[Editor’s Note: At the May library board meeting, editor Kevin Gosztola delivered a public comment in opposition to the library cutting evening hours (see bottom of the report). He previously wrote an editorial against the cuts as well.]

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

Trustees voted to cut Elmwood Park Public Library evening hours on weekdays. Only Library Board trustee Mike Monahan spoke in favor of keeping the library open and voted against the proposal.

Also, due to the lack of data on library use, Library Director Michael Consiglio said that the library purchased a “counter.” However, the director and trustees still proceeded with the vote instead of waiting for relevant data to be collected.

Consiglio said later in the year the library might revisit the hours of operation. “If the data supports [staying open], we will support it.”

“Okay, so how would data support a decision to review this?” Monahan asked, since the library will no longer be open for residents during the hour that should be tracked.

Library Board President Chris Pesko said that he was satisfied with the “analysis” shared by Consiglio. He backed closing the library earlier on weekdays.

Pesko further suggested that the annual survey at the Taste of Elmwood Park could ask residents if they would like the library to go back to its regular schedule. Consiglio supported this idea.

“Having three kids that have gone through everything—and they’re adults now, summertime, the library usage went way down as opposed to when it was in school,” Trustee Peter Fosco said.

“Like I said, we’re going to the summertime. Everybody wants to be out. Everybody wants to be outside. Everybody wants to play on the jungle gym. Everybody wants to do their thing with the longer hours.”

Fosco added, “In summertime, if we get an opportunity to save the money, I think that’s kind of the way to go. We’re going to revisit it.”

Trustee Alice Balundis agreed. “I see the possibility of this. It’s summertime. Summertime’s coming up, and people are not going to be at the library.” She too said let’s revisit cutting evening hours after the board reduces the hours.

While the trustees focused on the summer to push through cuts to library hours, that was not part of the library director’s reasoning for reducing hours back in April.

“My concern, and why I don’t think it’s a good idea, is I feel like there should be more evening programs,” Monahan countered. “At 7 o’clock is a time that programs should start. But until 8:30, I think attendance would be better. I think the summer, at 8 o’clock, the sun is still up. It does not feel late to be closing.”

Monahan raised the matter of $60,000 in legal expenses and whether those expenses could be reduced first before cutting library hours. “I feel like there’s better ways to save money. I don’t see a justification for cutting the hours. I think it’s ill-advised and short-sighted.”

But Fosco insisted, “The amount of traffic from the numbers that I read here, and you have significantly anything before 8 o’clock, you’re there. Anything after 8 o’clock, the numbers are minuscule comparatively.”

What Fosco referred to were “6,011 patron interactions” that Consiglio said the library tracked over four months. As the Elmwood Park Advocate previously reported, 91 percent occurred from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only 8.6 percent occurred in the evenings. “Just 2.6% occur in that final 8- to 9- PM hour.”

But trustees did not consider the fact that the library is only open 5-9 p.m. four days a week. There are more daytime hours, which skewed the percentage for the last hour of that the library was open.

Additionally, the percentage was further skewed by including Friday evening, even though it was already understood that residents use the library far less during this time. That is why the library board cut evening hours at the board’s April meeting.

The library’s unscientific survey of “patron demand” may have missed dozens of residents who were already in the library before 8 p.m. and left the library prior to closing time without interacting with staff.

Initially, Consiglio said that reducing hours would save the library a little more than $39,000 a year. But that number included money saved by cutting Friday hours, which was not part of the vote. When questioned, Consiglio clarified that the amount saved by cutting hours between Monday and Thursday would be closer to $21,000 a year.

Meredith Zinanni, a library board candidate in 2025, opposed the cuts and wrote to the library board. “At the April 2026 meeting, Trustee Pesko stated that Elmwood Park is a working class community to explain why staff could not be given more time off.  But closing the library an hour earlier on weeknights harms those very same working people.”

“Programs get most of the attention at library board meetings, but it is equally valuable to ensure that our entire community has access to books and other media, research tools, and study spaces.  Where else can students gather in a quiet space to work alone or on a group project when home is not an option? Or get help from our skilled library staff?” 

Zinanni contended, “A student with an after-school job—or adults working outside the home—may not be able to get to the library until at least 7 PM, and we should not be making it more difficult for them.”

None of the trustees addressed the potential impact to parents and other adults, who may wish to use the library in the evenings for work or studying.

Elmwood Park Advocate Editor Kevin Gosztola’s Public Comment

From the Volunteer Staff Of The Elmwood Park Advocate:

One year ago, a group of village residents launched the Elmwood Park Advocate. We set out to build a community newsletter that could make up for the lack of local news reporting on the village.

What we achieved in a year greatly exceeded our expectations, and that is owed to the Elmwood Park residents who engaged with the newsletter’s reporting and writing and participated in “Community Conversations” that we held at the library.

The first year was a result of trial and error, mixed with a fair amount of experimenting. Some of what we tried worked. Yet through it all, the newsletter accumulated over 1,000 followers on our Facebook page. Traffic to our articles doubled, tripled, and in a few instances, quadrupled.

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From the beginning, the Elmwood Park Advocate searched for stories to cover that reflected the interests of residents, like code enforcement related to weeds and “high grass.” We reported on the village’s purchase of homes that were then demolished and replaced with parking lots. These stories sparked a range of responses from residents, and we shared feedback that we received with readers.

The Elmwood Park Advocate demonstrated its value when ICE and the Border Patrol were conducting operations in Chicago and surrounding communities, including Elmwood Park. We tracked landscapers and roofers who were detained, cutting through the misinformation and rumors that spread about ICE’s presence in Elmwood Park. The newsletter also offered a platform to those in the community, who wished to share their frustration with how Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano and Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier responded to the fear generated by ICE.

Early in 2025, the newsletter uncovered the fact that Gauthier and the school district had deleted nearly all of the school board meeting videos broadcast to YouTube. We brought this to the attention of the Cook County Local Records Commission, and members pledged to look into the district’s destruction of public records.

We interviewed both John Carrozza and Jarrett Knox, who competed in the Democratic primary for a Cook County judge position. It was the Elmwood Park Advocate’s first election coverage, and by educating voters on one of the few contested judicial races, the newsletter increased its credibility.

Those who attended our “Community Conversations,” as well as readers, are well aware that the library initially challenged the Elmwood Park Advocate when we tried to use the library’s main meeting room for free. The library board largely went along with this effort to discourage the newsletter from using the library to engage with residents and gather news.

But the Elmwood Park Advocate stood its ground. The library backed down and changed the meeting room policy so that all residents could reserve rooms without being forced to pay $100/hour. We created positive change.

Along with the reporting that the newsletter published on records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, deputy editor Sara Lindsay, writer Ann Lindsay, and film critic Don Shanahan contributed dozens of articles.

“I’m deeply proud of the work we’ve done over the past year and everything the newsletter has grown into. As someone who is not a journalist or writer by trade, stepping into this role was far outside my comfort zone, but it has been absolutely worth it,” Sara Lindsay shared.

“Over the last year, I’ve learned so much about Elmwood Park, its history, its challenges, and most importantly, its people.”

“One of the best parts of this experience has been meeting so many wonderful people and helping create spaces for conversation and community,” Sara Lindsay added. “Access to information matters, and I’m grateful that we’ve been able to provide that for the people of Elmwood Park.”

“Having seen the Advocate’s development since its inception, it has blossomed into something I couldn’t have predicted,” Ann Lindsay said. “It’s not only a source of hyperlocal news. It’s a point of connection for many residents.”

“Through ‘Community Conversations,’ I met and connected with residents whose perspectives differed from mine but whose passion for a safe, flourishing village was the same as my own.”

