Village of Niles October 2022 Letter
| Tracking # |
22-620 |
| Submitted | Nov. 7, 2022 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Niles Coalition
To Whom It May Concern:
On October 12, 2022 a letter was sent to all Niles residents that read:
—-
“To All Our Friends and Families:
How are you? Are you having a good day? How about the people around you?
I’m writing this letter to insert some much needed positivity into this world. I’ve noticed lately that it’s no longer “how are you” and “have a good day;” it’s “stay safe” and “be careful” and (on the highway message boards) “don’t engage with aggressive drivers.” What is happening in our world? I’m worried about us, especially our seniors and children, and I would like to put some good out there in our Village. As Mayor, I promised to build bridges, not walls.
In my travels, I met a man named Jean Paul, who was born in Ivory Coast, fled to France to escape terrible hardships, and eventually immigrated to the United States. Jean Paul was working in the lobby of the hotel I was staying at, and he couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t contain his positivity towards mankind, and would not stop saying how much he loved America and that he was grateful to be here. While we were busy going about our business, Jean Paul asked if we needed anything, offered us a case of water, and poured out positivity in every possible way. When did some of us lose that attitude and lose our way? With every reason to be cynical towards the world, Jean Paul exemplified the right way to greet and help the people around him. Everyone nowadays keeps to themselves, indifferent to the people around them, or is tiptoeing on ice, afraid to say anything to each other for fear of offending someone. Why don’t we start working on that here in our Village, because it needs to start somewhere.
Why don’t we make this change by saying hello, or by smiling at someone. Take a moment and make small talk with fellow shoppers. Greet someone when you’re out walking your dog. At my restaurant, I tell my staff that even if someone isn’t sitting in their section, smile and say hello anyway, and make them feel like they’re at home. Every time I go shopping here in Niles (like at “the Jewels” lol), my wife asks me why it takes me over an hour to pick up a loaf of bread. I say it’s because I take the time to stop and say hello to residents. Why don’t we all interact with people?
With kids back in school, we’re approaching the most beautiful time of the year in this country, with all types of celebrations from Halloween through ringing in the New Year. Let’s not let this blessing of a season go by without making it a bit better for all. Let’s make the most of it, by sharing in these times together. The world may seem scary right now, and we might be divided in many ways, but I assure you that there is still far more that unites us than divides us, with the constant hope that things will be just fine.
The Village Board and I, alongside staff, will be embarking on more initiatives in the months ahead to instill more good into our community and to foster positive feelings, but we can’t do this alone. See what you can do to make our community a better place. Let this letter to all of us be the first step in returning to a brighter world. What we have here in Niles is special. Let’s stand united together to keep our community strong and move in a more positive direction.
Sincerely,
Mayor George D. Alpogianis and the Board of Trustees Village of Niles”
—-
At the next Village of Niles Board Of Trustees Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 President George Alpogianis reported that:
“The village received numerous upon numerous phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and everything” regarding this letter.
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., we hereby request the following records:
Phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and any related documentation that the mayor alluded to during the board meeting. Please be sure to include any emails, memos, and documents generated by these communications .
*<https://web.archive.org/web/20221105022149/https://www.vniles.com/DocumentCenter/View/13140/Press-Release-10182022-Mayor-Original-Letter-PDF>
**<https://play.champds.com/nilesil/event/209/s/1985>
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Niles Coalition
From: Village Of Niles Illinois
Village of Niles
************************************************************************
Your first Village of Niles record request (request number #22-620) has been submitted.
It is currently unpublished and is not available for the general public to view.
Thank you for filing a Freedom of Information Act Request with Village of Niles. This request will be processed accordingly.
Village of Niles FOIA Officer
The due date for your request may be later than usual because the office is closed on:
* November 11: Veterans Day
Request #22-620.
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Village of Niles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://help.nextrequest.com/knowledge/requester-resources'>help page</a>
From: Village Of Niles Illinois
Village of Niles
************************************************************************
A document has been released for record request #22-620 along with the following message:
Dear Niles Coalition:
Thank you for writing to Village of Niles with your request
for information pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS
140/1 et seq.
On November 8, you requested the following documents:
“To
All Our Friends and Families:
How are you? Are you having a good day? How about the people around you?
