Latest news with #EconomicDevelopmentCommission
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
City council approves $117M bond request to assist Valparaiso University plan for financial rescue
The Valparaiso City Council agreed unanimously to be the gateway for struggling Valparaiso University to have access to up to $117 million in issued bonds to help refinance existing debt and finance new projects, including building renovations. Ordinance No. 9 2025 passed with a second reading during a special council meeting Friday. At the council's May meeting when the ordinance was first introduced, Valparaiso University officials emphasized the need for the city's support by the first week of June to allow time for the bonds to be purchased. Council members Diana Reed, 1st District, Robert Cotton, 2nd District, Barbara Domer, D-3rd, Jack Pupillo, R-4th, and Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-At-large, attended Friday's meeting in person and voted in favor of the ordinance, as did Peter Anderson, R-5th, who joined the meeting remotely. Council member Emilie Hunt, D-At-large, was not able to attend, and nor was Mayor Jon Costas or Clerk-Treasurer Holly Taylor. City Attorney Patrick Lyp opened the special meeting by recapping the discussion and direction of Wednesday's Economic Development Commission. 'It's the recommendation of the Economic Development Commission that the City Council support and pass this ordinance in the best interest of the community,' Lyp said. 'And as I have continued to emphasize, the City Council is only serving as the needed conduit in order for VU to have access to these bonds in this timely manner. There is not any financial obligation or impact from the bonds being issued which would affect the city or taxpayers.' Lyp and Valparaiso University officials have also emphasized it is likely that even though the window of funds can extend up to $117 million in general obligation bonds, the latest calculations indicate that it is around $55 million which will likely be used by the university for financial needs. Mark Volpatti, the university's senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer, once again represented the university at Friday's council meeting and fielded what were only a few follow-up general questions. When Volpatti attended the May meeting when the ordinance was first introduced, he announced the university has sold or is concluding the sale of the three paintings, a topic which has drawn much public debate and criticism about the fate of the valued works, including Georgia O'Keeffe's 'Rust Red Hills.' He said the university is moving forward with its freshman village, noting the renovation work was being done without taking on debt and through 'the proceeds from the artwork.' The other artwork being sold are 'The Silver Veil and the Golden Gate' by Childe Hassam and Frederic E. Church's 'Mountain Landscape.' Among those from the public to speak during the public hearing portion of Friday's meeting was Valparaiso University Senior Professor John Ruff, who has invested years caring for the collection of works at the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University. He presented the council with a letter with more than 50 signatures representing a stance against the sale of any artwork. Ruff admonished the university for keeping the sale of the O'Keeffe painting 'secret' until it was reported by the media in mid-May. Volpatti addressed Ruff's remarks. 'My thoughts do turn to Richard Brauer and John Ruff and I can't imagine the emotions they've had the past two years,' Volpatti said. 'I respect and admire them and their passion for their career. If more people had such passion for their careers the world would be a better place. We have two camps about whether the sale of artwork should be used for the purchase of new artwork or let's look at the university as a whole and use the sale's funds where they are needed at this time. This is a philosophical question and one that won't be answered today.'
Chicago Tribune
06-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Strong showing for Democrats in races for Oswego Village Board
It appears to be a sweep for Democratic candidates for Oswego Village Board, according to the final unofficial results from the April 1 election. Six candidates were vying for three four-year terms on the Oswego Village Board, while two challengers were seeking a two-year term on the board, during the recent election. Unofficial final results for the race for the three four-year seats show Rachelle Koenig as the top vote-getter with 21.64% of the votes, followed by incumbent Trustee Karen Novy with 20.80% and James Cooper with 20.33% of the votes. All three are Democrats. The other candidates running for the four-year seats were incumbent Trustee Jennifer Jones Sinnott and former trustees Terry Olson and James Marter, II. The unofficial final vote totals show Olson with 12.77% of the votes, Jones Sinnott with 12.46% and Marter with 12.01% of the votes. All three are Republicans. 'I would like to think it's a reflection of the relationships I have developed and the work I have done on various boards and committees,' Koenig said of the outcome. 'It may also be a reflection of the fact that I strive to find common ground with people as a means to understand each other and work together, regardless of our individual beliefs and ideologies.' Koenig recently completed her tenure on the village's Economic Development Commission. 'As a business owner and a marketing strategist, I'm continuously focused on business development and growth. There is so much opportunity to create more experiences in Oswego,' she said. 'I may have been the highest vote-getter, but I wasn't the only vote-getter,' she said. 'There are residents who wanted a different outcome. So, not only am I committed to hearing from the people who are happy to see me as a trustee, I also will be seeking out conversations with those who are not. And hopefully, we can find some common ground.' Novy, who was appointed in July 2023 to fill an unexpired term on the board, said hard work was behind the successful campaign. 'I believe our canvassing and door knocking was the key to the win,' Novy said. Cooper said while he is gratified by the votes, it did take a concerted effort. 'Campaigning for these important roles is not an easy process, and these numbers could not have been achieved without the support of a community. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the efforts of the Kendall County Dems,' he said. Cooper said he intends to take what he heard from residents during the campaign to the seat he will hold on the Oswego Village Board. 'After talking with people in the community, I know they care a great deal about bringing in new businesses downtown and supporting those that currently exist,' he said. Jennifer Hughes, a Democrat, was the highest vote-getter for the two-year term on the Oswego Village Board up for election April 1, garnering 63.10% of the votes, according to unofficial final results, while Lori West, a Republican, had 36.90% of the votes. Hughes is retiring as Oswego Public Works director. She will be recognized at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, the official day of her retirement, for her years as the leader of the Public Works Department in the village. She was hired in November 2013. 