What's on your mind? Speak Out messages are edited first before appearing in print and online.
Hopes Obama helps working class people
Well, President Obama has been in office for over 100 days. Good for him. He made it this far. I did not vote for him, but I'm waiting to get excited about some of the "changes" he's making. So far, not so much. One thing that really bothers me is that he and all the press call him the "first black president". He is not. He is the "first bi-racial president" and he should be proud of that. I was born to a black mother and a Hawaiian father. I am bi-racial and I am proud of it. Our president makes this category seem insignificant. I'm not impressed with him. Hope he does something positive soon to benefit the working class American.
City may be stuck with noise wall bill
Right now the city is on the hook for the $350,000 owed to the state for the Park Ridge Pointe noise wall. State Sen. Dan Kotowski is trying to route the funds to the city so we can pay the state.
Rooster joins effort to help people in need
Henry the Rooster and I would like to ask the wonderful folks of Des Plaines to help in providing food for the folks who are less fortunate in Des Plaines. We don't get involved in politics, but this town is in need of help. Please contact the folks at The Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines. Henry the Rooster and I thank all of you. Building friendship.
(Ed. Note: It's nice to know Henry is spreading his wings into other ventures.)
How convenient to approve purchase of building
How underhanded. On the last meeting of the lame-duck Des Plaines City Council, they vote to purchase the old Masonic Temple building for their city hall plans. And unanimously. This project is a misuse of city funds and cultural resources, and I hope the new members of the council have the tenacity to put a stop to it. Littelfuse is the place for the police station, not downtown.
Claims Riverwalk caused more flooding
When the Des Plaines Riverwalk was being constructed, I questioned the city about the possibility of the wall resulting in more river water coming toward Mill Street and the condos. The engineer, Mr. Oakley, stated this was not to be a concern. Well, the wall went up and the Mill Street area flooded. I lived in the Mill Run Condominiums for 13 years and we never flooded. I sold and moved to Arizona before this latest event. It seems now that the only solution would be to build another wall on the Mill Street side running from the factories to the underside of the bridge by Dempster and River.
(Ed. Note: Are you sure that area did not flood before?)
Doesn't believe casino will cause kid related problems
To all those folks who keep on writing about the doom and gloom of hosting the proposed casino, I'm here to tell you that it's a business just like any other that will give back a lot more to the community than most traditional businesses. It will be an adult oriented venue that will allow adults to gamble, dine, etc. The operative word here is "adults". For the lady in Park Ridge who is worried about her kid's safety, there is absolutely no reason to think that the casino would pose any danger out of the ordinary. Minors are not allowed on the premises where gaming is taking place. As for dining, shopping, movies, etc., it wouldn't be any different than if they went to the local mall.
People must be more guarded about shadiness
I just read about another citizen falling for a scam that ended up wiping out their bank account. I am amazed as to how seemingly intelligent people allow perfect strangers to literally rob them blind. Wake up people, there's no excuse for this. You're smart. Smart people do not behave in this manner. And if you do fall prey to this type of stupid behavior, please don't add insult to injury and whine about it. Zero sympathy for being stupid. And remember the old saying, that if it looks too good to be true, it probably isn't. Wise up and save yourself from financial catastrophe. This advice goes double for our senior citizens. If a stranger wants access to your personal financial information, please either hang up the phone or shut the door in their face. Don't be a victim.
Where is the justice in connection with accident?
What I would like to know why is this man is out of jail. If he was driving on a revoked license and this is his second alleged DUI offense and his vehicle wasn't insured, in Arizona that gets your vehicle impounded and you go to jail. Somebody tell me why does he walk the streets while this officer lies in a hospital three weeks later? This officer has a child and grandchildren that he cannot consciously spend time with due to the injuries he sustained from this "man's" mistake. Meanwhile, this guy gets his vehicle back, his life back, and his freedom. I would not be surprised if he was out driving again. It is an aberration that this guy walks while the officer he ran over remains in the hospital, and will be there for quite some time longer.
Thrilled to see English language movies have returned
I am so excited the Des Plaines Theater is showing some English/American movies. I wasn't able to attend the ones that played over the past few weekends so I don't know what the attendance was like. However, I think with the corporate movie theaters charging whatever they are these days this theater provides a great alternative for couples and families with a unique atmosphere. As a suggestion, I'm sure a weekday afternoon children's movie would get great attendance from those with young children at home. Keep the English language movies going, I promise I'll make it to the next one.
Choo-Choo site is perfect for police station
Why should anyone be concerned about the Choo-Choo Restaurant? There is plenty of vacant land downtown where the restaurant can relocate. The location in which the Choo-Choo is located is perfect for a new police station.
People better learn to fight city hall
They say you can't fight city hall. Well, Des Plaines citizens better fight this harebrained plot for a new one at Miner and Lee.
Same old message is leaving me sick and tired
I am sick and tired of hearing the same anti-immigrant sentiment to the effect of "learn English or leave" every week.
Fear undesirables who might drift down to neighborhood
"I live in Park Ridge, which is down the block from the proposed site for the casino. I don't want the undesirables to drift through my town down the block from my daughter's high school." You need to worry more about the drug problem at Maine South than the casino.
Property across from library never was a park
On property across from the Mt. Prospect Library, residential homes were no longer holding economic value. The properties were sold to Norwood Builders along with the bank parking lot to provide a total solution to the block. It was never a park. Grass does not make a park. And the trees were cut down for development, not killed. No murder was committed. The spokesman for the group to protect the historic trees voted on the District 214 board to cut down the same amount of historic trees at Hersey High School to construct two softball fields. A double standard?
