What's on your mind? Speak Out messages are edited first before appearing in print and online.
Is there a special school for Illinois politicians?
Illinois government is crooked all the way through. Quinn isn't any better than Blagojevich. They raise taxes and then raise their pay and blow money on stupid things. Is there a "special school" all these crooks go to? Must be. There sure are enough of them in our government.
God bless volunteers heading for Haiti
God bless my wife and those volunteers leaving tomorrow morning for Haiti.
Seems like they're getting mail once or twice
To the person regarding the mail service to one day a week, you should move to Glendale Hts. My girlfriend seems to be getting her mail 1 or 2x a week.
Response to diseases makes little sense
HIV has been around for decades and people still refuse to wear something as simple as a condom. Yet the Swine Flu has been around for a little over two months and people are packing on facemasks. What has happened to our society's common sense?
If on food stamps how can they afford big car?
I really get tired of going to the grocery store and getting in a line behind someone using food stamps only to find them getting into and driving away in an Escalade or Tahoe vehicle with those brand new spinner wheels. How can they afford these cars if they are on food stamps? Can someone explain this to me?
Isn't picking up after pet your responsibility?
Sometimes dogs do get loose, do their duty, and it can happen anywhere. We dog owners apologize for this and for the owners of dogs who are not responsible enough to pick up after their pet. Most of us are good people with good pets. Sorry again. But, the quote from a recent Speak Out regarding dog waste seems somehow contradictory or full of "duty", such as: "We have a landscaper cut the grass and bushes who we pay. But they should not have to handle somebody else's responsibility." Well isn't your yard maintenance your responsibility in the first place? Yet you put that off on someone else. Gotcha.
It's time for leadership not gimmicks
Sen. Link is now sending his "people" to do his dirty work in Arlington Hts. Illinois already ranks third in the country in gambling revenues and these clowns in Springfield still can't make ends meet. It's time for new leaders, not more taxes and gimmicks to get money from citizens.
Immigrants need to learn the English language
I notice that some immigrants do not like that American citizens resent this push for a bilingual nation and national language. Why? All the immigrants before you came with their native customs and languages. Part of becoming a naturalized citizen was the pride of being able to speak American English and read and write it. Now we are becoming a nation of whiners that wants everyone to "give it to me" and "do it for me". You want the American dream like those before you. It means you have to work for it, which includes learning the language of your second home country. If I moved to any other country, to be able to survive or be a citizen I would have to learn their language and I would. Quit your complaining. My parents are immigrants, my husband and in-laws are immigrants and they are all proud to live their lives speaking English, accents and all, and reading and writing it the best they can. If you want what America has to offer you then you need to give America the little she demands to be one of her own. Get over it and learn the language. I as a first generation American take offense to those who feel it's not important enough and have no qualms about saying as much since I am the child of immigrants to the USA from their European homelands. So your cries of "you don't understand" fall on deaf ears here because I do understand first hand.
Leaders need to leave our icons alone
Dear City of Des Plaines: Please don't make the same mistake Macy's made. Leave our landmarks and icons alone. You will do great damage to the charm of Des Plaines if you move the Choo Choo. My 20-year-old son and his friends came home from college to hear the news and have been going to the Choo Choo for burgers to show they still love it. They want to take their kids there someday just as they were taken. This was the place we went after doctor appointments whenever he had to get a shot. This is Americana, this is real. No one needs another strip mall or office building.
Say it ain't so about Park Ridge people
"43 Charged In Party Bust Forty-three 17, 18 and 19-year-olds---most of whom are Park Ridge residents": Say it ain't so, not Park Ridge. Those are perfect people who don't want our casino to corrupt their little children. What are we to do?
She managed to get neighborhood improvement
Now I know how to get improvements for my Glenview neighborhood. Kerry Cummings, village president, just had the board of trustees approve $84,670 for the Swainwood area street lighting project. Oddly, there were no other neighborhoods, which were granted any type of improvements.
Thanks to local communities for helping us
The residents at Sunset Village are really trying to make the place nice. I realize how lucky my family is to be able to live in this area at such an affordable price. We lost our house in Gurnee when I lost my job. I was fortunate to have found this one here that I could afford. Anything that our more affluent and influential neighbors can do to help us make our little area better (new water systems, traffic control signals, etc.) will always be appreciated by us. Thank you to all the residents and authorities of Glenview, Northfield and Winnetka for allowing me and my family to live here beside you.
So what is his solution to illegal immigration?
Once again, John Crawford resorts to political attacks while discussing the illegal immigration problem in this country. He manages to attack Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich simply because those two dignitaries ask for a reasonable solution to thousands of people entering our country every day without permission. Every one of these illegal immigrants know they are breaking the law when they make the decision to jump our borders and enter this country. We are the only industrial country in the world that allows people to enter our country illegally (without having to check-in first) everyday. What is your solution John? Do you want to remove the border and let millions of more illegals enter our country? How do you plan on handling the major expense involved? Raise taxes again? You assume Barack Obama is going to have a reasonable solution. In four years we will all (except the media) re-evaluate his accomplishments and see if he has solved the illegal immigration problem.
