Letters to the Editor

CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION There is no evidence linking pretrial reform to crime (“Crime on the rise in Sangamon County,” Feb. 29). But that didn’t stop the Springfield Police Department from claiming that ending money bond has caused an increase in arrests for some charges in Springfield. Let’s be clear: over the same period, […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- A SPRINGFIELD TREASURE This past week was a flurry of Black History Month celebrations and commemorations. Among the most exciting and engaging was The Florence B. Price Festival, “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.” This […]

PICK UP TRASH An extreme amount of trash has accumulated along the roadways of our city. While we haven’t (yet) had heavy snowfall this winter, some commercial areas have virtual drifts of plastic and paper accumulating at the fence lines. I don’t know if this blizzard of debris was let loose accidentally or carelessly. I […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- OTHER PRIORITIES Just in time for the city’s budget hearing, Prairie Rivers Network has published Reconsidering Hunter Lake, a public brochure highlighting significant flaws in the claimed need for Hunter Lake. CWLP officials have […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- REASON FOR HOPE Thank you to George Pawlaczyk for his excellent, painstakingly researched article about children who were killed by their parents despite extensive involvement by DCFS, often over many years (“When DCFS makes […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- DON’T FUND PRIVATE BUSINESS I can support tax money for infrastructure needs but draw the line at flat-out buying things for a commercial enterprise like a sports franchise. Chicago faces the same thing with […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- STUDY FIRE DEPARTMENT This was an interesting article (“City-operated ambulance service to be considered,” Jan. 4). The firefighters tout the need for more ambulances with the increase in EMS calls. But as a taxpayer, […]

REMEMBERING CAROLYN OXTOBY It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we bid farewell to a remarkable individual who played an integral role in shaping the downtown community. Carolyn Oxtoby was not just a leader, she was a passionate advocate for downtown Springfield, recognizing its significance and the rich history it holds. Carolyn understood […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- WE NEED WINDMILLS I am so sorry the Illinois Times letter writers are being deprived of the “dark sky” and “beautiful country” because of windmills, those “noisy” eyesores that cause “light pollution” (“Letters to […]

KIDS NEED SOLID EDUCATION I read with sadness how poorly District 186 students performed on standardized tests (“District 186 report card was a ‘gut punch,’” Dec. 7). As was stated in a Dec. 14 letter to the editor, I agree that more money doesn’t seem to be the answer.  Unfortunately, Illinois legislators have shown once again […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- NEED TRANSPARENCY This project is supposed to be a public/private initiative with each entity covering half of the total $67 million cost (“Scheels Sports Park development on track,” Dec. 14). According to Ryan McCrady, […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- A BLIGHT They’re a blight on the landscape (“Sangamon County could see first wind farm soon,” Nov. 30). You used to be able to drive around at night and enjoy the dark sky. Now […]