Amend HP
The Story!
There's a lot going on here with this story and we've done our best to section things out accordingly. Below you'll find 3 options on how to follow along.
Despite all surrounding municipalities amending their antiquated laws to allow liquor license holders to serve as an elected official, Highland Park has yet to do the same. In October 2023, the Ravinia Brewery had recently come under legal attack by the Ravinia Music Festival as they decided to file suit against the local Brewery, over the name Ravinia, in the neighborhood of Ravinia. Yes - you read that correctly. Conveniently, the co-owner of the brewery, Jeff Hoobler had recently won a seat on the City Council by landslide. This is something that the Mayor had never endorsed. In January 2024, after the Mayor signed off to renew the brewery's liquor license, "SOMEBODY" dug up an archaic law from the prohibition era that states any person who has a liquor license cannot serve as an elected official. This meant that Hoobler had to either give up his council seat or his brewery. A few short weeks later, the potential to amend the law, to save both Hoobler's seat and his brewery was put on the City Council's agenda. A large gathering of citizens showed up in support of Jeff Hoobler and the brewery in hopes that the council would amend the antiquated liquor law...
Click here for the Prologue: Starting from February 12th, 2024 with Kane's first public appearance in advocacy of allowing Jeff Hoobler to retain his council seat despite the fact that he had a liquor license. Although still new to the city, he knew that what was happening was unjust. After realizing that anybody had the chance to speak, he decided to stand up and say something.
Click here for the Masquerade of Folly: After being told that his direct nature and utter lack of eloquence and refinement was turning people off, he decided to go back to the drawing board. Although frustrated with the split decisions of the council and ultimately being treated like and shooed away like a peasant, he decided to try something different.
Click here for the Revenue Plans: After spending part of the spring and an entire summer trolling the wrong-doings of the Mayor and her allies, he had a chance to meet with the Mayor and the City Manager over coffee to discuss details on how we could all work together. Or so we all thought...
Click here for the Closing Arguments:
We've effectively drug this thing out from February 12th until October 28th - One week before the national election. On the TOP-Middle section on the back of the ballot, voters have the opportunity to vote YES to allow all qualified citizens (including those with a liquor license) to serve as elected officials.
Click here for the Post Election Speech: 82% of the city voted YES to amend the antiquated liquor laws! However, instead of listening to the people and what they want, the Mayor and her cronies decided that they will go against the will of the people. Despite spending over $50,000 researching this topic and discussing it all year long, they decided that they will wait until after the local elections in the Spring of 2025 to revisit the matter.
Click here for the Roast: Item number 4 - A resolution approving a third amendment to the City Manager Employment Agreement and approving a one-time bonus payment to the city manager. After years of catastrophic failures of city management, the Highland Park city council circus approves an increase in salary to the city manager, bringing her BASE PAY to a whopping $300,224. Plus bonus. Plus car allowance (because the city manager lives 30-45 minutes away in a different county).
Click here for the Reckoning: Join the Movement and Stay Informed! The fight to make our town a better place is far from over, and I need your support to keep the momentum going. Stay up to date with the latest developments, updates, and opportunities to take action by subscribing to our mailing list here: Subscribe Together, we can create meaningful change. Let’s keep pushing forward!
Click here for The Stones of Folly: $850,000 for a 100-yard alley project—$200,000 wasted on "traffic control" at $426 per hour. And who benefited? Council Member Kimberly Stone, whose property value just increased a few hundred thousand. Mismanagement, waste, and a failure of leadership.