FOCUS ON REAL PROBLEMS
Cry me a river. The poor police get a middle finger from some kid whose friends, co-workers, relatives and acquaintances have been attacked by armed “jump out boys” of the Springfield Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit, who target Black people 5.7 times more often than whites, even though statistics fail to substantiate that those stops result in anything more than white stops (“Finding a way forward,” Oct. 10). In fact, whites are more likely to have committed an actual offense.
These figures come straight from police records, required to be kept by law. Not only that, police increased the number of traffic stops by 25% and the percentage of Black motorists stopped increased in 2023.
Don Hanrahan
ACKNOWLEDGE INJUSTICE
Some commenters are missing the point entirely by assuming that protesters are driven solely by personal anger, rather than addressing real, systemic issues. The justice system, as it stands, is not designed to offer true justice or relief from suffering, especially for marginalized communities. Instead, it continues to function as a tool to exploit those deemed undesirable, perpetuating a modern form of slavery through mass incarceration.
It’s not about revenge or holding onto anger – it’s about recognizing the fact that the system was built to maintain social control, not to offer justice. The idea of forgiveness means little when the system itself is rigged to perpetuate harm. Instead of telling protesters to “let go of their anger,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the depth of the injustice they’re fighting against.
Phil Gray
Springfield
SHARE THE INFO
Seniors at Meadow View Landing and Meadow View Place have been subject to financial abuse and harassments, bullying and intimidation from HVG management and their lawyers. The hostile environment has become intolerable (“Senior housing turmoil continues,” Oct. 3).
I have been to the Springfield City Council three times since February 2024, asking the council to take note of this out-of-state landlord and the havoc it has played in the lives of around 100 seniors. I asked my alderman to let us know what settlement was agreed to by the lawyers from Highland Vista Group and CWLP due to the landlord violating the city’s position on third-party billing as it relates to utilities. Since we are on limited incomes, it would have an impact. Â
To my surprise, I never got an answer.
So, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the records, only to find out the lawyer for HVG asked CWLP to keep it all quiet and not to include information in the emails.Â
HVG Lawyer Randy Paswater said in the letter to CWLP his client hopes that private matters can stay private and that all persons that have an issue with their landlord can discuss those issues with their landlord without the threat of publication of those matters.
These 100 seniors having a tough time making ends meet, wanting to know how this situation is going to affect them financially, and the HVG lawyer wants CWLP to keep it quiet? I have no words. Â
Rosanna Pulido
Springfield
NEED BLUE-COLLAR JOBS
It’s nice to finally see some movement that will bring tax dollars to Springfield (“Making Springfield a distribution hub,” Oct 17). Now, how about some light or medium industry? Bring some respectable and new blue-collar jobs here and watch the town trend in a positive manner.
Aaron Graves
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
MORE ROAD REPAIRS
Be sure to factor in more continuous road repair work around those areas because the laden trucks tear up asphalt something fierce.
Mark Suszko
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in This I believe Illinois.
