The Watchdogs wrote an eye-opening story Sunday about the revelation that calls were made to then-Mayor Richard M. Daley’s brother Michael just hours after Daley’s nephew R.J. Vanecko punched David Koschman, who died days later.
Newly released records show that the calls were made by Bridget McCarthy, who waited until after Koschman’s death before telling police that she was with Vanecko and another friend, Craig Denham, when Vanecko punched Koschman.
The most eye-opening information appeared in the caption under a picture of former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb: “In the six years since (Webb) closed his investigation into Koschman’s killing, he has refused to release the ‘voluntary statements’ that former Mayor Richard M. Daley and seven relatives gave in writing.”
Now Webb is the special prosecutor in the high-profile case of actor Jussie Smollett, charged with faking a hate crime. Police contend that the investigation cost the city more than $130,000. With the formidable specter of another politically connected figure —attorney Tina Tchen — hovering over the case, one wonders if Webb will be more forthcoming with information in this latest investigation.
Christine Craven, Evergreen Park
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Move the tower
I appreciate the Sun-Time Editorial Board taking a stand to protect migrating birds. The ‘Lights Out’ program is a good start. The Chicago Municipal Bird Protection ordinance is another important step. We should make bird-friendly design the standard for all buildings, and this ordinance is making its way through the City Council. We need to recognize that a building’s location is every bit as important as its design — and here, we have a problem.
The Obama Presidential Center, proposed inside of Jackson Park, lies directly on the Great Lakes/Mississippi flyway. It is located up against the park’s nature areas, and will cause collisions. We know this through U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service studies, and through Doppler radar.
We need consistency, and we need to protect our wildlife. This presidential center seems to fly against everything that Obama did while in office. He expanded public parks, national lands, and strengthened environmental regulations. The presidential center is a bird-killing tower, and it needs to be moved out of Jackson Park.
Ross Petersen, Northwest Side
This is about the rights of all of us
In the 1960s, my history teacher, Mrs Jackman, always said that my rights end where my neighbor’s rights begin. She did not realize how this concept would live on in the year 2020.
Those marching to advocate for their right to NOT stay at home and NOT wear a mask are not only endangering their own lives. They are also endangering the lives of their friends, family, and anyone else who comes in contact with them.
Their rights should only go as far as the rights of those around them.
These “freedom advocates” are ignoring their assault on the freedom of others to NOT get sick!
We all need to stay at home as much as possible, obey social distancing, and wear masks when we MUST go out.
We owe it to our families, our neighbors, and the phenomenal essential workers who put their lives at risk for all of us.
This is about the rights of ALL of us, not just the selfish self-centered rights of particular groups.
Karen Wagner, Rolling Meadows
