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SUPPORT SECOND AMENDMENT
She didn’t ask for Joe (Biden) to be killed, she is defending her Second Amendment rights (“Beni Harmony heads to the White House,” Oct. 8). When I️ was in high school, kids had unloaded guns in their gun racks in their trucks.
Lisa Nev
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
WRONG MESSAGE
I guess that’s one way to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Amy Lakin
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NO RIGHT TO SUBSIDIES
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution outline basic rights that all humans should have, and the government doesn’t have to provide them at any cost (“Housing is a human right,” Oct. 1). One exception is the defendant’s right to counsel, but that applies only when the state is prosecuting the person. It is OK to consider housing a right, as long as taxpayers’ coerced payments to the state do not have to provide the funds.
Another article mentions the Nehemiah Project expansion, which is funded by federal and state government tax credits; that is, taxpayers pick up the tab (“We cannot build fast enough,” Oct. 1). It costs an average of $450,000 each for the homes that are built. A privately purchased home at that cost would pay about $11,000 per year in real estate taxes. Will the owners or renters of the Nehemiah houses pay that amount to provide services everyone else pays the government for, primarily schools?
It also appears the government is subsidizing the proposed data center here in Sangamon County, but two wrongs don’t make a right. An essentially free house is an injustice to those paying for it.
Dan Punzak
Springfield
NO SURPRISE
The Taylorville City Council is “very shocked” that business owners don’t want to be in a construction zone for two years (“Downtown dilemma in Taylorville,” Sept. 23)? I was just talking to a Decatur resident today and they said their downtown project severely impacted business and some closed.
Amelia Shoemaker
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THANKS FOR EFFORTS
Thank you to Claudia Zabala and members of Amigos Unidos for helping the Beardstown Mexican and Latino community maintain and integrate their culture in their new home (“Changing demographics in Beardstown,” Oct. 8). Your early work with members of Beardstown United made great progress to improve relationships in Beardstown.
Victor Juarez
Via illinoistimes.com
MADE PROGRESS
I love seeing the dancers in the Beardstown Fall Fun Festival parade. I’m so proud of how far we have come as a community!
Donna Givens
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This article appears in October 22-28, 2026.
