Prior to the June 5 Primary Election, we suggested that "it would be hard to overstate the importance" of the Democratic Primary contest in Englewood’s Second Ward between incumbent Councilwoman (and City Council President) Charlotte Bennett Schoen and her challenger, Marvin Anhalt. Schoen’s decisive victory in that contest has indeed immense significance, in that it eliminates any uncertainty over the control of the City government by reform Democrats. After four successive June primary wins, the party faction opposed to control by County Democratic boss Joseph Ferriero has now solidified a 4-1 majority on the City Council, sufficient to override any veto by Ferriero ally Mayor Michael Wildes. But where do we go from here?

The Council’s top priority must be to hire and install a new City Manager. The City government is operating at a satisfactory level at present with an interim manager in place while the search for a new permanent manager proceeds. But major new initiatives will involve the commitment of the new manager and are thus likely to await his/her completing a period of orientation. When the time comes, this newsletter would like to see the City leadership signal a new era by declaring a moratorium on all further municipally-involved development projects until a thorough evaluation has been made of those already under way. This evaluation should consider both planning and financial factors, and it should have both expert and public input.

Considering all the construction already under way or approved, from the massive Flatrock Square development, to the John Grieco School, to the new firehouse, such a moratorium might seem like shutting the barn door after the horse is stolen. But it would signal to the public that their elected officials are taking back control of their City. There is a widespread sense among our citizens that too much control has been ceded to the developers and their political allies.