NOT THAT OLD
I enjoyed your article, “Goodbye, Kerasotes,” in the Sept. 9-15 issue of IT, however I feel a correction is in order for the photograph of the Esquire Theatre, “circa 1934.” I feel that the photo was taken much later than that date since the autos shown appear to be of 1939-1940 vintage, plus the movies listed on the marquee were not released until 1948.
Edmond P. Kinney
Springfield
Thank you. The photo should have been identified as circa 1949. – Ed.
VIDEO GAMBLING
The Back to Work Outfit (which is funded by the coin machine operators and the gambling equipment manufacturers) tries to make it appear that the capital bill will fail without video gambling. This must be whom the reporter is referring to when he says that video gambling “was touted as a major part” of the plan.
However, Kelly Kraft, director of communications for the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, said the lengthy time to set up the video gambling had not affected the state’s ability to sell the bonds for the capital bill. For the 2010 fiscal year, the state borrowed $4.15 billion for capital projects and expects to borrow the same amount for the 2011 fiscal year, Kraft said.
Kathy Gilroy
Villa Park
BAD MEDICINE
Odd that these reform advocates would speak to the medical crisis in Illinois prisons [“Prison reform advocates lament Randle’s departure,” by Patrick Yeagle, Sept. 9]. One of the biggest reasons for the continuing degradation of medical services is that the state privatized these services. The string of vendors used by the Illinois Department of Corrections have each been more inept than the last, culminating with Wexford Health Sources as the king of ineptness. State workers did it better and cheaper and nobody made a profit from another human being’s unfortunate circumstances. Profit is what drives Wexford and Health Professionals Limited, not any individual’s health and well being.
Chuck Stout
Springfield
DON’T VOTE GREEN
Rich Whitney has to be kidding [see “Why true conservatives should vote for me,” by Rich Whitney, Sept. 9]. His attempt to reach out to the conservative vote and turn it green reminds me of how the liberal vote managed to elect Blagojevich (the convicted liar) to a second term in 2006 when 5 percent of them voted green rather than Republican. In this close race no sensible voter who wants this state to prosper can afford the luxury of a comfortable philosophic position. While it is true that the spring primaries gave us the worse choice from both major parties, that is no reason to vote green.
Neither of these men have been running wisely. But Quinn has extended Blagojevich’s plan to bankrupt a rich state by spending every cent and borrowing more to increase the debt. The existing budget gap can’t be filled by cuts alone or a tax increase alone. In this sorry state the simple truth is that every voter with a conscience must vote conservative for every office from governor to dogcatcher.
Matthew Vernau
DULL OLD ONE
This is in response to Mr. Krohe’s editorial, “Trusting to miracles” [Sept. 9].
Mr. Krohe’s description of 186’s new idea as “in fact a dull old one,” more aptly describes his editorial. After the the usual complaints about the educational system and a litany of innovations that failed to produce positve results, we learn that what really works is “good teaching” that “overcomes some of the effects of bad parenting and barren home lives.”
Unfortunately, he runs out of space for the how to’s, as he states it is a topic “that deserves more attention than I can give it here.” I would welcome learning about the real “miracles” or other promising ideas in coming editions.
Jane Turner
Springfield
MacArthur needs a theme
I was irked by the illustration used in this week's story about MacArthur re-development.
The picture, from a proposal by The Lakota Group, is of a title loan shop, gussied up to look prettier. The glut of title loan shops on MacArthur is symbolic of the district's decline, and prettying them up is not going to save the neighborhood or other businesses struggling there. If anything, the redevelopment should be aiming to disperse those loan shark stores. Dressing up the loan shops is like "fixing" a pasture by spray-painting the cow patties gold.
The story makes a good point that a food shop, deli, or restaurant needs to be in the development to help anchor it. A Trader Joes would be an incredible "get" for such a development. Aldi is already in Springfield, and TJ's is part of their company.
But what the redevelopment needs most is a central theme, a purpose. A great one would be to recast the area of the bowling alley and empty kmart into a senior living enclave. Not a nursing home, but a set of efficiency-sized condo/apartments for active retired seniors who are gearing down from a big high-maintenance house and yard, to smaller places, part of a walkable surrounding complex that doesn't require residents to own a car for daily needs.
The key to making this work is to mix the residential and retail in a way that recalls the old neighborhoods of the city, with small shops right alongside the residences, not set across a dividing sea of asphalt. The existing open-air strip mall right next door could cater to the needs of this enclave, as well as to the needs of the family members and friends visiting. For example, the apartments are purposely small, with efficiency kitchens, so, to entertain a lot of visiting family, you just walk over to one of the restaurants next door... with no dishes to wash.
A deli or small food mart like the one downtown makes it easy for residents and those within several blocks of the enclave to walk over for a few things as needed. A drug store would cater to the senior's medical supply needs; the Osco is an obvious choice to reactivate for this. For those seniors that need some daytime home-keeping or nursing assistance, they could hire such workers from the surrounding neighborhood, tying the community together. The mixed retail and residential should be scaled appropriately, handicapped-accessible, and include parklike green spaces and gardens, and covered/shaded outdoor entertainment areas and places for the grandkids to run around. A central office with a concierge service staff would provide some security oversight, assist residents as needed and perhaps run a golf cart shuttle service from the apartments to the strip mall for those folks with some mobility problems.
Look at any census data you like: the general population is aging, and there will be a booming market for senior living enclaves like this, where you can skip needing or owning a car, live efficiently and independently, and get all your basic needs and see your friends by walking a block or two, exploring the rest of the city as needed by hopping the bus or a taxi. Such a development with continuous demand will bring stable revenue generation over the long haul and make the MacArthur corridor a vibrant community with a sense of purpose.