Clarifying property tax law
Your May 11 editorial suggested I helped engineer a “gift” for state Rep. Monique Davis in a dispute over back rent and property taxes involving the Chicago Public Schools. No “gift” for Rep. Davis. It’s the state, not she, who’s responsible for paying the bill. …
Help us see the speed bumps
I love that catch phrase politicans use: “We have to move forward.” Well, could someone move forward and put some brightly colored paint on these pain-in-the-neck speed bumps? Charlie Yates, Edgewater …
Why we came here to protest
No wonder people in this country start a ruckus at protests. Apparently that is the only way an issue will be covered on television. On Sunday, I, along with thousands of others, left the comfort of our homes to travel to another city and march …
The lesson of Edwards’ trial
The continuing, lamentable saga involving former presidential hopeful John Edwards offers us much from which to learn. This pathetic, totally avoidable scenario involving sex, marital infidelity, abandonment and betrayal, while possibly understandable, was nevertheless behavior demonstrating the nadir of human involvement. We are reminded yet …
South, West sides need cops, too
South and West side taxpayers don’t pay to see downtown Chicago turned into a parody of the Roman Empire. They pay to see their children protected while going to school or returning home. If the South and West sides had this much police protection, at …
What about the rest of us?
For several days I observed what looked like some of the Strategic Air Command flying high over the Chicago vicinity, maybe in preparation for the convention of NATO at McCormick Place. Fighter jets will be flying over Chicago. Are Chicagoans in any danger? Mayor Rahm …
Farewell to queen of disco
‘Once Upon A Time” Donna Summer emerged. Now Rumour Has It” our disco “Queen For A Day” has died. She passed away too soon Tuesday from cancer. Before this “She Work(ed) Hard For The Money” and stayed until the “Last Dance.” Unlike “Bad Girls “out …
Pension burden misplaced
I am quite put out over Illinois’ position to make pension reforms on the backs of thousands of employees who have dutifully served the state. I was mortified when I saw the news just days ago that the Senate passed a bill affecting our pension …
Only rich win in this economy
A letter writer asks if it’s fair that taxpayers subsidize government workers’ “lavish” salaries and pensions when their own compensation is worse. That’s the wrong question. They need to instead ask why public-sector cuts have not improved private-sector workers’ compensation. Lowering public-sector wages and benefits …
Fallacies won’t help Mideast peace
In his May 11 column “Palestinians fail to work for peace,” Steve Huntley gives history a wide berth and offers little that is accurate. For example, the Palestinian territories are not “disputed,” but illegally occupied. Israel’s 10-month “moratorium” on settlement activity in 2010 never took …
CTU not looking for a strike
I have never written to a newspaper before, but I feel compelled to regarding Ms. Huffman’s anti-CTU diatribe [“CTU’s reckless strike talk is bad for Chicago’s kids,” May 3]. If Ms. Huffman had any sense at all, she would know that the CTU and its …
Immoral pension ‘reform’ plans
I’m appalled that neither Rahm Emanuel nor Pat Quinn — nor the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board — is addressing the most critical issue that must be addressed in discussing “reform” of government employees’ pensions: the fact that most state and municipal employees — including teachers …
Preschool is law’s best friend
Far too often, law enforcement and prosecutors are left to deal with the consequences of those who never developed the skills they need to resolve conflict, follow instructions and succeed academically and in the workplace. Even worse, taxpayers foot the expensive bill that comes with …
Lots of evidence of Medicaid fraud
I write in response to an Associated Press story that stated there is little evidence to support the claim that nearly 10 percent of Medicaid in Illinois and nationwide could be fraudulent. There is plenty of evidence to support my contention that nearly 10 percent …
