee Chinese restaurant empty-handed Journal Star—Posted Mar 30, 2009 @ 07:06 AM Two men attempted to rob the Chinatown Restaurant on Saturday. The men entered the 1800 N. Knoxville Ave. restaurant about 10 p.m. and pointed a shotgun at the employee, according to police reports. The employee told police he wasn't sure what to do, so he stepped away from the register. One of the suspects then came behind the counter and tried to open the register with a screwdriver. When he was unsuccessful, both men fled.
Man shot in neck late Sunday Journal Star - Posted March 30, 2009 @ 09:17 AM A Peoria man was shot in the neck late Sunday night at Lexington Hills Apartments. Police were dispatched on a report of five shots fired in a hallway at 3433 W. Fallen Oak Lane about 11:45 p.m. At the apartments, police found Domanque D. Hinkle, 22, of 424 S. Webster St. He had been shot in the neck but was not bleeding heavily and was conscious. No arrests have been made. (pjstar.com has turned comments on for this entry - curious as to why)
Three held on bond in Family Dollar holdup Journal Star - Posted Mar 30, 2009 @ 09:16 PM Three people allegedly participated in the Saturday night holdup of the Family Dollar store on Harman Highway. The clerk at the store, 3111 W. Harman Highway, had closed the store about 8 p.m. and at some point, heard a noise. She turned around and saw a person wearing a bandana, a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses. In her hands were what the clerk believed to be a handgun and a hammer. She allegedly told the clerk to get on the floor and then hit her in the head with the hammer before taking some money and fleeing. Additionally, a videotape from the store's surveillance system also was missing.
Man Dead in Early Morning Shooting Reported by: WMBD - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 @01:01am CST A Peoria man is dead after a shooting on Starr Street early Tuesday morning. 27-year-old Lonnie Williams was pronounced dead in the emergency room of OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Another man was also shot and is believed to be in stable condition. Police responded to the call in the 2100 block of Starr Street on reports of shots fired around midnight. The two men were each taken to OSF. One man was wounded in the chest, the other was shot in the head. According to reports, the suspect may have fled in a white GMC Envoy.
To say I don't like Glen Beck would be putting it mildly. It goes back to his CNN days. He (along with Dobbs and Chetry) is the main reason I can no longer watch CNN (ok, I watch a lil' bit). Anyhow, I heard about this video where he is "crying" and blah blah. I blocked it out of my mind, because it was Glen. I looked at it yesterday.
My thoughts - in a word - re damn dick u lus.
So, without further ado.... Ladies and gentlemen, the new face of the NeoCons, introducing the NeoCon Way Forward, Glennnnnnn Beck.....
Speaking in BrasÃlia at a joint press conference with Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, Mr Lula da Silva told reporters: “This crisis was caused by the irrational behaviour of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing.”
Bald head babies can be sooo cute, but a lot of parents are sensitive about the bald head especially when it's on a girl. It's always interesting to see the tricks some mommies deploy to show the sex of the baby. You know, those little elastic headbands (pink with a rosette on the side). I always wondered if those bands could cut off the babies circulation. Some of us put the babies in obviously girly colors and outfits. Apparently these days, some of us are also doing this:
Across the country newspapers are looking at ways to cut costs and are letting go of their newspaper ombudsmen. Why? Because it is a widely held belief that because newspapers now allow bloggers to comment on stories, we no longer need ombudsmen to make sure that a story is not slanted one way or another. However, I am under the impression that the opposite needs to happen. In my opinion, the advent of local blogs and citizen bloggers make it even more necessary for newspapers to hire ombudsmen to protect the integrity of the newspaper and the city as a whole.
A news ombudsman receives and investigates complaints from newspaper readers or listeners or viewers of radio and television stations about accuracy, fairness, balance and good taste in news coverage. He or she recommends appropriate remedies or responses to correct or clarify news reports.
News ombudsmen generally function in an advisory capacity only, not as disciplinarians. Some newspapers use titles such as "readers' representative," "readers' advocate," or "public editor." Others have an assistant managing editor or an assistant to a senior editor who act as ombudsman. (from newsombudsmen.org)
If you read pjstar.com, you know that citizen bloggers are expressing negative feelings for fellow citizens, for City initiatives and for the City as a whole. More specifically, if there is a story about minorities committing crimes, the school district, new taxes, or the police, the comments of bloggers can be down right nasty. So nasty, that the City and the Journal Star could come off looking like they condone such hateful comments when they can’t catch them fast enough.
