Rick Kogan asked if Mike Royko was the toughest man in Chicago (“At Newberry Library and on stage, the return of Mike Royko,” June 23). Maybe not in a street fight, but he was the champ when it came to columnists.
On Saturdays, I would leave my father’s grocery at 607 N. Clark St., now the site of the defunct Rainforest Café, with a copy of the Daily News tucked under my arm. An hour off for a burger at the St. Regis hotel while I read Royko’s latest would be the highlight of my day. Maggiano’s now occupies that site at the corner of Clark and Grand Avenue.
Royko’s “toughness” came out in his columns as he challenged the status quo and laid bare the graft and corruption that were just business as usual at the time. It was quite a revelation for a 13-year-old in 1963 and fit perfectly with what I saw around me on just two blocks of Clark from Grand to Ontario Street.
The Sunshine Gospel Mission was on the other side of the street from the store and not far from shot-and-beer joints. A cleaner was a few doors down where the manager sold sidearms and drugs, allegedly protected by bribes and “the Outfit,” as Royko would say. All those stores are gone.
In the afternoon, Dad would send me to the diner at the end of our block for a coffee run. The owner would stand behind the counter, an unlit cigar in his mouth and a pencil behind his ear. He took orders for food and bets on the horses. The latter was a lot more profitable, even with the cost of clout.
My first Sunday delivery was to a hotel on Clark. The manager was a gruff old guy who was known to be a big tipper. When I walked into the foyer, several young women were lounging about in nightgowns. When I returned, Dad explained. I never went back. That part of my education was over; he sent other delivery boys who needed the money.
Thank you to Rick Kogan for reminding me of Royko’s toughness in a city of toughs where some things have changed and some are just business as usual.
— Jerry Levy, Deerfield
The Southwest Side’s potential
Chicago, famed for its towering skyline and vibrant culture, has the potential to become even more globally competitive. A promising area for uplifting transformation and growth is the Southwest Side, where I grew up and continue to live. My vision is for this community to emerge as a significant destination for people and businesses. City leaders should harness this potential with innovative planning and a bold vision.
The Southwest Side currently presents itself as a prime opportunity for strategic upzoning from its wide, car-centric streets like Archer Avenue, Cicero Avenue and Pulaski Road and detached single-family homes. These conditions limit foot traffic and reduce economic vitality by deterring storefront activity and weakening our tax base.
In Archer Heights, 20% of households lack a car, yet bike infrastructure is nonexistent, and public transit is often inconvenient. The Orange Line, our sole “L” connection, is hard to access due to surrounding vacant lots or drive-thrus. Residents frequently have to drive to shop or dine, which strains the budgets of our working-class community and increases pollution, adversely impacting our health and quality of life.
To uplift our community, we need to transform the Southwest Side into a thriving aerotropolis — an urban region centered around Midway Airport, promoting seamless connectivity to the airport and the city. By strategically upzoning key arteries such as Archer, Cicero and Pulaski and diversifying land use, we could attract a variety of businesses and housing types. I envision vibrant plazas brimming with shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as tech startups, corporate headquarters, hotels and entertainment venues.
Wide, protected bike lanes and sidewalks would enhance mobility, and roundabouts at busy intersections would improve traffic flow. Housing options would include multifamily apartments and condos, while light rail or bus rapid transit along these main roads would link Midway to the rest of the city.
Midway Airport, with its approximately 6,500 employees, would be at the heart of this aerotropolis, fostering a bustling urban hub where airport employees, air travelers and locals could live, work and shop within two transit stops of the airport. Enhanced connectivity between commercial and residential areas would boost community wealth and elevate the quality of life for residents.
By leveraging Midway’s existing economic scale and innovative urban planning, Chicago could turbocharge its economic growth through a more resilient Southwest Side and solidify its position as a forward-looking global city.
— Daniel Villalobos, Chicago
Shooting suspect denies closure
Once again, the Highland Park parade shooting suspect is denying closure to those who suffered the loss of loved ones on that terrible day. His showing up in a wheelchair did not garner any sympathy from those survivors who must now use wheelchairs or walkers, even when the cameras are not on them.
He uses the media attention given to his court appearances as an opportunity to focus the spotlight on himself once again — a continuation of his actions two years ago. Perhaps if the media ignored him, he would accept the plea and allow those he has harmed to get some closure.
— Mary Ann Kehl, Wilmette
Our nation needs a carbon tax
It has been hot in Chicago. And worldwide over the last couple years, many months have set a new record for high temperatures. The oceans are warming faster than expected.
I’m an old man, but I worry about the effects of climate change on my grandchildren. For years, I have worked through Citizens’ Climate Lobby to get a tax on carbon, with the proceeds paid to all citizens as dividends. But the Republicans won’t consider it. They support Donald Trump, who wants to increase the production and burning of fossil fuels.
When the full weather effects of global warming are realized, I won’t be alive, but I pity today’s young people.
— David May, La Grange
How we can help the vulnerable
I want to bring attention to the critical issues faced by individuals with disabilities and senior citizens in our community. The Institutional Rescue and Recovery Coalition believes it is essential to shed light on the challenges these communities encounter in long-term care facilities.
Nursing home residents should not live in fear of abuse — yet abuse, neglect and retaliation against those who speak up is widespread. Further, institutional bias traps tens of thousands of people in institutions that do not need to be there. It is time to change the narrative.
Humanizing long-term care would rebalance it — away from the costly institution-centered model and toward person-centered policies that prioritize dignity and community.
Members of several organizations have spoken out about bad conditions and violations. Research such as the “They Make You Pay” study shows this is widespread. People in nursing facilities are at great risk of mistreatment.
It’s time for Illinois to humanize long-term care by transforming the system so that people have a real choice of getting care in their own homes and living without fear of retaliation for speaking up for their rights.
I urge the Illinois Senate to take the first step and pass Senate Bill 3559.
Together, we can build a community that values and respects the rights of all its members.
— Sarah Gourevitch, master’s student in disability studies, University of Illinois at Chicago
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