Letters policy
We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime
telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity.
Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois
62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
LOOKING FOR A “POSITIVE” PLAN
A lot of misinformation [has circulated]
about the Illinois Audubon Society and the Adams House at its
sanctuary on Clear Lake Avenue. We’d like the opportunity to
clarify a few things. First, the society has not made a final
decision on the future of the house. We hope a solution can be
found that will preserve the house but also allow us to carry out
Margery Adams’ true wishes.
Regardless of what some people think, Miss
Adams did not ask the society to preserve her home. In fact, when
she deeded the property to us, she specifically allowed for the
demolition of the house [see Linda Hughes, “Tearing down the
house,” June 23]. Her intent was for her property to be
preserved as a wildlife sanctuary, and we have faithfully honored
her directive.
Consistent with our mission, we have also used
the property to educate children about wildlife conservation.
Because of structural limitations and high operation costs, the
house does not meet our current and future needs. We want to build
a new, energy-efficient structure to handle an expanded educational
program. In her deed, Miss Adams authorized us to erect such a
building.
The Illinois Audubon Society is the oldest
conservation organization in Illinois, having protected wildlife
habitat and fostered an appreciation for birds and wildlife for 108
years. The Adams Wildlife Sanctuary is one of many that we own and
care for. Several of our sanctuaries provide critical habitat for
threatened and endangered species. We work hard at carrying out our
mission, which is the first priority of every responsible
not-for-profit organization.
Those who are truly interested in the
preservation of the house need to come forward now with a positive
plan and also help us fulfill our need for a new, separate,
energy-efficient structure. We look forward to such a dialogue.
Marilyn F. Campbell
Executive Director
Illinois Audubon Society
Danville
IN DEFENSE OF DO-GOODERS
This responds to F.N. Ross’ misinformed,
myopic, and mean-spirited letter [July 28] about “historic
do-gooders” who “do nothing now but complain
later” and who don’t spend their “time, effort,
or money” to save historic buildings and who
“don’t have much — if any — of a record in
actually accomplishing what they espouse.”
Who or what is Ross describing? I guess
Carolyn Oxtoby, Fletcher “Bud” Farrar, Save Old
Springfield, and, before it, the Historic Preservation Association
of Springfield qualify as “historic do-gooders”
(we’d prefer “historic preservationists”). Oxtoby
has put considerable time, effort, and financial risk into
restoring the Maldaner’s complex and the Fisher-Latham block
along Sixth Street. Farrar’s organization has restored many
older homes in the Enos Park neighborhood. Members of the HPAS
developed German Settlers Row on Cook, including the move there of
threatened buildings from Monroe and College, and helped rescue,
among others, the building now housing the State Court of Appeals
on Monroe. SOS jumped in just ahead of the bulldozers to save the
1857 21-room Judge Taylor House at 12th and Cass and has literally
poured in sweat, blood, and more than $20,000 of personal money
just to make it safe and stable.
Get the facts before criticizing
public-spirited citizens who not only believe in and espouse the
preservation of significant parts of our past but who also put much time,
effort, and money behind their advocacy. In so doing, they’ve
helped make our city a more historically attractive place to live and
to visit.
Jerry Jacobson
Save Old Springfield
COME ON-A MY HOUSE
I would like to congratulate the Springfield
Mass Transit District for organizing a historic-sites route.
Recently I requested an accommodation to aid tourist travel.
The request concerns using the entrance bus
lane at the Illinois Visitor Center, which, I feel, could become
the most convenient tourist stop on the entire SMTD historic site
route. This change is more convenient and safe, allowing tourists
to depart for a capitol-complex walking tour from the appropriate
location, a point at which they could review tourist fliers and see
a welcoming film about the capitol complex. There is even an
opportunity for a restroom break. As an added plus, it would allow
tourists an opportunity to view the restored 1896 Pasfield House.
The Pasfield House received the Illinois Times 2003
Best of Springfield award as the editor’s choice as the best
rehab of a historic residence. That recognition is an honor I will
always cherish, a confirmation of Springfield’s preservation
efforts by many and, frankly, a motivation for my continuing
efforts in preservation projects. I believe the Pasfield House
reinforces our city pride when visitors see the classic
architecture and my landscaping efforts in connection to
Springfield Green and the Illinois
Times’ Yard to Yard Challenge.
This route adjustment will become especially
important when the Pasfield House is opened later this fall as a
bed & breakfast. Friends of mine are making plans to coordinate
a series of tours for the Pasfield House and other Springfield
historic homes. With any luck, a daily scheduled historic home tour
could make a greater use of the SMTD historic-site route, which has
been reported as being underutilized.
Tony Leone
Owner, Pasfield House
Springfield
WHY BLAGO LIVES IN CHICAGO
I read the article on “playing
terrorism” with a feeling that it was a “play
day” in the opinion of a lot of people [R.L. Nave,
“Target Springfield,” July 28]. The vulnerability of
Springfield has long been a concern of mine. Yes, it is a small
city of not-too-much apparent significance other than its former
resident celebrity, but does the average Joe realize what a target
we offer here?
First, think of this scenario: A typical
“tourist” vehicle parks in the vicinity of Capitol and
Second or on Monroe near Second. No one pays any attention, because
tourists are common around the Capitol. No planes flying in low. No Ryder trucks
parked nearby. Just an unassuming car at a parking meter. Then, boom!
The car carried a nuclear “suitcase” bomb that was
detonated by remote control. This would take out not only the entire
seat of government but also the Illinois State Police headquarters,
which houses all the computerized equipment that controls the entire
state, and a large share of the command personnel. Crime labs would be
crippled. A trooper would have no information at his fingertips. All
functions that rely on important information about gangs, crimes, and
terrorist activities would be gone. The governor’s offices, the
secretary of state’s offices, the comptroller’s offices as
well as those of the FBI and U.S. Marshal are all within striking
distance of the Capitol Complex.
I think it is high time these naysayers pull
their head out of the sand and face the obvious: Yes, Chicago is a
big target, but would [its destruction] stymie government and
police functions statewide? I don’t think so. Go ahead and
prepare. I just pray that it is money wasted and never put to use.
Keith A. Schroeder
Springfield
OBJECTS TO STEM-CELL FUNDING
Maybe it’s time to tell King Rod that
our state government is a representative democracy, not a monarchy.
What possible justification does Gov. Rod Blagojevich have for
authorizing $10 million for stem-cell research without a positive
vote of the General Assembly? It is apparent that he believes his
“moral” end is justified by his devious and blatant
abuse of executive power.
There are several other disturbing issues in
this case. To begin, why is it necessary that government be
involved in this kind of research? If this or any other research
has sufficient payback potential, private funding will surely be
made available to pursue it. Let the drug companies do their
return-on-investment analysis and decide which projects they should
fund.
Furthermore, many Illinois citizens — me
included — are convinced that research using embryonic stem
cells is ethically and morally wrong. This is reflected in our
Legislature’s reluctance to support this work with their
votes. I am also anxious to find cures for Alzheimer’s and
juvenile diabetes, but I do not believe it is moral for the state
to “do evil that good may come.”
I sincerely hope that the Legislature has the
courage to stand up to our governor’s outrageous abuse of
executive power. At a minimum, this executive order should be
overturned or denied funding. Then let’s go to work and elect
a governor who respects the will of the people.
Jerry Collins
Quincy
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2005.
