About Rockford

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="22dfd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="53" >Wells of Justice</FONT>     |     <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wells of Justice"><U>Home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="purpose.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Purpose"><U><B>Our Purpose</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="cases.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cases"><U><B>Cases</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="decisions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Court Decisions"><U><B>Court Decisions</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="bpps.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bankruptcy Petition Preparers"><U><B>Bankruptcy Petition Preparers</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="victims.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="For Victims"><U><B>For Victims</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="articles.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U><B>Articles</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="letters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters to Public Officials"><U><B>Letters to Public Officials</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="info.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Information"><U><B>Information</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="reports.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reports"><U><B>Reports</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>About Rockford</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="sitemap.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><U><B>Site Map</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Informative Links"><U><B>Informative Links</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><U><B>Contact</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="22ed2043.jpg"> <div> <I><B>ABOUT ROCKFORD</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>New! </B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="badapple.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bad Apple"><U><B>One Bad Apple</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Cronyism in Rockford hinders justice</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>New!</B></I></div> <div> <A HREF="utopia.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Utopia"><U><B>Utopia</B></U></A></div> <div>  --------------------------------------------</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.wellsofjustice.com/example.html" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.wellsofjustice.com/example.ht"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">An Example of Court Shenanigans in Rockford</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.wellsofjustice.com/unemployment.html" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.wellsofjustice.com/unemployme"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Unemployment in Rockford</B></U></A></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">CNN Money Magazine </B><A HREF="ranking.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ranking"><U><B>Ranks Rockford</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="wages.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ROCKFORD WAGES"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Wages and Income</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="population.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Population and Education</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="denial.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Denial, Propaganda or Both?"><U><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700dc99000000.png" HEIGHT="15" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Denial, Propaganda, or Both?</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>____________________</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>About Rockford</I><I> </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <div> <I>Power and Authority in the Hands of a Few</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>FAQS</U></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">There is no commuter train service in or to Rockford, IL.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Flights from and to the Rockford Airport are limited.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Winnebago County State's Attorney, Paul Logli, ran for re-election unopposed, and was most recently appointed to the bench as an associated judge.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Three hospitals serve Rockford and its surrounding areas; St. Anthony's; Swedish American; and Rockford Memorial.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.png" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Rockford is building a larger jail due to overcrowding caused by an increased number of inmates.</div> <bR> <div> I<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >n 1994, WNIF public radio in Rockford quoted the first African-American School Board member as saying, "Rockford is a big city with a small-town mentality." More than thirteen years later, his words remain true.  Rockford's small-town mentality excludes those not native to Rockford. It oppresses citizens. It uses harmful vindiction against those speaking out. It places authority and power in the hands of a few. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Paul Logli, as Winnebago County State's Attorney failed to prosecute the town's "favorites" and has the tendency to wrongfully accuse and arrest victims who call upon that office seeking justice.