Naperville continues to be one of America’s stand out suburbs. Today, the Watchdog offers 10 of the many things residents have to be thankful for as we wind down 2024. These include the following:
1. 5th Avenue. 5th Avenue is finally being discussed again. Naperville spent many millions on this real estate. Because of Councilman McBroom, this critical economic development opportunity is back on City agendas. Hopefully McBroom and team can move this along and are able to fend off any excuses offered by his colleagues which attempt to punt this decision off into future years.
2. Washington Street. After a terribly slow start, Washington Street road work is finally moving along faster. It does seem that having the crew on site leads to more work getting done!
3. Low Crime. Miraculously, Naperville crime stats were not impacted by the 25 felony gun arrests at Top Golf. Statistically, Naperville remains one of the safest cities in America.
4. Gaming. Still no gaming in town despite marijuana dealerships being approved at multiple high visibility areas in our City. Why it’s ok for people to throw their money and health away on marijuana but not on gaming remains a mystery.
5. Grocery Tax. By order of the King, the grocery tax will soon be gone. Though this will leave a massive budget whole in municipal budgets across Illinois, it will be a very nice talking point for Pritzker when he’s running for President in 2028.
6. Real Estate Taxes. So far, word is that our tax levy will remain relatively flat. This will come as a welcome relief to residents and to the councilmen who haven’t exempted themselves from having to pay these taxes.
7. Migrants. Naperville remained relatively unscathed by the migrant crisis. No residents took McBroom up on his offered sign up sheet to house migrants. Naperville schools and public safety were left relatively issue free as the powers that be shoehorned most of the migrants into already depressed low income minority neighborhoods in Chicago (a/k/a the reason Trump won).
8. DEI. DEI programs are on the rocks in Naperville as it is pretty much everywhere else. The Watchdog notes McBroom’s repeated calls to end it as well as White’s repeated calls to keep it. Even if DEI remains for another year, the writing is on the wall. These programs have accomplished nothing and will soon be gone … only question is when.
9. Affordable Housing. Recently Council football spiked a staff proposal that would have brought an assortment of affordable housing mandates to Naperville. The most controversial of which would have allowed such projects to move forward around public hearing. The proposal went down handily. A good thing,
10. Naperville Didn’t Bend to Pro-Palestine Supporters. Council was deluged with speakers demanding a pointless, yet very dangerous, resolution opposing Israel’s defense of its country in the wake of arguably the worst terrorist attack in recorded history. Not one council member and not one 2025 council candidate appeared to support the resolution idea. They should ALL be credited with standing with our Jewish community during this difficult time.
Naperville residents, you have much to be thankful for. Another important election looms in 2025. Please keep an eye on all of the candidates. You know the Watchdog will be!
Thank you for reading and have a Happy Thanksgiving!