Letters: U. of C. takes too much from community

SHARE Letters: U. of C. takes too much from community
TRAUMA_CST_030615003_52376419_999x666.jpg

File photo by James Foster for Sun-Times Media.

“The University of Chicago is deeply committed to ensuring freedom of expression and the rights of protesters to express a wide range of views. Actions that endanger the safety of our community members or violate the laws that protect our community are unacceptable,” says Jeremy Manier, a university spokesman in a prepared statement (“Trauma Center Coalition protestors arrested at U. of C.” — June 7).

Fine words with an appeal to all the right things such as “freedom of expression”  and “community.” Too bad the university doesn’t follow through by showing its commitment to the South Side community in which it is located by reopening its trauma center that it closed  years ago. This was the point of the protests, which is hardly mentioned at all in the news article covering it.

Instead, the university continues to take advantage of the community by erecting its privately owned Obama Library on public parkland. What is the university prepared to give back to the community which it supposedly is a part of in exchange for all that it has received from it? A trauma center might be a good start.

Edward D. Lasky, Edgewater

SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com (Please include the name of your suburb or town, and a phone number for verification.)

‘Brilliant’ move by mayor 

One word comes to mind on hearing that Mayor Rahm Emanuel has appointed Lori Lightfoot to head the Chicago Police Board: brilliant (“Former federal prosecutor picked to run Chicago Police Board” — May 31). Her reputation is impeccable and the words I often hear to describe her are intelligent, determined, hard-working and fair, just to name a few. Most cops are always interested in who is going to be judging their behavior. The appointment of Lori Lightfoot will give both the cops and the citizens of Chicago one of the best possible candidates to do just that.

I can only hope that while the mayor is appointing such outstanding people, he might consider appointing a person of Lightfoot’s qualifications to investigate the violence that has gripped our city. When children and senior citizens are shot down on our streets, we are a city that needs answers. The shootings are seemingly taking place at an alarming rate. The homicide rate is going up instead of down. Every weekend we see the numbers in the Sun-Times. Are we spending $100 million a year wisely on cop overtime? Are we deploying our police correctly? Do we have an adequate number of experienced officers on the streets to handle our systemic gang problem? Lots of questions need to be confronted and answered.

How many more of our people are going to be shot down until we examine a problem that cannot be shoved aside and blamed on too many guns? Those guns are being used by real people who have terrorized our city. We need answers. We need help. We need to come together and ask questions.

Bob Angone, retired police lieutenant

South Loop

Electronic monitoring of nursing homes a must-have

Violette King, founder of Nursing Home Monitors, and I want to commend Attorney General Lisa Madigan and her staff for initiating House Bill 2462, the Authorized Electronic Monitoring In Long-Term Care Facilities Act that allows for individual, voluntary surveillance cameras in nursing homes. State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, and state Sen. Terry Link, D-Gurnee, sponsored and supported the bill. Their cooperation in this effort to prevent and report the abuse and neglect of the elderly and the disabled is truly appreciated by advocates for improved care.

Since most nursing home residents cannot physically protect themselves because of their frail state, the voluntary surveillance camera can prevent and report abuse and neglect. These cameras will be a positive addition for nursing-home owners and staff. These cameras can prove appropriate care and services are being given to residents and the extremely difficult work these caregivers do daily. Facilities will find they have filled beds, a resident waiting list, lower insurance rates and fewer complaints. This has been proven in other states that already have surveillance cameras in nursing homes. Surveillance cameras have proved to be positive in law enforcement and safety issues for years.

We hope Gov. Rauner will sign this bill quickly because of its value to society and to make Illinois a leader in the highest quality of long-term care of the elderly and disabled. If HB2462 becomes law on January 1, 2016, residents and their legal representatives should install individual surveillance cameras in nursing-home rooms to prevent or report neglect and abuse. If residents do not take advantage of the law, it then becomes nothing but words on a piece of paper.

Rosemary Pulice, Elmhurst

Nursing Home Monitors

Cry a river for billionaire 

Boo hoo for Leon Cooperman (“Billionaire: My life should be ‘example’ ” — June 5). Did he consider all the people for whom college is absolutely not available? I lived on a Wisconsin farm where there was no public transport, at least 70 miles from the nearest college. And I had no money available for it. Scholarships went to the valedictorian and salutatorian of our school. I was only No. 3. And female. In 1952.

Women still are severely discriminated against, promotion-wise and money-wise. During my career, we got 58 cents for every dollar he got. And I raised my daughter alone. I worked far, far harder then he ever dreamed — for much less.

Marilynn Miller, Plainfield

The Latest
Many kids in the audience came dressed up. I would recommend parents encourage it, as their youngsters will undoubtedly make new friends at intermission finding others who love the characters they do, or who identify with other ones.
Mayor Brandon Johnson made it clear he will not remove Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25as Housing Committee chair for appearing at a rally where an American flag was burned to protest U.S. support for Israel. He likened the controversy to the furor that surrounded Barack Obama’s controversial Pastor Jeremiah Wright.
White Sox fans from all over will flock to Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday for the team’s home opener against the Tigers.
Archer Courts, 2242 S. Princeton Ave., will soon get a new hot water system, ventilation system and rooftop solar panels through a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Leasure will make his major league debut on Thursday.