We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com.
NOT JUSTICE
I rent space from Chelsey Farley at her small business, The Soul Shoppe. I stayed to keep the shop open for her on Jan. 30 so she wouldn’t lose business while she attended court (“Former Springfield police sergeant sentenced for DUI,” Feb. 5).
People came forward to defend Mike Egan at his hearing, but if you know Chelsey, you know that she is kind, loving and gives back to people. She and her cousin, Missy, saved my life when I was having to decide between paying the light bill and paying for my 9-year-old son’s cancer treatments by letting me showcase some of my merchandise in their shop without charging me rent for the space for several months while we got back on our feet. They have always been there whenever we have needed them, including providing emotional support.
For the last year we have watched as Chelsey still tries to recover, both physically and emotionally. We have watched all of the effects that Mike Egan’s “one bad decision” has had on her and her family. It was heartbreaking watching her come back into the shop looking so defeated, so disillusioned.
Those of us who love and support her are also disappointed. Our legal system is supposed to be here to protect us and ensure justice is given. Yes, we all make bad decisions, but we must all pay the consequences of those actions. Egan was given a slap on the wrist, and in three months he will be out. We will continue to support Chelsey, and we won’t be quiet about that support.
Thank you for your coverage of her story.
Jane Marie Cozby
Via illinoistimes.com
NOT FAIR
Judge Robin Schmidt proved the justice system only works if you have money and great lawyers. It’s a racket. Imagine the sentence if Chelsey Farley was drunk and hit a cop or a judge. And Michael Egan will probably never lose his driving privileges.
I feel for Ms. Farley and her former boyfriend. They will never get over this injustice and the pain while Egan collects a guaranteed annual pension from taxpayers.
Evan Mahan
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
DON’T SECOND-GUESS
Are you second-guessing Mayor Misty Buscher and budget director Ramona Metzger on their budgets because they are women (“City has more expenses, less revenue,” Jan. 22)? It sure does look that way to me. I don’t remember Ken Crutcher being interviewed about Bill McCarty’s budget, and I don’t remember Jim Langfelder being questioned about his budget by Mike Houston. Since Mayor Buscher has become mayor, the last mayor has interjected himself in the running of the city – an election he lost – and Bill McCarty has now done the same with the budget. Seems to me the old boys’ club still exists.
Denise Beauman
Springfield
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM
There was an $8 million deficit last year – the city’s expenses exceeded revenue in 2025 by $8 million before transfers. Springfield is slowly losing population, just like Illinois as a whole. You can’t fix the problem until more voters start talking about the problem.
Adam Carlile
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
DO THE MATH
It takes about 52 private-sector employees to fund the pension of just one firefighter. There are not enough private-sector jobs in Springfield to keep the city functioning.
Marty Crews
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
STOP SPENDING
If the mayor is a Republican, shouldn’t she be working on cutting spending to balance the budget? That is what a conservative would do, right? I am with her on not increasing costs or taxes, but there comes a point when you have to stop spending.
Springfield has tens of millions in outstanding bonds. If the city doesn’t eliminate them, it will cost even more if more bonds have to be issued to service existing debt. Maybe they are all counting on being able to sell bonds later at a lower rate, but that is wishful thinking. There is a lot of spending going on in Springfield that isn’t necessary or really that beneficial.
The people do a share a bit of the blame, because if spending cuts are made, a bunch of folks will vote for whichever candidate promises to whip out the credit card, and politicians know this.
Sean Kelley
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in February 12-18, 2026.
@Denise Beauman I don’t think it is because they are women. I think it is because they are incompetent people.