Des Plaines City Council Dumps Cold Water On Mayor's Penguin Plunge Plans
(CBS) -- Plans by the mayor of Des Plaines to hold a Polar Plunge event for charity have been shot down by a majority of aldermen, led by one who said jumping into icy water is irresponsible and dangerous, reports WBBM's Mike Krauser.
Mayor Matt Bogusz must have felt that Alderman Jim Brookman was like the kid who takes his bat and ball and goes home. It happened after the mayor encouraged participation in what would have been the first annual Des Plaines Penguin Plunge.
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"I think we shouldn't be encouraging this kind of, what I think is reckless behavior," Brookman.
Brookman read from a list of potential outcomes including death and lawsuits.
The mayor said that only the Des Plaines City Council could turn an event that is held nationally into this conversation.
"It seems strange that this sort of response would be seen and if you want to take a consensus to the contrary to not have the event, then you certainly can do that," Mayor Bogusz said.
Instead, he invited would-be Penguin Plungers to be Polar Plungers in Chicago on March 1 to raise money for the Special Olympics.
