"Moving with the Mayor" Washed Out: Spirits, Shoes Dampened

City park walk met with thunder, lightning, and soggy symbolism

In an inspired attempt to promote fitness, community engagement, and perhaps a bit of cardio democracy, Mayor Tara Bedei launched the inaugural “Moving with the Mayor” walking event this week at City Park. The concept? Streator residents stroll side-by-side with the mayor, discussing local issues, dreams for the town’s future, and whether or not the storm sirens were technically supposed to be going off.

There was just one minor hiccup: it turns out, when you schedule a walk during a day with a 100% chance of thunderstorms, you’re less “moving with the mayor” and more “sprinting for cover with strangers.”

Despite meteorologists, radar apps, and a very obvious wall of dark clouds moving in from the west, Mayor Bedei remained undeterred. “We wanted to show that in Streator, we don’t let a little rain stop progress,” she said, as she handed out free ponchos from a damp folding table under the gazebo.

Indeed, as the small but spirited group of residents began their walk, it quickly became clear that progress was in the form of a slippery, puddle-ridden shuffle around the perimeter of City Park. One enthusiastic walker, Councilman Scott Scheuer, reportedly said, “I haven’t been this soaked since the corn festival flood of 2009.”

The mayor, an engineer by trade, maintained good humor despite the elements. “In hindsight, maybe we should have done a rain date,” she said, as lightning crackled in the distance and a city employee herded walkers under the bandstand like a modern-day Noah.

City Manager David Plyman, who came prepared with an umbrella roughly the size of a Buick, praised the event’s “symbolism.” “Nothing says ‘the challenges of public leadership’ like leading people directly into a storm,” he said proudly.

Even Chief of Police John Franklin made a brief appearance, though he spent most of it in his SUV livestreaming the radar and posting a Google review of the weather: “2 stars, too wet, would not recommend.”

While the event ended with fewer miles and more wringing out of socks than planned, organizers considered it a success in civic spirit, if not in dryness. “We’re going to try it again next month,” Bedei said. “This time, we might walk indoors. Maybe the mall. Or a hallway. Or we just stand still and talk. That counts too, right?”

One thing’s for sure: rain or shine, Streator’s leadership is on the move—even if that move sometimes requires umbrellas, towels, and a tetanus shot.