Keeping the lights off

Electric rates will be jumping forty percent at the start of 2007. This comes after the power companies held a reverse auction to set the prices across the state. Some areas will see a fifty-six percent increase.

This comes as a nine-year freeze on electric rates imposed by the Illinois State Legislature expires. The freeze was put into place in hopes to attract competition after electric rates were deregulated. I’m not sure how freezing rates would attract competition, but nine years without an increase sure was nice on my checkbook.

But freezing rates for such a long time is only asking for disaster. Based on inflation alone, the rates should have increased by twenty-five percent. And energy prices have defiantly increased faster than the rate of inflation. Lawmakers are proposing to extend the freeze another three years. Again, it is nice for my checkbook, but not solving the problem. If this passes, look for an even larger increase in three years.

So where does a forty percent increase put us with the rest of the nation? According to my power bill, I pay 8.18 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 9.21 cents and the Illinois average is 7.49 cents. So we are not in a bad place before the increase.

But the forty percent increase will make the rate 11.45 cents per kilowatt-hour. That will put Mattoon’s rates equal with Vermont’s, which has the tenth highest rates in the nation.

Artificially keeping rates low is only postponing the problem. Some say it can lead to an energy meltdown of California proportions. And when the freeze is over, the rates will increase even more. But without competition, power companies are able to charge what they want.

The competition deregulation was supposed to bring has never materialized. Since deregulation, Ameren has bought three smaller electric companies, including CIPS, widening their monopoly. But they also have invested $1.4 billion in infrastructure upgrades without resetting rates to reflect their investment.

This should be a hard lesson to the government, the power companies, and the consumers. You have to let the market set the price. And you have to have competition to keep the prices fair. We have neither. The only way we can keep our electric bill down is to keep the lights off.

Paying attention to etiquette

I was asked this week how much attention I pay to etiquette. On a scale of one thru ten, I figured I was around an eight. I try not to use my phone in public. I open the door for others. I try to call people sir or ma’am. So I thought I was doing pretty good. Others felt the same as I, giving themselves sevens or nines.

My friend immediately called foul. He gave himself a three and he seems to be one of the most proper of the group. So reevaluating and doing some research, I wondered if maybe I overrated myself. But etiquette has an ever-changing definition. What was considered poor etiquette or rude in the past may now be considered the norm.

After a little research, I found what proper restaurant etiquette entails. There is a lot more to know than which fork to use with what dish.

When you're on a date, and the table has more than two chairs your lady sits on your left. Ladies, the gentleman should be on your right. If the table is two chairs, gentlemen, you give the lady the seat facing into the dining room.

When you're eating at a restaurant and you're finished with your meal you're supposed to put your fork and knife together at the 9 o'clock position. Crossing your silverware in the X position means that the waiter should not touch your plate because you haven't finished; hence the "X". It's what you're supposed to do when you pause to have a conversation or when you get up to use the restroom.

The 9 o'clock position also serves a practical purpose, when your waiter picks up the plate he or she can lift the plate and hold both pieces of silverware with his/her thumb. It keeps the stuff from sliding off the plate and falling on the floor or in your lap. When you get up from the table your napkin goes on your chair. Attentive wait staff should refold your napkin and put it back on the table for you. Putting your napkin on the table means that you don't plan on returning aka - "throwing in the towel"Never make a big deal of excusing yourself. Discreetly tell the person sitting next to you and go about your business. Also, dinner starts when the senior person/host picks up their napkin and finishes when the senior person gets up.

I found these guidelines interesting. I wonder to what degree they are followed. I certainly was unaware of many of them. But it all varies on the type and location of the place you visit. Some cultures find it rude to eat with your left hand.

I don’t think many are whispering about someone facing the dining room when their date should, or many servers complaining about silverware not being placed at nine o’clock. But at one time, in some place, this was expected. Today, we are doing good not to have to listen to someone else’s phone conversation over our meal.

It’s crime rate time again

Every year, the Illinois State Police release the crime rates for every police agency in the state. The report generates a crime rate based on the number of crimes per 100,000 people. This year, the state crime rate fell 3.1 percent from 3844.5 to 3727 crimes per 100,000 people.