“Achieving the village we all want can only be done through access to information, honest storytelling and a commitment to transparency,” Ann Lindsay contended. “The Advocate always strives for all three, and I’m grateful that it has helped me become a more informed and engaged resident.”

Shanahan said, “At its core, the Advocate is the epitome of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.’ The good folks writing for this online publication are actual citizens of this community, not disconnected journalists on the outside looking in from some assigned beat beyond our borders. I think that’s a trait of investment and commitment that has been lost in local journalism for too long.”

“The Advocate has empowered citizens to raise the bar for our shared civic accountability. We needed that around here. When done right, that process of shared information and ensuing social reaction becomes a partnership in the name of responsibility over some kind of political confrontation.”

“As for my small part as the resident film critic, I find pride in providing balance where I can,” Shanahan stated. “This fine village is more than its conflicts and obstacles. There’s a collection of cultures and demographics eager for entertainment. There’s a blue-collar, fun-loving heart here in Elmwood Park that wants to relax after long days of work and maximize family time. I am one of those very people.”

Editor Kevin Gosztola declared, “We are part of this community. We tell stories, share information, and ignite discussion about our village because we have a deep commitment to our neighbors and this place that we call home.”

“Thank you to everyone who has supported, read, shared, contributed, or simply stopped to talk with us along the way,” Sara Lindsay said.

We’re excited to keep growing in our second year. If you have comments or suggestions that may help us improve the Elmwood Park Advocate, email newsletter@elmwoodparkadvocate.org

Most Viewed Articles Published During The First Year

What Elmwood Park Residents Should Know If Confronted By ICE

‘It’s A Terrible Situation’: Village President Responds To Elmwood Park Residents’ Concerns About ICE

Former Elmwood Park Fire Chief Faces Criminal Charges For Allegedly Shutting Tiny Tap Employee In Cooler

‘Free America’ Protest In Elmwood Park Marks Anniversary Of Trump’s Second Term

Meet The Candidates Running In The 11th Judicial Subcircuit Race

Library Director Would Like The Power To Police Residents’ Speech

ICE Targets More Landscapers Working In Elmwood Park

Editorial: Elmwood Park School District Silent As ICE Spreads Fear

Letter To The Editor: A Clear Conflict of Interest

School District Destroyed Nearly All Of Its Archive Of Board Meeting Videos

[Editor’s Note: Elmwood Park Advocate Editor Kevin Gosztola has openly opposed the library’s proposal to cut library hours, arguing that it is unnecessary.]

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

Elmwood Park Public Library Director Michael Consiglio claimed that data he compiled would show that the library should cut evening hours on weekdays. However, the data, which the Elmwood Park Advocate obtained, only accounts for residents who attend library programs.

The library does not count the number of residents who use the library because it is a quiet space for work or studying. The number of people browsing and reading books, newspapers, magazines, or using other resources and services is also unknown. Plus, oddly, this data does not include checkout data.

On May 11, the library board will vote on cuts to weekday hours. The agenda claims that the “adjustment” will reflect “actual patron usage patterns,” support “more efficient allocation of staff resources,” and align with the library’s commitment to “responsible financial management without reducing programs or service quality.”

But the library has collected minimal data on “patron usage patterns” during evening hours.

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The library board voted to reduce Friday hours at its monthly meeting in April, however, a separate proposal to close at 8 p.m. on weekdays was tabled until May.

In the meantime, Consiglio agreed to share a “full analysis” or data that he compiled on library use.

The newsletter submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for this data. What the newsletter received is a spreadsheet [PDF] of programs, like “Trivia Night,” “Elvis,” or “Puzzle Race.” It indicates what weekday the program is held, how many times a year it happens, the number of attendees, and the average attendance. Each of these programs end after 8 p.m. and could be affected by the cuts.

Importantly, the data contains no additional statistics that would be useful to persuading residents that the library should not be open until 9 p.m. on weekdays.

After Consiglio shared the data that he had mentioned in April, the Elmwood Park Advocate asked the library director how the programming data supported cuts to library hours. He responded with data that was withheld or not provided when the newsletter requested “aggregate data on patron use.”

Consiglio indicated that the library tracked 6,011 patron interactions over four months. Ninety-one percent occurred from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only 8.6 percent occurred in the evenings. “Just 2.6% occur in that final 8- to 9- PM hour.”

However, the math does not quite add up. Spread across four evening hours, the average per-hour share would be 2.15 percent, which means 8-9 p.m. is above the evening average.

The library is open 9-5 p.m. during six days of the week. It is only open 5-9 p.m. four days a week. There are more daytime hours, which lowers the percentages for the evenings, and Friday was included, despite the fact that patrons use the library far less on Friday nights (which is why the library board cut the hours).

Also, the data on patron interactions overlooks residents who enter the library and do not interact with staff, especially when they are leaving before closing time.

The response from Consiglio mentioned that the library “surveyed Trivia Night participants about shifting from 7:00-8:30 PM to 6:30-8:00 PM. 91.7% said it works.” Only 1 person would be impacted because they commute “from a western suburb.” Again, that data is limited to participation in programming.

Library Board Trustee Mike Monahan, who urged the library board to table cuts to library hours, said at the April meeting, “The important thing is we don’t have any data for any of this.” He mentioned that the library has no “gate counts.”

“There are people who come here at six o’clock and they’re not leaving until 8:30. And they’re just not being counted,” Monahan later added.

Consiglio shot back, “If I had $4,000, we’d have the best door counter.” He said that the library understands the data would be valuable. “But I can’t go out and spend $4,000 on it,” he insisted.

During the April meeting, Consiglio did not explicitly mention Cook County’s property tax distribution delays as a reason why library hours needed to be reduced. But when asked for comment, he raised the delays, which have financially impacted the library for the past six to seven months.

“We don’t need proactive cuts. We need to see where we can save our cash during this temporary situation,” Consiglio told the Elmwood Park Advocate. “The library showed incredible growth over three years. We’re not in crisis. We’re managing Cook County’s tax distribution delays.”

The library director maintained that the reduction of evening hours would save the library $39,427 annually. “That’s significant when you have [two-plus] months of cash reserves and Cook County delays. This isn’t unique to Elmwood Park. Libraries across Illinois face the same crisis as Cook County.”

Back in August 2025, Consiglio addressed Cook County’s delays as it became clear that the library would need to take out a loan to weather the impact. “We don’t have large reserves so this impacts us greatly.” He acknowledged that a number of libraries keep six to nine months of reserves.

It is common for libraries to have three to six months of reserves. The library board could increase their cash reserves, however, the Village of Elmwood Park would play some role in approving that increase. Library Board President Chris Pesko and other library board trustees have chosen not to publicly push for an increase in reserves.

In April, the Chicago Tribune reported that “Cook County property tax bills will be late again this year,” as they were in 2025. That means that the library will again confront the reality that it does not have enough funds in reserve.

The Elmwood Park Advocate asked Pesko if the library would be better positioned to deal with Cook County’s mismanagement if the village allowed the library to hold a larger amount of cash reserves. As of publication, Pesko did not respond.

Once the problems with Cook County tax distribution are resolved, Consiglio said the library will continue to operate “with all its growth. But right now, we need to be smart about managing cash to ensure we start [fiscal year] 2026-27 on solid ground.” [The new fiscal year started on May 1.]

Early February, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas provided a property tax update, which said that 97 percent of the tax money levied had been distributed. It is unclear what tax money the library is still waiting to receive.

At the April meeting, Monahan argued that the “programming budget is massively inflated.” If the library is going to reduce hours, then Monahan said the programming budget should not be the size of a library, like Elmhurst Library, which is open until 9 p.m. (Consiglio said, “You’re right,” when Monahan made this point.)

