Yesterday, McHenry County Blog reported Cary Mayor Mark Kownick’s successful efforts to obtain an affordable housing development subsidized by the Federal government under a program passed while Ronald Reagan was President.

Residents have to be employed or retired.

The presentation was made to the McHenry County Board’s Workforce Housing Workgroup, Co-Chaired by Democrat Lou Ness and Republican Pam Althoff.

With Althoff being in Africa, Ness led the meeting.

Kevin Burns, Geneva’s Mayor, spoke second.

The land on which Emma’s Landing was constructed was declared surplus by Geneva in 2005 and valued at $700,000.

Years later, in 2019, At thethe Tracy Foundation made a proposal to build workforce housing on the parcel.

In Executive Session, Burns revealed, all were in favor of donating the land.

When it got to the Council, it was a different matter.

In Public Comment, the Council was accused of wanting to “diversify” city housing.

“I see black and brown people,” one citizens said.

Another: “I guess we’ll have a better basketball team.”

The term “these people” was used.

“Are you ready for race riots?” another asked.

Prior to the presentation of the development, Burns advised his Council to remain silent.

They pretty much did.

The rumor mill had Burns and the woman running the Burton Foundation were having an affair and that he would be given a $100,000 a year salary by the Foundation.

The Mayor’s high school Homecoming date stopped talking to him.

When the name of the development became public–Emma’s Landing–the charge was that it was named after Burns’ daughter. He said he was completely surprised.

[Kane County Connects reports it is named after “Emma Miles, the namesake of the development.  Her father, a longtime Geneva resident and advocate for affordable housing, is credited with helping bring the project to Geneva.  Emma is also a resident of the community named after her…townhomes in Emma’s Landing are rental units costing between $519 to $1,877 per month depending on the size of the unit and the household’s percentage of the Area Median Income.]

There was a charge of insufficient transparency, so the Mayor put the numerous letters and email he received, most in opposition to the proposal, on the City’s website.

The night the proposal passed 9-1 one councilman voting in favor said he was resigning at the end of the meeting, that the controversy almost broke up his marriage.

It became an issue in Burns’ 2021 election.

Now for some irony.

The mother of Burns’ Homecoming dance date lives at Emma’s Landing.