stanford
Politicians great at getting money from working-class families
It’s amazing the many ways that politicians manage to justify increasing taxpayer revenue. They are incredibly skilled at getting at the money of working-class families. The ideas that they come up with are never-ending, and put Don Kramer to shame. For example, the exploit pulled …
New season a time of change on Aurora City Council
In spite of George Norman Douglas’ rather ominous warning to “never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it,” still eight courageous individuals came to be sworn in at the city of Aurora’s Inauguration Ceremony. For the purposes of this story, I’ll call them …
Plenty of tasty options for hungry diners in Aurora
When people say that there aren’t places to dine on Aurora’s far west side, I’m puzzled. If that were true, please explain why my waist keeps expanding? However, what is true is that Aurora’s west side, and for that matter the entire city, does not …
It’s the last call at Patrick’s Fine Food & Spirits
Patrick Burke isn’t a nutty Irishman. Patrons of Patrick’s Fine Food & Spirits, his Aurora West Side eatery, have enjoyed the warm libation and delicious food for decades. But next weekend, that will come to a close. Burke who is the namesake of the popular …
Sequestration’s real definition: Pain for all
I’ve had a lifelong love affair with words, and it is rare that I don’t enjoy discovering different ways to use them. However, there is something about the word, “sequestration” that has caught fire in the American lexicon that I’ve not warmed to. Maybe it’s …
Anti-gang efforts paying off for Aurora
Given Aurora’s exceptional year without a murder on the books in 2012, opinions abound related to what has changed with respect to the city’s policing strategies. People I’ve discussed the issue with are grateful that the Aurora Police Department and city leaders are committed to …
Jackson Jr. paid forgettable visit to Aurora
It was a rainy, blustery day during former U.S. Congressman Jesse Jackson’s first term, when he visited one of the Aurora Housing Authority’s developments. Jackson was on a campaign swing for a local democratic candidate, and was dropping by to speak to a small, but …
Fight for rights continues for segment of black community
Like every year, I am enjoying the Black History Month celebration. Recently, I attended the Aurora Historical Society’s Flavors of Aurora: Stirred Not Shaken opening. The photographs depicting African Americans and their impact on Aurora’s history is a soul-stirring celebration of Black History Month 2013. …
Leave it to politicians to decide when spring is near
Last week we saw a hint of spring and the warmest temperatures we’ve had in months. Though brief, the warm-up conjured up thoughts of springtime. Most of the 20.3 inches of snow dumped on Groundhog Day by Mother Nature are gone. I guess I’m desperate …
Stash of cash in car just doesn’t add up
The legal battle over the $190,040 confiscated from Jesus and Jose Martinez by astute Aurora police officers and drug sniffing K-9s last October is likely to continue into the near future. The good news is that the city of Aurora will not be held in …
Can we agree to back away from consensus candidates?
A substantial number of former Chicagoans make their home in Aurora and west suburban communities, and as Chicago’s longtime mayor Richard M. Daley prepares to leave office, interest in Chicago politics is intense. When I attend local functions and encounter Chicago transplants, they long to …
New Year’s resolutions for dummies
OK, let’s get this out of the way: I resolve not to write another column about New Year’s resolutions until 2012. As far as personal resolutions are concerned, I sometimes think, who really cares? I mean, aside from the person making the resolution and people …
Elizabeth Edwards no conventional political spouse
People connected with Elizabeth Edwards’ courage and candor. It was as if she was showing us how to prepare for the difficulties that are part of the human condition. I don’t think it’s overreaching to say that on Dec. 7 Americans were moved by her …
Talk to children about economy, how it affects even them
Editor’s note: This is the last in a series of columns from Tony Stanford related to child nutrition, healthy food accessibility and hunger. Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about issues related to hunger, nutrition and poverty. It’s rare that a day goes by …
Hoping negative campaigns stay in rear-view mirror
When A. Ray Lambson said in a letter to the Los Angeles Times more than a decade ago, “I don’t believe the Democrats or Republicans are lying to us, I think that every dirty, rotten, lowdown thing they say about each other is true,” it …
