3/30/2008
Another fine example of the code enforcement "officers"
not doing their job: There is
a home over on Las Robles st that does not have a fence up on one side of his yard, I
know he has a pool and that there are many little kids next door to him. Why does he not
get a ticket for that????
Oh yea,,, He is Mayor JONES board-up contractor. ENOUGH of the
sweet heart deals people. Is this Oak Forest or CICERO?
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3/30/2008
Just received the latest propaganda sheet, FYI, from Queen Kelly.
I like the way she praises city employees and then goes into all the benefits they receive. Being a teacher herself,
Kelly probably gets at least these benefits - maybe more - and she doesn't have to repair a water main in below zero weather
or take the grief our police officers hear on the street or put her life on the line to put out a fire. She also gets
$20,000 for being mayor. For what she has cost our city in legal bills and higher taxes, I say she should forego her
salary - in fact, she should donate $20,000 before she raises or creates one more tax.
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3/30/2008
I can't believe that our city officials with Kelly at the helm thought it was o.k. to put a commuter
parking lot right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. When it comes time for those residents to sell their
property, I think Kelly should make up any difference in the value of their homes.
Everyone
should take a ride down 159th Street during rush hour and watch how commuters are crossing the street to get to the train.
Sooner or later, someone will be hurt.
Let's tear down some homes next to Kelly's
and put up a remote lot. I'm sure if it's good for the city, she'd welcome it.
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3/30/2008
I am a 40 year resident of Oak Forest and would like to commend the Public Works department. They patch
our roads (161st & Forest) since for some reason the administration has decided that these roads don't need to be
completely redone anytime soon (sad to watch the kids wipeout on the enormous and numerous potholes which have been there
for at least a year). They are also very responsive after a storm. A courtyard tree in my neighbors yard fell
due to a lightening strike and they had the tree removed within an hour and a half after it fell. Our fire department
is also very responsive. Not sure about the police since the only time we ever see them in our neighborhood is when
the are making sure that nobody turns right (including the residents who live there until they just changed the sign) near
the new parking lot. I know we have a code enforcement car, see that all the time. I think it would be a mistake
to vote in a past mayor because if we were happy with that person, they would still be in office. I still think that
Oak Forest is a nice place to live.
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3/30/2008
So, Oak Forest is going to get a CVS? There is one already under
construction at 167th Street and Oak Park Avenue. With two so close together, which do you think stands the greatest
chance of survival?
And while we are on the gateway project, would any of the other villages
allowed Metra to install HUGE silver boxes right along the main side of the tracks? The look right in place contrasting
the bomb shelter of a station and will look even better next to the new station if we ever get one. I am sure that they
required Metra to hide them with trees or something, right? Probably not because there is an indicator light on them
that the trains need to see! I am sure the people in the Condo's will love to look out their window to see these
along with the other unkept areas along the tracks.
For the first ward, where is the stop
light at 167th street and Lockwood to allow people to safely cross from the bike trail to the Forest Preserve. Never
mind the fact that you have to cross over abrublty at the end of the trail to avoid the horse droppings!
I try to remain positive about our decision to move to Joke Forest, but that is often thrown in my face. We
sometimes look at moving to a home more appropriate for our needs, and there are a few lots in Oak Forest that we have considered,
but then we think why?
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3/30/2008
Hello to all who are reading this. I just wanted to inform you on
a new Mayor Kelly beautification project going on here in Oak Forest. I found out today, March 25, 2008, that the City
Council passed an ordinance sometime last fall to allow the removal of the ComEd utility poles from 159th & Forest Ave
to 160th & Forest. The city is paying for all of this. The citizens who live in this one block area will now be
given underground utilities. Mayor Kelly decided that the utility poles are unsightly around the beautiful parking lot.
How I found all of this out is due to the fact that the City authorized ComEd to place a support pole in the middle of my
front yard. Yes it is on the easement but effective today this action has caused the value of my property to go down.
My front room faces west so when we open our blinds we see a nice utlitiy pole. We were not informed of this action.
We were not told what the consequence of the placement of this pole would be. The pole was placed due to the fact that
at some point when the cables come up from underground and are attached to the existing pole at the corner of 160th &
Forest, the weight could cause the existing pole to bend. By placing the new pole in the ground between the corner pole
and the next pole going south, it will help carry the weight. My question is why couldn't a pole have been put in
the south east corner of the parking lot? The little tree that is currently there could be moved. Do these elected officials
even think before they act? How would they like it if someone came along some day and just sank an unsightly pole in
their yard? They wouldn't but by God they would make sure it didn't happen to them, but screw the rest of us.