'Although I am retiring from the director's position, my desire to serve Oswego remains. The trustee's position is one way that I can utilize my knowledge of what it takes for a community to be successful,' she said. Hughes will be recognized by the village as being instrumental in advancing two 'mega projects' in Oswego – the Wolfs Crossing Road widening project and for work to help bring Lake Michigan water to the village in the near future. 'A key difference between being an employee and a trustee is that while the employee can have significant input on policy, it is the Village Board who actually sets the policies. For nearly 28 years of working in municipal government, I have interacted with residents, businesses, developers and boards. The mechanics of government, from budgeting to setting policy, to approving developments and communicating with residents, is second nature. I believe this experience will help the board make good decisions,' Hughes told The Beacon-News.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Special election for 40th House District takes place today
Voters in parts of Groton and New London are voting today in the special election for the 40th House District. They are choosing between Republican Robert Boris, the chairman of the Town of Groton's Economic Development Commission, and Democrat Dan Gaiewski, a Groton Town Councilor. Boris, 54, a principal at Command Technology, Inc., a Groton City-based cloud computing company, is vice chairman of the City of Groton's Planning and Zoning Commission and president of the Groton Rotary Club. Gaiewski, 24, is a constituent engagement coordinator in the Connecticut General Assembly, vice chairman of the Groton Democratic Party, and secretary of the Young Democrats of Connecticut. Longtime legislator Christine Conley, a Democrat from Groton, held the seat but resigned in January before the session started because she was being nominated to a workers' compensation administrative judge position. Gaiewski and Boris were both outside the City of Groton Municipal Building on Tuesday afternoon. 'The voters will decide,' said Gaiewski. 'I'm just honored to be on the ballot and hope I can earn the vote of the 40th district voters.' Boris said he felt really good and it was good to see familiar faces he saw while meeting people at their doors. As of 7 p.m. nearly 18% of the 11,526 registered voters in Groton's three voting districts that are part of the 40th House District had voted, said Groton Republican Registrar of Voters Kristen Venditti. As of 7 p.m., nearly 25% of the 2,605 registered voters in New London's District 3, the district in the city that is part of the 40th House District, had voted, according to the registrar of voters' office. Groton resident Tom Turnquist, voted Tuesday in Mystic, and called it a duty. He said he voted for Boris because he thinks he is a good candidate and liked his stance on most issues. Groton couple Donna and Carl Speaks said they also voted for Boris. Donna Speaks said Boris' fiscal responsibility intrigued her and she wants to see more of a balance between the parties in Connecticut. Carl Speaks said he liked that he's a Republican and said he doesn't like the one-party state that Connecticut is. Groton voter Ann Ditchburn said she was impressed by a group of young people who showed up at to her door excited about Gaiewski. She said young people are scared about the future of this country and they needed this candidate. 'I'm very impressed with young people today,' she said. Eric McElroy of Groton said he voted for Gaiewski because he's a 'fresh face.' He said he knows Gaiewski and called him a 'good young gentleman.' New London resident Imna Arroyo, who voted Tuesday evening at the Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School in New London, said she is committed to voting as it is a privilege. She said she was voting because of all those who fought for voting rights, such as John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Euronews
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Ecuador's presidential election heads to second round
Ecuador's next president will be decided by a run-off vote in mid-April, following a tighter-than-expected first round between the conservative incumbent leader and a left-wing lawyer on Sunday. The elections come as the country struggles to contain gang violence — related to the trafficking of cocaine — that has mushroomed in recent years. Daniel Noboa, who has been president since 2023, had hoped to secure enough ballots to avoid a second round. To do so, he needed to secure at least 50% of the vote or win 40% with a 10-point margin of victory over his nearest rival. However, Luisa González, a mentee of the influential former president Rafael Correa, did much better than pollsters had expected, finishing a close second. After 91% of votes had been tallied, Noboa edged González by 44.3% to 43.8%, with the other 14 candidates trailing far behind them. The pair were both relative political newcomers when they faced each other in the closely contested second round of the 2023 presidential elections. Noboa, 37, the heir to a large fortune built on banana exports, began his political career in 2021, when he was elected to the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. He surprised analysts by coming second in the first round of the 2023 snap election, which followed then president Guillermo Lasso's decision to dissolve the National Assembly. González, 47, was catapulted to political prominence in 2023 when she became the presidential candidate for Citizen Revolution, Correa's leftist party. Correa, who served as the country's leader from 2007 to 2017, was sentenced in absentia in 2020 over corruption charges. Under Noboa's presidency, Ecuadorians continue to feel the effects of a surge in gang-led violence and of regular power outages. Last January, a gang leader broke out of prison and gang members took a television crew hostage live on air. In response, Noboa ordered a war against the gangs, mobilising the military in parts of the country where organised crime is now entrenched. Although the murder rate dropped from 46.18 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 38.76 per 100,000 people last year, it is far higher than the rate of 6.85 per 100,000 people in 2019. Noboa argues that his tough-on-crime stance is having an effect. But his critics say not enough is being done. There are also concerns over some of his actions, including his decision last year to allow a police raid on Mexico's embassy in the capital, Quito, where Ecuador's former Vice President Jorge Glas was living. González has told her supporters that she will be more effective than Noboa against crime and will improve the economy. Over the weekend, she promised to 'change the dark reality' of a country where 'no one feels safe'.
