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Has Facebook begun the long slide toward ruin?

May 20, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Young people increasingly view Facebook as a folly of the old. I’m starting to agree with them. | AP Photo/Noah Berger, File

By Neil Steinberg | Chicago Sun*Times

So another grandchild, born this week — maybe to me, maybe to somebody else. Who can say? I really shouldn’t be more specific than that.

Certainly no word of the news, if there is any news, breathed on Facebook. I … or, um, another person very much like myself … would sooner sell a child to the circus than post its photos, or any identifying details, on any sort of social media. As for what the potential harm of that could be, beyond strong and immediate rebuke, I’m afraid to ask. Maybe X snatches their images and does unspeakable things with them.

As it is my … well, somebody’s … adult children view Facebook the way I, when young, would look at my grandfather’s dentures falling into the soup: as an embarrassing lapse of age. Worse. It’s like yanking the dentures out of your own mouth and flinging them into the soup, with pride. Not an accident, an intention.

Facebook is no longer hip, or the bomb, or dope, or fire, or whatever the current term for coolness might be. “Slow death” is the phrase encountered online. The young might have an account, allowing Facebook to pretend it’s reaching the sweet spot demographic. But the 20-somethings I know never use it and mock those who do. The cracks are starting to show. On May 20, Meta, the parent of Facebook, is laying off 8,000 workers — 10% of its workforce. Last week, The New York Times, in an opinion piece, declared Meta “at the start of a long, slow decline.”

The plan is that artificial intelligence will do the jobs of the freshly fired, even though AI is part of what’s wrecking Facebook, all those blocks of regurgitated history lite and random pop culture factoids. And that rash of ads. God forbid you buy shoes, as I have. Facebook will dangle the shoes you just bought under your nose for a month, hoping you’ll buy a second pair. And this is the super-intelligence that would rule us.

Opinion continues here.

Posted in Chicago Sun*Times, OP/Ed | Leave a Comment »

FPDCC acquires 5.43-acre property at Algonquin & Old Sutton Roads

May 20, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Image courtesy Zillow

It has been reported that the Forest Preserves of Cook County purchased a home at 316 Old Sutton Road. Zillow reports the property sold in March of this year for $600,000.

Plans for the property have yet to be announced.

Posted in FPDCC, Property Taxes, Real Estate | Leave a Comment »

JB Pritzker Admin Depicts White People, Cops as Mosquitoes in Microaggression Training That Rails Against ‘Color Blindness’

May 20, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The training from Pritzker’s Department of Human Rights—offered to ‘private-sector, government, and public participants’—also shows a black woman torching the mosquitoes with a flamethrower | Microaggression video (Fusion Comedy YouTube), J.B. Pritzker (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

By Peter Hasson | The Washington Free Beacon

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker’s (D.) administration offers a taxpayer-funded training on “microaggressions” and other “exclusionary behaviors” that depicts white people and police officers as mosquitoes who suck blood from people of color.

The training—which Pritzker’s Department of Human Rights offers to “private-sector, government, and public participants” and which the Washington Free Beacon attended—is meant to “increase knowledge, awareness and prevention of discrimination and harassment issues and offer solutions to employers and employees on how to appropriately respond to situations as they arise.” It defines “microaggressions” as “the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons solely based upon their marginalized group membership.”

The training divides such “microaggressions” into two categories: those that are “race-based” and those that go “beyond race.” The former category includes “color blindness”—which the training says “denies a person of color’s racial/ethnic experience.” It also includes the “assumption of criminal status”—for example, a “store owner [who] follows a customer of color around the store”—and “denial of individual racism,” including statements like “My best friend is Black.” The latter category includes “micro-insults,” like calling a person of color “articulate,” as well as “micro-invalidation,” which includes “buildings named only after white men.”

Those examples are presented in a video shown in the training called “How Microaggressions Are Like Mosquito Bites.” The beginning of the video depicts a blonde white woman who calls a black woman “well-spoken” while the two wait at a bus stop. The white woman transforms into a mosquito that bites the black woman and begins sucking her blood. Similar scenes play out as the microaggressing mosquitoes say things like “Your English is so good” and “We have to keep the Redskins name.” Toward the end of the video, a narrator says that experiencing “microaggressions” can make you “want to go ballistic on those mosquitoes” as a black woman torches the pests with a flamethrower. Police officers, meanwhile, are presented as “mosquitoes” that “carry strains that can even kill you.”

Article continues here including videos.

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Politics, Preckwinkle's Rules of Order, Springfield, The Washington Free Beacon | Leave a Comment »

Noticed a surprise inside your property tax bill? – Part 2

May 19, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

 

Following up on our recent post attaching the transcript from the November 18, 2025, Board of Education meeting discussing DSEB, we thought a recent Public Comment from the April 21, 2026, District 220 Board of Education Meeting was worth publishing:

Barry Altshuler (Interim Board President): And, we have one comment today, Angela Wilcox. Welcome. Come forward.

