State Rep. Sues Tinley Park, Alleging He's Blocked From Events

TINLEY PARK, IL — State Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island) is suing the Village of Tinley Park and Orland Township, making claims that both have blocked him from appearing at local public events.

Rita filed the lawsuit Friday, alleging his constitutional rights have been violated by officials in both places preventing him from attending events. The lawsuit alleges a "continuous and systematic denial of Representative Rita’s First Amendment right to free speech" by saying he could not attend events such as National Night Out to be held Aug. 1.

Named as defendants in the suit are Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz and Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady.

In a hearing late Friday to consider a temporary restraining order that would subsequently permit Rita to attend the event and set up a table for political matters, Judge Manish Shah denied the order, according to an email from the Village's attorney Patrick Walsh.

"The First Amendment may be implicated by the Village's decision to allow some people to participate with tables while excluding 'politicians' from having tables," the ruling states. "But on the limited record established on an expedited basis, this court concludes that the likelihood of success on a claim that the First Amendment requires the Village to allow plaintiff to have a table is not strong."

The ruling goes on to state that, "the harm to the Village that comes from compelling it to endorse plaintiff's speech outweighs the harm to plaintiff."

Rita is allowed to attend the event, the ruling says, speak to his constituents there, and express his views, the ruling says.

"Judge Shah’s decision affirmed the Village of Tinley Park’s ongoing commitment to the principles of the first amendment and in this case, free speech," Walsh said, on behalf of Glotz and the Village of Tinley Park. "The Village was surprised to receive the filing because Mr. Rita always was, and remains, welcome to attend the Village’s National Night Out and to speak with his constituents, if they so choose."

The lawsuit states that Rita's "attendance at these events is critical to provide him a public platform where he can connect with his constituents and show his support for various community initiatives. His attendance also benefits members of the public by providing them with an open and accessible means of creating a dialogue with Representative Rita and to ask him questions about various state initiatives."

In the filing, Rita states he has consistently been allowed to attend and hold events in the past, but Glotz and O'Grady have allegedly, "dramatically changed course over the previous twelve months."

Rita states last month he was granted permission to attend National Night Out in Tinley Park, but that just this week, Tinley Park Police Chief Matthew Walsh reversed that decision.

In the email, Walsh states National Night Out "is an event to honor law enforcement and I respectfully request that we refrain from any politics."

The suit claims Walsh and Glotz of "conspiring to deprive Representative Rita of his First Amendment right to free speech and depriving him of his Fourteenth Amendment right to procedural due process."

The lawsuit notes other events Rita says he was prohibited from participating in, such as Pet Palooza in Orland Township, National Night Out 2022 and Halloween Boo Bash in 2022. He was also denied permission to host a shred event in 2022, which he had previously done for years prior.

Specifically, the lawsuit states, denial of Rita's requests to attend the events is "depriving Representative Rita of the meaningful ability to communicate to his constituents his support for the Village and Township first responders."

The lawsuit is perceived as the latest tug at a fraying relationship between Rita and Glotz, strained already by the battle over the Tinley Mental Health Center property. Listed as surplus property owned by the State, the Village has long sought after the land, with hopes of using portions of the land in different ways, in part for a sportsplex and multi-purpose athletic fields, and also to centralize all Village resources by moving Village Hall, the police department and more to one location, Glotz said. The Village's most recent attempt to purchase the land at a price tag of $4.5 million fell through as recently as February 2022.

The park district in November declared its intent to pursue the property as a sole entity. In December, the park district released its preliminary plans for the property, with visions of multipurpose athletic fields, a domed sports complex with a full-size soccer field, a stadium with a track, a playground and splash pad, concession stands, spectator stands, lighting and ample parking, as well as a pond, picnic areas and open green space. The Village said it was "shocked" by the park district's plan, saying that had they acquired the land, they planned to work with public bodies like the park district to make the best use of it.

Rita is one of several legislators supporting a bill that would turn over the 280 acres to the Tinley Park-Park District for $1. Backed by Sen. Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort), House Bill 3743 would grant ownership of the campus and adjacent Howe Development Center to the park district. It is currently awaiting signature from Gov. JB Pritzker.

Rita was joined by Hastings and Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin and Justin Slaughter, who all spoke in support of HB 3743 and the park district's plans at a June 27 press conference where supporters urged Pritzker to sign the bill.

Rita's claims of unfair treatment by the Village of Tinley Park are similar in nature to that of the park district, whose officials in February accused the Village of retaliation and punishment in return for the group's interest in acquiring the land. Ongoing tensions between the park district and Village, park district officials said, led to the cancelation or rescheduling of park district events, including the 40-year tradition of its July 4 event, plus date and cost changes to local foot races.

Unlike the park district in its February letter, Rita's representation did not cite any connection to the mental health center property in the lawsuit.