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The Lake Forest Podcast

The Lake Forest Podcast

De: Pete Jansons
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Get to know Lake Forest Illinois by listening to conversations with its Residents, Business Owners, and City Government. Pull up a stool and witness where parody meets entertainment. Believe What you will as there are no fact checkers on this show. If you like what we do you can always buy us a beer https://www.patreon.com/LakeForestPodcastPete Jansons Ciencias Sociales
Episodios
  • They Packed the Room. Who Do You Believe? | Lake Forest Podcast

    They Packed the Room. Who Do You Believe? | Lake Forest Podcast
    Apr 18 2026

    🏛️ This week 40-50 people packed a Shields Township town hall and voted to strip the board of authority to sign a lease or buy property. Jeff Urso breaks down what actually happened — and why it matters for everyone in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Knollwood, and North Chicago.


    🔥 Plus — Pete's been getting messages about the fire department. We love our firefighters on this show — first responders have all the stones in the world. This isn't about them. It's about whether anyone will come on camera and stand behind what they're saying. Pete asked the question on air. Jeff pushes back. You decide.


    🗺️ AND — the City of Lake Forest just launched a brand new Crime Transparency Portal. Pete asks the obvious question: how do we get a crime map but still can't get a scoring sheet for a beach hot dog wagon?


    See the Lake Forest Crime Map here:

    https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/bcd8db896c4c4945b02bffaf05ce1bcf


    🎵 This episode inspired our album "Got the Stones" — Stream it now:

    https://open.spotify.com/album/46mRBGfHkz1J3uAF24nn9n?si=e60yeupvQfigycsCUmgE6A


    🎤 Lead single "Got the Stones" on Spotify:

    https://open.spotify.com/track/1oQOAAkAzV1rW10m34EqaL?si=00e6afab9ce747ad

    🔥 In this episode:

    🏛️ SHIELDS TOWNSHIP AMBUSH — 40 to 50 people pack the room, vote to strip the board of authority to sign a lease

    🎯 SOFT TARGET — Jeff Urso explains why they go after Shields instead of Lake Forest

    📝 LEASE EXPIRES — The two-year clock starts now, and nobody has authority to renew it

    🎙️ WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? — Pete's been getting messages about the fire department. Will anyone come on camera?

    🚑 STAFFING CRISIS — LFFD contracts with Lake Bluff, Knollwood, plus the Mavis box cover system

    🗺️ CRIME MAP LAUNCHES — Lake Forest finally shows the dots, still won't show the beach vendor scorecard

    🌭 HOT DOG WAGON — How do we get a crime map but still can't get a scoring sheet?

    🕊️ MARILYN LOUISE CRICHE — 99 years old, Sheridan, Deer Path, Gorton. Hell of a run.

    🏋️ GYM TALK — Jeff dropped 80 pounds, Pete asks about etiquette and spotting

    👋 WELCOME BACK — New viewer scripts recorded, got a tip? pete@lakeforestpodcast.com


    .

    ⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

    🏋️ 0:32 Jeff is back at the gym + weight loss journey

    📋 7:47 FOIA update + city attorney delay tactics

    🕊️ 10:37 In memoriam: Marilyn Louise Criche

    🎙️ 13:15 Who do you believe? Messages about the fire department

    🚒 18:55 LFFD staffing crisis, Lake Bluff ambulance contracts, Mavis box

    🗺️ 36:18 Lake Forest Crime Transparency Portal launches

    🌭 37:33 Why can we get a crime map but not the beach scorecard?

    🏛️ 47:05 Shields Township showdown — 40-50 people pack the room

    🎯 49:25 Jeff explains who's behind it and why

    📝 53:13 The lease expires in 2 years and now nobody can sign it

    👋 59:00 New viewer and returning viewer welcome

    🎙️ 1:00:11 Jeff and Skoo close it out


    .

