McLaughlin responds to public calls to open Police Center at Orland mall
Former Mayor Dan McLaughlin is proposing adding a satellite police station at the Orland Park Mall, the site of where many increased incidents of violence have taken place during the past few years. Although Mayor Pekau is playing down the violence, many residents expressed concerns that the violence is not being taken seriously. McLaughin also outlines overall plans to support small businesses that have felt abandoned by the Pekau administration
Dan McLaughlin shares his plan to support small businesses during Orland Park Chamber Town Hall
From continuing to develop our community in a way that attracts entrepreneurs to working with the business community to get things done, Dan McLaughlin laid out a comprehensive and thorough vision for the future of Orland Park.
On Wednesday, February 10, 2021, candidate for Orland Park mayor Dan McLaughlin joined the Orland Park Chamber of Commerce for a virtual town hall to address the challenges and concerns small businesses and the community of Orland Park are facing.
“I love Orland Park and spent a good part of my life working to make Orland Park a premier community — my wife jokingly says the village is our fifth child — so it is important for me to see Orland Park get back on track and help the village prepare for the future to reach its full potential,” Dan McLaughlin said.
“Everyone understands that a vibrant and growing business community is good for everyone, and as mayor I saw and worked through the good times and the bad times to get things done for our business community. While we are facing challenging times right now, I am excited by the possibilities and look forward to getting back to work on these ideas to move Orland Park forward.”
McLaughlin referenced his service as mayor throughout both good and bad economies, highlighting that no matter the issue, he would listen and work with the community to get things done. Whether expanding roads to support businesses and curb traffic, or working with the business community to adapt programs and processes to better aid them during the economic crisis, his past successes were always made with the business community and residents of Orland Park in mind.
Some of McLaughlin’s future plans to support business include:
- Filling the record number of vacancies by developing an economic plan to bring in new businesses
- Working with the Chamber and local business owners to develop a Recovery and Advancement Blueprint for the future
- Incentivizing start-ups, high-tech business incubators, and innovation districts to both attract new entrepreneurs as well as to encourage young people in Orland Park to invest in the community
- Attracting young families by developing a walkable mixed-use city center
- Continuing the now-stalled project to build up and develop the I-80 corridor
- Incentivizing shopping at Orland Square by ensuring it is both a safe and unique experience — including looking into removing the roof to make it an open-air center and instilling a satellite police station in the mall
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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