For Orland Park residents who delivered public comments at Tuesday’s Village Board meeting, to see trustees vote in support of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war felt healing and as if they were finally being heard.
“Under the previous administration, our voices were dismissed, but we organized, we stood together and in record numbers, we turned out to vote,” said Yousef Zegar, a lifelong resident of Orland Park. “We welcome this administration’s willingness to act.”
Zegar presented a petition with 800 signatures more than a year ago to the board led by former Mayor Keith Pekau, calling for a ceasefire resolution.
As audience members stood, clapped and chanted their support, Pekau banged a gavel to regain order and eventually asked the police chief to clear the room before refusing to get involved in United States foreign policy.
Mayor Jim Dodge said Tuesday that for him, the ceasefire resolution that passed 5-1 was a way to support the community that includes one of the largest Palestinian and Arab-American populations in Cook County.
“You can see the grief, you can feel the pain, you hear the stories, and it opens you up to different perspectives,” Dodge said. “So that’s what this is, primarily.”
The resolution urges the U.S. government and international authorities to “support a just and lasting peace that ensures safety, freedom and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis,” including an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the region.
The board also called for the release of all hostages and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to “all affected civilians in Gaza.”
Copies of the resolution were directed to be sent to President Donald Trump as well as Illinois senators and U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, who represents Orland Park.
Grocery tax
The board also voted to join neighboring suburbs in creating a 1% municipal grocery tax to begin when a statewide tax expires on Jan. 1. Similar action was taken by neighboring communities Tinley Park, Homewood and Homer Glen.
The legislation states that Orland Park generates about $4.5 million annually from the grocery tax, which is important given its efforts to maintain essential services, meet growing infrastructure and operational costs, pay off debt and plan for long-term fiscal sustainability.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