If you were looking to move to Peoria and read the local blogs or the newspaper on line, chances are you would come away with the impression that Peoria is filled with negativity; all political leaders care about is a museum; gangs run the City; and/or the schools are worthless. These conclusions may or may not be true, but outsiders could possibly begin to view Peoria as a city devoid of culture and indifferent to diversity.
Lately the Journal Star has been restricting comments on certain stories. It’s difficult to pin point what story they may or may not allow posting, readers are left to guess why. Sometimes they allow posting on a story that seems like they should have closed. Local bloggers pick up on the story and people go to the local blogs and comment and yes, sometimes in this process, the City and the Journal Star are slammed for closing off comments and not allowing the story to be explored further by citizen bloggers.
Newspapers don’t like it, but local blogs have an impact on what stories city newspapers cover. Community blogs that have high reader interaction often raise issues that the main stream media (i.e., local news stations and newspapers) are not covering. As a result, citizens could be left to question if the news [paper] is fair and balanced in their coverage of certain issues. Closing off all comments on certain stories invites this type of scrutiny.
It’s not just locally that there are concerns about the impact of citizen bloggers. In Salisbury, Maryland, the mayor has gone on record with her belief that malicious bloggers are endangering the moral of the city:
Citizens - bloggers (negative and otherwise) are challenging newspapers and city leaders like never before. In the current environment, any city and/or newspaper with a citizenship that actively participates in blogging could benefit from the ombudsman.
As newspapers struggle to compete with the blogosphere, self-regulation and reputation management will be more important than ever. A person on staff, who the public know is an advocate, is good public relations for a city and a newspaper.
Click here and here to see the above-referenced pjstar.com news items.
A robbery at a Burger King left one person dead and another seriously injured.
An afternoon shootout at a busy Burger King restaurant left a potential robber dead and the customer who shot him seriously wounded.
The bloody event unfolded about 4 p.m. Tuesday at the restaurant in Miami on Northeast 54th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. It was a time, employees said, when it is usually crowded with schoolchildren and people getting out of work early.
The robber entered wearing a ski mask. He approached a clerk, showed his gun and demanded money, said Miami police spokesman Jeff Giordano.
A customer eyed him and the two started arguing. The customer had a concealed-weapons permit and his gun -- and the two exchanged gunfire.
The robber crumpled to the floor and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The customer, with several gunshot wounds, was in serious but stable condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center.
Read the rest of the story here on MiamiHerald.com
Tuesday, Peoria Police announced that they have arrested four people suspected in the string of armed robberies that have plagued Peoria. The pjstar is reporting that the following people have been arrested: Antwan T. Phelps, 23, of 718 S. Warren St.; Martinez L. Shorty, 25, of 1018 W. Howett St.; Brice T. Carter, 22, of 412 Nebraska Ave.; and Destiny L. McGee, 24, of 1028 W. Virginia St.
The four allegedly worked together on holdups, wherein two or three men wore a mask on their faces and were armed with handguns. The robberies are believed to have started January 8, continuing up to March 12.
Jan. 8: Auto Zone, 908 S. Western Ave. Jan. 10: O'Reilly Auto Parts, 226 N. Western Ave. Jan. 12: Auto Zone, 908 S. Western Ave. Jan. 14: Church's Fried Chicken, 500 S. Western Ave. Jan. 19: Family Video, 3218 Harman Highway, Peoria County Jan. 22: Family Video, 3615 N. Wisconsin Ave. Jan. 26: Circle K, 2416 N. University St. Jan. 28: Harper Oil, 3203 SW Adams St. Jan. 31: Butternut Bread Thrift Store, 605 S. Shelley St. Feb. 3: Aldi, 210 S. Western Ave. Feb. 12: Hardee's, 3505 NE Adams St. Feb. 26: Maxie Beauty Supply, 3018 N. Sterling Ave. March 1: Family Video, 604 E. Locust, Bloomington March 1: Family Video, 2210 N. Cottage Ave., Bloomington March 4: KEMBA Peoria Credit Union, 2318 W. Willow Knolls Drive March 11: Midwest Bank of Western Illinois, 612 W. Main St., Galesburg March 12: Bartonville Bank, 5600 S. Adams St., Bartonville
Police also believe Tarius Ganaway worked alone in the following robberies: Dec. 23, 2008: Commerce Bank, 2609 N. Knoxville Ave. Jan. 26: World Finance Corporation, 3023 N. University St. Feb. 3: National City Bank, 1411 W. Forrest Hill Ave. March 13: Downtown 66 Station, 400 NE Adams St.
