Letters to the Editor

LOW-INCOME APARTMENTS I have to say I don’t follow the goings on of the Springfield City Council all that closely but I am flabbergasted at Ald. Gail Simpson’s total lack of regard for her constituents when she supported the Chicago-based Daveri Development Group in their bid to build an apartment complex on Laurel Street and […]

SHIMKUS AWAY FROM HOME I often appreciate the statements Congressman John Shimkus makes to area news outlets about the environment. He speaks in favor of protecting public health and supporting real science when developing environmental policies. He sounds sensible when he’s back home in the district. That’s why it’s so disappointing to read national blogs […]

GOING GREEN Your article, “Renewing your home with solar and wind” [by Karen Fitzgerald, April 21] seemed interesting, but I wanted to tell you the real story about trying to go green. I’ve wanted to go green for many years now, either wind energy or geothermal, but due to the cost of a system I […]

HARVARD PARK MEMORYMy dad is unable to use a computer but asked me to “look up on the computer” which I did and found this article [see “Harvard Park celebrates a century as a working-class neighborhood that still works,” by Tara McClellan McAndrew, Sept. 24, 2008], and here I would like to recount something that […]

CONCEALED CARRY QUESTIONSWe are living in a state of anxiety these days. One of the things that we have focused our fears on is crime, and the only help being offered in the public forum seems to be so-called concealed carry legislation. It has been said that “guns don’t kill people – people kill people.” […]

GUNS VS. SCHOOLS I mourn the passing of the good old days when political and military leaders spoke wisely and bluntly about the issues facing the country. Possibly some leaders still are speaking wisely and bluntly. Possibly citizens simply are not hearing them because, as contemporary writer Chris Hedges asserted, “We are awash in electronic […]

WRONG PATH The column by James Krohe Jr. in Illinois Times Feb 17 was interesting and factual [see “Sacred documents: Why the Constitution is not our political holy book”]. However, taking Justice Scalia out of context was typical of his writing and identifying the tea-partyers as ignorant is as offensive as it is untrue. I am […]

COST OF CUTSRegarding “Quinn makes shameful cuts to child care,” by Rich Miller, Feb. 10: I am a home daycare provider. I have a family with three children. The mother, 27 years old, is going to nursing school full time and the school is an hour away. She is also working full time. People like […]

AFGHANISTAN CONT.Although I agree that the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq have lost all purpose and reason, I caution you not to hope that the invasions will end anytime soon [See “The longest war,” March 10]. The reason is simple: In order to end the invasions and bring our people home, Washington, D.C., will have […]

MARCH AGAINST SUFFERING I was amazed that the article by James Krohe Jr., “Living too high off the hog” [ March 3] was even considered for publication. His comparison of members of our community, often in the most vulnerable times of their lives, to soybeans is callous to say the least. And further, to liken […]

LABOR UNDER ATTACKCorporate interests are attacking labor unions. They are using “divide and conquer” tactics on working Americans understandably outraged by the current economic situation. Wisconsin’s showdown is just the beginning of the end for union labor. We should fear this, and here’s why. The late 19th century was a boom time for industries, but […]

CRASH CORNERSpringfield’s intersection of Lawrence Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard is considered a dangerous place. Known as the “high accident intersection,” everyone in town seems to know it well.  My husband and I have worked our business here within earshot of it for nearly four years now. And just when we think the traffic accidents are […]