</div> <bR> <div> Who cares? Rockford is too far from anything for others to be concerned. Many do not know that Rockford is the city where the Federal Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division is located. It holds jurisdiction over approximately 13 counties. Since it's a Federal Court, the decisions and actions there can, and will, eventually effect the entire nation.</div> <bR> <div> Rockford is isolated, being located about an hour and a half drive from any other large city. Farming communities surround it. It has one daily newspaper, and one weekly newspaper. </div> <bR> <div> The impression that Rockford media likes to give is that Rockford is the Garden of Eden. Let's keep in mind that there was a snake in that garden. </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Attitude and Treatment of "Outsiders" and Employment</U></B> </div> <div> The employment situation in Rockford is so tightly controlled that even the Illinois Department of Employment Security office in Rockford shows signs of abusing authority to exercise prejudice in providing job information only to those they want to. Anyone can check out the web site for America's Job Bank. Search for positions in Rockford. You will run into jobs where the only description is "Illinois Skills Search." The Illinois Skills Search is a program whereby the Dept. of Employment Security sets people up in a database to match skills, experience, education, and salary requirements with job orders. Once matched, the people are to receive email or phone notification. There have been several problems with the program. The main problem is that those qualified for positions are not alerted by Illinois Skills Search. </div> <bR> <div> We've had several non-Rockford natives report that they entered they were willing to travel 50 miles to work. However, the positions they were notified about were located up to 90 miles away, while they were not once notified for any positions located in or closer to Rockford. When they call the Rockford office of the Dept. of Employment Security inquiring about positions they should have been contacted for, and are interested in, the state employees blame it on the computer program, or the individual not reducing their salary requirements. They do not assist individuals in finding jobs other than by using Illinois Skills Match. </div> <bR> <div> You might ask how is it people know who is and who is not native to Rockford. The answer is on the resume. If you've worked for a company outside of the Rockford area, they interpret that as not being a Rockford native.  If you were educated outside of the Rockford area, you are not a native of Rockford. No matter how long you've resided in Rockford, unless you were educated in Rockford, you will always be considered as an "outsider."</div> <bR> <div> Rockford is so small and segregated, that mostly everyone knows who they went to school with.  Imagine attending high school in a small town where you will know everyone within 4 years of your age. School athletics are big in Rockford. Therefore, the schools play each other, and thus, familiarity builds with faces seen at school competition.</div> <bR> <div> For additional information regarding discrimination against outsiders, how its negative effect on Rockford, please read "Homess in Rockford, IL" coming soon to this site.</div> <bR> <div> The mayor of a city located west of Chicago once stated, "<I><B>Atlanta is becoming the Chicago of the South, but Rockford is the Jackson, Mississippi of the 60's</B></I>." He is correct. Many small towns would be grateful to have people come to reside there, who not only bring income and taxes to the community, but also knowledge and experience.   Rockford wants change, but resists change if and when someone who is not native to Rockford introduces that change. </div> <bR> <div> Rockford is not self-sufficient. It needs outsiders to bring money in. It needs businesses to move into Rockford, although Rockford businesses will not return the favor by doing business with outsiders.  It's a one-way benefit. Companies are to move into Rockford to do business with Rockford businesses and hire Rockford residents, but their income will have to come from selling goods and services outside of Rockford.</div> <bR> <div> The Council of 100 in Rockford markets the area to outside businesses as a place of low wages and low cost of living. In other words, they are saying people in Rockford will work cheap. It is not unusual to find a college grad residing in Rockford working two part-time minimum wage jobs just to make ends meet. </div> <bR> <div> In the 2001 mayoral race, the attitude was revealed. In news reports in the local media, the attitude is revealed. What is that attitude? That Rockford welcomes outsiders as long as they are spending money in the city. One local news program interviewed a resident of Rockford, asking her opinion about the park district building a park to invite other schools to come to Rockford to compete. She responded, "<I>They will have to buy our food, our gas</I>" … and they stopped the videotape. </div> <bR> <div> In the mayoral debate, it became clear that one candidate opposed commuter train service in Rockford by defending that Rockford has a bus company owned by a native of the City.  That opinion demonstrates the larger attitude of depriving citizens of options.  That deprivation includes elections.  When there is only one political candidate running for a specific office, he can cast the only vote for himself and win. </div> <bR> <div> There are various opinions as to why some offices, such as that for Winnebago County State's Attorney, deprive citizens of having a choice of candidates.  However, those <I>in the know </I>report that the Republicans made a deal with Democrats in the city of Rockford.  