The library budgeted $14,000 for legal expenses during the previous fiscal year. However, according to a document obtained through a FOIA request, the library spent $19,000 on legal expenses between July and October 2025. Part of those legal expenses stemmed from attempts to restrict the newsletter’s use of the library’s main meeting room, which the library director and library board eventually abandoned.

A library the size of the Elmwood Park Public Library would typically budget an average of $7,000-$14,000 on legal expenses.

It is unknown what the library paid Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins between November 1 and April 30. However, if spending occurred at the same rate for the rest of the fiscal year, then legal expenses likely exceeded $30,000. Some of that money could have gone toward maintaining the library’s regular weekday hours.

By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor

Elmwood Park resident Ronnie Holloway is recovering from a devastating loss after thieves stole an estimated $100,000 in merchandise from his Northwest Side business earlier this month.

Holloway lives in Elmwood Park with his wife and two young children and owns Elite Sports Cards and Comics in Chicago’s Dunning neighborhood.

In the very early morning hours of April 24, according to reporting from Block Club Chicago, two individuals smashed through the storefront window and headed straight for high-value inventory.

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Instead of taking cash, the burglars appeared to target specific items, quickly moving toward display cases containing rare Pokémon cards and premium sports collectibles.

The break-in lasted only a matter of minutes, with Holloway telling Block Club that the thieves were after sealed card packs, including a case of newly released football cards valued at around $20,000.

Police say the break-in happened around 2 a.m. with the suspects entering, gathering merchandise, and fleeing within minutes. No arrests have been reported, according to NBC Chicago.

For Holloway, the impact goes far beyond the financial loss.

“If you know Ronnie, you know how much of his heart and soul lives inside Elite Sports Cards & Comics,” his wife wrote in a message shared with supporters. “This shop isn’t just a business to him. It’s years of hard work, long days, and genuine care for every person who walks through the door.”

This was not the first time that the Holloway’s business was targeted. According to Block Club, his Lincoln Square location was broken into twice in 2022. In one instance, a suspect cut through brick around a rear window, removed security bars, and stole nearly $100,000 worth of cards.

The value of trading cards has surged in recent years and small specialty shops like Holloway’s have increasingly become targets for theft. Rare cards can be resold quickly, often with little traceability, making them especially attractive to criminals.

Despite the setback, Holloway is determined to rebuild. Members of the community are rallying support. Holloway’s wife started a GoFundMe to help their family recover some of their losses and keep the business open.

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

On April 25, the Elmwood Park Advocate held its second “Community Conversation” of 2026. Around 20 people gathered at the Elmwood Park Public Library to discuss parks and recreational spaces in the village.

The newsletter dedicated this gathering to 20-year Elmwood Park resident Donna Clesen, who died in December. She led the Garden Club and regularly attended our conversations in 2025.

At the last conversation of the year, Donna said the village had “become more of a fortress.” She believed that the village had not paid enough attention to the importance of open spaces.

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The discussion began with everyone speaking about the parks that they go to the most. One resident said they live by John Mills Elementary School and go to Triangle Park and the school.

Another resident said they live near Bambi Park. They go to Bambi, John Mills, and Triangle Park because that is where all their kids’ friends like to play. Plus, they use the Elmgrove Park splash pad, but that was “broken half of the year.”

An older couple mentioned that they spend time at Centennial Park. The gardens are there. A mom of two children, who are six and eight years old, said that they use Triangle Park, Elmgrove Park, Bambi, and Elmwood Park Elementary.

Yet another mom of two children, who are four and seven years old, said they go to Triangle Park, Bambi Park, and the Elmgrove splash pad. She wonders, however, why there is not more shade at Elmgrove. They also eat lunch at Central Park, since it has chess boards.

One resident, who uses the exercise equipment at Centennial Park, suggested that the village prioritize more benches and trees. It is “more important” for people in town houses or rental units “without yards or green spaces,” they added.

A new resident of Elmwood Park, who lives across from Fire Station #2 and is starting a family, mentioned that they were here to learn about the village. They noticed the kids playing whiffle ball in the baseball field.

A longtime resident who has lived in the village since 1963 spoke about growing up in the city of Chicago. What they came to appreciate is that “parks, sidewalks, and alleys make a neighborhood.” That’s what is special about Elmwood Park.

One of several moms in attendance shared how they appreciated the Central Park yoga and ice skating. The yoga, hosted by The Barre, was a “really good experience.”

Additionally, the same mom mentioned that her family spends time at Kiddie Korral Park on 75th Court and Dickens Avenue. She is concerned about the plans to eliminate trees and not replace them. A dad of two children also expressed similar frustration with this decision.

The grant application asked the village to describe how the project had involved local planning and coordination, such as public input. What the village identified was the “Comprehensive Plan” for the future of Elmwood Park that was developed from 2011-2013.

A mom questioned whether this qualified as community engagement for the Kiddie Korral redevelopment project. What is described in the grant application was not specifically part of the comprehensive plan. Was there really any public notice prior to creating designs?

Adding to this sentiment, another mom said that they used to live in Galewood, where there were a number of town hall meetings on the future of the site of the Mars factory that shut down. She wished that the village would hold similar meetings on parks (as well as other issues).

“Most of the people [on the boards] don’t have small children anymore,” she said. “We are more involved than our parents are [or were]. We as a community should push for more information.”

“I don’t think it’s too late,” one dad said. “Go to the [village] board meetings,” and raise concerns. They wondered why there is no commission specifically dedicated to parks and recreational spaces. “There should be one.”

The conversation veered into worries about building a third splash pad in Elmwood Park as part of the Kiddie Korral redevelopment project. One parent said that they did not like that the splash pad was right next to the playground because then you have to have a change of clothes for your children. They like how Elmgrove Park is just a splash pad because “you have to be intentional” about going to play in the water.

A mom described how the Elmgrove splash pad had a problem with “water pressure.” The streams only go knee high. So kids bring buckets and fill them with water. Public works employees were there several times in 2025, trying to figure out what to do to fix the splash pad.

“Your kids are [not] little forever,” one older resident said. There should be consideration about how the splash pad limits multi-use of parks. Or as one dad put it, the village should encourage “normal social use.” The parks really should be “mixed age spaces.”

Back in 2013, the comprehensive plan recommended that the village create a list of “potential sites” for additional parkland. I mentioned that the village apparently never compiled such a list, even though it is a good idea. Residents really do care about parks and recreational spaces.

But as one resident in attendance contended, those involved in the Plan, Zoning and Development Commission simply believe that there is less profit to be made in parks. This resident objected to the way in which homes are demolished to build parking lots for businesses along North Avenue.

Several in the room agreed that it would be a benefit to restaurants on North Avenue if there was a green space for dining outside. In the same way that the village buys a home and paves a lot for parking, it could instead develop it for those who want to dine during the warmer months in a less crowded atmosphere—particularly during peak hours.

Finally, one dad in the room mentioned that there is talk of moving village hall to Grand Avenue. He suggested that the community “get ahead of that.” If the village maintains it is too late to properly redevelop Kiddie Korral as a green space, then he believes residents should insist that they put trees or a park at the site of the village hall.

The newsletter plans to hold another “Community Conversation” in May. Details will be shared soon.

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

More than a decade ago, the Village of Elmwood Park adopted a “Comprehensive Plan” that recommended that the village identify potential sites for additional parkland. However, it does not appear that village management ever followed through and put together a list.

