Author: Joe McElroy
Joe McElroy of Naperville: City’s Historic Buildings Need More Protection
April 30, 2023 – May is Historic Preservation month. As Joe McElroy of Naperville pointed out in his recent letter to the Naperville Sun, Naperville could do more to protect its historic buildings.
Joe McElroy of Naperville: Time to Change Huge Naperville Campaign Costs
Joe McElroy of Naperville isn’t afraid to admit he was wrong.
He recently wrote, “As I write this, a new mayor and City Council for Naperville are being sworn in. They’re good people, but the amount of money now being spent in local elections is out of hand. One candidate raised approximately $100,000–huge by comparison to earlier campaigns–but his opponent raised more than twice that. City council candidates also spent huge sums, with most of the money coming from special interest groups, not average citizens.”
McElroy said less money probably would be spent if Naperville went to a district system. As this Chicago Tribune story shows, the issue has been kicking around a long time.
Former Councilman Joe McElroy of Naperville initially opposed the district system, which was approved by voters and then rescinded in a separate vote over several years a decade-plus ago.
But times have changed. A hybrid system, with representatives from five districts and three council members elected at large, could reduce the cost of getting elected and make it possible for average citizens to run for office in their hometown.
‘No Puppy Mills’ said Joe McElroy of Naperville; Champions Pet Safety
Joe McElroy of Naperville worked with animal activists in Naperville to sponsor a humane pet ordinance, which the Naperville City Council approved.
A state-wide ordinance came soon after, but now some legislators are considering weakening it, says Joe McElroy of Naperville.
Joe McElroy of Naperville: Popular Naperville Restaurant Results from Careful Historic Preservation
Today, says Joe McElroy of Naperville, it takes weeks to get a weekend reservation at Naperville’s new restaurant Gia Mia, housed in the historic Old Nichols Library that was saved from the wrecking ball by Naperville Preservation Inc. A founding member of NPI, Joe McElroy of Naperville applauds the success of this important local icon.
The building was listed by Landmarks Illinois on its Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois a few years ago, says Joe McElroy of Naperville. That designation drew attention to the importance of Naperville’s first library and its distinctive architecture.
Joe McElroy of Naperville was honored a few years ago at a press conference for the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. Landmarks Illinois President & CEO Bonnie McDonald led a press conference on the third floor of the Stratton Building in Springfield to reveal the more than a dozen historic places the statewide historic preservation nonprofit has identified as most threatened by demolition, deterioration or improper development.
Joe McElroy of Naperville attends national city planning conference
| Joe McElroy | 9:59 AM (36 minutes ago) |
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Joe McElroy of Naperville recently attended the American Planning Association’s annual national conference in Philadelphia. One highlight was a visit to Independence Hall.
Joe McElroy of Naperville interviewed on historic preservation
Naperville Community Television interviewed Jane Burke and Joe McElroy of Naperville Preservation Inc. The segment is scheduled to air in May, which is National Preservation Month. On the right is Jane Wernette of NCTV.
Activist Joe McElroy of Naperville recommends these 2023 candidates for City Council, Mayor
Joe McElroy of Naperville reminds residents that Naperville will elect a new mayor and City Council members Tuesday, April 4, but early voting has already begun.
Joe McElroy of Naperville has been assisting candidate Jodi Trendler in her City Council campaign and urges all voters to do the same. Jodi started as an energy conservation advocate but has worked hard to learn about a wide variety of local government issues. She’s in it for the right reason: a desire to serve.
Joe McElroy of Naperville also recommends re-electing Patrick Kelly, an incumbent who has been strong on historic preservation. He does his homework and is responsive to constituent concerns.
For Mayor Joe McElroy of Naperville recommends Scott Wehrli, who is in a tight race with Councilman Benny White. They’re both good people, says McElroy, who adds that it is sad to see the anonymous mud-slinging coming from a few of their overly-zealous supporters.
For the past several years Joe McElroy of Naperville has been involved in historic preservation and animal welfare). Joe McElroy of Naperville says he was very impressed with Scott’s deep understanding of preservation planning implementation strategies.
Be sure to vote, Joe McElroy adds. Local issues affect us all.
Heartwarming Stories from Animal Shelters
For all the sadness that can be associated with animals being surrendered at or even born into animal shelters, Joe McElroy of Naperville says that there are some heartwarming stories that prove what great work shelters across the country are doing every day.
For example, every year several hundred dogs and cats find new homes thanks to ADOPT (Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment), an animal shelter in Naperville where Joe McElroy volunteers and served on the Board of Directors for five years. “We see human nature at its best and worst,” Joe McElroy said, pointing to animals that were treated badly but then find new, loving homes.
McElroy added that most shelters, including ADOPT, have been quite crowded of late and need more volunteers,
Before being adopted, dogs like Little Man, shown here, received medical care and regular exercise at ADOPT, an animal shelter in Naperville.
Helping Animals and their Owners
Shelters workers like those at ADOPT in Naperville aren’t just there to take in abandoned dogs: they actively work to assist the families struggling to look after them, too, as shown by the McKamey Animal Center in Tennessee this week.
When an impoverished mother of two was forced to surrender her dog to the shelter due to homelessness, the shelter took the time to not only look after Lilo but reunite her with her owner.
The shelter went so far as to help get Lilo’s owner into a more secure living environment, with the hope that the dog may soon return to her loving family in the near future.
Super Bowl Incentive Draws Interest
Philadelphia and Kansas City may be going head-to-head in the biggest game of the football season, but they’ve come together to raise funds to support local animal shelters, offering fans the chance to adopt a dog for just $57.
The KC Pet project and animal center ACCT Philly are running an adoption special, boosted by the promise to name pets after star team players, that will encourage people to welcome a new canine into their homes and help the community keep the dogs they may be struggling to look after.
It’s a heartwarming, off-field initiative where both cities are coming together in the spirit of the upcoming on-field battle.
A Birthday Gift with a Difference
Social media is full of cute videos of people being gifted puppies and kittens on their birthdays, but for the past ten years, a group of friends in South Africa have been giving back to shelters on their birthdays, instead.
Pauline Morris and pals have agreed that in honor of their birthdays each year, rather than buying each other gifts, they’ve instead donated that money to buy food, fund shelters, and help pay vet bills for local dogs in need.
It’s a great idea that people all over the world can get on board with, and the more friends who join the initiative, the more can be raised for local animal shelters.
Like Travel? Adopt a Kitten!
Las Vegas Animal Foundation has a tempting offer for anyone looking to adopt a kitten: free travel vouchers to anyone who takes in a newborn kitty.
Partnering with Frontier Airlines, the Nevada based shelter is giving a little extra incentive to prospective new owners in the hope of a swift adoption for a weeks-old litter of three kittens who have been named Spirit, Delta, and Frontier.
The airline is offering vouchers worth as much as $500 to the new parents of the kittens, and for those who adopt its namesake, they’re doubling that amount. It’s a novel way to attract interest, but with boosts such as these from sponsors, shelters are much more likely to place animals in new homes.