Local Democrats have only themselves to blame
I am a Democrat and I have been keeping up with the latest Speak Out articles with regards to the recent township election that occurred on Apr. 7. I held my nose and voted for the Democratic slate. The reason I had to hold my nose was because they ran such a negative campaign, and had no clear issues that separated them from their opposition. Now I read in the last edition where they are trying to blame the Journal & Topics for their defeat. How absurd can this be when they themselves are responsible for losing this election? Go find another scapegoat.
Says Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase was a great leader
Nicholas Blase was a great mayor for Niles. His accomplishments were very positive...especially for seniors.
Does not think Vole will be fair
Well, in Prospect Hts., Dolly Vole won one and lost one in the election. She won the mayoral race over a better candidate and lost because she got Gerry Andersen on her council. We all remember the past alderman who always seems to find ghosts under every rock and has a hard time being quiet. I'm afraid that Vole will not run a fair city.
We should not have to clean up after your pet
We had a dog and we were constantly cleaning up. Our landscaping crew found dog waste on our front lawn. We have a landscaper cut the grass and bushes and we pay. But they should not have to handle somebody else's responsibility. The old saying, "if the shoe fits", you know who you are. Clean up after your pet. I know who you are. I am a responsible person who does what is expected of me and so should you.
HartMarx workers should run the place themselves
The 600 workers of beloved HartMarx should occupy the factory, buy the cloth themselves and start making suits as a worker cooperative. Fire the workers? Fire the management and have the workers run it as a co-op. This happens all over the world, and it needs to happen here. Unburdened by debt of previous bad management, workers will salvage the best part of the business, i.e. the machines and the knowledge of how to use them, and shed the "bad" part, which is HartMarx management and excessive loans.
Has strong concerns about other languages, flag flying
I believe that everyone is entitled to come to the United States, but only legally. My ancestors came from Germany and Ireland and when they came over they learned the English language. I get really upset when all I see are signs written in Spanish. How will the Hispanic community learn English when so much is given to them in their own language? I really resent this and I see way too many corporations and stores, etc., allowing this to continue. I don't want the new language of the United States to be Spanish. I feel that's it's time for Congress to make the English language the official language of the U.S. I live here, speak English, and expect all who enter our country to do the same. I'm not against keeping the cultures and teaching the children other languages, but the language we all should speak is English. As for people displaying flags of other countries, especially on their cars, I also find this offensive. People, do you live here, or do you want to move back to the country from where you came? Are you not proud to live in the U.S.? I don't fly the flags of Germany or Ireland, but I am proud of my family heritage. However, this is my country now and I am so proud of it. I've never written to Speak Out before, but I just felt that I had to let my feelings known. Thanks so much.
Many reasons for auto industry dilemma
This closing of 3,000 Chrysler and 5,000 GM dealers can only be blamed on stupidity and greed. Way back the car makers closed down in June, sold all the cars that were made and retooled for next year's model, opening up again in the fall. To keep on producing autos that aren't sold or wanted is stupidity. The greed enters with the workers padding their salaries while making these over produced autos. Now, what about all the salesmen, mechanics, and many others behind the scenes workers who keep these dealerships open? How crazy. If they want any bailout money, get it from the millions of over produced autos sitting in lots all across the country as they are sold at reduced prices and the labor to produce these cars is long ago paid for in their salaries. That's what a bailout should be.
Will Dist. 57 perform background checks?
The real question pertaining to Mt. Prospect School District 57 board vacancy is will there be a background check?
People need to reach out and help others
Henry the Rooster and I would like to ask the youths in Des Plaines to get involved in helping people in need. This is something that Henry and I want to do to help the wonderful folks in Des Plaines that are going though tough times. I am going to cut some elderly folks' lawn. I will use a riding mower, and make a perch on the hood for Henry to sit on, while we cut their grass.
She should fit in well with other "clowns"
I see that we now have a part-time clown as city clerk. She ought to fit in with those clowns on the council.
Calls attention to neighbor's property
It's time once again to begin the time-honored annual ritual of drawing attention to a specific vacant lot in my neighborhood. The owner of the lot seems to pride himself/herself in allowing it to become overgrown with weeds. He graces the nearby homeowners with the traditional "mowing of the weeds" two or three times per summer. There may be an extra mowing if surrounding residents complain to City Hall, but not usually. We really should contact some local botanists to identify the species of "grass" growing in the lot. My grass needs to be cut about once a week. The magic grass in the vacant lot needs to be cut only two or three times per summer. It's amazing stuff. Oh, and judging by the junk, empty bottles and cans visible as one walks past the lot, it would appear that the lot is not always vacant. Perhaps the folks who pass through and hang out there enjoy the company of the poison ivy, weeds, broken glass, and skunks. Oh sure, the lot has a fence, but the fence is only a fence in the academic sense. It is a rusty, barely standing, collection of old chain link, wire, tape, chicken wire, loose fence posts, iron rods, and for a special touch: a length scissor gate. Charming. And it is all in need of repair.
Come on, leave the Choo-Choo alone
She's not moving and we don't want her to move. Leave the Choo-Choo alone already. Save the Choo-Choo.
Great causes soon coming to DP
The Des Plaines Relay for Life is coming up soon--June 26th--at Maine West. I hope that the new administration in Des Plaines steps up to the challenge. Maybe the park district could challenge the city government or the firemen could challenge the police force. It should be lots of fun this year---music, games, food. It's a great cause.
Must make sure that pork is not loaded up
What we don't need is more pork loaded up in the budget. But some aldermen are bent on seeing that this city becomes a welfare state should they keep up this banter.
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