WHO’S IN CHARGE? Illinois comptroller will stop collecting red light camera fines. However, unless the Secretary of State follows suit, violators won’t be able to renew driver licenses at renewal time, leading to driving without a license fines. Where does it leave citizens when the enforcement voice of the state speaks with conflicting messages? The […]
Letters to the Editor
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 01-02-20
TRASH, NOT TRUMP My nephew recently brought up the subject of the president at a family event with the seemingly destructive goal of instigating. His loud and bold statements could either be argued for or against, depending on which facts you chose to ignore. I’m going to tell you which facts matter to me in Springfield, […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter’s to the editor 12/19/19
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to letters@illinoistimes.com. IT’S ABOUT INCLUSION As a San Franciscan with humble roots in the north end of Springfield, I am so incredibly moved by how far my state and my community have come (“Teaching LGBT history,” Dec. […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 12-12-19
FOCUS ON DAILY REALITIES Just before the 2016 election, Rodney Davis withdrew support (and presumably his vote) for Donald Trump, thereby suggesting that we do likewise. Now Davis cheerfully swears that he not only admires and trusts Trump to do well by us, but he also serves as an honorary 2020 election co-chair. What happened? […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the editor 12/5/19
GAMBLING, WEED HAVE CONSEQUENCES Thanks to Daisy Contreras and IT for your supportive article about anti-gambling activist Anita Bedell (“State’s anti-gambling lobbyist is one tough ‘Church Lady,’” Nov. 21). The massive expansion of gambling to support our state’s finances in lieu of traditional tax revenues also set off alarm bells for me in recent years. […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor: 11-28-19
MEDIOCRE IS NOT ENOUGH This letter is in response to the letter from Amy Madigan Brown published in the Nov. 21-27 Illinois Times. In that letter, Amy puts me in with the two other speakers at the recent Citizens Club presentation who were suggesting a different organization of the high schools in Springfield. My presentation […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the editor 11/21/19
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to letters@illinoistimes.com. CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE Diversity and inclusion has become a part of the conversation for the nonprofit sector in Springfield. David Blanchette’s article, “How and Why to Diversify” (Nov. 14), was a great introduction to the work […]
Posted inOpinion
Editor’s note 11/21/19
Editor’s note Members of Springfield’s ICON – Inner City Older Neighborhoods – have taken time to dream big while picking up litter, dealing with problem properties, attending every city council meeting and continuing to push for garbage pickup reform when most others have given up. Now in its 10th year, the lobbying group used its […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 11/14/19
EXPUNGEMENT SUMMIT HAD HELP Thank you for the great article about the recent expungement summit (“A Second Chance in Life,” Oct. 31). On behalf of the Sangamon County Bar Association (SCBA), who cosponsored the expungement summit with the Springfield Urban League, we would like to thank the many groups that came together to help people […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor 11/7/19
ELIMINATE LIBRARY FINES We were excited to open up the Illinois Times Best of Springfield 2019 issue and see that “Eliminate library fines” was literally front and center in the issue as Best Idea (Oct. 24). It’s an idea that I have been talking about since my first interview with the city, as I had […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
PROTECT BIRD HABITATSA recent bird study, which showed 30% of numbers of birds declining since 1970, has local implications. Not too long ago, several area scientists tried to stop a bicycle club from taking over the Lick Creek Nature Preserve. This preserve had been designated as such by CWLP’s water division manager. However, the city […]
Posted inOpinion
Letters to the Editor
COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDEDNow that AFSCME employees are receiving back pay for step increases, with interest to follow soon, let’s have a round of applause for Rep. Tim Butler for this overdue largesse. Some might think Mr. Butler spent the last four years defending the indefensible union-busting efforts of former governor Bruce Rauner for no […]
