Oak Park
Challenger eyes 1 of
2 city council seats
held by incumbents.
JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR
Special to the Jewish News
I is hard to fight the incum-
bents during prosperous
times, but that is exactly what
Norman Allen II is planning
to do come the first Tuesday in
November.
Allen, one of three contenders
for two city council seats in Oak
Park, is the only non-incumbent in
the citywide elections. He is chal-
lenging current city council mem-
bers Raymond Abrams and Michael
Seligson (also mayor pro tern),
while Mayor Gerald Naftaly runs
unopposed for a two-year term.
Council members serve four years.
By now, fears that the opening of
the 1-696 link through Oak Park
would spell death for the city have
been dispelled. Oak Park currently
is experiencing its second straight
year of double-digit housing cost
increases — an indicator of the eco-
nomic health of the city. At the
same time, a recent survey conduct-
ed by Wayne State University's
Center for Urban Studies found
that the majority of residents felt
safe in their homes and that the
city's public safety department was
doing a good job.
"Of all the public services, public
safety had the highest number of
respondents (96 percent) who were
either 'somewhat' or 'very' satisfied
with the services offered," the sur-
vey said.
One area of concern for some
residents, however, is the type of
services and amenities offered to
younger residents. The survey
found that residents were disap-
pointed that the city pool was not
usable and that parks lacked suffi-
cient equipment; in fact, 16 percent
of respondents to the survey
expressed some level of dissatisfac-
tion with the parks.
Additionally, the [Oak Park
District] school system was "fre-
quently mentioned because it has
`declined in standards." The city of
Oak Park is divided into the Oak
Park, Berkley and Ferndale public
school districts.
Dr. Alexander Bailey, superinten-
dent for the Oak Park Schools, said
the relationship between the school
board and the city council has
become much better since he
arrived eight years ago.
"There had been some problems
between the city and the [Oak Park
District] schools. I met with Mayor
Naftaly and we agreed that our goal
would have to be to have a compat-
ible relationship and beyond that, a
supportive relationship," Bailey
said.
Right now, that means looking
out for the needs of the city's chil-
dren by providing after-school pro-
gramming, he said. A bond issue
surfacing at this election will
address that program by proposing
more money be available for after-
school activities.
"We need more things for kids to
do after school," Bailey said. "We
need more places for kids to go. It
is a dangerous situation because
kids will find places to go; they will
find things to do.
"We just want to provide them
with good, sound options." ❑
A large number of observant Jews live in your city. In the past, some complaints have been lodged regarding harassment of Jews walking to
synagogue on the Sabbath. What can be done, multiculturally, to help bring the city's diverse ethnic communities together?
Q2
What can the city do to partner with the school board in further improving the school system, which has a dramatic effect on housing values?
• Mr%
•\ • s
'N1R\
or CITY COUNCIL
I am not aware of any inci-
dents of harassment over the
past five years. Any such incident
or report should not and would not
be tolerated. My office and city
administration, along with the pub-
lic safety department, work closely
with all of the synagogues and reli-
gious institutions. A recent survey
commissioned by the city and con-
ducted by Wayne State University's
Center for Urban Studies shows
that our residents feel safe and
secure and have high praise for the
police and fire departments. Out
ethnic advisory commission was
formed many years ago to keep
open lines of communication and
help bring the diverse ethnic com-
munity together.
m ayo
Q2 As
have ongoing
discussions, both
formal and infor-
mal, with school
NAFIALY
on page 26
The Oak Park Public Safety
Department has not received
any reports of Jews being harassed
while walking to synagogue on the
Sabbath. While such incidents may
have been a problem in other cities,
none have been reported here in
recent years. The department's poli-
cy is to thoroughly investigate any
reported incidents of ethnic harass-
ment and to seek prosecutions
whenever appropriate. This directly
reflects the commitment of our city
council to fostering a partnership
among all cultures within our com-
munity, a commitment that corn-
prises vigorous enforcement of all
laws against ethnic intimidation.
Q1
Harassment o
Qi brothers
and sisters
The city will
continue to
partner with the
Oak Park district
to improve the
school system.
Though the district
to synagogue on the' Sai
intolerable. Harassment
engaged in the free exercise o
gion is intolerable. We need to
initiate and continue a multi
rural, communal dialo
common values and sh
mittnents. This (Halo
begin with Oak Park
leaders and the congre
serve. Once common val
shared commitments are,
and clarified, neighbo
ciations, block d
leaders should be
the discussion.
cultural divers
ing should be
broadcast on
municipal televi-
sion and published
in the Oak Park
Report (residents'
publication).
ABRAMS on page 26
ALLEN on page 26
t1
Q2
10/22
1999