For Orland Park residents who delivered public feedback at Tuesday’s Village Board assembly, to see trustees vote in help of a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas warfare felt therapeutic and as in the event that they have been lastly being heard.
“Beneath the earlier administration, our voices have been dismissed, however we organized, we stood collectively and in document numbers, we turned out to vote,” mentioned Yousef Zegar, a lifelong resident of Orland Park. “We welcome this administration’s willingness to behave.”
Zegar introduced a petition with 800 signatures greater than a yr in the past to the board led by former Mayor Keith Pekau, calling for a ceasefire decision.
As viewers members stood, clapped and chanted their help, Pekau banged a gavel to regain order and finally requested the police chief to clear the room earlier than refusing to become involved in United States overseas coverage.
Mayor Jim Dodge mentioned Tuesday that for him, the ceasefire decision that handed 5-1 was a technique to help the group that features one of many largest Palestinian and Arab-American populations in Prepare dinner County.
“You’ll be able to see the grief, you may really feel the ache, you hear the tales, and it opens you as much as totally different views,” Dodge mentioned. “In order that’s what that is, primarily.”
The decision urges the U.S. authorities and worldwide authorities to “help a simply and lasting peace that ensures security, freedom and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis,” together with a direct and everlasting ceasefire within the area.
The board additionally referred to as for the discharge of all hostages and secure supply of humanitarian support to “all affected civilians in Gaza.”
Copies of the decision have been directed to be despatched to President Donald Trump in addition to Illinois senators and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, who represents Orland Park.
Grocery tax
The board additionally voted to hitch neighboring suburbs in making a 1% municipal grocery tax to start when a statewide tax expires on Jan. 1. Related motion was taken by neighboring communities Tinley Park, Homewood and Homer Glen.
The laws states that Orland Park generates about $4.5 million yearly from the grocery tax, which is necessary given its efforts to take care of important companies, meet rising infrastructure and operational prices, repay debt and plan for long-term fiscal sustainability.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
