Backdrop....
From the Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2007:
Neighbors who drive by the bustling construction site in Aurora think they are seeing the completion of the "Gemini Health Center," just as the sign says....
But in a few weeks the sign will be changed to reflect the true owners of the building: Planned Parenthood....
"Frankly, I'm surprised we were able to keep it a secret for so long," said Steve Trombley, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.... "We didn't want anything to interfere with the opening...."
That the clinic was kept hush-hush for so long was no accident. Planned Parenthood adopted the strategy after a 2004 boycott by contractors stalled work for two months on a clinic in Austin, Texas....
From the Aurora Beacon News, July 29, 2007:
Aurora's Planning and Development Committee approved the final plan for the medical complex on Nov. 16, 2006.... The owner was listed as Gemini Office Development LLC, a subsidiary of Planned Parenthood....
It's one thing to play cards close to the vest; it's another to intentionally conceal information in legal documents and in legal city hearings.
On City of Aurora permit applications, Gemini never stated it was part of PP. On each of its construction applications dated March 23, 2006, July 27, 2006, November 22, 2006, and December 4, 2006, it listed "Gemini Office Development" as owner and "Gemini Office Development" as tenant.
Then on its March 22, 2007, application for signage, Gemini stated the tenant was "UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME," which was clearly untrue:
Additionally, in a November 16, 2006, City of Aurora Planning & Development Committee meeting, the Gemini representative purposefully concealed the tenant when asked directly. He even allowed Alderman Lynda Elmore, a member of the committee and in whose ward PP was being built, to speculate that townhouse occupants across the street "should be very happy."
Speaking of that meeting and all those city officials, is it possible not one of them, nor the mayor nor any aldermen, knew the truth? None were in cahoots with PP?
At a minimum, the City of Aurora should launch an official and legal investigation, questioning the applicant and tenant under oath about statements on applications and in meetings.
If the City does not, is something more going on, a cover-up? Did some officials know that the public documents filed and statements made by the applicant were false? Did some officials know the tenant was to be an abortion provider, but then conspired with Gemini to keep it quiet to avoid politically unfavorable publicity?
If Aurora sweeps this under the proverbial rug, is it not sending a signal that applicants for licensure may lie with impunity? Is it saying it doesn't matter that this applicant was untruthful when it is obvious to the rest of the world it knew full well who would be the tenant?
Would the lesson then be that the current municipal government overlooks blatant misrepresentations of the truth? If citizens may lie to occupancy permit officials, may they also lie to police officers? Or at city council meetings? Where will Aurora draw the line between permissible and impermissible lies?
Or is it that lying is permitted for political purposes? That is, lying is okay in politics so long as it protects incumbents and keeps voters in the dark about potentially embarrassing decisions?
[HT: CitizenLink.com]
Very interesting...this is a nice bit of reporting/posting Jill.
Posted by: justin | Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 12:27 PM
There are 2 issues here.
1. Was Gemini treated differently from other applicants similarly situated? Is this the normal way Aurora does business?
2. Precisely what is Gemini's situation as a legal entity. Is it the owner of the building?
Obviously a lot more research needs to be done before a conclusion is called for.
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