I’m writing this letter to insert some much needed positivity into this world. I’ve noticed lately that it’s no longer “how are you” and “have a good day;” it’s “stay safe” and “be careful” and (on the highway message boards) “don’t engage with aggressive drivers.” What is happening in our world? I’m worried about us, especially our seniors and children, and I would like to put some good out there in our Village. As Mayor, I promised to build bridges, not walls.
In my travels, I met a man named Jean Paul, who was born in Ivory Coast, fled to France to escape terrible hardships, and eventually immigrated to the United States. Jean Paul was working in the lobby of the hotel I was staying at, and he couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t contain his positivity towards mankind, and would not stop saying how much he loved America and that he was grateful to be here. While we were busy going about our business, Jean Paul asked if we needed anything, offered us a case of water, and poured out positivity in every possible way. When did some of us lose that attitude and lose our way? With every reason to be cynical towards the world, Jean Paul exemplified the right way to greet and help the people around him. Everyone nowadays keeps to themselves, indifferent to the people around them, or is tiptoeing on ice, afraid to say anything to each other for fear of offending someone. Why don’t we start working on that here in our Village, because it needs to start somewhere.
Why don’t we make this change by saying hello, or by smiling at someone. Take a moment and make small talk with fellow shoppers. Greet someone when you’re out walking your dog. At my restaurant, I tell my staff that even if someone isn’t sitting in their section, smile and say hello anyway, and make them feel like they’re at home. Every time I go shopping here in Niles (like at “the Jewels” lol), my wife asks me why it takes me over an hour to pick up a loaf of bread. I say it’s because I take the time to stop and say hello to residents. Why don’t we all interact with people?
With kids back in school, we’re approaching the most beautiful time of the year in this country, with all types of celebrations from Halloween through ringing in the New Year. Let’s not let this blessing of a season go by without making it a bit better for all. Let’s make the most of it, by sharing in these times together. The world may seem scary right now, and we might be divided in many ways, but I assure you that there is still far more that unites us than divides us, with the constant hope that things will be just fine.
The Village Board and I, alongside staff, will be embarking on more initiatives in the months ahead to instill more good into our community and to foster positive feelings, but we can’t do this alone. See what you can do to make our community a better place. Let this letter to all of us be the first step in returning to a brighter world. What we have here in Niles is special. Let’s stand united together to keep our community strong and move in a more positive direction.
Sincerely,
Mayor George D. Alpogianis and the Board of Trustees Village of Niles”
—-
At the next Village of Niles Board Of Trustees Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 President George Alpogianis reported that:
“The village received numerous upon numerous phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and everything” regarding this letter.
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., we hereby request the following records:
Phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and any related documentation that the mayor alluded to during the board meeting. Please be sure to include any emails, memos, and documents generated by these communications .
Under the Freedom of Information Act, a public body may extend the time to respond to a FOIA request by up to 5 business days for a limited number of reasons. 5 ILCS 140/3(e). We are extending the time to respond to your request by 5 business days for the following reason(s):
We cannot comply with the request for records within the 5 business day time limit without unduly burdening or interfering with our operations.
The public body asserts the following facts in support of the
above reasons for an extension of time. The Village will respond to your
request by November 28. Please acknowledge receipt of this request for
extension.
Thank you,
Margaret Keating
FOIA Officer | Village of Niles
(847) 588-8014 | mrk@vniles.com
* 20221117160558.pdf-redacted.pdf
Document links are valid for one month.
After December 17, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Village of Niles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://help.nextrequest.com/knowledge/requester-resources'>help page</a>
From: Niles Coalition
Extension noted, thank you.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Illinois Freedom of Information Act. request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 8, 2022. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Nov. 28, 2022. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #22-620.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Village Of Niles Illinois
Village of Niles
************************************************************************
Documents have been released for record request #22-620 along with the following message:
Dear Niles Coalition:
Thank you for writing to Village of Niles with your request for
information pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1
et seq.
On November 8, 2022, you
requested the following documents:
On October 12, 2022 a letter was sent to all Niles residents that read:
—-
“To All Our Friends and Families:
How are you? Are you having a good day? How about the people around you?
