Roundtable: Pointing to Galesburg's successes, failures

What do you see as the city’s successes and failures over the past 5 or 10 years?

Lead mitigation a plus, food desert a minus

Successes are easier to spot than failures, which as actions NOT taken are often invisible — failures to address the food desert on the south side, to maintain streets in poorer neighborhoods, to take seriously the recommendations of community planning initiatives and to keep the promise of a community center.

In the success category, too, the city has sometimes taken the lead but as often has followed initiatives coming from elsewhere. I would highlight the lead mitigation and housing rehab initiatives that address the quality of life of our most vulnerable residents. Federal, state and local governments are together to thank for these. The economic development team does deserve credit for expanding employment by fostering new and existing businesses in manufacturing and retail. 

Kudos to the city and District 205 for investing in solar energy to partially power our water and school systems. In addition, the district deserves credit for addressing the north/south divide that has for so long fostered disparities in educational outcomes. And I’d thank the determination and vision of the public library board for the coming success of a new library designed and located to serve all the residents of our city. — David Amor

Political stability a positive, crime seems worse

Across Illinois there haven’t been all that many successes for small or medium towns. Staying afloat, perhaps, counts. In that sense having a downtown at all, much less one with better parks and parking is a success. The arc of businesses and restaurants up Henderson Street and along the north side of the city has flourished, too. But it is hard for people like me, kept home for the past year, to judge how such matters stand today. 

The lockdown has hurt everyone. Crimes seem worse than ever, and race relations. (Outreach here seems to have been a failure.) The mall closing was a blow, of course, but the anchor stores belonged to chains in trouble nationally, not just locally. 

Political stability has been a plus. That has allowed planning for the new library, improvements to the hospitals and schools, and avoiding financial crises. We can build on that. — William Urban

More:Roundtable: Issues for mayoral candidates?

Many infrastructure improvements, Illinois biggest failure

Galesburg and Knox County have done several good things over the past few years. Infrastructure projects have allowed the city to provide modern services. Replacing the lead water lines is a large and important job. Some employers have moved to or expanded in the area which helps everyone.

The biggest failure comes from the State of Illinois. Last year over 79,000 people voted with their feet and left the Land of Lincoln. We are the only state in the Midwest that lost population and it’s clearly the fault of one-party state control. The Democrats have made Illinois a workers’ paradise — if you’re a member of a public employees union. If you’re not, then it may be a paradise but you’re probably not working. Taxation, regulation and a hostile environment for business mean that no matter what successes we have had locally, the state’s failures keep us from thriving. — Harry Bulkeley

Removing lead water lines good, diversity remains issue

One thing that became more apparent over the past several years is the people of this community stepped up and have been willing to be a part of causes affecting themselves or their neighbors. Local groups addressed issues such as discrimination, hunger, and poverty. It's encouraging to see social justice issues are getting the attention and engagement often seen in larger communities. Another issue Galesburg addressed relatively quickly was the amount of lead in our drinking water due to old lead pipes throughout the city. 

Where Galesburg still comes up short is its lack of racial diversity in our education system, police and fire departments, and on the city council. In order for these things to change there must be consistent and ongoing efforts to better represent our own local diversity, but also to better prepare young people entering the workforce. There must be a greater effort to invite businesses to want to invest in our downtown area. Without a strong downtown economy, other businesses will not reach their potential. — John Hunigan 

More:Roundtable: Should Galesburg City Council proceed with Lake Storey project?

Passion fueled new library, streets poorly maintained

The new library in Galesburg was one of Dr. Mike Kroll’s passions and one area where we agreed. With Mike’s passing about eight years ago everything slowed down. Recent progress is being made and I hope the library is named in Mike’s honor. When it’s done, it will be a great success.

One of the biggest failures that I see is the “economic development” of the community. Logistic Park, for example, has been going on for over 10 years that I’m aware of. Today, nobody talks about it. 

Another major failure is the streets of Galesburg. I’ve never seen a city with such incredibly poorly maintained streets and I’ve lived in places with dirt or gravel roads. Be careful of your tires if you turn from east-bound Main Street onto Grand (US 150). I’m not sure how the mayor is involved. Isn’t the day-to-day operation up to the City Manager? — Charlie Gruner, Knoxville

KCAP an improvement, some attitudes off track

Ah, the good and the bad!  This is such rich fodder for idealists and naysayers. I will start with the missteps of GREDA and applaud the newer approach of the Knox County Area Partnership. Big empty buildings: Bad. Lights on in many of those buildings now: Good. The Sandburg Mall was a shining beacon that threatened to kill Galesburg downtown but downtown is pretty vibrant whereas the mall needs work but at least there are some businesses there. I hope that owner can succeed to re-vitalize that building. It appears that we will also have a wonderful new library. 

I have to say the biggest failure of Galesburg is some of the attitude of its residents. “The good ole’ days” weren’t as good as you thought. Looking over your shoulder consistently does not lead to a stable path toward progress.  You don’t need to be a visionary to see what this community can be with some earnest dedication to making it better even in the simplest ways. There are members of Galesburg that do see the glass half full. Any community’s success is measured by people willing to make it better. If you see a “failure” – what are you doing to mitigate that bungle? Kvetching and moaning doesn’t get it done. — Stephen Podwojski

Murals, restaurants a plus, but racism still happening

Some of the successes that I’ve seen has been more businesses, especially locally. Galesburg has some good places to eat. The city has also welcomed artwork, some murals, and working on bring more. 

The failures outweigh the successes though. The city is divided and we ignore the racial discrimination that happens here. Again, I have experienced more racism here in Illinois than the South. Tyler Smith’s parents don’t have closure. The entire investigation was not handled properly and a mother has that intuition when something is not right. Sandy isn’t going to rest until justice is served, and don’t blame her. The Carver Center was arson, no answers. Funny this all has to do with minorities but there’s no problem of racism in Galesburg. The gun violence alone this year and the lack of entertainment for our youth. The job market here is horrible and we wonder why people leave.  — Courtney Wallace

Manufacturing making progress, poverty twice national average

Galesburg’s poverty rate — twice the national average — leads to blighted housing as do irresponsible landlords; let’s hope the 5X5 program improves the situation. A shared failure of schools and society is the lack of support for skilled trades education — from (District) 205 eliminating shop classes to the delusion that everyone should go to college. Among the city’s successes are the Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Carl Sandburg, Jupiter manufacturing’s installation of machinery and training classes into the high school curriculum, Galesburg Promise, and Pegasus Pathway.  Aggregated renewable power, increasing use of solar energy, lead service line replacements, the rail-crossing over and under passes and the Seminary-Kellogg bridge are all benefits we share, as are the less conspicuous but useful bus garage-repair facility and the salt barn. The Parks Department has shone with its installation of new playgrounds — hoping Lancaster is next. The city’s long and continuing support of the existing Galesburg Public Library and of the recently successful quest for the state construction grant for the new building will benefit us all for years to come. — Laurie Muelder

The Community Roundtable runs each Friday and is made up of local writers. Community writers answer one question each week in 150 words or fewer.