Signs Reveal Feud In Darien Neighborhood

DARIEN, IL – Signs in a high-end Darien neighborhood are evidence of a dispute over the leadership of its homeowners association.

Residents opposed to the Darien Club homeowners association's board held a protest recently in Driftwood Park. Afterward, some demonstrators posted signs in their yards.

That upset the board's supporters, who asked the city to do something about the signs. The signs are targeted at the association's president, John Becker, whom opponents say is holding on to power in violation of the bylaws.

The signs' messages include, "Bye Bye Becker's Bunch – Say Hello to Your Brand New Board!" and "Throw Becker's Bunch Out."

Late last month, Marie Ciaglia Becker, wife of John Becker, emailed Ward 3 Alderman Joe Kenny about the signs. She said a group of "disgruntled" owners are unhappy about a decision on fences, which she said the association's lawyer upheld.

Becker said the owners have "bullied, intimidated, harassed, maligned, etc., members of the Board and their families."

She said her husband checked the city's sign guidelines and found a requirement for sign permits.

"Government political signs and celebratory signs are allowed (in Darien Club)," she said. "These signs that are harassing and degrading are not... I send this email on behalf of my children, neighbors and their children, who should not be subjected to this."

Darien Club resident Cindi Lopez also complained about the signs in an email to Mayor Joseph Marchese.

"Is there something you or someone at the city can do about these disgruntled homeowners?" she said. "It really doesn’t matter what side you are on, we can all agree that the wording of these signs is a disgraceful form of bullying. We have children out playing and residents driving through our subdivision all day. Everyone is reading these signs and asking questions."

At Monday's City Council meeting, both Kenny and Marchese said the city can do nothing about the signs, citing residents' free speech rights.

Bob Dreveny, a member of the association's board who is opposed to Becker, said residents had a right to display signs.

"(Becker supporters) will say 'others have told them their kids feel bullied, that somebody flipped the finger at their children,'" Dreveny said. "None of those 'stories' is true or has an iota of substantiation."