Thursday, April 28, 2011
Rogerites Go Loco Over Library Logo
Was the Election Rigged to Boot Bonnie off the Ballot?
New evidence has surfaced regarding the elections of April 2011. Bonnie was objected to by someone who used Mr. Kavanagh as an attorney to remove her from the ballot.
Under Roger Claar's campign funds, the following evidence has surfaced as to whom paid for the attorneys services.
As a reminder to the residence, Mr. Roger Claar was the head of the electoral board in February that booted Bonnie off the ballot. Could he have possibly been non-biased if he paid the legal fees for the objector?
http://www.elections.il.gov/campaigndisclosure/ItemizedExpend.aspx?FiledDocID=431597&ExpenditureType=Expenditures&Archived=True&OrderBy=LastorOnlyName-AtoZ&ItemizedExpendFrom=D2Quarterly.aspx
Will Bonnie sue for a breach of her rights to run for office? It is her constitutional rights to do so and this rigged process passed her rights and the rights of all the residents to be able to vote for her.
Tell us your opinions!
Under Roger Claar's campign funds, the following evidence has surfaced as to whom paid for the attorneys services.
As a reminder to the residence, Mr. Roger Claar was the head of the electoral board in February that booted Bonnie off the ballot. Could he have possibly been non-biased if he paid the legal fees for the objector?
http://www.elections.il.gov/campaigndisclosure/ItemizedExpend.aspx?FiledDocID=431597&ExpenditureType=Expenditures&Archived=True&OrderBy=LastorOnlyName-AtoZ&ItemizedExpendFrom=D2Quarterly.aspx
| Kavanagh Grumley & Gorbold LLC | 111 North Ottawa Street Joliet, IL 60432 | $10,913.58 2/22/2011 | Expenditure Citizens for Claar | Committee Legal fees |
Will Bonnie sue for a breach of her rights to run for office? It is her constitutional rights to do so and this rigged process passed her rights and the rights of all the residents to be able to vote for her.
Tell us your opinions!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce Involved in Illegal Activity?
According to the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce bylaws, Section 1 General provisions it states:
4. The Chamber shall observe all local, state, and federal laws which apply to a non-profit organization as defined in section 501 C 6 of the IRS code.
However, when we review the IL Attorney General's web site under Building Better Charities, the Chamber of Bolingbrook did not register their non-profit, nor submit their financial statements in accordance with law.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/index.html They are simply NOT registered and have not registered for years!
Therefore, they are not submitting whom they pay salaries, whom is donating the money, or how the money is being spent.
The reason we looked into this is because we received a hot tip alleging $1,000 dinners elected officials have been taken lately with possible Chamber funds. We were informed that Mike Evans, School Board member and Chamber Director spends "an enormous amount of money" on trips for his family, others, and lavish dinners and drinking. This scoop states that "his trips are paid for by the Chamber, Mike and his wife and other Chamber members like the Mayer's, McCadds, Kustas and a lot of other members and their wives go out to local restaurants on a weekly basis and the bill will come from 800 to 1000 dollars each time."
So why does the Village and Schools, Libraries and Park Districts donate our tax dollars to the Chamber? Well I think you have your answer...
4. The Chamber shall observe all local, state, and federal laws which apply to a non-profit organization as defined in section 501 C 6 of the IRS code.
However, when we review the IL Attorney General's web site under Building Better Charities, the Chamber of Bolingbrook did not register their non-profit, nor submit their financial statements in accordance with law.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/charities/index.html They are simply NOT registered and have not registered for years!
Therefore, they are not submitting whom they pay salaries, whom is donating the money, or how the money is being spent.
The reason we looked into this is because we received a hot tip alleging $1,000 dinners elected officials have been taken lately with possible Chamber funds. We were informed that Mike Evans, School Board member and Chamber Director spends "an enormous amount of money" on trips for his family, others, and lavish dinners and drinking. This scoop states that "his trips are paid for by the Chamber, Mike and his wife and other Chamber members like the Mayer's, McCadds, Kustas and a lot of other members and their wives go out to local restaurants on a weekly basis and the bill will come from 800 to 1000 dollars each time."
