THE REAL PREDATORS
I think people are making a huge deal out of something that has so far remained a hypothetical (“Spreading fear about transgender people,” June 8). I wish people would get so passionate about removing people who actually abuse kids from positions of power, especially youth pastors, pastors and priests – patterns of abuse for which there has been plenty of factual, historical precedent, not just rampant heresy from a pulpit.
Astrid Jones
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
CONDEMN HATE
The minister, board of directors and members of the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield stand firmly against any form of discrimination, hate and bigotry directed toward trans individuals and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community and are deeply dismayed to hear that harmful and hateful statements have been made against trans individuals within our community. We condemn these harmful insinuations and express our solidarity with those affected by this toxic rhetoric. It is not acceptable, nor legal in our state to deny someone the right to access all areas of public spaces such as the YMCA, based on their identity, and we will continue to stand in defense of the rights of the inherent worth and dignity of all.
We strive to create a safe and welcoming community for all and will do all that we are able to create safe spaces for everyone. We urge others within our community to stand in solidarity with trans individuals and to speak out against hate and bigotry in all forms. Together, we can create a more inclusive and just society.
Gwen Childs, president ALUUC
Rev. Martin Woulfe, minister
KARMA
WICS Newschannel 20 runs Rev. Eric Hansen’s program on Sunday mornings. It would be karma if they received a slew of negative calls asking that they drop it.
Kathy Robinson
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
A BETTER LANDLORD ORDINANCE
Good, send the landlord registry ordinance back to committee and come back with an ordinance that will actually meet our urgent need for landlord accountability, as this one most definitely falls short (“Council declines to take up landlord registry,” June 8). By setting a 10-unit minimum, the proposed ordinance didn’t go far enough – every single rented unit should be registered.
Along with registration, the other necessary step is for an occupancy permit process that requires landlords to meet housing standards before tenants move in and on a regular basis, either at turnover or every two to three years, at minimum. We also need a requirement for all non-condemned properties to be conditioned during vacancy (both AC and heat).
Our center-city housing is rotting from age and neglect by predatory landlords, and elected officials have done nothing to effectively address it. All they want to focus on is tearing down condemned properties, a practice that leaves community-damaging vacant lots throughout low-income neighborhoods that will never be infilled. In part, this is because of restrictive lending practices that could be addressed by a city program that guarantees the gap between the cost of new housing construction and area comps that govern and limit loan amounts in these neighborhoods.
So many of these properties could have been salvaged had there been appropriate and enforced property maintenance codes and landlord accountability to keep them from falling into such a state to begin with. When free market principles fail, government needs to step in. The rental free market in Springfield is failing tenants and our community. Building luxury homes farther and farther out is not the solution; we need to reclaim our center city and ensure decent, safe housing for every person. Our elected officials, city department heads and community leaders must step in.
Ana-Jo Mounce
Springfield
PAY-TO-PLAY
It goes to show that the pay-for-play government is still in full force in this town. We need a registry for these slumlords so we can get some of these properties addressed. Too many are interwoven into neighborhoods, and nothing is being done about the lack of upkeep and the tenants that are problematic. As a former landlord, I approve of such a registry.
Gregory Kramer
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in Juneteenth 2023.
