Joel for Wilmette

05/12/2021

Thank you for the opportunity.

As my term is now concluded, I wish to share how it has been an honor and privilege to serve the community as a Village Trustee. Besides how I have a passion for public policy and solving problems, the best part of serving was meeting and working with residents in the community.

I overcame tremendous odds to get elected four years ago, and I made the most of the opportunity. Not to belabor, but I would easily compare my one term’s productivity and success with any other Trustee’s two terms. In short, I served as best I could, and I ran for Village President as best I could.

The election did not go as I hoped. Obviously. But I am proud of my 100% positive, clean, transparent, and nonpartisan campaign. I am grateful for the support I received. Many of you were generous with time, energy, dollars, and goodwill.

When the campaign encountered unpleasant challenges, I remained resolved in part because of this support. It was wonderful to know so many had my back. My volunteers were not insiders, former elected officials, or lobbyists. My volunteers were regular people, and truly the best of the best!

My fondest memory of the campaign will be the grassroots effort in the final days. Among those teaming up to post door hangers were several sets of mothers and young daughters; a mother and her son (on his 6th birthday); a father and his two grown sons; a grandfather with his grandchildren; and several teams of spouses. I will always have the deepest admiration for this wonderful display of commitment to family and civic engagement.

In a campaign where big shot endorsements and backing may have won the day, these folks were my endorsers. That is how I roll. I would not have it any other way.

See you around!

Best,

Joel

03/26/2021

Gratitude. My previous post was about my attendance in the school of hard knocks that plagues current politics. Now I want to get to the good stuff. My gratitude starts with Allison, who has supported my public service from its inception. I would be nowhere without her and my contributions to the Village are only possible because of her.

I am also grateful to my many campaign volunteers who are helping me in this endeavor. Twenty residents helped me collect signatures to qualify for the ballot. Scores of residents are supporting my campaign financially, recognizing that outreach is different during a global pandemic. Hundreds of residents have posted lawn signs. My growing volunteer corps is now embarking on a massive Get Out the Vote effort, resolved to finish this campaign even stronger than how we started. New volunteers are welcome any time at joelforwilmette.com.

I am grateful – and humbled – by this support. It is about more than just lending time, energy, and dollars. It is about trust and confidence. My heart is full. Thank you, All of Wilmette!

03/21/2021

A Personal Message to the Community

I believe we should be encouraging people to run for office in our community by running clean campaigns and treating every candidate with personal respect. Unfortunately, this is not happening for me. It is deeply disappointing to me that supporters of my opponent are personally attacking my character via text and email campaigns.

I am working tirelessly to get my positive message out and, although I have learned over these past four years that I need to have thick skin while volunteering on the Village Board, I am not too proud to admit that it hurts to read false personal attacks on me. My family has not been off limits either.

Whether I win or lose, I want to be able to encourage any resident of our community to get involved in our local government. I want to be able to tell people that they will be treated with respect and have a fair shot. In the last two weeks of this campaign, I am asking the community to show me this is true.

As for my Leadership for All of Wilmette campaign for Village President, we will continue our 100% clean, positive, and non-partisan campaign that emphasizes leadership, track record, and vision for the future of our Village. I am confident that discerning, fair-minded voters will determine the outcome of this election.

03/19/2021

Is it so wrong to take a break from the campaign trail to watch some Illinois basketball?

03/19/2021

Wow, Larry H., my heart is full from your testimonial...thank you!

"As a new resident having moved from Winnetka to Wilmette a few years ago I along with other condo residents were concerned on a pending requirement negatively affecting our building. I wrote to all of the trustees and was very impressed with Joel’s personal response written discussing my concerns. Only one other trustee responded and he was one of the newest members. On another issue Joel canvassed residents for ideas about potential development in the Plaza del Lago. Again a letter specifically relating to my response was received. He also has sent informational e-mails at times. In all of our years in Winnetka and in five or six other states I have not found such dedicated interest and desire to truly relate to the citizens he serves. I enthusiastically support Joel Kurzman for Board President. HIs leadership will be real asset to Wilmette."

03/14/2021

Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Wilmette and the Wilmette Public Library for hosting yesterday's Voters Forum. I want to salute all the candidates running for all offices, both from yesterday and from next Saturday's events. We are volunteers looking to give back to the community. Our community would be diminished if capable residents did not step up to serve. Good luck to everyone in their pursuit of public service. All of Wilmette!

Joel Kurzman

03/09/2021

Just letting residents know I have been tracking the Glenview Fire Station #13 issue, working with Village of Wilmette staff to understand the potential implications for our residents and our Fire Department. For those interested, this meeting begins at 7:30 pm.

First, it is disappointing that our Village was not informed about this potential change. Here is other initial insight, as I continue to learn: Station 13 is mostly used for EMS (emergency medical services - ambulance). Despite proximity, I am told Wilmette rarely needs it for EMS. The main service Fire Station 13 provides to Wilmette is for structure fires. Supposedly, the next closest station will respond 40 second slower to the structure fires "furthest away" in the coverage area. I don't know where that "furthest away" area is, but I want to know the Wilmette implications. And back to EMS, I am asking about the potential implications to our golf course community, our Avoca West Elementary School, and West Wilmette neighborhoods. And what about the service levels our Fire Department provides to Glenview? Will Village of Glenview be paying more and Wilmette less into mutual aid agreements? Again, I am still learning, but I wanted to share some early thoughts.

