Latest news with #CityBuilding
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EDITORIAL: What's the point of having rights if we don't exercise them?
May 9—Labor negotiations are usually confined to the negotiating table, and for a very good reason. When both sides are talking in a serious way, they generally can find avenues to agreement. That's why it's called collective bargaining, a process driven by a mutual goal and the willingness to compromise to get there. But negotiations between Champaign County officials and union employees have taken a slightly different approach. Union leaders and members have appeared before the county board and in public to demand a more generous offers, apparently in the hope that management will feel public pressure and offer more in terms of salary and benefits. Public speech is A-OK, but this is an argument that will be resolved at the bargaining table and not in public. Why? Because most people are not familiar with the issues — What do employees really want? How much does management have to give? — they'll sit it out, perhaps paying some attention but mostly living life in the usual fashion. Whatever their instincts, they don't feel like they have a dog in the fight. They do, of course, because ordinary people pay the taxes that support county government. But it's hard to draw a direct line between a wage agreement and property taxes. Not long after county employees engaged in their public display, there was a similar effort at the City Building in Champaign. An anti-Israel contingent protested in front of the municipal building and later before the city council to complain about the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza. The protesters want the city to condemn Israel, a spokesman complaining that city officials have responded disrespectfully with "one year of silence." Again, this is a speech issue with a questionable goal, much like one earlier that went on before the Urbana City Council. It's been pointless to note, as Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen has repeatedly, that city councils in Champaign-Urbana have nothing to do with a war between Israel and Hamas, and even if the city wanted to exercise some influence over it, it lacks the authority to do so. In their hearts, the anti-Israel contingent has to know that. So what is going on? The answer is as simple as it is clear. Members of these groups are — rightly or wrongly — aggrieved to the point of wanting to have their say in public. The U.S. Constitution grants people individual rights to speak out, and they are exercising that privilege. Their ends may not be attainable, but the means are well within American traditions.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First-year apprentices to tackle 'demanding' challenge for Glasgow charity
A group of first-year apprentices are set to tackle a "demanding" challenge in support of a Glasgow charity. The City Building apprentices, led by Lennon McDade and Zachery Camara, will take on the Tough Mudder on June 9 to raise money for Glasgow Women's Aid. Read more: 'We always want to help': Housing group commit to mentor project Lennon said: "We all joined City Building at the same time, so we've built a strong bond through our classes and placements. "We wanted to do something together as a group, and Zach suggested we take on the Tough Mudder challenge. "It snowballed from there and soon the whole class was either signing up for the challenge or getting involved in fundraising. "When we discussed which charity to support, we agreed it should be one based in Glasgow that could really benefit from the money. "That's why we chose Glasgow Women's Aid. "We all knew someone who had been helped by the charity, so it felt like the right choice." This fundraiser marks the end of the groups first year at City Building (Image: Supplied) Sharon Wearing, executive director at City Building, said: "What Lennon and his fellow electrician apprentices are doing is fantastic and truly highlights the added value of our apprenticeship programme. "We're proud to be Scotland's largest provider of apprenticeships and take seriously our responsibility to nurture the next generation of skilled tradespeople. "We wish the team the very best of luck with their fundraising and the Tough Mudder challenge." The apprentice team have set up a fundraising page online at This fundraiser marks the end of the group's first year at City Building, one of Scotland's largest apprentice employers. The organisation currently has more than 250 apprentices, and applications are now open for a further 60 roles this year. Read more: 'The Best Ever Pub Pie' is coming to Glasgow - all you need to know Lennon encourages those considering a construction career to apply. He said: "My advice to any young person thinking about a future in construction is go for it. "City Building has a diverse, inclusive workforce where everyone works together and supports each other. "When I left school, I went to college to study film but quickly realised that the classroom wasn't for me. "I wanted to learn in a more hands-on, practical way. "After some encouragement from my stepdad, I applied, and now, having just finished my first year, I absolutely love it." More information about City Building apprenticeships can be found on the organisation's website.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Early in-person voting to start Tuesday for USD 259 bond election
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Early in-person voting for the Wichita USD 259 bond election begins Tuesday, Feb. 18. Voters can vote in the bond election at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main St., Suite 101, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. It continues every weekday until noon on Feb. 24. Only registered voters who live within the boundaries of USD 259 can cast a ballot in this special election. Dangerous cold and heavy snow on the way Satellite voting centers will open Feb. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Feb. 22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Voters can go to any of these locations: Bel Aire City Building, 7651 E. Central Park, Bel Aire 67226 Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas Ave., Wichita 67208 Mt. Vernon Methodist Church, 5701 E. Mt Vernon St., Wichita 67218 Park City City Hall, 1941 E. 61st St. N., Park City 67219 Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2727 E. 25th St. N., Wichita 67219 Reformation Lutheran, 7601 E. 13th St. N., Wichita 67206 St. Andrew's Lutheran, 2555 Hyacinth Ln., Wichita 67204 Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central Ave., Wichita 67212 Woodland Lakes Community Church, 770 S. Greenwich Road, Wichita 67207 Voters who vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Feb. 25, must go to their designated polling place. To find your polling location, click here. Polling sites on Election Day will open at 7 a.m., instead of 6 a.m., and stay open until 7 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Crisis averted: New staff member connects residents with resources