We need to get ALL of these idiots out with the upcoming elections. Every year for the next few years we as a town need
to ban together and get these people out. They are all on different election years so we need to be diligent and work
together to get them all out. In the past I had high regards for Ald. Simon but I am now tired of hearing the excuses.
I am now stuck with my house until who knows when due to a pole that I did not ask for nor do I want to look at. If
anyone has any suggestions or knows a little more about this we would be greatful to hear you suggestion. Time is not
on our side.
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3/30/2008
NOW THE DIGGING HAS BEGUN
Now that the
digging has begun at the old metra station has anyone dug into Mayor Jones past? I have to ask C.A.N. if there a deal
with the city and him about his gasoline usage? The rumor is that the city pays this bastard $600 a month for his traveling
expenses. If he does not use all the money allocated to him, does he return it? Or does he pocket it like many
of his other deals ?
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3/30/2008
The person who wrote "Candidates to step foreword in the first ward"
I agree with you. I beleive Mr Chinino started off strong at first, he was very active until he had his accident,
then he slowed down to a bit understandably and now he seems to be dis-interested in our concerns. I do think Mr Chinino should
give his post up to someone who will actually help and fight for the first ward residents concerns. It's not all about
cookies and candy anymore, we need a alderman who will step it up a few notches, one who returns e-mails & phone calls
asap
Laramie Ave
Gingerwood
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3/30/2008
To the youngster:
Well, if what you write
is true, I commend you. It is a rare instance when someone so young takes such an interest in local, let alone any politics.
You say we need change, someone with no political ties, you would prefer it be someone young. I agree with you on all
counts. Why don't you run? I recently attended a convention and one of the speakers was an 18 year old alderman.
Whomever the next mayor is, (hoping it is a new person) I don't envy them clean up job they will have to do.
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3/18/2008
In Reply To: " Reply to - Here I am in my apartment in Chicago."
When your HOMETOWN is Oak Forest and you currently live in chicago cause you are going to school... You still are
actually "living" in Oak Forest. So Yes I am a resident of the city, heck I even vote in Oak Forest. What I was
trying to say which you obviously read in the wrong way was that there is some obvious "pro" gordon people on here
and that starting some kind of re-elect gordon idea was idiotic.
You guys are right.. Lets give president Bush I mean...
Pat gordon a second chance.. Do you remember what happened when we gave our president a second chance? Learn from mistakes!
You know because under Gordon everything was working SOOOO well.... ARE YOU KIDDING? It wasn't terrible maybe but it was
NOT good. It just seemed that during Richmond's time in he was trying to work with everyone but.. that doesn't seem
to work either... I mean lets be smart IT DIDNT WORK
NO SECOND CHANCES..... honestly not everyone believes in Jesus
so that just doesn't fly in politics.
As for the person that does not think im 22.....
truly this 22 Year Old remembers Malecky and when Richmond beat him the political button pins said Yabba Dabba Don't with
Fred Flinstone on it! I remember because I was super city political when I was younger. This kid remembers watching city council
meetings hearing Susan Hoffricter's Voice.. and how Nasal and Raspy it was so YES believe this 22 year old does remember
this stuff. No joke...!
You want a Suggestion for improvement?
Time for someone NEW
Time For a Change... Lets get someone new someone who isn't friends with Pat Gordon or any former mayors for that matter.
Wish it would be someone Much Younger...
CHANGE PEOPLE...! Thats my suggestion...
Stop living in the past.
- YoungDem
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3/18/2008
WILL COUNTY, PLEASE annex Joke Forest before our mayor & her administration
destroy us completley.
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3/18/2008
RE: New Bumper Sticker
Too bad this
sticker does not have Mayor Jones or Sidekick Kelly pictures on them. To let other communities know what TOTAL complete
Jack Asses they are !!
These new trash cans also should have Mayor Jones smiley face engraved
on them, because he can be a sweetheart, and a "sweetheart" deal was probably done to get these items.
Our elected offficals should do something now...PLEASE !! Jones is a Fraud !! He should not be placed in any
position like this again !! Anywhere !! Voters beg you, learn from his past !! Remember the "Queens"
count down can can apply to you also for not doing anything to halt this madness!!
