Mrs. Wells delivered her statement to the Rockford City Council on 12 December 2005.
I’m Kristine and I have a conundrum. I’m a Libertarian, a registered Republican who finds herself in the awkward position of promoting Home Rule. How did this happen?
Well, about nine (9) years ago I left my pristine condo on the golf course and bought a 2 family in the Broadway & 9th Street area. Life has never been the same. When I first moved in it was a blue collar working class neighborhood, but times have changed. I find myself surrounded by absentee landlords from Chicago. They have no interest in our community and most would rent to Osama Bin Laden if he had the deposit.
My neighborhood is infested with prostitutes, drug dealers and gang bangers. Sadly many good folks live there too. Seniors are stuck with no way out. A community that doesn’t care for its elderly is clearly troubled.
I hung up my tennis racket and golf clubs long ago. My new sport is picking up litter and scolding the unruly. I’m just one little old lady trying to make a difference but I need help and so does Rockford. With Home Rule you could pass an ordinance allowing police to monitor loitering that is drug and prostitute related. With Home Rule all landlords would be held accountable. I am a landlord I welcome accountability. I am not afraid of drug dealers, prostitutes or gang bangers but what does scare me is business as usual at City Council. Yes, I’m afraid of you!
Business as usual has made Rockford attractive to the unsavory. During the Campaign voters listened to the mayor’s message of hope and elected him soundly; now it is your turn to put partisan politics aside and listen to and promote new ideas. Rockford is at a crossroad: do we want to be like East St. Louis or Naperville? Please give us, the voters, the chance to decide.