The comprehensive plan, dated March 12, 2013, outlined a “vision for the community” that would "guide “development and investment decisions.” It contained a “national resources space strategy” and suggested that the village “create an inventory of parcels that are either Village-owned, privately-owned and vacant, or tax delinquent as a list of potential ‘first-tier’ sites” that could be “converted” into park spaces.

The Elmwood Park Advocate submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on April 6 that asked for a copy of the village’s list of “potential sites for additional park space.” Village Clerk Gina Pesko claimed the village contains “no documents in response” to the newsletter’s request.

Village manager Paul Volpe was asked by the newsletter if the village had ever attempted to create an inventory of potential sites, and if no, why the village did not follow through with this recommendation. At the time of publication, Volpe had not responded.

The comprehensive plan remains a guiding document for the village. Assistant Village Manager Kim Napolitano mentioned the plan in the application for a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to help pay for a new Kiddie Korral Park.

In 2011, residents urged the village during the “comprehensive planning process” to continue to “acquire land and convert it to public parks.”

“Elmwood Park leaders, residents, and other stakeholders expressed the importance of maintaining and enhancing Elmwood Park’s open space and natural resources,” the comprehensive plan noted.

It further acknowledged that the “amount and availability of park space is significantly lower than standards established for even the densest urban areas of the Chicago metropolitan region.”

“Open space is the second largest land use, occupying 91 acres or 10.4 percent of the Village,” according to the comprehensive plan. “Most of this acreage, however, belongs to the Oak Park Country Club and is not accessible to the public. The Club’s property covers roughly 82 acres in the west-central area of Elmwood Park and also extends into River Grove and River Forest.”

Smaller parks, as of March 2013, made up “roughly 4.4 acres of open space,” with the rest of the open space in Elmwood Park lying within the Forest Preserves of Cook County in the southwest part of the village.

The comprehensive plan also recommended that the village “contact private landowners of parcels” on the list to “discuss the landowner’s intent for the future use of the land and the possibility for conversion to park land.”

In 2008, a “Community Parks and Recreation Master Plan” that the village adopted said that “park space should expand to the greatest extent possible.”

Elmgrove Park was completed and unveiled on July 2, 2024. It was constructed on the former site of the New Horizon Temple.

Throughout the past 13 years, the village has purchased parcels of land near North Avenue but not to create parkland or open space that could possibly be used by “Restaurant Row” patrons. The village constructed parking lots on this land.

During outreach for the comprehensive plan, the village recognized that residents view parks as an important issue, and residents complained about “the need for better communication.”

Based upon records that the Elmwood Park Advocate obtained, it is hard to tell if Volpe or any other official involved in village management seriously engaged in community outreach prior to undertaking the Kiddie Korral redesign project.

JOIN US FOR A ‘COMMUNITY CONVERSATION’ ON PARKS AND RECREATIONAL SPACES:

On Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m., the Elmwood Park Advocate will hold a “Community Conversation” at the Elmwood Park Public Library on parks and recreational spaces. We’ll meet in the Ferrentino Room.

Elmwood Park has several parks: Bambi Park, Centennial Park, Central Park, Elmgrove Park, Kathy Torpe Park, Kiddie Korral, Skate Park, and Triangle Park.

We’ll invite residents to discuss the time that they spend in our local parks, what they appreciate about the parks, and what they would like to see improved or updated. The conversation will also consider how Elmwood Park utilizes open spaces and how further spaces could potentially be developed. (You can RSVP here.)

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

Before the year is over, the Village of Elmwood Park plans to demolish the Kiddie Korral playground and build an entirely new park for recreation that will cost about $1.3 million.

Nearly half of the expenses will be paid for with an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The remaining will be covered by a “cash match.” (The source of the “match” was not identified.)

The new playground will have “rubber safety surface” underneath the equipment, replacing the dirt and mulch. New fencing, landscaping, lights, benches, and tables will be installed, along with a gazebo.

Two of the three trees will be cut down, and a splash pad will be added to the park, raising concerns that the park may be hotter during the summer due to the lack of shade.

On January 26, the village announced that it had received a $600,000 OSLAD grant and mentioned several of the upgrades envisioned for the 27-year-old Kiddie Korral playground. It suggested that “families” had requested “new park amenities, especially water features.”

The Elmwood Park Advocate submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for a copy of the village’s grant application, including concept designs, which the village had not shared with residents yet.

From October 1, 2026, to March 30, 2027, the park will be torn down and rebuilt. No contract for construction has been awarded to any company yet, and the village plans to review bids for the project later in the summer.

A key reason for replacing the playground is liability concerns. The application submitted by Assistant Village Manager Kim Napolitano indicated that the equipment has “significantly deteriorated over time” and “poses safety risks.” Plus, the playground does not meet Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) “accessibility standards.”

“[T]he outdated playground will be replaced with modern, inclusive play structures that provide a safe and engaging environment for children and youth of all abilities,” the application stated.

According to the application, “The project will also include replacing existing asphalt sidewalks with new concrete pathways, installing perimeter fencing for safety and security, installing rubber safety surfacing, adding a gazebo and seating area with an ADA-accessible table, and incorporating security lighting to enhance visibility and safety during evening hours.”

An itemized list of new playground equipment includes two slides, a spinner, a bouncy horse, and an eight-person swing set.

Napolitano claimed that the village has “received strong support from the community and does not anticipate any opposition.” However, the Elmwood Park Advocate asked for records that would reflect community engagement, including public meetings, town halls, or small group dialogues.

No records other than a few emails were provided [PDF]. It is unclear what outreach was done by the village prior to applying for the grant.

The application refers to residents who previously identified the “need for accessible open space and preservation of current sources” as part of the village’s “Comprehensive Plan” [PDF], but that plan was adopted more than a decade ago in 2013.

In January, resident Mike Monahan, who is also a library board trustee, emailed Al Schmidt, who is the village’s director of parks and recreation. “If there’s not already plans finalized, is there a way for residents like me to be involved? That park is very important to me and my family as we’ve used it hundreds of times and plan to continue for at least 8 more years.”

Schmidt incorrectly stated that a “contract to build” was already awarded. Orion Galey, the vice president of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, then told Monahan, the grant application required a “preliminary design” and that created “some constraints with regards to making alterations now that the funding is in place.” He shared concept plans with Monahan.

However, according to the state DNR’s manual for OSLAD grants [PDF], it says, “Throughout the course of development, it may become necessary to change [the] scope, plans and/or specifications.” If that happens, the village is allowed to seek DNR approval for “any project change orders that represent significant deviations from the approved plans or anything over a 10% change.”

Monahan said it was “very disappointing” that 30 percent of the space will be a “splash pad that can only be used for three months of the year.” He asked if there was any way to save the trees. “The beauty of the trees and the shade they provide are the best part of the park.”

Two months passed with no reply, and Monahan raised his concern again on March 25. “I’m disappointed that I never received a response to my last email. Orion said feedback is welcome, and the exchange just ended.”

“Is it too late to avoid cutting down established trees for this plan? The park will be ruined if you proceed with this plan,” Monahan stated.

Village Manager Paul Volpe harshly responded, “While I’m glad you have shared your opinion, I emphatically disagree that the park will be ruined by the proposed plan. Regardless, we will look into the trees and advise accordingly.”

After the nudge, Galey finally offered an update. “In the middle of the park, there are two green ash trees, both of which unfortunately have emerald ash borer. With their health declining, removal is necessary as part of the project to ensure safety and longevity for the park.”

“However, I’m happy to share that the beautiful bald cypress in the northwest corner will remain,” Galey added. “Based on your feedback, we are also adding a new triumph elm tree to the plan, which will be located within the berm area.”

