Thimblerigging

According to the Webster dictionary, thimblerigging is a swindling trick in which a small ball or pea is quickly shifted from under one to another of three small cups to fool the spectator guessing its location.

There seems to be thimblerigging going on with the DiMaria administration right here in good ole Morton Grove.

Remember during the primary election when DiMaria promised to make new businesses a priority? Remember during the primary election when DiMaria said he would work closely with local businesses and create "personal relationships"? Remember in the not-so-distant past when DiMaria siad that there soon would be a food store to replace the departed Dominck's? There were a lot of high-sounding promises made, but little in the way of results. It's coming up on a year since DiMaria has been mayor, what results have we seen?

Let's take a look at the vacancies along Dempster street, for example. It's really hard to do, since many of the businesses that have departed still have signage showing, (like Buy Happy, for example). Leaving the signs up gives the appearance of active businesses, but it is a violation of a village ordinance to do so. A bit of thimbalrigging Mr. Mayor? Sure seems like deception or misdirection drawing attention away from the failure to bring in the promised new businesses.

Let's take a look at one of the "new" businesses that have been brought into town. In the space next to the Morton Grove Civic Center which used to house the currency exchange we now have a shiny new Title Max where you can bring in your car title and receive a legal juice loan. The signage on the pace is not only garish, but it certainly appears as if it is larger than what is allowed by the ordinance. Where is the building inspector Mr. Mayor? Is he busy telling folks to "follow the little pea and double your money."? More thimbalrigging Mr. DiMaria?

Under the previous administration then Trustee DiMaria railed against the village "land banking". Now, apparently buying the parcel on Dempster for land banking was championed by DiMaria and passed by a compliant village board. "Follow the little pea. Which shell is it under Guess correctly and you will win big!" More thimbalrigging.

What have the citizens of Morton Grove gotten for their wager of tax money on a DiMaria mayoralty in the first year???

Some "Done Deals" that have been a real bust to Grovers.