As a resident of Elk Grove Village, I found your story “Suburbs fear Elk Grove may join city’s O’Hare panel” informative yet perplexing (Page 1, July 26). I don’t understand how my elected leaders can refuse to participate with a commission whose decisions affect Elk Grove.
The City of Chicago is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on noise-monitoring systems and on soundproofing homes and schools in noise-impacted communities regardless of whose commission you are on. How is that a bad thing? Nowhere in this article nor in any of the debates I’ve heard has there been any mention of any requirement to support O’Hare expansion in order to be a member of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission.
My guess is that several of the 13 members of this commission would, like Elk Grove, also be opposed to expansion. Elk Grove Village has always been a leader for our region, but I’m afraid on this issue we look quite parochial. O’Hare International Airport and issues related to it are regional issues. A regional perspective is needed to solve or at least effectively deal with the problems and concerns of O’Hare-area residents and businesses. This commission seems to be attempting to do this.
I hope the officials in my community will consider taking a more constructive approach to addressing the issues involved rather than their present position, which appears on the surface to be one that is confrontational and politicized.
