After reading BND article on Belleville residents' concerns about the misuse of TIF funds, I can only agree that TIF's original intent was to help blighted areas.

As a resident of Fairview Heights for 10 years, I have watched the current city leaders misuse TIF funds as well. The current administration gave $25,000 to the car wash to install four vacuums, an asphalt parking lot to a wealthy business owner who in no way needed TIF funds. Another TIF is established on Bunkum Road at Summit Springs subdivision, which is clearly not a blighted area. The homes in that subdivision sell for $150,000 and upwards.

While Fairview Heights leaders waste TIF funds, they continually ignore the west end/French Village area. Mayor Gail Mitchell, Alderwomen Pat Baeske and Sandy Baldwin and Alderman Josh Frawley believe the city stops at Bunkum Road.

The west end as been neglected for 40 years. The aforementioned politicians are only concerned with the mall and the Ruby Lane expansion. Frawley has been asked to get involved on the Grant School/ East St. Louis School District 189 effort and has refused to return residents' phone calls.

Frawley was obviously a bad choice for the residents of Ward 1. It is also apparent that Mitchell, Baldwin and Baeske have outlived their usefulness as leaders. The city deserves better than these four.

Kevin Sheridan

Fairview Heights