Riggenbach and Gulley getting their ducks in a row?

Do the newly approved District Maps hint at a renewed vigor from the folks who live on the East Bluff and in Southtown to make sure they are represented by the people who will best support their interests?

The fight that the District 1 and District 3 Councilmen put up for the new maps show that Gulley and Riggenbach may realize that the time is NOW to answer to their constituents... finally.

The new map puts the City on the hook to make sure that there is some growth in District 1 and District 3. Unnfortunately, Councilwoman VanAuken was hoping to get in on some of that power growing North...

By a 6-5 vote, the council settled on what has been labeled "Map B." Spain, Van Auken, Ardis, and Councilmen Gary Sandberg and Bill Spears voted against Map B. Voting in favor were Gulley and Council members Chuck Weaver, Beth Akeson, Timothy Riggenbach, Dan Irving and Eric Turner.

The vote also comes about 13 months after the map-making process was first introduced with more than two dozen versions drafted and multiple meetings with sometimes passionate discussions. Source

Did Gulley just say he WILL NOT be seeking to retain his seat on the City Council

Just fast forward to the 0:51 second mark...

... and who is this "we" he keeps referring to?

On the upcoming edition of CAPtions 1st District Councilman Clyde Gulley, Jr., tells host Andre Bohannon what is happening there, including the attempt to transfer funds from the Southtown TIF. Gulley also indicates what his future will be regarding the Council. CAPtions will air on Sunday, Feb. 5th at 5 pm, then again 10 days later on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 7 pm and later at Midnight. It will be available on YouTube and FaceBook by Monday night. Hat tip Dennis in Peoria. 

First up on the 1st District appeasement list...

1st District Councilman Clyde Gulley

Spring Grove, which is the new gated subdivision that the majority of well do black people who live in Southtown reside in. 

At Tuesday's City Council meeting the local newspaper reporter who was live blogging, blogged that the Mayor accused Sandberg and Gulley of grandstanding for the audience. Now we know that Sandberg is always going to speak on behalf of constituents, but Gulley, ummmm, not so much. 

But hey, it appears that this Southtown TIF thingy has revived him.

Check it out he really has a lot to say: 

• 1st District City Councilman Clyde Gulley, who represents the Southtown area, said Urich's office should not "assume" there are no neighborhood concerns before the council tackles items. 
• "If you really don't know whether or not there are any concerns, you shouldn't say there are not concerns," Gulley said. 
• Gulley said the city should focus the TIF district money on projects of importance within Southtown. 
• Gulley cited a street lighting project within the Spring Grove subdivision he says has been needed for years, though the project is not specifically included in the city's capital budget plan. 
• Gulley said some of the passionate calls to keep the money in Southtown reflects the frustrations of residents in that area. 
•  "It's because there have been a lot of promises broken, I think the people in the south side are tired of it," said Gulley.
• There are a lot of things going on wrong in our community. It's almost like the State of the City is what everyone is talking about. But this is a whole different city we are living in, said Gulley.
• Gulley said we have 9.9 percent unemployment (but the city has) the best credit ratings because people with jobs are doing fine. You have people without jobs; they don't have a credit score." Source

Don't worry Southtown Gulley's got your back.