Setting the record straight on leaves
Over the last few weeks, I have noticed misinformation being spread about my role in the Village Board decision to change Oak Park’s leaf pick-up program.
To set the record straight, once and for all, I voted “no” to change our leaf pick-up program.
My concerns were clear from the beginning. I was present and engaged at the study session on the topic when I communicated my concerns, and the follow-up board meeting when an official vote was taken and I voted “no”. We simply had not engaged residents nearly enough to understand the full impact of a change. I specifically requested outreach to our citizen commissions, residents with disabilities, and aging community to better inform our decision and potential programs. I stated at the board table that we had not communicated with the public why a change was being considered. We didn’t have community “buy-in” from our residents. This is consistent with my leadership style. More engagement still needs to happen to inform a path forward, even if that means reversing the decision.
But where have these misleading facts come from?
This recent Wednesday Journal article attempts to take my presidential role of gathering board consensus with respect to our democratic process and twists it to misrepresent my vote.
Another article suggests Ravi Parakkat had made his stance known when this change was first discussed, when in fact he was absent for the scheduled study session. He had little more to contribute on the day of the vote other than he “wants to better understand the options." Those options had been explained at the study session he missed.