According to the village, emerald ash borer has killed “countless ash trees” in Elmwood Park in recent years. That is partly why the village has pursued an initiative to restore the community’s tree canopy.

Galey further noted that the redesign for the park includes “four new river birch trees, twenty new arborvitae,” and a “diverse selection” of shrubs, perennials, and grasses.

In a comment shared with the Elmwood Park Advocate, Monahan said the park isn’t only used by younger children. “Tweens, teens, and adults” use the park, and they do not typically use splash pads. The village already has two splash pads. “What we need is shade and open play areas.”

Previously, the village received OSLAD grants for the pickleball courts in the Circle and Centennial Park, which was built after the Elmwood Park Presbyterian Church was torn down in November 2012.

For an article published in January 2013, Elmwood Park Village President Peter Silvestri told the Elm Leaves newspaper, “We’ve been committed for the last 20 years to [creating] more open space. Whenever you get the opportunity to create some open space, it’s a good deal for the community.”

YOU’RE INVITED: On Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m., the Elmwood Park Advocate will hold a “Community Conversation” at the Elmwood Park Public Library on parks and recreational spaces. We’ll meet in the Ferrentino Room.

Elmwood Park has several parks: Bambi Park, Centennial Park, Central Park, Elmgrove Park, Kathy Torpe Park, Kiddie Korral, Skate Park, and Triangle Park.

We’ll invite residents to discuss the time that they spend in our local parks, what they appreciate about the parks, and what they would like to see improved or updated. The conversation will also consider how Elmwood Park utilizes open spaces and how further spaces could potentially be developed. (You can RSVP here.)

[UPDATE - 8:20 PM April 13, 2026: NEWS: Library trustees voted to cut Friday hours and tabled the proposal to cut Monday-Thursday hours. The library will now close on Friday at 6 p.m.

A proposal to cut weekday hours was tabled after Library Trustee Mike Monahan asked for data on library use to support cutting hours. Library Board President Chris Pesko backed the idea of tabling until additional data was shared. Director Michael Consiglio agreed to share data, and the library board will vote on cutting weekday hours on May 11.

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

The library plans to cut weekday hours, which will reduce access to taxpaying residents who may wish to use resources and services during the evenings.

Library board trustees will vote on the proposed cuts at the board’s monthly meeting on April 13. It is my view as the editor of the Elmwood Park Advocate that cutting hours is unnecessary and not based on any financial need. It also goes against one of the library’s main goals for the community.

In the library’s “strategic plan” for 2025-2027, which exists to guide “decision-making,” it says that the library will “increase accessibility by extending operating hours to accommodate patrons with varying schedules, particularly during evenings and weekends.”

Suddenly, Library Director Michael Consiglio has asked the library board to shorten hours to 9 a.m to 8 p.m. on weekdays and to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.

The reasoning offered is vague: changing the hours would reflect “actual patron usage patterns,” support “more efficient allocation of staff resources,” and align with the library’s “ongoing commitment to responsible financial management without reducing programs or service quality.”

But as someone who has regularly attended library board meetings and followed library committee meetings, I do not recall any prior budgetary concerns about library hours. The library has the funds for keeping the library open in the evenings.

I attended a library finance committee meeting on March 9. “We’re about $200,000 under pure expense,” Consiglio declared. “That’s a good thing.” He indicated that the library had done a good job of holding down expenses while dealing with a crisis that was largely a result of Cook County mismanagement.

Cutting hours would likely reduce programs and service quality. It means residents will have eight fewer hours during the week to access technology, such as computers and Wi-Fi, as well as study rooms.

Groups that reserve meeting room spaces will have to adjust their plans for gathering with their neighbors. Typically, evening events would not begin until 6 p.m. at the earliest. Since staff has previously asked for a half hour to break down the meeting room before close, groups could only use these spaces until 7:30 p.m. There would no longer be any Friday evening events.

Let’s say someone wished to plan an event for veterans the week before Memorial Day. Perhaps, they would like to show a documentary and discuss it afterward. They would have to schedule it at 5 or 5:30 p.m, when many are just getting off work or eating dinner with their families.

The library is a well-established branch, and under Illinois Library Association standards, it is encouraged to have 68 hours of operation for a population of nearly 24,000 residents. By cutting hours, the library falls below that standard to 65 hours.

Finally, when the library board votes on cutting library hours, it will be the first time that most residents learn about this decision. There was no public community outreach or consideration for those who work during the day who may be impacted. The library director simply determined that the library does not need to stay open any later.

Those who follow the Elmwood Park Advocate on Facebook already know about this decision. One resident reacted, “It seems odd to cut the hours without a clear, transparent plan shared with the community for the savings.”

Two additional residents expressed a similar concern that cutting hours is not ideal, but it is especially baffling when the library has not also shared how the savings will be applied.

Undoubtedly, the library director and library board president will say that these are very minimal cuts, and that they are just being careful about how they spend taxpayer dollars. Yet once supposedly minor cuts to the library are made, it becomes easier to apply more cuts.

Before residents know it, something that was off the table many months ago will be on the chopping block. When that happens, it may be too late to stop the library or library board from taking away access to that resource or service.

On Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m., the Elmwood Park Advocate will hold a “Community Conversation” at the Elmwood Park Public Library on parks and recreational spaces. We’ll meet in the Ferrentino Room.

Elmwood Park has several parks: Bambi Park, Centennial Park, Central Park, Elmgrove Park, Kathy Torpe Park, Kiddie Korral, Skate Park, and Triangle Park.

We’ll invite residents to discuss the time that they spend in our local parks, what they appreciate about the parks, and what they would like to see improved or updated. The conversation will also consider how Elmwood Park utilizes open spaces and how further spaces could potentially be developed. (You can RSVP here.)

After receiving a state grant, the Village of Elmwood Park is constructing a new Kiddie Korral park at Dickens Avenue and 75th Court. The park has been a part of residents’ lives for 27 years, and yet as far as the newsletter can tell, very little outreach to residents has been done.

The Elmwood Park Advocate obtained plans for the Kiddie Korral redesign and will incorporate the plans into a wider discussion about what residents need and value when it comes to parks. How do we ensure that parks in the village continue to benefit residents? Should the village do more to engage residents on plans for parks and recreational spaces?

We will have coffee and bakery treats. Invite your family, friends, or neighbors, and we’ll see you at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 25.

*Note: The Elmwood Park Public Library has permitted resident-led groups to use meeting spaces as a community service. The Library neither sponsors nor endorses this event, the speaker(s), or the organization

As long as this is the school district’s policy, the Elmwood Park Advocate will republish regular board meeting videos to ensure that this information remains accessible to community residents.

Board meeting videos are posted without edits, additions, or anything removed. Aside from this voice over, this is the public record as it was created by the school district.

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As long as this is the school district’s policy, the Elmwood Park Advocate will republish regular board meeting videos to ensure that this information remains accessible to community residents.

Board meeting videos are posted without edits, additions, or anything removed. Aside from this voice over, this is the public record as it was created by the school district.

Subscribe now

As long as this is the school district’s policy, the Elmwood Park Advocate will republish regular board meeting videos to ensure that this information remains accessible to community residents.

Board meeting videos are posted without edits, additions, or anything removed. Aside from this voice over, this is the public record as it was created by the school district.

Subscribe now

By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor

School board members finally discussed a request from several Elmwood Park High School students to establish two non-voting student positions on the board. However, board members seemed unwilling to adopt the proposal.

On March 4, during a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting at John Mills Elementary School, student representation was included on the agenda and board members shared their perspectives.

“We have many platforms currently in place where we have student participation or input,” Board President Frank Parisi declared, pointing to existing opportunities for students to share feedback through administrators, surveys, and student leadership groups.