I welcome thoughts and feedback at [email protected].

02/20/2021

Sustainability. You are invited to visit my sustainable yard in this video!

As Village President, I will be excited to eventually receive recommendations from the Environmental and Energy Commission. But our declining environment is too important a concern to wait around. During my four-year term as Village Trustee, I have been our leading voice for sustainable practices at Village Hall. As a result of my advocacy, all Village vehicles scheduled for replacement are cost-benefit evaluated with low or zero-emission options. An early success is how Wilmette will soon be among the first municipalities in the nation to deploy hybrid police vehicles in its fleet.

We all have a role to play to improve the sustainability of our community. It starts at home with the Kurzman family. I invite you to visit our garden, which was included on Go Green Wilmette’s annual Sustainable Yards Tour. While in-person visits were limited due to the pandemic, it’s nice that I can share our yard with you now. In the comments below, I share a web page where you can view the other sustainable yards on the tour. They are amazing and inspiring. They also remind us that warmer days are ahead!

To view Go Green Wilmette’s other informative videos, subscribe to GGW’s YouTube channel and/or visit GoGreenWilmette.org.All footage belongs to the Kurzman'...

02/07/2021

Taking on tough issues and addressing them together as a community. That’s Leadership for All of Wilmette. When I kicked off my public safety campaign across the street from the childhood home of long-time N.R.A. spokesperson Charlton Heston, my "starting place" was to offer two policy concepts for discussion: reducing the supply of unwanted guns and promoting safe storage of legally owned guns. While this was my “starting place,” I would be open to ideas coming from public discourse.

But addressing gun safety was just one leg of my three-pronged strategy to improve community safety. As Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I would also seek to address community well-being via the promotion of a strong social services network. Finally, we would also review our crisis response planning, such that the Village would be ready for the unspeakable. And that's what we did. Together.

We can solve our challenges if we work together and respect all points of view. Below is how we celebrated a small but important victory, which was just one of several key accomplishments resulting from this 18-month process. All of Wilmette!!!

Congratulations on YOUR win tonight! I may have led the process to successful enactment, but the idea for an ordinance to ban the concealed carry of fi****ms in establishments serving liquor came from YOU, the residents of Wilmette. The ordinance, which also includes public events such as Village Green concerts where liquor is permitted, reflects the sense and sensibilities of All of Wilmette - that the mix of alcohol and guns does not pass muster in our community. Period.

When I initiated the gun safety discussion as Chair of the Public Safety Committee (PSC) back in February, the committee clearly understood the limits under which local government could engage matters of limiting lawful gun ownership in the State of Illinois. There were no qualms about it, and no one sought to push the proverbial envelope. Instead, we kept a sharp focus on gun safety and the safety of our community.

I asked that the tone and content of the public conversation not be based on fear - instead, I asked that the tone and content be positive, constructive, and in the spirit of building and perfecting our community. And the resulting dialogue of attendees could not have been better.

We grappled with the reality that Wilmette and its North Shore neighbors are not immune to the many dimensions that make gun safety so challenging: su***de, mental health, domestic quarrels, teenage angst, curious kids, drug deals, and crimes of passion.

As most of you know, I also brought two policy concepts for gun safety to the table - reducing the supply of unwanted guns and preventing legally owned guns from falling into the wrong hands. I commend our Village staff and the Wilmette Police Department for their work to follow through on these priorities.

But the PSC was also receptive to new ideas from the community. This was to be a public conversation. We heard public comment from those wishing for more gun regulation, and we heard from a few folks doubting, if not opposing, more gun regulation. Everyone was heard. All views were appreciated.

It was the community - All of Wilmette - that spoke out and earned this victory tonight. I am proud to work on your behalf. Congratulations!

01/31/2021

Caring for our most vulnerable. That is Leadership for All of Wilmette. In recent weeks, I utilized my professional insight to ensure our skilled nursing facilities and long-term care buildings would not fall through the cracks regarding their COVID-19 vaccinations in Phase 1a. I helped Village staff contact the Illinois Department of Public Health to check on the pairing status of our buildings with Walgreens and CVS Health. I also offered recommendations for how our buildings could prepare, thereby speeding up the process with the paired pharmacy. And while these vaccinations are not happening fast enough, all our qualified buildings are now on track. I recognize there is so much more to do when it comes to vaccinating our community, especially now that we are in Phase 1b, but it had to start with not overlooking our most vulnerable. I will continue to support the Village’s ongoing efforts in any way I can. Speaking of, below please find the Village of Wilmette's resource page. All of Wilmette!!!

https://www.wilmette.com/2021/01/04/covid-19-vaccination-resources-updates/

01/31/2021

7 to 10 inches of snow have fallen in the Village with another 2 to 3 inches expected today. Public Works crews have been working since 5:00pm on Saturday night to salt and clear roadways, they will work continuously throughout the weekend. Plowing main (arterial) streets are the priority followed b...