Letters to the Editor

FOOD WEEK FAN I again wanted to extend my appreciation to Illinois Times, participating restaurants and sponsors for another great 217 Food Week. In addition, the sponsors who provided the prize package also deserve another round of applause. Todd HallSpringfield BICYCLE THEFTS While I am aware that six months have passed, four of my own […]

  HUNTER LAKE ALTERNATIVESSpringfield city officials are changing the decades-old design for Hunter Lake. They are considering reducing the lake capacity from about 21 million gallons per day to around 12 million gallons per day. A smaller second lake would still meet the city’s projected water needs over the next nearly 50 years, according to […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. PROGRESS ON THE PAPERS In the April 13 Illinois Times, Alan Lowe, the recently hired director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said this of the Papers of Abraham Lincoln scholarly editing project: […]

HOLD ON TO DREAMS After the women’s movement marches earlier this year, new and emerging leaders organized the recent Springfield Women’s March, held April 25. I’ve been watching and admiring these brave women as they find their collective voices and inner power over the past few months. When I heard about this march, I was […]

  MASTER PLAN FOR TREESAs Arbor Day approaches, it is sad to see Springfield having lost so many of its trees to storm damage and disease over the last few years. The downtown, neighborhoods and parks have all been affected by the loss. It’s difficult to walk a couple of blocks in the city without […]

UNDOING PLANNED PARENTHOOD It seems quite clear that President Trump and much of Congress are heck-bent on getting rid of the funding for Planned Parenthood. The recent order signed by the president allows states to block Title X funding from going to Planned Parenthood or any abortion providers. It ignores the fact that even now […]

  GOOD GOVERNINGOur current governor still has no clue what governing is. It is not about issuing ultimatums; it is about working with the legislature, no matter what party or length of time in office. The people of Illinois (including his own party members) understand that his stance on the budget is wrong, misguided or, […]

WORKING WITH DEMS Trump says he wants to work with the Democrats now. Good. Please start by apologizing to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, then, as a show of sincerity, withdraw Neil Gorsuch from consideration as our next Supreme Court judge and endorse and begin vesting of Merrick Garland. Merrick Garland is the initially nominated […]

  RIDGELY VILLAGE HALLHistory is the essence of our city. So, what sense does it make to wipe out a facet of Springfield’s rich history by destroying another of our historic buildings and adding to our city’s unsightly sea of useless vacant lots? Most who have seen the old Ridgely Village Hall and Jail at […]

VISION OF TRUMP Senator Dick Durbin at the Gorsuch confirmation hearing commented that White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Gorsuch represents the type of judge that has the vision of Trump. Durbin then chided Mr. Gorsuch by asking, “Why would Mr. Priebus say that when most Americans question whether we need a Supreme […]

  SAY NO TO SANCTUARY STATESJames Krohe’s March 2 column, “Absolutely ridiculous,” was exactly that. He made the laughable claim that “Immigrants, authorized and otherwise, are less likely to commit crimes than people born in the U.S., and crime rates tend to go down, not up, in places with lots of immigrants.” Excuse me, but […]

CORREX In the March 2, 2017, article, “The vanishing Statehouse press corps,” Tara McClellan McAndrew misstated that the Illinois News Network, which the Illinois Policy Institute describes as its “independent project,” provides audio for free. The Network provides copy for free. Clarification: After the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate denied the Illinois News Network […]