Letters to the Editor

GO VOTE I’m glad the Democrats are finally putting up candidates for county races (“County Board elections in the spotlight,” Oct. 3). Now get out there and vote! Anne Hofferkamp Springfield LONG ENOUGH A recent article in The Atlantic noted that one of George Washington’s greatest gifts to America was knowing that the office didn’t […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — FIX CURRENT PARKS Springfield has 36 parks already (“Governor’s Mansion block slated to become a park,” Oct. 3). Even though I am all for parks, we do not need an additional park at that […]

DO THE MATH The less you rely on smoke and mirrors, the less you will have to put out fires (“Tiny houses, big controversy," Sept. 26). The total project includes 18 tiny 540-square-foot homes and a 1,200-square-foot learning center. The total amount requested for the project is $5.2 million, $400,000 from the city of Springfield […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — KNOW WHO TO CALL The recent unfortunate incidents involving people with a mental health crisis might have been handled better if everyone was informed of the phone numbers to call instead of 911. The […]

DE-ESCALATE I think the Springfield Police Department would have been better off inviting the group they referred to as a mob into a conference room for a civil discussion (“Police, protesters clash at demonstration,” Sept. 12). De-escalation is always the best option. Evan Mahan Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes NEVER SATISFIED Why are “peaceful” protesters storming a public […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — GREAT CONVENTION COVERAGE Many thanks to IT and David Blanchette for coverage of last month’s DNC in Chicago (“A message of freedom and joy,” Aug. 29). Though we watched and were thrilled by the […]

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE As someone who experienced homelessness firsthand, the ordinance to “ban public camping” hits close to home for me (“City council delays vote on prohibiting public camping,” Sept. 5). I’ve been fortunate enough to rise from poverty and become a successful community member and homeowner. However, when I was a child, my family […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — ALLOW THE VOTE Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter claimed his use of county board rules to block my effort to place on the ballot a binding referendum on whether county voters should […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — NEED LANDLORD REGISTRATION Many kudos to Dean Olsen and Illinois Times for the excellent article, “Battling Blight,” Aug. 15. As someone who loves Springfield and enjoys living on the southeast side of our city, […]

VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETINGS ACT I am surprised that your article described the reason for the failure of Sam Cahnman’s elected officials recall referendum as a “technicality” (“Sangamon County Board blocks referendum to allow voters to oust future sheriffs,” Aug. 15). This “technicality” was a violation of the Open Meetings Act for which our respectable media […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — BIGGER PROBLEM The root problem is not entirely the sheriffs, but the Sangamon County board’s failure to adequately fund the sheriff’s office (“Sonya Massey’s father calls on Jack Campbell to resign,” July 26). Deputies […]

GOOD FOR SPRINGFIELD Is this (new approach to downtown events) part of the mayor’s plan to create a “better community, better development and better infrastructure for a better Springfield?” The festivals are much bigger than locals going downtown and hanging out (“Downtown’s festival dilemma,” July 25). Wouldn’t that be something that business promoters would use […]