It's not unusual that someone locked in a police department holding cell might become distraught. But when a young woman in a Meadville Police Department cell recently explained that her distress was due, in part, to the fact that she was missing an appointment with her counselor, something that could not have happened two months ago occurred: Officers asked new city employee Brian Swavey to talk to the woman. Swavey, in turn, asked for the young woman's phone and had her call the counselor on speakerphone. The counselor asked if it would be possible to see the prisoner and within a short while, the counselor joined the woman and Swavey. 'We pulled in a couple chairs and literally had a counseling session right there off holding cell one,' Swavey recalled Friday. 'That's one of the things that I look forward to doing — those type of things — breaking the mold of what we traditionally think of.' Not quite seven weeks into his new job as the city of Meadville's first crisis intervention officer, Swavey is essentially building the position from the ground up and having fun doing so. 'I honestly love the job,' he said inside a small office on the first floor of the City Building, until recently the office of Sgt. Vince Trenga, Meadville Police Department's school safety officer and crossing guard coordinator. Handheld 'Stop' signs were stacked in one corner along with other equipment. After 32 years as an officer with Crawford County Juvenile Probation, one element of the new position the 58-year-old especially likes is the fact that he can focus more on helping people and spend less energy trying to get them to do things they don't want to do. 'At probation, you can help people, but you still have a court order in everything that you have to — you know, do this, do that, pee in a cup, all these things that you have to do,' Swavey said. 'Well, I got rid of that part and so now I'm just a helper — and that's what I like to do.' Swavey's retirement from juvenile probation was effective Dec. 31. After a one-day vacation for New Year's Day, he was in his new office on Jan. 2. He spent part of January with 13 other emergency responders in Crawford County's week-long crisis intervention workshop at Allegheny College and has spent much of the rest of his time responding to people in varying forms of crisis. The unpredictability and changing nature of the calls he responds to make the job interesting. Earlier this week, for instance, he arrived at the scene of a reported domestic violence incident in the Fairmont Apartments complex as city police officers were leaving. He immediately sat down with the couple involved and the three of them broke down what had happened. 'Why did this happen? What did you do, what did they do?' he recalled. 'They took some ownership of it, so I was able to process it in real-time as to what was going on. It was actually kind of neat to be able to do that.' About 10 days ago, another call took him to a house with a long driveway in Vernon Township, where a woman had requested increased patrols after reporting that a car pulled into her driveway with the headlights shining into where she was sitting in the living room. The family, it turns out, had recently moved from another residence where the woman had been home when a break-in occurred. Swavey paid multiple visits, talking to family members about plans to install security cameras and lights as he also began reevaluating his conception of his new job. While the textbook mental health issues that have been spotlighted in recent reevaluations of law enforcement practices are an important element, there's more to it than that, according to Swavey. 'I found out real quickly that crisis is perspective,' he said. 'There's all different types of crises. My mindset was originally just mental health, but really it's a broad perspective of what crisis is.' Funding for the position came last March in the form of a Congressionally Directed Spending Award — more commonly known as an 'earmark' — secured by former Sen. Bob Casey. The $268,000 in federal funds will cover salary and benefits for three years as well as a vehicle, equipment and other related expenses. Swavey is currently using a police department vehicle until another vehicle can be acquired. Swavey may temporarily place more of a burden on the department's transportation needs, but in the bigger picture, his presence relieves a much larger burden that the department was previously ill-equipped to handle, according to Mayor Jaime Kinder. 'It frees up police to do the job that they signed up for,' Kinder said Friday in her office, a short walk from Swavey's. 'They shouldn't have to be therapists.' Perhaps most importantly, Kinder added, where police officers typically respond to incidents involving crisis and then move on to the next call, Swavey's position allows him to follow up as needed 'to make sure they're getting what they need.' Representatives of the social service agencies that play a central role in crisis intervention say the position is already making a difference. 'Absolutely it's a good thing,' said Sarah Miller, a direct services supervisor with Women's Services Inc., who provided training at the county's crisis intervention workshop last month. 'The fact that our local law enforcement is taking it so seriously and making referrals is crucial,' Miller said. 'We really benefit from that partnership.' Swavey's work has already resulted in referrals to Crawford County Mental Health Awareness Program (CHAPS) and collaboration between CHAPS and the police department, according to CHAPS Executive Director Lynn McUmber. 'I think it's going to be a great asset to our community to make sure that people are identified if they're out there and not being given help and being given a little bit of support to get the assistance they need, both with mental health and our housing and homeless services as well,' she said. 'Getting people the support they need is really the goal.' Still in the early stages, Swavey said he has already recognized that much of his responsibilities will involve 'aftercare' — those follow-up visits to check on progress or additional needs of the people who have experienced various forms of crisis. It's the kind of work he likes. 'I have a heart to help people,' he said.
