Thursday letters: A New York ‘White House’ too costly

SHARE Thursday letters: A New York ‘White House’ too costly
trump_12_e1542666947977.jpg

President Barack Obama and Donald Trump shake hands during a transition planning meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on November 10, 2016. | Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

How many billions of dollars will it cost taxpayers for Donald Trump as president to live, at least part of the time, in the heart of one of the most populated cities in the world? If he is not going to be involved in the day-to-day operations of his businesses, he should live full-time in the White House, not in New York. It was good enough for past presidents and it should be good enough for him.

Ken Karlson, Wheaton

SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes.

Money for teachers, not prisons

According to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice, a more sensible system of criminal sentencing could —without jeopardizing public safety — reduce our nation’s prison inmate population by about 40 percent, saving the states about $200 billion in the first 10 years. This is enough money to hire 270,000 police officers or 327,000 teachers. What a positive impact that could have on states such as Illinois that suffer from budget deficits, high crime rates and difficulty funding public education.

California, New Jersey, New York and Rhode have started down this path by reducing sentences for minor drug offenses and other crimes. Hopefully, other states will take notice and adopt similar prison sentencing reforms.

Tom Minnerick, Elgin

The Latest
La celebración de 10 días desafía la comercialización del Cinco de Mayo, con la esperanza de educar y enriquecer a los habitantes de Chicago sobre la cultura mexicana.
The 10-day long celebration leans into the commercialization of “Cinco de Mayo,” hoping to educate and enrich Chicagoans on Mexican culture.
Three students and two faculty members met with U. of C. president Paul Alivisatos and provost Katherine Baicker to discuss the demands of student organizers, though it “ended without resolution,” according to UChicago United for Palestine, the group organizing the encampment.
The Revival is relocating from Hyde Park to South Wabash, and The Home Comedy Theater is providing an artistic residence for some iO and Second City veterans.
When someone new to the “family” like John Schriffen tosses out directionless code words, like “haters,” to a rightfully sensitive and mistreated fan base, the outcome ain’t ever pretty.