🚀 THE ROAD TO 4,500 SIGNATURES — THE UNDERDOG STORY CONTINUES! 🚀

🚀 THE ROAD TO 4,500 SIGNATURES — THE UNDERDOG STORY CONTINUES! 🚀

What started as a simple effort to bring investment, jobs, safety improvements, and a new vision to an existing vacant property has become something much bigger.

The opposition brought the noise - but something unexpected happened…

They helped introduce this project to thousands of people who may have never heard about it otherwise.

Through countless conversations across community platforms, especially Nextdoor, we have had the opportunity to answer questions, address concerns, provide facts, and explain the actual details behind this proposal. What many thought would stop this project has instead created a stronger dialogue and allowed people to judge the project based on information rather than assumptions.

Since those conversations began, hundreds of residents who initially had questions or concerns have engaged with the facts, asked legitimate questions, and seen the viability of the project for themselves.

That is what transparency looks like.

Unfortunately, the process has not been without challenges. We have faced personal attacks, misinformation, and accusations that had nothing to do with the merits of the project. I was even falsely accused of inappropriate behavior toward women - a serious accusation that had absolutely no basis in fact.

On Nextdoor, rather than allowing open discussion, many of my posts were repeatedly reported for reasons that did not reflect violations of the platform rules. Eventually, my account was suspended indefinitely after being accused of being “AI” and not a real person because there was limited online information connected to my name.

The irony is that a simple identity verification process could have resolved that concern. But despite those setbacks, we continued forward.

Because this has never been about one person.

It has always been about the community, the opportunity, and the future of this corridor.

We also continue to stand by the facts presented during the zoning and SLUP process. The reconsideration request has highlighted several important issues that deserve a fair review:

✅ Distance concerns were not presented until more than three months into the process, creating a significant procedural concern.

✅ The classification of an existing educational use as a “school” versus a daycare/childcare operation requires proper review and factual verification.

✅ The application of the Unified 2050 Plan must be considered in context, especially when discussing an existing structure and an infill redevelopment project rather than new construction.

✅ No comparative survey has been presented to substantiate some of the conclusions being used against the project - only GIS mapping and drawn distance lines.

✅ Decisions should be based on objective planning standards, evidence, and the actual merits of the proposal - not simply opposition volume or preference.

And while the opposition continues to repeat the same arguments, the support continues to grow.

Our petition continues moving toward 4,500 signatures.

The opposition has slowed dramatically, while our conversations with residents continue expanding. Every question answered, every concern addressed, and every conversation held helps demonstrate what this project actually is.

We are not quitting.

We are not backing down.

We remain committed to the process, committed to transparency, and committed to proving this project deserves a fair evaluation.

We believe facts matter.
We believe the process matters.
And we believe that when logical minds review the full picture, the merits of this project will speak for themselves.

4,500 is only a few clicks away.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, questioned, challenged, shared, and engaged respectfully. This community conversation is exactly how progress happens.

#DeKalbForward #CommunityInvestment #FactsMatter #SouthDeKalbForward #4500Strong