ALPLM ISSUES NO SHOCK
It really comes as no shock to hear the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is having problems in funding and oversight, at least not for me. (“A cautionary tale,” by James Krohe Jr., Jan. 22.) Is there anyone in Springfield who, frankly, didn’t foresee some type of problems settling in? After all, this is Springfield, Illinois, widely known for its many parking lots, political corruption, leadership positions that are little more than sinecures for the politically connected, and yes, of course, Abraham Lincoln, in that order.
The ALPLM was anticipated to be in the old Kay-Port mold. Anyone remember that, the golden ear of corn that would revitalize downtown Springfield and ensure economic security? But, it takes some degree of effort to stay on the cutting edge of mediocrity. Springfield has a gift for turning an asset into a liability, and an absence of good leadership definitely contributes greatly to that. After the grand opening and initial influx of visitors, revenue has fallen and the ALPLM has now become “a cash-strapped, dated museum.” As a result, the cost of maintenance of this massive shrine to Springfield’s most famous homeboy, which is only going to go up as the building grows older, has fallen to the taxpayer.
The latest struggle between two agencies as to which one should control the museum, just days short of the anniversary of the assassination of Lincoln 150 years ago, brings to my mind the reported famous remark, with my updated revision, of course, of Edwin M. Stanton, Lincoln’s Secretary of War, upon Lincoln’s death, “Now he belongs to the agencies.”
Robert J. Mathes
Springfield
CENTS TO HELP HOMELESS
While this winter has been pretty mild so far, even a mild winter is grueling if you’re homeless. Most of us would like to help, but how? Now there’s an easy way… check your January CWLP bill for the Round Up insert. By signing up, you can join other residents who help the homeless by giving just a few cents a month.
When you fill it out and mail it in with your January bill payment, your future CWLP bills will be rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra change going to agencies that help the homeless by providing shelter, food and other much needed services. You’ll contribute 1 to 99 cents a month, 50 cents on average. You can also opt to add a specific amount, like $1 or $5… good if you’re on the level payment plan. Fifty cents a month doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but multiply by 65,000 CWLP customers, or even by a fifth or a tenth of them, and it adds up fast.
Thanks to the many generous CWLP customers who already round up, the City Council in October appropriated $50,000 of the Round Up funds they contributed to the Salvation Army Overflow Shelter, Catholic Charities and Abundant Faith Ministry to house, feed and provide job skills and other training to our fellow citizens who are homeless. But the need greatly exceeds the funds. We could help so many more if more CWLP customers took the easy step of filling out the Round Up insert in their January bill and sending it in with their payment. If you already paid your January bill, sign up online at http://cwlp.com. Go to the box with the changing slides on the right halfway down and click on the penny with the arrow around it pointing up. It’s a painless way to help those who need our help the most in these cold, winter months.
Sam Cahnman
Alderman, Ward 5
Springfield
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2015.