NBC News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Ecuador votes for president, with the conservative incumbent and a leftist lawyer in the lead
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador — Ecuador's presidential election Sunday is shaping up to be a repeat of the 2023 race, when voters chose a young, conservative millionaire over the leftist protégée of the country's most influential president this century. President Daniel Noboa and Luisa González are the clear front-runners among the pool of 16 candidates. All have promised voters to reduce the widespread crime that pushed their lives into an unnerving new normal four years ago. The spike in violence across the South American country is tied to the trafficking of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru. So many voters have become crime victims that their personal and collective losses will be a determining factor in deciding whether a third president in four years can turn Ecuador around or if Noboa deserves more time in office. Voting is mandatory in Ecuador. In the port city of Guayaquil, people lined up under a light rain outside a public university where tens of thousands were expected to cast ballots. Crime, gangs and extortion 'For me, this president is disastrous,' said Marta Barres, 35, who went to the voting center with her three teenage children. 'Can he change things in four more years? No. He hasn't done anything.' Barres, who must pay $25 a month to a local gang to avoid harassment or worse, said she would vote for González because she believes she can reduce crime across the board and improve the economy. More than 13.7 million people are eligible to vote. To win outright, a candidate needs 50% of the vote or at least 40% with a 10-point lead over the closest challenger. If needed, a runoff election would take place on April 13. Noboa defeated González in the October 2023 runoff of a snap election that was triggered by the decision of then-President Guillermo Lasso to dissolve the National Assembly and shorten his own mandate as a result. Noboa and González, a mentee of former President Rafael Correa, had only served short stints as lawmakers before launching their 2023 presidential campaigns. Testing the limits of laws and norms of governing Noboa, 37, is an heir to a fortune built on the banana trade. He opened an event organizing company when he was 18 and then joined his father's Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas. His political career began in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission. Under his presidency, the homicide rate dropped from 46.18 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 38.76 per 100,000 people last year. Still, it remained far higher than the 6.85 per 100,000 people in 2019, and some of Noboa's no-holds-barred crimefighting strategies have come under scrutiny inside and outside the country for testing the limits of laws and norms of governing. His questioned tactics include the state of internal armed conflict he declared in January 2024 in order to mobilize the military in places where organized crime has taken hold, as well as last year's approval of a police raid on Mexico's embassy in the capital, Quito, to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive who had been living there for months. His head-on approach, however, is also earning him votes. 'My vote was for Noboa because of his skills and because he maintains a direct confrontation with the armed drug-trafficking groups and the corrupt,' Pablo Votruba, a retired doctor in Quito, said. 'Things are not going to change' González, 47, held various government jobs during the presidency of Correa, who led Ecuador from 2007 through 2017 with free-spending socially conservative policies and grew increasingly authoritarian in his last years as president. He was sentenced to prison in absentia in 2020 in a corruption scandal. González was a lawmaker from 2021 until May 2023, when Lasso dissolved the National Assembly. She was unknown to most voters until Correa's party picked her as its presidential candidate for the snap election. Waiting for her turn to vote, architecture student Keila Torres said she had not yet decided who to vote for. None, she said, will be able to lower crime across Ecuador due to deep-rooted government corruption. 'If I could, I wouldn't be here,' said Torres, who has witnessed three robberies in public buses over the past four years and barely escaped a carjacking in December. 'Things are not going to change.' Torres added that criminal activity has affected her studies as her neighborhood's gang targets anyone walking the streets past 10 p.m., which forced her to skip night classes to not miss curfew. She said her family is not forced to pay monthly extortion fees to the gang, but the group did urge neighbors to vote for a specific candidate. 'In my area, they left fliers in every house door saying that if they didn't vote for Luisa, they would have to face the consequences,' Torres said.