Parisi commented, “This isn’t the first time it’s been brought up. It’s been brought up before.” He also maintained that “the same questions came up before.”

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On the other hand, Board Secretary Jennifer Ranallo recognized that the board could benefit from hearing more directly from students.

“The most important piece is board engagement with the student population,” Ranallo said, noting that the district serves roughly 2,800 students.

Board member Jason Shipinski said, “I just don’t see what voice could be brought here that would be any different than speaking during public comment, coming to meetings, or being on a committee. I don’t know what changes.”

The students that addressed the board previously emphasized how additional student voices could play a “crucial role.”

“For example, during the [September] board meeting, students could have offered valuable insights about the differences between AP and Honors classes, which would have helped the conversation about their importance in the district,” the students said during public comment at an October board meeting.

The student also suggested that “student perspectives could help guide decisions regarding days off around AP tests, school events, and when students could benefit most from days off and breaks.”

Emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that the students spent months begging the board members to address their request. Instead, Parisi and Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier kept reminding them that they could raise the issue during public comment at board meetings, which they had done.

The students addressed members during board meetings in October and November of last year. Twice the students asked the board to discuss student representation at a COW meeting, but the board ignored the students. (Note: COW meetings are when board members typically engage in informal discussions prior to any particular action.)

Community member and district parent Chris Doyle raised the matter at a regular board meeting in February. Standing up for the students (two of which are his children), Doyle recalled that it had been “20 weeks since this was first presented to the board.”

“Do you realize that through your actions and inaction that you have marginalized these EPHS students?” Doyle asked, calling on the board to apologize to the students.

Much of the conversation at the meeting on March 4 focused on the idea that it would be too difficult, since the school board is responsible for a unit district that manages elementaries, a junior high, and a high school.

“We have to answer to all of the kids in the district and their learning abilities,” Ranallo argued. “Is someone going and speaking on behalf of all of our special needs students that we have here?”

Shipinski continued, “As you get into the lower grade levels, you know their interests are going to be different. It’ll be about recess and lunch. That doesn’t mean they still shouldn’t be heard. They may want to change the playground.”

A guide from the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), which was given to the board by the students, outlines [PDF] the process. School boards in Illinois may appoint student representatives to serve in an advisory capacity, and student representatives may attend open meetings and participate in discussions. But the students are not allowed to vote nor are they permitted to attend closed session meetings, where confidential matters are discussed.

“Consider having a minimum of two student board representatives. This will avoid tokenism, increase diversity of thought, and make it easier for youth to participate,” the IASB recommends.

Still, board members expressed reservations about the fact that the students occupying this board position would likely be class presidents or honors students, as if they would not be able to appropriately represent their peers.

The discussion eventually shifted to the possibility of establishing a student advisory group, such as a committee made up of students from different grades, activities, and backgrounds. Specifically, Ranallo mentioned the parent advisory committee with parents of students of all different ages— “girls, boys, athletes, scholars, non-athletes”—as something that could be duplicated.

By the end of the discussion, board members agreed that further consideration and planning was necessary before moving forward with anything formal.

Thank you for covering the property the Village acquired for parking last summer.

I live across the street from the leveled lot at 1612 North 77th Avenue and spoke in opposition to the proposed parking lot at the public hearing.

After the Plan, Zoning, and Development Commission approved the lot on July 21, I learned that Mr. Gabe Caporale, a voting member of the Commission, controls the commercial property housing five of the six businesses in closest proximity to the proposed parking lot: Armand’s, Tiny Tap, his own real estate office, the dental practice of Dr. Angelo D. Rainone, and Chiara Salon.

Cook County property records show that the building at 7642–7650 W. North Avenue is owned by 7646 Enterprises, Inc., a corporation Mr. Caporale created in November 2010 when he transferred the property into it shortly thereafter. Illinois Secretary of State filings list him as the corporation’s president and secretary, and Cook County tax records show that the property tax bill is mailed directly to him.

Given their immediate proximity, these businesses are positioned to benefit from the addition of publicly funded parking, an improvement that would enhance the value and marketability of the underlying commercial property.

On July 21, Mr. Caporale did not recuse himself. He participated in the discussion, pushed back on neighbors who questioned the return on investment and public necessity of the lot, and did not disclose during the hearing that he controls property that would foreseeably benefit from the decision. He then voted in favor of the project. This is not the first time. In 2022, Mr. Caporale also voted to approve the public parking lot directly behind his property.

In my view, this presents a clear conflict of interest. The decision uses public funds in a way that is likely to increase the value and utility of his nearby commercial property while shifting the negative impacts, like noise, lighting, traffic, and diminished residential character, onto neighboring homeowners. At minimum, the circumstances warranted Mr. Caporale’s disclosure and recusal from both discussion and voting.

This issue is not simply about one parking lot. It is about whether residents can trust that decisions involving public funds are being made without undisclosed financial interests.

If a commissioner can vote to spend public funds in ways that materially improve property he controls without publicly acknowledging that interest during deliberations, then the ethical guardrails in Elmwood Park are effectively nonexistent. That should concern every resident, regardless of their position on parking.

—Jack Bower

The Elmwood Park Advocate welcomes letters to the editor, especially if you read something from the newsletter and find yourself inspired to write a response.

Submissions may be sent to editor@elmwoodparkadvocate.org. After confirming that you are a resident or have some link to the village, the newsletter will consider and prepare your submission for publication.

By Sara Lindsay, Deputy Editor

One in five people in Illinois experience mental illness every year, according to the Illinois chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

On February 20, residents gathered at the Elmwood Park Public Library for an education session with State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, who represents part of Elmwood Park. She co-sponsored House Bill 1085, which improves access to mental health care in Illinois and chairs the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee.

The event was organized by Elmwood Park Neighbors United and facilitated by Silvia Rogel. LaPointe described the legislation that was signed into law on December 15 as the most significant bill of her six and a half years in office.

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LaPointe outlined a problem that many families know firsthand. Even though about 93 percent of Illinois residents technically have health insurance, actually finding a therapist who accepts that insurance can be extremely difficult.

Behavioral health providers, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists are often paid far less by insurance companies than physical health providers. On top of that, they deal with heavier paperwork and administrative requirements. Many providers simply stop taking insurance.

For patients, that often means paying out of pocket. Sessions that once might have been accessible on a sliding scale often cost roughly $200 to $400 per visit in private practice, which can make regular care unaffordable for insured households.

The new law requires insurance companies to reimburse behavioral health providers at rates closer to physical health care services. The idea is if providers are paid fairly more of them will stay in-network and patients can actually use the insurance they already pay for. LaPointe emphasized the bill does not increase state spending. Instead, it shifts responsibility to private insurers.

The legislation also tries to cut some of the red tape that discourages providers from participating. It limits excessive documentation requirements for hour-long therapy sessions, shortens credentialing wait times to no more than sixty days, allows providers to bill for multiple services in one day, and permits supervised clinicians to bill under licensed oversight. She says these changes are meant to make staying in-network financially realistic for providers and expand the behavioral health workforce.

Residents asked whether higher reimbursement rates might eventually raise insurance premiums. LaPointe acknowledged the concern but said behavioral health care represents a relatively small share of overall health care spending and that early mental health treatment can prevent more serious and expensive medical issues later.

The conversation also turned to possible federal Medicaid changes expected in 2027, including work requirement reporting and twice-a-year eligibility paperwork for some adults aged 19 to 64. LaPointe warned that some people could lose coverage not because they are ineligible, but because they miss paperwork deadlines or struggle to understand the new reporting process.

