To the commenter who complained about the Tinley Park police chief allowing his officers to use police cars for private use, the chief, who is also provided a car, has little say in when or where police officers drive their vehicles. It is a perk of the job, supposedly so they are always on call in case of an emergency, but who is going to chase down a criminal with a family member or friend in the police car? The real blatant disregard for taxpayer money is the enormous number of village employees who have taxpayer-provided vehicles to be used however they want.
Tinley Park
I’m very surprised that no one inside the Brookside Glen subdivision in Tinley Park is complaining about the recent property tax bills. Houses valued at around $300,000 should not be taxed north of $10,000. I’ve been living in the community for 17 years. When I moved in, my taxes were $4,600 a year. There have been no additions on the house. The taxes are now more than $10,000. I’m surprised no one else complains.
Furniture strewn on lawns and sidewalks, boxes in the driveway, clothes hanging in the lawn, cars blocking driveways and next to fire hydrants and double parked. Is it the scene of a frat party? An eviction by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department? No, it’s the annual Oak Forest citywide garage sale. Lawns get trampled, garbage is left in the street and citizens cannot access their driveways. Why are most citizens are inconvenienced so a few people can clean the junk out of their houses and garages? Here’s a suggestion for next year — hold the event on the Oak Fest site or in the train station parking lot. This way all the garage sales groupies from outside Oak Forest can one-stop shop and not disturb the neighborhoods.
George Sanders, Oak Forest
In a recent column about Chicago’s future, Phil Kadner wrote, “In my opinion, Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t know what to do.” Well, the former governor, state senators and representatives did not know what to do either. The problem was just passed on from one year to another. I once thought that people in public office were smart people, now I do not. As long at our wonderful state legislators get paid, help their friends get cushy pensions and contracts, things will never get done.
Oak Forest
More about justice for police officers — Let’s walk down the street and say, “Hands up,” for the police officers. That would be a good idea. Why don’t you march for the police officers when they get killed? Don’t you want to help the police?
Columnist Scott Reeder implied that, despite sacrificing wages and benefits to bail out corporate America, non-union workers shouldn’t expect those wage and benefit cuts returned to them. Wall Street is setting new highs. Recently, Southtown sister paper, the Chicago Tribune, had a lengthy article about how corporations use a variety of measures to avoid paying taxes. Some profitable corporations pay no taxes at all. My question to Reeder is, when will he and other voices of special interests support non-union workers getting justice for their dedication and sacrifice?
Mike from Tinley Park
You get so tired of hearing about this investigation because a person was shot by the police. The police did this. The police did that. I’m a retired police officer. Why don’t you go out in the street and work the streets for a while? Where’s our justice? Where’s the demonstration for a police officer shot on duty? Where’s the support for the police? But you know where they are when you need help, don’t you?
This is in response to the Alsip reader who complained in Speak Out about property transfer listings for suburbs well outside the Southland. The May 13 paper has listings primarily for Bolingbrook. Who cares?
Tinley Park
There should be a federal law that protects the consumers on gasoline pricing. South Carolina and Arizona had around $2.29 a gallon on May 15, while we were at $2.99 a gallon. Unbelievable! What a gap! That’s discrimination against Illinois. A difference of 70 cents a gallon? That’s disgusting.
To the person who’s aggravated with some neighbor moving their newspapers, I’m glad the subject was brought up because somebody has been putting my paper on my front porch and I have no idea who’s doing it. If I do find out, I’ll be more than happy to thank them for going out of their way and being so kind.
Linda, Orland Park
Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 120 words and give at least your first name and your hometown.