Public Speaker, Angela Wilcox: Hi Board. It’s so nice to sit on this side of the table.

Altshuler: We miss you.

Wilcox: It is so good to see all of you guys, you all look great. I miss seeing you. It’s very nostalgic coming up here. And, President Altshuler, thank you for allowing me to speak, I showed up a minute late. I didn’t realize the new policy as far as signing up before 3:00 or before 6:00, but it’s distracting me.

But, I just wanted to say something tonight that is absolutely nothing that my former Board Members, Leah, Barry, Steve, heard me say before, which is to talk about DSEB borrowing. And, I know that I bored you guys to death with my discussions and we all voted together to not do DSEB borrowing for a couple of years that I was on the Board. And so just, you know, kind of speak to some people that haven’t heard me drone on about this before.

I just wanted to take a minute. There have been a couple of emails that came around today. I know that you guys aren’t voting on DSEB today and I, you know, sadly, and yet kind of happily, don’t really follow all of your Board meeting schedules anymore. So I didn’t know when you were voting, which is, which is on me.

But just as, you know, as a, as a community taxpayer and you know, someone whose kids attended 220, you know, it is, it’s, it’s something that I think is important because it’s, it’s an issue that a lot of constituents don’t really understand, like, what is DSEB borrowing?

And, I think that there’s a reason why, you know, if you Google this or put into, you know, ChatGPT, it’s called a backdoorreferendum. Basically a way to borrow money without having to go to the public and asking them for permission with a referendum to allow, you know, to borrow some money for capital projects.

And, I think that, unfortunately, and just, you know, the way that the optics are, when, you know this, when a DSEB borrowing comes out at the same time that constituents now are seeing the new, you know, the Referendum dollars coming out on our tax bills, it kind of hits a chord like, oh, wait a minute, what’s going on?

You know, there was, there was District resources spent for, you know, attorneys and for campaigns to make this Referendum go forward. It was successful and community members volunteering and then that happened. But then on top of it, then there’s a DSEB that’s put forward as well.

And, I know that there are always projects with as many buildings as we have and I know that we’ve always been short funded for summer projects. But, I just would encourage two things maybe going forward: One, if you can avoid DSEB borrowing in the future; I think that it was such a good practice that the Board really came together and united on as, you know, trying to have this as a goal, you know, for a few years. And, and then two, just to, you know, maybe explain to the public what this all includes so that there’s transparency and showing fiscal responsibility and just so that there isn’t the chatter because, you know…

Altshuler: Thank you.

Wilcox: … the optics are always important.

Altshuler: Thank you so much. Thank you.

To review the YouTube recording of these comment, click here.

Related: “Noticed a surprise inside your property tax bill?”

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, OP/Ed, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | 1 Comment »

District 220 Board of Education meets tonight

May 19, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The District 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items on their agenda include:

  • FOIA Reports
  • Revised Personnel Report
  • Kelsey Road House Parking Lot Amendment
  • Consideration to Approve BSEO Job Reclassification
  • Consideration to Approve Guaranteed Energy Savings Contract (GESC) and Contract Amendment with Greenlight Design Partners for the District LED Lighting Conversion Project

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.

Related: “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency”

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Education, His Master's Voice, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Look For The Union Label, Mad Cows, Overhead, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | Leave a Comment »

Consumer advocates say Nicor’s rate hike is unreasonable, profit-driven

May 19, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

A natural gas stove burner produces a blue flame while in use. Photo: KWON JUNHO / Unsplash

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

Consumer advocates have signaled heavy opposition to a proposed $221 million rate hike by Nicor Gas, arguing that the request is excessive, charging Illinoisans over five times what’s needed.

The request trailed just weeks behind the Illinois Commerce Commission’s approval of a $167.8 million hike last year. It would also be the sixth jump in delivery costs in the past decade.

Experts on the matter from the Citizens Utility Board, Illinois PIRG, and the Environmental Defense Fund came together early Monday to outline their opposition to the rate hike.

The same experts have also shared testimony to the ICC, which must approve or deny requested utility rate hikes before they can take effect.

Nicor’s spending has significantly increased since 2015 – mostly attributed to a state law that required the replacement of old delivery pipes. Despite the law’s sunset and all replacements having been completed by 2018, critics say the company’s spending has only continued to trend upward.

According to Jim Chilsen of the Citizen’s Utility Board, the proposed increase would add to the financial burden for all Nicor customers, 200,000 of whom are behind on their bills by $74 million total, as of last month.

“When the supply side of bills is so volatile, it just adds to the pain when you have a company like Nicor Gas going on a spending spree over the last decade and going before the commission to ask for six separate rate hikes. That’s been a hardship,” Chilsen said.

Report continues here.

Posted in BOHICA, Cost of Living, Deception, Politics, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions | Leave a Comment »

CORRECTION: Village Board of Trustees meets TUESDAY

May 18, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Yesterday we posted the wrong date for the May Board of Trustees meeting. That post has been updated.