I’m writing this letter to insert some much needed positivity into this world. I’ve noticed lately that it’s no longer “how are you” and “have a good day;” it’s “stay safe” and “be careful” and (on the highway message boards) “don’t engage with aggressive drivers.” What is happening in our world? I’m worried about us, especially our seniors and children, and I would like to put some good out there in our Village. As Mayor, I promised to build bridges, not walls.
In my travels, I met a man named Jean Paul, who was born in Ivory Coast, fled to France to escape terrible hardships, and eventually immigrated to the United States. Jean Paul was working in the lobby of the hotel I was staying at, and he couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t contain his positivity towards mankind, and would not stop saying how much he loved America and that he was grateful to be here. While we were busy going about our business, Jean Paul asked if we needed anything, offered us a case of water, and poured out positivity in every possible way. When did some of us lose that attitude and lose our way? With every reason to be cynical towards the world, Jean Paul exemplified the right way to greet and help the people around him. Everyone nowadays keeps to themselves, indifferent to the people around them, or is tiptoeing on ice, afraid to say anything to each other for fear of offending someone. Why don’t we start working on that here in our Village, because it needs to start somewhere.
Why don’t we make this change by saying hello, or by smiling at someone. Take a moment and make small talk with fellow shoppers. Greet someone when you’re out walking your dog. At my restaurant, I tell my staff that even if someone isn’t sitting in their section, smile and say hello anyway, and make them feel like they’re at home. Every time I go shopping here in Niles (like at “the Jewels” lol), my wife asks me why it takes me over an hour to pick up a loaf of bread. I say it’s because I take the time to stop and say hello to residents. Why don’t we all interact with people?
With kids back in school, we’re approaching the most beautiful time of the year in this country, with all types of celebrations from Halloween through ringing in the New Year. Let’s not let this blessing of a season go by without making it a bit better for all. Let’s make the most of it, by sharing in these times together. The world may seem scary right now, and we might be divided in many ways, but I assure you that there is still far more that unites us than divides us, with the constant hope that things will be just fine.
The Village Board and I, alongside staff, will be embarking on more initiatives in the months ahead to instill more good into our community and to foster positive feelings, but we can’t do this alone. See what you can do to make our community a better place. Let this letter to all of us be the first step in returning to a brighter world. What we have here in Niles is special. Let’s stand united together to keep our community strong and move in a more positive direction.
Sincerely,
Mayor George D. Alpogianis and the Board of Trustees Village of Niles”
—-
At the next Village of Niles Board Of Trustees Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 President George Alpogianis reported that:
“The village received numerous upon numerous phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and everything” regarding this letter.
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., we hereby request the following records:
Phone calls, voicemails, letters, texts, and any related documentation that the mayor alluded to during the board meeting. Please be sure to include any emails, memos, and documents generated by these communications .
Your request is granted.
We have enclosed copies of the documents that you
requested.
Thank you,
Margaret Keating
FOIA Officer | Village of Niles
(847) 588-8014 | mrk@vniles.com
* Voicemail - - Auto-forwarded from 8001 Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-15-51 pm.wav
* Voicemail - - Auto-forwarded from 8001 Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-13-01 pm.wav
* Voicemail - Caller ID Blocked - Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-13-21 pm.wav
* Voicemail -- Auto-forwarded from 8001 Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-17-59 pm.wav
* Voicemail - Private - Auto-forwarded from 8001 Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-14-21 pm.wav
* Voicemail - WIRELESS CALLER - Auto-forwarded from 8001 Voice Message - 28-Nov-2022 04-12-16 pm.wav
* 20221128163248.pdf-redacted.pdf
* 20221117160558.pdf-redacted.pdf
Document links are valid for one month.
After December 28, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Village of Niles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://help.nextrequest.com/knowledge/requester-resources'>help page</a>
-
22-620_2022-11-29_04_27_02_0000
From: Village Of Niles Illinois
Village of Niles
************************************************************************
Record request #22-620 has been closed. The closure reason supplied was:
All document have been released pursuant to your request.
************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at Village of Niles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://help.nextrequest.com/knowledge/requester-resources'>help page</a>
From: Niles Coalition
Hi,
Thank you so much for your help with this request, Margaret! We really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Niles Coalition
Files
pages