So why does the Village and Schools, Libraries and Park Districts donate our tax dollars to the Chamber? Well I think you have your answer...
What is the HEART Organization?
The HEART organization works with troubled youth. It gets top dollar for donations from the Village using our tax dollars. Do people realize that when we contribute, as a taxpayer donation from Roger Claar, or individually, that the head of this organization earns a fat salary?
According to the 2009 Tax statements, JoAnn Robinson (founder and owner) earns $62,257.00 per year for part time work in this organization.
http://ag.state.il.us/PDF_IMAGES/Indexes20100721/01045363-2009.pdf
This is over 60% of the money they make per year on donations and grants. The money is not going to help the kids in need or give them supplies or a place to go... the money is being used to pay a fat paycheck.
How do you feel donating to her organization? How do you feel that Mr. Claar and the Trustees have been doing just that, with your money?
Another organization exposed...
According to the 2009 Tax statements, JoAnn Robinson (founder and owner) earns $62,257.00 per year for part time work in this organization.
http://ag.state.il.us/PDF_IMAGES/Indexes20100721/01045363-2009.pdf
This is over 60% of the money they make per year on donations and grants. The money is not going to help the kids in need or give them supplies or a place to go... the money is being used to pay a fat paycheck.
How do you feel donating to her organization? How do you feel that Mr. Claar and the Trustees have been doing just that, with your money?
Another organization exposed...
FOIA Law and Discrimination, I don't play around!
From J Washington
Yesterday was an interesting day. While I waited my five days for my FOIA returns, I was stunned to open the FOIA to see that all were denied. The basis of denial was that I had not supplied enough evidence of my personal information.
So I took the time to review the FOIA law sent to me this morning from a well known discrimination attorney and found the following:
1. They have not asked for this proof from EVERY resident requesting a FOIA, therefore it is discriminatory. (Why only me?)
2. They have not asked this information of other "white" FOIA requesters that I know. (So is it a race thing?)
3. The intention of denying this FOIA on this basis was illegal, as FOIA act specifically does not address that a requester must supply personal information. Matter of fact, under
(5 ILCS 140/1)
Yesterday was an interesting day. While I waited my five days for my FOIA returns, I was stunned to open the FOIA to see that all were denied. The basis of denial was that I had not supplied enough evidence of my personal information.
So I took the time to review the FOIA law sent to me this morning from a well known discrimination attorney and found the following:
1. They have not asked for this proof from EVERY resident requesting a FOIA, therefore it is discriminatory. (Why only me?)
2. They have not asked this information of other "white" FOIA requesters that I know. (So is it a race thing?)
3. The intention of denying this FOIA on this basis was illegal, as FOIA act specifically does not address that a requester must supply personal information. Matter of fact, under
(5 ILCS 140/1)
(from Ch. 116, par. 201) it states that the FOIA act is not intended to cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Not only did they want my address to harass or bully me and my family, they wanted to post it for the stalkers, like they did to Bonnie and others that have submitted a FOIA. 4. Furthermore, FOIA law only gives certain refusal allowances. According to Sec. 7. Exemptions. (5 ILCS 140/9) (from Ch. 116, par. 209), this reason for denial was invalid, as this reason is not a "valid" reason for denial.5. It is my right to request and receive FOIA's. Sec. 1. Pursuant to the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of government, it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees consistent with the terms of this Act. Such access is necessary to enable the people to fulfill their duties of discussing public issues fully and freely, making informed political judgments and monitoring government to ensure that it is being conducted in the public interest. 