[Peace-discuss] Re: [Announce] Danielle Chynoweth Stepping Down from Urbana City Council

[John W.]

Nothing good lasts forever, I guess, but I sure hate to see this.  Danielle
has been a real breath of fresh air in the City of Urbana - in politics
generally.


On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 8:21 PM, Brian Dolinar <briandolinar at gmail.com>
wrote:

Breaking news at ucimc.org
> Danielle Chynoweth Stepping Down from Urbana City Council
>
> Breaking News ... Danielle Chynoweth, City Council Member from Ward 2 and
> Mayor Pro Tem, who has served for the past 7 years, is stepping down from
> Council. Here is a copy of the letter sent from Ms. Chynoweth to the Mayor
> and Council Members today:
>
> Dear Mayor Prussing and Urbana City Council Members,
>
> Please accept this letter announcing my resignation from Urbana City
> Council.
>
> After much consideration and attempts to schedule my professional life
> around council commitments, I have concluded that, with greatly increased
> travel and professional commitments, I will not be in a position to
> adequately serve Ward 2 residents.
>
> Through my business, OJC Technologies, I have taken on the role of
> Development Director for Patch Adams. This new role will require me to
> travel extensively in the next year as we gather support to build a Health
> Care Teaching Center and Free Clinic in West Virginia. This is just one part
> of the growth in business we are experiencing at OJC. Other new contracts
> will be taking me out of the country as well.
>
> These changes involve exciting professional opportunities as well as
> benefits for downtown Urbana. OJC Technologies, a company of 18 staff
> members (and growing), will be expanding into an office space in the former
> Busey Hall/Princess Theater on Main Street. This will allow OJC to grow, and
> for the Independent Media Center, which housed OJC for the past three years,
> to provide expanded services for artists and non-profits in the downtown
> post office building it owns.
>
> I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you all and am proud of what we have
> accomplished together:
> • Urbana's new Public Arts Program, along with the gallery incentive
> program, will support and grow the arts and culture throughout Urbana.
> • A Citizen Review Board of Police now provides independent review of
> citizen complaints.
> • Business on Philo Road is expanding and beautification efforts are
> underway.
> • Our new Rental Registration program protects tenant safety and levels the
> playing field for landlords.
> • City Hall is more diverse in terms of gender and race than it has ever
> been in history.
> • The firefighters have a contract that respects their contribution to this
> community.
> • Urbana is installing bike lanes and paths throughout the city.
> • The City of Urbana has sponsored two affordable homes that use passive
> solar to reduce energy costs by up to 75% and will soon be home to an entire
> affordable green neighborhood that will set a new standard for energy
> efficiency.
> • Urbana Public Television has grown to hundreds of members and efforts are
> underway to establish a stand-alone public access television station where
> non-profits, churches, and residents can have a local voice.
> • We have exciting plans for Boneyard Creek developments including a park
> and performance space by the creek that will greatly enhance downtown
> Urbana.
> I am also proud of accomplishments with the previous council. We expanded
> the library, passed a living wage ordinance, passed an anti-war resolution
> which we hand delivered to Congress, and acknowledged the relationships of
> gay, lesbian, and non-married straight couples with our Domestic Partner
> Registry. And we consistently supported the growth and proliferation of
> local businesses that keep our tax dollars local.
>
> Of the all changes, the one I am most proud of is the blossoming of citizen
> participation in government. Many council meetings are well attended because
> citizens see that their input has impact.
>
> I am honored and blessed to have been able to serve Urbana for the past
> seven years. I thank everyone who has challenged me and supported me through
> these years. Although I am stepping down, I have every intention to stay in
> the community and continue to work to improve it, whether that be through
> holding a future elected position or in another role in our community. I
> wish you all the very best.
>
> Sincerely,
> Danielle Chynoweth
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/archive/peace-discuss/attachments/20080715/07c4b63a/attachment.htm