Over at Peoria Story, Elaine Hopkins has an entry about children being discriminated against at March Madness and as a result, black leaders are up in arms. I know I’m not alone in feeling really bad for the teens who were turned away. After all, it’s not their fault if gangs run Peoria.
The NAACP and other black leaders are right, this is an injustice… (here comes the but), But didn’t reasonable people know that if children in Peoria were allowed to continue to run rampant and terrorize the community, that eventually people would begin to look at all youngsters who fit a certain criterion as thugs and trouble makers? Stereotyping? Of course, but any reasonable adult who has seen Crime View Community knows that if you live and/or do business in a certain part of Peoria, you have to make judgment calls about your safety. These days, even a simple, white t-shirt could be a sign of a gangbanger.
Don Jackson, NAACP President believes that “Black children were singled out in ...” I agree with Mr. Jackson, I don’t doubt that they were singled out. Although it‘s unfortunate that it happened and it is hurtful to the children, is this really the fight the NAACP needs to have at this time?
I think we can all agree, that the behavior displayed by the young people who are terrorizing this community is a symptom of a greater problem. The NAACP and black leaders need to address the root cause of why so many young black folks in this town feel like nobody gives a damn about them, therefore, they don’t give a damn about nobody. It's a vicious cycle and we have to break it.
In the meantime, our children, law abiding citizens, are being turned away at the door of the Civic Center and make no bones about it – it’s WRONG. However, (... and I'm totally playing the devil's advocate on this) is it really discrimination when reasonable folks would consider taking similar precautions because of the crime in Peoria and the subsequent information on Crime View Community? I mean, come on, businesses are locking the door and making people ring the doorbell before getting in.
The black population of Peoria, Illinois is upwards of 25,000. The vast majority of the crime is in the black community. The majority of the crimes are being committed by black youth. The majority of us live in the neighborhoods where people are getting shot everyday. Black children live in a town where when they are shot dead, the police just can’t seem to solve the crime, but they will put up a map to warn citizens of the areas to avoid.
People can’t go to a street carnival without possibly getting beat-up, cussed out or shot at. Women and elderly are getting mugged regularly. There are complaints of discrimination in city services. The schools are failing our children and there are reports of lunch rooms being terorrized by thugs. What I and other law abiding citizens of Peoria want to know is can the NAACP and black leaders please, please, please talk to somebody about these issues?
I was strolling through my favorite thrift store with “Lil One” when I saw him. The guy of my pre-teen dreams. G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu Grip.
I showed him to “Lil One”. She went wild, she didn’t know nothing about that. She had never seen GI Joe. She thought the one in the white looked like Kanye. I didn’t need to convince her that he would be a better play mate for Veterinarian Barbie than Fred (from Scoobie Doo), she knew.
The following letter was sent to Emerge @ 10:05 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2009. General Parker claims that he has sent this letter to the Journal Star and they would not publish it.
MAYORAL RACE
After lots of prayer and discussions with various people, I reluctantly became a candidate for Mayor of the City of Peoria when no one else was willing to challenge the incumbent. This race,and my campaign, is about issues and ideas. I believe the taxpayers of Peoria are not and have not been getting the basic city services they have been paying for with tax dollars.
We need a change at city hall and I believe I can deliver the change that’s needed. The Journal Star has not been fair in its news coverage of this mayoral race and continues to assassinate my character at every opportunity. I believe that they will continue to do so. They endorsed my opponent without inviting me for a sit down interview to find out my position on the issues which affect all the taxpayers of Peoria. They also may not publish my answers to their election questionnaire. This questionnaire is very important because it gives the voter a side by side response by the both of us to specific questions of concern to the voters and the community. Hence, this letter may be my only opportunity to let the voters know my position on the key issues which affect us all.
First of all, I do support Lakeview museum and its quest for expansion and to bring a world class museum to Peoria, however I believe it should be expanded at its’ present location or another parcel of property that is already designated as nonprofit. The proposed riverfront location would result in a sales tax increase and remove prime real estate from the property tax base of Peoria.
