Letters to the Editor

PARK PERKSThe article “Use it or get paid” by Bruce Rushton (March 7) was a real eye opener. Springfield Park District has paid former park district executive director Michael Stratton more than $28,000 for 725 hours of unused vacation time beginning in 2010 through 2012. January through November of 2012 alone Mr. Stratton was paid […]

CUT THE FRACKTo frack or not to frack … that is the question. There are two bills being presented in the Illinois State legislature. SB 1418 proposes a halt to any hydraulic fracking until we have a better understanding of how it will affect our water supply. HB 2615 has been crafted by both environmentalists […]

INTERNET TAX HOLESIn reading your story in the Feb. 21 issue “National Amazon tax could mean big bucks for Illinois,” by Patrick Yeagle, I was amused that no one ever seems to bring up the holes in this Internet sales tax argument. First of all, people don’t tax themselves – if they did, we wouldn’t […]

HOPE SPRINGSI read with great pleasure your article, “Housing with hope: Hope Springs Apartments helps build independence for tenants with mental disabilities,” by Scott Faingold, Feb. 21. Eight years ago I was diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. I went from an advocate for seniors and a village trustee to someone swimming in the chaos of […]

CARING FOR VETSOur politicians and state officials never give up any opportunity to show off their affections and appreciation for our veterans for publicity or photo opp. They do it on Veterans’ Day – once a year – and then they must think that their responsibility toward our veterans is over because the way they […]

FACTS UNDER FIREThis letter is in response to Jim Hibbett’s letter titled “Gun Issues” (Jan. 31). I am all for anyone expressing their opinions on any issue. But, when you express your opinions and use so called “statistics” to back up your opinions, make sure your “statistics” are verifiable. Otherwise, your opinion doesn’t seem to […]

MARRIAGE EQUALITYOn behalf of ourselves and the religious community we serve, the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, we wish to publicly add our voices in support of the legislation in favor of marriage equality that is to be considered by the Illinois General Assembly. We are heartened that representatives from both parties recognize […]

GUN ISSUES I have been listening to respected responsible gun owners in recent weeks. They rightfully express strong opinions in the national debate regarding guns in society. I have no doubt about their sincere desire, with the rest of us, to have our neighborhoods be safer from mass killings. Yet many of the fears they describe […]

KROHE OFF TRACKYour readers are a forgiving lot, overlooking occasional flights from fact to fancy in your pages. This attitude stems in part from readers’ belief that Illinois Times inspires its community to commune with those better angels of our nature, to borrow from a local phrasemaker of note. So it is particularly sad when […]

ROUND UP FOR HOMELESSBefore paying your City Water, Light and Power bill this month, please look for the Round Up insert with your bill. By signing up, you can join other residents who help the homeless by giving just a few cents a month. These inserts only arrive in our bills two months a year.  If […]

ONLY NEED IS SINGLE-SHOT RIFLE The second amendment of the United States Constitution states: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Obviously the need for a state militia has been replaced by the National Guard […]