It seems like every post-industrial washout town outside of Chicago is waiting in line to be the next Chicago commuter suburb. Gary and the entire NW Indiana area is getting Indiana State money and bipartisan support to reinvent itself as an attractive suburban enclave with Chicago's third regional airport and rail connections, etc. This is exciting stuff, and as I was leaving Chicago last week I stopped by the Indiana Welcome Center and picked up some brochures. I was delighted to find that Gary and NW Indiana are actually VERY serious about this, and they have a huge headstart over Peotone and the Illinois politicians who are still bickering over it.
But now Rockford, with a progressive mayor, and in the complete opposite direction from us as Gary, seems to be ready to join the league of champs known as "Chicagoland". Today's Tribune had an interview with Rockford's new mayor, and it was pretty interesting. Any thoughts on Rockford and its pending acquisition by the Chicago empire? Here's the article:
No reason to feel sorry for ourselves'
Morrissey's plan to revive Rockford involves air, rail, the river and schools, plus a new way of thinking
Published October 23, 2005
Meet the new face of crusty, care-worn Rockford: It's a young one.
In April, Lawrence J. Morrissey was elected mayor at the age of 35, a rare independent in a machine-run town who trounced an incumbent Democrat with strong ties to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He had never before held public office.
Raised on Rockford's upscale Northeast Side, Morrissey attended the local Boylan Catholic High School, then graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1991. He earned a law degree from the University of Illinois in 1995, moved to Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood and practiced civil litigation.
He returned to Rockford in the summer of 1997 after his father became ill, joining the family law firm and launching a real estate development operation. He got involved in efforts to revive the downtown and improve regional transportation.
Morrissey ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2001, winning a better-than-expected 26 percent of the vote. In April, his grass-roots organization delivered a lopsided victory, and the cherubic attorney became "Mayor Morrissey."
Improving the quality of life is essential for reviving Rockford, Morrissey says, and since taking office he has launched initiatives aimed at everything from cleaning up the drinking water to cracking down on truancy. Whether he can deliver remains to be seen.
Morrissey spoke with Tribune senior correspondent Greg Burns at the Bacchus wine bar in downtown Rockford, where he's a regular. Dining on blackened sea scallops, he spoke for almost two hours about Rockford's future. Later, he also talked over the phone. Highlights of those conversations follow:
Why did the people of Rockford put their faith in a young newcomer to politics like yourself? Desperation?
As much as anything, people are excited about action and movement. It's time for leadership, it's time for action and this is what we're trying to provide. Rockford has a lot of resources and there's no reason to feel sorry for ourselves.
How can Rockford compete?
We've got to take advantage of the things like our riverfront, so we build the landscape to make us competitive. We'll be creating the look and feel of a competitive, modern, urban city. Unlike `Noplace-land' in suburbia, we have a symphony. We have an art museum. We have a real city. Competitive cities attract talent.
You said in your campaign that nobody knows who is responsible for economic development in Rockford. Is that still the case?
It's me. I certainly hope people look to me and say, `The buck stops here.'
Why has Rockford had such fragmented leadership in the past?
In the old days, there was a lot of control from private industry. You had families that created the wealth and opportunity. A lot of those old families are gone. A void existed. There's a demand today for very strong political leadership. That's how you survive in a very competitive marketplace.
Is passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago realistic?
Absolutely. The cost is a pittance. Rails exist between here and Elgin. We can float our own bonds. You could check your bags once in Chicago and take the rails to [the Greater Rockford Airport]. We want our three runways here in Rockford to be considered part of the Chicago aviation system.
How will you convince the state to devote more resources to Rockford in the future than it has in the past?
Rockford has been divided a lot. We have not gotten our fair share of state dollars. The Democrats took us for granted, and the Republicans wrote us off. The opportunity, with me being an independent as mayor, is to work with everyone.
You have a vote coming up on restoring home rule. Why do you want to bring it back after two decades without it?
The lack of home rule sends the message that city leadership is distrusted. It's a matter of us being in charge of our own destiny. This community is ready to take responsibility for its future.
What will you have accomplished by the next mayoral race in 2009?
The most important thing I'm working on people won't see: The internal management of the city, performance- and accountability-based management, similar to what New York and Chicago are doing. The road map for the revival of a city is out there. If we keep the pace up, we should have plenty to talk about.
What did you think of the economic-development slogan the city used in the past: "Rockford: A Different Kind of Greatness"?
[Laughs] Awful. That sounds like, `The Yugo: A Different Type of Automobile.' Whoever came up with `A Different Kind of Greatness' was totally off from where the people are. It was low expectations, like we couldn't really be competitive. We can be very competitive> |
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