Thank you to Karina Atkins of the Tribune for writing about the major disruptions caused by Lollapalooza (“Sounding off,” Aug. 6). City, Park District and business leaders emphasize the financial benefits of Lollapalooza while ignoring the negative impact the event has on people who live and work near Grant Park.
I live immediately adjacent to Grant Park and can speak to the harm that Lollapalooza causes, including heavy construction equipment that fills the park and adjacent streets, excessive noise and congestion, closed streets and sidewalks, and music that plays for 11 hours each day for four days and is so loud I am unable to comfortably live in my own home.
Lollapalooza is part of a larger problem. The city and Park District have become reliant on fees generated by large, private events to help balance their budgets. For most of our short summer season — 70 days — Grant Park and its surrounding streets and sidewalks are closed to the public, Our most famous public park is essentially privatized for the summer. The standard answer when residents complain about this is to be told the income from these events is vital and, without it, our taxes would increase.
In spite of resident complaints, the city and Park District continue to permit additional special events and expand ones that are currently held in Grant Park. We just lived through year two of NASCAR, with more to come. Returning this year is El Grito, a two-day Mexican Independence Day festival. Organizers of Suenos, a two-day music festival, have been given a permit for three days next year. With this expansion, Suenos may soon be as large as Lollapalooza.
Additionally, many smaller private events also occur; it is clear the city and Park District have no intention of scaling back. The scheduling often requires that the teardown for one event ends on the same day the construction for the next event begins. This goes on all summer.
Grant Park is heralded as the crown jewel of our public parks, so let’s treat it as such by keeping it open to the public rather than essentially selling its use to the highest private bidder. It’s time for our mayor and Park District to do the right thing and return the use of Grant Park to the residents of Chicago.
— Sue Connaughton, Chicago
Affirming constitutional purpose
Now that we know who the presidential candidates and their running mates are for the 2024 election, this a perfect time for our citizens to share our expectations for what our elected officials should be doing for us (and with us), regardless of political party.
To have a common understanding of those expectations, we must begin with the most fundamental of quality management principles, which is that everyone should know their purpose, especially those of us who are elected to run an organization as huge and impactful as the American government. Therefore, to earn our votes, we should expect that our fellow citizens who seek public office will pledge to fulfill their constitutional purpose. That should be their reason to serve, and the decisions they make while in office should be in pursuit of fulfilling their constitutional purpose.
So, what is their “constitutional purpose”? Although the original version can be found in the six objectives of the Preamble, I prefer Alexander Hamilton’s more concise and citizen-centric reason for having the Constitution. Hamilton said that their purpose in getting the Constitution ratified was to unite for our general welfare as well as protect us from the “factions” who do things adverse to our rights and our communities’ interests. They were the bad guys who harmed the rights and interests of America’s citizens. Today, I would describe them as the kleptocrats in the donor class. In addition, our elected officials should use best practices to satisfy their constitutional purpose.
As the next steps to elect competent officials who will fulfill their constitutional purpose, our eligible citizens should register to vote or verify that they are properly registered (because voter suppression tactics have never been more devious or ubiquitous). And we should query every candidate who will appear on our Nov. 5 ballots and send them an email petition demanding that they agree to fulfill their constitutional purpose while in office, or they will not earn our votes or our support for their candidacy.
— Dave Milburn, Algonquin
Kindness on Sweden’s streets
In late November 1964, I took a three-week leave of absence from the Navy and went to Europe for the first time. In order to save on airfare, I acted as a military courier to fly on a military aircraft at no charge. I had orders that enabled me to visit all of Western European. At McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, I waited most of the day until a flight was available. It took me to Torrejón Air Base in Madrid. After a few days there, I traveled to London; Paris; Frankfurt, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Stockholm. I admit that at that time I was attracted to Swedish girls. My landlady addressed me as “Herr Salganik,” which impressed me.
One day while walking the streets of central Stockholm in mid-December, I realized how cold it was. I was dressed in multiple layers and wearing a heavy raincoat with a warm lining, but my head was freezing. I stopped a man on the sidewalk who was wearing a Russian bear hat, also known as a ushanka. I asked him if he knew of a nearby store where I might buy one like his. He removed it from his head and placed it on mine. I offered to pay him for it, but he declined my offer.
It’s been nearly 60 years, but I’ll never forget this act of kindness by a stranger. I still have fond memories of Sweden and all of the friendly people I met.
— Wally Salganik, Buffalo Grove
Free Shakespeare in the parks
About 20 years ago, I became familiar with Midsommer Flight, which presents free William Shakespeare plays at Chicago parks throughout the summer. I applaud the actors of all ages who also appear in many theater performances in Chicago and around the country.
This summer, they performed “Romeo and Juliet.” The performances are as good as any other theater performances but are free. (Of course, donations are always appreciated.)
Check this out for next summer!
— Kathy Riordan, Chicago
Wowed by celebration of saint
On July 31, I attended the 5:30 p.m. Mass at the Church of the Holy Family and the reception that followed at nearby St. Ignatius High School on Roosevelt Road in Chicago. The invitation came in the form of a beautiful postcard announcing the celebration of the anniversary of St. Ignatius Loyola, who laid down his helmet and sword and dedicated himself to Christ.
The Church of the Holy Family, formerly Holy Family Catholic Church, was beautifully decorated on that sunny July evening. The historic wooden doors to the church were opened, and busy Roosevelt Road was humming with vehicles. Inside, a large congregation was celebrating the work of St. Ignatius Loyola and the legacy that continues to this day.
After the celebratory Mass, the walk down the block and into St. Ignatius High School led us to the quad to dedicate a new statute to Ignatius Loyola. I could not believe the beauty and serenity of the paved gardens and architectural features of the campus. One would think you were in an English garden or an Ivy League campus, not on the Near West Side of Chicago.
The reception and fellowship that followed the dedication reaffirmed my belief in my faith in Catholic education and the remarkable stewardship of those who came before us who fought to preserve these two gems on Roosevelt Road.
— Madeline M. Spurck, Blue Island
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