People get no say in Chicago ward remap

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Updated: February 25, 2012 8:06AM

The Jan. 19 “vote” for the ward remap by our aldermen was a blow to government transparency.

The map was pushed through for a vote without any public hearing or viewing. This was done despite the remap ordinance that says ample time would be given for the public’s review of the final map.

Anybody who viewed the proceedings should be embarrassed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel using an obscure procedure to block the attempt of Aldermen Bob Fioretti and Nick Sposato to delay the vote until the public hearing.

Or Emanuel and Ald. Ed Burke saying “time to move on to more important issues,” as if who represents us and government transparency are not important. And Ald. Dick Mell lying to the public saying a referendum will cost $20 million when he knows a lawsuit costs $20 million and any map — especially the one passed — could face a lawsuit. These aldermen did everything in their power to prevent a public hearing on the map or a referendum.

Emanuel ran for mayor under the banner of change, yet proved he is just “Chicago politics as usual.” Free speech and government transparency are going down the tubes. Wake up, Chicago!

John Clemens, Canaryville

Share the tax burden

It looks like Mitt Romney and Warren Buffett have at least two things in common: immense wealth and an effective federal income tax rate of close to 15 percent. Let’s hope they work toward reforms that will share the tax burden more fairly.

Mary F. Warren, Wheaton

Newt is a bigot

Newt Gingrich shows what a small person he is when he says that poor people should crave a paycheck rather than a handout. That comment and his reference to President Obama as a “food stamp president” are clearly aimed at bigots like himself.

Poor people crave the dignity of being self-supporting just as much as anyone, but a variety of circumstances, not least of which is their skin color, often work against them. Newt should be damned thankful that he was born a white male. If his skin was black, brown, red or yellow he would not be so pitifully pompous and self-satisfied.

Dan McGuire, Bensenville