    🎙️ The Lake Forest Podcast drops every Saturday at 4:00 AM CST

    📧 Got a tip? pete@lakeforestpodcast.com

    📺 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@lakeforestpodcast

    🌐 lakeforestpodcast.com

    🎙️ Patreon: patreon.com/lakeforestpodcast

    #LakeForestPodcast #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #ShieldsTownship #GotTheStones #LakeCountyIL #60045 #FOIA #LocalGovernment #Transparency #SmallTownPolitics #TownshipMeeting #LakeForestNews #NorthShoreChicago #PeteJansons
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    1 h y 4 m
  • Why Won't They Show the Score? + The Rec Board + Small Town Politics Album | Lake Forest Podcast

    Why Won't They Show the Score? + The Rec Board + Small Town Politics Album | Lake Forest Podcast
    Apr 11 2026
    🎙️ Small town politics hit different this week. The city of Lake Forest picked a beach vendor using a scoring sheet — and refuses to show anyone the numbers. Pete's been filing FOIA requests. They keep saying no. Meanwhile the Rec Board is gone, replaced by 3 aldermen, and nobody had a public meeting about it..⚖️ FOIA FIGHT — Pete filed for the Forest Park Beach concession vendor scorecard. The city denied it under §7(1)(f). Pete escalated to the Illinois Public Access Counselor. We're in a 60-day window. If it was above board, why are you hiding the score?.🏛️ THE REC BOARD IS GONE — Mayor Randy Tack dissolved it. Replaced by three aldermen headed by Alderman Powers meeting with staff behind closed doors. If the Rec Board still existed, this beach vendor decision would have been a public meeting. Period..🎵 This episode inspired our album "Small Town Politics" — Stream it now: https://open.spotify.com/album/3dusSG....🎸 Lead single "Small Town Politics" on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/429vFB....🔥 In this episode:🏖️ FOIA FIGHT — The city picked a beach vendor using a secret scoring sheet and won't show anyone how the scores broke down🏛️ REC BOARD DISSOLVED — Randy Tack got rid of it. Now 3 aldermen make decisions that used to be public⚖️ PRESUMPTION BACKWARDS — Philippe Melin breaks down why government defaults to secrecy instead of transparency😂 SKITTLES LADY — Jeff Urso's story about a FOIA abuser who cost a township $131,276.18🤌 GOODFELLAS — What abusive FOIA turns government officials into🍺 HAT TRICKS — Jeff Urso opening an Irish pub that loves hockey in Mundelein at the old Teddy O's🎓 SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES — Why is a Propel $4.75 at the high school?🏖️ NORTH AVENUE BEACH — Why can't Lake Forest dream bigger for its lakefront?🎶 SMALL TOWN POLITICS — The album drops same day as this episode. Zing zing zing..🔗 Pete's reference from the Kate McGrath episode that started it all: • "Why Do We Have To Leave?" Kate McGrath Ta... .⏰ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Supporter messages2:18 First things first — the Two Jesuses clarification5:24 Pete's apology to the family8:47 Jeff Urso is back — wife has lymphoma, slow growth, managing9:21 The Skittles Lady — FOIA abuse costs a township $131K10:08 Jeff: "That's what FOIA is meant for"11:44 Philippe: Government has the presumption of privacy backwards13:06 Pete: Am I the bad guy for asking?15:37 Skoo: They should have gone to Randy Tack — he got rid of the Rec Board15:46 Philippe: A culture of transparency leads to better government25:12 Give me the score and I'll move on31:00 Goodfellas — what abusive FOIA turns officials into34:19 Why was the Rec Board dissolved?35:47 If the Rec Board existed, this would have been a public meeting47:40 $4.75 for a Propel at the high school — who's getting the markup?49:37 Why can't Lake Forest look like North Avenue Beach?51:57 Jeff Urso opening Hat Tricks Irish pub in Mundelein1:00:19 Small Town Politics — album closes the show.🎵 Music: "Small Town Politics" by Peter Jansons📧 pete@lakeforestpodcast.com🌐 lakeforestpodcast.com🤝 patreon.com/lakeforestpodcast.#LakeForestPodcast #PeteJansons #JeffUrso #LakeForestIL #LakeBluffIL #60045 #LakeCounty #ForestParkBeach #FOIA #LakeForestPolitics #SmallTownPolitics #Transparency #RecBoard #LakeForestCaucus
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    1 h y 4 m
  • How did Left Bank get aced out? 🔒

    How did Left Bank get aced out? 🔒
    Apr 4 2026

    The city said the Forest Park Beach vendor selection was above board. Then they refused to show the scoring sheet they used to pick the winner. Left Bank was turned down in the past for not offering enough — now they offer plenty. So how did they get aced out?

    We've been filing FOIA requests. The city keeps saying no. Watch the full episode and tell us what you think.

    🎥 https://youtu.be/du9QiiWLCgQ

    #LakeForestPodcast #LakeForestIL #ForestParkBeach #FOIA
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    1 m
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