6. They also broke my FOIA rights when they failed to include factual basis to their denial and a list of names involved.Sec. 9. (a) Each public body denying a request for public records shall notify the requester in writing of the decision to deny the request, the reasons for the denial, including a detailed factual basis for the application of any exemption claimed, and the names and titles or positions of each person responsible for the denial. So the bottom line is this...I must have asked for something that hit an illegal activity right on the head. I will give the village 5 more days to send the FOIA before I pursue three possible different avenues.1. I will go to the PAC advisor at the States Attorneys Office to have them pursue the FOIA request, and hire an attorney whom will charge the village the $5K fine plus legal expenses.2. I will have multiple "white" people request the same documents.3. I will hire the attorney and sue for discriminatory and harassment actions based on the fact I was denied without just cause, that I was asked to supply personal information, and was treated differently then any other resident.Furthermore, if this was an attempt to bully or harass my family by gaining information, I will show these individuals what I think of that. Real men don't cower behind a lady in the office's FOIA reports. A personal message to you, Mr. Claar. I assume you remember meeting me in person because you are too afraid to be a man and let me look you in the eye while you ask for my personal info to intimidate my family. For that cowardice, I spit on your shoe.According to my attorney, my rights are also applied for self defense and the right to defend my young. So PLEASE show up at my door to harass and bully my wife and kids, PLEASE wrongfully deny my FOIA, and PLEASE discriminate against me. It is not I that will live to regret a simple denial of a FOIA.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Township to raise taxes while residents want to remove their services
In a time where the Du Page Township is fighting to keep residents from issuing a referendum to remove their entire structure and services, they raised the taxes again.
It is hard pressed to prove that the Township is a needed entity. The tax assessor can be incorporated into Will County government but the rest of the services can be provided by park districts and local not for profit charities. While residents fume and throw fits to eliminate this taxing body for lack of need, one would think they would reduce their expenses to stay alive and open.
Yet they rasied taxes again this year. Maybe it is to pay $30+K per year to a youth director who has a position of clout and only throws a few events a year. Maybe it is to keep the elected officials salaries. Maybe it is to pay for the vacations and trips they won't supply info about through FOIA, causing concerns over who is getting free money for fun in the Township. Maybe it is something else entirely!
The bottom line is you will see the increase in your tax bill. The residents have two years to form the referendum and get it on the ballot. Off to the races!
It is hard pressed to prove that the Township is a needed entity. The tax assessor can be incorporated into Will County government but the rest of the services can be provided by park districts and local not for profit charities. While residents fume and throw fits to eliminate this taxing body for lack of need, one would think they would reduce their expenses to stay alive and open.
Yet they rasied taxes again this year. Maybe it is to pay $30+K per year to a youth director who has a position of clout and only throws a few events a year. Maybe it is to keep the elected officials salaries. Maybe it is to pay for the vacations and trips they won't supply info about through FOIA, causing concerns over who is getting free money for fun in the Township. Maybe it is something else entirely!
The bottom line is you will see the increase in your tax bill. The residents have two years to form the referendum and get it on the ballot. Off to the races!
Who cost the Library Taxpayers more money?
We are looking to see who initiated the legal letter to the Number Crunchers to try to stop them from using their logo. We have attorneys on site, so we asked them. Their response was that this was an easy one for any grad in law to answer...
First, the logo does not have the registered trademark, service mark, or copyright stamp. (Is it because someone just applied for it about a week ago? ) By law it must have this.
Second, Government entities are public domain. “Works produced by the US government, or any government agency or person acting in a government capacity, are in the public domain, therefore allowing others to freely copy from Federal Documents.”
Thirdly, If you wish to complain about a company, you can use their name and logo. “While trademark law prevents you from using someone else's trademark to sell your competing, it doesn't stop you from using the trademark to refer to the trademark owner or its products. That kind of use, known as "nominative fair use," is permitted if using the trademark is necessary to identify the products, services, or company you're talking about, and you don't use the mark to suggest the company endorses you. In general, this means you can use the company name in your review so people know which company or product you're complaining about. You can even use the trademark in a domain name (like fountaindalesucks.com), so long as it's clear that you're not claiming to be or speak for the company.”
So let’s get to the bottom of the matter of LAW. Do we not have an attorney on the library board? Yes, we have two.
One is a Board elected official named Steven Prodehl and one is Tressler Law Firm.
