<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV><FONT size=4>Dear area-neighbors;</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>There is a very important vote that is going on right now here in our neighborhoods concerning the currently-accrued “Evanston Plaza Mitigation Fund” monies, now being called the “Neighborhood Improvement Fund”. No matter what they call it, those monies are intended to benefit <I><U><B>ALL</B></U></I> of the residents residing in the Dewey-Darrow, Dewey-Darrow-Greenwood, Crown-, and West-Crown-Park neighborhoods (if not further) <I><U>collectively</U></I><I>!</I></FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>Certain individuals will be extolling the virtues and benefits of each proposal before they actually want you to vote on them; and, I'm positive that there will be rebuttal and discussion times as well. You are being asked to vote either yes or no on the 3 different “proposals” - with each adult member of your household entitled to their own 3 votes. That does not mean that you <U><STRONG>must</STRONG> actually "<EM>vote"</EM> when/if you attend</U>.</FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>You may cast your votes in person at the meeting, or by contacting <I>either</I> Dickelle Fonda by phone (847-491-9748) or her email <FONT color=#0000ff><U><A href="http://us.mc389.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=SugrCreek@aol.com"><FONT color=#0000ff>SugrCreek@aol.com</FONT></A></U></FONT> <B>OR</B> Julie Westbrook, <FONT color=#000000><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">847-869-9136, </SPAN></FONT></FONT><U><A href="mailto:juliemarkw@earthlink.net"><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif" color=#0000ff><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">juliemarkw@earthlink.net</SPAN></FONT></A></U></FONT><A href="mailto:juliemarkw@earthlink.net"><FONT face="Arial, sans-serif" color=#0000ff size=4><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">. <FONT color=#000000>It has even come to my attention that there are ballots being collected by walkers that come right to your door!</FONT>
(If this would be your preference, then email me back ASAP for an appointment to do so.) </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></A><U><B><FONT size=4>However you decide to do it, PLEASE vote by Tuesday, April 21, 2009.</FONT></B></U></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT size=4>Here are 2 important things to bear in mind <B>BEFORE</B> making your decisions:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>Contrary to what leaders of these groups would lead you to believe, nothing in the Plaza Mitigation Fund/NIF agreement says that the funds <U><B>MUST</B></U> be “used up” as they are accrued. The manner in which the original agreement was drawn up (as a “pollution-abatement and infrastructure-repairs” fund) was not as it is currently being administered. The City itself <I>was the</I> <I>original beneficiary </I><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal">of these monies which have been converted into our “Mitigation Fund”. </SPAN>However, the logic these <SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">leaders</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"> provide to coerce you into immediate action is, “Why should the City get to keep the interest money that would accrue?” (</SPAN><I>Hhmmm, another tax increase to offset “the deficit” or let them keep the interest? Doh! It's such a hard decision!)</I><SPAN
style="FONT-STYLE: normal"> </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>What this vote is <B>really</B> about is an attempt to tie-up and/or earmark the current funds for the <I><U><B>new</B></U></I><B> “pet” projects</B> (such as the cul-de-sac proposal) of those that attend the bi-monthly meetings on a regular basis. The fact that along with each new batch fund allocations comes a whole new set of proposals indicates a total lack of logical thinking. “S.O.S.-D.D.”. Since one of the proposals last time was the installation and <SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">2 years maintenance</SPAN><B> </B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">contract of the </SPAN><I><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">highly commended “</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal">intersection plantings” (which does expire this year); why wasn't there a proposal for additional ones to be created or for an EXTENDED maintenance contract for the existing ones instead? That would prevent
them from deteriorating into the same condition as the “private beneficiaries” eyesores have. Maybe order more “grocery-totes” or “bike-safety kits” too.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></DIV></LI></OL></OL>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=4>Your failure to vote “NO” on any/all of these will most assuredly result in them being passed by those “<I>regular </I>meeting attendees” (and their allies), as they seldom override any of their leaders suggestions. Only by exerting the effort to make YOUR voice heard can these items be defeated.</FONT></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=4></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=4>I realize that this is EXTREMELY short notice for you, but I REALLY need your help “in getting the word out” to as many of the residents as possible. If your neighbors don't have a computer – kindly inform them of <I><U><B>ALL</B></U></I><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"> of this</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN>, or better yet, print it out for them! It is a proven fact that Democracy works best when it involves the greatest numbers.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>I thank you for taking time out from your schedule to read this, and TO VOTE too!</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>Bob Nierodzik</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:broncobob54@yahoo.com"><FONT size=4>broncobob54@yahoo.com</FONT></A></DIV>
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