Second, I would not have supported using 39.3 million dollars of taxpayers money to fund the private development of the new Marriott Hotel.
Third, I would put a moratorium on establishing anymore TIF districts or enterprise zones, especially in areas that abuse or misuse the incentive.
Fourth, we need to take the lead and ensure our public school system have all the tools necessary to guarantee student achievement.
Fifth, we need to ensure that our public safety workers have the adequate equipment and manpower needed to keep our public safe and make timely responses.
Sixth, I am committed to an open and transparent government. The citizens will remained informed and litigation will be kept to a minimal.
Seventh, we need to resurface all streets and sidewalks, especially in District 1, that are in serious disrepair or are nonexistent.
Eight, the City should negotiate an agreement with Comcast which would generate the most revenue for the City of Peoria while at the same time, substantially reduce the number of consumer complaints.
Ninth, we need to establish and implement strong neighborhood associations and empower them because their success is essential to taking back our neighborhoods and making them safe again.
This is a list of some of my priorities.
If elected, I will work with council to make city government more responsive to taxpayers. Some suggest that a vote for Parker is a wasted vote or more specifically “ a vote in vain”. This is not true because the will of the people will prevail. Your vote is a testament of your beliefs and ideas. If my ideas outlined above are your ideas, then in no way is your vote in vain or wasted. In Missouri, John Ashcroft lost an election to Mel Carnahan, a dead man. Those voters did not believe their votes were in vain even though there was no way a dead man could serve. They voted for what Mel Carnahan stood for. Believe you me, your vote counts.
When elected, I will receive my long sought after pardon and I will proudly serve as Mayor of Peoria. If you share my concerns then I ask for your vote on April 7th .
I’m mad at Eric Marlon Bishop and think his latest song “Blame It” should be banned from the radio. It’s a club banger. It’s got a hell of a hook. It’s also for grown folks and should only be played in clubs where people are over 21.
My distaste for Eric Marlon Bishop actually goes back to early 1990, when he played a character named Wanda, on In Living Color. Eric also had his own sitcom in the late nineties, entitled The Jamie Foxx Show. In the biopic Ray, Eric won the Academy Award for Best Actor. Eric was also in the film Collateral, alongside Tom Cruise (he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor). Eric Marlon Bishop is the second male, and the first African American, in history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for two different movies, Collateral and Ray.
Eric is fortunate enough to be making it as an actor and an R&B singer and has been nominated for a Grammy multiple times. I laugh every time he pulls out a hit, but for some reason, people love him. Eric is so cool, not only does he know such accomplished actors and producers as Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson, Forest Whitaker and Jake Gyllenhaal, but he also hangs with Kanye West, Quincy Jones, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, and Ne-Yo. He knows all of the hottest actors and entertainers. Eric Marlon Bishop is the man. Right? Wrong.
As previously mentioned, Eric Marlon Bishop, currently has a song in heavy rotation on urban radio stations entitled “Blame It”. There is an accompanying video showing just how cool Eric is. He rolls up in a limo, riding with Jake Gyllenhall, Ron Howard (yes Opie) and others. He walks into a club, there’s Quincy Jones, Cedric the Entertainer, T. Pain, Jermaine Dupree. It’s a NEWBO filled video and the song has a crazy hook. I accidentally sang it myself, just this morning.
On January 18, 2009, Eric Marlon Bishop appeared as a speaker at an Inaugural Celebration Event for then President-Elect Barack Obama. If “Blame It” were in rotation at that time – I bet Eric Marlon Bishop would not have gotten an invite to speak. Why? Because “Blame It” is blatantly promoting the selling and buying of alcohol to the black community and to our youth.
"Blame It" is currently number seven (7) on the Top 40 Charts and number one (1) on the R&B Charts. So in other words, the youngsters and the folks in the club love it.
As you skim the lyrics (shown below), notice all of the bad behavior Eric is condoning as long as you "blame it on the alcohol"? More importantly, notice all of the liquor Eric is advertising? There's Grey Goose, Patron, Hennessey, Smirnoff Vodka, Nuvo and Blue Top Champagne. I wonder if Eric has a contract with all of these brands?
I believe there are regulations against having too many liquor ads and liquor stores in a neighborhood. Perhaps there should also be regulations for songs filled with lyrics, which have an over-intensity and saturation of alcohol brands.