As the discussion wrapped up, Rogel emphasized that “mental health struggles are far more common than many people assume.” LaPointe agreed and added that expanding access to care also means reducing the stigma and making it easier for families to talk openly about anxiety, depression, and treatment.

In Leyden Township, residents can access the Living Room, a walk-in crisis support center staffed by mental health professionals where people can speak with counselors, de-escalate situations, and connect to services without having to involve police.

Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, to reach trained counselors 24 hours a day.

Join us in the Ferrentino Room of the Elmwood Park Public Library for an Oscars event at 3 pm on Saturday, March 14.

One day before the 98th Academy Awards, local film critic Don Shanahan and Elmwood Park Advocate editor Kevin Gosztola will discuss the Oscar nominees—who will win, and who should win.

Don and Kevin will talk a little bit about some of the movies from last year that were overlooked by Academy voters. Don will also share a few of his favorite Oscar-winning films and performances from past Hollywood eras.

Refreshments will be served, and there will be giveaway prizes from the “Free Blockbuster” of Elmwood Park that is managed by Don.

The event is co-hosted by the Illinois Indie Critics and the Elmwood Park Advocate. (RSVP here.)

Note: The Elmwood Park Public Library has permitted resident-led groups to use meeting spaces as a community service. The Library neither sponsors nor endorses this event, the speakers, or the organizations involved

By Kevin Gosztola, Editor

These days fewer and fewer Cook County judicial races are contested, and if a judge is elected to an open seat, they do not have to campaign against a challenger in the next general election. Instead, judges run for “retention,” and it is rare for a judge to lose their seat.

Which is why voters in the 11th judicial subcircuit have an important and unique opportunity. Residents in the subcircuit actually have a choice between two Democratic candidates in the March 17 primary. (Early voting begins on March 2.)

The 11th judicial subcircuit covers Edison Park, Elmwood Park, Galewood, Harwood Heights, Oak Park, and Rosemont.

John Carrozza is a 46-year resident of Elmwood Park. For over 20 years, he has worked as a criminal defense attorney. His law office is in River Grove. Jarrett Knox has lived in Oak Park for over 15 years. He is a Cook County assistant state’s attorney in the child protection division.

Both Carrozza and Knox have financed a sizable portion of their campaigns with their own money. Carrozza and his law firm donated a total of $21,000 to his campaign committee. Knox donated a little more than $11,500 to his campaign committee.

Knox has obtained more endorsements than Carrozza, and the endorsements include Franklin Park Mayor and Leyden Township Democratic Committeeman Barrett Pedersen, State Senate President Don Harmon, Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, the Leyden Township Democratic Party, and the Democratic slating committee for the 11th judicial subcircuit.

Three Chicago aldermen, Jim Gardiner, Anthony Napolitano, and Nick Sposato, endorsed Carrozza, as well as Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano endorsed Carrozza. All four endorsements are noteworthy in a Democratic race, given the fact that Gardiner, Napolitano, Sposato, and Saviano each have histories as Republicans.

Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2 endorsed Carrozza while Plumbers Local 130 endorsed Knox.

The Elmwood Park Advocate sat down with Carrozza and Knox and interviewed them ahead of the primary.

Carrozza told the Elmwood Park Advocate that he had thought about running for an open judge position for a “long time,” but what pushed him to make the decision was the fact that he felt his “reach could be a lot larger to people” if he was “behind the bench as opposed to being behind this desk.”

He believes that he is the candidate voters should choose because his business has been in the subcircuit for the last 18 years—and he has a “very strong client base.”

“I have a really unique perspective. People come in these doors at some of the worst points of their lives,” Carrozza declared. “And even in a civil setting, [they say] I’ve never been sued before, and they don’t know what to do.” Carrozza contends that he has developed the temperament necessary to help them.

Similarly, Knox shared his experience working on child abuse and neglect cases. “People are coming to court at literally the worst moments of their lives. Kids have been removed from their home.

“Something really awful has happened, and people really feel like I’m losing my family,” Knox added. “It makes a huge difference to have a judge and a judiciary that is cognizant of that.”

Knox and his wife have been licensed foster parents with the Hephzibah Children’s Association in Oak Park for more than 15 years. This has taught Knox to appreciate the “vulnerable human moment that’s happening in court,” whether that be in divorce cases, criminal cases, bankruptcy cases, or other cases where individuals deserve to be treated with “dignity and respect.”

According to Knox, his career as an attorney began in the “legal aid world” providing “free legal services for people who needed representation.” This work involved domestic violence survivors or seeking orders of protection for domestic violence survivors.

Carrozza pursued a career in criminal defense because this was the “arena” that would allow him to maximize his time in the courtroom. “That is a lost art, being able to put a trial on, being able to be in front of people to advocate for your clients, advocate for people who maybe don’t have funds,” and who “really, really, need the help.”

Asked about expanding remote access to hearings for defendants, Carrozza said Zoom is underutilized in a lot of courts.

“People have a hard enough time when they get in the system to get to and from court. Public transportation is not easy. They’re already behind the 8-ball a lot of times with regard to their job. Now you’ve got to take off work,” Carrozza argued. “Child care sometimes is hard. Now you’re expecting these people especially if they have multiple court appearances.”

Carrozza continued, “A lot of my clients they don’t have a license. They can’t drive. There are a lot of instances in which I drive them to and from court cause otherwise they’re not going to appear or they might not be able to appear.”

On the issue of access to the justice system in Cook County, Knox recalled working with families during the COVID-19 pandemic who were able to participate remotely in court proceedings. He sees remote access as crucial, too.

Knox said a child could have several parents, or there may be many persons in a sibling group’s family. “And those people can be in many different places. Or incarcerated or incarcerated out of state, or just living out of state. Or employed in a way that doesn’t lend to them being able to take time off work to come to court,” Knox added.

“So for people to be able to participate out of state, or not have to take a whole day off of work, is huge.”

In September 2023, the Pretrial Fairness Act went into effect. No longer is someone jailed before trial solely because they cannot afford to pay their bond.

Knox singled out the passage of this law as one of many “important strides” that Cook County has made in “addressing the ways our legal system has unfairly advantaged those with money and resources.”

“Making people’s incarceration status contingent upon their income or ability to pay is problematic,” Knox told the Elmwood Park Advocate.

Carrozza largely agrees with Knox, however, he insisted that judges no longer have enough discretion to make decisions about the conditions for release. “You only have two options now—detain or not detain. Where before I would have been able to look at the entire scope of that person, whether that be a background, whether they have a job, whether they have children, whether they can afford a bond, and be able to make an informed decision.”

According to the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan government research organization committed to public policy research on Chicago and Illinois, judges still have the ability to set conditions of release if a defendant is not detained. They may “consider the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the weight of the evidence against the defendant, the defendant’s history and characteristics and the risks that would be posed by the defendant’s release.”

Both Carrozza and Knox agreed that they should be mindful of donations accepted by their campaign committees in order to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Carrozza has raised around twice as much money as Knox. Gerard Ventures, a property management company, provided a $14,000 loan to Carrozza. Advantage Futures, a futures trading merchant in Chicago, donated $3,000. Drill Rod & Tool Steels, Inc. donated $2,000. The Illinois Municipal Police Association donated $1,000.

Multiple individuals donated $1,000 or more to Knox’s campaign committee, but none of those donations have come from any companies or associations.

One of the few criticisms of Carrozza appeared in a candidate profile compiled by Injustice Watch, a Chicago-based nonprofit journalism organization that promotes equality and justice in the court system. The profile informed potential voters that he is a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, which is a “nearly 150-year-old, male-only Catholic fraternity and service organization whose leaders have historically opposed abortion rights and same-sex marriage.”

