Trib story looks at battle to obtain theater documents and reveals full text of memo redacted by village

A front-page story in Sunday's Chicago Tribune features La Grange Today publisher Thom Rae and his battle with La Grange officials over their refusal to release key documents related to their decision to give $1 million in financial aid to the La Grange Theatre.

Rae's experience is one of three profiles in the story by Trib reporter Dave Kidwell that illustrates the problems Illinois citizens encounter when requesting public documents. The paper says that weak laws regarding freedom of information and open meetings have resulted in what Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan calls a "culture of secrecy" among elected officials at all levels across the state.

On the Trib's website, one can read the full text of an executive memo from village manager Bob Pilipiszyn to trustees discussing theater financing alternatives and compare it with the heavily redacted version made public last summer. Kidwell said Pilipiszyn gave him the full text copy only after a lengthy period of consideration, but would not release a study of the theater's financial health and projected revenues conducted by a consultant.

In an editorial that accompanies its report, the Trib encourages readers to contact their state representatives and demand that public access laws be strengthened.

Comments

[Jim Boo Resident since 1994]

Tom, all the citizens should appreciate your efforts.

[GMYH]

I think the LaGrange Theatre deserves some money. Sure, it's a second run theater, but it could do very well as an art house type theater (like Hinsdale's or Century Centre at Clark & Diversey in the city). I understand your public records issue, but the bottom line is that a revitalized movie theater would bring in a lot of business for downtown LaGrange. Do you not like movies, or is it simply a public records issue for you?

[the daily editor]

GMYH,

I never raised an objection to the village wanting to extend financial aid to the theater. My concern was solely that the public have access to the whatever information village officials were using to make their determination.

Thom Rae

[GMYH]

Fair enough.

[Jim Boo La Grange]

They initially were going to get $1.6 million. Somehow are making due with $1.0 million. I'm against dollar #1. This is taxpayer money, as taxpayers have paid higher taxes to support the other taxing bodies during the TIF run. TIF districts deserve to have a bad name, as they often turn into municipal slush funds like this one. If the theatre owners can't make a go of it, put it up for sale.

[WilliamDobias]

And to make it worse, Jim, the Village Board took the $1 million that had been earmarked to improve the intersection of Ogden and La Grange Road to give to the theater owners. The Triangle development and other "improvements" such as McDonald's at the north end of the village had already made this a bad intersection for pedestrians which will only get worse when anything is built on the former YMCA property. If La Grange Place is built, the developer has only committed to improving the northeast corner. The Village was to do the rest, but with what money now?