School reform not a success
How can the Sun-Times claim that the Chicago Public Schools turnaround policy is succeeding when the evidence is mixed at best? [“CPS must learn from successful turnarounds,” Feb. 9] First of all, the cost of the turnaround program is estimated to be $20 million for …
Alvarez ignores Koschman case
Mark Brown said it best: Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s mind is made up on the David Koschman case. It’s been clear from the beginning that Alvarez has no interest in a special prosecutor or getting to the bottom of what happened to Koschman …
Indecent business in suburb
Having grown up in Stone Park, back in the day, and having gone to kindergarten there, I have to support the nuns [“Nuns fight the strip club next door,” Feb. 8]. Can Stone Park not find decent businesses for the town? Frank Horvath, Dunning Constitutional …
Bring on red-light cameras
To those who complain about the revenue-enhancing motives behind the various traffic enforcement cameras, I say, “Better you pay than I do.” I try to drive reasonably, keeping an eye out for danger, slowing for lights when I know they’re about to change and driving …
Kids need early education — and more
A key component of Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State address envisions a significantly increased investment in early childhood education. Gov. Quinn should be applauded for his strong commitment to this critical resource. He was absolutely correct when he said in his address that …
What is Romney thinking?
If Mitt Romney has several hundred million, why is he doing his own laundry? People work in laundries. Spend your money! When you spend it, the rest of us get our hands on it . . . temporarily. That goes for all of you one …
Don’t blame budget on teachers
I get tired of seeing teachers used as punching bags by everyone who wrings their hands about the budget woes faced by the state, city, and Board of Education. Teachers aren’t the problem; insiders and the people who have been entrusted to run these various …
Teachers undercompensated
When I was teaching on the West Side almost four decades ago, the principal said that even in the good old days of robber-baron capitalism and sweatshops, schoolteachers worked a five-day week and got summers off. Teachers, especially those assigned to the poorer areas, are …
Defend activists’ free speech
Free speech is the greatest right of all, not an entitlement. To constrict the right of protest — the threats of fines and impingements — is a huge mistake. G-8 and NATO are not without controversy, so of course there will protest rallies. Instead of …
Chicago has worst drivers
Since I’m a truck driver, I’ve seen the driving habits of people who live elsewhere, and Chicago drivers are the worst I’ve seen, hands down. I’m surprised there aren’t cameras on every inch of every street. Slow down, idiots. Stop for a stop sign. Make …
Education not equally available
Mary Mitchell’s column (Devoted parents seek top schools, January 31) sheds light on something Chicago likes to ignore: There is an unfair geographic distribution of quality public schools. But let me be clear. I was misquoted. All neighborhood schools are not bad. The problem is …
Stop speed cameras while we can
When are we going to learn? All you have to do is look at what happened with red light cameras and it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out what’s going to happen with speed cameras. Originally, red light cameras were to be at …
Support Feigenholtz’s shark fin ban
Dan Balanoff’s letter on Wednesday, headlines “Feigenholtz’s shark fin ban overreaches,” gets it backward. Moral standards of Illinois’ eating habits are not the issue. Veal and Kobe beef are not wild animals facing extinction. Wild shark extinction, caused in part by shark finning, is the …
Feigenholtz’s shark fin ban overreaches
In yet another attempt at overreaching regulation, state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz has decided it’s the business of the state Legislature to regulate the moral standards of Illinois’ eating habits. If her “shark fin” bill passes, it opens the door to the extinction of veal, Kobe …
Public union members don’t get rich
Steve Stanek’s Sunday op-ed [“Illinois’ woes show why we can’t afford public unions”] is a misleading diatribe against working people. According to Stanek, collective bargaining is to blame for Illinois’ credit rating and economic trouble because public employees retire as millionaires. What a cheap sleight …