Political pundits tell us that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should not have indicted Donald Trump because there are proceedings underway in other jurisdictions — related to election interference and insurrection — that are weightier. This is not an either/or matter. Trump is facing charges related to alleged hush money payments to a porn star that, we are lectured, enable the former president to portray himself as a victim.
Prosecutors should investigate or not investigate, convene grand juries or not convene them, and respect grand jury findings or ignore them, without regard to political consequences. Our democracy has survived some 240 years because of the separation of powers.
Trump was counting on cowardice, that Bragg would shy away from doing his duty because of the foreseeable, nay promised, vitriol, invective, threats and smears from a celebrity living in an oceanfront estate casting stones.
He was wrong.
— Joe English, Oak Park
Daley’s tenure as mayor
I grew up in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. Bridgeport was our neighbor to the east. It was also the home of Mayor Richard J. Daley, who was a frequent visitor to ours and many other neighborhoods, especially at election time. He loved his city. Even columnist Mike Royko, who criticized Daley often, admitted in his book “Boss” that there was only man in the country who knew how to run a big city: Daley. Crime was unacceptable. Not good for business.
Daley loved the business community. The more successful business was, the more revenue was produced, and that meant more taxes to be collected. In turn, the city was safe and welcomed millions of visitors each year. Daley was also a family and community man. I attended a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, his parish. The party always included performances from each class in the elementary school. Daley sat in the front row for each class to perform.
In 1974, Frank Sinatra performed at Chicago Stadium. After a few songs, Sinatra asked the house lights be turned on and then acknowledged Daley and his wife, Eleanor, and raised his glass in respect.
Daley was immersed in Chicago!
Hopefully, the next mayor will possess that passion, vision and respect for this once-great city and the millions who live, work and visit there.
— Joseph A. Murzanski, Orland Park
Johnson’s pension
I am no longer a Chicago resident and have no skin in the game as to its mayoral outcome. However, as a former special education teacher for Chicago Public Schools, I am confused, bothered and certainly bewildered as to how the Chicago Teachers Union would endorse Brandon Johnson.
Here is a man who stands to collect more than $1 million from the teachers pension fund for spending four years in the classroom, due to some loophole. Yet, does he mention he would forgo this windfall in the interest and furtherance of CPS?
It is anathema to my way of thinking that one financially struggling agency would support a candidate who would take advantage of, if not add to, its dire circumstances.
— Anne Janet “AJ” Crane, Riverwoods
Curbing school shootings
Here is a suggestion to curb school shootings. I say “curb” because we all know where there is a will, there is a way. Every school should have one entrance. Anyone entering would go through a metal detector with an armed officer standing on the other side. All other doors to the building would be exit only.
Too expensive, you say? What price do you put on the children entering your school? Maybe the schools could reduce the salaries of the overpaid principals.
— Karen Medo, Galena, Illinois
Don’t reward cheaters
Hooray, baseball is back. Changes in the way the game is to be played are great. The only thing that Major League Baseball now needs to change is rewarding cheaters with announcing gigs. Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens are a black mark against baseball.
— Fred Rybicki, Lansing
Done with the Cubs
I’m an old guy — 85 — and I’ve been a Cubs fan all my life. My love affair with that team began in the 1940s when I followed the exploits of Andy Pafko and Phil Cavarretta. I listened on a scratchy radio, hanging on to every word uttered by the announcer, Bert Wilson.
Television came along in the 1950s, and it turned me into a super fan. Now I could see my heroes. Go Cubs! Of course, they were losers, but so what. They were the Cubs, and on TV, they entered our hearts as if they were movie stars.
This year, I thought I would enjoy watching their home opener. But no. The game was only on pay TV. After decades of blind loyalty, I now have to pay to watch those bums. Well, I won’t do it.
Cub games on regular TV have been a tradition in this city for decades. Now, a few greedy big shots want to disturb that tradition.
I’m sorry. They can do it without me. I’m finally breaking a habit, Bye, Cubs.
— R. Conrad Stein, Chicago
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