That deal is reported as agreeing that as long as the Democrats do not have a candidate opposing Paul Logli, the Republican State's Attorney who has ran unopposed for about 15 years, that they (Republicans) will allow the Democratic Party to have a candidate on the ballot for the position of mayor.</div> <bR> <div> Rockford's current mayor is an Independent, who followed the footsteps of Democratic mayors.  We don't want to take up more time discussing the politics of Rockford.  However, it does appear that the city of Rockford has not had a Republican mayor since the reign of Paul Logli began in or about 1988.  </div> <bR> <div> Rockford has had an African-American mayor. Some of those <I>in the know</I> in Rockford report that electing Mayor Box was a smoke-screen -- window dressing -- an effort to deceive the public.  Upon information and belief, Mayor Box was in office while the School Board was being sued for racial discrimination.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Racial Discrimination in the 90's</U></B> </div> <div> In or about 1991, the Rockford School District was charged with segregation and discrimination in the school system which the Magistrate Judge described as making discrimination "an art form." It was not until 2001 that the School District found some relief from the orders of the federal court. The School District had serious financial problems, having used tort taxes to pay for correcting the discrimination problems to find out that their use of the tort taxes was unlawful. Now, they have to reimburse homeowners millions of dollars in real estate taxes. The attorney for the School Board is with the law firm Hinshaw and Culbertson. His name is Thomas Lester.  Until some time in 2007, Thomas Lester was also a Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Then there is the Rockford Airport Authority …..</B> </div> <div> It appears as though the shakers and makers in Rockford are self-deceived and in denial. Chicago has been bickering back and forth for a long time concerning a third airport. Those major airlines that once used the Rockford Airport no longer do so. The mayor and the airport authority cannot seem to get it in their head -- everyone outside of Rockford who has ever spent any significant time in that city knows the truth -- Rockford is the pimp, and outsiders are the flesh they use for financial, self-serving motives. </div> <bR> <div> Rockford attorney Thomas Lester, who represents the school district, also represents the Greater Rockford Airport Authority.  It has been most recently reported that the Greater Rockford Airport Authority is doing some strange things with leasing land and then bringing legal action against leasees in an effort to take over buildings that leasees have built and own.</div> <bR> <div> Rockford has limited public transportation. It has no rail system. If you want to take a train  to downtown Chicago, you have to use a motor vehicle to get to train stations in Harvard or Elgin. The trip is approximately 60 minutes to the closest rail service. Then you have an approximate 2 hour ride to downtown Chicago after you get on the train. If residents in Rockford want freedom to travel and to seek employment outside of the city, they must have a motor vehicle. That also means that Rockford has a significant amount of used car lots. </div> <bR> <div> Even if you work 75 miles from Rockford, Rockford home builders will sell you a house. They will share with you how many people they know that work 50, 70, 80 miles or more from where they live. They will even arrange for you to get a mortgage through a local bank. Heaven forbid if you lose your job, or if your car needs major repairs where you can't drive the toll way for an hour or more to and from work. Finding employment is the solution, but to no avail if you are not a native of Rockford. The Rockford banker will foreclose on your house. A Rockford attorney will advise you to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A Rockford realtor will pay you an unexpected visit to appraise your house under the deception to put it on the market, although he knows it is foreclosing. Yes! They will be more than happy to take your money, and more than happy to take everything from you, including your credibility, if you can no longer bring money to Rockford. There is a measure of hypocrisy within Rockford. For example<B> ....</B></div> <bR> <div> A company owned by a man residing in Rockford, and managed by his daughter who also resides in Rockford, owed more than $100,000 in payroll taxes to the Federal IRS. This amount consisted of approximately 92.35% of money deducted from employee paychecks. The business owner and his managing daughter look for comradeship among those holding power and authority in Rockford to keep their embezzlement secret. By doing so, they are protected and unhindered from continuing the unlawful pratice. In spite of this, they took great, boastful pride in adopting a family for Christmas, where they spent $500 on clothes, presents and holiday decorations. </div> <bR> <div> The hypocrisy is that by diverting taxes deducted from employees for social security and medicare, they are creating needy families of the future. Those employees, upon retiring or becoming disabled, will find their social security and medicare accounts falling short. But then, their former employer will be happy to deceive human service agencies into believing that they are doing something special by spending $500 for gifts, clothes and holiday decorations once a year. Why is it the employees do not complain? Two reasons: </div> <div> (1) The evidence is sufficient enough to believe that talking to anyone could be talking to the wrong person. The employee at the IRS could very well be a golf buddy of their boss. Complaining could result in immediate termination.