Above / The Freedom Shrine, located outside the Naperville Municipal Center that faces the Cmdr. Dan Shanower/September 11 Memorial along the Riverwalk, is an impressive display of historic and important American document replicas that showcases the great efforts that have been taken to ensure this nation’s freedom.
According to the Exchange Club’s website, “the Freedom Shrine originated with the Freedom Train that toured the nation in 1947 carrying an exhibit of historic documents.” In Naperville, the inspirational exhibits, funded by the Exchange Club of Naperville, serve as educational tools in schools, at the Judd Kendall VFW and other public places.
Longtime readers of Positively Naperville likely will recognize a quote attributed to Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher and author of the Republic who lived in the 5th century BCE. Plato is credited with having a big impact on the development of Western thought as well as our way of identifying needs that result in creative efforts and solutions. In fact, his primary writings in the Republic focused on the subjects of ethics and politics. Other writings touched upon the nature of love.
“One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” —Plato
For more than a decade, Plato’s quote about participating in politics has been printed regularly in the monthly issue of PN with hopes to inspire readers to become engaged and pay attention to what happens on local governing bodies—City Council, Naperville Park District Board of Commissioners as well as School Districts 203 and 204 Boards of Education.
Many years ago, our friend John Harvard noted the Plato quote and suggested what has become another regular PN feature called “Worldly Words.” For years, John would send quotes for Worldly Words that appeared monthly in our print publication to help connect our world with wit and wisdom that goes beyond today and Naperville. John died at age 89 earlier this year on March 20. We miss his wide range of contributions, but we’ll continue to feature Worldly Words.
For July, Worldly Words featured a quote attributed to 19th-century American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, author of “Self-Reliance,” whose many works stressed the importance of the individual, encouraging folks to rely on their own judgment.
“I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Those two quotes bring to mind two opportunities for readers to participate in local politics/government to make your important voice heard in Naperville and throughout DuPage County. Tell city and county planners what you know and think.
Whether you’re currently at home or on vacation, you can take the surveys online that will help local governments plan for the future.
1. Naperville Comprehensive Master Plan
First up, the City of Naperville continues to seek input as it aims to update its Comprehensive Master Plan. The deadline to contribute opinions is August 15, 2019. For starters, click here to find all the information and links to participate on the City’s website.
A Do It Yourself Workshop is available for small groups to complete the survey together. Get together with neighbors, service club members and other associates to add your input. Participate!
Again, the City of Naperville has targeted August 15, 2019, as the date to have all the input for the update.
Residents! Complete the web-based resident questionnaire to share your opinions on a range of topics and issues.
Naperville-based business owners and managers, property owners and developers! Take the business questionnaire.
Feedback gathered from both surveys by Aug. 15, 2019, will be considered during the plan update process.
2. DuPage County Budge Survey
Second, DuPage County is working on its annual budget with requests for resident participation, saying “Your opinion matters!”
DuPage County residents are asked to take the DuPage County budget survey for FY2020. The aim is for residents to provide their thoughts pertaining to County programs and spending priorities. The information helps shape next year’s budget, determining spending levels for County’s various programs, officials have noted in emails.
Alert! One of the questions on the DuPage County Survey regarding a county-wide hotel-motel tax to support economic development raised a big flag for me personally. I was confused by its assertion.
“This spring legislation was introduced that would allow DuPage County to implement a countywide hotel/motel to support economic development. Would you be in favor of implementing such a tax?”
Mindful that the State of Illinois already has implemented enough new taxes, I answered an emphatic, “NO.”
A quick phone call to Christine Jeffries, President of the Naperville Development Partnership and the Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau (NCVB), confirmed that Naperville as well as the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Chamber360 (Downers Grove and Woodridge) and the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce have stated and sent written opposition regarding the countywide hotel-motel tax.
“This is a disingenuous way to pose the question,” Jeffries said. “The tax would be levied to force communities to be part of a membership organization (DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau) to which they may or may not choose belong.”
Jeffries went on to say that if the new tax were implemented, it would have a direct impact on Naperville businesses and families who wish to plan celebrations, family reunions, weddings and all other types of special events at Naperville’s 19 local hotels.
Take the survey by clicking here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/dupage2020.
Visit the Freedom Shrine
Thanks to the Exchange Club of Naperville, most Naperville public schools are graced with a Freedom Shrine. Local students study it. If you’re looking for a destination to do something with your youngsters during the last weeks before school begins, perhaps visit the Freedom Shrine at the Naperville Municipal Center and let your children tell you about all the documents of liberty such as the United States Constitution and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Freedom isn’t free.
—Stephanie Penick, PN Publisher
