Assistant City Attorney Thomas Gartner, who approved of the legislative maneuvering in 1998, sent a letter to the court concurring with the Jewel-Osco lawyers. Last month the Court of Appeals instead asked for oral arguments. Cincotta says if the appeals court sends the case back to the county, the ultimate ruling could be that the building would have to go. Conceding that getting rid of the building is highly unlikely, he says what the group really wants is for the court to say that the city violated its rules and that the residents weren't allowed due process. They did everything they should have in a most Norman Rockwell way, only to have the huge conglomerate come in and change it with some procedural stunt.
People have to have some ability to control their own environment.
When you think about all the things that drug money can buy, images of carbines and horse leasing don't necessarily come to mind. The chief's requests are more in line with equipment needs this year. Last year he proposed sending 30-some officers to a police convention in Charlotte, N.C. with the drug money.