I concur with Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO Jaime di Paulo’s thinking in his Sept. 18 letter to the editor (“Celebration of pride, identity”) about coming up with a solution to work together to create an environment that dignifies Mexican culture.
However, I am concerned with his position that car caravans during Mexican Independence Day celebrations are an affirmation of Mexican heritage. Such activities in downtown Chicago threaten to overwhelm the public safety infrastructure that is considered basic to our city.
If we continue down this path of disregard for law and order, downtown residents, employees and tourists will lose their freedoms.
— Jim Murray, Chicago
Just trying to enjoy opera
Regarding the editorial “Chicago needs a new approach to Mexican Independence Day weekend” (Sept. 17): I cannot agree with the Tribune Editorial Board more. Last year, when we left a September night performance at Lyric Opera, we had a nightmare getting home as the streets were clogged with the car caravans celebrating. Trying to get home to the West Ridge neighborhood took hours on Ashland Avenue.
This year, again trying to get home from the opera on Saturday, we were delayed — not by caravans but by police blockades that forced us to leave the city going west on Interstate 290 to go out to I-294 to go north.
I hope next year, our first opera of the year will not be on the Mexican Independence Day weekend.
— Eileen G. Soderstrom, Chicago
Editorial sidesteps issues
Regarding the editorial about the Mexican Independence Day celebration: Lawlessness? Yes! Do your homework, Tribune Editorial Board. It’s illegal to set off fireworks in Chicago. Throughout the weekend, downtown residents were subjected to large firework explosions. One such explosion hit my window and left a big black mark — and I live on the 10th floor!
And reckless driving is illegal. I saw plenty of that during the multiday Mexican Independence Day celebration. Also, it’s illegal to ride in a car or truck without wearing a seatbelt. This can be especially dangerous when passengers are sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, sitting in open windows and sitting on roofs, typically through a sunroof.
Does someone have to die or be seriously injured before the Tribune Editorial Board calls out such violations and the caravan participants stop their obnoxious, dangerous behavior?
— Greg Borzo, Chicago
What about a formal parade?
Why doesn’t the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce apply for a parade permit and then have an organized parade at a set time on a set date? That seems a lot easier.
— Douglas Kot, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
No reelection for Jackson Jr.
Laura Washington’s column on Jesse Jackson Jr. seeking a possible “second act” is unsettling (“Is Jesse Jackson Jr. seeking a second act?” Sept. 18). Earlier this month, the Tribune published an excellent series on Illinois’ history of political corruption that has “poisoned” the state, calling it a source of shame.
Jackson Jr.’s conspiring to defraud his campaign of about $750,000 competed with some of the largest acts of corruption in the state’s history. Rather than help others with the money, “Triple J” lavished himself with gifts and added to Illinois’ cycle of graft.
A presidential pardoning of the former U.S. representative would do nothing to rehabilitate the state’s notorious reputation. Indeed, a reelection of Jackson Jr. to any political office in Illinois would do little to dissuade further corruption in Illinois and only add to the state’s notoriety.
— Terry Takash, Western Springs
The fining of Trump Tower
The news that Trump Tower has violated environmental laws that protect fish in the Chicago River (“Trump Tower faces fines,” Sept. 12) seems less ominous than the proposed erection of a new Bears stadium closer to the lakefront with a much bigger cross section, which would surely lead to even greater numbers of birds crashing to their deaths, as the Tribune has covered at adjacent McCormick Place, which lies within the ancient migratory bird route along Lake Michigan.
Additionally, the Sept. 1 Tribune article on Northerly Island (“Expectations unmet”), a nearby peninsula, says, “Aggressive wave action and strong storms — both intensified by climate change — eroded the eastern side of the island.” At the recent presidential debate, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris called climate change an “existential threat.” Yet none of these environmental outcomes — erosion of the shore and bird strikes — have been mentioned regarding the proposed Bears stadium.
Minimizing the disruption of an international flyway and establishing shoreline buffers to address coastal erosion surely trump concerns over aquatic life in a backwater that is a far cry from its natural state.
Until these environmental impacts are equally addressed, it appears this is another political witch hunt.
— J.D. Colwell, Chicago
Keeping the peace at home
Wadee Alfayoumi’s death was a heinous crime allegedly committed by a landlord who may be mentally ill. Why the war in Gaza set off Joseph Czuba in such a disturbing way is unknown, but it is not connected to the interests and concerns of American Jews.
Regarding misinformation, typically spread by social media as opposed to mainstream media, there was a rumor Czuba is Jewish, which he isn’t.
Just as Palestinian Americans and other Muslims are upset by the ongoing war in Gaza, so are those of the Jewish faith, along with others. Though our aspirations sharply differ over the fate of Israel and the Palestinian areas, nobody wishes to have any more children and other innocents die because of their faith or ethnic background.
I think U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin expressed the correct approach. The implicit message is that this unfortunate war shouldn’t become fodder for any Americans to take the law into their own hands. The beauty, and vulnerability, of the United States is our national mosaic crafted of multiple religions, nationalities and races. We must strive to keep the peace at home to at least set an example of what peaceful coexistence can accomplish across the world.
— Rosalie Lieberman, Chicago
The many hostages of Hamas
In response to Blaise J. Arena’s recent letter (“A story about a Palestinian,” Sept. 8) regarding the hypothetical “Ahmed,” perhaps Arena should consider the fact that the very real Hersh Goldberg-Polin had something in common with Ahmed. They both were hostages — hostages of the cowardly, barbaric Hamas, which holds its own people hostage by using them as human shields. The death of a Palestinian boy such as Ahmed is squarely on the shoulders of Hamas. How any humane person can show admiration for this terrorist organization is beyond belief.
— Lawrence and Ilene Bergman, Glenview
Unintended consequences
In Sunday’s paper, a letter (“Prescription drug costs in Illinois”) supports Illinois House Bill 4472, which would create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to set limits on the prices of certain medications. The writer assumes an Illinois government board could wave a magic wand to limit drug costs.
Imagine you’re a global drug company, and you’re told by Illinois that you can’t charge more than a certain amount for your drug. If that is less than your break-even price to cover your research and development outlay, your current production costs and your profit margin for your shareholders, won’t your first reaction be to limit or cancel your sales in Illinois?
— David Swanson, Elgin
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