Prodehl is an Attorney, Partner for the Law Offices of June, Prodehl & Renzi LLC, 279 S Schmidt Rd, Bolingbrook. He also is the Adjudicatory Law Judge for the Village of Bolingbrook in the Ordinance Courts. He, of all people, should know not to send a letter unless you are updated on the law. He should also have informed the board that they had no jurisdiction to send this type of letter and it was frivolous spending.
So why could two attorneys not research law before threatening a watch dog group? Are they incapable of research or just incapable of law? Why would Prodehl not advise the board that there is nothing that could be done about the logo before they spent the money to trademark or to send the letter? That is money lost… So who do we blame? The board president Peg Danhof or the attorneys on the board? Either way this is incompetence at it’s best. What about the rights of the people that elected them? Stopping the “press” is taking away the 75,000 residents freedom of speech and the Civil Liberties that layer that.
Thanks for mis-spending tax payers dollars AGAIN! Next time, hire a recent law grad and you can get better legal advice! Dinosaurs do not understand modern media, or apparently laws about such...
Taxes are on the way, what should I expect? from a resident...
Residents can expect their property tax bills to arrive about May 1. Payments are due in June and September.
School districts take up most of the tax bill of 72.6 percent. Municipalities comprise 10.2 percent.
Although property taxes have dropped all around the country due to drops in property values, the same does not hold true in Bolingbrook. Bolingbrook continues to assess at a higher rate to accommodate the debts needed. You will see an increase is almost all of your taxing bodies come May.
Remember, it is during the recession that the Library was built, the Police Department was constructed, and the schools added high debts.
Your taxes will reflect all these high costs.
Be prepared, you will be one of the highest percent taxing bodies in the US. Compare your property taxes to states like Florida paying prime property cities at $2K a year in taxes for a $200K assessed value home with 2,400 sf.
We will report the percentages and increases shortly.
School districts take up most of the tax bill of 72.6 percent. Municipalities comprise 10.2 percent.
Although property taxes have dropped all around the country due to drops in property values, the same does not hold true in Bolingbrook. Bolingbrook continues to assess at a higher rate to accommodate the debts needed. You will see an increase is almost all of your taxing bodies come May.
Remember, it is during the recession that the Library was built, the Police Department was constructed, and the schools added high debts.
Your taxes will reflect all these high costs.
Be prepared, you will be one of the highest percent taxing bodies in the US. Compare your property taxes to states like Florida paying prime property cities at $2K a year in taxes for a $200K assessed value home with 2,400 sf.
We will report the percentages and increases shortly.
A Year in Review
When we look back towards accomplishments, we need to look at the entire two years. Our web site has informed thousands of Bolingbrook residents on the serious issues in our community. We have overcome many rumors of false reporting and have become a very reputable news source. We leaped during election to 2,000+ hits per day! We are closing in on 100,000 hits in less than two years and counting.
We have used our overly opinionated writers to spark controversy and get the point across to show different voices in our community. We have allowed residents to post their opinions and have given them a voice in a community that not had a voice in over 20 years.
We have exposed corruption and corrupt practices, while showing where people walk the thin line between law abiding citizens and non law abiding citizens.
We have given good stories and bad stories, reported on hero's and villains. We have sparked residents talking in many social networks, from online blogging to restaurants, stores, bars, and neighborhood organizations, clubs, and block parties. We have brought people together with common interests and goals, agenda's and news.
When people in Bolingbrook want to hear the truth, they come to us. We receive over 500 emails a week asking questions and we respond promptly. We have grown from 5 residents working the site to over 30 whom volunteer their time to attend functions, write stories, respond to mail, and even help campaigns. We are known to be the site that people go to when they have a problem or find an issue in Bolingbrook. We investigate and report for them, so they can get on in their busy lives. We have become every residents helping hand.
Over the years we have seen residents step forward in need. We have seen public workers step forward in need. We have even assisted other communities to start local watch dog groups. We have seen the birth of an Independent Party and seen the demise of the Democratic and Republican Parties locally. We have been there to report on it.