It is actually scheduled for Tuesday, May 19. The agenda can be viewed here.

Posted in Village Board | Leave a Comment »

Noticed a surprise inside your property tax bill?

May 18, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

In case you missed it and are curious about the increases in the D220 property taxes on your recent tax bills, the Board of Education discussion during the November 18, 2025, Board of Education Meeting provides some insight.

You may recall the 2024 $64 million referendum voted on by residents was widely publicized by District 220 in its “Transform 220” campaign. The District formed a community advisory committee and hosted public information forums to educate voters on what the $64 million bond would fund. They also promoted the initiative across their official website and social media channels, highlighting how the funds would be used.

In contrast, the expenditures quietly voted on by the Board at its December 2, 2025, to issue up to $5.4 million in Working Cash Fund bonds (DSEB), specifically for District capital projects, was barely mentioned prior to the Board’s vote and was done so without any buy in from the taxpayers.

Why weren’t these expenditures included in the November 2024 Referendum? We don’t know, especially since they were previously identified in the failed 2019 Referendum for $185 million in the Blueprint 220 Master Facility Plan.

While the District maintains that the overall 2024 referendum impact is consistent with their total budget projections, individual tax bills have spiked. The May 2026 property tax bills for Barrington CUSD 220 residents reflect the significant cumulative impact of both the $64 million referendum and the $5.4 million DSEB issuance approved by the Board in December 2025.

The full transcript of the November 18, 2025, discussion on DSEB is available here. We will follow up with some additional insight in future reports.

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, BOHICA, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Illinois Federation of Teachers, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)?, WTF | Leave a Comment »

Village Board of Trustees meet Tuesday

May 17, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

  • [Vote] Board of Health Appointment:
    Frank Konicek – Chairman, one-year term
  • [Vote] Riding Club Commission Appointments:
    Elaine Ramesh – Chairman & Member, each a one-year term
    Mary Beth Holsteen – Member, one-year term
    Susan Helenowski – Member, one-year term
    Vicki Kelly – Member, one-year term
  • [Vote] Plan Commission Appointments:
    Matthew Vondra – Chairman, one-year term & Member, 3-year term
    Christopher Geier – Member, three-year term
    Brent Burval – New Nominee* for Member, three-year term
  • [Vote] Zoning Board of Appeals Appointments:
    Gina Koertner – Member, five-year term
    John Gigerich – Member, five-year term
  • [Vote] Police Pension Board Trustees Appointments:
    Christopher Krzysko, Two-year term
    George Panos, Two-year term
  • Register Now: Land We Love Run 5K/10K Celebrating America250 on June 28, 2026

A copy of their agenda, including info on listening to the meeting, can be viewed and downloaded here.

*No bio provided

Posted in Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Barrington Hills Polo Club, Board of Health, Building Department, Clown Car, Conflict of interest, Data Center, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Finance Committee, Folds of Honor, Fox River Valley Hunt, FRVPC, Insurance Committee, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lennie, Massbach Hounds, Minutes, One Barrington Hills, Organizations, Plan Commission, Plum Farm development, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Resident Spotlights, Riding Club Commission, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Roads & Bridges Committee, The Land We Love Run, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Tree Preservation Ordinance, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village President, Village Treasurer, Yabba Dabba Doo, Zoning Board | Leave a Comment »

Lawsuit: D300 secretly gender transitioned student; Seeks to nix IL gender ‘guidance,’ too

May 17, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Photo: Ezekiel See / Unsplash

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal Newsline

A mother from Chicago’s far northwest suburbs has lodged a lawsuit against her child’s public school district, accusing Community Unit School District 300 of allegedly attempting to secretly transition her child’s gender and of blocking the parent’s attempt to learn more about what was happening and be involved, even when the student struggled with suicidal thoughts and required hospitalization for mental health purposes.

However, the class action lawsuit also seeks to more broadly overturn policies at the district and potentially throughout Illinois, which the mother and her lawyer claim trample parents’ constitutional rights.

On May 10, attorney Ajay Gupta, of Naperville, filed suit in Chicago federal court against District 300.

Based in the village of Algonquin, District 300 ranks as the sixth largest public school district in Illinois, has a student population of more than 20,000 students from communities within a 118 square mile radius in Chicago’s northwest suburbs mostly in Kane County, near the McHenry County line.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a named plaintiff, identified in the complaint only as S.K. According to the complaint, she is the mother of a student at one of the district’s three high schools. District 300 high schools include Dundee-Crown High School in Carpentersville, Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, and Hampshire High School in Hampshire.

The complaint does not identify which high school the student attended.

According to the complaint, staff at the student’s school allegedly began in 2022 using “alternate name and pronouns” for S.K.’s child, identified in the complaint only as T.K.

The complaint asserts the student at that time “experienced declining mental health and difficulty completing schoolwork.”

Report continues here.

Posted in 300, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Legal Newsline, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, School Districts, Springfield, Unions | Leave a Comment »

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