Letters to the Editor

LET’S HAVE A TREE COMMISSION In response to Bruce Rushton’s opinion piece (“I love trees,” April 11), I love the idea of having a tree commission so much that I would even like to serve on it. I can understand how we came to have a tree shortage, reason one being that they take up […]

AGREES WITH GAS TAX INCREASEIf I were running for office, supporting the proposed state gas tax increase likely would doom my chances.  Nonetheless, a gas tax increase at this time makes great sense and definitely is justified. The gas tax hasn’t been increased for almost 30 years, (and the same for the federal gas tax, […]

NEW SMEAA MEMBER RESPONDS Jill Steiner made a number of excellent points with regard to the elected board that oversees the Bank of Springfield Center. In particular, she asks why we even have an elected board? We have an elected board because when it was created by the state legislature in 1978, SMEAA was empowered […]

WHAT DOES SMEAA DO?I will admit I waited to the last minute to do research on the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority (SMEAA) candidates in order to vote on Tuesday, but I wanted to at least give it some respect, as it is an elected position.  I really could not find much information about […]

HOTEL VETTING LACKING Thanks to Bruce Rushton and IT for checking out the credentials of the backers of the proposed new downtown Springfield hotel (“Welcome to Hotel Springfield,” March 21).  Rushton’s research shows a serious lack of experience or know-how in US hotel development, construction or management by the individuals or companies that convinced nine […]

INSPECTION PROCESS FLAWEDThe March 7 story, “Inspect this,” by Bruce Rushton, exposes several problems with landlords and the city’s housing inspection process. Michael Gant represents both sides: He is a landlord and an inspector. As a landlord, he owns nine properties, and has had 100 citations for violations, but zero fines. As an inspector, he […]

PROUD TO RECYCLE Imagine my dismay when I opened my IT to the headline “The blue badge of shame” and then proceeded to read Bruce Rushton’s anti-recycling opinion piece (Feb. 28). After I got over my initial anger that a well-respected local journalist was essentially telling people not to recycle, I decided some education is […]

GOLDEN RULE FOR PETSThere is so much disturbing in Greg Largent’s response to the allegations regarding mistreatment of Sangamon County Animal Control’s dogs by a new kennel attendant (“Trouble in Puppyville,” Feb. 19). According to the article, the new kennel attendant previously worked in a slaughter facility.  Mr. Largent’s response to the alleged mistreatment of […]

TAXES SCHMAXESThe election is over, and it’s time to start raising taxes and hope the public gets collective amnesia before the next election.One of the more interesting proposals is the five cent per plastic bag tax presented by Governor Pritzker. Here’s the problem. It may bring in $200,000 but to implement it, the Department of […]

LOOPHOLE FOR BACKGROUND CHECKSWith a few computer mouse clicks, Bruce Rushton would know if the Secretary of State’s office had requested a background check on Candace Wanzo, it would have been clean (“Transparency?” Feb.7). How so? Therein lies a tale also played out in the Office of the Executive Inspector General’s report released on April […]

HELP FOR PETS I am writing in response to your Feb. 7 article, “Frigid response to pet law.” I am a humane investigator and was involved with drafting recent amendments. This was necessary to give police officers relief from some of the impediments they experienced with enforcement of the law, as it stood in 2018.  […]

HELP HARVARD PARK Regarding the recent IT article (“Inside a struggling school,” Jan. 10), at Compass for Kids, we know firsthand that Harvard Park Elementary has a great principal and dedicated teachers and staff. We cannot blame the kids for growing up in poverty. Research tells us what works – support parents and their children […]