In some neighborhoods, "Blame It" is thumping in every vehicle going down the street. Urban radio stations are playing the song ad-nausea. In essence, "Blame It" is a liquor advertisement playing in every car that is tuned in to an urban radio station.
Eric Marlon Bishop, is not only an Academy Award winning actor and Grammy nominated singer, he is now successfully advertising liquor to those that have been deemed the most vulnerable.
Hopefully Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) will "Blame it" on Jamie Foxx and get this mess pulled from the radio soon.
Blame It (on the Alcohol) lyrics
( chorus ) Blame it on the goose Got you feeling loose Blame it on tron Got you in the zone Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol
( verse 1 ) Ay, she say she usually don't but i know that she front cause shawty know what she want but she dont wanna seem like she easy i hear ya sayin what ya wont do but you know we probably gon do what you been feenin deep inside dont lie now.
(bridge) Girl what you drinking gone let sink in here for the weekend thinkin we can see what we can be if we press fast forward just one more round and you're down i know it fill another cup up feelin on yo butt what you don't even care now i was unaware how fine you was before my buzz set in my buzz set in (my buzz set in)
( chorus ) Blame it on the goose Got you feeling loose Blame it on tron Got you in the zone Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the vodka Blame it on the henny Blame it on the blue top Got you feeling dizzy Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol
(verse 2) Oooo see She spilled some drank on me And now im knowin she tipsy She put her body on me And she keep starin me right in my eyes No tellin what im gone do Baby i would rather show you What you been missin in your life when i get inside.
(bridge) Girl what you drinking gone let sink in here for the weekend thinkin we can see what we can be if we press fast forward just one more round and you're down i know it fill another cup up feelin on yo butt what you don't even care now i was unaware how fine you was before my buzz set in my buzz set in (my buzz set in)
(chorus) Blame it on the goose Got you feeling loose Blame it on tron Got you in the zone Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the vodka Blame it on the henny Blame it on the blue top Got you feeling dizzy Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol
( t-pain ) Girl i kno you feel good just like you look Couple more shots you open up like a book I aint trippin (cause ima read ya) Shawty i aint trippin (i jus wanna please ya) imma take a shot of the nuvo shawty then u no its goin down we can kick it like judo u no wat i mean shawty got drunk thought it all was a dream so i made ha say (ah ah ah) now she got ha hand on my leg got my seats all wade in my ride all ova my rides he looked me dead in the eye (eye eye) then my pants got bigger she already know wat 2 figure had ha lookin at ha boyfriend like (ah ah ah )
(chorus) Blame it on the goose Got you feeling loose Blame it on tron Got you in the zone Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the vodka Blame it on the henny Blame it on the blue top Got you feeling dizzy Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol
(hook) now to the ballerz poppin bottles with the henny in they cup screamin money aint a thang if it aint throw it up (in the sky) hold your dranks up high and to my independent ballaz who can buy they own bottles if u lookin like a model when them broke fellaz holla, tell 'em fly hold your dranks up high
(chorus) Blame it on the goose Got you feeling loose Blame it on tron Got you in the zone Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the vodka Blame it on the henny Blame it on the blue top Got you feeling dizzy Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah alcohol Blame it on the ah ah ah ah ah ah alcohol
Alcohol is the leading drug problem among young people, and underage drinking is responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths per year among persons under age 21.4. Young people who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely than those who wait to drink until age 21 to have alcohol problems later in life, including alcohol dependence and involvement in alcohol-related violence and motor vehicle crashes.
Evidence that exposure to alcohol advertising and marketing increases the likelihood of underage drinking has grown substantially. Since 2001, at least seven peer-reviewed longitudinal studies have found that young people with greater exposure to alcohol marketing are more likely to start drinking than their peers. (from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth)
Driving home one night in my sporty mommy mobile, the little one strapped in the back, happy and singing (as usual); we are behind a truck that is going slow. The person driving the truck puts on the blinker and turns left into a driveway, then I see the police car sitting in the street. I proceed to drive slowly, pulling to the right to go around the police car. Out of no where, a policeman approaches my vehicle - arms spread wide, chest in the air, walking hard. I stop and roll down my window:
Me: Oh, I'm sorry officer is the street closed....
Officer: What the hell are you doing (shouting) caint you see the damn street is closed?
Me: Officer, had I known the street was closed, I would not have proceeded, I am not sure why you are getting loud with me, but could you please keep it down, I have my child in the car.
