Letters to the Editor

DE-ESCALATE I think the Springfield Police Department would have been better off inviting the group they referred to as a mob into a conference room for a civil discussion (“Police, protesters clash at demonstration,” Sept. 12). De-escalation is always the best option. Evan Mahan Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes NEVER SATISFIED Why are “peaceful” protesters storming a public […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — GREAT CONVENTION COVERAGE Many thanks to IT and David Blanchette for coverage of last month’s DNC in Chicago (“A message of freedom and joy,” Aug. 29). Though we watched and were thrilled by the […]

VOICE OF EXPERIENCE As someone who experienced homelessness firsthand, the ordinance to “ban public camping” hits close to home for me (“City council delays vote on prohibiting public camping,” Sept. 5). I’ve been fortunate enough to rise from poverty and become a successful community member and homeowner. However, when I was a child, my family […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — ALLOW THE VOTE Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter claimed his use of county board rules to block my effort to place on the ballot a binding referendum on whether county voters should […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — NEED LANDLORD REGISTRATION Many kudos to Dean Olsen and Illinois Times for the excellent article, “Battling Blight,” Aug. 15. As someone who loves Springfield and enjoys living on the southeast side of our city, […]

VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETINGS ACT I am surprised that your article described the reason for the failure of Sam Cahnman’s elected officials recall referendum as a “technicality” (“Sangamon County Board blocks referendum to allow voters to oust future sheriffs,” Aug. 15). This “technicality” was a violation of the Open Meetings Act for which our respectable media […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — BIGGER PROBLEM The root problem is not entirely the sheriffs, but the Sangamon County board’s failure to adequately fund the sheriff’s office (“Sonya Massey’s father calls on Jack Campbell to resign,” July 26). Deputies […]

GOOD FOR SPRINGFIELD Is this (new approach to downtown events) part of the mayor’s plan to create a “better community, better development and better infrastructure for a better Springfield?” The festivals are much bigger than locals going downtown and hanging out (“Downtown’s festival dilemma,” July 25). Wouldn’t that be something that business promoters would use […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — STARTS AT THE TOP Many do not, or choose not to, understand the domino effect of a leadership that incites contempt and indifference for women and people of color in Springfield who are seen […]

BRING CHARGES This poor child never had a chance in the world, and now he’s dead (“DCFS finds foster parent negligent in death of 7-year-old boy,” July 3). And the state’s attorney hasn’t decided if criminal charges are going to be filed? The foster parents weren’t home to supervise – what more is there to […]

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. — SHE’S STILL GUILTY Katherine Smith set the entire thing up (“Not present at crime, still charged with murder,” June 27). She is guilty. Even if she didn’t stab him, Charles Manson didn’t kill anyone […]

DOUGLAS HELPED MY SON I think sometimes people have a negative opinion about alternative school and the kids that get sent to these schools (“No teen left behind,” June 20). I was one of those people who thought negatively, so when my son got expelled and sent to Douglas, I thought his behavior would only […]