Forum: State representative appreciates Ricketts family response
May 31, 2012 10:34PM
Updated: July 6, 2012 10:24AM
As a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, I want to thank the Ricketts family for clearing the air about the proposed advertising campaign against President Obama by a Super PAC operated by their father, Joe Ricketts.
They disavowed any knowledge of the proposal or having any role in what was to be an attempt to pollute the public debate in the race for the White House.
Blacks and whites and voters of every race and ethnic group changed this nation by electing Barack Obama to be president of the United States of America, not the president of Black America.
If the Ricketts family feel an apology is needed, it should be extended to all Americans, not just black Americans.
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
D-Chicago
Better site for detention center
Rather than using property in Crete for a detention center for illegal immigrants, which residents rightfully oppose, I have a much better idea.
Put it on contaminated land formerly used by the steel mills on Chicago’s Southeast Side that politicians shut down, sending good jobs overseas.
Chicago is a sanctuary city, a designation created by the same politicians who encouraged illegal immigration in the first place. Another example of Chicago pushing its problems on to the suburbs.
Bob Pritchard
Hickory Hills
Need for tollway repair not always obvious
A SouthtownStar reader asked in a Speak Out item why the Illinois tollway system is doing roadwork on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) so soon after much of it was recently rebuilt and widened.
The Illinois tollway you drive on may look good, but sometimes maintenance is needed most in the areas you can’t see. Roadway resurfacing and rehabilitation projects are investments that allow the tollway system to maintain its highways over many years and provide motorists with a smooth driving surface.
A combination of age, weather, use and heavy truck traffic take a toll, and repairs and resurfacing allow us to extend the life of roads without completely reconstructing them.
Diligent maintenance work has enabled the tollway system to double the service life of its roads. Through various pavement preservation techniques, the system can get up to 60 years of use from roads before complete reconstruction is necessary.
For example, while pavement between 95th Street and Balmoral Avenue may appear to be in good condition, the section is due for maintenance to provide a new and smooth surface that will extend its life.
To minimize the impact of construction on our customers, we will keep as many lanes open during peak hours as were available before construction. We anticipate that all pavement rehabilitation work on the central section of the Tri-State Tollway will be complete in late fall.
Kristi Lafleur
Executive director
Illinois Toll Highway Authority
Three strikes and we’re out
The citizens of Illinois suffered three major blows recently. First, our empathetic and compassionate legislators took another step to reduce the benefits of Medicaid recipients. You know, those 180,000 or so selfish poor people scamming the system to get prescription drug assistance.
Our lawmakers decided that these people need to pay more of their “fair share.” Hey, if they didn’t want to end up where they are, they should’ve worked a little harder. The nerve of some people!
Second, we lost a true defender of the people when U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the nemesis of corrupt politicians, announced his resignation. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief coming from the halls of the General Assembly and Chicago city and ward offices.
Now that Fitzgerald is leaving, political figures and their cronies don’t have to worry so much about going to prison for their illegal activity. Perhaps we could get Mr. Fitzgerald to recommend someone to fill his position and continue the fight. But U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin acting on his recommendation is wishful thinking.
And finally, in a decision that was a major blow not only to the citizens of Illinois but to every American who hopes for change, the Securities and Exchange Commission ended its extensive investigation into the failure of investment banking giant Lehman Brothers, and found no reason to prosecute anyone at the firm!
Lehman only lost $10 billion to $20 billion, and the taxpayers already paid for the bailout, so why waste time trying to punish people who’ve said they were sorry and won’t do it again? Yes, Facebook and Morgan Stanley are being investigated for fraud in Facebook’s initial public offering, but don’t worry. I’m sure the crack staff at the SEC has our back.
Roger Ferrara
Oak Lawn
