A Sun-Times civics lesson
Letters to the Editor May 1, 2013 4:44PM
Jason Collins
Updated: May 2, 2013 2:25AM
Nonprofits deserve deal on water
Has the city looked at how much money the nonprofits save it? Most of these nonprofits provide better service at a lower cost than a government agency does. When they have to cut services to pay water bills, the city will have to pay for these services.
They also save us all a lot of money in future expenditures with youth programs. After-school, mentoring and tutoring programs help at-risk youth to become contributing members of society, saving us all from paying the price of more police, jails, drug treatment centers and crime. Compare the amount of money received by charging them for water with the cost of them not providing their services.
Give them a water bill credit for the services they provide.
Charles Carlson, Albany Park
Parking meter grandstanding
Since the inception of the abominable parking meter deal brokered by former mayor Richard M. Daley, I am confident to relate that I have not used a single metered spot.
And I will not use a metered spot when you consider the obscene fees that are charged. Daley’s legacy is severely scarred by this obscene meter deal as well as his asinine destruction of Meigs Field.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is only looking to curry favor with the public with his grandstanding regarding the parking meter contract. His effort is all for naught.
Mike Koskiewicz, Portage Park
Gay in the NBA
Despite what another reader recently wrote on Wednesday, columnist Rick Telander and his coworkers are assigned to cover news in the sports world. NBA basketball player Jason Collins’ coming out as gay is a very big story and to not comment on it would be a disservice to readers. Reporting on a story is not “forcing” it on anyone, any more than a story about the Boston bombing is forcing violence on readers. If you don’t want to read it — don’t.
And whether that reader likes it or not, Mr. Collins will be considered similar to Jackie Robinson at some point. And years from now, we will hopefully all wonder what the big deal was.
Sandy Orr, Gurnee