Some say we are only about uncovering conspiracies of elected officials. However, we have shown the residents otherwise with such stories as Devon Hodges, the basketball star being stripped of his rights to get into a good college with scholarships and stores who prosecute theft illegally. We have shown stories on bravery amongst the Police and Fire Departments. We have mentioned fundraisers and supported local events. We have been there to cover local elections, local government, and local activities for the residents. We are multi faceted and ever changing, thanks to the dedicated staff. We do all this, even though NO OTHER PAPER in Bolingbrook dares to.
We have our critics, which make us work harder to become better. They want to spread allegations of falsities and lie about our members. They want us to look like crazy people, in order for themselves to look sane. They need to do this to protect themselves from our truths. The truth can be damning. It can hurt people and their families. We are aware of this. However, we are dedicated to report the truth because hurting one person that has hurt 75,000 is the Karma that person has coming to them. Sometimes, we do feel bad to have to report it, but the public has a right to know.
On the other hand, these same critics have spent two years trashing some of our dedicated members with comments about their looks or spreading false information about them. They do not report the truth about these members or expose how these people have hurt thousands of residents, because they have done nothing to be exposed of. The difference in what these government thrashers do and what we do is that we expose people's wrong doings as it impacts others, while their tactic is to go after people with families who have done nothing wrong. These dedicated members have done nothing except ask the government questions, and in return, get bullied by the thrashers.
So we have spent two years in this never ending battle between the "good and the evil". We see it as two fights. One is to ensure the residents are current on information and the other is to ensure that the "thrashers" do not stop us from supplying the first goal. Most viewers on here do not understand what our dedicated members have endured at the hands of the thrashers. One member, Bonnie has been publicly called a murderer and had her home threatened with her 2 year old there, just for telling the truth to the public. She has endured over two years of weight related comments on Topix by her government stalker that the police refuse to arrest(even though he has a warrant and threatened her body in the everglades wont be found).
Another member questioned a "bill" and had his family threatened. Every day our staff risk their lives and families lives to bring you these stories and ensure they are accurate. Every day they play the hero for the sake of 75,000 residents, while the non-transparent government hides as the villain, trying to discredit or stop the information from being released. Our writers offer the truth and state their opinions and that is what makes our site so great. We wish we had more residents like them that could devote a few hours per week!
It is a risk that makes us want to step out and thank these contributors for putting their lives and reputations on the line to make Bolingbrook a better place for us all. For taking the hits for all of us that write or contribute. It does not seem fair that three of them would take the hits for so many of us that participate, but one time a year you should be honored for your actions.
So on behalf of the Bolingbrook Report and its readers, thank you for your dedication, tenacity, risk,and time that you have devoted to the cause. Each stone you uncover topples over another mountain to clear the way to a better Bolingbrook. Thank you.
We also want to thank the readers for staying tuned and spreading the word!
We have used our overly opinionated writers to spark controversy and get the point across to show different voices in our community. We have allowed residents to post their opinions and have given them a voice in a community that not had a voice in over 20 years.
We have exposed corruption and corrupt practices, while showing where people walk the thin line between law abiding citizens and non law abiding citizens.
We have given good stories and bad stories, reported on hero's and villains. We have sparked residents talking in many social networks, from online blogging to restaurants, stores, bars, and neighborhood organizations, clubs, and block parties. We have brought people together with common interests and goals, agenda's and news.
When people in Bolingbrook want to hear the truth, they come to us. We receive over 500 emails a week asking questions and we respond promptly. We have grown from 5 residents working the site to over 30 whom volunteer their time to attend functions, write stories, respond to mail, and even help campaigns. We are known to be the site that people go to when they have a problem or find an issue in Bolingbrook. We investigate and report for them, so they can get on in their busy lives. We have become every residents helping hand.
Over the years we have seen residents step forward in need. We have seen public workers step forward in need. We have even assisted other communities to start local watch dog groups. We have seen the birth of an Independent Party and seen the demise of the Democratic and Republican Parties locally. We have been there to report on it.