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3/18/2008
Ok all this talk about Pat gorden is good, but for one little thing, His plan for the gateway project, was
to take Homes and business in the Arbor park area and tear them down. Put condo's and new stores in thier place. He also
wanted to take the homes on the east side of Oak Ave, so they can offer the land to buisness who wanted to build on Cicero
Ave, south of 159th Street, but at the same time they were letting new home go up on the east side of Oak. So I ask, why he
lost the race for Mayor in the first place, well the people in the Arbor area can tell you.
CG
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3/18/2008
In response to "Public works are the unsung heros" BULLCRAP!
How many city dollars are wasted when we see the public
works director out in local and not local establishments, with
the CITY vehicle, OFF DUTY. Now I
know what your going to say: He's Oncall, However, he should not be using our
gas and maintenance of the vehicle to
take the family out. Or should not be at the local watering hole...(BAR PEOPLE).
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3/09/2008
After reading a great deal of the posted comments I had to reflect on what
it is to live in Oak Forest. One thing I can say is, I believe we have the BEST public works departments that I have
ever seen. These guys work their butts off to do repairs and keep our streets plowed and safe. The long hours these guys sometimes
have to put in in terribly cold and miserable conditions should be appreciated.I think these guys are the unsung heros of
our town and I would like to say THANK YOU!
BH
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3/09/2008
You would think with an anonymous site, people would feel more at ease
with being a little bit more honest. It is no wonder we have a mayor like we do, a city administrator like we do.
We have people posting, pretending to be someone else. Are we truly to believe that a 22 year old remembers Susan Hoffrichter
or Jim Malecky's term as mayor? Someone posts an inquiry regarding Hank Kuspa, claiming to be looking for more information
regarding him, yet has found out that he is an alleged buddy of the ex-fire chief? Seems most are content to complain
about the current administration, some aren't happy with the past ones either, yet no one is willing to step up to the
plate.
I agree that Mayor Kelly's campaign promises and her unwillingness to keep them
needs to be kept in the forefront. The citizens need an accurate accounting of all the legal expenses the city now has.
Mayor Kelly has a need to increase the city's revenue to cover the payroll for of her friends. Does anyone know
if it is illegal for Scott Burkhardt to be collecting a paycheck from the city while also being an elected official?
We need solutions to the current situation, not back and forth rhetoric. Whomever decides to run, needs to get out there
now and aggressively start informing residents of what they would do differently. It is easy to sit in the background
and complain, does anyone have suggestions for improvement?
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3/09/2008
WOW,after reading all these comments,Mayor Kelly sounds like a clone of
Cook County President Stroger. It sounds like her hirring practices should be investigated. It also appears that Chicagos
Silver Shovel has infected her administration. I am a long time resident of Oak Forest and I have never seen so many tax and
fee increase since I have lived here. During this period of an economic down turn these increases are the last thing residents
need. Its time to cut the fat so start with your bloated administration. Wage freezes and 10% cuts in all departments would
be a good start. Its really a shame, from the Tin Man episode to the Fire Department embarrasment. Its sad that
the good alderman (you know who you are) have to put up with this poor excuse for a mayor. She can't even use her real
name. Maybe the next city meeting should be held at Tinley Park Mental Health Center.
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3/09/2008
In reply to "Pertaining to the Mayor's new garbage contract with NuWay.
I do not intend to recycle. Will the Mayor pay me rent to store the recycle can on my property ? If it is stolen, do
I have to pay for something I didn't want in the first place."
Why not recycle ?
Are you that dense? Recycling only saves space in landfills and help out the World in general.
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3/09/2008
I agree find your Re-elect Gordon pin's Patrick Gordon For Mayor
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3/09/2008
DON HALL FOR MAYOR
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3/09/2008
While we are calling for candidates to step forward, I suggest one steps forward for us in the FIRST WARD.
Tony
has had a "good run" but now its time for him to go with the other trash in the ward and in city hall.
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3/09/2008
To the person who wrote "A SECOND CHANCE"
Here we are stealing
Mr. Chinino's word's, for all of us who voted for Candidate Kelly,
We are now calling our self "Stupid,
Stupid, Stupid". What were we thinking? obviously
we weren't. I must say we were never been under this kind
of fire while Mayor Gordon
was in office. There were never any web site's designed against Gordon, asking to bring
Richmond back. This can only tell us one thing. Let's vote Gordon back. We agree, he does
deserve a second
chance.
Resident's of Oak Forest
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3/09/2008
Reply to - Here I am in my apartment in Chicago.
Which is it you live in Chicago or you live
in Our city Oak Forest. You are contradicting yourself with a bunch of you said it "Babbling" in fact you
think it was better during Richmond. Are you are kidding me?