While the overall state enjoyed a drop in the crime rate, Coles County’s crime rate saw an increase in 2005, from 2791 to 3004. Most of the increase came under burglary and theft with 20 percent and 13 percent increases respectively.

Surrounding counties were mostly lower in their rates. Douglas County to the north saw a 9.2 percent decrease with an overall crime rate of 1299. Moultrie County decreased 20.2 percent to 1062. The crime rate in Shelby County was at 967, dropping 7.8 percent. Cumberland County climbed 9.1 percent to 1518. Clark was down 19.4 percent and Edgar down 17.9 percent to 1366 and 2226 respectively.

What other local media doesn’t report are the crime rates in the individual cities within Coles County. The rate in Charleston spiked up 28 percent in while Mattoon’s rose 4.5 percent. While this looks bad for Charleston, their overall rate is much lower than Mattoon’s. The crime rate for Charleston is 2900 crimes per 100,000 persons; Mattoon’s is 3948.

For those of you keeping score, you will notice the rate in Mattoon is higher than the state average. “Low Crime Rate” is listed as one of Coles County’s “Top Selling Point” by community leaders. How is “low” defined? Below average?

If Coles County wants to keep this selling point, they had better crack down on the growing crime problem. Rates were up 7 of the last 10 years in Mattoon. And now they have spiked in Charleston.

I’m not sure why the rates are climbing. Some say the increase began with when the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development took over management of the Chicago Housing Authority and began demolishing vacant buildings in Cabrini Extension. This displaced several thousand people, some of which moved here.

Others contribute the rise with the increased unemployment rate of the county. Coles County has lost over 800 jobs in the last six years. With so many people sitting around with nothing to do, crime rates are likely to rise.

No doubt, the high crime rate is related to the drug problem that plagues the county. All the more reason to fight for funding for the East Central Illinois Drug Task Force. The federal grant used to fund the task force has been slashed in the past years.

Regardless of the cause, it is time to faind a solution. Coles County is in danger of losing its “Low Crime Rate” status. Employment status could be looking up in the near future. And politicians are fighting to restore funding to the Byrne Justice Grant, which funds the task force. As things turn around in the area, so should the crime rate. But we need to fight the problem on all fronts and be vigilant with those responsible for the increasing rates.

Street Level turns 100

That’s right, this is the 100th edition of Street Level. When I started almost 2 years ago, I had no idea it would last this long. I guess I’ve had a lot to say.

While my campaign started as one of historic preservation, it has become more of quality of life. Historic preservation is an important component, but there are many more aspects then simply saving buildings.

Almost everything a community does can affect quality of life issues. Sometimes even the smallest variations can change how you view things. A lot of times you don’t even realize what is different, you simply know things are not the same.

So since this is awards season, in the spirit of the Oscars, I’d like to thank a few people that helped Street Level make it to 100.

I’d like to thank John Broux and the Coles County Leader for giving me a forum to air out my views.

I’d like to thank the Mattoon City Council for making it so easy to come up with topics. Some believe I oppose things simply because they propose them, but that really is not the case. I just have different views on a lot of the issues they take on. Downtown redevelopment, tree and sign ordinance, green space, and TIF districts to name a few.

I’d like to thank the boards at the YMCA and Sarah Bush for their contributions to Street Level. I’d like to thank the members of the Mattoon School Board, and the Coles County Board for the same reasons.

I’d like to thank the City staff for answering my questions even though they know I’m going to slam them in my next column. They are for the most part, good people and know their decisions will draw some criticism. But they have thick skin and realize that reasonable people can reasonably disagree.

Let’s not forget the City of Charleston, who has provided some topics over the last couple years as well. The hiring of the new police chief, the passing of a historic preservation ordinance, and University Village have all provided topics for Street Level.

I’d like to thank Governor Blagojevich for making lousy decisions that make for easy topics when the local crowd falls short.

I’d like to thank my wife for proofing my columns and throwing out topics when writer’s block hits. And my mom for saving every article I’ve written.

Most of all, I’d like to thank you, my readers for putting up with me through 100 pieces. Here’s to 100 more.