Some say we are only about uncovering conspiracies of elected officials. However, we have shown the residents otherwise with such stories as Devon Hodges, the basketball star being stripped of his rights to get into a good college with scholarships and stores who prosecute theft illegally. We have shown stories on bravery amongst the Police and Fire Departments. We have mentioned fundraisers and supported local events. We have been there to cover local elections, local government, and local activities for the residents. We are multi faceted and ever changing, thanks to the dedicated staff. We do all this, even though NO OTHER PAPER in Bolingbrook dares to.
We have our critics, which make us work harder to become better. They want to spread allegations of falsities and lie about our members. They want us to look like crazy people, in order for themselves to look sane. They need to do this to protect themselves from our truths. The truth can be damning. It can hurt people and their families. We are aware of this. However, we are dedicated to report the truth because hurting one person that has hurt 75,000 is the Karma that person has coming to them. Sometimes, we do feel bad to have to report it, but the public has a right to know.
On the other hand, these same critics have spent two years trashing some of our dedicated members with comments about their looks or spreading false information about them. They do not report the truth about these members or expose how these people have hurt thousands of residents, because they have done nothing to be exposed of. The difference in what these government thrashers do and what we do is that we expose people's wrong doings as it impacts others, while their tactic is to go after people with families who have done nothing wrong. These dedicated members have done nothing except ask the government questions, and in return, get bullied by the thrashers.
So we have spent two years in this never ending battle between the "good and the evil". We see it as two fights. One is to ensure the residents are current on information and the other is to ensure that the "thrashers" do not stop us from supplying the first goal. Most viewers on here do not understand what our dedicated members have endured at the hands of the thrashers. One member, Bonnie has been publicly called a murderer and had her home threatened with her 2 year old there, just for telling the truth to the public. She has endured over two years of weight related comments on Topix by her government stalker that the police refuse to arrest(even though he has a warrant and threatened her body in the everglades wont be found).
Another member questioned a "bill" and had his family threatened. Every day our staff risk their lives and families lives to bring you these stories and ensure they are accurate. Every day they play the hero for the sake of 75,000 residents, while the non-transparent government hides as the villain, trying to discredit or stop the information from being released. Our writers offer the truth and state their opinions and that is what makes our site so great. We wish we had more residents like them that could devote a few hours per week!
It is a risk that makes us want to step out and thank these contributors for putting their lives and reputations on the line to make Bolingbrook a better place for us all. For taking the hits for all of us that write or contribute. It does not seem fair that three of them would take the hits for so many of us that participate, but one time a year you should be honored for your actions.
So on behalf of the Bolingbrook Report and its readers, thank you for your dedication, tenacity, risk,and time that you have devoted to the cause. Each stone you uncover topples over another mountain to clear the way to a better Bolingbrook. Thank you.
We also want to thank the readers for staying tuned and spreading the word!
Bullying the Media means Internet Censorship and Breaking Civil Rights!
It is not the first time that a Bolingbrook public office tried to bully the media, and it won’t be the last. Last year Mr. Claar tried to pull information away from a reputable paper for reporting the truth, because it was not in his favor. This year, Tressler LLC has tried to threaten the Number Crunchers on behalf of the Library.
Bolingbrook officials do not respond to the papers unless it is to report fluff. This is all due to FEAR. They do what they can to find “lapdog journalists” to report Bolingbrook news. The term "lapdog journalism", for journalism biased in favor of personalities and institutions, is sometimes used as a conceptual opposite to watchdog journalism. Some of these journalists work for the Bugle and Patch.
Watchdog journalism is a type of investigative journalism. It refers to forms of activist journalism aimed at holding accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life. Watchdog journalism is most commonly found in think tanks, alternative media, and citizen journalism such as blogs. It is occasionally found in mainstream media as well. Since independent media and think tanks are not profit-oriented, they have more latitude in which to adopt strong positions and cover a wide range of topics. However, it is also more difficult to determine the backing of non-mainstream outlets so those are sometime subject to covert exploitation by well-funded interests.