Officer: (not as loudly) The street’s closed, turn it around.
I roll my window up feeling crunchy. There's a whole different vibe in the car and of course, the singing has stopped. I turn around to go in the opposite direction, feeling highly pissed, with no outlet. As I head back in the other direction, I notice there are at least five other cars behind me, so clearly the officer had not properly closed off the street. Why was it necessary for him to come at me like that right off the bat? Didn't the mommy mobile and the child in the back indicate that I more than likely was not a threat?
This is just my latest story about how delightful the Peoria police can be and it's mild compared to stories that other people I know and love could tell. From where I sit, it's not a much of a reach for me to believe that a Peoria police officer beat a black man.
AND let me go on the record right here and debunk the myth that it does not matter how nice you say "Yes sir", or "No sir", or “Mr. Officer”. Unfortunately, all that matters is the disposition of the officer at that given time.
_____________
Today there is a report in the PJStar about Peoria Police Officers being fired for allegedly beating a black man. Commenters on blogs are going on and on - "Kevin Lyons is trying to get back at the police"; or "that perp was attacking the officers"; or “he should not have run”. People did you not see this headline:
POLICE OFFICERS ARRESTED IN
CONNECTION WITH BEATING A MAN...
They were ARRESTED, both of them and booked on identical charges of four counts of official misconduct, aggravated battery, battery and mob action.
There was an investigation conducted before these charges were brought and before they were ARRESTED. Obviously there is some truth to Bryce Scott's (the beat up black man) story. Not to mention the video, that clearly shows police officers stumping the *hit out of something/someone.
I know the officers are innocent until proven guilty, but… (okay, I am going to stop that thought right there, because that will take me off on a tangent about how black folks are seldom ever called to serve on a jury in Peoria).
Sure there are a lot of great police officers in Peoria and God bless them, they have a difficult job. However, my prayer is and always has been, that if I, or any of the people I know and love, should happen to deal with a police officer, Lord please let it be one of those good ones we keep hearing about.
As I sat watching CNBC’s, Jim Cramer get eaten alive by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, I could not help but be a little embarrassed for Cramer. There was no way Cramer could win this argument. What made him decide that he was willing to be the fall guy for all that CNBC had gotten wrong? Stewart paraphrased a Carly Simon quote when he told Cramer “this ass-whoopin' isn't about you”.
The fight was originally between Stewart and CNBC Business News’ on-air editor, Rick Santelli. Santelli was intelligent enough to cancel his interview with Stewart - he was mocked for a couple of days and then people forgot about him. Then, for some reason, Cramer steps in and begins to bash Stewart for mocking CNBC for their so called “objective financial journalisim”.
Stewart made blow after blow at Cramer and CNBC’s “financial programming”, he even clowned Cramer on Letterman – the case was/is solid. So, what in the hell was Cramer thinking when he decided to go on Stewart’s show? Did he actually think he could match wits with Jon Stewart? Doesn’t he know that you don’t start fights with the Court Jesters of society? Certainly not this particular Jester (Stewart), who is much beloved and has beat down many highly placed individuals on his highly viewed television show.
These satirist / comedians / jesters – (Stewart, Fey, Ferrell, and Colbert) don’t have to play by the rules – they will eat you alive. How credible is CNBC now that Cramer has admited to being a “snake oil salesman labeling his wares as vitamin tonic”?
Many think of a Court Jester as simply a clown employed to entertain the King. Oh contraire, the role they played entailed much more than playing music and doing handstands.
Whenever loss of freedoms are at stake, the Court Jester is necessary. The Jester can say anything because it is in jest – he can be frank. Count on the Court Jester to challenge what you see presented before you, by making fun of it. The Jester will trivialize an idea to the degree we are left wondering exactly who is zooming who. He will parody the players involved, so we can see them in a different light.
In the instance of Tina Fey parodying Sarah Palin, Jesters may even reverse thinking, by exposing the audience to the facets of a personality that have been polished so bright you can’t look at them.