They should let accused teacher go
Jennifer Espinosa, the Maine East teacher who is now in jail for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year old-boy, should be set free immediately. The so-called victim, the 16-year-old boy, probably loves her. She's an attractive woman, and is probably bright too, other than letting her emotions get the best of her at times. She obviously loves him. If they don't continue their relationship, the kid will probably have fond memories of it for the rest of his life. Fire her from her teaching job, fine her, and let her off with time served, after she is freed immediately. Let her go. The kid was only one year from being legal anyway.
Can't even get a nap with those ice cream trucks
It's time to pull the plug on the roving ice cream truck. Loud car radios are bad enough, but the annoying "music" blaring through residential neighborhoods all over town casts a pall over the entire community. If I want ice cream or other junk food, I'll go and buy some in a store. As I hear it, there is no possibility of a Sunday afternoon nap in Des Plaines. I certainly don't want the quality of life in this residential community constantly bombarded by these inane musical scores. It's time for it to stop. It's time for it to stop. It's time for it to stop.
Thinks it's time Henry gets a summer job
I think Henry the Rooster needs a job. I am trying to figure out what can we get Henry the Rooster to do. All the wonderful Journal & Topics readers, please give us your ideas on what can we get Henry to do this summer.
How could city have approved pay hike?
How could the entire city council have voted for a 3.75 increase? We hope all those union workers live in Des Plaines so that they can help pay the taxes for such a large increase. It's unheard of in this day and age to give such a large increase, especially since so many people are losing their jobs and having to take 10% cuts from their employers and 10% cuts from their vacations. Let all the union workers walk out. There is a long line of people just waiting to take their place. Des Plaines doesn't have the casino up and running yet. Where is this money coming from?
Towns of equal size, but not equal payrolls
Since both Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect have a population of around 56,000 why does Des Plaines have 630 employees and Mt. Prospect have only 301 employees? Wouldn't it be nice to list all Des Plaines' 630 positions (job titles) and compare them to all Mt. Prospect's 301 positions (job titles)?
They could foreclose on many more
Wells Fargo hopes to eliminate 5,000 more jobs with the suit company. If they can do this, they could foreclose on thousands more homes as well, since those people would be out of work. Stop Wells Fargo.
Disappointed that fire trucks didn't stay longer
I attended the "Touch a Truck" event in Des Plaines with my young children and some neighborhood kids on Saturday, May 16. This event was held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. My boys were very excited. They couldn't wait to see the big red fire trucks, so we were at the "Touch a Truck" event bright and early by 9 a.m. Unfortunately there were no fire trucks or any other vehicles representing the Des Plaines Fire Dept. there at 9 a.m. While we did have a great time with the men from the Des Plaines Police Dept. and Public Works, we really did want to climb aboard the fire engines. I was told the Des Plaines Fire Dept. "forgot" they were part of the main attraction. The fire department was called and they did arrive over an hour late. They were very nice and my boys had fun climbing on the trucks. We went across the street to see the pet parade and when we came back the fire department was leaving after only staying a little over an hour. It's not like they were rushing to a fire or to get a cat out of tree. They just slowly packed up and drove away. My family was very saddened to see the lack of enthusiasm form the fire department. After all, to a young child, the police and firemen have always been positive role models. Thank God the Des Plaines Police and Public Works employees are always there for us and have great work ethics. The mom and kids of West Park.
Kudos to Prospect Hts. mayor
I find it very ironic that the new mayor in Prospect Hts. is getting harshly criticized by former public officials and others for trying to build her own team for her new administration. At issue is the reconsideration of a zoning board appointee who was initially approved in a special city council meeting called at the last minute by the former acting mayor in the waning days of his administration. While Ms. Dash appeared qualified and may not have done anything wrong, she has to realize that her 11th-hour appointment was a clear attempt to deny the incoming mayor the appointment. And Mayor Vole herself did nothing wrong in rescinding the rushed appointment of someone who would not serve a single day under the administration in which she was seated. Vole was elected on a platform of changing the way our city conducts itself and appointing residents to city boards and commissions supportive of her initiatives are a legitimate manner in which to affect this change. Plus her choice of former alderman and zoning board member Corinne Frank was an excellent choice; Ms. Frank has a wealth of experience in zoning matters, she fully understands city council procedures, and she has served our city and its residents well. Also, her past absences at prior zoning board meetings were understandably directly connected to scheduling conflicts while earning her since-completed law degree. Corrine Frank is an excellent choice for this important public hearing body and kudos to Mayor Vole for her decisions in the appointment.
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