Some watchdog journalism, such as the Number Crunchers and the Bolingbrook Report focuses on bias in the media. For examples from the United States, see list in Media bias in the United States. In the UK where there is greater national coverage, watchdog journalism is very effective and consumers' rights are upheld both by radio, television and most national newspapers. If the media were all lapdogs, the residents would never know the truth or what was going on locally. These watchdogs hold elected officials accountable by publishing the truth, despite the elected officials that try to stop them. And try to stop them, they do! They try to stop them by threatening legal recourse or by spreading rumors that these sites do not publish the truth. When in reality, they are the only TRUSTING news sources available to the public.
Bolingbrook officials do not respond to the papers unless it is to report fluff. This is all due to FEAR. They do what they can to find “lapdog journalists” to report Bolingbrook news. The term "lapdog journalism", for journalism biased in favor of personalities and institutions, is sometimes used as a conceptual opposite to watchdog journalism. Some of these journalists work for the Bugle and Patch.
Watchdog journalism is a type of investigative journalism. It refers to forms of activist journalism aimed at holding accountable public personalities and institutions whose functions impact social and political life. Watchdog journalism is most commonly found in think tanks, alternative media, and citizen journalism such as blogs. It is occasionally found in mainstream media as well. Since independent media and think tanks are not profit-oriented, they have more latitude in which to adopt strong positions and cover a wide range of topics. However, it is also more difficult to determine the backing of non-mainstream outlets so those are sometime subject to covert exploitation by well-funded interests.
Some watchdog journalism, such as the Number Crunchers and the Bolingbrook Report focuses on bias in the media. For examples from the United States, see list in Media bias in the United States. In the UK where there is greater national coverage, watchdog journalism is very effective and consumers' rights are upheld both by radio, television and most national newspapers. If the media were all lapdogs, the residents would never know the truth or what was going on locally. These watchdogs hold elected officials accountable by publishing the truth, despite the elected officials that try to stop them. And try to stop them, they do! They try to stop them by threatening legal recourse or by spreading rumors that these sites do not publish the truth. When in reality, they are the only TRUSTING news sources available to the public.
However, when they try to stop them, they are essentially breaking the constitutional rights of the people that work for these organizations and every reader that reads their work. It is called
Internet censorship.
According to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), “the vision of an uncensored Internet was clearly shared by the U.S. Supreme Court when it declared, in Reno v. ACLU, the Internet to be a free speech zone, deserving at least as much First Amendment protection as that afforded to books, newspapers and magazines. The government, the court said, can no more restrict a person's access to words or images on the Internet than it could be allowed to snatch a book out of a reader's hands in the library, or cover over a statue of a nude in a museum.”
Not only do they try to stop the freedom of speech, they spend your hard earned tax dollars on this. We call this frivolous spending against what you believe in, with YOUR money.
I mean, let’s be honest, you cannot regulate what people say or do on the Internet. You cannot take away someone’s freedom of speech. When you try, it looks like your hiding in fear and using bullying tactics.
If the Number Crunchers did receive a letter threatening legal action, they should spit one back and sue the Library for trying to threaten their civil liberties as a legitimate Watch Dog Organization. This is a federal case, and local judges cannot be bought off.
What most residents do not see, is that this attorney, Tressler LLC, run by Jim Boan, has caused over a half dozen break to others civil rights in less than two years. This has left many people ready to throw lawsuits and join together for a class action suit. We don’t forget Bonnie being removed from the ballot twice! We don't forget stacking the school board to keep certain elected officials on the ballot when they did not get enough signatures. We don't forget the number of people that have been threatened or harassed by "Village" workers such as code enforcement when they spoke up to question Bolingbrook government.
What this amounts to is bad advice from elected officials, supported by Tressler and Boan, which is costing tax payers high legal fees, in which only they profit. Hmmmm, sounds like he knows how to make his millions off of the tax payers!
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