In Medievil times, it was a thin line a Jester walked to not be seen as a “fool”, because he had to hold the council of the King. The position of the Joker playing card, which has no fixed place in the hierarchy of King, Queen, Knave etc. might be a remnant of this position of the court jester. This lack of any place in the hierarchy meant Kings could trust their councel more. They had no vested interest in any region, estate or church. (from Wikipedia)
The look of the Court Jester may have changed, but their role in society is just as important. So thank you Jon, Tina, Will and Steven…
Over the lunch hour I was watching that little cutie Marcus Bailey over on WMBD 31, tell the weather. Marcus reports that “we are still watching the Illinois River rise as we head into the weekend. The river will crest at 28 feet Saturday, which would make it the 4th highest crest on record, and the highest we have seen since 1985!” I imagine the local powers that be hated to hear that weather report.
The Riverfront is flooded out and will continue to be flooded through next week. Therefore, restaurants are a major hassle to get to. If you were in Peoria to participate in the “madness” that is March Madness, would you park blocks away from the restaurant you want to go to, and then walk across a rickety, lil bridge just to get some eats? No, you are going to pile your family in your SUV and high tale it across the very accessible bridge to the restaurant mecca that is East Peoria.
The Community Word reports that Kelleher’s is still open. This is good for Kelleher’s, as St. Patty’s day is quickly approaching. However, most people are going to be looking for a more family friendly type of fare.
Sure some folks will head up Main Street to Avanti’s, some may even shoot out to the restaurants by Northwoods Mall. But more than likely, most of them will be spending the bulk of their March Madness dollars in East Peoria. To bad for Peoria.
People are always talking about the things the City has done wrong - look at how spot on they were when they named Water Street.
Do you think POTUS Obama will appoint a Czar of Tetrahydrocannabinol? Will they work with the cigarette manufacturers and have it rolled, put in packages and sold like cigarettes? Will they tax it like cigarettes? Where will it be sold? Do you think we will see government run bong shops opening up throughout the country? Do you think Michael Phelps will be the poster boy? What about purity and quality? So many questions.
If a company decides that because of the tough economy they are going to have to lay off employees, do you think they would start with the employees who are illegal or if they will lay off citizens who they have to pay more?
When commenting on this random question, please do not use the name of any particular business.
Recently District 150’s School Board adopted a new policy directing the District to develop procedures to encourage greater parental involvement. What would teachers do if parents were to actually show up at the schools?
I am willing to bet that a lot of teachers are just fine with the fact that parents don't show up at the schools, that way, they don't have to "deal" with them.
Go volunteer at a school, sign up for the PTO, shock the teachers.
I refuse to continue to be on the downlow about my love of rainbows... I hope this does not get me in any trouble, but here is something I have wanted to say for a long time:
Hey gay people, can we please have the rainbow back?
Don’t get me wrong, I love all people, but really, who gave the gays the right to take away something as simple and pure as the rainbow? Children love rainbows (especially girls), children need rainbows. I need rainbows.
Remember the simpler days, when a rainbow was the thing that magically appeared at the end of a beautiful, warm summer rain; the Sun is shining and a spectrum of light appears in the sky AND it has a pot of gold at the end of it. WOW. Every kid wants to chase the rainbow – right?
Remember the days of Rainbow Brite. How cool was she? Rainbow Brite was an animated television series introduced by Hallmark Cards in 1984. The story goes: there was a little orphan girl named Wisp, who is taken by an unknown force to the Colorless World (oh horrors). She must find the Sphere of Light, but upon doing so, she befriends a sprite, Twink, and a majestic white horse known as Starlite. She rescues the seven Color Kids (one for each color of the rainbow) and finds the Color Belt, which is the tool she needs to bring color to the land.
After using the Color Belt to defeat the King of Shadows (also known as the Evil Force and the Dark One), an evil hooded being with twitchy fingers, the unknown force renames Wisp as Rainbow Brite. She and the Color Kids (and their helpers, the Sprites) live in Rainbow Land and are in charge of all the colors on Earth. (from Wiki)
Now, say for example: a child your child knows is having a birthday party. The little girl loooves rainbows, as a matter of fact, they have a rainbow flag flying at their house. The child sends out Rainbow Brite invitations that her Mom made especially for her. The little girl and her Mom deliver the invites and they are wearing the cutest, little, matching Rainbow Brite t-shirs (that also match the invitations): … would you let your kid go to the party? The invitation said they were going to have a real pony! Not that simple is it? Why are you hesitating on picking up the phone and RSVPing? Oh, that’s right, you have to think about the rainbow thing. Because now the rainbow means something else; now the rainbow implies a particular sexual orientation? NOW you are left to wonder at what age you need to have “the talk” about the damn rainbow.
