Sunday Letters: I hope there’s still hope for Chicago

SHARE Sunday Letters: I hope there’s still hope for Chicago
elevated_views_31_57427747.jpg

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

Chicagoans are leaving the city for myriad predictable and understandable reasons. Whether our beleaguered, beloved Chicago will be able to prevent its lamentable decline is anyone’s guess.

Survival is the primary goal for all living beings. Furthermore, all biological creatures hoping to succeed, thrive, and perhaps even prevail understand that they must distance themselves from toxins and pursue nutrients.

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

Personally, though I was born and raised in Brooklyn, I’ve enjoyed a fulfilling life in Chicago for over half a century. Nevertheless, the current pathetic departure scenario should remind reasonable citizens of the following age-old profound wisdom: To all things there is a season; all business relationships come to an end; the only thing permanent is change; and suffering is optional.

While I find it sad to experience its demise, I also maintain some hope because I know that one’s history does not necessarily imply one’s destiny. There may yet be hope that Chicago can reclaim much of the stature that it has lost. But then again, I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer.

I would like to spend a good part of the next half century living in, and enjoying, Chicago, wouldn’t you?

Leon J. Hoffman, Lake View

New holiday

Without knowing it, perhaps the Chicago Teachers Union established a new holiday — National Strike Day. On April 1 of every year, anyone with a grievance at work can go on strike. The holiday will be a great way to celebrate April Fools’ Day.

Thomas Mackin,Rogers Park

Embarrassing reaction

It is interesting what Gov. Bruce Rauner considers “tragic.”

The governor’s reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a ruling that those receiving union services should pay a fair share fee is embarrassing, given the state budget crisis.

The governor is holding the state budget hostage, trying to force lawmakers to pass his “Turnaround agenda” which would depress wages for workers throughout Illinois.

Without a budget, agencies that help the poor, the sick, the elderly and children are being forced to reduce services or shut down. State colleges, universities and community colleges are being forced to cut programs and staff.

The governor also vetoed funding for the MAP grant program, causing thousands of students who rely on the grants to complete their schooling to either borrow money or drop out.

It is the governor’s constitutional responsibility to propose a balanced state budget; yet, he refuses to do so. He seems oblivious to the misery he’s inflicting.

That’s truly tragic.

Cinda Klickna, president,

Illinois Education Association

Accountable to mayor

The mayor has now appointed the individual who is to become the savior of Chicago. On the first day as acting superintendent, Eddie Johnson proclaimed to be beholden to know one, his first lie. As an appointee of the mayor, he is accountable to the mayor, period. If he is the utmost in police proficiency as the chief of patrol, why is there such an increase in street crime, shootings and killings, and fewer street stops?

Angel Valentin, Humboldt Park


The Latest
Only two days after an embarrassing loss to lowly Washington, the Bulls put on a defensive clinic against Indiana.
One woman suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. In each incident, the four to five men armed with rifles, handguns and knives, approached victims on the street in Logan Square, Portage Park, Avondale, Hermosa threatened or struck them before taking their belongings, police said.
For as big of a tournament moment as Terrence Shannon Jr. is having, it hasn’t been deemed “madness” because, under the brightest lights, he has been silent.
This year, to continue making history, the Illini will have to get past No. 2-seeded Iowa State.