The project for building new sidewalks on the North end of town was considered to be the best of more that 40 pending projects that could bring state and federal funds back to Galesburg. It was channeled through a State of Illinois program, and considered among the best of breed for attracting federal funds.

Unfortunately, the people who live in that area do not want sidewalks.
On Monday, Galesburg City Manager Dane Bragg spent his day campaigning for the issue in the local media, thus spending his $50/hour salary for a lost cause.

A storm of opposition was aroused in the neighborhood where grassy paths have sufficed for years. One man rolled up to the council chamber in a wheelchair to speak out against it. With an election close at hand the council seems unusually responsive to complaints from voters, and this measure went down in flames.

Has the city lost $250,000 as a result of their action? Actually we have lost much more. This carefully manicured proposal was the work of our highly paid army of local bureaucrats. It won out against stiff competition among similar proposals fielded in Springfield.

Instead of spending his precious time lobbying for this measure to succeed in the face of popular opposition by the people who foot the bill, our employee, Mr. Bragg might have screened this proposal publicly before creating so much fine work that would ultimately result in failure.

The is the nature of a profession that was meant to rescue cities from politicized mismanagement. Managers like Mr. Bragg have become political leaders who use public resources for their own desired ends.

David Roknich,
Candidate for Mayor
Galesburg, Illinois
galesburg411.com