Choose DuPage - Lack of Transparency

After many FOIA requests were sent to the Village of Downers Grove with regards to the proposal by Draper and Kramer we were surprised to see an email from Choose Dupage in late 2011 stating that Draper and Kramer wanted to put a Walgreens at the Corner of 63rd and Woodward Ave in Downers Grove.  It appears this project was initiated through Choose DuPage. 

If Choose DuPage fell under the open meetings act our neighborhood would have been made aware  the initial meetings with regards to this project.   

Choose DuPage can meet and discuss plans with developers with public money to do so and yet they do not have to disclose any of this information.

As stated by Maryam Judar and Terry Pastika  "By the time the public is provided with information, government, EDC's, and corporations already have made significant investments.  Notice to the public, which is supposed to expand public involvement, becomes nothing more than a pro forma activity."

Please read below.  The concerns are valid and should be addressed by DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin and the DuPage County Board.

Excerpt taken from 

The Goals of Democracy and Those of Economic Development: Bridging the Two While Valuing Public Participation By Maryam Judar and Terry Pastika

Often times when a government entity intends to take action on an issue where an EDC is involved, the first details received by the public are through a news release, a specific governmental body agenda, or public notice related to a public hearing.  The Illinois citizenry is already plagued with poor civic health due to a variety of reasons[10] but when there is civic interest and motivation to participate in the economic development process, systemic barriers present themselves that relate to the lack of information flowing to the public and little time to adequately assess and act on information.  By the time the public is provided with information, government, EDCs, and corporations already have made significant investments.  Notice to the public, which is supposed to expand public involvement, becomes nothing more than a pro forma activity. 

When the public attempts to obtain information to evaluate development decisions that involve EDCs,[11] the stark reality hits that meetings are closed, and information disclosure about an EDC’s activity is based on the EDC’s discretion or through individual Freedom of Information Act requests to the various public bodies with which the EDC liaisons.  A civicly combustible environment emerges when there is a lack of balance with respect to the free flow of information to the public on clear issues of public concern in favor of economic development and the role of private corporations.  When citizens attempt to fully avail themselves of what limited political process may remain to independently determine if the public good is indeed served, the perceptions are polarized as either democracy in action or an inhibition of economic development.[12]    

For the full article please see below link:

http://www.dcbabrief.org/vol240512art3.html