Dear Friends,
You will have two chances this week to say something about important issues you think we face in Oak Park.  The first one is the Community Forum on Wednesday:

President Anan's Community Forum :

Wednesday Night, August 28th VOP President Anan Abu-Taleb will hold his first public forum 7:00-8:30 pm in the Veterans' Room of the Main Library.  He has invited his colleague, Trustee Robert Tucker to join him.   President Abu-Taleb promised more transparency in Village government and to seek more community input - that will be the purpose of this gathering.  Attendees will be able to ask questions and make statements  in this open, informal meeting.   As time allows President Abu-Taleb  and Mr. Tucker will respond.

There will be more forums held during the coming year, the next one is October 8th.    Some may be devoted to focusing on key topics enabling residents to have more time to discuss  them and recommend what they would like the Village Board to do.  All village residents are invited to attend and "have their say"!

The second meeting will happen on Thursday August 29th - it's the annual meeting of the TIF Review board.  Come find out where money that should be going to all of our other Village and County governments is actually being spent or held without a plan to spend it:

Craig Lesner (Chief Financial Officer - [email protected] 708-358-5462) sent out letters dated August 14th  announcing the  meeting of the TIF Joint Review Board on August 29th, 5:30 pm  at Village Hall. The purpose is to review the TIF reports for fiscal year 2012 for the 3 TIF districts (Harlem and Garfield, Madison Street and Downtown Oak Park).  Copies are available at http://www.oak-park.us/your-government/budget-purchasing/financial-reports .

Comments and Questions from the audience will not be accepted.  That doesn't mean we shouldn't try.   I attended the last one and they allowed me to speak there.

Can you think of a  better way to spend Wednesday and Thursday evening??

See you all there!

Julie