Yes, please get a hobby. As for 40+ All
of your statements are absolutely ridicules, your babbling makes no sense. Your statement regarding the last guys "groupies"
are mad and most of them start web sites like these. Wrong Again! This couldn't be further from the truth.
The truth of the matter is, it is nice to see that no matter who's sideline you were on then when Mayor Gordon was in
office or if you were on Candidate Kelly's sideline, We have all come together as a whole to fight back against Candidate
Kelly and Mayor Jones.
Please proof read your letter's prior to submitting.
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3/2/2008
I agree with the person who wrote about issues in the first ward, referring to
it as a junk yard. While most homes are well-kept, there are several with junk vehicles, tow trucks, limos, campers, boats
and garbage cans in the driveway or front yard. This makes the whole area look bad. Where are the ordinance officers?
Isn't it their job to clean this up? Why aren't these people being ticketed? Our homes are our biggest investment.
If you can't afford to store it, don't own it! We need to care about what our neighborhood looks like.
MDC
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3/2/2008
Who is Hank Kuspa? I have heard recently that he is running for Mayor I'm
not so sure about that, all resident's seem to know about Mr Kuspa is that he runs Oak Fest and that he is a good Friend
of the ex Fire Cheif Lindsay Laycoax, that in it self is kind of scary. Not too many people seem to know who he is or anything
about the man. I'm thinking on a popularity vote, so far not so good. Can some out there give me a little more information
then, "I don't anything about the man"
Some Concerned Oak Forest Resident's
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3/2/2008
Pertaining to the Mayor's new garbage contract with NuWay. I do not
intend to recycle. Will the Mayor pay me rent to store the recycle can on my property ? If it is stolen, do I have to
pay for something I didn't want in the first place.
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3/2/2008
A SECOND CHANCE
When I was around seven or eight years old, I would
often gaze at the blackboard periodically. For some unknown reason I looked at the accumulation of all the markings on the
board. Although the board had been erased many times over, the lessons from the whole week, and different color chalk marks
could still be seen from Monday, Tuesday, and every other day of the week. In other words, after all of the erasing and washings,
the board was still scarred from yesterday.
Today many men and women are just like that blackboard;
their lives are all marked up with the scars from yesterday tragedies, and no matter how many New Year's resolutions,
failed diets, etc, the scars still mar their lives. Have you ever wished that you could start over again? Well in Jesus eyes
you can do just that,
you can have a second chance, if you would put your faith in what he has done two thousand years
ago. That's right! You can have a second chance; in fact, Jesus is in the business of giving people a second chance to
do all of the things that they know they should have been doing from the very beginning.
My question now
is why shouldn't we give Gordon a second chance.
Let's live in the future, don't dwell in the
past, live for today and make these moments last
God Bless
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3/2/2008
Thank you Aldermen, for tabling the new up and coming permit and inspection
fee's
that Kelly would like to raise in her effort to generate more revenue. This is one
of many issue's
you all have a duty to us residents to question her about.
We can only wish that you ALL will
continue to question her tactics and not let
Kelly sneak anything pass you any longer.
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3/2/2008
To Whom May Ever Should Run For The Next Election
For a sure election
victory please, get rid of all the political hacks that Mayor Jones placed in various offices!! He (Jones) wants
only people who kiss his all mighty ass !! And that goes to our elected officals...THE MORE YOU KISS, THE MORE YOU LOSE
!!We need someone who can either learn from past mistakes or a person who is not political. If Oak Forest is to gain,
the first step is expose Jones. The TRUE mayor the power hungry individual that he is !! We all will suffer because
of this man, and he could not care less. Hey Kelly !!! wake up please !! SINCE YOU DESIRE NOT TO USE
YOUR MARRIED NAME...LEGALLY..MAY AS WELL USE YOUR ELECTED NAME...JO ANN JONES !!!!
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3/2/2008
Wow...
I am just shocked... Here I am in my aprtment in Chicago.. 22 Years old stumbling across This...
shocking babble...
First off.... I have to say something upfront and out there
I am not
sure of whether mayor kelly is doing a good job or not quite frankly she may not be...
But
if you try and tell me that Mayor Gordon or Malecky were good mayors... Id like to invite you over to have your brain examined...
Don't Try and say past mayors weren't corrupt or "bad" ... Lots of stuff gets covered up people!
hello!
I feel like most of these posting are from 40+ year olds who have nothing better to
do with themselves and if its not them
its the 17 year old sons or daughters complaining for them!
and you people
should just be ashamed of yourselves!!! I mean seriously get a hobby...! its as bad as westboro baptists!!
