W E D N E S D A Y
November 16, 2016 Vol. 35, No. 13 ONE DOLLAR
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
@O @OakPark
My Holiday Home Special pullout section
OPRF pool referendum fails It will likely be no sooner than March 2018 before the public could vote on another option By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Unofficial election results show that the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 facilities referendum has failed by a narrow margin, leaving the fate of the school’s 88-year-old swimming pools in doubt. The referendum, which the D200 school board approved unanimously in August, asked voters to pay for a $44.5 million, fiveyear facilities plan with no more than $25 million in referendum bonds. The remaining $20 million will come out of the district’s fund balance. The plan would entail demolishing the village-owned, 300-space garage and constructing an estimated $21.4 million, 25-yard by 40-meter swimming pool, in addition to a roughly 240-space new parking garage, on the site of the old one. The high school would also expand performing arts and learning spaces, and renovate classroom space, on campus. According to the Cook County Clerk’s office, with all 45 precincts reporting, 118 more votes had been cast against the ballot measure than for it. Out of 34,178 ballots cast, See POOL FAILS on page 17
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
RESISTANCE: More than 100 people turned out Thursday night for a peaceful demonstration protesting the divisive, bigoted rhetoric of President-elect Donald J. Trump. Demonstrators condemned comments made by Trump during the election campaign, calling them misogynistic, Islamophobic and racist.
OP Rallies condemn Trump bigotry
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER & MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporters
Last week in Oak Park, two separate demonstrations were staged by various organizations and groups of residents in the wake of Donald Trump’s election to the presidency
on Nov. 8. More than 100 people turned out last Thursday night for a candlelight march dubbed a “solidarity walk” to condemn rhetoric by President-elect Trump, which they decried as bigoted. And an additional 75 to 100 people gathered in Scoville Park last Satur-
day afternoon for what was called a “community for unity rally,” an event sponsored by the nonprofit Suburban Unity Alliance. Carrying signs that read “Love trumps hate” and candles, last Thursday’s demonstrators, who
Complete election results, reactions, see pages 8-9
See RALLIES on page 8
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