</div> <div> (2) If number 1 does not happen, there is fear the IRS will close the company down, and their current need for a paycheck outweighs the what-if's of the future.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>USING THE COLOR OF LAW TO VICTIMIZE OUTSIDERS</U></B> </div> <div> Our research provided evidence that since June 1998, not once did Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees seek real estate located in Rockford by filing charges against Rockford residents. All Adversary cases filed in pursuit of real estate were for homes and land located outside of Rockford. For the ignorant or assuming, they might say that residents of Rockford cooperated with the bankruptcy trustees. Examining the cases, however, reveal that fraudulent charges were filed by the trustees against debtors and non-debtors in pursuit of real estate only located outside of Rockford. Therefore, cooperation has and had nothing to do with it. </div> <bR> <div> What is interesting, that we don't have a good handle on yet, is the association between one party who is involved in the increase of property taxes in Rockford, the Rockford Airport Authority, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. While he did not challenge the use of tort taxes by the Rockford School Board to pay for damages caused by their discrimination and segregation practices, Thomas Lester, as a bankruptcy trustee,  was charging people with various forms of bankruptcy fraud to take property located outside of Rockford. One case awarded him over $100,000 in compensation and recovery commission for himself and his team of professionals.</div> <bR> <div> History tells us that great civilizations were destroyed from within. The same is true for Rockford, Illinois. When we began researching cases filed in Judge Barbosa's and Judge Reinhard's courts, it was like stepping into a Stephen King novel. We saw a pattern where attorneys representing debtors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court abandon or withdraw from cases. These people, most of whom have been declared officially bankrupt by the United States Bankruptcy Court, cannot afford attorney fees. The reason they cannot obtain legal representation IS NOT because the trustees are correct. From case evidence and testimony, people already in financial straits cannot obtain legal counsel in the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, because the attorneys aid and assist the trustees in commiting financial confidence crimes. If they cannot convince their clients to give money to the trustees, (in spite of the evidence and law being in their client's favor), the attorneys withdraw, or make their fees unaffordable, and demand immediate payment.</div> <bR> <div> If a criminal act is committed against patients by hospital personnel in Rockford, victims are more likely to be advised by Rockford law enforcement to pursue civil options.  Rather than proceed with a criminal investigation, Paul Logli's office treats crimes such as battery, theft, and assault by hospital employees as hospital negligence.   Finding an attorney in Rockford to take such a case is a long process if not totally impossible.  Attorneys outside of Rockford do not take such cases due to the distance, or because they realize that attorneys in Rockford do not cooperate with non-Rockford attorneys to settle cases.  It has also been reported that the state judges in Winnebago County have ways to convey to attorneys from outside that area that they are not welcomed in that court.</div> <bR> <div> The Federal Court located in Rockford covers approximately 13 counties. There are over 500 attorneys in Rockford. There are currently six Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees in the Western Division. Two of them are with the same law firm --- Stephen G. Balsley and James Stevens. Coincidence, or prearranged? </div> <bR> <div> One of the six Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees, Bernard Natale, graduated John Marshall Law School in 1977. Bankruptcy Judge Manuel Barbosa also graduated John Marshall Law School in 1977. Coincidence?</div> <bR> <div> When comradeship between professionals such as government officials, attorneys and judges is the norm for a town, such relationship gives free reign for crime to be committed under color of official right. Friends obstruct, rather than uphold justice. </div> <bR> <div> A member of the "<I>Rockford Soccer Club</I>" gave another example of how comradeship obstructs justice. The Rockford Soccer Club does not play soccer. It is a club for illegal gambling. It is or was under investigation. Someone with authority to see the video surveillance tape informed a bookie who has clients patronizing the club. The bookie called his clients who were observed on the videotape so they would avoid the club. </div> <bR> <div> While some companies in Rockford close, others boom -- although no one ever sees those businesses conducting enough business to survive.  It is reported that undercover agents from other jurisdictions are investigating money laundering of suspected companies who have few clients, yet financially boom.  It is also reported that once local law enforcement is made aware of those investigations by <I>outsiders</I>, that the investigations are hindered.  </div> <bR> <div> Those with power and authority boastfully tell their victims that no one is going to stop them. With confidence, they inform their victims what they are going to do to them, without any reference to or acknowledgement of respect that there is law enforcement.  <I><B>THAT</B></I> is a strong message conveyed to their victims. </div> <div>  </div> <div> We have heard the old saying that a city is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there. We cannot agree that Rockford is even a nice place to visit. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>