Don't Forget to Vote!

This is it. April 7. Election Day.

Sunday I was walking around with trusty volunteer Jack and we stopped to chat with a gentleman on Charles St. After exchanging some brief pleasantries he asked "I suppose you want us to vote for you, huh?"

"Not necessarily, sir! What I want is for you to check out the candidates, learn who they are and make an informed decision that you believe in."

He looked at me a little funny and we waved goodbye and headed off down the street.

I want the same thing for the rest of District 4. Read the blog. Read the News-Gazette. Watch the League of Women Voters candidate forum on the Champaign Government TV cable channel tonight at 9:00pm. Send me email. Call me. But above all else, make an informed decision and exercise your right to vote.

Thanks,
Matt

Downtown Parking Solutions

Last election it was the smoking issue that made or broke the candidates. This time around it's going to be parking. Champaign, while in some areas it really needs it, doesn't like change, especially when that change is being fed into a parking meter.

With the opening of our new parking garage, we're stuck. We absolutely cannot roll back the $.75/hr prime rate. We're dependent on that revenue to pay for the bonds we issued to build it. But that doesn't mean we aren't without options.

Here's my proposal:

1) One of the main complaints is that the two hour limit isn't long enough. If you want to eat downtown and then perhaps stop in at an establishment for a drink or even walk around, two hours isn't necessarily long enough. Instead of shortening enforcement hours - extend the time limit to 3 hours.

2) Reward our seniors. Champaign's most experienced citizens have spent their whole lives paying taxes. They've served their country, they've worked, they've been educators, they still volunteer. Let's give a little something back. Instead of forcing them to feed meters downtown, let's sell them an annual citywide parking permit for $25-$50 dollars per year. This permit would be good at any meter in the city until 3-4pm. Buy it once a year - stick it in your window - and park without feeding the meter.

3) Business needs a break too. Make sure there's enough premium preferred spaces available for downtown business owners and workers at the Hill St. parking deck. These spaces are available at a substantial discount from what is charged at the hourly rate.

4) Rescind the City Council parking passes or restrict their use to while on city business only. I know I can afford to pay for parking now and I'm quite sure I'll still be able to do so if elected.

That's my plan. That's what I'll push if elected.

UPDATE: I changed #3 after I learned that the resident permit for the Hill St. parking deck is not exclusive to residents of M2. It is available for all downtown residents.

Kudos to Kierkegaard

Søren Kierkegaard wrote "If you label me you negate me."

Think about it. By assigning a definition or a label to something or someone, you are automatically excluding a realm of other possibilities.

I was out this morning pressing babies and kissing the flesh (or however that goes) and approached a gentleman working in his garden in order to introduce myself and hand him a flyer. His first question to me was how I am registered to vote. I immediately recognized the trap he set up and tried to explain to him that the city council is a non-partisan body.

"I understand that, but how are you registered to vote?"

"Well sir, when I vote in the major elections I vote for a broad spectrum of candidates: Democrat, Republican and Independent."

"Sure, sure, sure, but how do you register?"

"Sir, when you register you don't declare any party affiliation unless you plan to vote in the primaries. But when I vote in the primaries, I tend to pull a Republican ballot."

"That's all I needed to know. Goodbye."

I can't even begin to tell you how disturbing I found this conversation. Not because I know that I won't get this man's vote (which is fine. This is why we have elections, in order to offer choices to the voters. It's only natural that some people will want to support me and some will want to support Ms. Dodds.).

What bothered me is that this man is intentionally limiting his choices based on how he views the parties. He is letting other people dictate his reality and determine his direction.

The city council is non-partisan for a reason. Determining the best direction for our community is a job that should never be a function of any party's ideology. It's a job that requires cooperation, vision, openness, common sense and fiscal responsibility. That's the way I see it and that's why I'm running.

Now Hiring

If anyone would like to volunteer to help canvass neighborhoods and hand out flyers, please let me know. Any assistance sure would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Civil Unions

Yes. Emphatically, Yes.

Chamber of Commerce Questionnaire

A few weeks ago the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce sent out candidate surveys to ask opinions to various questions.

You can find those surveys here.

Additionally, the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a meet the candidates breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, on March 12th. I'll be there and hope to meet some of you.

Signs, Redux.

I've got some yard signs out and many more are available. Also, don't miss the opportunity to put a stylish, chic and sportin' "Peek For City Council" bumper stick on your ride. Shoot me an email at matthewepeek@gmail.com and I'll get some right over to you.