Last week's Council meeting and the limited news coverage kinda illustrates the singleminded silliness of LarryBoy's Empire...
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x12070422/Rockford-again-might-consider-mall-removal

Starting at the last issue...
"... Meanwhile, aldermen on the city Codes and Regulations Committee voted to strip the mayor of the power to appoint chairmen and members of Rockford’s three standing aldermanic committees. Since at least 1936, the mayor has had the authority to assign aldermen and chairmen to its committees. Standing aldermanic committees are Codes and Regulations, Finance and Personnel, and Planning and Development.
Sosnowski, who introduced the measure, said it is not an attempt to weaken the authority of the mayor,...
Mayor Larry Morrissey said the issue is a distraction at a time when the city has major financial and economic hardships to face."

"major financial and economic hardships to face"he says,so why does this crap dominate all the talk???
"

ROCKFORD —

A project to remove the downtown pedestrian mall and restore a two-block section of Main Street was delayed for at least a third time since April during a Rockford City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Ald. Joe Sosnowski, R-1, moved to lay over a vote on the $1.9 million project. He was concerned that low bidder Ringland Johnson Construction was passed over in favor of next-lowest bidder Stenstrom Construction.
(see...http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/ItemizedContrib.aspx)

Stenstrom, Robert W Occupation: Owner Employer: Stenstrom Companies

2420 20th St Rockford, IL 61104

$2,500.00 11/21/2008

Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey

There was a difference of $17,000 in the bids. City staff recommended going with Stenstrom...."
See,seems only LarryBoy/Dancin'Doug, J.R.Kortman owner Doc Sla...(whatever) and the typing-heads at the News Tower find this boondoggle as the "SAVIOR" of Rockford, all will be well if we forget the cost and MOVE ROCKFORWARD!!!!!....Tear out the mall and....
http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x702303151/Rethinking-financial-future-of-MetroCentre
"... a $1.5 million annual public subsidy for the Rockford MetroCentre..."

and the potholes will be filled all over town, high-paying jobs will flood town and gang activity will disappear........EXCELLENT,eh??????