Carrozza does not oppose same-sex marriage, but apparently, he is opposed to abortion on “religious grounds.” He said, “I do truly believe that my beliefs—whatever they may be—would not come into play with regards to any type of rulings.”

Asked by the Elmwood Park Advocate about this criticism, Carrozza declined to comment on the Knights’ history of influence in United States politics. He insisted that he is only involved in the organization to help with the “food pantry, which feeds somewhere in the range of 100 families a month.”

Carrozza also chairs an annual “Tootsie Roll Drive” that is the third weekend of September. Funds raised go to “children and adults with intellectual disabilities.”

Knox is endorsed by Personal PAC, an organization committed to defending abortion rights and access in Illinois. He said, “There are so many things that we consider fundamental rights that have hung in the balance,” and in Illinois, “If you look at the case law where the [state] supreme court found that a woman’s right to abortion access is tied up in the due process clause, a lot of that is because the U.S. Supreme Court found that a woman’s privacy rights are in the due process clause.”

The U.S. Supreme Court no longer recognizes a woman’s right to choose, and so Knox acknowledged that a circuit court judge could be asked to decide a case that involved the “fundamental right” to reproductive healthcare.

Anyone driving around Elmwood Park will see numerous signs for Carrozza. He attributes the success of his voter outreach to the fact that he spends “countless hours” each day walking and meeting as many people as possible.

“Most of my day is spent running the business, my law office, and then come second half of the day, [I’m] out knocking doors, meeting as many people as I can, and then honestly [I’m] back here at my law office working through most of the night to get prepared for the next day.”

While Knox has been in the courtroom for child abuse and domestic violence cases, he’s only handled one criminal case that involved a misdemeanor. Carrozza strongly believes that voters should choose his 20 years of experience over Knox’s lack of experience with criminal cases.

“My office is littered with case after case after case, and we handle everything from minor traffic stuff all the way up to Class X felonies,” Carrozza declared.

“I think that gives me a really big leg up,” Carrozza continued. “I am not going to be a person who needs to have any on the job training. I will be ready day one to be behind the bench.”

Finally, the Elmwood Park Advocate asked Carrozza and Knox to comment on the “dwindling competition in Cook County judicial primary races.”

Knox did not fault anyone for not stepping forward to run for office. “Something needs to change. I do think that it is important that voters are given a choice, and that voters have some say in this [race] in a way that they meaningfully don’t in many of these races.”

“These used to be always contested,” Carrozza said. But now, “People are dissuaded if they’re not backed by the [Democratic Party]. Money is always an issue.” Also, “No one wants to be attacked either, and I think that is a big turn off for people.”

Turnout is often pretty low in primary elections during a midterm year. But if 2026 is a repeat of 2022, voters who turn out will not neglect the judicial race between Carrozza and Knox.

The following is a statement from Elmwood Park Advocate Editor Kevin Gosztola that was read as part of public comment during the Elmwood Park Community Unit School District 401’s Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, February 18.

I’m here tonight because on January 27 I learned that District 401 destroyed its archive of board meeting videos. The District’s attorney Ryan Gillespie confirmed the destruction in correspondence with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office of the Public Access Counselor.

The newsletter had submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for a video of a September 2024 board meeting. While our FOIA request was apparently submitted after the destruction, the disposal prevented the newsletter from obtaining accurate information and undermined the District’s public relations program which is supposed to build trust.

Worse, Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier, Board President Frank Parisi, Board Vice President Peter Volpe, and the school board seemingly engaged in an effort to deceive the public by not being upfront about the destruction.

On November 19, the Superintendent said: “We’re going to continue to livestream and record the regular board meetings. The recorded meetings will be available for viewing until the next regular board meeting.” Not a word was said about destroying videos.

Gillespie asserted that the District retains minutes from past meetings so it does not have to maintain duplicate records. His argument is that minutes are duplicates of videos. But that’s like saying cliff notes are duplicates of books. Or that the synopsis of a film is a duplicate of the film itself.

May I suggest finding a better attorney? Because a call to the Illinois State Archives quickly proved that this is utter nonsense.

Upon information and belief, the Superintendent did not follow the law or regulations when the board meeting videos were destroyed. The Superintendent violated the Illinois Local Records Act. The records retention schedule that the newsletter obtained through a FOIA request did not include video recordings. According to the Illinois State Archives, the District had to request approval for the destruction. Unless the Superintendent is hiding records from the newsletter and public, this approval was not sought.

No one has been arrested and charged with a crime. Improper records destruction is simply not considered that kind of an offense. So there’s no need for the District to worry about the State’s Attorney investigating and holding anyone accountable.

Unlike the Village of Elmwood Park and the Elmwood Park Public Library, the Superintendent has tried to frustrate the newsletter’s ability to obtain public records multiple times. The Superintendent could learn something from the professionalism of Village Clerk Gina Pesko. (Plus, as far as I know, the Village is not destroying public records because they’re afraid of too much transparency. They have Village Board meeting videos that go all the way back to June 2012.)

While the Superintendent pretends the District did nothing wrong, the Elmwood Park Advocate will repost videos of Board meetings and guarantee that parents, guardians, and students have access to videos if they ever wish to reference a past meeting. We will do our part to make up for this secrecy.

On November 19, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Leah Gauthier announced that the school district would no longer maintain a public archive of board meetings. Each regular board meeting video will only be available to the public until the next regular board meeting. (It was later uncovered by the Elmwood Park Advocate that the district destroyed this entire archive of public records.)

As long as this is the school district’s policy, the Elmwood Park Advocate will republish regular board meeting videos to ensure that this information remains accessible to community residents.

Board meeting videos are posted without edits, additions, or anything removed. Aside from this voice over, this is the public record as it was created by the school district.

On Saturday, March 7 at 3 p.m., the Elmwood Park Advocate will kick off a second year of monthly “Community Conversations” at the Elmwood Park Public Library.

The newsletter held six “Community Conversations” in the Ferrentino Room in 2025. Residents gathered to discuss traffic safety, making the village more resilient to extreme weather, immigration, ICE operations in surrounding communities, how the village has changed in recent decades, and where residents get their local news.

To begin this year’s series, we invite you to join the Elmwood Park Advocate for a discussion on government transparency in Elmwood Park.

The newsletter will also educate residents on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and present some of the work that we have been doing to obtain public records.

What are some of the obstacles to uncovering information? How responsive is the library, school district, and village when it comes to records requests?

Invite your family, friends, or neighbors, and we’ll see you at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the Ferrentino Meeting Room.

Though it is not taking place during “Sunshine Week,” the event will be tied to the annual national event, which is aimed at educating “the public, journalists, lawmakers, and others on the right to know in U.S. states and federal government.”

The Elmwood Park Advocate has submitted dozens of records requests since June. At the moment, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office of the Public Access Counselor (PAC) is reviewing two requests that we believe were improperly denied.

In January, the newsletter successfully used the PAC to convince the village to reconsider its decision to deny us records on the use of license plate reader cameras.

The school district destroyed an entire video archive of school board meeting videos that were once available on YouTube. That was learned after we submitted a FOIA request.

Last year’s “Community Conversations” were well attended. They offered us a way to connect with residents and hear perspectives from a diverse range of residents. They transcended partisan divisions that often make dialogue in online spaces and provided the newsletter a way to ground our reporting and writing in what’s important to the community.

We will have coffee and bakery treats. See you on Saturday, March 7, at 3 p.m.

*Note: The Elmwood Park Public Library has permitted resident-led groups to use meeting spaces as a community service. The Library neither sponsors nor endorses this event, the speaker(s), or the organization.