You do realize that during the end of mayor gordons term oak forest had the highest amount of houses for sale and
apartments for rent combined.. Ever..
I should know I did a project in college for it!
He wasn't really a good
mayor at all... To be honest I don't think I have seen a good mayor in oak forest in a long time...
All this crap is... is really a sham
they get in office put out the last guys friends put in their friends
then the last guys "groupies" are mad and most of them start websites like these...
If
mayor gordon runs will have a george w. bush *episode* all over again...
If kelly isn't
working Fine don't vote her in again!
But try someone new all together
NOT like
pat gordons buddy
NOT mayor kellys friend
Our city was not at its best under gordon
in fact i think it was
better during richmond
course then..
we were dealing with all of malecky's bobbleheads.... Hoffricter.. Eugh.!
Its just all so stupid!
Whatever you do don't go back to something that "SORTA"
worked *gordon*
IF this isn't working try something new.... seriously..
I really hope that some of you realize what a great city can be and see it hasn't been that way in a long time...
We need something new all together people.
And that is that..
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3/2/2008
It was great meeting several of you last night at City Hall. I just wanted to let you all know that the audio and
video from last night's meeting are available at my site, www.oakforestwatch.com. I will continue to do this so we don't have to pay a transcript tax to get a verbatim copy of the minutes
or go hunt down a copy of the DVD from the library. Keep up the good work.
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3/2/2008
The New Bumper Sticker in Town
Thank you
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3/2/2008
We are now using this sight as a politcal launching pad for potential new officials.
With that in mind let's see how our current administration is fairing in providing government and services to the people
of our town.
Mayor JOann KElly's term to date.
Raised
the City taxes when she came into to office.
Now has lowered the City portion of taxes as indicated on the cable commercial
about town meetings.
But with the rollback of taxes that she increased in the first year she also added Utility taxes,
let's look at all the cable, phone, utility bills - everyone has increased with the municipal tax. She could have
rolled those taxes in at a lower rate, but why do that when you can get legal advice to go after it all!!
Got into her position by telling people the previous administration was corrupt, city scandal Mike Feeley.
Oh,
let's look at that one again, wasn't our current Mayor in office when Mr. Feeley was orginally hired. Yes I
think she was when former Mayor Richmond hired him, fired him then rehired him.
Campaign promise
not to hire friends and/or relatives.
Again if we look at this one she has spent more money hiring positions that are
not needed in a town the size of ours and if I am mistaken, has hired former Mayor Richmond's wife for the building department.
A hire that is really a bad one, that woman is the worst employee and just a payback for becoming mayor.
Let's get back to Mr. Feeley and scandal.
In the first half of Mayor Kelly's term, she has had
scandals with the annexation of land that she let an agreement expire. She also has had a Fire Chief that has been under
scrutiny, retired under questionable circumstances and was rewarded by the city with a pension and salary and enough comp
days to show that he never sleeped he was always working. How does this happen and the community does not deserve any
answers, I believe that shows open government.
Let's look at the efficiency of purchasing
of the Kelly administration.
In an RFQ that was selectively sent out to only certain vendors and the incumbant, the waste
hauling contract (4 years) has now increased the costs to 28% of the users by over 200%. No savings was given to the other
72% of the users that pay for volume pick up even though the hauler was seeing an marked increased in revenue. In meetings
broadcast on cable it was keenly aparent that this was a directive coming from up high. Documents show that our Mayor
was heavily in favor of this change, pushed it through Mr. Jones and had it directed right back to the incumbant hauler.
She was determined to get rid of the Environmental Committee, due to the fact that they could refute all the hauler's
statistics. This is one of the largest contracts that the City of Oak Forest has you would think that they would have
worked harder to make this better for the community and not for the incumbant hauler.
Now
she wants to increase the fees for building, remodeling and Inspections.
She has also incurred very high legal fees,
our city lawyers have assured themselves of a revenue increase.
IT IS TIME to think about
getting rid of bad government and start working for the community, something that I have not seen the Kelly Administration
do.
LET'S GET RID of the JO ann KE lly group now, before the laugh is on us!!
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3/2/2008
To all Oak Forest Aldermen, It would be wise to distance yourself from the
QUEEN. She and Jones are an unfortunite history of Joke Forest. I for one, found my "Re-elect Gordon badge " that
I am wearing proudly. I'm counting the days till Oak Forest becomes normal again. All our surounding suburbs are laughing
at us. Maybe Oak Forest should annex the Tinley Park Mental Institution.
4th Ward