Silly me, I thought CrimeView was going to be used to provide information to law enforcement so that they could make educated decisions on how to protect citizens.
The Peoria Police Department and Peoria County Sheriff’s Department launched a crime-mapping tool called CrimeView Community Wednesday at the Peoria police station. The program provides up to 90 days’ worth of offenses that occur in a user-designated area.
Tom Bride, executive director of the Peoria Election Commission, said the beginning of absentee, in-person voting at his office could begin as soon as today, Wednesday, March 4, 2009. Bride also said that once any type of voting begins this week, withdrawal requests won't be accepted (from pjstar).
As General John Parker has made clear to the citizens of Peoria that he “will not quit”, his campaign rolls on. A quick look at Parker’s website shows the following events:
February 28, 2009 - Fundraiser for General Parker for Mayor. Join us in celebrating Peoria’s Black History! Keynote speaker is Former Fire Chief, John Parker. Located at the Holiday Inn City Centre. 500 Hamilton Blvd. Cocktails at 6:00pm; Program at 7:00pm. Come share a night with good friends, good food, networking and dancing. Retired Fire Chief John Parker will speak about Peoria’s Black History as he remembers it. TICKETS COST $35.00 each.$350.00 Table of 10 Sponsorships Available from $500 on up. To purchase tickets call: (309)397-3104
March 1, 2009 - Campaign Kickoff
March 2, 2009 - Candidate's Night, Paparazzi's Restaurant at 6:30pm, 4315 N. Voss in Peoria Heights
March 4, 2009 - Candidate's Night Moss-Bradley Resident's Association at 6:30 p.m. ____________________________________ General John Parker, the only other candidate who is running against the incumbent, Mayor Jim Ardis. I suppose I should mention, General John Parker is black and Jim Ardis is white. However, the broader issue is Parker's legal issues:
I have been letting this issue marinate for several days. However, I cannot help but continue to wonder, why is Kevin Lyons taking such a strong stance against General John Parker? We all have known for some time (since December) that Parker is a convicted felon, so why is Kevin Lyons forcing Parker’s hand at this juncture?
Why did Lyons wait until Parker's name was on the ballot? To remove his name from the ballot at this time would be costly. Absentee voting is set to begin at the Election Commission as early as Thursday, March 4.
Other bloggers are also questioning why the State’s Attorney is picking this fight with Parker now. Recently, Mr. Lyons made the following statement in the PJStar about Parker:
"I gave Mr. Parker a courtesy week to withdraw mainly because most people seek public office, you hope, in a sense of altruism," Lyons said. "You would like to afford them the opportunity to self-correct an ineligibility or conflict. I don't think anyone believes Mr. Parker was interested in self-correcting."
Really? Mr. Parker is a politician, just like Mr. Lyons and Mr. Ardis. How altruistic is any politician... really? Why is it necessary for Kevin Lyons to deal with John Parker in such a condescending manner? Is it because Parker is an ex-convict? Is this the type of treatment every ex-convict can look forward to, regardless of how much they may have turned their life around? It looks to me like Mr. Parker has done a lot of self correcting.
According to PJStar.com City Council members have barely commented on the mayoral race and Mayor Jim Ardis could not be reached for comment. However...
From what I understand, anyone could have registered a complaint about Parker's candidacy five days after the election's filing date, which was Dec. 15, 2008, and no one did.
Has some one registered a complaint about Parker's candidacy since then? Did I miss that news story? Oh, I get it, this an example of the State's Attorney, making an altruistic effort, to protect the citizens of Peoria, from the likes of General John Parker?
Many think of a Court Jester as simply a clown employed to entertain the King. Oh contraire, the role they played entailed much more than playing music and doing handstands.
After using the Color Belt to defeat the King of Shadows (also known as the Evil Force and the Dark One), an evil hooded being with twitchy fingers, the unknown force renames Wisp as Rainbow Brite. She and the Color Kids (and their helpers, the Sprites) live in Rainbow Land and are in charge of all the colors on Earth. (from Wiki)
… would you let your kid go to the party? The invitation said they were going to have a real pony! Not that simple is it? Why are you hesitating on picking up the phone and RSVPing? Oh, that’s right, you have to think about the rainbow thing. Because now the rainbow means something else; now the rainbow implies a particular sexual orientation? NOW you are left to wonder at what age you need to have “the talk” about the damn rainbow. 
