Transparency
As shown through research, facts and statistics, crime has reached dangerous levels, damaging the city’s reputation and keeping potential investments away.
Granite City’s answer, the Crime Free Housing Ordinance, has not helped lower crime and has only created more evictions and put struggling innocent people on the street.
The Belleville News Democrat researched the ordinance from 2014-2018. They found that:
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Nearly half of the tenants who were forced out of their homes — 239 out of 510, or 46.8% — weren’t accused of wrongdoing.
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In 22 households, with 36 tenants who faced eviction, the offense was calling 911 to help someone in the home who was overdosing on drugs.
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Another 35 tenants faced eviction because they had drug paraphernalia or an amount of marijuana that is now legal to buy and use in Illinois.
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Of the people who were charged with a crime, whose outcome could be determined, 59.6% were eventually convicted. The other 40.4% either had their charges dismissed in court or a judge decided to give them supervision or probation instead of a criminal record. STLPR.org "Granite City Crime-Free Housing Rules Displace Hundreds — Even Those Not Accused Of Crimes"
In the same article quoted above, city officials refused to respond or comment. The article ends with the only public remarks by officials. At a 2019 event hosted by state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, Democrat, “Granite City Lieutenant Mike Parkinson…[stated that] ‘The crime-free housing program in Granite City has benefited our community,’”STLPR.org "Federal Lawsuit Claims Granite City’s Crime-Free Housing Rules Are Unconstitutional"
This statement does not show the complete truth and was used to push a false narrative of how the Crime Free Ordinance lowers crime rate and has ‘benefited our community.’ A strong and thriving city demands transparency and accountability with its population.
Mike Parkinson was the appointed leader of the Crime Free Ordinance from 2016-2021 before becoming the current mayor of Granite City. In 2024, Granite City finalized its deal to sell the wastewater treatment plant and all of its assets for $86 million. Why was it sold? Mayor Parkinson was stated as saying:
“We support this agreement with Illinois American Water because it is in the best interests of the Granite City community, today and tomorrow…Mayor Parkinson added that proceeds from the sale would allow the city to invest in other critical, community needs.” American Water Statement "Illinois American Water Completes Acquisition Of Granite City’s Wastewater Treatment Facility"
But this was just another example of a false narrative. Mayor Parkinson contradicted himself by also stating that:
“The driving force behind it was (that) the city has $100 million in pension liabilities that have to be covered and we’re at a crossroads…the significant amount of money that we could sell the plant for—that we’ll be able to position ourselves to pay that debt off without raising taxes on our citizens.’ Fox2now.com You Paid For It. "Sale of Granite City treatment plant has residents paying double in bills"
With over $100 million dollars of debt to pay for the pensions of a few hundred, and $86 million in revenue in the sale of the wastewater treatment plant, there is obviously no proceeds available to “allow the city to invest in other critical, community needs.” This is just one of many examples of a lack of transparency in local government. Sewer bills have doubled and tripled under the current leadership. Would that actually be in the ‘best interests of the Granite City community, today and tomorrow?’
Despite the ballooning debt, and the lowest general revenue for the city in six years, City employees increased their wages and benefits to $16,317,835 in 2024 for their top 159 employees. Granite City employees with over $75,000 in total compensation packages in 2024
What will be the next asset to be sold doubling and tripling utility bills while the administration increases their payroll and benefits?
Unfortunately the current administration feels any constructive criticism as negative and unproductive. But how does anything change for the better without valid criticisms?